Chapter 2
The twins were coming in from a late night archery practice. Elladan had wished to soothe his fears that his brother might fall and seeing his brother's perfect aim had done the trick. Elrohir paused suddenly.
" Listen," he whispered.
The soft strumming of a harp could be heard.
*Nana's study?
Elrohir glanced at his brother with a shrug and raised eyebrow.
*We can at least check it out.
The two crept along the halls until they came to their mother's study. They peered into it, but did not have to worry about being seen. Celebrían sat at her husband's feet, her voice joining his in a beautiful harmony. Elrond gently strummed the harp. The twins exchanged surprised glances. They had never seen their father play any instrument. Celebrían glanced up at her husband with a pleased smile.
" You learn quickly, Herven."
Elrond shrugged.
" It is easy."
" Tis your first time. It took me more time to teach Arwen and she is far younger than you. They say it is harder for you to learn things as you grow older."
Elrond merely raised his eyebrows, continuing the sweet melody. His fingers then moved into the harmony causing Celebrían to close her eyes and smile as the music flowed from the large harp.
" I believe that applies only to Edain."
She sent him a smile.
" You have half of that race flowing in your veins."
" But I chose immortality," Elrond's voice had darkened.
" You miss him still?"
Elrond's strumming increased as he devoted all of his attention to the harp. Celebrían turned, perching her elbows upon the cushion.
" You cannot hide anything from me, Herven. I see through that mind of yours."
" Aye, I miss my brother. Tis why I worry so for my sons."
" You have never spoken this before. Go on."
The twins did not move. Both knew they were intruding, but they wished to hear the reasons for their father's worry. Elrond ceased the plucking of the strings and set his arms on his legs, stretching his long back.
" I fear that one of them will fall," Elrond looked at her, honesty brimming in his eyes, " There is no despair like that of a grieving twin. You wish that you were dead too for half of you is missing."
" Did you ever find what you were missing?"
Elrond hesitated. Celebrían moved up to sit beside her husband.
" You will not hurt me, Elrond."
" You have filled some of it, but it is different from losing just a family member. I may have mourned longer for Ereinion, but I wasted away at Elros' death."
Celebrían hugged him.
" What will you do? Elrohir leaves in the morning."
Elrond drew her close.
" I will allow him to do as he wishes. He is an adult in his second millennia. I have no charge over his life. He can handle it."
" Will Vilya follow them?"
The twins' eyes grew.
*Ada has Vilya?
Elladan's eyes were too wide to respond to his brother.
" It always does. I will despise the day I can no longer wear it."
Elrohir touched his brother's shoulder. They crept down the hall, away from the room. Celebrían looked down at Elrond.
" The twins are in and have finally decided to go to bed."
Elrond nodded, rising.
" Their steps are like those of lumbering trolls sometimes."
" Aye, but that is good sometimes, especially on nights like this."
Elrond left the harp alone, turning his finger to delicately begin his removal of her thin dress again.
~*~
" They know we were eavesdropping last night because Nana just innocently asked when we came in last night."
Elrohir looked up with a groan.
" Ada has the ears of-"
" Your steps should be lighter," Elrond refuted as he entered.
The twins both flushed.
" We just heard the music, Ada. We are sorry."
Elrond just smiled slightly.
" You two do not need to lounge outside the door like two common criminals. Your mother and I do not mind your presence. We would have continued talking with or without your presence."
Elrohir looked down at his bow and then at his father.
" Is it true about the grief being thrice fold for a twin?"
Elrond clenched his son's shoulder.
" You will not fall."
" Aye, Ada has his little powers," Elladan tried to cheer up his brother.
*Shut it, Elladan.
Elladan just held up his hands.
" Sassy this morning, little brother."
" You are annoying. Sometimes I wonder how we are related," Elrohir threw a pillow.
Elladan caught it and had it flying back in a second. Elrond ducked the pillows, finally grabbing one of his own to save himself.
*It seems as if they were little boys yesterday and were concentrated on their pillow fights.
The two sons put down their pillows, seeming to sense their father's thoughts.
" We will never fully grow up, Ada."
Elladan threw an arm around his father.
" Aye, Elrohir has to do this to prove he is grown."
" Have you proven it yet?" Elrohir shot back.
" No, but I do not need to. I am the eldest."
Elrond smiled at their brotherly bickering.
" I would rather you both went, but-"
" What?" Elladan asked.
Both twins were staring at him.
" Have you two ever fought without the other standing right beside you?"
They shook their heads.
" Then there is your answer."
Elladan sent his father a smile.
" I can be packed in two minutes."
" Hurry then," Elrohir replied, " The rest of our traveling party will join us."
Elrohir glanced up at his father.
" Why?"
Elrond sighed.
" I would rather have you two together and know that you both are watching each others back, then have to continually worry about one. It is comfort to know you two are together on the battlefield." Elrond gave a half-smile. " It always relieved Ereinion when Elros and I would go together on orc hunts and such. Leastways, you can see how much Elladan wishes to go also."
Elrohir nodded. He hesitantly embraced his father.
" Thank you."
Elrond returned it.
" Come. Your party approaches."
~*~
The group of men filled the courtyard. Elrond smiled as he descended.
" Arahad, the twins did not tell me the Dúnedain were going also."
The chieftain of the men easily dismounted, though the years showed with the gray in his hair.
" Elrond, we will fight for our country."
" Yet you will not take the throne?"
Arahad simply shrugged.
" I am too old."
Elrond laughed.
His sons came clambered down the steps. Elrohir gave a pitiful groan.
" Ada, why did you place so many steps in Imladris?"
Elrond only cocked on eyebrow.
" Do you need to remain here and learn how many exactly there are?"
Elrohir quickly straightened, reaching out to catch arms with his distant kin.
" Good day to you, Arahad."
Arahad laughed. His eyes glanced behind Elrond and they widened slightly.
" Is that your wife?"
Elrond turned, seeing Celebrían leading Arwen from the library.
" The blonde is their mother."
Arahad nodded.
" I shall not tease you boys then for your Elvin beauty. With blood like that of my ancestor Elros in it and your mother, I can see why you have been graced with such features."
The twins only grinned. They moved away, beginning to ready their horses with their light packs.
" Watch them for me, Arahad," Elrond said softly, " I fear them going to Gondor, so close to Mordor."
" We head first down the Anduin, to the Marshes, and then to Gondor. It is customary to show what has been committed by Sauron in order for my men to fight better against the foes."
Elrond nodded.
" I wish you a well journey."
~*~
Elrond sat in his study, staring at a sheet of paper without really reading it. Erestor entered, shaking his head.
" You could convince anyone you were really working," Erestor paused, his eyes twinkling, " Were not the paper upside down."
Elrond turned it the right way, his ears flushing. Erestor sat on the chair in front of the desk.
" They will be fine. We sent some of our best archers also."
Elrond still shrugged. Erestor stood.
" Glorfindel went with them."
Elrond's face lost much of its strained expression.
" That eases my soul a bit."
A cough came from the door. The two Elves glanced up. Celebrían simply raised her eyebrows. Erestor sent her a respectful head nod before retreating out and closing the study door behind him.
Celebrían knelt by Elrond's side.
" It is so dark in here," she wrinkled her nose, " Do you ever open the drapes?"
Elrond shook his head.
" I prefer the candlelight."
She shook her head, rising again.
" If you wish to be a blind old Elf, then stop me, but I must have some sun in here. Anar was created to shield away evil."
Elrond dropped a hand in his head.
" Yet is does not stop Sauron."
Celebrían tugged on the jammed drapes. She finally sighed.
" Elrond, I am in need of your strength."
He merely looked up, smiling at the sight of her flushed cheeks.
" I do not wish the light."
She planted two angry hands on her hips.
" Elrond Peredhel, you will help your wife."
Elrond stood tugging slightly on the rope. The curtains gave way in a second.
" Are you happy, Vessë?"
Celebrían nodded.
She bent beside him again.
" You have cooped yourself in here again. What calls for your attention?"
" Dol Guldur's power increases with each day. I fear that one day Sauron shall walk free from those woods."
" Have you alerted Thranduil?"
Elrond chuckled a little.
" With all the evil he combats there, I doubt he needs any warning."