This is part two of a chapter. To read the first part skip back a section.
~*~
To the twins' disappointment, once they reached home and had told everyone all about their exciting day and the new game that they had learnt, Celeborn had slumped into one of the chairs on the terrace and refused to move - even when tempted with the prospect of practising fencing or archery. Eventually Celebrian took pity on her father, and sent the two excited little boys away to play elsewhere for a while - Elrohir to fetch his flute and run off to a lesson with Erestor, and Elladan down to the meadows and woodlands to play with his friends.
Unfortunately though, Elladan was not sure that he wanted to play with his friends today. There was always the worry that boys from his training group would be there, and if there were many of them, then they often would not let him join in with their games. Although Iorwë would always run to play with him if asked, Elladan did not want to play with someone so much younger than him all the time. And in any case if Iorwë played with him too much, then people might begin being mean to him too, and he did not want that.
Lost in thought, Elladan wandered wherever his feet took him, drifting down through the trees towards the meadows and river. Not quite willing to go and join in the noise and activity of the games, he walked slowly around the edge of the woods to a small hollow where they often made snow forts in the winter. It faced south and was sheltered from the harsh winds by a steep rock wall that was covered in ivy and creepers. The ground in the hollow was covered in dry leaves and hay that they had hoarded from when one of the nearby fields was baled. The sun was bright through the sparse trees, and he could watch the other boys playing 'Fishnets' - a game where children took it in turns to try and run through the other team's net of held hands. It was a favourite game of his, but he did not feel like playing it today.
He wanted to think about what Elrohir had said. He was not sure that he even wanted to win anymore, not if it meant so much to his brother. Perhaps it was only fair that they should take turns at winning sometimes. Even if it did mean that he would have to do badly in front of everyone. If he lost then the other boys in his training group would laugh at him, glad of something to taunt him for. Everybody would think that he was really bad if he had practised with Glorfindel and still could not shoot well. Maybe Glorfindel would even be ashamed of him when he saw how bad he was. He did not want people to be ashamed of him or pity him. But if he won he did not think that it would feel as good as he had once thought that it would, not now that he knew how Elrohir would be feeling.
"They play that on the beaches." A voice spoke sadly from somewhere above him, and Elladan flinched backward against the rock in his surprise. It took him a moment to identify the voice as that of the shipwright, and judging from the shadows that fell into the dell then Mithrandir was with him. Ashamed at not having heard them approach, Elladan froze in position, trying not to breathe lest he should be discovered. While the rock behind was taller than an elfling, he doubted that it even came up to the shipwright's waist, and it would offer him precious little camouflage should either of the guests look down. "I remember him teaching them this game."
"He has brought them much joy." Mithrandir's voice was consoling although Elladan could tell from the shadows that Cirdan was looking away from him, into the trees. "I am sure that in turn, Elrond's own sons have been taught the rules."
"He would have loved to meet them. They are good children." Cirdan said slowly then spoke more briskly. "Although they are but small and foolish as all infants are. Look at the boats they sail. Have they no sense?"
Mithrandir chuckled tolerantly. He had already heard much of the shipwright's views on the children of Imladris' ability at shipbuilding, for it had been he who had been walking with him when they had passed the bridge from which a group of youngsters were launching pieces of bark speared with a stick and leaf, or crudely hewn models. The shipwright did not easily suffer fools, even if they were but a fraction of his age.
"A little attention to detail and a little more sense in selecting the design. What is the purpose of a sail if it cannot be turned to the wind?" Cirdan said brusquely, frowning as he remembered how often the small ships had tipped over and the disappointment of the children when they had done so. "Someone should explain the principles to them. If they just understood. . ."
Scowling viciously at the ground, Elladan wrinkled his nose and slapped the fingers and thumb of one hand together like a yattering goose. Trust Lord Cirdan to see the worst of everything. He had made a boat himself once, and while it was nowhere near as nice as his treasured gift, he had still been proud of it. And he had designed it all by himself without anyone helping him.
"Did you. . ." Cirdan asked with a note of puzzlement, looking around for the source of the noise. He had almost thought that he had heard a slight tapping noise, but his companion seemed not to be aware of the disturbance.
More worried than he was quite prepared to admit to himself, Elladan held his breath and pressed himself against the rock, curling his fists tightly around the thick stems of the ivy. Lord Cirdan already thought bad things of him, and because of that, his Ada as well. If he found him again then he would be in so much trouble.
For a moment he thought that he had escaped reprimand, for he heard Mithrandir saying, "A bird, perhaps. Come, why do you not explain to the infants yourself. . ."
"What. . ." Cirdan had apparently not been dissuaded from his search by this tempting suggestion, for there was a rustling noise and someone reached downwards and grasped the back of his tunic, hauling him up above the level of the bank. "You again!"
Flinching back at the shipwright's exasperated boom, Elladan scowled at his captor and wriggled violently in an attempt to be let down. This was not even his fault. How was he supposed to stop overhearing things if people did not remember to check for people who might accidentally overhear them before speaking? He had been hiding here first anyway, it was not his fault that Lord Cirdan had chosen to stop and talk here.
"A small spy, indeed." Cirdan's voice was dry as he observed the child, but to Elladan's relief he did not seem as angry as he had done before, more resigned than anything. "I am not fond of eavesdroppers, Master Elladan."
Burning inside at the injustice of this comment, Elladan glared at the ancient elf and kicked in the air until he was set down.
"I was not eavesdropping!" Elladan put his hands on his hips and craned his neck back to give the shipwright the full effect of his hate-filled look. "You should look where you are talking before saying important things. I would not talk about sneaking out of bed in front of Ada!"
The shipwright's bushy brows rose playfully at this, and he looked at Mithrandir with an expression that Elladan did not understand. The wizard's mouth was twitching in the manner that it often did when he wished to laugh, and the wrinkles around his eyes seemed deepened.
"You have been told, Master Shipwright." Mithrandir said solemnly then added rather more teasingly. "Consider yourself lucky not to find a sword in your neck."
The two adults began chuckling, and feeling as if he was the butt of a joke that he did not understand, Elladan took advantage of their distraction to slink off to join his friends. Sometimes he did not understand grown-ups at all.
~*~
"There we are." Celebrian fastened the last of Elrohir's braids with a tightly knotted strip of leather, and got up from her knees, using one hand to gently turn the child round as she admired the result. She had taken special care with her sons' hair, knowing that they would wish to run and jump and skip with the other young elves - something that was sure to shake even the most carefully woven hair from its braids. "Be careful with your circlets."
She carefully opened each of the flat wooden boxes carved with the children's names and the insignia of Imladris, and lifted the small silver circlet from the velvet lining. They had been a gift at the time of the twins' birth and although the boys looked quite adorable when wearing them, she had always been a little anxious lest they should accidentally poke each other's eyes out with the blunt ends.
"Elladan." The elder twin stepped forward and she placed the circlet on the dark head, kneeling down again to ensure that it lay straight then repeated the exercise with her youngest. "You both look lovely."
The twins were indistinguishable tonight to all but the most familiar eye, their dress identical from their fine shoes to their pale blue silk tunics and matching circlets. In a few years, Celebrian noted with a touch of sadness, they would be old enough to wear shirts and leggings under their tunics, and after that, formal gowns in shades to complement their father's. Tonight though, despite their eagerness to be fully-grown and able to wear boots and wield spears, both would have complained bitterly if forced into the garments that her husband would wear. It was a sweltering night with little breeze, and they were glad of their bare legs and arms.
"Are we ready?" Elladan hopped from foot to foot, not entirely happy with the heavy feeling of the new and unfamiliar shoes. He was excited about the celebration; especially the cakes and pastries that he had seen being carried through into the hall earlier today, and everything seemed to be taking so long. If they did not hurry then the soldiers of the Guard would eat everything all up.
"May we read our book whilst we wait, Ammë?" Elrohir tugged on his mother's hand for attention. Another of their gifts at birth had been a lavishly illustrated history of ages gone by, and although the boys were still rather too young for such a fine volume, they were usually allowed to read from it and admire the pictures as a special treat when they were waiting for their parents to dress for a formal occasion - the care that the twins took to avoid damaging the precious book usually ensured that their garments remained equally tidy.
"Of course," Celebrian tightened her grip on Elrohir's hand and held out an open palm for Elladan to grasp. "If you are very careful."
"We are always very careful." Elladan slipped his hand into his mother's and began pulling her toward the doorway. "And we have nothing with which to dirty it. I am too clean, Ammë."
Laughing, Celebrian allowed herself to be led out to the passageway that ran down to her own bedroom. She had bathed and changed into her undergarments before dressing the boys, but in the interests of preventing creases and accidents she rarely donned her chosen gown until the last minutes before the event. With luck her husband would be almost ready, and as she had already laid out matching garments for him she would have little to do except ensure that his circlet was level and his cuffs were buttoned. Half-elves could be incredibly lax in attending to the little details that made all the difference, and in truth she sometimes wondered how her husband had got along without her. She did not think that she wished to know how often he had not changed his undershirt during those seven long years in Mordor.
The trio entered the master bedroom and the twins broke away from their mother to leap gleefully on the bed, bouncing a couple of times for good measure.
"Look, Ada! New tunics!" Elrohir scrambled up on his knees to point proudly at the pale blue silk.
"New tunics, Ada!" Elladan dropped down onto the pillows, spreading out his arms wide to make the widest possible dent in the soft cushions.
"Very nice, boys." Elrond shifted his concentration from the complicated braiding pattern for a moment to peek in the mirror to watch his sons' reflections bounce in the glass. Those same tunics had been slightly too big for them at the celebration at the start of the summer, but now they fitted quite acceptably.
"And Ada looks very nice too, does he not?" Celebrian queried with a hint of mischief, standing on tiptoe to kiss her husband lightly on the cheek. The half-elven were slightly more sensitive to the heat than their full- blooded cousins and Elrond wore a slightly peeved look as he contemplated donning the heavy velvet gown over his shirt and leggings.
"Very nice, Ada." Elrohir nodded seriously and smiled at his father, secretly glad that he would not have to wear such heavy clothing for several years.
"I am glad that I do not have to wear that!" Elladan wrinkled his nose and pointed towards the gown that was hanging neatly from the back of a chair. "It looks hot and itchy."
"It is, my Elladan." Elrond said regretfully as he finished his braiding. "Although it is indeed very fine."
Laughing softly, Celebrian passed through into the pale coolness of their bathing chamber leaving her husband charge of their two excited sons.
~*~
"You are beautiful," Elrond took his wife's hand in his as they walked through the southern hallway to the sitting room where they would meet with their guests. Dressed like this, in a gown of simple white silk and so obviously happy she did not need her mother's power to glow. The raw fabric of the gown gleamed iridescently in the soft lamplight and the silver and mithril charms threaded in her hair made it glitter and gleam in the flickering beams.
"The night is beautiful." Celebrian corrected softly, ducking her head a little to hide her smile and blushing cheeks. "I hope that they. . ."
". . .behave?" Elrond finished for her, looking ahead of them to their sons who were scampering eagerly from side to side, exclaiming over the decorations and leaping to try and catch the large moths that fluttered around the lamps. "I am sure that they will try."
"I hope that they do not mind too much. It will be hard for them." Celebrian bit her lip slightly as she watched her boys. They had agreed that to help ease the children into proper behaviour at formal functions that they should, at this age, sit and talk with the other guests or participate in the traditional dances rather than play with their friends.
"They shall do well." Elrond said proudly then added teasingly. "At that age my brother and I were never shown such sympathy."
"At that age, Master Elrond," a deep voice commented from behind them and Elrond turned round in surprise to find the Lord of the Havens behind him, "you were too busy pressing our poor guests for information that neither of us could get a word in edgeways."
"I. . . I. . ." Elrond opened his mouth in rightful indignation, trying not to join in with Celebrian's laughter. "I was merely a curious child. . . a bright child."
The Lord of Imladris nodded in a self-satisfied manner then grinned teasingly at the shipwright.
"As bright as a candle flame, no doubt?" Cirdan said with an inquisitive raise of his eyebrows.
"Aye," Elrond agreed eyeing Cirdan a little dubiously. With the shipwright things were seldom this simple.
"Aye?" Mock surprise tinged the ancient elf's tone.
"Aye." Elrond confirmed, wondering what the sea-elf was up to. The Teleri were a strange and curious folk.
"Aye, intellect burning as a flame. . ." Cirdan rubbed one hand pensively over his closely cropped beard, "flickering appropriately, no doubt?"
"Ay. . ." Elrond halted suddenly and speared the shipwright with a look, but was left without appropriate retort.
"Flickering?" Glorfindel asked helpfully, coming up from behind and slapping a hand on each of his friend's shoulders, drawing them all into an impromptu hug. Lowering his lips to the half-elf's ear he hissed in an exceedingly audible whisper. "The Flame Imperishable, Peredhil. The Flame Imperishable."
~*~
"I do not like dancing." Elladan complained to his brother as they sat on the edge of a bench, watching their mother and father leading a Teleri dance that they did not know.
"You dance at Midwinter." Elrohir retorted half-heartedly, much of his attention focussed on the footwork of the dancers. The music for this dance was beautiful and next time it was played he wished to join in. The sea elves were singing as they danced and although he did not know all the ancient words, Elrohir joined in quietly, mouthing the words that he did not know.
"It is fun at Midwinter." Elladan paused for a moment to watch as his mother whirled under his father's arm and caught hold of Glorfindel's hand. He could not understand how such a brave warrior as Glorfindel could enjoy prancing and skipping about the hall. "This is stupid!"
Although his Ada and Ammë were laughing and looked as if they were having fun, he much preferred the dances at Midwinter when they would all join hands and sing joyful tunes as they skipped faster and faster around the great tree. This seemed to be more about patterns and trying not to trip over each other than having fun. One poor member of the Guard had just stepped on a maiden's dress and she was looking at him as if it was his fault. She should never have worn anything that long and floppy if she did not want it to be trampled on.
"It is not!" Elrohir said brightly, getting to his feet as the music stopped, and running to his mother. "Dance with me, Ammë! Dance with me!"
"I would love to, little one." Celebrian took the child's outstretched hands and gave her husband an apologetic look. "And then I shall dance with your Ada again."
Smiling in satisfaction, Elrohir dragged his mother toward the centre of the dance floor, leaving his father to stroll over to where Elladan was sitting.
"Elrohir has already mastered the trick of stealing another's partner." Elrond grinned broadly as he watched Celebrian leading their son through the moves. "Are you having fun, Elladan?"
"No." Elladan spoke in a voice that suggested strongly that his father should have known the answer. "It is completely pointless, Ada."
"It is?" Elrond's laughed at his eldest son's disgruntled expression and wrapped an arm around the child's hunched shoulders. "It is quite fun when you are with a maiden that you like."
"I do not like girls." Elladan scowled and looked longingly at the corner where the other children were laughing and playing. A few had joined in the dancing and were all holding hands in a long line as they skipped and wove in-between the older elves. "Can I not dance with them, Ada?"
Elrond looked over at the little chain of children and turned back to his son. It was better for the boy to be dancing than sitting here by himself, and there were few here that would partner him. The current dance had just ended and Celebrian seemed to be having difficulty in preventing Elrohir from splitting up a newly betrothed couple who clearly did not yet wish to change their partners. Although he was sure that Galadriel would dance with the boys if asked, they would have more fun with others their own size. "I do not see why not. Be careful not to trip anyone."
"I will Ada!" Elladan leapt off the bench, landing lightly on his hands and knees before running over to fill in a gap in the chain between Iorwë's cousin and Andüné's sister.
"Be good!" Elrond called after him and hurried over to his wife to claim her as his partner - just in time, for his rather overzealous friend had been approaching with a distinctly mischievous glint in his eyes.
~*~
"But it is not fair!" Elladan complained loudly, pointing accusingly at the bench in the corner where Cirdan was sitting alone surrounded by wood shavings from the block of wood that he was whittling. "You do not make him dance! Why cannot I sit there instead?"
The other children had grown tired of dancing and Elladan had been forced to trail regretfully back to the bench to make polite conversation and watch the dancing. His brother never seemed short of a partner, smiling sweetly at whoever met his desire, knowing that few maidens had the heart to resist him. He had been quite content watching everyone and talking to one of the elves of Guard who was unable to dance due to an injured foot, but then his Ammë had come along and said that he had to join in the dancing. Apparently listening to a vivid description of the beheading of an orc was not a suitable way to spend the evening.
Celebrian looked quickly from her son's angry face to the firm figure of the shipwright. "Eru grant me peace, Elladan! If you wish to sit in the corner, by all means do so. Speak to Lord Cirdan if you wish. He at least might think higher of your manners than I do!"
Rather stung by his mother's words Elladan stumped over to where the shipwright sat then paused a few feet from the bench as he watched the shipwright earnestly. Now that he had got his wish he did not know what he should do. It seemed rude to sit down next to anyone as important as Lord Cirdan uninvited, but he could not go back to his family. His mother and father were holding each other closely as they danced, and were talking quietly to each other. About him, Elladan suspected. Now his father would come and scold him later for his rudeness and he would have to apologise to his Ammë. It was not that he did not want to be friends with his Ammë again, but he did not like anyone make him do anything, as if he was so nasty that he would not say sorry by himself if given time.
Ignoring the small stubborn silhouette before him, Cirdan turned over the section of hull that he had shaped in his hands, pursing a lip as he detected a slight irregularity in the thickness of the wood.
"Lord Cirdan!" Elladan demanded in an imperious voice, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.
"Master Elladan." Cirdan glanced briefly upwards to look at the child then turned back to his handiwork. "May I be of assistance?"
Aggravated by the elf's apparent disinterest, Elladan pouted grumpily. One of the laces of his formal shoes had come undone, and he could feel the smooth metal of his circlet weighing down irregularly on his left ear. His tunic was crumpled and had a few bright red raspberry stains, and he no longer felt fresh or adorable. Nobody would want to teach him to make ships, just as nobody wanted to dance with him.
"Show me how to make ships." Elladan demanded sulkily, then realising how terribly rude this sounded added, more to avoid a reprimand than to be polite. "Please, Lord Cirdan."
The shipwright did not look up from his work. "No."
Elladan paused, mouth slightly open as he watched the old sea elf. He was intolerably rude and unkind and it was not fair. "Why not? I want you to."
Cirdan set down the roughly carved wooden hull and the plane and looked seriously at the boy. He was obviously frustrated and angry, and was too cross to dance or sing, much less make his first attempts at shipbuilding.
"Because I do not wish to." Cirdan said blandly then looked hard at an empty bench that was well supplied with cushions. "Why do you not sit over there?"
"Because I do not wish to!" Elladan exclaimed loudly, drawing curious looks from some of the nearby elves. He would rather dance than sit alone in a corner with everyone wondering what he had done to deserve such treatment. "I want you to show me how to make ships!"
Cirdan ignored him and resumed smoothing down the hull of the ship, each stroke steady and calm. Frowning, Elladan shifted his weight from foot to foot, watching the shipwright's hands intently.
"I do not see why you complain about our ships if you will not show me how to make a proper one." Elladan scowled stubbornly at the shipwright's beard, one fist screwing the silk of the left side of his tunic into a crumpled ball. "There is no point."
Cirdan grunted, and picked up a small square of sandpaper to smooth off the rough corners of his craft.
"I would like to make a ship." Elladan said loudly, and glared intently at the shipwright until he was sure that the elf should burn to dust under the ferocity of his gaze. He could hear the others dancing and many sweet voices raised in song behind him, but he seemed driven by a fierce determination to have his way. He could not be sent back unwanted to his parents anyway, not now that he had made Ammë cross. "I would try hard."
"Oh, very well!" Cirdan spoke at last with an air of great frustration, and before Elladan could respond, had swept him off his feet and seated him firmly in his lap. "I shall show you."
Startled by this sudden action, Elladan remained mute for a few minutes, listening intently as Cirdan launched into a lecture on the design and construction of model ships. Then, as the sea elf leant forward, carefully showing him how to choose which section of wood from which to cut the hull, he relaxed back against the larger body.
When Celebrian next looked over to the corner to check on her son, Elladan was sitting happily in the shipwright's lap, chattering excitedly as a large callused hand guided his small one. Her worry decreasing greatly, she turned back to her husband and the minstrels, not quite missing the small smile half hidden beneath the shipwright's beard.
~*~
Finally, as the final songs of the dances were played before the merry party would filter through to the Hall of Fire for singing and reciting, Celebrian called her small sons to her and wrapped an arm around each child's shoulders. Despite Elladan's stubbornness and Elrohir's excessive enthusiasm they had been remarkably well behaved, and it seemed a shame to deny them a little while of play as a reward.
"Have you enjoyed yourselves?" Celebrian took her boys by the hand and led them into a quiet corner of the room to talk. "I was proud of you."
Elrohir beamed at this and nodded vigorously, but Elladan turned a miserable shade of pink and scuffed the toe of his shoe against his bare ankle. Sure that she could see the brightness of tiny tears in the grey eyes, Celebrian drew her eldest son closer. "I was proud of you too, my Elladan."
"I am sorry, Ammë." Elladan buried his face into the layered skirts of his mother's gown and clutched her hand extra tightly.
"All is well, little one." Celebrian brushed a dangling bit of hair from his loosened braid back behind his ear, and knelt down to kiss his cheek. "I believe that you made Lord Cirdan the happier."
Elladan looked towards the shipwright and wrinkled his nose. "He is very grumpy, Ammë."
Celebrian laughed merrily and pressed the tip of her index finger to her lips, then hugged both boys to her. "You both did very well. Why do you not run and play a little while before we join in the singing?"
The twins looked at each other for a moment, their smiles growing in their faces, then hurriedly handed their mother their circlets and shoes, and dashed over to a free corner of the floor to join their friends in running and jumping, slipping and sliding, laughing and squealing, and all the other things that elflings did best.
~*~
Thanks for reading it! I hope you enjoyed it. If you have time please let me know what you thought.
~*~
To the twins' disappointment, once they reached home and had told everyone all about their exciting day and the new game that they had learnt, Celeborn had slumped into one of the chairs on the terrace and refused to move - even when tempted with the prospect of practising fencing or archery. Eventually Celebrian took pity on her father, and sent the two excited little boys away to play elsewhere for a while - Elrohir to fetch his flute and run off to a lesson with Erestor, and Elladan down to the meadows and woodlands to play with his friends.
Unfortunately though, Elladan was not sure that he wanted to play with his friends today. There was always the worry that boys from his training group would be there, and if there were many of them, then they often would not let him join in with their games. Although Iorwë would always run to play with him if asked, Elladan did not want to play with someone so much younger than him all the time. And in any case if Iorwë played with him too much, then people might begin being mean to him too, and he did not want that.
Lost in thought, Elladan wandered wherever his feet took him, drifting down through the trees towards the meadows and river. Not quite willing to go and join in the noise and activity of the games, he walked slowly around the edge of the woods to a small hollow where they often made snow forts in the winter. It faced south and was sheltered from the harsh winds by a steep rock wall that was covered in ivy and creepers. The ground in the hollow was covered in dry leaves and hay that they had hoarded from when one of the nearby fields was baled. The sun was bright through the sparse trees, and he could watch the other boys playing 'Fishnets' - a game where children took it in turns to try and run through the other team's net of held hands. It was a favourite game of his, but he did not feel like playing it today.
He wanted to think about what Elrohir had said. He was not sure that he even wanted to win anymore, not if it meant so much to his brother. Perhaps it was only fair that they should take turns at winning sometimes. Even if it did mean that he would have to do badly in front of everyone. If he lost then the other boys in his training group would laugh at him, glad of something to taunt him for. Everybody would think that he was really bad if he had practised with Glorfindel and still could not shoot well. Maybe Glorfindel would even be ashamed of him when he saw how bad he was. He did not want people to be ashamed of him or pity him. But if he won he did not think that it would feel as good as he had once thought that it would, not now that he knew how Elrohir would be feeling.
"They play that on the beaches." A voice spoke sadly from somewhere above him, and Elladan flinched backward against the rock in his surprise. It took him a moment to identify the voice as that of the shipwright, and judging from the shadows that fell into the dell then Mithrandir was with him. Ashamed at not having heard them approach, Elladan froze in position, trying not to breathe lest he should be discovered. While the rock behind was taller than an elfling, he doubted that it even came up to the shipwright's waist, and it would offer him precious little camouflage should either of the guests look down. "I remember him teaching them this game."
"He has brought them much joy." Mithrandir's voice was consoling although Elladan could tell from the shadows that Cirdan was looking away from him, into the trees. "I am sure that in turn, Elrond's own sons have been taught the rules."
"He would have loved to meet them. They are good children." Cirdan said slowly then spoke more briskly. "Although they are but small and foolish as all infants are. Look at the boats they sail. Have they no sense?"
Mithrandir chuckled tolerantly. He had already heard much of the shipwright's views on the children of Imladris' ability at shipbuilding, for it had been he who had been walking with him when they had passed the bridge from which a group of youngsters were launching pieces of bark speared with a stick and leaf, or crudely hewn models. The shipwright did not easily suffer fools, even if they were but a fraction of his age.
"A little attention to detail and a little more sense in selecting the design. What is the purpose of a sail if it cannot be turned to the wind?" Cirdan said brusquely, frowning as he remembered how often the small ships had tipped over and the disappointment of the children when they had done so. "Someone should explain the principles to them. If they just understood. . ."
Scowling viciously at the ground, Elladan wrinkled his nose and slapped the fingers and thumb of one hand together like a yattering goose. Trust Lord Cirdan to see the worst of everything. He had made a boat himself once, and while it was nowhere near as nice as his treasured gift, he had still been proud of it. And he had designed it all by himself without anyone helping him.
"Did you. . ." Cirdan asked with a note of puzzlement, looking around for the source of the noise. He had almost thought that he had heard a slight tapping noise, but his companion seemed not to be aware of the disturbance.
More worried than he was quite prepared to admit to himself, Elladan held his breath and pressed himself against the rock, curling his fists tightly around the thick stems of the ivy. Lord Cirdan already thought bad things of him, and because of that, his Ada as well. If he found him again then he would be in so much trouble.
For a moment he thought that he had escaped reprimand, for he heard Mithrandir saying, "A bird, perhaps. Come, why do you not explain to the infants yourself. . ."
"What. . ." Cirdan had apparently not been dissuaded from his search by this tempting suggestion, for there was a rustling noise and someone reached downwards and grasped the back of his tunic, hauling him up above the level of the bank. "You again!"
Flinching back at the shipwright's exasperated boom, Elladan scowled at his captor and wriggled violently in an attempt to be let down. This was not even his fault. How was he supposed to stop overhearing things if people did not remember to check for people who might accidentally overhear them before speaking? He had been hiding here first anyway, it was not his fault that Lord Cirdan had chosen to stop and talk here.
"A small spy, indeed." Cirdan's voice was dry as he observed the child, but to Elladan's relief he did not seem as angry as he had done before, more resigned than anything. "I am not fond of eavesdroppers, Master Elladan."
Burning inside at the injustice of this comment, Elladan glared at the ancient elf and kicked in the air until he was set down.
"I was not eavesdropping!" Elladan put his hands on his hips and craned his neck back to give the shipwright the full effect of his hate-filled look. "You should look where you are talking before saying important things. I would not talk about sneaking out of bed in front of Ada!"
The shipwright's bushy brows rose playfully at this, and he looked at Mithrandir with an expression that Elladan did not understand. The wizard's mouth was twitching in the manner that it often did when he wished to laugh, and the wrinkles around his eyes seemed deepened.
"You have been told, Master Shipwright." Mithrandir said solemnly then added rather more teasingly. "Consider yourself lucky not to find a sword in your neck."
The two adults began chuckling, and feeling as if he was the butt of a joke that he did not understand, Elladan took advantage of their distraction to slink off to join his friends. Sometimes he did not understand grown-ups at all.
~*~
"There we are." Celebrian fastened the last of Elrohir's braids with a tightly knotted strip of leather, and got up from her knees, using one hand to gently turn the child round as she admired the result. She had taken special care with her sons' hair, knowing that they would wish to run and jump and skip with the other young elves - something that was sure to shake even the most carefully woven hair from its braids. "Be careful with your circlets."
She carefully opened each of the flat wooden boxes carved with the children's names and the insignia of Imladris, and lifted the small silver circlet from the velvet lining. They had been a gift at the time of the twins' birth and although the boys looked quite adorable when wearing them, she had always been a little anxious lest they should accidentally poke each other's eyes out with the blunt ends.
"Elladan." The elder twin stepped forward and she placed the circlet on the dark head, kneeling down again to ensure that it lay straight then repeated the exercise with her youngest. "You both look lovely."
The twins were indistinguishable tonight to all but the most familiar eye, their dress identical from their fine shoes to their pale blue silk tunics and matching circlets. In a few years, Celebrian noted with a touch of sadness, they would be old enough to wear shirts and leggings under their tunics, and after that, formal gowns in shades to complement their father's. Tonight though, despite their eagerness to be fully-grown and able to wear boots and wield spears, both would have complained bitterly if forced into the garments that her husband would wear. It was a sweltering night with little breeze, and they were glad of their bare legs and arms.
"Are we ready?" Elladan hopped from foot to foot, not entirely happy with the heavy feeling of the new and unfamiliar shoes. He was excited about the celebration; especially the cakes and pastries that he had seen being carried through into the hall earlier today, and everything seemed to be taking so long. If they did not hurry then the soldiers of the Guard would eat everything all up.
"May we read our book whilst we wait, Ammë?" Elrohir tugged on his mother's hand for attention. Another of their gifts at birth had been a lavishly illustrated history of ages gone by, and although the boys were still rather too young for such a fine volume, they were usually allowed to read from it and admire the pictures as a special treat when they were waiting for their parents to dress for a formal occasion - the care that the twins took to avoid damaging the precious book usually ensured that their garments remained equally tidy.
"Of course," Celebrian tightened her grip on Elrohir's hand and held out an open palm for Elladan to grasp. "If you are very careful."
"We are always very careful." Elladan slipped his hand into his mother's and began pulling her toward the doorway. "And we have nothing with which to dirty it. I am too clean, Ammë."
Laughing, Celebrian allowed herself to be led out to the passageway that ran down to her own bedroom. She had bathed and changed into her undergarments before dressing the boys, but in the interests of preventing creases and accidents she rarely donned her chosen gown until the last minutes before the event. With luck her husband would be almost ready, and as she had already laid out matching garments for him she would have little to do except ensure that his circlet was level and his cuffs were buttoned. Half-elves could be incredibly lax in attending to the little details that made all the difference, and in truth she sometimes wondered how her husband had got along without her. She did not think that she wished to know how often he had not changed his undershirt during those seven long years in Mordor.
The trio entered the master bedroom and the twins broke away from their mother to leap gleefully on the bed, bouncing a couple of times for good measure.
"Look, Ada! New tunics!" Elrohir scrambled up on his knees to point proudly at the pale blue silk.
"New tunics, Ada!" Elladan dropped down onto the pillows, spreading out his arms wide to make the widest possible dent in the soft cushions.
"Very nice, boys." Elrond shifted his concentration from the complicated braiding pattern for a moment to peek in the mirror to watch his sons' reflections bounce in the glass. Those same tunics had been slightly too big for them at the celebration at the start of the summer, but now they fitted quite acceptably.
"And Ada looks very nice too, does he not?" Celebrian queried with a hint of mischief, standing on tiptoe to kiss her husband lightly on the cheek. The half-elven were slightly more sensitive to the heat than their full- blooded cousins and Elrond wore a slightly peeved look as he contemplated donning the heavy velvet gown over his shirt and leggings.
"Very nice, Ada." Elrohir nodded seriously and smiled at his father, secretly glad that he would not have to wear such heavy clothing for several years.
"I am glad that I do not have to wear that!" Elladan wrinkled his nose and pointed towards the gown that was hanging neatly from the back of a chair. "It looks hot and itchy."
"It is, my Elladan." Elrond said regretfully as he finished his braiding. "Although it is indeed very fine."
Laughing softly, Celebrian passed through into the pale coolness of their bathing chamber leaving her husband charge of their two excited sons.
~*~
"You are beautiful," Elrond took his wife's hand in his as they walked through the southern hallway to the sitting room where they would meet with their guests. Dressed like this, in a gown of simple white silk and so obviously happy she did not need her mother's power to glow. The raw fabric of the gown gleamed iridescently in the soft lamplight and the silver and mithril charms threaded in her hair made it glitter and gleam in the flickering beams.
"The night is beautiful." Celebrian corrected softly, ducking her head a little to hide her smile and blushing cheeks. "I hope that they. . ."
". . .behave?" Elrond finished for her, looking ahead of them to their sons who were scampering eagerly from side to side, exclaiming over the decorations and leaping to try and catch the large moths that fluttered around the lamps. "I am sure that they will try."
"I hope that they do not mind too much. It will be hard for them." Celebrian bit her lip slightly as she watched her boys. They had agreed that to help ease the children into proper behaviour at formal functions that they should, at this age, sit and talk with the other guests or participate in the traditional dances rather than play with their friends.
"They shall do well." Elrond said proudly then added teasingly. "At that age my brother and I were never shown such sympathy."
"At that age, Master Elrond," a deep voice commented from behind them and Elrond turned round in surprise to find the Lord of the Havens behind him, "you were too busy pressing our poor guests for information that neither of us could get a word in edgeways."
"I. . . I. . ." Elrond opened his mouth in rightful indignation, trying not to join in with Celebrian's laughter. "I was merely a curious child. . . a bright child."
The Lord of Imladris nodded in a self-satisfied manner then grinned teasingly at the shipwright.
"As bright as a candle flame, no doubt?" Cirdan said with an inquisitive raise of his eyebrows.
"Aye," Elrond agreed eyeing Cirdan a little dubiously. With the shipwright things were seldom this simple.
"Aye?" Mock surprise tinged the ancient elf's tone.
"Aye." Elrond confirmed, wondering what the sea-elf was up to. The Teleri were a strange and curious folk.
"Aye, intellect burning as a flame. . ." Cirdan rubbed one hand pensively over his closely cropped beard, "flickering appropriately, no doubt?"
"Ay. . ." Elrond halted suddenly and speared the shipwright with a look, but was left without appropriate retort.
"Flickering?" Glorfindel asked helpfully, coming up from behind and slapping a hand on each of his friend's shoulders, drawing them all into an impromptu hug. Lowering his lips to the half-elf's ear he hissed in an exceedingly audible whisper. "The Flame Imperishable, Peredhil. The Flame Imperishable."
~*~
"I do not like dancing." Elladan complained to his brother as they sat on the edge of a bench, watching their mother and father leading a Teleri dance that they did not know.
"You dance at Midwinter." Elrohir retorted half-heartedly, much of his attention focussed on the footwork of the dancers. The music for this dance was beautiful and next time it was played he wished to join in. The sea elves were singing as they danced and although he did not know all the ancient words, Elrohir joined in quietly, mouthing the words that he did not know.
"It is fun at Midwinter." Elladan paused for a moment to watch as his mother whirled under his father's arm and caught hold of Glorfindel's hand. He could not understand how such a brave warrior as Glorfindel could enjoy prancing and skipping about the hall. "This is stupid!"
Although his Ada and Ammë were laughing and looked as if they were having fun, he much preferred the dances at Midwinter when they would all join hands and sing joyful tunes as they skipped faster and faster around the great tree. This seemed to be more about patterns and trying not to trip over each other than having fun. One poor member of the Guard had just stepped on a maiden's dress and she was looking at him as if it was his fault. She should never have worn anything that long and floppy if she did not want it to be trampled on.
"It is not!" Elrohir said brightly, getting to his feet as the music stopped, and running to his mother. "Dance with me, Ammë! Dance with me!"
"I would love to, little one." Celebrian took the child's outstretched hands and gave her husband an apologetic look. "And then I shall dance with your Ada again."
Smiling in satisfaction, Elrohir dragged his mother toward the centre of the dance floor, leaving his father to stroll over to where Elladan was sitting.
"Elrohir has already mastered the trick of stealing another's partner." Elrond grinned broadly as he watched Celebrian leading their son through the moves. "Are you having fun, Elladan?"
"No." Elladan spoke in a voice that suggested strongly that his father should have known the answer. "It is completely pointless, Ada."
"It is?" Elrond's laughed at his eldest son's disgruntled expression and wrapped an arm around the child's hunched shoulders. "It is quite fun when you are with a maiden that you like."
"I do not like girls." Elladan scowled and looked longingly at the corner where the other children were laughing and playing. A few had joined in the dancing and were all holding hands in a long line as they skipped and wove in-between the older elves. "Can I not dance with them, Ada?"
Elrond looked over at the little chain of children and turned back to his son. It was better for the boy to be dancing than sitting here by himself, and there were few here that would partner him. The current dance had just ended and Celebrian seemed to be having difficulty in preventing Elrohir from splitting up a newly betrothed couple who clearly did not yet wish to change their partners. Although he was sure that Galadriel would dance with the boys if asked, they would have more fun with others their own size. "I do not see why not. Be careful not to trip anyone."
"I will Ada!" Elladan leapt off the bench, landing lightly on his hands and knees before running over to fill in a gap in the chain between Iorwë's cousin and Andüné's sister.
"Be good!" Elrond called after him and hurried over to his wife to claim her as his partner - just in time, for his rather overzealous friend had been approaching with a distinctly mischievous glint in his eyes.
~*~
"But it is not fair!" Elladan complained loudly, pointing accusingly at the bench in the corner where Cirdan was sitting alone surrounded by wood shavings from the block of wood that he was whittling. "You do not make him dance! Why cannot I sit there instead?"
The other children had grown tired of dancing and Elladan had been forced to trail regretfully back to the bench to make polite conversation and watch the dancing. His brother never seemed short of a partner, smiling sweetly at whoever met his desire, knowing that few maidens had the heart to resist him. He had been quite content watching everyone and talking to one of the elves of Guard who was unable to dance due to an injured foot, but then his Ammë had come along and said that he had to join in the dancing. Apparently listening to a vivid description of the beheading of an orc was not a suitable way to spend the evening.
Celebrian looked quickly from her son's angry face to the firm figure of the shipwright. "Eru grant me peace, Elladan! If you wish to sit in the corner, by all means do so. Speak to Lord Cirdan if you wish. He at least might think higher of your manners than I do!"
Rather stung by his mother's words Elladan stumped over to where the shipwright sat then paused a few feet from the bench as he watched the shipwright earnestly. Now that he had got his wish he did not know what he should do. It seemed rude to sit down next to anyone as important as Lord Cirdan uninvited, but he could not go back to his family. His mother and father were holding each other closely as they danced, and were talking quietly to each other. About him, Elladan suspected. Now his father would come and scold him later for his rudeness and he would have to apologise to his Ammë. It was not that he did not want to be friends with his Ammë again, but he did not like anyone make him do anything, as if he was so nasty that he would not say sorry by himself if given time.
Ignoring the small stubborn silhouette before him, Cirdan turned over the section of hull that he had shaped in his hands, pursing a lip as he detected a slight irregularity in the thickness of the wood.
"Lord Cirdan!" Elladan demanded in an imperious voice, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.
"Master Elladan." Cirdan glanced briefly upwards to look at the child then turned back to his handiwork. "May I be of assistance?"
Aggravated by the elf's apparent disinterest, Elladan pouted grumpily. One of the laces of his formal shoes had come undone, and he could feel the smooth metal of his circlet weighing down irregularly on his left ear. His tunic was crumpled and had a few bright red raspberry stains, and he no longer felt fresh or adorable. Nobody would want to teach him to make ships, just as nobody wanted to dance with him.
"Show me how to make ships." Elladan demanded sulkily, then realising how terribly rude this sounded added, more to avoid a reprimand than to be polite. "Please, Lord Cirdan."
The shipwright did not look up from his work. "No."
Elladan paused, mouth slightly open as he watched the old sea elf. He was intolerably rude and unkind and it was not fair. "Why not? I want you to."
Cirdan set down the roughly carved wooden hull and the plane and looked seriously at the boy. He was obviously frustrated and angry, and was too cross to dance or sing, much less make his first attempts at shipbuilding.
"Because I do not wish to." Cirdan said blandly then looked hard at an empty bench that was well supplied with cushions. "Why do you not sit over there?"
"Because I do not wish to!" Elladan exclaimed loudly, drawing curious looks from some of the nearby elves. He would rather dance than sit alone in a corner with everyone wondering what he had done to deserve such treatment. "I want you to show me how to make ships!"
Cirdan ignored him and resumed smoothing down the hull of the ship, each stroke steady and calm. Frowning, Elladan shifted his weight from foot to foot, watching the shipwright's hands intently.
"I do not see why you complain about our ships if you will not show me how to make a proper one." Elladan scowled stubbornly at the shipwright's beard, one fist screwing the silk of the left side of his tunic into a crumpled ball. "There is no point."
Cirdan grunted, and picked up a small square of sandpaper to smooth off the rough corners of his craft.
"I would like to make a ship." Elladan said loudly, and glared intently at the shipwright until he was sure that the elf should burn to dust under the ferocity of his gaze. He could hear the others dancing and many sweet voices raised in song behind him, but he seemed driven by a fierce determination to have his way. He could not be sent back unwanted to his parents anyway, not now that he had made Ammë cross. "I would try hard."
"Oh, very well!" Cirdan spoke at last with an air of great frustration, and before Elladan could respond, had swept him off his feet and seated him firmly in his lap. "I shall show you."
Startled by this sudden action, Elladan remained mute for a few minutes, listening intently as Cirdan launched into a lecture on the design and construction of model ships. Then, as the sea elf leant forward, carefully showing him how to choose which section of wood from which to cut the hull, he relaxed back against the larger body.
When Celebrian next looked over to the corner to check on her son, Elladan was sitting happily in the shipwright's lap, chattering excitedly as a large callused hand guided his small one. Her worry decreasing greatly, she turned back to her husband and the minstrels, not quite missing the small smile half hidden beneath the shipwright's beard.
~*~
Finally, as the final songs of the dances were played before the merry party would filter through to the Hall of Fire for singing and reciting, Celebrian called her small sons to her and wrapped an arm around each child's shoulders. Despite Elladan's stubbornness and Elrohir's excessive enthusiasm they had been remarkably well behaved, and it seemed a shame to deny them a little while of play as a reward.
"Have you enjoyed yourselves?" Celebrian took her boys by the hand and led them into a quiet corner of the room to talk. "I was proud of you."
Elrohir beamed at this and nodded vigorously, but Elladan turned a miserable shade of pink and scuffed the toe of his shoe against his bare ankle. Sure that she could see the brightness of tiny tears in the grey eyes, Celebrian drew her eldest son closer. "I was proud of you too, my Elladan."
"I am sorry, Ammë." Elladan buried his face into the layered skirts of his mother's gown and clutched her hand extra tightly.
"All is well, little one." Celebrian brushed a dangling bit of hair from his loosened braid back behind his ear, and knelt down to kiss his cheek. "I believe that you made Lord Cirdan the happier."
Elladan looked towards the shipwright and wrinkled his nose. "He is very grumpy, Ammë."
Celebrian laughed merrily and pressed the tip of her index finger to her lips, then hugged both boys to her. "You both did very well. Why do you not run and play a little while before we join in the singing?"
The twins looked at each other for a moment, their smiles growing in their faces, then hurriedly handed their mother their circlets and shoes, and dashed over to a free corner of the floor to join their friends in running and jumping, slipping and sliding, laughing and squealing, and all the other things that elflings did best.
~*~
Thanks for reading it! I hope you enjoyed it. If you have time please let me know what you thought.
