DISCLAIMER: Lord of the Rings, and its characters, sadly, do not belong to me. They are the property of JRR Tolkien, et al. No money is gained from the writing of this story. Its sole purpose is for the enjoyment of myself and all who read it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Destinies Entwined
Chapter 3
Part One
Elladan knew that something was going on. He could feel it in the air. He also knew that both his father and Glorfindel were doing all they could to keep both him and his brother from finding out what it is. This only made him that much more determined to find out what it is they're hiding.
Unfortunately, Elladan knows that Elrohir will be of little use. His thoughts are so wrapped up in the she-elf Meoi, that he is practically useless. Although, if Elladan was completely honest with himself, he would admit that a certain russet haired she-elf was occupying many of his own thoughts. Pushing that to the back of his mind, Elladan sets out to find out what his father is hiding.
Searching
his father's private study, Elladan feels a minor pang of guilt. He
dislikes sneaking around, but his desire to find out what is going on
far out weighs any guilt he may be feeling. Looking through his
father's desk, Elladan comes across the
parchment from Lord
Thranduil. Reading through it quickly, his eyes grow wide in
surprise.
Quickly replacing the parchment in it's original spot, he quietly leaves the study and goes in search of his twin. While looking for Elrohir, he comes across Elendil, who has chosen to train in the early afternoon breeze. Watching her twist and turn, thrusting and parrying against an unseen combatant, he is awestruck. Watching her, he recalls the conversation he had just the other day with his father.
----------------------------------------------------------------
"You look as though something is on your mind, Elladan," Elrond says, watching his eldest son closely.
"I was wondering if you knew anything about Elendil's father, Galen of Caras Galathon?"
"Quite a bit, actually. Why do you want to know about Galen?" Elrond asks, already knowing the answer.
"I want to know Elendil better, but I don't want to upset her by asking about her father. So, I thought, perhaps, you would know something," he says, looking at his father expectantly.
Chuckling, Elrond leads his eldest son into the study. Closing the door, he motions his son over to a chair. Sitting down across from his son, Elrond thinks a moment before speaking. "Galen was a lifelong friend of your mother," he starts, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "At one time he was a friend and confidante of both Lord Thranduil and your grandfather. He was also a magnificent swordsman and archer. Upon one of his tenures in Mirkwood, he met and fell in love with Lillithien, Elendil's mother. Not long after that, they were wed and returned to Caras Galathon. I assume you know what happened to Galen?" Elrond asks, after telling his son what he wanted to know.
"Yes. Elendil told me that her father was killed by orcs when she was young. I just wanted to know more. Annon le, ada," Elladan says, just before leaving the study.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Watching Elendil now, he can see that she inherited her father's skill with a blade. Although he wanted nothing more than to stand there watching her, he quietly slips away, unnoticed.
Searching out his brother, he finds him in the company of Meoi. The two elves are sitting, quietly talking and laughing. Approaching them, Elladan clears his throat to get their attention. "Sorry to disturb you two, Ro, but I need to speak with you now," Elladan says, anxious to tell his twin what he has found.
"Meoi", Elrohir says, smiling at the she-elf. "Would you excuse me? It seems my brother is impatient to impart his wisdom on me," he adds, with a mischievous grin.
"Of course. Maybe I'll go find Elendil and keep her company," Meoi says, smiling at him. As the two brothers walk off, Meoi can't help but wonder what is so important. Shrugging it off, she gets up from where she is sitting and goes to find her friend.
"What is it Dan? What is so important that you had to drag me away from Meoi?" Elrohir asks, mock irritation in his voice.
"I know what father and Glorfindel are hiding Ro. I know why Elendil came here," Elladan says, all teasing gone from his voice.
"What is it then Dan?"
"There's trouble in Mirkwood."
"When isn't there?"
"No. This is different Ro. Much different. Something is pushing orcs out of Ered Mithrin in ever increasing numbers. Lord Thranduil sent scouts out to find out what it is, and only one came back, barely alive. He had been attacked by something that shredded him. He kept mumbling something about a beast much like the ancient Fire-drakes, but on a smaller scale. It was ferocious in it's attack, and the only thing that saved the scout was that he fell off of a ledge and the thing couldn't reach him because it couldn't fly. Lord Thranduil thinks it may be a descendent of the fire-drakes."
"That's ridiculous. Fire-drakes disappeared from Middle Earth a long time ago."
"All I know is that Thranduil thinks that they didn't all leave. Something is pushing the orcs out of the mountains. And there aren't very many things in Middle Earth that can scare an orc. They are over-running Mirkwood. Orc attacks have increased at an alarming rate."
"Wait a minute. How do you know all this Dan?"
"I snuck into father's study and read the parchment that Lord Thranduil sent."
"You snuck into father's study! Do you have any idea how angry he would have been if he'd caught you?" Elrohir asks his twin, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I know Ro, he would have been furious. But he didn't catch me," Elladan says, laughing at the look on his brother's face.
"Well, what do you think we should do about this?" Elrohir asks, already knowing what his twin is going to say.
"I think we should offer our services to Lord Thranduil," Elladan says, a twinkle in his grey eyes. "After all, we do have a marked interest in the well-being of Mirkwood, and her residents," he adds, merriment in his eyes.
"That, we do, brother, that we do," Elrohir adds, torn between looking forward to the chance to kill some orcs and wanting to stay to be near Meoi. Glancing at his brother, he can see that Elladan is struggling with the same dilemma in regards to Elendil.
"Father isn't going to be too happy about our decision Dan," Elrohir says, wondering exactly how his brother plans on broaching the subject with their father.
"No, I should say he isn't. But it's not as though we are still elflings that he can order to stay at home Ro," his brother answers.
"True, true. So, how are we going to approach him on this Dan?" Seeing the look in his brother's eyes, he shakes his head. "You hadn't thought of that, had you? I suppose you want me to figure it out," he says, mock annoyance in his voice.
"Well, I did find out what he and Glorfindel were hiding. I did my part. Now it's your turn," Elladan says with an impish grin.
"Great. You had the easy part," Elrohir says, laughing. Shaking his head, Elrohir walks off, trying to figure out just the right way to approach his father. Shrugging his shoulders, he knows there is no right' way to do it. Deciding that a unified front would be much better than doing this alone, he backtracks and grabs Elladan before he can walk off. "I am not doing this alone. Father will want to know how we found out. That's when you get to fill him in on your little search of his study," Elrohir says, laughing at the look on his twin's face.
Arm and arm, they go off to find their father.
Part Two
"You
plan to do what?" Elrond asks, not at all surprised. He knew
that his son's would find out a way to figure out the reason Lady
Elendil had journeyed to Imladris. He had just hoped that their
interest in the two she-elves would keep them in Rivendell.
Unfortunately, that isn't so.
"We are going to offer our assistance to Lord Thranduil in regards to his orc problem," Elladan says, repeating what his twin has already said.
"I see. And just how did you learn of his problem?" Elrond asks, noticing the look in his eldest son's eyes.
"Well...I searched your study and found the parchment Lord Thranduil sent. I apologize for invading your privacy father," he says, in response to the flash of anger in his father's eyes, "But both you and Glorfindel were adamant about us NOT finding out, and it made me all the more determined to find out why," he adds, watching his father intently.
Shaking his head, Elrond decides to give in, for he knows all too well that once they have made up their minds, there is no changing them. He knows that his sons will go regardless of his wishes in the matter. "Very well. Be ready tomorrow. I will be sending aid to him then. As is your grandfather, Celeborn. The elves are creating a unified front against this threat that has been made on our brethren."
"Yes father," they say in unison.
As they leave their father's side, their thoughts turn to the two she-elves from Mirkwood. Though Elendil and Meoi have only been in Rivendell a short time, they both have become important to the twin sons of Elrond. With silent agreement, they separate, each searching out the she-elf that is occupying their thoughts.
Praying to Illuvitar that Elendil is still training, Elladan returns to where he last saw the she-elf. Finding her still there, he sends up a prayer of thanks to Illuvitar for smiling down on him. Watching her for a moment, he wonders how she could have taken hold of his heart so easily.
Standing there, he wonders how to alert her to his presence without startling her. Settling on a way, he approaches. "You are a magnificent swords woman, Lady Elendil of Mirkwood," Elladan says, chuckling softly.
"Prince Elladan," Elendil says, smiling. "I didn't know you were there," she says, sheathing the daggers that had once been her father's.
"Please, do not stop on my account," he says, teasing.
"I'm not. I think I have trained long enough."
"Then, would you like to take a walk?" he asks, a hint of sadness in his grey eyes.
"I'd be delighted," Elendil answers, curious about the sadness she can see in his eyes.
"Are you enjoying your stay here?" Elladan asks, prolonging the inevitable.
"Very much. But that isn't what you want to talk about, is it?" she asks, already knowing the answer.
"No, it isn't. Elrohir and I will be leaving Rivendell tomorrow," he says, struggling to control his emotions. Never has anyone ever caused such conflicting emotions in him, and he is momentarily overwhelmed by the fierce protectiveness he feels for the she-elf.
"Tomorrow? Why so soon?" Elendil asks, her own emotions warring with each other. She is equally shocked, saddened, and fearful, without fully understanding why.
"We are going to Mirkwood, to aid your uncle in dealing with the increased threat of orcs, and whatever it is that is driving them out of Ered Mithrin into Lasgalen."
"Lord Elrond told you of my uncle's message? I got the feeling that he was trying to keep it from you," Elendil says, fear gripping her for his safety.
"No, he didn't tell us."
"Let me guess," Elendil says, grinning impishly. "The harder he tried to keep you from finding out, the more determined you were to do so," she adds, remembering how stubborn Legolas had told her that Elladan Elrondion was.
"Yes, as a matter of fact," he says, laughing.
"So, how did you find out?"
"I snuck into his study and searched his desk until I found the message."
"I should have known," Elendil says, shaking her head. "I will pray to Illuvitar for your safe return Elladan Elrondion, Prince of Imladri,s, she adds, her voice filled with emotion.
"And I shall count the days until I can look into your grey-green eyes again, Lady Elendil of Mirkwood," Elladan says, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. After kissing her hand, he turns and walks away, heavy-hearted.
Elrohir, his mind on finding Meoi, and not on watching where he is going, nearly trips over her as he walks past where she is sitting.
"Whatever is on your mind must be awfully important indeed, for you to not see me sitting here Elrohir," Meoi says, smiling at the sheepish grin on his face.
"Actually, I was thinking of you," Elrohir says quietly. "I thought you were going to look for Elendil," he says, stalling.
"I was going to, but...," she says, her voice trailing off. "You said you were looking for me. Pray, tell, what for?" she says playfully.
"I wanted to be the one to tell you that I will be leaving Rivendell on the morrow."
"Leaving? Why?" Meoi asks, unsure how to react to this news.
"Elladan and I are going to Mirkwood, to assist Lord Thranduil with the heightened threat of orcs and whatever is scaring them out of Ered Mithrin."
Noticing the flash of rage in the elf prince's eyes at the mention of orcs, Meoi can't help but wonder what event in the past put it there. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she decides to ask. "Why is there so much rage in you at the mention of those vile creatures?" she asks, wincing at the pained look that crosses his face.
"Do you not know of what happened to my mother, Celebrian?", he asks. At the shake of her head, he adds "I am surprised that Elendil did not tell you. My mother was traveling to Caras Galathon when she was attacked by orcs. They took her and tortured her before Elladan and I were able to rescue her. She had received a poisoned wound, and only through the skilled hands of our father was she healed. In body, anyway. Her spirit was broken. She no longer found joy in Middle Earth and the year after her rescue she sailed away to the undying lands. Elladan and I vowed to make those vile creatures pay, and we do, every chance we get," he tells her, his voice filled with sorrow.
"I am so sorry Elrohir. I... I had no idea. Annon le," she says gently, placing her hand on his cheek, "for telling me about your mother. I can see the pain in your eyes, and I know the telling of it was not easy."
Taking her hand in his, he gently kisses her palm. "It is a tale I have shared with no other, save my father. The telling of it to you now has lightened my spirit some. I will look forward to seeing your beautiful smile, upon my return," he tells her, his smile lighting up his grey eyes.
"As I will look forward to seeing you again," Meoi says, her eyes moist.
Standing there watching him walk away, she wonders just how he had managed to slip past all her defenses and steal her heart without her knowledge.
As the sun begins to peek it's head over the edge of the Misty Mountains, turning the morning sky a soft pink mingled with gold, Elladan and Elrohir, the twin sons of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, move to the front of the column of elves headed for Mirkwood. Having already said their good-byes to their father earlier, they both leave their home with heavy hearts. Turning almost in unison, they stare, for just a moment, at two she-elves huddled together; one with hair as black as night, the other with hair the color of the leaves in autumn.
TBC...
