~Chapter 8 ~ A Brother's Love~

Elrohir and the four elves he had taken rushed to the other side of the path. Elladan had found something significant and now his heart beat hard in his chest. The elf who had found them lead them along the path Elladan had taken.

When they came upon Dínollo, Elladan was still kneeling by him. Elrohir stooped behind him, looking at the dying elf with concern.

After the young elf had passed onto the Halls of Mandos, Elrohir spoke, "You have found something?"

Elrohir blanched at the shred of pink cloth Elladan handed to him. Looking over the trail, the two agreed that it was their mother who had come this way. The group continued on the trail, pausing only to confirm they were still on it in the dim light.

Coming over a ridge, Elrohir thought he saw movement down near the bottom. Silently motioning for the elves to ready their bows, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it. They stealthily moved down the hollow, eyes wide with vigilance.

Elrohir heard and saw the first arrow and whirled behind a tree. The arrow pierced the air where his head had been a moment earlier.

'We have to get down there,' he thought as he returned fire.

He came from behind the tree and searched the defense quickly. As he returned to the cover, he knew they were nearly evenly matched. He pulled another arrow and called out.

"Keep approaching," he yelled as he flew out from behind the tree.

Crashing down the hill with reckless speed, he heard the others do so as well. He shot the arrow, which hit an orc in the eye as he readied his own arrow. The shot fell short. Elrohir drew his sword and cut down an approaching arrow, then cut down the nearest orc.

He felled several in this manner, savagely slicing throats and stomachs, leaving a bloody trail behind. Finding himself in the clear for a moment, Elrohir looked around at the others and how they were doing. A few were lightly injured, but the battle seemed to be going well for them.

Elrohir found Elladan in a fierce battle of his own, fending off blows from an orc with his bow. Satisfied that all were doing well for their part, and knowing that he should have trusted them in the first place, Elrohir returned to his own fight.

No sooner did he turn from Elladan did he hear his cry of pain. Whipping around, he saw his brother's left arm fall limp with the arrow still protruding from the wound. While the elder saw the orc coming from in front, he did not notice the one approaching from behind.

Fear and love overcame him. His mind flashed back to the rescue Elladan had performed so many years ago as he ran to cover his brother's blind side. Elladan fell to his knees after killing the orc.

"Eärendil!" Elrohir cried as he leapt between the offending orc and his brother.

The orc's sword was positioned low for Elladan, and he had no time to adjust when Elrohir suddenly appeared in front of him. The name of the favored elven star shouted from a maniacal leaping elf put cold fear into the orc, and so only momentum kept his legs moving. Elrohir jammed his sword into the orc's throat; black blood sprayed from his gnarled mouth.

Sudden searing pain shot through Elrohir's left side, and he knew that he had been cut. Hazarding a glance, he saw the black blade had sliced into his side, cutting vertically. It would have missed completely if he had been an inch to the right.

"Elrohir," he heard Elladan's pained cry.

'Probably thinks I'm dead,' he thought wryly.

The orc fell back and Elrohir moved with the blade still clutched by the foul creature. He stepped on the hand guard and pulled himself off the sword, and then freed his own sword free from the neck.

"It's only a cut," he said as he gripped the bloody wound, "We must fight on."

Nodding grimly, the two looked upon each other with profound rapport. Going together, they covered each others backs as they fought the vicious orcs down to the last pair. The two ran, fearing greatly, and rightly, for their lives.

"Wait," Elrohir said as one elf readied an arrow, "We will follow, they may lead us to Nána."

Nodding, the remaining elves followed the two wayward orcs into a small clearing. In the center was their mother and another lady, a daughter of an elf in Rivendell. The two were tied to a large tree, both were unconscious and bleeding from several wounds.

Pulling his own bow, Elrohir reached for an arrow before realizing he was out. Elladan handed one to him.

"For Nána," he whispered.

Nodding firmly, Elrohir nocked the arrow and aimed. Another elf joined him.

"Now," he hissed as the two arrows flew strait.

The two orcs dropped, both with an arrow protruding from their neck. The twins ran blindly into the clearing. Stopping in front of their mother, they quickly cut the bonds holding the two women and gently lowered them to the ground.

"Nána," Elrohir whispered as he felt tears well up.

"Nána, please wake up," Elladan said softly.

Finally, her closed lids fluttered and Celebrían moaned in pain.

"Elladan? Elrohir? My sons," she murmured, "My boys."

She continued murmuring as the two carried her back to the road where the horses waited. Elrohir carried their mother, since both of his arms were working, and another elf carried the maiden, who they learned was named Lothuial. She was less injured than their mother, who seemed to have taken the brunt of torture due to her station.

Lothuial, however, spoke little during the five day ride back to Rivendell. Four had come back with the two women, and the others remained to bury the dead.

Weeks passed and their mother slowly healed from her physical wounds, but the horror of her captivity and unending pain from the poisoned wounds left her a shell of her former spirit. Rivendell's family mourned their beloved matriarch as she decided to leave the circles of the world and dwell in the lands of Valinor.

~*~*~

Elrohir rested his chin on his right hand and absently twirled a leaf in his left. He was sitting on the floor in the Hall of Fire, leaning against a door post. His mother had recently decided to travel to the Grey Havens, and then onward to Valinor.

It had been a difficult decision for her; she loved her family very much, but she could not deny happiness to her own soul. Elrohir knew he would see her again anyway.

Soft footsteps echoed in the hall. Glancing over his shoulder, Elrohir saw his brother approaching. Contemplation softened his features as he sat by his brother, facing inside. The elder's shoulder had healed long ago and his archery skills had returned to their previous prowess. Elrohir had also healed as well, faster than his brother though, since his was only a flesh wound.

Finally deciding upon what to say, Elladan spoke softly, "We will be escorting Nána."

A long moment of silence descended on the two as they both knew what lay in their destination. They would only go to the Grey Havens, ensuring their mother find her true peace.

It was, however, the Grey Havens that both dreaded. Elladan knew he would see Silluina there, and he knew that her look of elation upon seeing her love would crush his heart. Her love, his brother, Elrohir.

"She will be there," Elladan hazarded.

Sighing, Elrohir knew then that his brother still loved her. But he knew something Elladan did not.

"She will not be there," he answered.

Turning his head sharply, Elladan looked at his brother. Elrohir, however, stared strait ahead. He was reminiscing the day she left, forty years earlier.

~*~*~

Elrohir walked silently along the path that wound along the gushing stream. The path split from the creek, and just ahead it split off and lead to a stone bench. He arrived in the small clearing, checking once more to see if he was followed.

He moved up and seated himself next to the woman there. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she did not wear her sapphire circlet. Silluina stared at the ground ahead of her for a long time before she finally spoke.

"I am happy you have come," she said.

Raw emotion clung to her words.

Swallowing hard, Elrohir answered, "You do not sound happy."

Laughing harshly, "I will never be happy again, Elrohir."

She glanced sharply at him, "Your rejection hurts. More than anything I have ever felt before. I almost feel like a fool for allowing myself to fall in love."

"It was a bad circumstance," he said, trying to justify the feelings both keenly felt, "We would have made a wonderful couple."

Her eyes softened as she reflected on the thought, "I wish we still could."

The sound of the creek gurgling filled the silence. It was a long moment before either spoke.

"I want there to be an 'us,'" she whispered, "I want you to love me."

"I do love you," he said firmly, "I will always love you. But as long as Elladan loves you too, there can be no 'us.' It hurts me as much as it hurts you."

Fresh tears streamed down her face. Unable to bear her tears, he pulled her close and she cried on his shoulder. They sat in each others arms for a long while.

"Tell me," she asked softly, "Is it true that you have a choice to become human or elf?"

Frowning, he looked at her curiously, "Why do you ask?"

"If I should leave this world, I want to know if I will see you again. Either in Valinor or in the Halls of Mandos, I do not want to be alone for eternity."

'Essentially, I am to decide my race here and now,' he thought.

He had always wanted to wait for Elladan to make his choice first, and he would follow the elder because he did not wish to be separated from his twin. But their father had become an elf, and their uncle had chosen a mortal life.

Elrohir could not know what his brother would chose; it had been years since the two had discussed the choice of fate that was laid before them. But he also knew that he could not simply chose the life his brother chose, he must follow his own path as well. Like their father, he may have to come to terms with a separation of fate with his own twin.

But he couldn't make such a life-affecting decision on a whim. This was his choice, and he would make it on his own volition.

'Silluina must know this,' he thought as he sighed heavily.

Their eyes met and she knew.

"I have asked too much of you," she began, but was silenced by Elrohir's hand.

"If I see you again, either in Valinor, or the Halls of Mandos, you will know my choice," he murmured quietly.

Nodding softly, they kissed softly and parted as Silluina left the clearing and made her way back to Rivendell alone. Elrohir, however, remained seated on the bench till darkness took the woods and the delegation from the Grey Havens had begun their return journey.

~*~*~

Elrohir flicked the leaf away. Their rendevous was a private memory, and he alone of the twins knew just where she was, but Elladan could guess.

"She left for the Undying Lands," he asked.

His brother had been in silent contemplation for a long moment, long enough that Elladan had thought the younger had fallen asleep. It was a secret that Elrohir was musing, a secret Elladan could only venture at. The twins had always been open with their private thoughts, but now they kept them hidden.

There seemed to be an ever-growing chasm between them, and it was moments like this that he wished it wasn't so wide.

Elrohir turned his head at the prompt, "Yes. Soon after she arrived back from her visit here."

Nodding softly, Elladan looked forward again. It was probably Elrohir and him who had sent her to the promised peace of Valinor. He vaguely wondered if their mother would see her there. Then he wondered if he would meet Silluina there someday.

He had not yet made that decision, and he did not want to make it over a women. Pushing those thoughts aside, Elladan stood and offered a hand to his brother.

"Adar wants us to make preparations for an escort to the Grey Havens," he said, "We leave in two mornings."

He accepted the hand and rose to his brother. They had grown in mind and spirit over the last forty years, though they had also grown apart. Such was the way with life, friends come and go, the bonds of brotherhood are made and broken.

Smiling at him, Elrohir grasped his brother's shoulder. Returning the gesture, Elladan looked into his brother's eyes. They knew there would be more times in their future when the other would need a helping hand; always they would be there for each other.

Always, brothers first.

A/N - Ah, hate it? Like it? Let me know. Thanks!