Disclaimer: All things related to Middle Earth belong to J.R.R. Tolkien… I'm just borrowing it for a bit. I promise to put everything back when I'm done.
A/N: Happy Birthday, 'Dan!
Special Days
"'Ro!" A soft, anxious whisper broke the pre-dawn silence. There was a soft thump, and the light patter of small, unshod feet skittering across the chill hardwood floor.
"Wake up 'Ro!" A young, dark-haired elfling implored as he shoved the blanket-covered lump in the bed across from his. A muffled groan came from under the soft blankets, proving the lump was, in fact, alive.
"Go 'wayit'searly" The lump muttered sleepily, much to the elfling's chagrin. This was not the reaction he wanted. A dark scowl formed on his fair young face. He studied the unmoving lump, unconsciously imitating his father's formidable glare. Finally, he decided this sort of behavior should not be tolerated. Quietly he snuck away from the bed, leaving the lump in peace. The lump snored on, oblivious to the displeasure of the thwarted elfling. Then, without even a word of warning, the elfling tore across the room and leapt up onto the bed, pouncing on the unmoving lump.
"'Dan!" came the muffled shriek from the attacked lump, and then the bed exploded in a flurry of bedclothes, feathers, pillows, and elflings. The battle raged in the soft pre-dawn light, and both combatants were doubled over with laughter before the end. Slowly the feathers and the pillows stopped flying, leaving two out-of-breath elflings on the once elegantly furnished bed. They were alike as two peas in a pod, from their dark mussed hair, to their bright grey eyes, to the way they lay sprawled in identical giggling heaps.
"'Ro?" Elladan asked between giggles, looking over at his twin.
"Yes 'Dan?" Elrohir replied, still trying to catch his breath.
"Do you remember what today is?" Elladan asked with a fire-bright grin. In response, Elrohir whapped his twin with a pillow.
"Of course!" he answered scornfully. After a moment he added, "Do you think ada and naneth remember too?"
Elladan furrowed his brow in thought, considering the question. Sometimes adults could be very forgetful, besides being strange in general. Perhaps it would be best to remind them. He shot a questioning glance to Elrohir. His twin had evidently come to the same conclusion because his brother scooted off the bed, landing with a soft thump on the polished wood floor. Elladan followed hurriedly.
The carven oak door swung open silently, propelled by the combined force of the two young elflings. The darkened room was silent, and the courage that had sustained the pair thus far failed them at this lack of warm reception. Elrohir crept forward first, with Elladan hard on his heels. Quietly they scrambled up onto the foot of the bed… then stopped in shock.
"Ada? Naneth?" Elladan queried softly, even though it was evident that neither were there. Elrohir looked as lost as his twin felt. Perhaps they had forgotten – sometimes ada and naneth would go riding alone, and sometimes, very rarely, they stayed out all day. Of course Glorfindel or Erestor would be here for them but… even Glorfindel would not be good enough today. Carefully Elrohir scooted across the empty bed and cuddled his ada's pillow. The frown on his face deepened – the pillow was not even warm. Elladan came after him, dragging the disturbed coverlet. The two snuggled together for mutual comfort like a pair of lost puppies. Within minutes, they were both asleep, curled up in the abandoned bed.
Lord Elrond Peredhil, master of the Last Homely House, wearily strode though the halls towards his own room. He had not seen his bed since the ranger company had clattered into his courtyard in the dead of the night. The Dúnedain had fallen afoul of a band of orcs. Both parties had been unprepared for battle, but the orcs had been part of a war party, while the humans, unfortunately, had not. Most of their band had been more dead than alive when he had first seen them. Not only had half of their band been made up by lightly armed women, most of the humans had been woefully young and inexperienced in the ways of battle, even for their kind. Valar bless her, Celebrian had stayed by his side all through the night, helping to calm the women and younger rangers. The injuries had been severe, but he could safely say not that most, if not all, of the Dúnedain would live to walk their beloved wilds once more. Celebrian had elected to stay in the infirmary with a young mother who was highly traumatized by the whole experience, and rightly so.
The halls were quiet at this hour of the morning. It felt especially still after the barely controlled panic that he had been living through during the last couple of hours. He was thankful the hour was still early – he intended to make today special for his sons. First, however, he felt a bath was sorely needed. The stench of blood and death still followed him, bringing with it unpleasant and unwelcome memories. No, today would be cheerful, a day to relax with his family…
His thoughts were interrupted by one of his aides dashing towards him with unseemly haste. The tall, studious elf looked positively flustered, which was a most unusual occurrence. Elrond had to rely heavily on his much-vaunted diplomatic ability to keep from laughing outright at the almost pathetically relieved expression on the younger elf's face.
"My lord, a moment…" the aide began, uncertain of his Lord's mood.
"Go on, Tuluneth." Elrond encouraged patiently. Sometimes he wondered what it was that inspired members of his staff to behave so nervously around him. Perhaps Glorfindel had been telling them wild stories again. Regaining his courage, the aide plowed onward.
"My Lord, another band of Dúnedain have arrived, inquiring after the first." Elrond raised a wry eyebrow at that. He strongly doubted the hardened warriors were simply 'inquiring'. Sometimes he could see his twin's fierce stubbornness in Elros' offspring.
"They also beg an audience with you, sir." Tuluneth added with a slight grimace. Actually, the edain had not 'begged' anything – demanded would be more correct. Such crude, ungainly creatures…
Elrond bit back a sigh. It seemed as if all of Arda wanted to stand between him and his plans for today. He quickly glanced out a nearby window, judging the time. It was still early enough that his sons should not be awake yet.
"I will come. Please show the Dúnedain into the infirmary." Elrond requested. The aide nodded, then hurried off to fulfill his Lord's orders. Elrond watched him go and contemplated slipping off for a quick cat-bath and a change of clothes. After a bit of internal debate, he decided he did not have enough time. Besides, the sooner he dealt with his unexpected guests, the sooner he could get on with his plans for the day uninterrupted. As he headed back to the infirmary, he fantasized about leaving Imladris to Glorfindel and Erestor, packing up his family, and heading off for some secluded place where he had no responsibilities.
