Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas or anything else from Lord of the Rings. I do however lay claim on Elrond's twin daughters as Tolkien never wrote about any twin elven girls anywhere in his books. Everything else though, as much as I wish it, is not mine and belongs to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien (a wonderful, wonderful man). Except for a 2-year-old toddler by the name of Estel (forever called tithen min by his siblings) who needs looking after.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
The months had passed swiftly; too swiftly for the elves of Imladris. The spring thaw had come and gone, and flowers were now blooming brilliantly even outside the borders of the valley. Iselle's little son was growing at an alarming rate to the elves, who were used to elven children. Darin was fully recovered, and the day was fast approaching that the three mortals would be taking their leave.
"Will you look at him!" Elladan exclaimed, his eyes focused on the child as they always seemed to be as of late. Elrond was becoming terribly amused by his children's awe of the boy. Maybe he would have grandchild before Arda ended.
Rómë glanced at where her brother was looking, but saw nothing unusual. Elladan and Elrohir were beginning to worry her; anything the child did seemed to excite them. Even laughing: especially laughing.
"I think your brothers shall miss the child more than us," Iselle laughed. She was knitting yet another shirt for the ever-growing babe.
Rómë set her book aside and leaned forward to so that she could see over the railing to the three playing below. "Yes," she sighed. "I fear as much. They have never had to let someone go before, who they will not see again. I worry for them."
Iselle stared at her in shock. "They would not die of grief simply from affection for a mortal child, surely! Please, Rómë, tell me they would not."
Elrond's youngest smiled calmly at the woman and lay a comforting hand upon her arm. "Nay, they would not. But they will miss him all the same. They have never missed anyone before. But no, I assure you, they will not die of grief." Iselle visibly relaxed and resumed her knitting, glancing up every few moments to observe they play going on in the garden.
Silenced rained for a time, the air only broken by the laughter below.
"Iselle, it is nearing the time when you have said you will leave. Do you know when you will go?"
The mother looked sadly at her; "Soon, I think. Darin is becoming anxious to leave. He has decided we shall return west and find a town where our families are not known. We can live there in peace, and raise our son without fear of persecution. But I do not wish to leave here! Never have I seen anyplace so beautiful; I did not know such places existed. I want my son to grow up here; to know your kindness and peace. But Darin says that will not be, and I shall not go against his wishes. We will leave within the fortnight."
"Very well, I shall make certain everything is ready. And a name given to the babe, lest you think I had forgotten," the she-elf laughed.
Iselle shook her head, "I had thought no such thing!" She fell silent for a moment. "Rómë?"
Arómëne tore her gaze from her brothers to meet the woman's serious look; her laughter died away. "What is it Iselle?"
"I want to say something to you, but I have not yet found the words, and I do not think I shall. You have given us so much; each day you give us more. There is no way for us to thank you, I know this, but I would say this to you nonetheless: hannon le, mellon nin."
Rómë took the knitting from her and set it aside so she could take the young mother in her arms. "You are quite welcome mellon nin, and I thank you as well. You have given us more than you can imagine." She let Iselle go. "And your pronunciation was excellent."
The two stared at each other and began to laugh so loudly it drew the attention of those below.
"It sounds as if we are missing something, toro," Elladan glanced at his brother.
"Nay, I think not. They are female, and therefore strange. They laugh for no reason."
"Ai, you are probably right. Come tithen min, let us go down to the river and leave the women to their talk," Elladan offered, and swung the child into his arms, shaking his head at his brother in bemusement.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"Safe journey to you both;" Rómë hugged Iselle one last time. Darin was already mounted a few feet away, conversing with Elrond and the twins. "May you find the happiness you seek," she added.
"We have a chance now, at least. You have given us that."
The she-elf smiled secretly at her. "Nay, it was not us. It was this little one that has brought you so much joy. A gift from Ilúvatar. I think I have a name for him now; Annaelen, it means 'star's gift', for that is what he is. You're shinning star come to light your way."
Iselle started to cry softly. "Oh, Rómë, 'tis beautiful. Thank you. I swear he shall know of you all, and one day perhaps we shall be able to return." She hugged her once more before being assisted into the saddle. A waiting elf handed Annaelen up to her. "He will remember you," she promised once more. "And so shall we."
She followed Darin out of the courtyard, looking back the entire way.
"What did you name him?" her father asked once the party was out of sight.
Rómë smiled at him. "Annaelen," she said and disappeared into the house. Elrond stayed as the last of the elves wandered back to their tasks. He stayed as the sun rose up above the trees and filled the valley with light and still he did not move. But as the guides he had sent to lead the mortal couple out of Imladris reached the bank of the Bruinen and bid the pair farewell, he set his mind towards the river, and stilled the spring rapids until their new friends had crossed.
Elrond turned back towards the house to find his youngest daughter leaning against the archway. "Thank you, Ada;" she looped her arm through his and rested her head upon his shoulder. "Do you think we shall ever see them again?"
"Perhaps; I should like to see the man Annaelen grows up to be." He led her through the hallways silently in the direction of his study. "I had forgotten what it is to have a young babe in arms near. And it was not that long ago you and your sister were that small. When did you grow up?" She laughed lightly at him.
"Ai, I do not know! I did not think we had grown up. But it was pleasant to have a child here; although I do not think seler nin knew quite what to do with him," she laughed again. "Would you like another one, Ada? I am certain we can arrange for a new mortal child every few years, to keep you young."
"Are you implying I am old? Iell, how could you say such a thing?" He stepped away from her and adopted a not completely convincing look of hurt on his face.
"I speak only the truth, as always. Elves cannot tell falsehoods after all." She grew serious suddenly, "Would you shelter others? Dunedain kin perhaps? As you gave a home to Valandil."
Her father seemed to consider this and did not answer her immediately, but poured himself a glass of wine and sat down at his desk. "If the Heirs of Isildur were in need, I would harbour them here. As you said, they are kin. And a little one running these halls would not go amiss every once in awhile."
She studied him, seeming to hesitate on her next question. "Would you allow yourself to love them, knowing they were mortal?"
Elrond look stricken, but he mastered himself quickly; pushing aside the painful thoughts of his brother's choice. "Where little ones are concerned it is rarely a matter of allowance. They will have your love, wither you give it freely or no." He turned to his daughter and took her hand gently. "You need not fear for me, wilwarin; if circumstances were right, and a child was in need of such love, lacking for instance a parent, then yes, I would love them; even as my own child."
She smiled brightly, "Good, for I wish a tithen seler. Or toro, I am not particular." She moved away from his towards the door. "Excuse me, Ada, but I have a lesson to attend within the hour, and I have not yet broken my fast." She curtsied slightly and left him to his thoughts.
Elrond took his glass to the balcony and stood at the rail, looking out across the river. Could he really allow himself to love another mortal, knowing he would loose them? And as for a young sibling for his daughter…did she want him to adopt a mortal? Elrond couldn't help but smile at the absurd thought. If any of the Heirs were ever in need of this valley, he would do what he could for them, and gladly; even permit one to be raised in his house. But to actually go to the point of adopting an Heir and raising him as his own son? Rómë could wish all she wanted, but he saw no reason to ever do such a thing. Although, to see how Dúnë would react to a little brother...
The Lord of Imladris smiled to himself and sipped his wine, as the spring sun climbed its way through the sky.