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.
AN: I'm not entirely happy with this. This was one of those situations where I kind of got carried away with things…and just wrote. But it's my longest chapter yet, if that counts for anything.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"Ada! Ada! You must come and see ada! El'dan has brought dwarves with him!"
Ten-year-old Estel could not stop his excitement spilling from his mouth as he rushed into his father's study.
Elrond smiled, amused at the child's antics. "Oh he has, has he? And does he bring them as prisoners or guests?"
Estel looked appalled at this question. "Guests of course, Ada. Why would we want dwarves as prisoners?"
"A very good point, but why do you not go and enquire of Elladan himself why he brings dwarves to the Valley?"
The boy was off like a light and Elrond, laughing still, followed at a pace fitting an elven-lord of his stature; though like his young son, he was just as curious.
Elrond was surprised to see just how many dwarves there really were. Thirteen to be exact and a small being he identified as a hobbit at second glance and…Gandalf. He should have known.
"Well, well, Mithrandir, you have amazed me once more. And why do you show up upon my doorstep with such a large company?"
"Ah, Master Elrond! We have come seeking you wisdom, and a brief rest, if you do not mind?" But of course Gandalf knew Elrond did not mind at all, and that the Last Homely House was always open to any travelers in need of aid.
"Be welcome, mellon nin." And here Elrond switched to the common tongue, for he and Gandalf had been conversing in Sindarin. "Welcome to you all; my home is open to any in need of rest and aid. I am Elrond, master of this Valley. Please, we will show you to rooms where you may refresh yourselves. Dinner will be waiting for you when you are finished." He motioned Elladan and Elrohir, who had been standing near him since entering the courtyard. "Please show our guests to their rooms. I mid you a good day," he addressed the visitors again.
But as Elrond turned to leave the courtyard, he realized that he had not seen any sign of Estel. "Elrohir," he called as he turned around. "Have you seen your brother?"
Elrohir glanced around him with a confused expression. "Why yes, Adar, he was only just here. Estel?! Estel, where are you?"
"Here I am," a voice whispered from behind the nearby bushes. Estel stepped out and gave his father a nervous glance.
Elrond motioned him forward and leaned down to whisper in the child's ear. "What is wrong ion nin, you were so excited in my study?"
"I didn't, um, realized how, um, big they were Ada."
"Oh," Elrond nodded in understanding. "Well, I promise you Estel, they will do you no harm. Why do you not go with the twins and show our guests to their rooms? I must speak with Gandalf." Estel nodded and scampered off after his brothers, who were already leading the large part into the house.
"He has grown since last I saw him," came a voice at his shoulder. Elrond turned to the wizard and nodded, eyes distant. "Yes, he has. Too fast, much too fast."
"But come, mellon nin; I think we have much to discuss."
Estel said not a word as he followed the dwarves down the hall to the guest wing. He hid in the shadows as Elladan and Elrohir showed the party the bathing room and directed to bedrooms where they might rest until the evening mood. The young boy was extremely curious about these new guests, and wondered what they were doing here, but he was too terrified to ask them.
But when all thirteen of the dwarves had been shown to rooms, Estel realized there was one more member of the party that he had overlooked. He was the size of a boy younger even than Estel, but he did not look like a boy, nor was he a dwarf.
At the same time, the queer guest seem to notice for the first time that there was a boy following the group, though he was trying in vain to hid behind a nearby statue.
"Excuse me, my lord," Bilbo asked of the twin elves, for though he could remember their names, he did not know which was which.
"Yes Master Hobbit? Here is a room where you can rest," Elladan motioned to the door he had stopped in front of. "Is there anything you need?"
"Yes, thank you. I was wondering, though I'm sure it's not my place; who that young boy is who is following us?"
The two elves laughed in amusement. "Estel, come here," Elrohir called. "You need not be afraid. This is Mr. Bilbo Baggins, and he is a hobbit from the Shire."
Estel hesitantly approached his brothers' sides and wearily held out his hand. "Nice to meet you Mr. Baggins."
"And a pleasure to meet you, Estel, was it?" Elladan nodded. "That means 'hope' does it not?"
Estel nodded. "You know elvish?" He was not so nervous anymore, for Bilbo was actually shorter than him.
"Oh, only a little bit. Am I right?" The hobbit looked slightly surprised.
"Yes you are, Master Baggins. Estel does indeed mean 'hope' in our tongue. He is a ward of my father, Elrond, and my foster-brother. We shall leave you in peace Bilbo. Someone will come to call you for dinner at sundown."
"Oh, thank you. It was nice meeting you!" He called, as all three brothers were already disappearing down the hall.
"Well," said Bilbo aloud. "That was a strange meeting. I wonder what a child of men is doing in a house of elves?
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"Rómë! Rómë! You will never guess who is here?"
"Oh I won't, will I? Are you so sure about that Estel? You are not the only one who heard of our new guests. But have you seen them already?" She smiled as Estel climbed onto the bench beside her.
"Oh yes, I was in the courtyard when they got here. And I helped the twins show them to their rooms. And I met Mr. Baggins, he's a hobbit! I've never met a hobbit before, have you?"
"Why I have Estel, though not Mr. Baggins. When I was younger I traveled with your brothers often in the lands west of here, where hobbits live. They are an interesting people, aren't they? Did you like Mr. Baggins?"
"Oh yes, he is shorter than me!"
Rómë laughed. "Yes he is! And that is something new for you. Well, have you heard? We're to have a feast and singing in the Hall of Fire tonight."
Estel began to bounce excitedly. "Can I come? Please, Rómë, can I come?"
"Hum, well, I suppose so, but you may not be up past your bed time, am I understood? And you are not to bother our guests."
"Oh I won't, I promise. Thank you Rómë! What are you doing?"
Arómenë turned to the book so the boy could read the spine. Estel's face fell. "Oh, it's just one of Ada's herb books. I thought it was a history book; that is what you were reading yesterday."
"Well, I finished that one. But one can never have enough knowledge in herb lore. Don't you want to be a great healer like Ada one day?" Estel nodded. "Well, than you will have to learn this too. It's not that boring. Perhaps when you start your practical lessons with Ada this summer, it will be more interesting."
"Do you really think so?" The child's eyes were imploring. Elrond had been promising to start teaching him practical medicine, instead of reading from a book, for months now.
"Yes, I really think so. Now, unless my eyes deceive me, dinner shall be soon. Go and wash and put on your dress tunic. And be on your best behavior tonight, Estel."
"Oh, yes Rómë. See you at dinner!" He called, already half way down the hall.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
"I am not coming. The last thing I wish to do is sit in that hall, with a forced smile on my face, and listen to thirteen dwarves talking about rocks and mithril! I will stay here and eat in my room, and you may tell Ada what you will."
Rómë gave an exasperated sigh and gave up. Arguing with one's twin was akin to arguing with yourself. And the youngest half-elf had never won an argument with herself. "Fine, do what you will seler; you always do. But you can march down to Ada's study right now and tell him yourself. I am so tired of making excuses for you!" She resorted to a very un-elf-like grunt and left the room.
Her sister ignored her parting and resumed the braiding of her hair that her twin has so rudely interrupted.
But Rómë had certainly not so easily forgotten the argument, and was so ensconced in her frustration and anger that she completely missed the small form crossing the hall in front of her, and barreled right into it.
"Oh!" the thing exclaimed in surprise from the floor.
Rómë groaned. Wonderful, now she had laid one of the guests to the ground. Ada would kill her. "I am so very sorry; please let me help you." She reached out to help the fellow to his feet, and realized suddenly who it was. "Oh, Master Hobbit, please forgive me! I was not paying proper attention."
He smiled at her nervous tone. "No, no, it's quite alright. I am used to such things. No harm done. Have we met? You seem familiar…" he trailed off, staring at her.
"No we have not, Mr. Baggins. I am Arómenë Peredhil. Elrond is my father."
"Oh!" the small form exclaimed. "I am so silly. You look like the twins: your brothers, I suppose they are. It is a pleasure; Bilbo Baggins at your service and your family's."
"And I am at yours, little master. I must say, however, that none has ever compared me to my brothers before. And perhaps that is because most knew my mother, whom we closely resemble." Bilbo's eyes narrowed at the 'we'. Rómë laughed. "Ah, forgive me for confusing you! I have a twin sister as well, and we are as identical as my brothers. Perhaps if you stay long enough, you shall meet her. Ai," she began as the distant dinner bell rang. "I wish we could speak longer, but that is the call to supper. I should be happy to show you the way; and then perhaps we might speak after the meal?"
"Oh, I should like that very much. Thank you."
"It is my pleasure, Master Hobbit. This way," she motioned down in the direction she had originally been headed.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
The fire burned brightly in the central hearth as it did every day of the year. Though outside the Valley there was a slight chill in the air, so near the mountains; here in Elrond's realm the weather was warm and pleasant, and the Hall of Fire warmer still.
Bilbo relaxed into the soft cushions he had been shown to. This was a life he could quite get used to, but Gandalf had already declared they would be leaving in only a few short days. Bilbo thought the whole thing highly unfair.
"Are you enjoying yourself Master Baggins?" A soft voice spoke from beside him and he turned to realize Arómenë had settled beside him without Bilbo's notice.
"Oh, hello my lady. Yes, I am quite. It must be wonderful to live here, with this every night," he gestured to the Hall and was somewhat confused when she laughed.
It was clear ringing laughter, unlike anything Bilbo had ever heard, and he thought it the sweetest sound in the world. Though her voice had been soft, and the Hall loud, her father apparently heard her well enough, for he glanced toward them and smiled.
"Ai, I am sorry Master Baggins! You misunderstand us, for we do not come here to the Hall very often at all; only when there are guests to entertain. We are a quiet people, and do not often feast nor celebrate: there are few enough things to celebrate these last few yéni. Nay, this is all for your pleasure, as our guest."
Bilbo's eyes widened. "I had not thought…thank you." Rómë smiled kindly at him, for he seemed to not know what to say.
"Will you tell me of your homeland, Mr. Baggins? I have visited the Shire, though it has been some years, but I would welcome a hobbits view of it."
Somewhat recovered, and with a topic he was comfortable with, Bilbo found himself relaxing. "Only if you call me Bilbo, my lady."
"That is a deal I can not pass up! Very well, Bilbo, tell your tale, and I will listen."
And she did listen, as the fire played across her golden hair and the moon rose over the Valley, she sat the hours away and listened as Bilbo told of green hills and clear water, pipe smoke and hobbit laughter. It had been years since she had been so entranced by a simple story, but that night, she let all the cares and heartache of the years pass away, and she was just simply Arómenë.