chapter 12

Belthor stopped briefly, watching the Elf cautiously he had noted, not for the first time since they had met that they were similar. They were of the same height, same long dark hair...his was a little tidier...there was something so familiar about him...twin...he remembered hearing him say they were twins...no, he would not believe that. He had no family...he wanted no family...Elves were evil...he would not believe he was a part of that evil...let alone share the same features as one...

"Are you alright?" Elladan asked in concern seeing his twin stop.

"Fine...now let me go."

"What are you so afraid of?"

"You." the vehemently word hit the elder harder than anything.

"What cause have you to fear me?" he asked softly.

"You're an Elf."

"So are you...you're my twin...Ai Valar what happened to you? I have missed you so much Ro...only to find you again after so long and you..." he trailed off, tears welled in his eyes.

"Please, just leave me...want to be alone..." the younger sobbed, "Lying...you lie...you don't want me...don't care..."

"Who said I don't care?" he demanded, someone was going to pay for whatever they had done to his brother.

"Villagers...they told me Elves were evil...slaughtered many people...they said I had been left to die..."

"I know you don't believe me, I know you want nothing to do with our kin but know this, you ae my twin and I love you very much..."

"No...you lie...you don't care...you can't..." Belthor denied what the elder was saying. How could one from a race of murderous creatures really care for another?

"Is that what you truly believe? You should listen to your heart, not what others tell you. Sometimes you have to listen with your heart as your mind can sometimes be clouded with untruths."

"But the heart can also cloud judgement, telling you what you want to hear." The younger shot back.

Elladan smiled softly at his stubbornness, "Elrohir," he said softly pulling the younger to the little stream as they both kneeled by it, "Look brother...we are the same...you know deep in your heart what is right, and I trust you will make the right choice." He sighed, "Estel was right, I need to stand back and give you room to decide for yourself...I'll wait outside for whatever you settle on." He gave the younger a little squeeze on the shoulder and left to see if the other two were outside that entrance.

Elrohir sat quietly by the stream, conflicting thoughts swimming in his mind, Elladan had been right about them being twins and there was nothing in his eyes or voice to suggest he had lied in any way.

Perhaps he was right; perhaps the Humans had lied about the Elves. Memories started evading his thoughts and it became clearer what he was going to do.

As he stepped outside Elladan noted that it was starting to get dark and looked to see his brother and friend already setting up a camp. He gingerly stepped forward, warily looking at the two who he had hurt.

"Where's Ro?" Estel asked.

"You were right Estel...I can't force him to come with us..." he trailed off seeing his twin emerge from the cave.

"Shall we go home?" Elrohir asked with a small smile.

"Go on ahead," Elladan called, not looking to any of them, "I'll catch you up shortly." He continued walking in the opposite direction.