Disclaimer: I wish I own them, I really do, but it's just wishful thinking. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and Eru. And I'm neither.
Author's note: There will be no slash, no MS and no love stories except for the canon ones. Elladan and Elrohir are loving brothers, Elrond and later Thrandúil are loving fathers and wise rulers, not abusing bastards. That's about it.
Note for chapter: 1. For me Erestor is an old friend of both Elrond and Glorfindel and he is at least as old as Elrond. 2. I have no idea exactly how the elves are fishing, so I used the way we are fishing. If it's inaccurate, please let me know and I'll correct it.
Chapter 3: Rivers are dangerous
Elladan's POV
Nothing was better than going out of the house with my brother and one of our parents or tutors. We could run, roll in the grass, play with our wooden swords or simply lie under a tree and listen to the birds or the river. Today we are heading out with Erestor who promised to teach us how to fish. Ada and naneth seemed strangely happy that we left and return to the house with haste.
Erestor walked calm and … well, lordly, behind us, while Elrohir and I kept running to and from him, around him, yelling and jumping, tugging at his robes or rolling in the grass. Finally Erestor found the perfect spot for fishing and after setting everything down he took us closer to the river.
- Elladan Elrohir, I want both of you to be very careful. Bruinen is a mighty river and even tough your father can control it, it is not wise to play to close. Especially if you are alone.
- Yes, Erestor, we answered at the same time, causing him to roll his eyes.
- Naneth said that elf lords do not roll their eyes, my brother said.
Ignoring his commentary, Erestor started to show us how to put the bait, to throw the line and then he asked us to sit and wait. It would have been boring, but we started catching a lot of fish and we were very happy. Who knew fishing can be so much fun.
After a while, Erestor asked us to stay exactly where we are and went behind some trees. The moment he disappeared from your view, Elrohir go up and started walking alongside the river.
- Elrohir, Erestor told us to stay here.
- I am bored. I want to see what is after this meander of Bruinen.
I did not know if I should yell after Erestor, go with my brother or stay put, but by the time I decided to go with him, he already left and I caught a fish. I was happy, excited, but suddenly I heard the icy voice of Erestor:
- Elladan, where is your brother?
- Oh, he said he was bored, he went for a walk, I answered.
He paled considerably and I was afraid he will start screaming.
- Which way did he go, Elladan?
- Erestor, you are very pale, are you alright?
- I am, but we must find your brother immediately, he said calmly.
I was about to show him, when we heard a scream: it was my brother's voice. We started running and just after the meander we saw Elrohir clinging to some roots. By the time we got to him he screamed one more time and fell into the river. I froze thinking my brother will drown, but then I saw Erestor, flying by me, dressed only in his breeches and jumping into Bruinen after Elrohir. He reached him quickly and swam with him to the bank. My brother was shivering and couching and after giving him a quick hug, Erestor started yelling at him.
I did not know he had so much breath in him, because it seemed like he didn't stop to breathe not even once. When he was done, Elrohir looked at him with teary eyes, begging for forgiveness. By that time I was hugging my twin and I was looking at Erestor with tears in my eyes also.
- I am not mad with you, Elrohir, he sighed. Well, I am mad, but only because you could have injured yourself very bad. Now do you understand why I asked you to be careful and stay where I asked you to?
- Yes, Erestor. And I promise the next time I will be right next to you all the time.
- Next time will be when orcs are singing in Quenya, he mumbled.
And so we learnt that rivers are dangerous, not only because you might drown, but also because the person who is usually taking us outside, will not do that for a long time. At least that is what I understood from the last thing he said. Orcs aren't singing, are they?
Erestor's POV
I love Elladan and Elrohir as I would love my own children and I enjoy teaching them all they need and want to know. Plus, it's always good to have the Lord and the Lady of Imladris in your debt for allowing them some time alone. That said, I must add that the twins are beginning the age when they think that anything and everything is possible, when they have no fear or understanding of the consequences of their actions. Hmm, these will be interesting times.
By the end of the day I decided that the times will not only be interesting, but they will most probably kill me. What orcs and other foes did not succeed in doing, two little elflings will accomplish. Yes, I will go to the Halls of Mandos very early, either by their hands or by those of their father and mother.
The day started calm and beautiful, my only concern being to teach Elladan and Elrohir how to fish. No easy feat considering they are unable to stay in one place for too long. But, to my big surprise they seemed to be interested and got all excited when they started to catch some fish. Feeling sufficiently sure that they'll stay put for a few minutes, I told them no to go anywhere and went behind some trees to relieve myself. When I got back Elladan was jumping up and down because he just caught another fish, making me smile at his enthusiasm. Smile that disappeared instantly when I realized my other charge was nowhere to be seen.
- Elladan, where is your brother?
- Oh, he said he was bored, he went for a walk.
I felt the blood leaving my face, my mouth became dry and I had to fight the urge to scream in frustration: it's been a few minutes!
- Which way did he go, Elladan?
- Erestor, you are very pale, are you alright? he asked concerned
- I am, I answered with a calm that I did no feel, but we must find your brother immediately.
Before he was able to show me the way Elrohir went, I heard a faint scream. I truly believe my heart stopped that instant, but I started running towards the scream, with Elladan right behind me. The screams kept been heard, which helped us to find my young charge, but made my blood run cold thinking of what might've happened to him. And I found out soon enough: he tripped and fell off the edge of the river; he was holding for dear life on some roots. To make matters worse, just as I was about to reach him, he could hold no more and fell into the river.
I do not think I have ever undressed quicker in my long life and with just one jump I was diving after Elrohir. My luck changed then and I was able to reach him fast and the mighty river did not drag us too far or too deep. Once on the river bank I let him cough all the water he ingested and only after that I started admonish him.
- I am sorry, Erestor, I am so sorry. Please do not be mad with me anymore, he looked at me with his eyes full of tears.
Yes, just like everybody else around them I yield to the power of those grey eyes, especially when I saw the equally teary eyes of his brother.
- I am not mad with you, Elrohir. Well, I am mad, but only because you could have injured yourself very bad. Now do you understand why I asked you to be careful and stay where I asked you to?
- Yes, Erestor. And I promise the next time I will be right next to you all the time.
- Next time will be when orcs are singing in Quenya, I mumbled.
TBC…
Answers to reviewers: First, sorry for the delay. RL didn't allow me to write.
Aladar Austere: Thanks for being my first reviews. I thought I was accepting anonymous, looks like I didn't. Thanks for letting me know.
LadyJanelly: Thank you. I'm trying to keep with the canon, although we don't know much about the twins' life. I'm sure Celeborn was a wonderful grandpa.
Le Chapelier fou: Thank you. Don't worry about your English, it's quite good. Au revoir, mon ami.
Calypso Diangelos: Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that or I'll just move along and write about when they are older J. It's hard for me to write how they would speak considering I have no children their age around me.
Kathleen LaCorneille: Tell your sister to send me some chocolateJ Don't worry, Elrond is one of my favorites too, and even if he'll go through some heartache with the twins, everything will be all right in the end.