AN: The twins are now 58, though they only look about twenty in looks.  I fast-forwarded it a little, because the adventures of the twins would be a lot like the last chapter.   Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Visions and Meetings

51 years later

          Elros rode off between Celeborn and Círdan.  There was a disease consuming the men at a mortal village nearby and the Elves felt it their duty to lend their aid.  Elrond watched them go, a disappointed look on his face.  He had hoped Celeborn would allow him to come also since he was the better healer, but Elros was sent instead because he had more knowledge when it came to dealing with men.

          " What kind of a genius does it take to figure them out?" he muttered.

          Elrond turned, shoving his hands into his tunic pockets with a sigh.

*I should be used to disappointment.  They never allow me from here.

He found the study easily and stood in the doorway, waiting for Ereinion to acknowledge his presence.  Ereinion had called for him to come after Elros' departure.  Elrond began to open his mouth when Ereinion never seemed to notice him.

          " I know you are there, Elrond.  Close the door and then take a seat."

Elrond did as told.

          Ereinion looked up from his papers once Elrond sat.

          " I will cut to the chase since I am on a time restraint," Ereinion leaned over slightly, " Galadriel holds you in high regard as to your teaching and learning.  She says she cannot teach you much more, so, if you so decide, you may put that knowledge to work," Ereinion leaned back, beginning to play with his stylus, a gesture meaning what he was about to say had been thought long about, " I do not offer this lightly, mind you, and it will take up plenty of your free time.  My private council and I invite you to come and sit our meetings.  You will have all the rights of a counselor and will be treated as one.  This is the main reason you stayed here instead of Elros."

Elrond's eyes were shining, as he rubbed his chin, leaning back a little.

          " This requires much thought and deliber-"

          " Elrond Peredhil, your eyes reveal your heart."

Elrond turned them down.

          " I would be honored to join you and the council."

          " Good, good," Ereinion stood, gathering up his papers, " Then come.  We are already late as it is."

~*~

          Elros looked around the makeshift healing house.  His heart broke as he watched more sheets be pulled over bodies.

          " Elros, we need your help to start burying.  These bodies need to be removed.  More are sick," Celeborn said softly.

Elros nodded, looking up questioningly.  Celeborn sighed.

          " You may go there first, but be quick.  Ereinion would not approve if he knew."

~*~

          Ereinion motioned for Elrond to sit.  A chair was empty beside Galadriel for him.  She smiled at him reassuringly, sensing his nervousness.  The other counselors sent him curt nods.  There were usually seven, but Celeborn and Círdan were gone.  Ereinion cleared his throat.

          " Elrond obviously accepted our offer, so let us get on with this.  I wish to see the outside of this place today."

An Elf, known as Sulramadan, stood first.

          " I would like to begin this council with the cheeriest of all subjects, Morgoth's threat.  He grows stronger each day.  We all can feel his grip tightening on Arda.  We are part of it.  We need to do something."

Ereinion played with his pencil; his face dark at the mention of Morgoth, the Vala who had stole his family from him.

          " Do you all remember what happened the last time the Elves went up against Morgoth?" he looked up sharply, " They all died.  So many died and it gained nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  My-" he stopped, pressing his lips together, " No, not again."

          Galadriel stood.

          " Nirnaeth Arnoediad was a terrible battle, I will concede that, but that does not have to happen again.  Help is coming from the West.  We just must wait."

          " Help?  They have forsaken us."

Ereinion glanced at the lip-chewing Elrond as the counselors began their debate.  Only he and Galadriel knew of the half-Elvin's foresight.  Now was a good time as any to reveal it to the council.

          " What have you seen, Elrond?"

The remark made all counselors turn and look at the young Elf.

          " What has he seen?  Come now, Ereinion.  He is a child still."

          " Elrond's visions correspond with mine," Galadriel rebuked gently, " And you know he is far too wise for one his age.  In mind, he is nearly as old as Ereinion."

          Elrond still watched, a tooth still chewing vigorously on his bottom lip.

          " Stand up, Elrond, and speak," Ereinion bade.

Elrond stood slowly, his mouth opened slightly as if he did not know what to say.

          " I see death, and darkness, but when it seems like all has failed and Morgoth will take over all we hold dear, a light appears from the West.  Everything becomes fresh and new again.  They are coming to help us, but the times must get darker first."

          " Darker?  If they become any darker, then our race will surely be smothered with evil.  We will all die before this help arrives."

          " I disagree," Elrond was surprised as the conviction in his voice. 

Ereinion raised his eyebrows.  Elrond was challenging his wisest counselor. 

          " Pray tell why?"

          " You have forgotten my father left these lands.  Maybe it has taken longer for him to reach Aman or maybe there is a greater plan than we can see.  You all know he has made his plead.  I said not the days would be long before they came to help, only that they are not now," Elrond's voice lifted to add light into every Elf's eye, " The Valar are assembling.  Manwë's banners flutter freely in that free land.  Finarfin's and Finwë's banners will fly but once in Arda and that will be the day."

          " You are a foolish boy full of dreams."

Elrond shrugged.

          " Maybe I am.  If you wish, I will leave."

          " Sit, Elrond," Ereinion said softly.

          The king threw down his stylus, standing to pace.  All eyes were instantly on the front.  Ereinion did not pace unless he was severely troubled.  Galadriel figured it was the few memories he had of the kings before him.  He finally nodded.

          " Elrond has not let me wrong before.  We will wait," Ereinion said softly.

Many eyes flew to the Elf, astounded that their king took the advice of one who had not even reached his first century.  Ereinion clapped his hands.

          " Can we not talk of something else?"

          " Like the trade franchise?"

          " No," Ereinion's head swung around, " Not that either.  How about the weather or something normal?  Most kings do not have to worry about an angry Vala," Ereinion turned towards the picture window that faced westwards, staring over the Sea, " I thank thee, Adar, Turgon and Dardar for leaving the crown to me in such times."

~*~

          " Elros?"

The caramel haired girl threw her arms around him.

          " Where have you been?  Last month, only the Elves came."

Elros shrugged.  He took her hand.

          " How is your family faring?"

          " We are all well.  We do not go into the town much.  How bad is it?"

Elros shook his head.

          " You do not want to know."

She nodded.

          " I am glad you are here.'

Elros leaned down his head.

          This was his secret.  The one thing Elrond did not know about in his life.  The one thing Elros could not tell Elrond.  He was in love.  With a mortal.

          " Cienna, I cannot stay long.  I have a job back in town."

She nodded.

          " Tell them to come for dinner tonight or soon."

Elros nodded, bestowing another kiss on her lips, before running back off with a smile.

~*~

          Elrond stood with everyone else to leave.  Galadriel stopped him, casting a glance at the troubled king.

*Stay.

Elrond nodded, hands falling to clasp behind his back as he joined Ereinion at the westward facing window.

          " Twas a beautiful picture your words painted.  A light from the West that consumes all darkness.  Finarfin's standards flying freely in the air," Ereinion shook his head, " I only pray I live to see that day.  You saw something in the meeting."

Elrond shook his head.

          " Twas an odd feeling.  It was joy.  Elros must have found something to his liking at the mortal village."

~*~

          Círdan bent beside the boy.  Elros came in from digging.  He looked around.  So many children's bodies lie waiting for disposal. 

          " Let's get them outside."

Elros' head jerked up.

          " I thought-"

          " My people are dying.  I will not leave them to ruin," Cienna shook her head.

Elros nodded, admiration in his heart for her.

          " Help me carry them out then."

~*~

          Círdan sat beside Celeborn wearily.

          " It is subsiding."

Celeborn nodded.

          " Aye, we leave tomorrow.  They can handle it now.  It will not attack this generation again."

Círdan shook his head.

          " So many are dead."

Celeborn sighed.

          " Sometimes I do not see how death is a gift to them."

          " We are immortal.  We never will."

~*~

          Elrond slipped into the library just before dinner the next night.  He put the candle aside, picking up a book and sitting with it.  His vision faded and Elrond clutched the book, cursing the unpredictable visions.

          It cleared into a beautiful place, taking him over mountains and past Elves into a building shaped in a ring.  A man stood in the center of that ring.  Elrond was drawn to him, pushing forward to see his face.

          " Ada?"

He had seen the picture Ereinion had tried to hide of his father. The man did not hear him, but Elrond was frozen.  He was so close to the man he had never met.

          " To the holy Valar, I come again to you as a regent of both men and Elves, for half of each flows in my blood."

          Elrond scanned the Valar, eyes lighting upon Manwë, and on his right side, a beautiful light that had to be Varda and on the other, Mandos.  Mandos was the only who seemed perturbed.  Elrond blinked.  None of his visions had ever been this real.  He turned back to his father.

          " I beg of you to help them.  Of course the Noldor sins are as innumerable as the stars, and they have brought you only grief, but the king who now serves, is waiting for a miracle to save them.  The men are dying off.  Will you let Morgoth who was once one of you, debase Arda further?"

The ring was quiet.

          A woman stood at her place.  Her eyes turned to look at Eärendil and Elrond caught the sorrow in them.  She nodded her head.

          "I second his plea. My heart will not take much more sorrow for that land."

Her two brothers were on her side in a second.  Elrond's heart grew as one by one, the Valar agreed to throw down Morgoth.

~*~

          Ereinion found Elrond bent over a book.  He shook his head.

*That boy is going to become a large book one day.

          " Elrond, it is dinnertime, come on."

Ereinion glanced back, noting the Elf did not stand up.

*His hearing cannot be that bad, can it?

Ereinion approached, moving the book from Elrond's grasp.

          " Elrond?"

Ereinion crouched down, and then noticed the white eyes.  He shook his head.  Vision.

          Ereinion was glad his reflexes were quick as the Elf collapsed from the chair.  Ereinion laid him on the floor and then ran to the door.

          " Go fetch Galadriel," no one moved, " Now!"

The Elves scurried off.  Ereinion easily pulled up the limp body, running down the hallway to Elrond's room.  Fear was set deep in his heart.

*Not again and not to him.  Why do the visions always kill them?  What do they see that keeps them locked inside their own mind for eternity?

~*~

          Galadriel rushed into the room.  She reached for a pulse.

          " What happened?"

          " Elrond?" Elros froze in the doorway, " What happened to him?"

Galadriel looked over at Ereinion with a piercing glare.

          " Vision."

Galadriel's face turned grave, as did the other two Elves' in the doorway.  Many a Elf had not come out of a vision.  Ereinion put an arm around the frantic Elros, leading the twin away to let the healers do their work.

~*~

          Elrond was busily watching as the beautiful and glimmering Elves readied themselves for war.  The standards of Manwë, Finwë and Finarfin flew overhead against a vibrant blue sky.  A hand touched his shoulder.

" Why are you still here?"

Twas Nienna. She shook her head.

          " Go back."

          " I do not know how."

          " Now you do."

He was flying away from there and back over the Sea.  He gasped out.  It felt as if all the weight of Arda had suddenly been placed upon his chest.

~*~

          " Galadriel," Celeborn shook his head, " He has stopped breathing.  It is hopeless."

Galadriel bent by Elrond's head.

          " No.  Please, son of Eärendil.  Your time has not yet come.  Awake."

To her surprise, Elrond's eyes flew open and he gulped in air. He shot up from the reclining position.

          " They-"

          A messenger ran in.

          " Where is Gil-galad?"

Ereinion and Elros seemed to appear from nowhere.  Elros' face became relieved, seeing his brother sitting up.

          " Speak."

          "Orcs, sir.  Thousands are headed this way.  They will be here in two days at the least."

Ereinion closed his eyes.

*It must become darker.

Elrond shakily stood.

          " They are coming."

          " Tis what he just said."

Elrond shook his head, swaying a little at that small movement.  Elros moved to support his brother silently.

          " Help, I mean.  I saw it.  Aman," Elrond looked at his brother, "I saw Ada.  He pleaded before the Valar in a great ring.  Nienna seconded his plea and soon all were in agreement.  The banners of Manwë, Finwë and Finarfin were raised, under which shining Elves walked.  They are coming."

          Elrond's eyes shone with light.  Elros smiled at his serious brother's exuberance.  Even Ereinion's gloom was lifted in that moment.  Galadriel clasped her hands together with a smile, stars in her eyes at the mention of her father.

          " What about the orcs sir?" the messenger persisted.

Ereinion grinned.

          " We shall ride out and meet them.  Come, Peredhel."

The two followed the king.  Ereinion glanced back at them.

          " Your first fight."

AN: Nirnaeth Arnoediad was a terrible battle fought in the First Age.  It was led by Fingon and was where he was killed.  Just giving a bit of bg in case you did not understand Ereinion's stand against war with Morgoth.  Oh and Finwë is the high-king of the Vanyar in Aman.  He is in essence what Ereinion is in Arda.  Finarfin is one of his son's and Galadriel's father.  That is it.  How about a review, please?