(A/N Hi all sorry I've been gone for so long. I've had really bad computer
problems and then I had exams and well yeah things got kinda crazy please
you have my sincerest apologies and I beg of you to review.)
Esmiel sat down for a moment trying to collect her scattered thoughts Elladan stood at the door of her chambers. He had tried to dissuade her from leaving today saying they should wait for at least a day, but something told her there could be no waiting. Already he had a pack of essentials and a meagre bag of travel rations, they would have to manage with foraging and hunting.
She felt empty, painfully emotionless and drained utterly of energy, but there was no time for rest. They must leave and now she told herself sternly. She stood and stuffed another pair of warm breaches and a thick tunic into her pack.
Esmiel pulled a warm cloak from the wall and fastened it with a silver pin of intricate interlocking lines that her mother had given to her long ago. She had worn it rarely prefer a less ornate and serviceable pin, but found now that she had not the heart to leave it behind. At her belt hung a sharp plain hilted knife, a water flask and spacious belt pouch a gift from her father long ago. Hurrying to the door she slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder. She nodded to Elladan and they were off towards the stables.
Despite the force that was urging Esmiel to hurry they had waited until it was near evening and bustle of the day had quieted. Their frugal supplies gave weight to their story that they were off on a small hunting expedition and all was as planned until they reached large stables of Rivendell.
Coming down the aisle leading three oh so familiar horses was Elrohir, grinning broadly.
Elladan stepped forward, his face livid, "What are you doing here?" he hissed.
"You didn't think you could leave me behind did you brother?" Elrohir grinned impudently.
Her senses, still strangely, attuned picked up relief from both of them. They each knew that they would both be going with her, the anger and cheek was just for show. At any other time she would have let them have their fun and smiled at the bond between them, but her own emotions seemed simply absent. Some small part of her was screaming that this was wrong, that this dull emptiness was more painful then any hurt or sadness she had ever felt but at this time she simply did not have enough energy to care.
"Please, both of you. We all know that Elrohir is coming along, Please let us just leave."
Startled at the hollowness of her voice, they both fell silent. She walked over to Elrohir and took her horse, barely noticing the saddle (A/n ok I know elves don't use saddles, but what else was I supposed to call them. Picture a sort of riding blanket, not a saddle no stirrups or girth. Just a soft semi-padded blanket with a light sercingle probably spelt wrong and bags can be connected to this contraption. Enough babbling back to the story.) full of provisions, then silently lead the way out of the stable and into the courtyard.
When Esmiel reached the gates, where she must mount, her strength faltered. Leaning her head against her mare's neck, her resolve fled and it was all she could do to remain standing. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she turned around slightly, and then Elladan was lifting her up onto the horse's back. Slowly her strength began to return and she was able to smile down at Elladan and at Elrohir who, already mounted, was waiting patiently looking at her, both were projecting worry at her condition and she tried to smile reassuringly.
Then Elladan mounted and they were away, there was no need to think only to concentrate on keeping her seat and following Elrohir's back as he led the way. As they had left late in the morning they planned only to reach a sheltered clearing often used by hunting parties, here they planned to rest for the night. But even this short ride wore Esmiel strength down alarmingly.
It wasn't until they stopped at the clearing the Esmiel realised the thumping sound she'd been hearing was her heart and not the horses' hooves on the path. She was vaguely aware of Elladan and Elrohir dismounting and she tried to do the same, but when her feet reached the ground she found that her legs simple wouldn't support her and she sat down heavily. At a touch on her shoulder she looked up at the twins, one of them, for the first time ever she could not tell the difference between them, seemed to be speaking to her but she couldn't hear anything. Opening her mouth she realised she couldn't speak and suddenly her emotions came flooding back, her mind overloaded with exhaustion and fear. It was too much her already exhausted mind reached its limits. Esmiel closed her eyes and slid into oblivion.
Esmiel sat down for a moment trying to collect her scattered thoughts Elladan stood at the door of her chambers. He had tried to dissuade her from leaving today saying they should wait for at least a day, but something told her there could be no waiting. Already he had a pack of essentials and a meagre bag of travel rations, they would have to manage with foraging and hunting.
She felt empty, painfully emotionless and drained utterly of energy, but there was no time for rest. They must leave and now she told herself sternly. She stood and stuffed another pair of warm breaches and a thick tunic into her pack.
Esmiel pulled a warm cloak from the wall and fastened it with a silver pin of intricate interlocking lines that her mother had given to her long ago. She had worn it rarely prefer a less ornate and serviceable pin, but found now that she had not the heart to leave it behind. At her belt hung a sharp plain hilted knife, a water flask and spacious belt pouch a gift from her father long ago. Hurrying to the door she slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder. She nodded to Elladan and they were off towards the stables.
Despite the force that was urging Esmiel to hurry they had waited until it was near evening and bustle of the day had quieted. Their frugal supplies gave weight to their story that they were off on a small hunting expedition and all was as planned until they reached large stables of Rivendell.
Coming down the aisle leading three oh so familiar horses was Elrohir, grinning broadly.
Elladan stepped forward, his face livid, "What are you doing here?" he hissed.
"You didn't think you could leave me behind did you brother?" Elrohir grinned impudently.
Her senses, still strangely, attuned picked up relief from both of them. They each knew that they would both be going with her, the anger and cheek was just for show. At any other time she would have let them have their fun and smiled at the bond between them, but her own emotions seemed simply absent. Some small part of her was screaming that this was wrong, that this dull emptiness was more painful then any hurt or sadness she had ever felt but at this time she simply did not have enough energy to care.
"Please, both of you. We all know that Elrohir is coming along, Please let us just leave."
Startled at the hollowness of her voice, they both fell silent. She walked over to Elrohir and took her horse, barely noticing the saddle (A/n ok I know elves don't use saddles, but what else was I supposed to call them. Picture a sort of riding blanket, not a saddle no stirrups or girth. Just a soft semi-padded blanket with a light sercingle probably spelt wrong and bags can be connected to this contraption. Enough babbling back to the story.) full of provisions, then silently lead the way out of the stable and into the courtyard.
When Esmiel reached the gates, where she must mount, her strength faltered. Leaning her head against her mare's neck, her resolve fled and it was all she could do to remain standing. Feeling a hand on her shoulder she turned around slightly, and then Elladan was lifting her up onto the horse's back. Slowly her strength began to return and she was able to smile down at Elladan and at Elrohir who, already mounted, was waiting patiently looking at her, both were projecting worry at her condition and she tried to smile reassuringly.
Then Elladan mounted and they were away, there was no need to think only to concentrate on keeping her seat and following Elrohir's back as he led the way. As they had left late in the morning they planned only to reach a sheltered clearing often used by hunting parties, here they planned to rest for the night. But even this short ride wore Esmiel strength down alarmingly.
It wasn't until they stopped at the clearing the Esmiel realised the thumping sound she'd been hearing was her heart and not the horses' hooves on the path. She was vaguely aware of Elladan and Elrohir dismounting and she tried to do the same, but when her feet reached the ground she found that her legs simple wouldn't support her and she sat down heavily. At a touch on her shoulder she looked up at the twins, one of them, for the first time ever she could not tell the difference between them, seemed to be speaking to her but she couldn't hear anything. Opening her mouth she realised she couldn't speak and suddenly her emotions came flooding back, her mind overloaded with exhaustion and fear. It was too much her already exhausted mind reached its limits. Esmiel closed her eyes and slid into oblivion.