Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or any of the
characters I used in this story. It was written for pure fun and no money is/was
made with it.
Genre: General/Drama
Rating: PG
E-mail: kaeera@yahoo.de
Summary: When the twins fight too much, Elrond and Celebrian decide to
separate them for a few months…How will Elladan and Elrohir find life without
each other?
(Since Elladan had two chapters in a row, I figured that Elrohir deserved the same.)
Lateness....*coughs*. I know. You are probably ready to kill me by now. Somehow, I seem to be in a slump. And in a really big one. I simply can't WRITE! I sit in front of the computer and it takes me ages to write two sentences. ARGH! And so...it took an eternity to writet his chapter, although it is short, and I haven't even started to write the next chapter of 'When the Snow Falls'. *sobs* Can anyone send me something to fight the Writer's Block, please??
by Kaeera
Part Nine: Falling through the Air
When he awoke the next time, it was already late afternoon. Feeling much more
relaxed than he had in the morning, Elrohir stretched and yawned. He realised to
his surprise, that he was back in his room again – his mother had probably
carried him here.
Eager not to waste any more of the
day, the elfling jumped out of bed. He hurried out the door and rannto the
gardens, searching for his newfound acquaintances. Alas, he found Tonar and
Donael were playing at a small creek not far away, Miriel following behind as
usual.
"Hello!" Elrohir waved and hurried to
reach his friends.
Tonar looked up and his eyes
immediately brightened as he recognized the younger twin. "Elrohir! Where have
you been? We have been searching for you all morning, but we couldn't find you!"
"Uhm…" Elrohir stuttered, not wanting
them to know why he'd slept late. "I couldn't get away from my room." He
answered, hoping that the others would be satisfied with the simple explanation.
"Oh." Tonar sighed. "It was boring without you – we didn't know what to do. It's
impossible to do anything exciting with my annoying sister tagging along."
Donael rolled his eyes. "Yes, we wanted to climb the old tree, but the elder
elves won't let us. They must think us daft!"
"What tree?" Elrohir inquired curiously.
"Oh, there's an old tree not too far from here. Hardly anyone ever goes there so
it's quite isolated. It is really big, much bigger than most of the other trees
around here, and it does have nice holes where you can hide. I've heard from the
top you can see everything, though we've never been there." Donael angrily
kicked a stone and glared at the ground, reminding Elrohir strongly of Elladan.
"Well, I'm sure there's a reason for such a restriction." He offered in order to
lighten the mood.
Tonar made a face. "I can understand the younger ones being forbidden from going
there, but we are older, and we've much experience as tree climbers. They really
should know better."
Elrohir shrugged. "You can't change it."
Suddenly, Miriel giggled and ran towards her brother, holding out her hand.
Something lay in her palm, and Elrohir looked closer. The small elfling held a
nice, glittering, interestingly formed stone.
"Tonar, Tonar!" The small she-elf exclaimed excitedly.
"What?" Tonar's brow furrowed as he looked down at his sister.
Miriel beamed. "A treasure!"
Elrohir smiled inwardly. He understood the excitement of the girl – he had felt
it so many times himself when he'd found strange gems in the gardens of
Imladris. He always showed them to his parents, or to Elladan, always proud of
his latest discovery.
But Tonar seemed unable to understand his sister's enthusiasm. "Dear Valar, no!"
He rolled his eyes. "It's just a stone! You're really way too young."
Tears welled up in Miriel's eyes at the cruel reply and she started sobbing.
"But…To…I just wanted to give…it's a treasure…it glitters so nicely…"
Tonar sighed. "Do you see what I have to put off with?"
"I'm glad that I don't have any siblings." Donael grinned. Miriel flinched and a
look of sadness crossed over her face.
Elrohir suddenly felt pity for the small elfling. Although he understood Tonar's
annoyance, he didn't think it was right to treat her as Tonar just had. She
seemed to adore her brother, but he treated her as if she were a burden.
"I think it's a beautiful stone." He said and smiled at Miriel. The girl
immediately brightened, although tears still glistened in her eyes.
Donael looked at him, then at Tonar and then back at Elrohir again. "Alright,
I've had enough!" he announced determinedly. "I *will* climb the Big Tree, no
matter what! Are you coming with me?"
"But…how are you going to get there? Guards are posted along the path, surely
we'll be caught!" Tonar answered doubtfully.
"That won't be a problem. The guards have their competition today, don't you
remember? They will be so busy duelling and will not notice us at all. We can
pass unhindered and climb in peace. We will be back before anyone notices!"
"You're right!" Tonar brightened. „That's splendid! I've always wanted to climb
to the top. You will come, too, won't you Elrohir?"
"Uhm…" caught off guard, the named elfling hesitated. "I don't know…if…is it
really dangerous?"
Donael waved impatiently. "We already told you, it is not dangerous. We are good
climbers, it won't be a problem. And I bet the view from the top is worth it!"
"Well…" Elrohir still felt uncomfortable. It reminded him too much of the many
miserable situations he and Elladan had often found themselves in after having
exactly the same argument. And it was always Elladan who insisted that it wasn't
dangerous, no, not at all…and in the end, Ada or Glorfindel had to rescue them.
The decision was taken from him, however, as Tonar clapped him on the shoulder.
"Elrohir will certainly accompany us, after all, he's a tough elf from Imladris
– aren't you?"
…"You will always be a bookworm, never a fighter!
"You are dull and boring – nobody wants a boring child!"
"I bet father likes me better because I will be a warrior like him!"…
The painful insults Elladan had carelessly thrown at him came to his mind and he
narrowed his eyes. "Of course I'll come!" He said firmly and grinned at the
others, although deep down he knew what he was doing was absolutely wrong.
"Wonderful!" Donael jumped up. "Then let's go! I don't want to wait any longer."
"Sure!" Tonar and Elrohir followed his example and the three raced away,
forgetting Miriel who still stood beside them, her treasure still clasped
tightly in her hand as she watched them leave. Then the small girl sniffed and
started to follow the elflings. Not knowing what else to do, the little girl did
what she always did – she followed the brother she adored despite his treatment
of her.
It was not much later when three little elflings were eagerly climbing the
gigantic tree somewhere in the woods of Lothlorien. It was truly a tree of great
strength, for it reached far above the branches of the other trees, its trunk so
thick that one needed several elves to close their arms around its base. The
leaves were thick and green, casting a dark shadow on the ground and shielding
the elflings from the sun.
It didn't take them long to climb up to the middle of the tree, and when Elrohir
looked down, he was immediately reminded of the rooftops of Imladris. At home
they had often climbed up on the roof, despite Glorfindel's and Ada's strict
orders not to. The view of Rivendell from the rooftop was truly astounding and
Elladan and he had enjoyed the feeling of freedom.
He felt the same feeling here in this tree, and a wave of excitement washed
through him when he looked at the ground, which seemed so incredibly far away.
"It's great!" Elrohir whispered and climbed on to another branch. From here, he
could see clearly the sun and the path on the ground. Wind rustled through his
hair and the leaves moved slightly. It was a picture of perfect calm and peace…
"LOOK WHAT I AM DOING!" The serenity of the moment was destroyed by a sudden
shout from Donael, he was hanging – upside down – from a big, sturdy branch not
far away from Elrohir. His legs were firmly linked around the wood, but the rest
of his body was dangling dangerously in the air, only nothingness beneath him.
"What are you doing?" Elrohir exclaimed, an expression of shock and amazement on
his face.
"It's fun! You have to try it, too! Everything looks weird!" As if to prove his
point, the elfling waved with his hands.
Tonar, who was a few feet above them, shook his head and giggled. "You are
crazy, Donael. That's dangerous!"
"Yes!" Elrohir nodded firmly. "If you fall down, you will certainly hurt
yourself!"
"Aww, come on, now you sound like my Ada." Donael waved it off. "I'm a master
climber, nothing will happen."
"If you say so…" Elrohir was not really convinced. The whole situation reminded
him of Elladan and his antics. And really, Donael was very much like his older
twin; always ready for an adventure and never thinking of the consequences. Oh,
his brother's attitude often got them in a lot of trouble, and many painful
accidents. Unfortunately he often participated in Elladan's antics – more or
less willingly - and the result was not one, but two injured elflings and one
very annoyed Lord Elrond.
'Maybe Elladan would be happier if Donael were his twin…' Elrohir thought
gloomily as he watched the other two elflings. 'He wouldn't get annoyed by him'.
Then another thought entered his mind. 'Would he want that? Would he prefer
Donael over me?' Pondering this for a while, the elfling leaned against the
trunk. 'Would I prefer any other person as my twin brother? I said that I didn't
want him anymore, because…because he annoys me, but…somehow I can't imagine
being without him.'
Alas, his stubbornness – a trait he had inherited from both his father and
mother – came back, driving every thought of Elladan from his mind.
"Well, come on!" he said impatiently to the two other elflings, "We have yet to
reach the top!"
"All right, all right." Donael agreed and Tonar followed him.
It was actually only by accident that Elrohir looked down and saw her. Normally,
he looked straight ahead while climbing, to look elsewhere was too distracting
and far too dangerous when climbing. But this time he watched a small, red
butterfly flutter past him, and he followed the small insect with his eyes. So
it was – how ironic – the butterfly's fault that Elrohir looked down and
discovered Miriel.
At first, he couldn't believe his eyes, but when he looked closer, he realised
that the small figure desperately trying to follow them was indeed Tonar's
sister.
"Tonar!! he immediately whispered and motioned the other elfling to join him.
"What?"
"Look down! Can you see what I see?"
Tonar narrowed his eyes and studied the lower branches of the tree. "Well, I
don't know what you mean, there's nothing bes…by the Valar!" He discovered
Miriel and his eyes grew as large as saucers. "What is she doing there??"
Elrohir looked at him, and then at the girl. "Following you."
"Oh noooo!" A sullen voice behind them groaned. "Does she have to follow you
everywhere, Tonar?" It was Donael, who – curious as usual – joined the other
two.
"I don't know why she follows me!" Tonar defended himself. "I told her to stay
away from us, didn't I?"
"There's no point in arguing about that right now." Elrohir urged. "We have to
go down and help her; it is far too dangerous for such a small elfling. She
might slip and fall."
Tonar's eyes blazed. "I would like to enjoy one day without my annoying sister
following me!" He exclaimed hotly and glared down. "Now our trip is ruined
because of her!"
And before the others could stop him, he leaned forward and shouted down to
Miriel. "Hey sister! What do you think you are doing?"
Startled, the girl looked up and an expression of nervousness crossed her face
when she saw her brother with a definite look of fury in his eyes. "I…" she
stammered, but she couldn't manage to get out a coherent reply.
Tonar rolled his eyes. "I don't believe it! Didn't we tell you to stay back? It
is dangerous for you! You are way too small to climb this tree!"
Tears welled up in Miriel's eyes, and Elrohir felt pity for her. He understood
why she was doing it, she admired her brother greatly and wanted to impress him
by doing the same things he did. Unfortunately, it had an adverse effect.
Sniffling softly, Miriel turned around and began to climb down - and that was
when it happened. The three above her could only watch in horror as her foot
slipped and she fell backwards, her small hands trying to grab something,
anything, but they found only empty air. Her eyes widened, as she realised what
was happening, and a high-pitched scream escaped her lips.
"MIRIEL!" Tonar shouted, his anger quickly forgotten and he wanted to lunge
forward, only the quick hands of Elrohir and Donael held him back in time.
With a soft, nearly inaudible thump, she landed on the ground and silence sank
over them. Elrohir stared at the motionless elfling on the grass beneath him and
tried to comprehend what had happened. She had slipped, and then everything
moved so fast, and now…now lay on the ground, unmoving and so still, her face a
pale contrast to the thick, green grass…
"Oh no…" Tonar's face turned ashen and he quickly scrambled down the tree,
anxious to reach his sister. Donael and Elrohir followed just as quickly, both
feeling the weight of guilt on their shoulders, for it had been partially their
fault Miriel fell.
Miriel looked small and fragile as she lay on the grass with her eyes closed.
Elrohir immediately felt a surge of alarm course through him, only rarely had he
ever seen elves with their eyes closed, and those elves had been seriously ill
or near death. Even Elladan's eyes had been closed once, and that had been when
he fell from the roof and was unconscious for the entire day.
"What is wrong with her?" he asked softly.
Tonar looked at him with tears in his eyes. "I don't know. I really don't know!"
Donael looked at Miriel, then at Elrohir and then back at Miriel again. "I'm
going for help." he whispered and then ran away, as fast as his little legs
could carry him.
Tonar dropped to his knees. beside his sister "Miriel, can you hear me?
Miriel…Miriel? Please say something…Miriel, are you all right? Sister…"
Elrohir silently watched Tonar fret over his sister and wondered what he would
do if it was his brother who lay here instead. Suddenly, he didn't feel so sure
of himself anymore.
"You are thinking, little one?" Celebrian whispered softly, while brushing her
son's hair. It was evening in Lothlorien and both mother and son were sitting in
her room, enjoying the quiet before it was time for Elrohir to go to bed.
The afternoon had been filled with much activity; the young she-elf had been
brought to the healing wing and the three boys had received a rather lengthy
lecture about behaving and following rules.
Luckily, the little girl would be fine. She only had a few broken bones and a
light concussion, wounds that would mend quickly. Still, the shock had been
great and when Celebrian found out Elrohir had tried to climb the big tree, she
immediately rushed to the healing wing, expecting the worst.
Thankfully, this time it was not one of her sons who had been hurt (a rather
pleasant surprise for a change, and a grateful relief), but little Miriel, an
elfling Celebrian had rarely seen more than but a few times. She only knew that
she was the sister of one of Elrohir's new made friends. Although Celebrian felt
immense relief her son was safe, she felt terrible for the little she-elf's
family. She certainly understood what they were going through, for she had been
through the same thing many times herself. It just came naturally with two sons
at this age.
"I'm thinking of Miriel." Elrohir spoke softly, voicing her thoughts. "Do you
think she will be all right?"
"Yes, she will be just fine." Celebrian absently stroked her son's hair. "The
healers said that she has a light concussion, but elves heal fast, and little
elflings even faster."
"We didn't know she was following us. We told her to stay behind!"
Celebrian paused for a while. "And yet she didn't listen to you, like you didn't
listen to your elders."
Elrohir pouted. "That was different! There was no reason for her to follow us –
Tonar barely plays with her and Donael acts as if she isn't there!"
"Maybe there was another reason she kept following you."
The younger twin looked at his mother who was smiling softly. "Maybe…maybe she
wanted to be with her brother." He said slowly. "She seems to admire him a lot."
"I think so, too." Celebrian agreed. "I'm sure that in her eyes, Tonar is a
wonderful person and she only wants to be near him. However, his harsh words
hurt her, and in order to impress him, she followed you three up the tree."
"That's silly." Elrohir exclaimed and crossed his arms.
"Oh, really?" Celebrian chuckled softly. "Well, my little one, I remember very
clearly a stubborn elfling who insisted on following his twin everywhere, no
matter how dangerous the situation was. It has always been so with you and
Elladan, and I believe it still is to a certain degree."
"I…" Elrohir opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. His mother was
right, there had indeed been a few times when he had been unable to leave his
brother alone, but that was long ago and forgotten…or was it?
"Siblings are often like that," Celebrian continued. "They fight over the
simplest things, they act as if they don't care about each other, but when one
of them takes hurt, they are deeply worried until everything is all right again.
Imagine Elrohir, what would you have done if it had been Elladan who had fallen?
How would you have felt?"
Elrohir looked at her with big, sad eyes. "I already thought about that." He
admitted, and then gulped. "And I think I would have been…afraid. Afraid that
something really bad might have happened to him. That he might have been hurt
really bad, or…I don't know. But I would be afraid."
"And would you worry?"
"Yes, I would worry."
Celebrian smiled softly and placed a kiss on her son's forehead. "It is good
that you are so honest with me, little one. Do you still dislike your brother,
then?"
"I don't know…" Elrohir was confused. "He can be so annoying at times…but I
wouldn't want to lose him!"
"I'm relieved to hear that." Celebrian hugged her son. "Because we will return
home soon and I don#t want you to scream at Elladan as soon as we get there."
The younger twin looked up, surprised. "We are going back?"
"Yes." Celebrian nodded. "We will leave in a few days, so make sure to say
good-bye to all of your friends."
"Oh." Elrohir didn't know what to think. One side of him was happy to return
home, but the other one felt quite anxious about facing Elladan again. What
should he say to his brother? Elladan had to apologize, that was sure, but what
would he do if his twin was too stubborn to do so?
And he would have to leave his friends. The thought saddened him a bit - he had
come to like Tonar, although he found Donael a bit annoying. Well, maybe he
could invite them to Imladris next summer, that would be fun.
He lay in his mother's arms until it was time to go to bed, unable to stop
thinking about what would happen when he returned home. The sun slowly sank from
the sky and night fell over Lothlorien, leaving the two elves in darkness broken
only by the silent flickering of a small candle.
To be continued...
I now realized that I used the wrong phrase - it should be nin ion and not nin mellon, and I thank Lydia and San for pointing out my mistake - I kind of got confused with my other story and didn't notice it until later. *shakes head*
Iawen Londea - Well, my pondering finally came to a result, although I am not quite satisfied with it. I'm afraid that I have used a little bit too many own characters...*sighs* Anyway, I find it amusing that Elrohir proves to be the more independant one of the two. I hadn't expected that^^
Starlight Wolf - I haven't come around to read your story yet, but as a matter of fact, I don't like Mary Sues at all. I have looked at the first few lines and then decided not to read it - I mean, mortal girl comes to Middle Earth, is - oh wonder - a hero and has been a lover of Thranduil who - like everybody knows who has read the books - hates humans...sorry. I don't like that stuff.
Faila Gamgee - Well, the end of the story is soon in sight, only a few more chapters. I hope. I don't really have a plan, though^^"
I'm sorry that I haven't answered to everyone, but I am pretty much in stress right now. If you feel insulted, write it in a review and I will try to answer you the next time...