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?

Long time, no update...my A-levels will start on 19th April. Gah, so much to learn! I don't want to... So if there aren't any more updates in the next weeks, it's due to my A-levels and the fact that I sit at home and study chemistry, math, history, German, and English. *sighs*

(FF.net is screwing with my formatting. Grrr. I hate it...and Front Page sucks, I want my hold Macromedia Dreamwaver back *sobs*)


A Life Shared by Two

by Kaeera

Part Ten: Thoughtful Silence

It seemed to be a perfect day. The sun shone through the windows, it was warm and the birds were singing. The laughter of elflings enjoying the sunlight echoed throughout the garden. Even the elder elves had smiles on their faces, for the weather was indeed beautiful.

However, there was one elfling in Imladris who wasn't happy. Elladan frowned at the pleasant weather and at everyone who attempted to smile at him. Said elfling was lying in his room, a thick bandage wrapped around one leg, scowling at every living presence that dared to approach him.

He was bored. And it was not the usual boredom, the 'Well-I-don't-know-what-to-do-but-I'll-think-of-something' kind of boredom. No, this was the kind of boredom that threatened to drive him mad, the worst kind he could think of! He wasn't even allowed to move, his leg hurt when he did, and although Ada and Glorfindel spent as much time with him as possible, there were still hours when he was alone in his room. If he were Elrohir, he would have just read a book and enjoyed the quiet, but Elladan was not very fond of books. For that matter, he wasn't too fond of sitting still nor the quiet either.

"Booooring…" he murmured and traced imaginary circles on the bed covers. It seemed even worse without Elrohir. Usually, when one of them was hurt, the other would sit and play games or tell stories or with the one who was hurt. But this time, Elrohir was not here, and although his other friends visited him, they could not replace his younger twin.

He'd been told that Elrohir would return soon, but until then, all he could do was wait, and patience had never been a virtue of the sons of Elrond.

Sighing, he looked at the book lying on the small table beside his bed. It was book of ancient stories, the Great Wars and many honourable Elven warriors. It even told about other races, and Elladan was curious to meet men one day. He didn't like dwarves, though.

Alas, he was not in the mood to read right now, for he had been doing nothing else the entire morning.

Carefully, he shifted his leg. It still hurt a bit, but not as much as it had the first day. Maybe he could try to get up and walk to the window. Looking out of it would certainly be an improvement to his current situation. From his bed, he could only see the sky and the topmost branches of a tree, but nothing more.

"All right." Elladan climbed out of the bed, carefully avoiding jostling his broken leg in any way. Although he was very cautious, he couldn't help but flinch as hot pain shot up his whole leg, burning like fire. With the help of the wall, he was able to make his way to the window. Fortunately there was a chair right beside it, so he was able to sit down.

Elladan leaned back and sighed, exhausted. The distance from the bed to window hadn't been far, merely a few feet, but it exhausted him nonetheless. He really hated this situation!

"Bah!" the elfling exclaimed angrily. "That's no good."

Then he looked out of the window, curious what he would see. The view was a familiar one; he could see the gardens, several paths and a large part of the main building. It was a beautiful day and many elves were walking around, talking, laughing and simply enjoying the sunshine.

Elladan propped his head on his arms and watched them with a twinge of jealousy. Oh, how he wished he could be outside with them, walking and running!

His eyes followed a beautiful young elf maiden followed closely by a warrior Elladan admired; the tall elf had often helped him with his sword exercises. Elladan kept an eye on them and saw the warrior pluck a few flowers from the ground and hand them to the maiden with a silly grin on his face.

The elfling frowned. Why would anyone give out flowers? And to a girl, of all people!

She seemed to like it however, and he saw her laugh softly, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. The warrior blushed and stammered something Elladan couldn't understand, but the she-elf only laughed more, tilting her head slightly.

Elladan was taken aback. He had always admired the warrior for his skill with the sword and hehad hoped to one day, grow up just like him. And now this same warrior was behaving like a…a…stuttering elfling - because of a girl! He just didn't understand.

Still, he couldn't pry his eyes away from the couple. They were talking happily, and their cheeks were tinged with red. The warrior took the maiden's hand and kissed it gently. She blushed even more and smiled, while Elladan pulled grimaced in disgust. Kiss the hand of a she-elf?? The thought was too revolting, and he shook his head. "Eeeeww…"

And then they did the worst thing yet – they held hands, with the effect that Elladan's admiration for the warrior dropped another notch. "I'd rather have Elrohir back - *he* would never do that with a she-elf. Ugh!""

"Who would never do what with a she-elf?" A voice suddenly rang out throughout the room and Elladan jumped in surprise.

He turned around to scowl at the intruder, but his frown quickly turned into a smile when he recognized his favourite mentor. "Glorfindel!" He exclaimed happily. "I was just talking to myself."

"I noticed that." the blonde warrior smiled in amusement and stepped close to the window. He looked outside and instantly recognized the two elves kissing passionately. "Ah, it seems as if young Mirtenbras has found a love interest – isn't he lucky."

Elladan snorted thoroughly disgusted. "I wouldn't call him lucky – look at him, he behaves like a dim-witted fool! He is supposed to be a warrior, and he walks around holding hands with…with maidens!!"

Glorfindel had to suppress a chuckle at the horrified indignation in the younger one's voice. "Judging from what you say, it seems you have yet to appreciate girls, Elladan."

"No, I don't." Elladan crossed his arms and scowled. "They are weak and they don't care about important stuff, just about flowers and dolls and stuff like that. And they always squeal and giggle and you can't play any real games with them because they always start crying!"

"My, my," Glorfindel muttered and shook his head. "I think your opinion of them will change when you grow a bit older.

"

Elladan shook his head fiercely and pointed at Mirtenbras. "I will never, ever act like him, even when I am older!"

Glorfindel raised an eyebrow at the remark. "I will remember that when you have your first crush. And then I will quote this very statement to you, you will see. We'll see if your opinion will change then."

Elladan continued to shake his head. "I will never like she-elves." He stated it with a tone of finality, and Glorfindel chose wisely not to say anything further.

* * *

The day didn't get any better for Elladan, however. Glorfindel stayed with him a while longer before he had to leave again, doing some mysterious business he wouldn't tell the young elfling. Elladan strongly suspected that the blonde elf was behaving like that on purpose, only to annoy him.

Even his father's visit later that day didn't cheer him up for he was far too bored, and even worse, he thought too much when he was alone in his room. Elrond would probably think that was a positive development, but Elladan certainly did not. He was not a thinker or philosopher and he often acted on impulse instead of thinking things through first. He'd often gained many problems as a result, but it was better than worrying over what to do.

Right now, however, there was nothing he could do, and his thoughts always centered around the same problem, Elrohir.

Over and over again, he remembered that fateful fight, he had been so angry with his twin he hadn't been able to stop himself from saying those nasty things. But what shocked him even more was the fact that his brother had said horrible things to him as well! Elladan knew Elrohir as a gentle, patient person, and to actually see his twin that angry had triggered conflicting emotions in him.

He felt guilty.

Of course, he had felt guilty before like the time he had destroyed his mother's favourite vase (it had been an accident, of course) or when he had accidentally broken a friend's toy. But now, he felt guilty because he seemed to have hurt Elrohir.

Why had they fought after all? Elladan couldn't even remember, but what he did remember was the scene that played quite vividly in his head. The words he had shouted echoed in his ears and he closed his eyes as the memory came to the surface…

"I bet father likes me better, because I will be a warrior like him!" Elladan shouted angrily.

Elrohir hesitated for a moment as he considered those words, pain shimmering in his eyes. Then the pain was replaced by wild fury which one saw rarely in the eyes of the normally so sensible child. "Don't say things like that!" he cried and attacked his brother once more. "Ada likes me more than you! You only cause him problems!"

"But you are dull and boring!" Elladan replied, dodging a blow. "Nobody likes such a dreary elfling!"

Tears burned in Elrohir's eyes as he refused to believe the words, and his anger increased. "I'm NOT!" and he smacked his brother square in the face.

Elladan fell from the force of the blow and gasped in surprise. Elrohir usually never got that angry; he must have said something really bad! Pain radiated from his nose, and when he touched it, his hand came back blood-covered.

And that had been when he snapped, when he became so angry that he spat nasty things at his twin, his only brother. Elladan regretted it now – he knew how much he had hurt his brother. But still, Elrohir had hurt him first, and the stubborn part of his mind insisted that his twin should apologize first. Of course, he would accept his apology, but Elrohir had to make the first step…

But he wanted his brother back so badly! He missed him, and everything was so lonely without Elrohir! What if Elrohir wouldn't apologize? He had seemed pretty stubborn about it, and Elladan knew his twin well – he wouldn't give in easily.

Then he remembered what his Ada had said, clearly recalling the sad undertone in Elrond's voice as he spoke with him about his twin.

"I don't appreciate your behaviour, Elladan. And I don't appreciate Elrohir's behaviour either. You both are acting in a manner unbefitting elven lords, I thought you knew better. You have the rare gift of having a twin to share your life with, to always be by your side. Don't throw that away. Don't destroy your unique bond by stubbornness."

"I know I'm being stubborn Ada." Elladan whispered. "It doesn't matter who apologizes. I just want Elrohir to come back."

Wistfully, he looked out the window. Suddenly he realized no one could ever take his brother's place. Elrohir and Elladan, elven twins. They looked alike, and they understood each other like no one else could. And yet they were different too, they had different personalities and interests.

Elladan had always been the outgoing one, the extrovert, loud and stubborn, impatient and quick tempered, while Elrohir had been more quiet and shy, an introvert elfling, thoughtful and patient, gentle and caring.

The older twin knew his brother well, but there were times when he simply didn't understand Elrohir at all.

"What Glorfindel said was indeed true," he murmured, remembering a previous conversation with the blonde warrior, "We are really two different persons."

He stayed silent for a while, watching the scenery outside lost in thought. A soft breeze moved the branches of a nearby tree, and he watched the leaves swaying in the breeze, as if they were dancing to some soft music.

Elladan sighed deeply, scowling at the cast on his leg and then at the empty room behind him. "If Elrohir returns…when he returns…then I want to be friends with him again. I want my 'Ro to be back." Tears brimmed in his eyes and he quickly wiped them away. "I want Elrohir back. I want my brother back!"

To be continued....

elvendancer - Thanks a lot for your encouragment. I know myself how annoying it is to wait for an author to update, so I'm relieved when people tell me that they can wait. I really try my best!

Iawen Londea - I doubt that this story will be any longer. Like 'When the Snow Falls', it's nearing its end. Although Elrohir is still being stubborn - Elladan has seen the truth by now, and he has accepted it, but little 'Ro seems to have inherited his father's stubborness...

Sunsong - Thanks a lot for your comment. About the Thranduil thing: I was quite agitated when I wrote this, so I chose the wrong impression (happens quite often when I write in English, unfortunately). I don't think that he really hates them, but he isn't overly fond of them either. I have to delete this comment as soon as I have time...and next time I'll remember not to post a chapter when I am angry or annoyed about anything. *lol* My father is a twin, too, by the way, and so I have learned very early that yes, twins can be very, very different!

Starlight Wolf - *points above* Like I said, I already regret writing what I wrote back then. I was agitated, and then I tend to exagerratem, which is not very good. I don't really think that Thranduil hates human, but he doesn't like them either. I would describe it as a kind of indifference, or a superior feeling because they die and elves do not.

Nikara - The movie...I watched it, but I was kind of preoccupied during the movie, so I didn't get all the details. But I didn't get the impression that the twins appeared anywhere...

iamtheanonymious - I liked that scene, too! I can totally imagine Elladan hanging out there in a tree and trying to catch the lighting... it seems liek something he would do!

Vicki Turner - I *am* updating; it just comes late. *sighs sheepishly* I'm sorry, but with my full timetable, I can't update faster. A-levels will start in April and I have to study maths! But don't worry, I don't plan to abandon this story - it just takes time!

Lynn - I'm glad that you like the stories. Hope you continue reading, although it takes that long to update...

Tara - Thanks a bunch for the nice review! The problem with the twins is that their personality aren't really described anywhere, or at least not very profoundly, so you can develop them yourself as a writer - which gives you great opportunities. I just like the idea of an extrovert Elladan and an introvert Elrohir^^