Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tolkien. I am just playing around with their personalities. ;)
Rating: PG-13.
Author's Note: It looks like this fanfiction site is having a problem these days. My sincerest thanks to those of you who patiently waited until the problem was fixed in order to write me a review!
Thank you to Anastasia Who for reviewing the first two chapters of the story! It makes me happy to hear what you thought of each chapter! I hope you stick through to the end!
Thank you to Tara for reviewing the first chapter of the story! I hope you liked this chapter as well!
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By Kasmi Kassim
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Tears of Yesterday
Chapter 6: Tumbling Down
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The clouds were gray.
Small hands determinedly reached for the door. Uncertain gray eyes met. Taking a deep breath, Elladan pushed the door open.
The room was larger than they last remembered. When had the room looked so large? And so gray. Empty.
The children stood at the doorframe, hesitant, suddenly afraid. The silence of the room came rushing at them like a breath of a chilled wind. Their legs felt leaden; the small bodies did not dare move forward.
After a prolonged moment of silence, a small movement sounded from the bedchamber. And their father, his hair neat and robes immaculate, appeared into the large empty room. And when he saw the children, standing at the threshold, unable to enter, he stopped in his tracks.
Elrohir looked at his feet. Elladan stared at his father's robes.
"Ada..." the voice was a croak. Whether it came from Elladan or Elrohir, none of them knew.
Sweeping up the cold silence of the room with a rush of his wavering robes, their father approached swiftly, and kneeled before them. And they were gathered into a tight embrace.
Trembling, the twins buried their heads in their father's broad chest. The dark hush of the room came tumbling down around them, the trembling stillness broken. Muffled sobs escaped the thick confines of the fabric as the brothers clung onto their father.
When at last the father pulled away to wipe the tears from his sons' faces, his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. But his voice was low, gentle, unwavering.
"You will see her again."
They nodded. The lumps in their throats made it difficult to speak. One brother looked at the other, and they both bowed their heads.
Elrond smiled. His hands tirelessly brushed wet hair out of their faces, gently removing the tear-soaked strands from the eyes.
"When we all meet again, she will be as happy and healthy as she was before. Would you not like that?"
The boys nodded again. More silent teardrops hit the carpeted floor.
Elrond swallowed, and cleared his throat. He smiled once more, and tipped the boys' chins up with his fingers. "We will grow accustomed to it," he said lightly, and again wiped their tears. His hands were wet with the river of translucent sorrow.
"Now, my little stars, cry no more." With a tight smile, he slowly brought up his hand, touching his heart. "It really hurts Ada here when you do..." The hand resumed the task of wiping the young ones' wet faces and hair.
The boys nodded again, sniffling, and wiped their eyes. They both heaved a deep breath. Elladan cracked a weak smile.
"I love you, Ada."
The father smiled and stroked his hair. "And I love you, Elladan."
Elrohir sniffled. "You will not leave us too, will you?" The voice was afraid, timid.
Swallowing a painful lump, their father gathered them into a tight embrace again. His whisper spread hotly against their hair. "No, I will not leave you. You shall always have me."
A new sob spilled forth from his chest. And he closed his eyes, motionless.
When the newfound tremors in the narrow shoulders finally subsided, the elvenlord pulled away slowly, and smiled once again. "Let us wash up now, and meet for dinner. Go and get ready."
The brothers nodded reluctantly, sniffling and wiping their faces. Their heads were pounding. It was hot, and their swollen eyes burned to the touch. They looked up to see their father slowly rise to his feet, steps wavering.
"Go and get Glorfindel," he said, rubbing his eyes. "Tell him not to worry; there is no need for him to stay indoors all day." He looked down with a moist twinkle in his eyes. "Is that not so?"
The twins nodded mutely in unison, and made to the door. Elrond turned away and headed for the bedchamber, pushing back long strands of tear-streaked hair. Tears dripped from his hands down to the carpet as he walked toward the threshold. His steps faltered once again, and with a sway, his body collapsed onto the floor.
The boys jolted at the soft thump upon the carpet. When they turned, their eyes widened in terror.
"Ada!"
The room became a blur. A large, gray blur, with too much space between them and their motionless father. Screaming, they rushed forward, the sight of their broken mother rushing up to meet their eyes.
"Get Erestor, Elrohir!"
The younger twin stumbled out of the room, blindly running through the hallway, while his brother clung onto their motionless father and screamed, cried. Their father, the tall, confident father with the gentle smile and the patient voice…their strong, loving father, their only pillar now. Their father had fallen.
But he had promised. He had just assured them that he would not leave. That they would always be together.
This could not be real. This could not be real. This could not be real.
Tears blurred his vision. The darkening halls whizzed by him; the ground lurched. Elrohir gasped when a flash of black caught his body in a firm grip.
"Where are you going, little one?"
"Erestor!"
Elrohir's legs suddenly gave way upon hearing that familiar voice. He almost fell, clinging onto the taller elf, who held him steady. The child could have wept with relief. He had found Erestor. All would be well.
"Come quickly, please!" He began to tug on the advisor's sleeve, directing him back to his father's chamber. "Ada…it's Ada…!"
A sudden dread flashed in the advisor's eyes. Without further questioning, he darted toward Elrond's chamber, his slender body a black blur in Elrohir's sight. He desperately ran after the advisor, fervent prayers deafening his ears.
Valar, you cannot take him too. You cannot take Ada away from us too.
When he ran into the room, closely behind the advisor, he found Elladan cradling their father's head on his lap, calling him, begging him to awaken. Erestor was instantly by their side, kneeling as he inspected the prone body. Though his eyes were flashing dangerously, his movements were calm, controlled. With a measure of relief, Elladan released his hold on his father. Erestor was here; all would be well.
Raising his eyes, he turned his head toward the door, and saw his twin lingering at the doorway. Elrohir's gray eyes were frozen upon the entangled figure of his father and the advisor. He felt his brother's gaze upon him and slowly turned to stare back; yet he did not enter. He stepped back, his eyes lost and trembling. Elladan rose and started toward him, when a dark blue robe flashed into view. His breath hitched.
Glorfindel entered with a flying speed, moving in a streak of blue and gold as he kneeled next to Erestor. The advisor's deft hands had already finished assessing the motionless body. He raised his eyes to meet deep orbs of blue. Understanding was swift.
Erestor stood quickly as Glorfindel lifted the dark-haired elvenlord into his arms. And the two rushed out of the chamber, leaving the two trembling brothers to follow in maddened prayers and silent screams.
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To Be Continued
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Leannan: Thank you! Your words are enough to make me happy!
Ertia: Oh, I must thank you! Your reviews are wonderful as well! I'm glad you like my family dynamics!
xAKGIRLx: Oh, really? Thank you so much! I do try. ::grin::
seeing-spots: Ooh! Thank you! I'm happy to hear that!
Brazgirl: Thank you for your congrats! And thanks for also wishing me luck! I am still nervous, because my fic started pretty amateurish...hehe. And I am so happy to hear that you approve of my Thranduil so much. I created the personality but I love him too. And your words always make me grin. I am falling in love with Elrond too while writing this story, but I still love Thranduil muchly! Hehehe. Thank you again!
Someone Reading: Such attention to background metaphors and detail. I love your perception of the sunlight depicted in my story. Though I am sure my writing does not do it justice, I am so happy that you were able to see the beauty of the departure scene as I had visualized it. And I am also gratified with your perception of Glorfindel and Erestor. I am paying careful attention to those two characters in the story, as you probably noticed, so that they would be prominent in the background as two steady pillars without sticking out too much and invading the story. What a joy to receive such a wonderful, lengthy, thoughtful review. Thank you so much mellon nin!
Coolio02: Thank you for your congrats! I am happy that I managed to move you almost to tears ::grins:: And thank you also for reviewing both chapter 4 and 5. ::happy dance:: I do hope I manage to keep you interested in the whole story all the way through to the end! ;)
diva: Ooh, really? Thank you! I am happy to hear that! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!
Unsung Heroine: Thank you for the congrats! And thank you for telling me that the whole story ties in together as episodes that fade in and out. That was my aim, but I never know how it really is perceived unless a reader tells me! Thank you!
Achika: Yes, Elrond's story is a sad one. I am glad I managed to convey it satisfactorily. ;) Thank you!