Felice - Welcome to the world of er... non-lurkdom! Ack, that was cheesey. But thanks a lot for reading and reviewing!

Geez... Not to sound like a complaining wimp or anything, but it really would help if more people would actually review for once, and give me some advice on how to make this pathetic piece of fiction better... End rant. On with the fic.

Trust in Faith Alone
The Children of Elrond

Chapter Five

(Elrohir)
"Noro lim Indil," I whisper urgently. "Noro lim!"

I have lost my sister. I've lost Arwen. My only sister, my only Arwen. The pain and shock of realizing this is almost too great to understand. I will never see her as I used to, walking about Imladris - her face so fair and full of light and joy, her step lighter than the fall of linden leaves. I will never see her again in Arda. We may meet again over the Seas, but who can say how long it shall be 'til that day? Time does not pass for the Eldar as for men, but what time shall pass until I see my sister again?

I suppress my tears. What good will it do to cry now? It is too late. Arwen has left for the Halls of Mandos - and may she find peace there, no longer grieving for what happens in these mortal lands...

While I - I am still here, lingering in bitter sorrow.

I was unable to save her, unable to help her. What good am I? Her brother, the one who is supposed to watch over her and see that she comes to no harm. My responsibility - my natural duty. Have I ever fulfilled it? No... It pains to admit, but I have never paid much attention to my sister. Not until today - or yesterday by now. For scant hours have I just began to realize how much I cared for my sister. And now she is snatched from me by the cruel talons of fate.

I bite my lip. Illuvatar...Why is the world so unjust?

Cold starlight bathes the valley in silver as Indilheni passes swiftly over the running grass. Her gait is light and smooth - and swift as the autumn winds. I wrap my hands in her flowing mane, the soft tresses are comforting to my trembling fingers.

"Hurry Indil."

The ground slips past under her flying hooves, but it still seems too slow to my agitated mind.

I have lost Arwen. I will not lose Elladan also.

Scant minutes ago I had sensed my brother's thoughts and feelings again. They were dark and despairing - and filled with the thoughts of death. The Eldar do not die, but I cannot know what Elladan may attempt in his state of mind.

I can see the knot of pines close ahead, and nearing with each passing moment as Indil runs. Of all strange things, it is only now that I realize something - my little mare shares the name of my brother's betrothed: Indil. A wry smile flickers over my face, but it is soon wiped away. It is because of Elladan's betrothed, this Indil, that I have lost Arwen - and possibly losing Elladan also. I suppress the dark thoughts, paying attention instead to the pines ahead. But my brother is there, its is toward he that I ride. And it is his betrothed - who he never asked for - that is causing so much grief to we siblings three...Around and around the thoughts chase each other. I try to clear my mind, to not think at all.

"Noro lim Indil, hurry!"

(Elladan)
I look back over my shoulder, tresses of my dark hair is blown by the wind and gently brushes my face. Through the alighted shadows of the pines, I can barely see anything. Shimmering motes of starlight escaped from the clutches of the canopy flickers here and there. The wind rustles the pine needles, sending out gentle wafts of the refreshing scent of pine. I run my fingers over a hardened droplet of sap gathered on the rough bark of the tree.

"Farewell..."

Walking through the pines silently, I am a mere shadow in the dark reverie of the trees. I can see a brighter patch of starlight ahead - the pines are thinning, I have come to the edge of the grove. Cold silver flows over the valley of Imladris. The valley of my home...

I close my eyes and walk a few steps back into the shadow. To look full upon Imladris now will be death to my choice...yet ironically It is to death that I go...

Passing among the pines, I keep to the edge of the trees but in the shadow where I cannot see or be seen - except for the sharpest of elven sight. There is a steep road that leads out of the valley on the northern side of the trees and I make for that path.

The pines seem to be whispering in the breeze. Voices so breathy and sweet. I halt for a lingering moment, listening to their song. But the moment is soon past and I continue on. I must not let anything distract me.
What is that sound? I pause and listen intently. Galloping hooves? It cannot be someone come to seek me, for no one knows that I am here - and will never expect me to being here...Will they?

Better safe than sorry. I quickly spring further into the heart of the pines and lightly climb up into a tall tree. Hid amid the thick needles and oppressive dark, only the sharpest eyesight of my brother can see me now. I watch the area about me warily, wondering what will happen...

The sound of hooves come nearer and nearer. Through the towering pines, I can see a dim shadow on the edge of the grove - the figure of an elf riding a horse. The elf dismounts, as the trees are clustered too closely for the steed to pass. I wait, scarcely daring to breath as the elf enters the pines and walks straight toward me. Now he is barely five paces away from the tree I hide in. A sparkling ray of starlight suddenly breaks through the thick canopy and shines full upon his face, and my breath catches in my throat. Elrohir.

I place a hand on the trunk of the pine, the roughness of the bark seems to be the only thing that is real.
Elrohir looks about him as he walks ever closer. He looks up. In the dim gloom a flickering starlit mote dances over my brother's face, and another brushes by my eyes. Our eyes lock, and I know that Elrohir has seen me.

Elladan...

I almost fall off my perch. Did I just hear a voice in my mind? It sounds like Elrohir, yet the sorrow in the tone is unlike my brother.

It's me Elladan. It's Elrohir.

What is going on? I look down at Elrohir, the light mote by his face fading. The mote by my eyes has drifted away. Darkness unfolds as a veil between us.

"Elrohir?" I whisper tentatively.

"It's me Elladan, it's Elrohir." It is unmistakably the voice of Elrohir.

"Come down Elladan."

It is as if my brother's voice has an invisible hold on me. I find myself obeying and dropping silently to the ground. In the gloom, Elrohir's eyes seem to shine with a grey light and I can dimly see the outline of his face.

"Elrohir..."

"Come back Elladan," he says quietly. "Do not act rashly, do not act on your feelings."

My heart is beating faster than usual. How can he know what I am thinking of doing?

"There is still much Arda has to offer…"

I close my eyes for a moment. Can I hold true to my decision? Is there truly anything left if I go back?

Unbidden, words escape my lips. "Why have you come Elrohir?"

"To take you home."

Home... Do I still have a home? Did I ever have a home? I open my eyes.

"Why Elrohir? Where is my home?"

A shadow of sorrow seems to pass over his eyes. "Home...It lies behind you Elladan, not where you think you go to."

Our eyes lock onto each other.

"Home lies behind Elladan," Elrohir repeats softly. His voice is barely the shadow of a whisper, and stained by unknown sorrow.

I close my eyes. I can feel tears welling behind an invisible floodgate.

"Come back."

A single tear slides down my face.

"Come home..."

(N/A)
A walk in the silent gardens brought no comfort to Indil. A restlessness burned in her heart, she longs for the unknown. What did she have left anyway? Nothing, nothing perhaps a future she did not want.

Again she found herself heading down to the riverbank. Sitting down upon a high rock she kicked off her cloth slippers and hugged her knees to her chest. The waters rushed by noisily in their rocky bed. Uncaring and unknowing of what it has done Indil thought. Why did she feel so much for this maiden she had never known? This maiden, the kin of those apparently ruining her life... Why did she feel so much sorrow for her?

Perhaps because it was the first time Indil has witnessed the passing of one of the Eldar. Never has she known such a thing in Greenwood - where all was peaceful and restful. Her father had told her Imladris was even more so than Greenwood, but now as she saw it, Imladris was full of grief and turmoil.

Sparkling wavelets passed by her, glinting in the faint night. Indil climbed among the rocks, heading upstream this time. She went past the candle-lit house quietly, leaving the sounds of folk and music behind her as she walks up the valley. Before long the light is behind her, and now there is only the sound of the river and the cold starlight. Looking up, she saw wisps of clouds chasing each other across the sky, hiding the pallid face of the moon.

On she walked, faster and faster until she was sprinting full out over the jagged rocks. A wind picked up, blowing out her long dark hair and sending the skirts of her teal dress billowing about her legs. The cool starlight was mirrored in her eyes as a single tear dropped, quickly blown away by the wind.

The world was cruelly beautiful...

Indil picked up her pace until she was running as she never had before. The harsh rocks scraped at her bare feet while the wind tore at her pale face. Suddenly, her foot caught on a jagged outcropping and Indil tumbled down amid the cold rocks. As she lay there with her face in her arms, skirts spread about her, of sudden all strength seemed to be drained from her. The relentless energy that had led her to run almost all the way up the valley departed.

Indil simply lay where she had fallen, silent tears streaming down her face. She no longer knew why she cried, and she did not have strength enough to care. All she knew was that her grief was terrible...