Naomie: I cant tell you whats going to happen. You have to be patient to find out what happens. EG Mean, aren't I? I'm glad you like the story and stick with it and me. Your reviews are always wonderful and uplifting! Thanks! As for romance… well lets see what happens later on, eh? EG I think you'll be surprised.. at least that is what I was hoping for.
Zammy: And here you got all caught up and I updated again :O I try to make this a regular thing, and thought I'd say THANKS to all my reviewers so far by posting early. If I get some descent encouragement, I may post another chapter in a couple of days. :D hint hint
Seeing-spots: I'm infamous for having cliffies and twists. Don't say you weren't warned! Lol I hope you continue with your stories as well… I found them to be very interesting and enjoyable reads. :D OH, and my Dalmatian says 'love the name'. LOL
Gwyn: I don't honestly know what is wrong with some of these types when I upload. They look fine on my computer and when I change their formats, but for some reason, as soon as they are on the site, BAM… screwed up types and very strange spacing. And thought I didn't quite realize how strange the names would sound, the one you thought was about a sweater is actually pronounced, "Eye-vas-wait-ar". :D Sound better that way? giggles about the idea of a 'sweater' elf
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Chapter Thirteen: A Tale of Two Cities
Night had shrouded the irritable group as they made their way towards the estate. Twice they had to return to the place where Haldir found the bloodstained leaf, each time finding a different path and walking until dusk had fallen. The Elves could have ventured all night, but the increasing blackness made even their eyes blind to the subtle signs of recent trespassing. Frustrated with their lack of progress, Haldir had reluctantly agreed to return to the manor. Amarah and Calorad had led the way back, their path bathed in moonlight, though it didn't compare to the ethereal glow of the Elves as they rode in the darkness.
Amarah had been first to notice the glow, gasping and questioning the Elves about it and watching in awe as they were able to control the luminescence, dimming it to a pale ghostly color, riding their hoses like haunting specters from childhood stories.
The group entered the courtyard, the gates closing with a groan, and the horses nickering for their treats. Everyone dismounted roughly with their nerves on edge. Minds were heavy with disturbed thoughts, and weariness settled into their bones from a very long day of tracking, full of set-backs and double backs.
"I will have dinner brought to your rooms," Amarah said, her posture slumped, her hair matted, and her clothes filthy.
"Many thanks, my lady," Haldir said, his own tiredness creeping upon him.
Amarah left to inform the kitchens, leaving Calorad to do what he willed.
Calorad followed the elves to their rooms and asked kindly, "May I eat with you?"
Haldir opened his mouth to speak, but the words died on his lips as he heard voices from beyond the door. Eager, high-pitched voices. Two, to be precise. And the heavily accented attempts at Common.
Haldir opened the door and found Eremae and Láiraen sitting at the oblong table that had been cleaned of dishes and replaced with fresh cutlery. Opposite of the two elves were a set of identical faces, jabbering happily about the fun of teaching elves.
"Mae govannen, Haldir!" The twins chimed together.
"What are you two doing here?" Haldir asked sternly.
The grins faded momentarily but quickly recovered, beaming at Eremae and Láiraen.
"We are teaching them our language," Eotrán said.
"Elves learn so fast!" Etáin said in an awed voice.
Haldir looked to the two Elves sitting opposite and asked them in Elvish, "You are learning Common?"
Eremae, now with full color returned to his face answered, "Truthfully, Commander, I am not sure what we are learning."
Láiraen piped in, "But it has been fun with the human younglings. They seem to be excited every time we repeat what they say. They seemed quite pleased with themselves."
Haldir fought the urge to laugh as the two human's turned to him, their faces mixed with excitement and pride.
"Did he tell you what he learned?" Eotrán asked eagerly.
"I bet he did!" Etáin exclaimed. "It took an hour for them to tell us apart, and remember our names."
Haldir laughed at the two and sat at the table; Múrendil, Calorad, Orophin and Rúmil followed suit. There was a knock on the door, and when Haldir inquired as to the person's identity, Amarah and two servants opened the door in answer, their arms burdened with food.
The two servants carried in carved meat set on a silver platter and two large bowls of vegetables. Amarah's arms were laden down with bread, a bowl of fruit, and a decanter that sloshed with her movements.
The servants set the food down and excused themselves to gather the rest, their eyes warily watching the elves.
"What are the two of you doing here?" Amarah asked when she noticed the twins.
"We are here to make sure Haldir keeps his promise," Etáin said.
Eotrán shook his head, "We did not want him to forget. Anyway, we have been teaching Common to his friends." He motioned to Eremae and Láiraen.
The two elves smiled politely when the conversation was directed to them.
"So," Amarah put down the bread, fruit, and decanter, looking at each of elf in turn, "Do you understand me now?"
Eremae's face cracked a wide gin. His beautiful, Elvish voice politely addressed Amarah with an unconventional, crude female nickname. The twins erupted in hysterical laughter.
It took Amarah a moment to recover from the initial shock, but once she did, she turned to the twins and scolded them harshly, using their preferred method of communicating, and earning the ashamed faces of the twins. Calorad stood transfixed, mouth agape as he registered what the elf had just called Amarah. When Amarah finished her rant, she turned to Haldir.
"Please tell them to not repeat anything the twins have taught them. They only taught them how to curse and insult."
Haldir nodded and translated to the other two, who at once realized what had been said, blushed and asked for forgiveness.
The servants returned with more food and proceeded to set the oblong table and serve the dishes on the plates. When they were finished, Amarah excused them and bade them a good eve. The servants bowed awkwardly and closed the door behind them as they left, their eyes still darting among the pointed ear guests.
"Now this is food!" Amarah said as everyone began on their meal.
Keeping his tongue, Haldir smiled and started to eat, hoping the food would keep his mouth busy, and he not voice the cruel remark he longed to say about this meal competing with Elvish waybread. Not really knowing what he was eating, Haldir sampled a few dishes, tentatively taking bites and finding the food rather pleasing. He hated to admit it, but the food was quite delicious, and a great reprieve from the lembas.
After a few hurried bites, the twins looked at Haldir.
"Well?" Eotrán asked, his mouth still half full.
Haldir swallowed, unsure of to what they were referring.
"Elf twins!" Etáin said, guessing the question on the March Warden's face. "You did promise!"
"Boys! Please!" Amarah snapped, daintily arranging her plate, "Let Haldir be. He needs to eat and regain his strength. Today was very tiring."
Rúmil and Orophin exchanged meaningful looks when they noticed their brother bristle as he cast Amarah a reproachful look. Though the conversation and intent was lost on the two, they knew it to be something to get Haldir riled. To the untrained eye, Haldir merely enjoyed his food, but his brothers, who knew him better than he knew himself sometimes, saw his slight shift in seating, the pale tinge of pink to his ears, the gritted teeth, and tightened jaw.
The twins looked heartbroken and returned to their food with sullen faces and low spirits.
Inwardly smirking, Haldir finished his mouthful and began his tale, "Over two thousand years ago, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien received word that they had twin grandsons, whose mother was the daughter of the Lord and Lady."
"Whose the father?" Etáin interrupted.
"Lord Elrond of Imladris," Haldir answered, then returned to his story, "When the twins were old enough to travel, their mother and father brought them to Lothlorien."
"My Lord and Lady were most pleased to see their daughter and her precious elflings."
"Elflings?" Eotrán asked between bites.
"Yes! Baby elves!" Etáin snapped at his brother and motioned for Haldir to return to the story.
Haldir, fighting the voice in his head that whispered these two were exactly like the Imladris princes, took a deep breath and continued.
"One evening, the lords and ladies wished to spend the time with each other and entrusted the care of the twins to us."
He motioned to Rúmil and Orophin, both of whom were deep in an Elvish conversation and didn't know what Haldir was talking about.
Haldir sighed, "I have never been one to get along with babies. The last time I dealt with one was Orophin, and that was over four thousand years ago."
Orophin heard his name and looked to Haldir, gave him a mischievous grin, then turned back to Rúmil and continued talking.
Knowing his brother was oblivious to a lot of Common, he added with a grin to the twins, "It was always difficult to keep a diaper on him. He kept taking them off."
The twins giggled as they watched Haldir's brothers talk with their heads bowed to one another.
"The twins were a handful," Haldir sighed, shaking his head at the memory. "They had just learned to walk, and walk they did. Everywhere! Rúmil fell asleep while watching them, and when I returned, they were no where on our flet."
"Flet?" Amarah asked, her plate now long since abandoned.
"It is what Elves live on. They are platforms built high in the trees, all connected and make up many levels."
"You live in a tree?" Calorad asked amazed.
"Yes," Haldir said, feeling rather annoyed at the constant interruptions.
"Forget where they live, where were the twins?" Amarah asked.
Finally able to return to his tale, Haldir started again, "Like I said, when I returned they were gone."
"Where did you go?" Eotrán asked.
"Who cares!" Etáin grumbled. "Why did you leave babies with your brothers?"
Haldir resisted the urge to tie gags in the twin's mouths, but on hindsight, he did wonder why he left the infant elflings with his brothers.
Clearing his mind of all thoughts pertaining to silencing those in the room, Haldir tried it again.
"The twins would not stop crying, so I went to find a she-elf for some advice. When I returned from her counsel, the twins were gone. I woke Rúmil, yelled for Orophin, who had gone to bed, and the three of us started our search.
"We spent the evening and night searching the ElvenCity, refusing to give up until we found them."
"And did not want to tell the parents, right?" Calorad smirked.
"Our fear exactly. But dawn came, and knowing that the Lords and Ladies would be coming to collect their elflings, we returned home empty-handed, and waited for them to come."
"But morning came and went," Haldir said, trying to hide his amusement as he remembered all the heartache, pain, promises, curses, and oaths to each other and themselves that the elflings be found safe. "By midday, we decided that we could not hold off any longer and went to admit to our failure."
"Oh no!" Eotrán gasped.
"Did they kill you for losing their kids?" Calorad asked, then blushed at his own question.
Haldir laughed, "We arrived at the Lord and Lady's flet, ready to accept any punishment they deemed worthy, and found the twins sound asleep in their mother's arms."
"What?" Amarah asked, taken completely by surprise. "How?"
Haldir ran his hand through his hair, careful of his braids, "It seems as Rúmil slept, the twins crying called to their mother, who came and got them."
Calorad's mouth was hanging open, Etáin and Eotrán giggled hysterically, and Amarah was sitting aghast, drawn between amusement and relief.
"That was the first time we lost them," Haldir grinned. "Throughout the next few centuries, they continued to escape, sending my brothers and I into panic looking for them and worrying about their safety, and enabling us to learn more about the wood we protect. Had it not been for Elrohir's adventurous spirit and Elladan's persistent stubbornness, we would have never found all the hidden caves and secret paths of my home."
"Elrohir? Elladan?" the twins chimed.
"Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris," Haldir confirmed.
The mention of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel's grandsons, Rúmil and Orophin stopped their conversation and looked at their brother. Eremae, Láiraen, and Múrendil looked curiously at the March Warden as well, wondering why the conversation included the Imladris princes.
"They sound like these two," Amarah gestured to Etáin and Eotrán with a smile.
They twins scowled, "We are not much trouble."
Calorad choked on his food as he erupted with laughter. He coughed, tears streaming down his reddened face as he fought for air. Amarah
patted him on the back and poured his goblet full of wine. Calorad took a few sips and regained his composure. He breathed deeply, leaning back in his chair, tears drying on his face.
"I think trouble runs in pairs," Calorad said with a harsh breath.
"Oh, the centuries have taught me that," Haldir smiled at the twins mutinous expressions. "But they do not need to be twins to cause trouble."
Haldir gave an inclination of his head to Rúmil and Orophin, who were once again immersed in their conversation.
Calorad, Amarah, Etáin, and Eotrán all laughed heartily.
"Nor do they have to be related," Haldir added as an afterthought. His mind quickly flashed images of Lord Elrond's adopted human son that would partner up with either twin and cause mayhem.
"But brothers seem to be the most troublesome," Amarah said with a sly smile.
"What trouble did the elf twins do?" Etáin asked eagerly.
"Oh my!" Amarah exclaimed. "Give them ideas, Haldir!"
Haldir grinned wickedly and leaned forward motioning for the twins to do the same, "They have hidden all the clothing of their father. Brought home a vast amount of wildlife, keeping some as pets without permission. Dared each other to do foolish things and caused serious injuries to themselves or others. Many times they have wandered off to explore and have gotten lost. All that and more in a few centuries at home. When they came to my home of Lothlorien, they found it amusing to put Ilthia in the bathhouse of the guards and turned some of my command a bright shade of blue."
"Oh no!" Amarah gasped, her hand going to her mouth, mainly to hide the huge grin on her face. The grin broadened as she imagined Haldir dyed to a deep shade of blue.
"That is not the worst of it," Haldir said. "They also loosened the fastenings that hold our guards posts, causing several of them to collapse from under the watchers. Many were hurt, which earned the twins a very strict punishment."
"What was it?" Etáin asked apprehensively.
"They were to help with all the cooking and cleaning of Lothlorien," Haldir said in a hushed whisper.
"That is not so bad," Eotrán scoffed, waving his hand dismissively, "We do that around here all the time, and that is not even a punishment."
"For over five thousand people?" Haldir quirked a brow and fought the urge to laugh at the twins' shocked faces as they answered negatively. "They would prepare all the meals and clean the dishes, kept the bathing pools clear and would personally clean and polish all the guards' weapons and armor."
"Wow!" Eotrán exclaimed softly.
"They had to do everything for a decade of their visit. The last few years they remained in Lothlorien, they were quite well behaved. Of course, they also knew they had their mother and father to answer to when they returned home," Haldir put in thoughtfully.
"That sounds horrible!" Calorad shook his head disgusted, "They spent those years doing all those chores and never got to have any fun and enjoy being kids."
Haldir laughed, "Elladan and Elrohir were a few centuries old. Remember, Elves do not perceive time as humans do. To us, they were still young, but old enough to know better and accept the punishment for what they did. I do not know how long their punishment lasted in Imladris, but during the next summer, all the Elves that were injured received a parchment of apology and the twins did not visit again for over a century."
"Oh, I bet they got into BIG trouble!" Etáin said, his eyes wide as he imagined the punishments to which the elf twins had been subjected.
Amarah finished her plate and leaned back sleepily in her chair, her eyes drooping from exhaustion and a full stomach. Calorad finished off his plate as well, pushing it away and groaning lazily.
The twins whispered between themselves, discussing the things Haldir had told them.
Láiraen, Múrendil, Orophin, and Rúmil were talking quietly, Eremae only half paying attention as his head lulled while he reclined in a chair, his leg bound and elevated. After a few quick words, the Elves began to move from the table. Eremae winced as he moved and nodded to Orophin, who was kneeling beside the injured elf to take a look at his bound leg.
Amarah stretched like a cat and asked Haldir, "Are you upset with our progress today?"
Haldir finished his food and turned to face Amarah, "Our progress was not as I had hoped. I fear for our kin. Their time is short."
"Do not worry," Amarah said, placing her hand on Haldir's, "We will find them. I promise."
Haldir heard a snicker and saw Rúmil and Orophin raising their brows and smirking in the annoying way they used when they teased their brother. Haldir nodded his thanks and withdrew his hand from under Amarah's. He cleared his throat and said, "Tomorrow my brothers and I will ride out to find the trail again."
"And we will ride as well," Amarah said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Nay. We will stay on the trail through the day and night. I can not risk losing any more time."
Amarah's face reddened slightly, "And we will accompany you, whether you agree to it or not."
Haldir made to argue, but the soft snoring of the twins drew his attention. Etáin and Eotrán's heads were together, mouths slightly agape, lulling gently with each drawing breath.
"I think it is time for bed. We have a long journey ahead," Haldir sighed. "We do not need to leave so early. We can rest easy and leave when there is good light in which to travel."
Amarah smiled, knowing she had won the authorative battle with the stubborn elf, "Calorad, help me with the twins. We will get them into bed, then I need to alert the stable master of our intentions to be gone for a long journey."
Calorad nodded sleepily and eased his arms around Etáin, while Amarah pulled Eotrán into her arms and hoisted the youth up.
Saying their goodnights, Amarah and Calorad carried the sleeping twins out of the Elves' rooms and to their own.
As soon as the door closed and the Elves were alone, Rúmil opened his mouth to smart his brother, but Haldir held up his hand and said in rapid Elvish, "Not now. We will sleep and rise before dawn. We leave without the human escorts."
Orophin and Rúmil nodded, helping Eremae up and to the large bed, where they tucked the small elf into the blankets. Múrendil and Láiraen stretched and went into the room they shared to get some sleep for the long journey ahead of them.
Orophin lay on the opposite side of the large bed, giving the smaller makeshift beds to his brothers.
When Múrendil and Láiraen disappeared behind the closed door, Orophin gave Haldir a very savvy look, "I think you have an admirer."
"Oh, I agree," Rúmil said, his face beaming with cheek as he lay down upon the portable bed. "I think we may have a new member of the family to take home."
Haldir shot an icy glare to his brothers as he sat on his bed, "You see things that are not there. Now, go to sleep and do not speak another word about it, or you may remain here until I return."
Haldir lay down, his insides fuming at his brothers' assumptions, which, if he was honest with himself, wasn't far from the truth. He did feel something for her, he just wasn't sure what. She remained a mystery, a maze that stayed shrouded in his thoughts, resurfacing occasionally to distract his mind. Yet, every time he felt a strange flutter in his chest, he was reminded of her face, her voice, lined with fury at being countermanded and overridden. How could someone so stubborn hold him captive, even if only for a moment? A distraction was not needed, especially during such a mission where his brethren were counting on his level head for their rescue.
Sighing, Haldir slipped uneasily into Elven dreams, his mind plagued with contradicting images and feelings.