"This is unbelievable," said Elrohir, for the tenth time that morning.
It was the day after news had reached Rivendell of Queen Findilan's tragic death, and neither twin had slept last night. Elladan had sat awake in silence, trying to convince himself that he had not really seen her fall in his dream. Elrohir had occasionally felt himself being taken by sleep, but had forced his eyes to remain re-focused so he could stay with his brother.
"I want to believe that I did not really see it," said Elladan quietly. "But my dream sounds too much like Ada's explanation of what Galadriel saw. Then again, it may just be coincidence."
"Do you truly believe that?" asked Elrohir softly.
Elladan was silent for a moment, before shaking his head. "No, because it is too coincidental. Death is a big thing, 'Ro. I just don't understand why I saw it."
"Well, Galadriel is our grandmother," Elrohir sighed. "She has the gift of foresight, as does Ada. Maybe you inherited it."
"But if that is so, why did Ada not see anything?" Elladan paused, and looked up at Elrohir. "Let us say that I have inherited this...gift. Hypothetically speaking."
"Of course."
"Well, why do you not also have it?" continued Elladan. "We are identical twins. 'Ro, there are some who even now cannot tell us apart. Even Ada sometimes mixes us up. If we are identical, then why...?"
Elrohir reached across and trailed a hand through his brother's dark tresses. "The bottom layer of your hair is slightly shorter than the top, whilst both of my layers are of equal lengths."
"Only because I got bored one day, and there just happened to be a blade close at hand," Elladan sighed. "Besides, that is not something which can be passed down from parents. It's a...environmental factor which has contributed to the way that I look. Anyway, you can't even see it unless you know its there, and you're the only one who does. Look, I am being serious. If I really have inherited this, then why have you not? It does not make sense."
"Alright, let us go and talk once more to Ada. You must explain all about the dream, and tell him exactly what you told me," said Elrohir firmly. "We are leaving for Mirkwood this afternoon, so we have enough time."
"Leaving?"
Elrohir nodded, and his expression was regretful. "Yes, it is a royal death, so we leave to pay our respects and attend the burial service. I can only imagine how hard that will be for King Thranduil and his sons."
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Lord Elrond sat back in his chair, and regarded Elladan gravely. "This is a very, very serious thing which you have just told me. No, do not look at me like that. I do not doubt your words, and I do not doubt what you saw. But...are you sure that you are not just unconsciously exaggerating?"
"What do you mean?" asked Elladan incredulously.
"Alright, you had this dream where...someone fell from a tree," Elrond sighed. "Yes, it is coincidental that the same tragedy has befallen the Royal Family, but when I told you of Queen Findilan's death, it is very possible that you immediately connected her to whoever it was in your dream."
Elladan shook his head, and leaned forwards a little. "I don't think so. Ada, do you not think it strange that on the same day I have my dream, Galadriel sees all that happened, which is the same as I saw, and the Queen dies?"
"I do not deny it is strange," Elrond said quietly. He paused, and looked across at his other son, who was standing silently at the side of the room. "What do you think, Elrohir?"
"Me? I am confused as Elladan," replied the Elf. "Well, maybe not as much, but close enough. Ada, is it possible for him to have inherited the gift of foresight from you or Galadriel? We were debating that before we came to see you."
"There is every possibility that you were correct in your assumptions, whichever one of you came up with the idea," replied Elrond.
"Me," said Elladan quietly.
"Surely I would have it also, though?" asked Elrohir.
Elrond shook his head, and glanced out of the window. "Not necessarily. On the outside, you and your brother are identical. On the inside, you are as different as two trees."
"Trees all look the same," muttered Elladan, "unless you're a wood Elf."
"No, that is where you are wrong. They are very different, as different as...as Glorfindel and Erestor," Elrond replied. "But you must look closely to see differences between two similar trees, and that is just what must be done with you two."
"Are we really that different?" asked Elrohir.
Elrond nodded, and smiled vaguely. "You can be a lot more calmer than your brother, if needs be, and you think quite rationally, whereas he sometimes does not. Elladan, you are more hot-headed that Elrohir, and, do not take offence at this, but not as good at controlling your temper."
"So, it is possible that only one of us inherited this?" Elrohir pressed.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I do not know," Elrond replied. He reached across the desk and put a hand on his other son's shoulder. "If you do indeed have this gift, Elladan, do not take it for ranted. It could prove to be very useful one day."
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Jedi Gollum: Sorry about forgetting the dots. Hopefully the dots in this chapter can make up for the lack of dots in the previous one?! Say hi to your Elrond action figure from me! No, Aradan and his mother won't be in this. This story is gonna end where 'A Brother's Jealousy' begins, so basically the day or something before the first chapter.
Pippin the hobbit-elf: I was really nervous about getting my results also, but I did ok! They are kind of scary, and the preparation is hard, you have to do so much studying, it's unbelievable. But you can't get into college without them, so you don't really have a choice about taking them! Airëlus is supposed to be around the age of 14/15 right now, and Calaen is about 12. In 'Captured by the Past'...well, Airëlus is like, eight mortal years older than Legolas, but because there was the whole thing with him coming back and everything, no-one is really sure of his age.
kathysidle: Thanks for wishing me good luck! And, why did you have glass in your lip? It sounds very painful!!!
Legolas-gurl88: Hey, that was one long review! Don't worry, you're not the only one feeling sorry for Calaen. Whenever my friends mention him, their voices are totally filled with contempt, and I'm just like 'don't be mean!' They think I'm weird for liking him. But hey...at least I'm not alone!
Rachel13: Yeah, definitely funny enough for the dramatic moment!!!
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yeah, very sad! It's all really sad for a while I guess. I'm gonna join in with you guys and say 'poor everyone!'
Right, not that any of you want to know this, but I got four A's in my GCSE's (French, Spanish, English Lang. and Music, three C's (History, English Lit. and Maths), and an E in Biology. Go me for the E! Hey, it could've been worse. I could've got F or G. Or U, which is un-gradable! Ok, the nervousness is over, and now I can relax. That's cool.
Second thing I have to say is that it's my 16th Birthday tomorrow, and I'm going to London for the weekend, for the first time. So sadly, I won't be updating until Monday.
Third thing to say: I am so sorry for the shortness of this chapter. I wanted to update this chapter and the next, but then I realised that I haven't actually finished typing the next chapter. I would finish it now, but its gone midnight...Hey, it's been my Birthday for two minutes. Sorry, going off on a tangent there. Anyway, its midnight, and I have to get up at 6 in the morning tomorrow. Or today. Whatever.
Anyway, see you on Monday!