Ithil was glowing brightly in the sky, shining on the path as Elrond walked in the surrounding forest. It was nice to get away from the tension at home for a while, although he loved both of his sons he hated to be with them when they were like this.
He heard metal against metal and frowned, surely nothing would have got past the patrols this close to Imladris.
He sighed and went to investigate, glad that his sons had insisted that he take a dagger with him.
As he reached the scene he saw someone had taken out many Orcs but was loosing fast, he joined in the fray helping to kill the rest of them.
He looked to the stranger who looked like it had been about to say something but collapsed, Elrond was right to his side.
Shouts echoed in the distance announcing the patrol's presence.
"Elrond?" Glorfindel frowned joining the other lord.
"Some patrol you are," Elrond growled, "How did such a number of Orcs slip past you? I would have thought your men were more vigilant than this Glorfindel."
"Sorry; no one heard anything…" he trailed off.
"Make sure there are no other Orcs in the vicinity. Seneschal."
"Of course my lord," Glorfindel winced; he always knew he was in trouble when Elrond was formal with him.
"A light my lord," a warrior handed him a glowing torch.
"Thank you," Elrond nodded and stuck it in the ground near the fallen being.
"Do you need assistance Lord?" he asked.
"No…you should go back to the rest of the patrol." Elrond said checking the being for serious injuries.
In the dim light Elrond could see the victim had been injured severely with many lacerations graced its pain twisted features, on a closer inspection the being had the pointed ears of an elf under dark matted hair.
Deciding there were no fatal injuries Elrond carefully took the Elf back home where he could look after his charge properly.
Elrohir was woken in the middle of the night by a noise passing his room.
"Sorry to wake you Elrohir," the healer apologised.
"Has something happened?" he frowned.
"Your father found someone while he was walking…he is in the healing wing."
Elrohir nodded and hurriedly passed the healer down the corridor and broke into a run.
"Ada?" he skidded into the room. "Is there anything I can help with?"
"There is just so much blood…most of these wounds happened long before I found him." Elrond said absently continued cleaning the many layers of dried blood and mud from the unconscious Elf's body.
"An elf," Elrohir mused, "Ada…there have been no reports of missing Elves for a very long time…where could he have come from?"
Elrond didn't answer as Elrohir absently ran his fingers in the not short dark hair, a finger lightly traced a scar of the elf's face; tracing an old looking scar a memory long buried hit him.
/flashback/
"Dan," Elrohir smiled as his twin finally woke up, "Glad to see you're finally awake. You alright?"
"My head still hurts a little." He admitted softly.
"I'm not surprised," Elrohir traced his finger across a fresh scar which graced the elder's left temple down to his jaw. "Those Orcs were a little rough with you." Elrohir joked receiving a mock glare from his twin.
/end flashback/
A tear rolled down Elrohir's cheek.
"Are you alright son?" Elrond stopped bandaging hearing a sniff.
"Sorry Ada," Elrohir forced a smile, "Just getting caught up in the past."
Elrond smiled fondly to his son, "There something else?" he prompted.
"Do you think…is it possible this…may be Elladan?" he asked not making eye contact.
"Do you think it is?" Elrond asked, knowing his son would be able to recognise his twin.
"I don't know." Elrohir murmured. "He seems so familiar…yet…" he trailed off. "I just miss him so much…" the words were a mere whisper.
"We all do," Elrond said softly embracing his son tightly. "Now help me finish with these bandages."
Elrohir nodded.
"Ada," he frowned taking the elf's hand, "These knuckles look like they have been broken but have not been allowed to heal properly…" he trailed off.
"Let me see," Elrond took the left hand.
/ 'You made a good job of this my son,' Elrond commented strapping it up.
'It's nothing; I think the wall took more damage.'
'But the wall hasn't got any knuckles to break has it?' /
The memory surfaced in his mind and he forced to look away.
"Ada?" Elrohir frowned.
"You are right," Elrond smiled, "Elladan is home." He smiled fondly between the two elves. "Let's finish bandaging him up." Elrond smiled softly.
"Ada?" Estel entered the room and found the two elves sitting by the patient.
"Estel," Elrohir stood and walked to the tensing human.
"Sorry, didn't mean to intrude." Estel immediately backed for the door when a hand gripped his arm.
"Stay brother," Elrohir murmured smiling feeling the man slightly relax under his grip, "I'm sorry Estel…I should never have blamed you as I did…it was never your fault…it was his choice…"
"But…"
"I won't hear argument Estel," Elrohir said sharply, "He made the choice; you could not control him or what he did. Don't keep blaming yourself brother…not for what others have done."
A small smile crossed Estel's lips as his brother held him tightly and placed a light kiss on his head.
"I'm sorry brother," Elrohir whispered, "I love you so much…I don't want anything to happen to you…"
"I love you," Estel frowned, "Elrohir…is something wrong?"
"No brother…everything is well." The elf smiled.
Estel looked questioningly to Elrond who just smiled and joined his sons.
"Have I missed something?" Estel frowned slightly.
"Elladan's back," Elrohir said softly.
Estel looked over to the bed and occupant slowly he made his way over.
"Elladan?" he frowned.
/flashback/
The rangers slowly made their way through the massacred village.
"Strider," Halbarad called to his captain.
The man went to the elder's side and looked to see a being preying on a group of helpless women and children…the men were all dead.
Strider wasted no time into going to their defence but this warrior attacked at an unearthly speed and was so lethal cutting the ranger deeply.
Strider looked to the scarred face, many wounds recent as blood still caked his face…yet there was something familiar about the steel grey eyes…
/End flashback/
Estel backed away slightly.
"What is it brother?" Elrohir frowned.
"Do you remember when Halbarad brought me back badly wounded last summer after that village had been slaughtered?" Estel asked.
"Yes," Elrond started slowly having a fair idea where the man was going.
"It was him," Estel said softly, "The one that destroyed the village…Valar what did they do?" tears clouded in his eyes.
"Estel," Elrond murmured softly pulling his son into a loving embrace.
"When will he wake up?" Elrohir asked.
"Could be anytime," Elrond sighed, "So you two go back to bed and don't worry I will stay with him tonight."
The brothers nodded and left back for their own rooms.