Chapter Four

Tired Escapades

Elrond sat beside his sons bed watchful of any changes. His wife had returned several times that evening asking how he was faring, but Elrond had sent her back with words of comfort. The sun was beginning to rise, with no change marking illness or anything wrong with Elrohir, but still Elrond sat and watched.

Elrohir stirred slightly, then rolled over onto his back grey eyes blinking open rapidly. Elrond leaned forward with a relieved smile. "How do you feel?" He asked softly, so not to disturb Elladan.

Elrohir slowly pushed himself up yawning widely. "Tired." He whispered yawning again.

Sitting back Elrond raised his eyebrows. "Tired? You slept all night. Not to mention you did not even make it to your bed without help last night."

Elrohir frowned, seemingly not remembering the events. He yawned again. Then looked at the water on the table looking at his father. "Thirsty." He yawned again.

Elrond frowned, but poured his son a small glass of water and watched as his son downed it quickly. Elrohir smiled brightly then. Elrond reached out his hand and touched his sons forehead. It still felt cool. "Are you hungry?" Elrond asked.

Elrohir thought a moment then nodded eagerly.

"Alright. Remain here and I will get you something to eat." Elrond stood up and exited the room quickly.

When he returned to the bedroom he opened the door to both brothers up and about, playing as they usually did. Nodding satisfied, Elrond cleared his throat that caught the twins attention immediately. "Come sit and eat." Elrond watched carefully as both his sons ate every ounce of food on their plates. They both drank the milk quickly, and then raced from the small table racing around the room excitedly.

Satisfied that Elrohir was all right, he told them to stay in their room until he or their mother returned. Elrond wandered down the halls to his chambers and opened the door to see his wife sitting by the fire reading. She lifted her head and got up immediately expecting the worst. Elrond shook his head.

"They are fine, Elrohir appears to be back to his usual self this morn."

Celebrían let out a breath of relief. "Did he mention anything?" She asked quickly placing her robe about her shoulders so she could see for herself that her children were safe.

"Only that he was tired." Elrond smiled as she exited the room with a nod. Looking longingly at the bed, Elrond shook his head. "Time for meetings." He grumbled. He quickly washed his face and changed his clothes before leaving his rooms for his morning meetings.

Celebrían had been relieved when she saw her children playing in their bedroom and had been greeted with her regular morning hugs and kisses. Everything seemed to be fine until lunch arrived. As the day before, her youngest played with his food much to her annoyance. This time she made him sit until he had eaten it all.

He had frowned and continued to play with his food not really believing she would make him eat, but when Elladan had been finished his lunch and had been pushed outside, Elrohir had been told he was not to move until everything was gone from his plate.

He had been teary eyed as he ate. It felt like his belly would burst and he was unhappy when he had crawled down from his stool. Once outside, he had sat beside the tree, his belly hurting too much to play, and he watched sadly as his brother raced around by himself.

Celebrían felt guilty as she watched her youngest sit under a tree sadly. She had even attempted to raise his spirits but he had only pouted. She now sat with him in her lap as she hummed a song to him, and he seemed to be lightening in moods. As evening approached, she noticed Elrohir begin to yawn, as though he were tired. Entering their house, she led them into the dining halls where her husband already sat waiting expectantly.

His eyes quickly caught hers, which were filled with worry, and he turned his blue eyes to Elrohir and watched him carefully. The childs movements were slow, lucid, and incredibly worn looking. Looking up at his wife she shook her head. Raising his brows curiously, looking directly at the child.

"Elrohir, come sit with me a moment." Elrond said gently, waving the over.

Elrohir walked over slowly, tiredly and confused. Climbing into his fathers lap he felt strong protective arms wrap around his small frame. He rested his head against his fathers chest and waited. He yawned again to his frustration. He didn't feel tired, but his body protested against his attempts to stay awake. He shifted slightly in his fathers grasp and felt his ada's hands rub his back in a comforting manner.

His father whispered something to him, but he didn't comprehend the words. His tired brain finally willed his eyes closed, and he sighed as he felt sleep over come him.

Elrond looked down at his sleeping son with some concern, and held him tighter as dinner was served. "I will retreat to my study, love." Elrond whispered standing and cradling the child protectively. He felt the small child shift and his eyes opened.

"Ada. I am hungwy." Elrohir whispered.

Elrond smiled nodding. "Can you stay awake long enough to eat?"

Elrohir yawned, but nodded again smiling sheepishly. Elrond placed the boy onto his feet, and watched as he climbed onto his chair beside his brother. Quickly, Elrohir ate with both his parents watching him closely. He didn't like all the attention they were giving him but he refused to allow that to bother him. The small child did feel better after he had eaten and smiled brightly at his father.

"Did you play too hard this morning, Elrohir?" His father asked after the boy had finished off his plate of food.

Frowning, Elrohir shook his head. "Nana sang pwetty songs."

Elrond sighed, for once he wished he could get information out of his son rather then their childish wonders. Smiling, he nodded to his wife who stood.

"Bath time, you two." She grinned. With joyful cries, the boys raced from the room quickly darting into the hall. She glanced at her husband who nodded in response to her silent question.

"I will be in the study should you need to find me. Perhaps I can locate a book on his ailment."

Nodding she opened the door wider, when a faint thud reached her ears. Poking her head out the door, she heard her eldest cry out in fear, causing her to gasp.

"Nana! Nana!" Elladan cried, hovering over his brothers limp form.

"Elrond!" Celebrían uttered horrified as she raced out of the dining halls.

She rolled Elrohir over whose eyes were filled with tears. It appeared he attempted to move, but remained motionless on the floor, which filled his eyes with more tears and frightened confusion.

Elrond knelt beside them, and felt for his sons pulse, it was beating quickly. Far too quickly for a childs heart to be. "Elrohir, what is wrong?" Elrond asked softly.

Elrohir's mouth moved, but no sounds escaped. His eyes moved to his brothers and they locked together in fear. The youngest twin started to cry harder, and his lower lip started quivering in building fear.

Elladan watched his parents lift Elrohir and carry him off quickly, and he stood there silently. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw something move, and he turned his head slowly. He was alone in the hall, as the guards had followed his parents to the healing rooms. He stood stalk still, and watched the dark shadows, that seemed to loom out to him in glee. Swallowing a fearful yelp, he shifted his feet nervously.

His eyes darted into every corner, and he kept swallowing his fear, whenever he caught sight of something like red or yellow eyes glaring at him. Spinning around, he let out a yelp when he felt air hit his face. Startled into a run, he raced down the halls, his little feet carrying him quickly towards his parents safe company.

Darting around the corner, he cried out when he felt strong arms pick him up. Wriggling in its grasp he suddenly still his movements when he heard his mothers soft voice. "Nana?" He asked his eyes tightly closed.

"Yes darling, come." Celebrían soothed. When her and Elrond had entered the healing halls with Elrohir, she had looked behind her expecting to see Elladan but not finding him there she had gone in search for him. She had heard padded feet frantically racing down the halls, and she knelt down waiting.

Shaking her head, she walked with him towards the healing rooms where his brother lay motionless. Elladan laid his head on her shoulder and watched his father flipping through books, and looking at his brother carefully. He sniffed, and waited patiently, in his mothers arms for some sort of news. He was afraid for Elrohir, and didn't know how to feel. When he had seen his brother fall down it had frightened him.

Elrohir was acting so strangely lately that he wasn't sure if it was for attention, but after tonight he knew something was wrong with his brother.


He moved away from the scene silently, slipping into the shadows. The other child stood there looking in all the corners with building fear. Not sure what was wrong with the small child, he remained crouched in a darkened corner, a plan forming in his brain. The child was frightened. Grinning, when the child cried out racing from the hallway, he disappeared into a small room thinking rapidly on what to do next.