Title: Elusive Dreams (5/?)

Author: Pickle Pixie

E-Mail: picklepixie83@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Elrohir can't sleep …

Disclaimer: All the characters you recognise belong to JRR Tolkein, God and author extraordinaire. I am making no money from this and mean no infringement upon his works.

Hey everyone. I'm sorry this part took me longer. Unfortunately that doesn't mean it's longer or even any better, darn it. I went a wedding at the weekend. I'd never been to one before! It was so posh! I was sitting there eating salmon and drinking champagne, all the time thinking how much I was going to enjoy the fish and chips I'd be having for my dinner! I can't help being common! I did catch the bouquet though!

Unadrieniel: The twin love is so the best bit. Glad you like it.

Iilaiia: I hope I still rock after this post! Thanks mate, you're too nice! And the names, they are a bit of a mouthful. They're actually translated names of two of my friends. I had to keep trying different ways, like with first names and middle and last names and chose the ones I liked best. Nuquernadeloth actually means 'powerful steward' while Vinyasoron is 'valiant ent'. I know they're elves and not stewards or ents! But I definitely think of the characters and my mates as being powerful and valiant.

Daydream: Ah, Leggie's bright blue's! How I love them! And poor Elrohir does need sleep. But so do I! Thanks for the feedback!

RainyDayz: Ah, you're too cute! Well, you get a bit of an insight into the plot now, but things are not all they seem! And careful with all those mouthfuls!

Jooubachi: Put that whip away! There may be children reading! *Pix points to the PG-13 rating*

Littlesaiyangirl: Look, I updated!

Elvulia: Kill the twins? Nah…wait - that's an idea! Kill them! Thanks mate! ;-)

Iawen Londea: Hey! Thanks for your feedback, both here and at twinsofelrond. I really appreciate the detail and thought you put into your comments. And thanks so much for leaving a review for each chapter. I love to know what people particularly liked about each post so that I can improve.

~*~

Elrond Peredhil raced through the halls of Imladris. He tried to deny the sick realisation forming within his mind. All he could think of was finding his son and ensuring that he was wrong. He had to be wrong! There was no way that They could have returned. They were ruined! If any even still crawled across Middle Earth they were weak, without purpose.

But as the ancient lord called up all the evidence he could to fuel his denial, the more he convinced himself that there was no use in deception. He could not be complacent! Two of his finest warriors were dead. Those two had grown with his sons', they were the children of his advisors. How many times had he separated the four boys in their squabbles, or joined in their play fights?

Elrond swallowed the lump forming in his throat as he thought wistfully about the smiling eyes of the two Elflings. In his ears, their sweet laughter warped alarmingly into twisted, terrified screams. In his heart he knew the end those boys had met. He knew the pain they had endured. Inspecting the bodies had served to convince him of the threat Rivendell now faced. Just as he knew that his Elrohir would meet the same fate if he did not act!

This realisation spurred him onwards, and he rounded the archway leading to the stables. He slowed his pace to a walk as he caught sight of Elrohir in one of the stalls. The young Elf was grooming and speaking softly to a horse Elrond recognised as Culhiliel. The mare had been a gift to Prince Legolas from the house of Elrond, and particularly the twins, for the prince's coming of age. Elrohir himself had helped to bring the foal into the world, and had watched proudly as she grew. Legolas had commented that whenever he returned to Imladris with Culhiliel, Elrohir always seemed far more pleased to see the horse than him.

Elrond heard the footfalls of his sons' and the prince come to a halt behind him. He had almost forgotten in his haste that they had followed. The brief confrontation at breakfast continued to burn in his memory. How he had wished that he could deny the truth then. But now he knew that it was folly to hope. This threat was real. The worst part of it all was that there was nothing he could do.

"Elrohir? My son, I must speak with you. It is of the gravest importance." Elrond took a step towards Culhiliel's stall, seeking Elrohir's eyes with his own.

"I know Ada. I know about 'Nadeloth and Vinya'. I saw their…I saw them brought home. Please, I just wish to be alone."

The Elven lord closed his eyes and sighed. He did not want Elrohir to find out about his friends' deaths in such a fashion. The way in which Elladan had discovered had been painful enough. He had not looked anyone since, nor would he speak of his grief. Yet silent tears still tracked down his flushed cheeks.

Elladan stepped forward to his brother now. Gently he placed his hand over that of his brother, stopping the furious strokes he had been using to groom Culhiliel. For a moment Elrohir recoiled and pushed Elladan away weakly. He had not the strength to do anything other than make his brother sway. Culhiliel whinnied quietly and scraped her feet, sensing the confrontation.

Elladan would not be dissuaded. He reached forward again and took Elrohir firmly by both shoulders. Elrohir felt the exhaustion intensify as comfort was offered. He could not fight back. He couldn't even stay on his own feet. Tears finally came as he leaned into Elladan and sunk to the ground. Elladan held tightly to his brother, rocking him gently and rubbing small circles into his back.

"I'm just so tired 'Dan. So tired. But I can't sleep! I can't, he'll come back! And…and 'Nadeloth and Vinya'- they must have been so scared. Who could have done this?"

Aragorn could not bear to watch any longer. He too had been friends with the Elves. But more than his own grief he felt the need to hold his brother. After Elrohir had woken, Elrond had listened to his account and promptly secreted Elrohir away. Aragorn stepped forward now and knelt next to the bundle of limbs that was the twins. He was not sure where Elladan ended and Elrohir began, so he spread his arms wide to hold them both. He felt a hand grip his arm tightly.

Elrond placed a comforting hand upon Elrohir's head. "My sons, we must retreat indoors. I fear I have more questions to ask of you Elrohir, and I would not speak of it here."

Legolas watched the exchange silently. Listening to Elrond's words, he felt anger stirring within him. He did not understand this attitude, this hostility he was feeling towards his host. But the conversation he had heard between Elrond and Glorfindel had not left his mind. Elrond was warning Galadriel. Glorfindel had spoken of danger. Legolas had never imagined he would see the Balrog slayer afraid. Glorfindel had faced death and returned. Would could possibly alarm him so?

Yet Elrond still wanted to ask questions! To send Glorfindel away in the dead of night he surely knew something! Still, he had told them nothing. The prince had seen realisation dawn on Elrond's face. While Elladan and Aragorn were filled with grief, Legolas watch the Elven Lord.

They had no eyes.

Legolas had seen the fear. He had also observed how, while the warriors and his friends had appeared sickened and shocked, not a trace of surprise crossed Elronds face. Elrond had asked about the warriors eys. He knew, he had been expecting this. Legolas could not contain his frustration.

.

"You know something. You know what is happening, what happened to those warriors. You are keeping it from us. Why did you send Glorfindel to Lorien?"

The bite in Legolas' tone did not go unnoticed by anyone. Elrohir's sobs stopped and he looked to the prince, revealing shadowed eyes that were red rimmed with crying and fatigue. Elladan and Aragorn both stood and looked at their friend in confusion, and then at their father in accusation. But Elrond had eyes for no one but Elrohir. He continued to look at his son, even as he addressed Legolas.

"I would rather we did not discuss this here."

"So there is something to discuss then. You do know what is happening." Elladan had taken a furious pace towards his father. "I knew at breakfast you were keeping something from me!"

"Please, all of you. I promise I will tell you, but this is not the place." Elrond's eyes travelled around the stables. A few Elves were watching the scene, concern etched across every face. Legolas followed the Elven Lord's gaze, regretting his hasty words.

Elrohir rose shakily to his feet, but there was no hesitation in his stride as he passed his father towards the courtyard. the other's followed him, all the way through the passages to Elrond's study. Elrohir went immediately to the window, pulled back the curtains, and threw it open. Sunlight flooded the room, and Elrohir seated himself on the window ledge again.

Aragorn was glad of the daylight. Many of the drapes around Imladris were still pulled shut, the shock of Nequernadeloth and Vainyasoron's deaths having consumed the household. The ranger thought grimly that the knowledge Elrond was about to gift them with would best be told by the light of day. He was pulled from his brooding by Legolas' voice.

"My Lord, forgive me. I spoke in haste. I meant no disrespect."

"Nay Legolas, there is no apology necessary." Elrond sighed and sank into the armchair behind his desk. The surface was covered in scrolls, books and parchments Aragorn could not remember having ever seen in the library. "I fear it is I who must apologise."

"So it's true. You've been lying to us." The disappointment in Elladan's voice made Aragorn cringe.

"Elladan," Elrohir's voice was soft. "We should listen to what he has to say. Ada, what is happening?"

Again Elrond pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Steeling himself, he squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.

"I do not understand how this can be happening. I may be wrong. Last night I sent Glorfindel to Galdadriel to warn her of my suspicions. She will…know what to do. I spent the entire night searching my archives for information on them."

"Them?"

"Yes Elladan. The Lorerauko. Dream demons."

Elrohir shuddered, despite the warm sunlight pouring onto his back. Elladan stepped unconsciously closer to him.

"Legolas, do your father's warriors not struggle everyday with the darkness rising from Dol Guldur. The Hill of Sorcery rises again. The darkness is creeping upon us. Shadow is claiming Middle Earth steadily. A war is rising, and we cannot stem the flood. Evil has returned, and we must meet it. For a long time your grandmother and I have perceived the groping hand of Sauron. Soon we will fight. Not yet, though we must prepare ourselves. But this threat, this is something we did not expect. It is older than Sauron's dominion."

Elrond surveyed the faces of the youngsters' in his study. Elladan had seated himself next to Elrohir now, their knees touching. Legolas and Aragorn too sat closely. A slight relief swept through him. At least they would stand together…

"When Melkor was rebuked by Illuvatar, he jealously set himself in opposition to the Creator and the other Ainur. You know of the history. Melkor's rebellion was the wellspring of all other sorrows. Indeed, it is still not over. Sauron, his servant, is rising again. But what has been forgotten by many, lost in the vast span of the ages, was that Melkor attempted to mimic Illuvatar in his creation of the Ainur. He tried to make his own servants. He made many creatures. But the first were deadly to the Firstborn alone. There were three of them; the Lorerauko."

"Ada, are they like the wraiths?" Elrohir's voice was almost lost in the silence.

A grim smile spread across the ancient Elf's lips. "Nay Elrohir. If they were like wraiths I believe their evil would be easier to bear. They resemble Elves."

"Elves? How could such an evil be like the Firstborn? It is inconceivable!" Elladan was on his feet now, staring disbelievingly into the eyes of his father.

"But that was, in Melkor's eyes, the beauty of his evil. He was jealous of the Valar's love for the Elves. We are the Children of Illuvatar, and how he despised us. So he made an evil that we would revile above all other evils in our own image. It is, in it's own twisted way, ingenious."

Elladan had gone very pale. He sat down next to his brother again, this time laying an hand gently on his twin's forearm.

"The Lorerauko were Melkor's first minions. They would survive by feeding on the souls of Elves. But they were believed to have fled to Ered Gorgoroth when Melkor, or Morgoth as he is now known, was thrust into the Void. He became bored with them after a time, instead turning his attention to controlling the Balrogs."

"You think it was these Lorerauko that killed `Nadeloth and Vinya'?" Aragorn questioned.

"I can think of no other. To remove the eyes…that is how the Lorerauko fed on their victims. Elves sleep and dream with their eyes open. When they dream, their souls walk on another plain. When Lorerauko prey on sleeping Elves, they hunt them in their dreams where they are vulnerable. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Hence Elves being pursued by the Lorerauko sleep with their eyes closed. Those taken by Lorerauko when they are awake drown in a pit of terror. Their souls are drawn out through the eyes, which the Lorerauko consume."

An invisible veil had descended upon the room. Elrond read the emotion on each of the young faces before him, which suddenly appeared older than he remembered. He identified in each of them an emotion he had felt since he realised that this threat could be none other than the Lorerauko. Elrohir's eyes were tired, recognition of the events he had described dulling them. Aragorn's face spoke of grim determination. Elrond knew this would be the reaction of his youngest. He was too young, he did not know the terror nor the power of these beings. Aragorn would be looking to the end of this encounter already. Seek, find and destroy. Legolas appeared stoic, but Elrond could see the bearly discernible crease of a frown between the prince's eyebrows.

Elrond had been most concerned with Elrohir's reaction to this news. But it was Elladan who now seized his father's attentions. The Elf's face was awash with a myriad of emotions. His eyes kept flitting between the faces of his father and twin. Anger and disbelief traded places countless times with fear and trepidation. Elrond feared for Elladan then perhaps more than Elrohir. Even more than Aragorn, despite knowing the path he must take.

What would happen to Elladan if Elrohir were lost? No doubt he would also lose the other twin to death, but what manner of death would that be? Elrond feared that, while Elrohir would remain innocent and beautiful in his memories, Elladan would fashion a self destructive existence. He would perhaps be slain in a battle with orcs or other nameless beasts, relentlessly and mercilessly seeking to spill the blood of his foes in vengeance. Would Elladan turn away from him; would he even recognise his Eldest child?

"How do we kill them?"

Elrond did not know who had spoken. He did not need to know. He knew that question would be the inevitable response to the explanation he had just given, just as he knew that his answer must be a nauseating end to the discussion.

"I do not know."

TBC

~*~

Lil' Middle Earth History (just in case):

Melkor, or Morgoth, was the eldest and greatest of the Ainur (Valar/Maiar). He opposed himself to Illuvatar. He envied him and tried to surpass him by ruling Middle Earth and began a rebellion. His first realm was Angbad in the North, but he was ruined in the Battle of the Powers and carried back to Valinor (the Undying Lands) as a prisoner.

He was captive in the Halls of Mandos for three ages, but was released when he convinced the powers that he was repentant. He was banned from returning to the mortal lands, but still hating the Valar and Elves, he destroyed the Two Trees (the light of Valinor and Eldamar) and stole the Silmarils. He fled to Middle Earth and settled again in Angbad. The Noldor followed, but Morgoth was victorious in the following war, the war of the Great Jewels, despite losing one Silmaril to Beren and Luthien. He had great armies of Orcs, trolls, dragons and Balrogs, so the Elves fled or were swallowed by darkness.

Morgoth was finally overthrown when an ambassador from Middle Earth sailed to the Undying Lands bearing the light of the uncovered Silmaril and mustered the Valar against the enemy. Morgoth was thrust through the 'Doors of Night'.

You probably have even more questions now!

Oh, and Ered Gorgoroth is the Sindarin name for 'Mountains of Terror', a region of horror and dread in Beleriand infested by evil creatures, especially huge spiders. The mountains were only ever crossed successfully by Beren.