Into the Labyrinth
Author: Amorous
Disclaimer in chapter 1
*Chapter 5: Discussions*
Elrohir sat on the edge of his bed, slowly polishing his sword with a soft, white cloth. He glanced up momentarily at Isorfinduil, who sat in a small chair by their window, looking out at the stars above the mountaintops. They were alone, for Elladan had left shortly after Aragorn and Legolas to check that the horses were being properly taken care of.
"The stars are always beautiful near the mountains. Always so clear and close." Elrohir mentioned in an off-hand manner. Isorfinduil turned his gaze on the dark haired Elf for a moment with a light smile on his lips before gazing out the window once more.
"Yes, they are. While everything may change around us here on Middle-Earth, they will always remain fixed and untouchable." He replied in a sort of distracted way.
They were quiet again for a few minutes, the sound of the cloth running slowly across Elrohir's sword filling the room. Isorfinduil remained at the window, his mind and thoughts far away under the trees of Mirkwood. Elrohir on the other hand was looking at the lighter-haired Elf, questions running through his head, and wondering how he should best go about asking those questions. It was the first time these two had been alone together and Elrohir wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Frankly, he was quite curious.
"How did you meet Prince Legolas?" He took a dive, deciding to simply get right to the point. He knew Elladan would be returning sometime soon and wanted to be able to talk with the Mirkwood Elf before his brother got back.
Isorfinduil tore his eyes away from the window and turned to face Elrohir again, not looking at all surprised at the suddenness of the question, as though he was asked that often. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the wall. He began talking, slowly.
"It was a chance meeting, really. We were both very young, only about 500 or so. My father had just left in a war party that was bound for Dol Guldor, and I was upset. I set off one night to seek solace and to wander in the woods. Prince Legolas had had the same thought, having apparently just gotten through a rough argument with his father, which was something he wasn't used to. We came across each other that night in the trees and began talking. Listening to each other, we realized that matters with our fathers could be much worse. For instance I never knew what a close relationship with my father I truly had and Legolas realized how lucky he was that his father didn't leave for battle unless great need arose. We've been friends from then on, I suppose."
Isorfinduil stopped talking abruptly and glanced up, almost looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you did not want the full story."
"No, I did. Thank you." Elrohir said quickly. He was glad and slightly surprised that the usually quiet and reserved Elf was opening up like this. Before he could press his advantage, however, Isorfinduil posed a question of his own.
"I hope you don't mind my asking, but what is it like living with a human? I have had little experience with them and I can not imagine what it would be like watching one grow up."
"It was definitely a rare event." Elrohir replied with a small laugh, carefully laying his shining sword down beside him on the bed. "Not many humans are ever raised by Elves. It was a challenge. Estel would often wonder why he was not like us, and he would feel badly about himself. He would ask how it was that we could so easily beat him in a foot race or a duel. We tried to slow our paces, but he was sharp and could easily tell when we did not try our hardest in a competition. He eventually understood that we were of different race, but until then it was very difficult."
Isorfinduil sat looking at Elrohir attentively and nodding as though wanting to hear more.
"Of course it was not all like that, however. It was very fun watching him grow and learn new things. It is truly amazing how quickly humans age." Elrohir paused and stood up, wandering over to the window. "That is one thing neither I nor Elladan will ever get over. He is now only twenty-two years old and yet he looks to be the same age as say you or Legolas. It is incredible."
Isorfinduil nodded again, drinking it all in. "Yes, it must be. The little I have seen of humans it has been in passing. I have never had the chance to observe one long enough to see the effects of age."
Elrohir merely nodded in return and leaned against the edge of the window, sure to be careful of his quickly healing back wound and leisurely rested a hand on his hip. "Tell me more of Mirkwood. I have been there many times in the past, but I've never gotten the chance to really explore it. I am sure you could tell me everything about it."
Isorfinduil's face visibly lit up and from this closer range, Elladan could see the depths of his deep blue eyes begin to sparkle. "Well that is just the thing – I don't believe anyone will ever know everything about it. It is quite a large and mysterious place. The majority of Middle-Earth fears Mirkwood and most have good reason to, but they have not seen the places where the Elves dwell. They do not take the time to look beyond the darkness and the beasts living throughout other parts of the forest. They do not have a love for the trees and all the life that thrives in its woods. It is truly a beautiful place, Elrohir."
Isorfinduil glanced at the dark-haired Elf and, seeing his nod, continued on about his home. "Near the palace, were the Wood-Elves dwell the trees are thick, but less packed so that the sunlight filters through in the day and we can see the stars at night. Everywhere you are, whether it be day or night, there are patterns on the ground from either the sunlight or starlight. All around the palace for a long ways the trees are tall and very strong. But as you go farther away, they become dark and gnarled…"
Here Isorfinduil trailed off as the door to their room swung open and Elladan strode in, shedding his jacket onto a chair. "Well, no more horses have died needlessly." He commented.
Isorfinduil turned back to the window with a hard look on his face and Elrohir could almost see him mentally drawing in on himself again. Elrohir sighed inwardly, watching as his brother walked by to the far side of the room and sat down on his bed.
"Shouldn't Estel and Legolas be back by now?" Elladan asked, looking through his bag.
"It's only been an hour, Elladan." Elrohir replied.
"I don't think they should have left."
"Why not? Estel just wanted a drink - although I fail to see the pleasure in such things – and Legolas…"
"Estel was just restless. And impatient. You know how he gets."
Elrohir looked over at his brother, a mirror image of himself. "Relax, Elladan. All humans are impatient, and Estel is actually better than most. Remember that."
Elladan sighed. "I know." He murmured and put his bag down, standing up. "I suppose I'm just over-reacting again."
A barely audible noise came from across the room that sounded distinctly like a snort. Elladan fixed dark eyes on Isorfinduil, who still sat looking out the window. "Did you say something?"
Isorfinduil looked over innocently, as though he hadn't known that Elladan was in the room. "No. Would you like me to?"
"No…thanks." Elladan shook his head in disgust. "You can go back to your window."
"Why thank you, oh noble leader." The light-haired Elf bowed his head in mock respect, a smirk on his face.
"I don't believe you…you never stop."
"I never stop? You don't know when to let matters drop."
"Must you two start this again?" Elrohir wondered aloud wearily.
"What are you talking about?" Elladan stared at Isorfinduil, temporarily ignoring his brother.
"You know what I'm talking about." Isorfinduil said in a low voice.
"I really don't."
"You keep speaking of your horse because you know how it pains me!"
"Oh stop it, you don't care about my horse."
"Of course I do! Do you honestly think something like that would not affect me?"
For a moment, confusion came into Elladan's eyes and his eyebrows furrowed. He looked genuinely surprised at the younger Elf's statement. "I did not know it bothered you."
"Then why must you keep bringing it up?"
"I thought you did not care about what happened, and that bothered me." Elladan answered plainly.
Now Isorfinduil's eyebrows furrowed as well. For a very brief moment, they looked at each other in a new light as a small understanding came to each of them. Time seemed to still in that moment as their eyes were locked, a stormy grey on deep blue. Elrohir caught this interaction and decided that there was indeed hope of the two getting along. But a second later, the moment was shattered as they both turned away.
As Elladan went back to searching his bag, Isorfinduil stood up briskly. Moving away from the window, he snatched the scarf off his head and shook his hair out. He sighed as the light but comfortable weight rested on his shoulders again. The Elf scratched his pointed ears where the turban had covered them and walked over to rest on his bed.
Elrohir watched the two through skeptical eyes, trying to figure out what it was that he'd just witnessed. He thought he'd seen them understand each other for a moment, but…looking at them now, he could not even be sure of that anymore. Was it really understanding he'd seen? Isorfinduil had obviously thought that Elladan was knowingly bringing up a painful subject, while Elladan was angry because he thought that Isorfinduil was paying no mind to his own pains.
Their opinions of each other must have changed when they found out that both of those were untrue. Elrohir reasoned with himself, looking from Isorfinduil over to his brother. But if any opinions had changed, they were small and not being expressed in the least. Elrohir hoped silently that this was perhaps the beginning of reconciliation. He knew that if the five of them could not work smoothly together, they would find nothing out about this organization…or worse, their cover could be blown.
**
I'm so sorry this came out so late… I won't bother with excuses, though. Next chapter promises to be out sooner.
Well, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter…it seems to me that you all like the Isorfinduil/Elladan conflict thing. So I gave you a whole chapter of them. Yep. Those of you wondering about Legolas and Aragorn, we'll see them next chapter.
I don't have much else to say, except thank you so much to those who reviewed! Please keep the reviews coming, guys. They make my day brighter! J
