Silently Elladan and Elrohir, the twin sons of Lord Elrond left the bed-
chamber of their friend Legolas. Once outside, it was Elrohir, who broke
the silence, the worry he felt clearly visible on his fair features :
**"Will he survive brother?"
For moments Elladan looked silent at his twin, his eyes lost in thought, before he answered, a sad smile playing around his lips:
"I don't know, Elrohir. It seems to me, as if 'twas not the poison, that is taking his life but something or someone else."
His voice faded, as he watched a leaf that was twirled around by a gust of wind, as it was carried high into the air – before it fell lifeless to the ground. The sun of the late afternoon played over it, mocked it with her show of warmth, of life.
Slowly his eyes focused once again on his brother:
"Whatever has happened, since we last saw Legolas in Imladris has changed him, broken him. I do not know him anymore."
Taking a deep breath he continued, his eyes once again trained on something outside the window
"His heart his breaking, even if he survives the poison and even his breaking heart, he will be dead.
'Tis as if he lost all the purpose in his life, as if someone had taken everything that is Legolas out of him and left to us only a prince, someone who lives not only for his duty, but is nothing more than his duty...
Have you seen his eyes, Elrohir, have you seen his eyes?...
They frighten me! They were so empty – and still so full of love, as if his love to us was all that is keeping him here...
His eyes, have you seen them, toron, have you seen them?
They were just like nanas... Just like her eyes after we had brought her back..."
Shocked Elrohir stared at his near hysterical brother, only once had he seen his normally composed twin in an equally distressed state: during the time their naneth had been captured by orcs and after they had freed her – only to lose her to Valinor, because she could not bear it any longer to stay in Arda.
Only slowly the words his brother had spoken registered in his mind, as he silently tried to give his brother support, both physically and also through the bond they shared as twins.
Would they lose Legolas, like they had lost their mother, through a cruel twist of fate, not through the poison, that crept through his veins, but to the unknown pain that tore on his heart?
They had not been able to save their mother, but in that moment, as they watched together as the wind once again picked up the leaf that he had mere minutes before discarded, they were gifted with a rare moment of complete clearness, seeing each others thoughts, as if they were their own.
Legolas, would not suffer the same fate as their naneth, they would not allow his heart to break – and if they had to empty the halls of Mandos to accomplish that feat.
Sharing a small nod, they continued to watch the leaf for a moment, before they turned and made their way to the room where they had left the three Lorien brothers to start the preparations for the coronation.
Before they lost sight of the twirling leaf, Elladan looked back, and saw, as if for the first time, that it was a green-leaf, that had been once again picked up, after it had fallen to the ground.
A small smile gracing his lips he thought to himself, that maybe this was a sign from the Valar or even Eru himself, that their Greenleaf, would also be able to be brought back to life.
~*~
Surprisingly it was the dwarf who first noticed their entrance besides the three Lorien brothers. Foregoing all manners he gruffly called out to them, showing unconsciously his deep concern for his friend:
"How is the lad? He has not been himself for quiet a while now..."
as an afterthought he added
"It won't do, if it was pointy-ears who died, especially now that the war is over!"
Haldir, and Orophin had to do all to control themselves at this veiled insult of their race, and only the pointed glare from their brother Rumil calmed them enough to watch the twin sons of Lord Elrond.
"You say, that he was not himself for quiet a while now, master dwarf..., what have you noticed about him, that has changed?"
One of the identical looking elves asked, Gimli was not sure, if it was the one Aragorn had called Elladan. Playing with his pipe, he allowed his eyes to travel over his companions, lingering a moment longer on Aragorn and Pippin before settling finally on the one who had asked him the question.
"Now, Master elf, the lad has become much quieter in the last weeks, didn't even try to insult us dwarfs anymore... He was still good at fighting, for an elf mind you, but he didn't have his heart on it anymore... Lost it in Helms Deep...and Isengard...
I hope, his lass can bring him back from wherever his mind went... it would be a shame to loose such a good lad..."
And so quiet, that even Aragorn, who had grown up in the company of elves could not discern his words he mumbled, astonishing the elves:
"...and such a wonderful friend..."
Elladan and Elrohir shared a look, that clearly meant, that they would seek the dwarf later to hear, what he had not told them so far. It was the interested glance of Lady Eowyn, that made them realise for the first time, that them still carried their weapons. Being so accustomed to them, they had not thought of setting them down, now that they were not required to be in full arms.
With a few swift movements, all five of them rid themselfs of their more obvious weapons. The weapon, that had caught the interest of the Shield Maiden of Rohan, was rather unusual, even for Elven standards: it seemed to be a sword, but the handle was not on one side of the weapon, but in the middle of two slightly curved blades; the whole weapon, matched in length nearly the high of its bearer.
In each of the handles was a different symbol carved, making each of them as unique as the bows and quivers, that the elves set aside. Under their silver cloaks visible all of them were wearing long Elven swords, leaving those watching to wonder, how much more weapons they were carrying unnoticed.
Eowyn briefly smiled at the thought, that they would have had a hard time to enter the hall of Meduseld, as Wormtongue still held it. However her smile quickly made place to a look of fury and sadness, as she taught of her deceased uncle, and how much good this elves could have done, if they had ever visited Meduseld.
No, she chastised herself, don't think about it, without the help of elves we all would have fallen at Helms deep, they gave their live for us – and even if they had come to Meduseld, what could they have achieved, when it was Saruman, who held my Uncle under his ban. Coming to this conclusion, she once again listened to those around her.
"... so this is the reason, why I was always denied, to learn to wield a Double-blade! Wouldn't it have been easier just to tell me, why I was denied my wish?"
Aragorn questioned one of the twins, who merely smiled at him. It was the other one, wo answered him, his laughter apparent in his voice:
"Oh, but Estel, were would have been the fun in that? It was much more enjoyable, not to forget much more annoying, to have you ask everytime you saw us practicing!"
much more solemn he continued:
"We could not tell you, for that would have mend to reveal, that we are part of the ilsa tirnoë... something, that had to be kept secret as much as the identity of Lúin-Nor.
As much as we wanted to tell you, titta toron, we all had taken an oath, to keep his – and our – identity a secret and defend it with our life, till the One Ring was destroyed or he declared, that the time was right."
Aragorn had smiled briefly at the endearment Elrohir bestowed on him – little brother, it had been a long time, since one of them had used it. But he could not help to wonder, who it was, that was held in such high confidence by his brother. Instead of asking the question, he knew would not be answered he asked something else:
"So is Legolas also one of the ilsa tirnoë?"
No one had expected, the drastic change of atmosphere this question elicited, however the answer was prevented, as the door opened, and one of the ilsa tirnoë entered and whispered something to the five elves, who turned as one to Gimli.
"Master dwarf, do you consider Prince Legolas as a friend?"
Startled at this question, Gimli started nearly to choke on his pipe:
"Yes, I would consider the pointy... I mean Prince Legolas as my friend..."
before he continued Elrohir had stood up and gathering his weapons he turned to Gimli:
"Than follow me Master dwarf, it is time, for the oath he gave Aule to loose its meaning..."
**"Will he survive brother?"
For moments Elladan looked silent at his twin, his eyes lost in thought, before he answered, a sad smile playing around his lips:
"I don't know, Elrohir. It seems to me, as if 'twas not the poison, that is taking his life but something or someone else."
His voice faded, as he watched a leaf that was twirled around by a gust of wind, as it was carried high into the air – before it fell lifeless to the ground. The sun of the late afternoon played over it, mocked it with her show of warmth, of life.
Slowly his eyes focused once again on his brother:
"Whatever has happened, since we last saw Legolas in Imladris has changed him, broken him. I do not know him anymore."
Taking a deep breath he continued, his eyes once again trained on something outside the window
"His heart his breaking, even if he survives the poison and even his breaking heart, he will be dead.
'Tis as if he lost all the purpose in his life, as if someone had taken everything that is Legolas out of him and left to us only a prince, someone who lives not only for his duty, but is nothing more than his duty...
Have you seen his eyes, Elrohir, have you seen his eyes?...
They frighten me! They were so empty – and still so full of love, as if his love to us was all that is keeping him here...
His eyes, have you seen them, toron, have you seen them?
They were just like nanas... Just like her eyes after we had brought her back..."
Shocked Elrohir stared at his near hysterical brother, only once had he seen his normally composed twin in an equally distressed state: during the time their naneth had been captured by orcs and after they had freed her – only to lose her to Valinor, because she could not bear it any longer to stay in Arda.
Only slowly the words his brother had spoken registered in his mind, as he silently tried to give his brother support, both physically and also through the bond they shared as twins.
Would they lose Legolas, like they had lost their mother, through a cruel twist of fate, not through the poison, that crept through his veins, but to the unknown pain that tore on his heart?
They had not been able to save their mother, but in that moment, as they watched together as the wind once again picked up the leaf that he had mere minutes before discarded, they were gifted with a rare moment of complete clearness, seeing each others thoughts, as if they were their own.
Legolas, would not suffer the same fate as their naneth, they would not allow his heart to break – and if they had to empty the halls of Mandos to accomplish that feat.
Sharing a small nod, they continued to watch the leaf for a moment, before they turned and made their way to the room where they had left the three Lorien brothers to start the preparations for the coronation.
Before they lost sight of the twirling leaf, Elladan looked back, and saw, as if for the first time, that it was a green-leaf, that had been once again picked up, after it had fallen to the ground.
A small smile gracing his lips he thought to himself, that maybe this was a sign from the Valar or even Eru himself, that their Greenleaf, would also be able to be brought back to life.
~*~
Surprisingly it was the dwarf who first noticed their entrance besides the three Lorien brothers. Foregoing all manners he gruffly called out to them, showing unconsciously his deep concern for his friend:
"How is the lad? He has not been himself for quiet a while now..."
as an afterthought he added
"It won't do, if it was pointy-ears who died, especially now that the war is over!"
Haldir, and Orophin had to do all to control themselves at this veiled insult of their race, and only the pointed glare from their brother Rumil calmed them enough to watch the twin sons of Lord Elrond.
"You say, that he was not himself for quiet a while now, master dwarf..., what have you noticed about him, that has changed?"
One of the identical looking elves asked, Gimli was not sure, if it was the one Aragorn had called Elladan. Playing with his pipe, he allowed his eyes to travel over his companions, lingering a moment longer on Aragorn and Pippin before settling finally on the one who had asked him the question.
"Now, Master elf, the lad has become much quieter in the last weeks, didn't even try to insult us dwarfs anymore... He was still good at fighting, for an elf mind you, but he didn't have his heart on it anymore... Lost it in Helms Deep...and Isengard...
I hope, his lass can bring him back from wherever his mind went... it would be a shame to loose such a good lad..."
And so quiet, that even Aragorn, who had grown up in the company of elves could not discern his words he mumbled, astonishing the elves:
"...and such a wonderful friend..."
Elladan and Elrohir shared a look, that clearly meant, that they would seek the dwarf later to hear, what he had not told them so far. It was the interested glance of Lady Eowyn, that made them realise for the first time, that them still carried their weapons. Being so accustomed to them, they had not thought of setting them down, now that they were not required to be in full arms.
With a few swift movements, all five of them rid themselfs of their more obvious weapons. The weapon, that had caught the interest of the Shield Maiden of Rohan, was rather unusual, even for Elven standards: it seemed to be a sword, but the handle was not on one side of the weapon, but in the middle of two slightly curved blades; the whole weapon, matched in length nearly the high of its bearer.
In each of the handles was a different symbol carved, making each of them as unique as the bows and quivers, that the elves set aside. Under their silver cloaks visible all of them were wearing long Elven swords, leaving those watching to wonder, how much more weapons they were carrying unnoticed.
Eowyn briefly smiled at the thought, that they would have had a hard time to enter the hall of Meduseld, as Wormtongue still held it. However her smile quickly made place to a look of fury and sadness, as she taught of her deceased uncle, and how much good this elves could have done, if they had ever visited Meduseld.
No, she chastised herself, don't think about it, without the help of elves we all would have fallen at Helms deep, they gave their live for us – and even if they had come to Meduseld, what could they have achieved, when it was Saruman, who held my Uncle under his ban. Coming to this conclusion, she once again listened to those around her.
"... so this is the reason, why I was always denied, to learn to wield a Double-blade! Wouldn't it have been easier just to tell me, why I was denied my wish?"
Aragorn questioned one of the twins, who merely smiled at him. It was the other one, wo answered him, his laughter apparent in his voice:
"Oh, but Estel, were would have been the fun in that? It was much more enjoyable, not to forget much more annoying, to have you ask everytime you saw us practicing!"
much more solemn he continued:
"We could not tell you, for that would have mend to reveal, that we are part of the ilsa tirnoë... something, that had to be kept secret as much as the identity of Lúin-Nor.
As much as we wanted to tell you, titta toron, we all had taken an oath, to keep his – and our – identity a secret and defend it with our life, till the One Ring was destroyed or he declared, that the time was right."
Aragorn had smiled briefly at the endearment Elrohir bestowed on him – little brother, it had been a long time, since one of them had used it. But he could not help to wonder, who it was, that was held in such high confidence by his brother. Instead of asking the question, he knew would not be answered he asked something else:
"So is Legolas also one of the ilsa tirnoë?"
No one had expected, the drastic change of atmosphere this question elicited, however the answer was prevented, as the door opened, and one of the ilsa tirnoë entered and whispered something to the five elves, who turned as one to Gimli.
"Master dwarf, do you consider Prince Legolas as a friend?"
Startled at this question, Gimli started nearly to choke on his pipe:
"Yes, I would consider the pointy... I mean Prince Legolas as my friend..."
before he continued Elrohir had stood up and gathering his weapons he turned to Gimli:
"Than follow me Master dwarf, it is time, for the oath he gave Aule to loose its meaning..."