Chapter Two New Skills; Following

Elladan raced down the halls of his father's house holding up a small trinket in his tiny hands. He dodged other elves who grinned at the small elfling running by them excitedly. They quickly stepped out of his way, as he ran passed. He was excited about something and knowing he was racing to his father's study they did not question his antics, nor frown upon his running down the halls. They just glanced at each other smiling broadly and shaking their heads.Elrond sat at his desk reading over reports, and conversing with his aide Glorfindel about the growing number of attacks in the lands that lay beyond Rivendell. He knew that his home was protected, but he was now growing more wary after the evil that had spread even into his borders. Both his son's had been subjected to the evil, and this had caused his forehead to constantly crease thinking about how close danger had come to his family.

Trying to lighten the mood, Glorfindel stood up and walked to the window. Glancing out into the gardens he smiled, listening to his lords words. "Easy, Elrond. This evil has not penetrated Imladris fully yet. Now that we are aware of this evil, the lord and lady of the golden wood will keep a vigil eye out for danger." He turned away from the window and poured himself a glass of wine. Holding it up to his friend Elrond nodded absently. He smiled wider and poured another for the stressed elf lord.

"I must find out where this evil started, Glorfindel. This cannot continue. Rivendell is suppose to be a sanctuary for all who wish to escape danger." Elrond shook his head taking the goblet from his aide. Taking a sip he leaned back in his chair. "This evil has hit too close to home for any comfort to settle my mind."

Glorfindel nodded and seated himself once again. He lifted his glass to his lips and took a long drink before settling his head against the back of the chair. "How are the twins?"

Elrond looked over to him and grinned. "Full of mischief, and growing quickly."

Glorfindel chuckled. "Elladan?"

Elrond's smile grew. "He is still young, but he is quickly earning his way in life. He has traveled the path of dreams, and his skills will continue to increase."

The golden haired elf raised his eyebrows. "Path of dreams already? Is he ready for the dreams that linger on the path?"

Elrond shook his head. "He does not fully understand them, but lately he has been sleeping without these nightmares. Have your dreams resulted in fear?"

Glorfindel nodded. "I remember once long ago that my dreams tangled with that of fire, and pain."

Elrond sighed. "I never once remember having a dream which caused me to fear sleep."

Glorfindel laughed. "If you have lived as long as I have, my friend, your dreams would linger on a path of fear and joy. How is your youngest coming to terms with all this?"

Elrond shook his head. "He feels as though he has been left behind in some manner. He does not comprehend that his time will also come, and that his path is lying in wait for him."

Glorfindel smiled and lifted his head towards the door, when he heard a loud thump.

"What do you suppose?" Elrond murmured.

The door flung open to reveal a very excited ellfing of about seven years old in mortal terms. The elfling quickly ran up to his father. Glorfindel watched as the young elfling waved a small trinket in front of his face, talking excitedly, and his words jumbling with each other in his eagerness. Elrond laughed at his son's antics amused.

"What is this you have brought me?"

"I made it, I made it!" He cried.

Elrond's eyes followed the trinket his in his son's hands, as they waved in front of his face. Trying to glimpse his son's creation. "Might I see it?"

Elladan grinned and held it out briefly to show his father, but all Elrond caught was silver and a flash of a bead or two. He caught his son's hand to hold it still while he inspected the lopsided crafted pendent. He chuckled. "Very nice, Elladan. Your skill is improving."

"Really?" Elladan hooted and danced around in a circle happily. "I shall show Ro now." With that Elladan raced out of his father's study in search of his brother, leaving a baffled elf lord and his aide in his wake.Elrohir flipped the page of his book, inspecting the painted scenes of the War of the Last Alliance. He had seen a similar painting in his father's study. Crinkling his brow, he flipped to another page. The doors to the halls of learning flung open to reveal his brother. He looked up and smiled seeing his twin standing there glowing.

"Ella!" He cried placing his book down and jumping up off the day couch. He quickly ran to his brother who had been awake far longer then him, and taken down to the jeweler for a lesson on how to craft silver and mithril, along with other pieces of adornments. He flung his arms around his brother's neck nearly knocking them both to the floor.

Elladan smiled widely hugging his brother back. "Look." He held out his trinket to show his brother.

Elrohir frowned and took in the warped edges and oddly placed beads. "Is it a broach?"

Elladan nodded. "I still have to add on the clasp, but I have to wait to do that tomorrow."

Both twins walked back to the day couch and sat down amongst the pillows. "It the rest of your day free now?" Elrohir asked feeling slightly alone.

Elladan shook his head sadly. "I still have a concealment lesson." He looked at his twin who lowered his head looking at his book. His fingers traced the pictures on the page and slowly ran in tiny circles.

"Your days are always filled with lessons now, while I sit with no one to play with."

Elladan looked down to his lap, and nodded. "Why do you not come with me? You can watch."

Elrohir glanced at his brother. "Father would never allow it."

"Well we can always ask. What harm would there be? He can only say no, but if we do not ask we will not know what his answer will be."

Elrohir raised his eyebrows. Elrond paced back and forth in his study, he had just finished reading his reports, and the number of evil massing in the lands had disturbed him. A soft knock reached his ears, and he turned around announcing entrance.
"My lord?" It was Figwit. "This just arrived from Mirkwood." The young elf held out a small folded parchment sealed with the insignia of the elven king Thranduil.

He quickly ripped off the wax seal, and read the letter. A slow smile danced across his lips. He lifted his head and joy filled eyes met with blue confused ones. "My lord?"

"Oh, stop with the formality, Figwit, tonight is a night of celebration." Elrond grinned. "The king of Mirkwood and his wife have just given birth to their second son." He quickly raced to his desk and scribbled a few words on a return letter and sealed it.

"Take this to the messenger. Give him rest and water, and tell him to join us for a feast tonight." Elrond passed the note to Figwit, who smiled in response. He nodded and exited the room.

"Good news is it not?" Elrond spoke in the empty room.

A soft laughter emerged from the shadows. "Surely a joyous occasion." Glorfindel slipped out of the shadows and sat down.

Elrond looked at his friend. "I do not know how it is, you manage to slip out of my study, then back in unnoticed, but it is becoming quite tiresome."

"Oh you love it, my old friend." Glorfindel smirked.

Elrond raised his eyebrow. "Truly?" He passed his aide a goblet and grinned. "I do not like being spied on."

"Spy?" Glorfindel shook his head. "Nay, I do not spy, I only observe. Besides, if I am to be successful as your aide, I need to know certain things before you do."

"Spy! Observe! It is the same thing." Elrond waved his arms around him. "Come let us get the cooks ready for a feast. You have the wondrous task of getting my son's prepared." Elrond grinned mischievously at his friend who sat and groaned.

"What did the king name his son?" Glorfindel asked following Elrond out of his study.

"They named him Erysyn. He was born under the stars, and is blond as can be." Elrond smiled looking over his shoulder.

"Much like his father." Glorfindel returned the smile.Elrohir and Elladan walked down the halls quietly talking to each other, and they did not notice the other voices drifting around the corner. As they turned the walked right into a barricade. Stunned they glanced up and saw their father and Glorfindel. The elf lords looked down at them just as stunned at the small elflings.

"Should you not be at your lesson?" Elrond asked, looking from one son to the next.

Elladan nodded and lowered his head. "I wanted Elrohir to come with me, and we were on our way to ask you."

The elf lords looked at each other. Glorfindel knelt down. "It is your lesson, Elladan, not Elrohir's. But I do not see why he cannot sit on the benches and watch as long as he is quiet."

Elrohir smiled widely. "Oh, I will be as silent as a cat." He jumped excitedly. "Come Ella." Both boys raced from the elf lord's sides and to the training grounds.

Glorfindel stood up, and grinned. "How long do you think it will be before Elrohir tries to join his brother's lesson?"

Elrond shook his head. "I do not know, Orfinel." He used the twin's nickname for his aide, and earned himself a well-deserved glare.

"Not you too!" The blond frowned narrowing his eyes.

Elladan raced across the field, towards his lesson while his brother sat on the benches. There were other elflings standing waiting for their teacher to join them. "Am I late?" Elladan asked one of the other boys.

"You are, but so is Galathil." A boy named Lólinder said quietly.

Elladan nodded and glanced over his shoulder to his twin.

"Who is that?" The boy asked Elladan noticing him looking over his shoulder.

Elladan turned his head and looked at Lólinder who had squinted his eyes to the other elfling trying to make out his twin whose head was bowed over his book. "My brother, Elrohir."

"Is he younger or older?"

"He is younger. Not by much though." Elladan smiled looking at his twin again.

The elflings turned around when they heard their teacher come into the field. "I apologize for being late. I got caught up with my other students." Galathil spoke. "Now, today we will continue concealment training. What I want from all of you if to master the skills of hiding in trees, but also out in the open. When traveling you might not be within the trees but in full view and alone in a field."The training began. Elrohir lifted his head as the elves ran into the trees. He watched as they climbed trees and he tried to make out where his twin was, but could not find him. He frowned. He turned his head to the direction of the teacher who was walking up to the benches. "Good day, young one." Galathil smiled warmly.

"Hello." Elrohir returned the smile feeling a little out of place.

"Why is it your brother is in training, but you are not?"

"I am not ready." Elrohir pouted.

Galathil nodded, and turned his head watching his students. "Perhaps I can speak with your father and have you join us?"

Elrohir grinned. "Oh I would love to join your lessons. I so want to learn what my brother is learning."

Galathil nodded and stood up. "Perhaps you can start right now. Come, what is your name?"

Elrohir closed his book excitedly. "I am Elrohir Elrondion." He stood up and followed the lessons master towards the center of the field.

"Well, for starters, you and your brother will have to wear different clothes so I can distinguish between you. Seeing as the lessons started a week ago, we will start you off with concealment so that you will not fall behind. But you will need to stay after everyone else leaves to catch up on missed lessons. I will speak with your father tonight and ask if he will allow it."
Elrohir clapped his hands excited, nodding.

"Now, first off, you need to sit and listen to the sounds around you." Galathil stated. "Listen to where your comrades are, remember that this is not a competition, but a lesson on how to hide and to listen. You need to become one with nature and trust in its ability to help you."

Elrohir listened intently as the lessons master spoke, and soon the youngest son of Elrond was racing towards the trees to hide and try to catch up to where the others were.

Galathil watched amused as his newest and youngest student raced to the trees. Today was proving out to be a good day, and one that was going to enlist great warriors.