Chapter Nine

Challenging Skills: Lessons Learned

Elrond sat at his desk amongst a stack of papers that littered his desk. The morning events drew a lazy smile across his face as he quickly added a note to the bottom of one. He glanced down and realized that he surely was not paying attention for he had just informed King Thranduil that he had griddlecakes with berries in them that morning. Shaking his head at his odd note he decided to quickly add at the bottom that he would soon visit. Elrond sat back sighing. It had been far too long since he had visited Mirkwood. Perhaps the time was drawing near to do so. He also wanted to see the new prince that had been born early that year.

The elf lord sat forward in his chair again and brought forward another parchment. He quickly read over the reports of his guards surrounding the borders of Rivendell, much to his distaste, orcs were being spotted more and more on the opposite shore. He frowned remembering his son's dreams and he silently prayed to the Valar that Elladan and Elrohir did not stumble near the river anytime soon. Elrond placed his insignia to the note and put that one aside with the many others he had been working on that afternoon. Reaching out for another one his hand paused as laughter drifted in through the closed door of his study. He glanced up, and quickly followed the sounds coming to the conclusion that his son's were about.

He reached back and stretched just as the door slammed open revealing his twin son's. Caught in a state of laziness, Elrond quickly stood and gathered them in for a hug.

Elrohir looked into his eyes and smiled. "Do we have to go to lessons today?"

Elrond chuckled. "I am afraid so my son." He nodded causing his young son to pout.

Elrohir squirmed out of his embrace and walked over to the desk and looked at all the papers. He reached out a small hand to touch one, accidentally knocking over the inkbottle sitting to the side. Elrohir snatched his hand back quickly muttering an apology.

Elrond sighed and stood up. Walking back to his desk he grabbed his blot cloth and quickly cleaned up the mess. "It is alright my son." He winked. "I didn't want to read that one anyway." He smirked seeing his son's bewildered expression. In all truth he had wanted to read it, but it was less important then many of the others that sat before him.

Elladan stepped next to his brother and stood on his tiptoes to see all the papers on the desk. "What are all those?" He asked.

Elrond reached down and picked his eldest son up. "Those Elladan are reports and letters from neighboring cities."

Elladan frowned. "Why do they write to you?" He twisted in his father's grasp and reached down to grab one of the parchments.

"I suppose they think I need to know certain events. When it comes to the protection of Rivendell and the valley, there are things that I need to be kept informed of." Elrond tried to explain.

"What does this one say?" Elladan asked waving the one in his hand in front of his father's face.

Elrond quickly grabbed the paper and quickly scanned over the contents. He sat down placing his eldest in his lap, silently pleased of his son's interest. "Well, it says-"

Elrohir grumbled silently and walked away from his brother and father. 'How boring.' He thought to himself as he seated himself on the window bench. He noticed a book sitting on the sill and he picked it up flipping through the many pages of cursive script. He couldn't understand a thing. Elrohir lifted his head and glanced at the shelf littered with books and he quickly put the one in his hands down and went in search of another. He quickly jumped from the window bench and wandered over to the many books lining his father's study. Seeing a small step stool in the corner he dragged it over to the shelves and climbed onto it. He reached out his left hand and traced his fingers along the old worn bound books.

He pulled one down and flipped open to the front forming the words with his mouth. Maps of Arda. Concluding that it was too boring, he placed it back on the shelf and pulled down a green bound one. He opened the old worn leather and glanced at the pages. Wrinkling his nose he decided that this one was too smelly, and put that one back. His fingers found a blue bound book and he smiled at the color. He flipped it open and saw pictures. Grinning triumphantly he climbed off the stool and wandered back to the window seat. He glanced over at his father and brother, and seeing them still talking he opened the book seeing pictures of all kinds of things. The first section was plants and flowers.

Elrohir was not sure how much time had past, only that he had gone from his sitting position to laying down on his stomach. He felt a hand on his back and he glanced up from the many pictures in the book.

"What are you reading my son?" Elrond asked pulling the book from in front of Elrohir's face.

Elrohir sat up shrugging his shoulders. "The pictures are nice."

Elrond chuckled. "This is a book of healing." Elrond sat down beside his youngest and opened the book to the front. "These are pictures of plants that help aid healing." Elrond pointed to the flowers and leaves. Elrond flipped a few pages and pointed to the animal section. "These are various animals that also help healing. Some are dangerous."

Elrohir completely enthralled with his father's attention climbed onto his lap squirming to see the pictures better. "Which ones are danger-ooze?"

"Dangerous." Elrond corrected. He pointed to a rather large spider. "This one is poisonous. Its bite can harm a young child and possibly bring death." Elrond explained gently, seeing his son's eyes grow wide.

Elrohir's eyes danced around the floor quickly. Elladan climbed up onto the window bench and sat down next to them now interested in the contents of the book. "Are there spiders in here?" Elrohir whispered softly.

Elrond smiled. "There are no poisonous spiders in Rivendell my son."

Elrohir released his breath and pulled at some of the pages. "What are these?" He asked staring at pictures of cloth.

"These are healing aids. Certain things that we would bind an injury in. This is gauze." Elrond said pointing to a white mesh cloth. "This helps a wound breath. That way if you have a cut it can breathe and stay clean at the same time."

Elrohir pulled at some more pages, causing Elrond to chuckle at his son's interest. Elrohir paused at pictures of tools. "What do these do?"

Elladan leaned in and touched a picture of a knife. "It looks like a knife to me." He stated, getting a little bored at looking at pictures.

"Those are scalpels. They assist in cutting dead skin away or surgery."

"What is Surgy?" Elrohir frowned feeling the word fall off his tongue awkwardly.

"Surgery. It is when someone is hurt really bad. They need more then gauze or sutures to keep them safe."

Elladan sat back leaning against the plush cushions on the window seat. He was getting bored and his father and brother were engrossed with the book. He glanced at them curiously then quickly slid off the bench. Casting a look over his shoulder he slipped from the room unnoticed. He sighed frustrated. What could he do while his brother and father read? He wondered. He walked back to his room and sat on his bed. He scanned the room looking for anything to play with. Lessons were not to start for another hour or so, but seeing this as an opportunity to impress his lessons master, he took up his small training sword and his bows and arrows and raced to the training grounds.

He pushed aside the bushes and walked into the field and saw that he was not the only one who had decided to do a bit of early training. Confidently he wandered into the center and he noticed the boys had stopped what they were doing watching him curiously. One boy, Elladan remembered from his former lessons, turned with a look of utter disbelief on his face and walked up to him.

"What are you doing here?" The boy asked.

Elladan frowned and tried to place the boys name upon his lips. "Am I not entitled to be here much as yourselves?"

The boy turned sharply looking at his friends then back to the younger elf before him. "I thought I made it clear to you, that you are not to be seen in the training grounds again."

Elladan straightened and stood proud. "Pardon?" He furrowed his brows frowning.

The boy lifted his eyebrows looking at Elladan curiously. "I see you are not the one I spoke with yesterday."

"Indeed I am not." Elladan stated matter of factly. "To what are you referring to?"

"I think it best that you leave these grounds, half elf." The boy growled.

Elladan narrowed his eyes. "I may be of both races, but I hold dignity, which I can say you do not. Your torment and teasing does not affect me."

The boy laughed. "Perhaps not you. But it sure worked yesterday with your brother."

"What did you say to him?" Elladan said icily. He now knew that these boys were the ones responsible for his brother's strange behavior.

The older boy walked up to Elladan and shoved him to the ground.

Elladan quickly got to his feet and placed his feet well apart to steady himself. "I wish to know what you said to him. I see you are nothing more then a bully and a place seeker, but your attempts at subduing me as you did my brother will have no effect!"

"Really?" The boy turned and stared Elladan straight in the eyes. He quickly raced forward, but Elladan being prepared dodged his attack. He spun around and waited for the bully to pick himself up off the ground.

"You must really learn to stay on your feet." Elladan grinned quickly. The boy growled and ran at Elladan again. He danced out of the way and spun quickly drawing his sword. He held it out in front of him and stood on the balls of his feet waiting for the boy to right himself once more.

"What is this?" The boy asked pointing at the sword. "You wish to take me on? Is that it?" The boy howled with laughter. "You could not over take me with the sword you fool. Your mortal blood makes you foolish."

Elladan stood his ground. "I have mortal blood yes, but I am an elf with the same skills as you. You refuse to tell me what you said to my brother, and I will not have it. Nor will I have you attack him for something he did not do!"

The boy drew his sword, which to Elladan's dismay was longer, and definitely no training sword. He gulped, but kept his face steady. "Where did you get that?" He asked softly.

"My father gave it to me, nice is it not?" The boy bragged. He held it out in front and took an attack stance. "Think you can take me on now, half elf?"

"Perhaps if I had the same sword as you, I can see why I could not. Mine is but a training sword dulled from lessons and for protection of others. Yours is battle ready." Elladan lowered his sword slowly.

"Then by all means, take this one." The boy roared. He pulled out a shorter sword and threw at the young elf's feet. "I challenge you to a battle, one you will not soon forget. Do you accept?"

Elladan swallowed, all sorts of thoughts racing through his head. He knew he should not engage in a battle at such a young age, nor was he ready. He also knew his father would be furious if he were to find out. Elladan slowly stepped forward and took up the sword. The challenge now accepted due to accepting the sword he had no choice but to protect himself and his brother from this half mad elf before him. "First, what did you say to my brother?" Elladan asked pointing the heavier sword at the elf.

"I told him to withdraw from the lessons, and also that I would make sure you were no longer twins if he were to go against my warning." The boy said menacingly.

Elladan took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. "You would pick on one younger then you, and threaten him? How much lower would you go to succeed in life? My father will find out about your attempts at subduing others, and you will be punished for these ill attacks."

"Not if I kill you first!" The boy roared and swung his sword at the young son of Elrond.

Startled, Elladan raised his sword to protect himself, and the swords rang true as they clashed together with such force. Elladan now on the defense blocked blow after blow, his hands growing numb from the impact. He allowed his mind to wander back to his training, and he danced out of the way. Trying to earn himself time to regain some feeling in is hands.

Elrohir pointed at another picture in the book. "What is this?"

Elrond chuckled. "That is casting. If someone were to break his or her leg or arm, a healer would mix this mold and place it on the broken limb. It hardens and keeps the injury protected and steady while it heals."

Elrohir grinned and looked up at his father. "I like this book." He turned another page, and happily looked at the pictures.

"Perhaps you will be a healer then if this book interests you?" His father said.

"When I finish all my training, I would love to learn healing, father."

"Indeed?" Elrond smiled broadly. "I was a natural healer. I have certain skills that other healers do not."

"Like what?" Elrohir asked wrinkling his brow.

Elrond closed the book and placed it beside him. "I am able to soothe one who is injured with only a few words. I can ease worried minds with words, or I can submerge them into sleep if it helps my healing."

Elrohir was about to ask another question when a feeling of cold and fear raced through his body. He stiffened. He quickly sought out his brother, who was to his surprise, nowhere to be found. He shivered.

"Elrohir?" Elrond asked curiously, when he felt his son's small body stiffen. "What is it?"

"Where is Ella?" He whispered. The feeling of cold seeped through his skin intently, the feeling of fear coursed through him like a raging river on a spring day.

"Perhaps he went for a bite to eat." Elrond said frowning. "Are you cold?" He asked when his son shivered.

Elrohir shook his head and glanced around him nervously. "No, but I feel cold."

Elrond's frown deepened. He knew his son's shared a strong bond. He also knew that it was partially due to them being twins.

What he didn't know was how deep this bond was, nor how intense a hold it had on his son's.

"Tell me, what do you feel?" Elrond asked looking down at his son.

"Fear, cold, like ice. My skin burns. My head hurts." He whispered. "Ada! Where is Ella?"

Elrond picked up his youngest and placed him on his feet, and stood up. He wandered to the door and glanced out to see if anyone was near. "Erestor!" He called causing the elf to jump startled. "My apologies. Have you seen Elladan around?"

"No, my lord." Erestor shook his head frowning. "I was passing by and did not know anyone was about."

Elrond nodded. "Would you find Glorfindel for me?"

Erestor nodded and wandered off down the halls.

Elrond walked out into the hallway and perked his ears listening for any sounds that might give him an idea to where his son would be. With a second though he turned and waved his youngest over. "Do you think you can follow your feeling and find him?" Elrond asked curiously.

Elrohir frowned and concentrated. "I do not know." He said looking up at his father worriedly. "I can try."

Elrond nodded giving his son encouragement. He watched as his son wandered down the halls to his brother's bedroom and slowly pushed open the doors. Elrond followed further back keeping his distance.

"He was here, his stuff is gone." Elrohir said walking out of Elladan's room.

"His stuff?" Elrond asked.

"His training stuff. Perhaps he went early to training?" Elrohir asked.

Elrond nodded and picked his son up. "Come, let us check and see if your brother is there.

Elrond and Elrohir met up with the golden haired elf in the halls and they quickly made their way outside and towards the training fields. Glorfindel stopped at one point holding his hand up for silence when he heard the clashing of swords.

Elrond raised his eyebrows thinking and listening to the sounds of swordplay.

"That is not the sound of training swords milord." Glorfindel said harshly.

Elrond put Elrohir on the ground and whispered a few words to him. "Stay here, I am going to check this out, then we will search for Elladan."

Elrohir nodded shivering again. He watched as his father and Glorfindel disappeared down the path to the training grounds. He turned around and darted into the trees. He would find Elladan himself. He followed the sounds of the singing swords the feeling of fear growing in his heart, as he got closer. The elders would be there after him, not knowing the shortcut he and Elladan had found early that year. He broke through the trees to an unexpected sight. He cried out fearfully when he saw his brother engaged in a sword fight. He saw Elladan turn his head, and Elrohir cried out a warning to his brother, but too late.

Elladan hissed through his teeth at the stinging in his shoulder, where the other elf had snagged it. He blocked another deathblow falling back to the ground trying to hold off the other elf. He was frightened and tired. His arms screamed to him in protest at each block he made. Now exhausted, he was loosing this battle. He quickly pushed the other elf off him and regained his footing. He drew in a deep breath as he raised his sword to block another attack. A cry caused him to loose his concentration and he turned to see the culprit. There stood his brother, Elrohir, and he saw his brother's face go white as he called out a warning.

Too late, Elladan turned his head and missed the attackers swing. His sword was too low. The bully's sword caught him in the side and he gasped. His sword fell from numb fingers, and he lost his legs from under him. He fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, holding his side crying out in pain. His skin felt like fire, where the sword had caught him. He tried to get up but he was in far too much pain. He glanced up at the bully who smiled triumphantly. He watched as the boy raised his sword again, and stunned and terrified, Elladan watched as the boy tried to finish off his handy work. He closed his eyes and winced expecting the blow any second.

Elrohir rushed from the trees to his brother's fallen figure. He grabbed his brother's training sword and quickly raised it to block the last blow to his brother's fallen body. Elrohir slammed his smaller body into that of the older boy and caused him to loose balance. The boy got up and growled furiously. But he quickly dropped his sword, seeing two other figures rushing out of the trees. Fear filled his eyes and he raced away in the other direction.

"What is the meaning of this?" Elrond roared seeing the attackers race off into the trees. "Glorfindel!" Elrond howled.

The golden haired elf nodded and sprinted ahead and chased after the boys.

Elrond quickly knelt beside his son's and eased Elladan onto his back. "Sweet Eru, what were you thinking?" Elrond scolded. He tore Elladan's tunic off and met with the injury. It was deep and seeping blood. Elrond hissed and tore the bottom of his robe into strips. He quickly placed them on his son's cut and he winced when his oldest son cried out in pain.

Elrond needed to get his son back to his healing chambers, where he could tend to this. It needed sutures immediately, or his son would die from loss of blood. Horrified and in a pure state of panic and shock, Elrond lifted his son into his arms and raced out of the field. Quickly followed by a terrified Elrohir.

Glorfindel could not quite believe his eyes as he raced past the fallen figure of Elladan. He turned his attention to the other boys who were attempting to out smart him. Narrowing his eyes, Glorfindel jumped and caught the branch of a tree above him. He was now the stalker, and these boys were unskilled when it came to prey and predator. They would answer for this. He would catch them, and they would be brought before Elrond.

Silently Glorfindel raced through the trees and caught sight of the boys who kept looking over their shoulders to see where the elder was. Smiling to himself he raced above their heads and jumped onto the path further ahead. They stumbled literally right into him.

Crying out in fear the boys struggled against Glorfindel's iron grasp. "It is unwise to flee from one as trained as I." He hissed angrily. "Do you wish to take me on little one? For that is the wisdom you have shown attacking one less skilled then you."

The boy whimpered in fear. "I di-didn't at-tack him." The boy stammered. "He chall-enged me."

"You lie!" Glorfindel hissed quietly, causing more fright to coarse through the younger ones body. "I can see it in your eyes. Come, it is time you met the Lord of Imadris. You had better pray that the injury that Lord Elladan sustained is not fatal. The wrath of Elrond and all within his household is great."

With that Glorfindel dragged the elf and the others followed wordlessly, behind.

Elrohir sobbed quietly, as his father laid his brother on the bed. Elladan had lost consciousness and was now still and even paler then when in the field. Elrohir saw the fear in his father's eyes and it did nothing to sooth the pain and chill that settled on his heart. He slunk to the ground in the corner, wrapping his arms around his legs and wordlessly watched as his father started his work, silent tears rolling down his face.