Chapter Ten

Horrifying Skills: Realization

Elrohir sat silently watching his father work endlessly on his brother, fear evident in his eyes and on his face. The youngest twin of Elrond felt cold seep into his heart, and the horrifying reality of the situation. He rocked back and forth softly moaning, silent tears streaking his face, and his blue eyes glistening showing his fear, and terror of being alone. Elrohir shuddered, thinking of life without his brother, and he choked back a sob. He slowly stood up and walked over to the bed where is brother lay still and pale. The only color was the red of his blood, which stained the sheets, and the smears across his pale face.

Elrohir drew in a deep breath and silently climbed onto the bed, his small hand reaching out to touch the blood on his brother's cheek. He withdrew his hand startled at how cold his brother's skin felt. He lifted his eyes to capture his father's, but Elrond refused to look up from his frantic work.

Elrohir watched his father's hands quickly crush herbs and leaves, shake powers into a cup of water, and quickly apply a white paste to the gaping hole in his brother's side. Elrohir lay down next to Elladan and curled up next to his brother's still body. He closed his eyes and let the tears fall as he listened to the shallow sounds of his brother's breathing.

Glorfindel shoved open the doors to the Last Homely House and pushed the boy inside. Erestor came through the doors and nearly jumped to the roof when the boy stumbled into him causing all his papers to fly in every direction.

"By the Valar, Glorfindel!" He sighed. "What is all this?" The dark haired elder asked pointing to the three boys standing shaking inside the hall.

"Watch them." Glorfindel hissed. Erestor raised his eyebrows in question but bit his tongue on the unspoken words. He had only seen Glorfindel angry on two occasions and did not need to ask what vexed him.

Erestor frowned at the three boys standing looking at him warily. "What would you have done to earn anger from Lord Glorfindel?"

The taller of the boys narrowed his eyes and turned his back on him.

Erestor chuckled. He pointed to the benches to his left. "You might as well sit, you are not going anywhere until Glorfindel returns."

"You cannot keep me here against my will!" The taller boy snarled.

"Indeed!" Erestor nodded. "Sit." He smiled causing the boy to start unexpectantly.

Erestor bent down and started picking up his scattered papers when Figwit entered.

"What happened here?" Figwit smiled. "Babysitting?"

Erestor groaned. "Will you cease for once?"

Figwit smile grew. "Certainly. Who are they?"

Erestor straightened and shrugged. "Our dear golden haired advisor asked me to watch them."

"Really?" Figwit glanced at the boy seated on the bench. He noticed one glaring at them furiously. He pursed his lips thinking. He leaned over and whispered into Erestor's ear. "What do you suppose?"

Erestor glanced at the boy and shrugged again whispering softly to the young elf beside him. "I know not, but he is a mouthy one."

"Really? How interesting." Figwit strolled over next to the boys and leaned against the wall. "So what brings you boys to the house of Elrond?" Figwit asked.

"None of your business."

Figwit, who was suddenly taken aback, narrowed his eyes. "You have little to no respect for your elders. I hope you do not plan to confront Elrond in this manner, or you will surely find yourselves in the dungeons."

"Do you honestly think that will frighten us?" The boy spat at Figwit's feet.

"Perhaps not you, but your friends seem to think other wise." Figwit grinned.

The boy glanced at the two other boys and frowned. "I wish to leave, you have no reason to keep me here."

"Well you were brought here for a reason, I am afraid that you are detained for the time being." Erestor snapped walking up to Figwit. "You have shown us that you are nothing more then a child with a sharp bite. Do you honestly think you can best trained warriors in a game of wits?"

Figwit watched the boy glare at them as if they were lower then he, and he raised his eyebrows mischievously. "I believe he truly thinks that he can best us at whatever we throw at him. Perhaps we should throw him to the Balrog slayer?"

The boys froze suddenly at the mention of the fire demon.

Erestor groaned. "We do not know if that is true or not Figwit."

"Oh will you stop being such a baby." Figwit grinned.

Erestor paused, then burst out laughing. "You are informing me to stop acting like a child when you are nothing more then one yourself. I find that quite amusing."

The boys watched the elf lords banter back and forth and found them selves starting to get a little uncomfortable. The older boy snarled. "If you do not let me leave this instant I will make sure my father hears of this, and you will all be sorry."

Erestor clenched his teeth. "I suppose you do not understand how much trouble you are in do you?"

"Let me spell it out for you." Figwit jumped in. "You are about to meet the Lord of Rivendell, the Lord Elrond. I am sure you have heard the name in passing. The Lord Glorfindel has brought you to the House of Elrond. For crimes still unknown to us. I am Figwit of Rivendell, personal guard to Elrond, and advisor. This here is Lord Erestor of Rivendell, personal advisor and aide to the Lord Elrond. For what ever reason, you have been brought here, and you will not leave until you have been given release either from Glorfindel himself or from Elrond, do you understand that?"

The boys started to squirm.

The hall doors slammed open and revealed a slightly angrier looking Glorfindel. He stalked over to them and glared at the boys. "Lord Elrond is presently busy attending his son, he will have audience with you after he has finished his task. Like I had informed you before, you had better pray to the Valar that his son survives this vicious attack, or you will have more then two furious elves on your hands."

Figwit frowned suddenly. "What attack?"

Glorfindel growled. "This, boy!" He waved at the tallest one with a flick of his hand. "Attacked Lord Elladan!" He walked away his anger barely contained. "Not with any training sword! But with a battle ready weapon." He spun around his robes flowing around him adding to his appearance of a possessed elf.

Erestor gasped aloud. He glanced at the boys, two of who were fiddling with their hands nervously. The other looking as though he were about to flee or take on one of them in his state of panic.

"How is he?" Figwit whispered.

Glorfindel shrugged. "At the moment I am as informed as you." He walked back to the boys and knelt down. "You do realize that there will be punishment, not only for you but for your families also. I would not be surprised if Elrond cast you out of Rivendell, never to return. If I had any say in the matter, you would be cast from here faster then thought could carry you."

The boys gulped. Except the eldest who glared at Glorfindel with contempt.

"I suggest you take my words seriously." Glorfindel snapped at the youth.

Figwit slumped against the wall. "Oh sweet Eru." He murmured. "How seriously wounded is he?"

"Enough to cause death." Glorfindel snarled. He stood up clenching his teeth biting back his temper. He stalked out of the room in a rage slamming the door behind him.

"Come with me." Erestor bared his teeth at the boys. The three boys stood up nervously glancing at each other. Figwit also rose and followed behind to make sure they didn't bolt.

Erestor lead them into a large hall littered with chairs and one large chair seated on a dais. The burgundy velvet in the room made the boys gasp. The walls were washed with a pale color similar to the chairs, and tapestries lined the walls. Carpets woven covered the floors and the colors of lit candles made the room seem even more regal.

"You three can sit there." Erestor pointed to the stools at the base of the dais. The boys took them without word. Erestor turned around and glanced at Figwit and frowned at the look of contempt on his face. He walked over and placed his hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"

Figwit snarled and twisted out of Erestor's grasp. He strolled calmly over to the boys and grasped the eldest boys tunic pulling him to his feet. "I should love to skin you alive and feed you to the wolves and spiders of this world. I hope the Valar judge you for attacking one of your brethren."

Erestor gasped and quickly intervened. He grasped Figwit's arm and pulled him away. "What in all of Arda do you think you are doing?"

"What do you think I am doing?" Figwit hissed.

"Gather your wits, and contain your anger." Erestor whispered. "You will be of no use if you allow your anger to consume you."

"Contain my anger? I do not understand you. Are you not angered by their attack? The injury caused to a youth? Do you have no feelings at all? Do you care nothing for the twin's?" Figwit glared at the elder restraining him.

"You think I feel nothing?" Erestor hissed. "Of course I am angry, but I cannot do my duty as an advisor if I allow my feelings to consume me. I love those twins's as I would my own children. I would give my life should it help. We are no use to Elrond if we loose ourselves to hatred and grief."

Figwit stared at the elf before him curiously. This was a side he had never seen before; one filled with so many emotions it was hard to tell exactly how he was feeling. "I-I." Figwit could not go on.

Erestor released his hold on Figwit's arm and brushed his hand over his eyes. "My anger and grief is over whelming at times, my young Figwit. I have learned that I get nowhere should I show them. Pain and hatred, aye. I feel those also. Happiness and love, those too." He turned around and gripped Figwit's shoulders. His deep blue eyes filled with pain and sadness. "There are many things you need to learn, some come easy, others are lessons which are harder to accept. Take these in and learn from them. You have long been under my watchful eye, a tough student I will admit. However, you have skills beyond your comprehension and these I wish to teach you, if you should allow me."

Figwit lowered his head. "I am sorry."

Erestor shook him. "Nay, do not be sorry, but learn from this. We have a duty to attend to, one which Elrond will not be too eager to take on himself after retreating from the healing rooms. As advisor's we need to take on the responsibility now and lighten the families burdens."

Figwit nodded in agreement. "I have not the experience to take on such a task."

"Watch and learn." Erestor smiled brightly for the first time at Figwit and winked at him playfully.

Completely baffled by Erestor's change of mood towards him he smiled back and followed him over to where the boys were seated. The young elf seated himself in a plush chair and watched silently as Erestor walked around the boys and paced in front of them.

"Well, we seem to have a problem which needs to be solved." Erestor began. "First, you, what is your name?" The elder asked the taller boy.

He growled. "Haevásaion."

Erestor nodded. "And you two?"

The smallest boy whispered his voice shaking with fear. "Imfana."

The middle boy, whose face was almost white, whispered. "Ráwyn."

"Alright, now that we are all introduced, I shall tell you who I am. My name is Lord Erestor, son of Elruril, and Vithiel, and chief advisor to Lord Elrond. I have little to no tolerance for disobedience nor for disrespect, so you Haevásaion shall keep your tongue in check while you listen to my words."

He earned himself a glare from the boy and he slowly smiled, still pacing back and forth. "I wish to know what happened, how it is you came to attack the son of Elrond, and what possessed you to even attempt such an evil thing? Imfana?"

The boy gulped and lifted his head. "It was all Haevásaion's idea. He was furious that they got special treatment because they were the lord's sons. He threatened one of the twin's, I do not know who, and then the other came into our practice field and angered Haevásaion more."

Erestor stopped pacing. "Really? Angered you how?" He asked the eldest elf.

"Imfana already told you how!" He snapped.

Erestor narrowed his eyes. "Keep that forked tongue in check. I asked but a simple question." He sighed. "So, you decided to attack Elladan because he and his brother received special treatment?"

The boy shook his head. "He drew his sword in a means of challenge and accepted my return challenge. I gave him a sword much the same as I used."

Figwit snorted unelven like in his chair. "I sense unspoken truths about. Half lies and stories."

Erestor shook his head sighing. He began again.

Elrond stood wearily from his son's bedside and walked to the window. He glanced out and startled glanced over his shoulder searching for his youngest. To his surprise he found Elrohir snuggled next to his brother. Elrond frowned wondering how he had never noticed. Taking a deep breath he walked back to the bed and walked to Elrohir's side of the bed. He picked him up earning himself a sleepy moan and grumble. His son suddenly jerked awake nearly causing his father to drop him.

"Easy, my son." Elrond soothed.

"NO! Put me back, he is frightened and alone." Elrohir cried.

Startled by his son's outburst he lowered him back onto the bed and watched as his youngest curled around his brother protectively.

Elrond watched silently as his son's eyes closed. Curiously he placed his hand on his son's head and followed him into his dream state. Elrond found himself amidst trees and plant life. But what surprised him the most was the image of his son's fea's seated beside a calm flowing stream. Elrond walked forward but found himself blocked by some unseen stone. He called out to his son's. His only response was Elrohir who stood up and raced for his arms. However before his son entered his arms, his youngest had stopped and turned around calling for Elladan to follow him.

Elrohir slowly turned away from his father and returned to his brother's side and sat down wrapping him in a tight bear hug.

Elrond frowned at the sight. He wanted to talk to them, but the mysterious blockage prevented him from doing so. "Elrohir." He called out again.

His youngest turned his head and waved.

"Come here." Elrond beckoned.

Elrohir shook his head.

"Can you tell me what this is?"

Elrohir shook his head again. But pointed towards the sky.

Elrond glanced up and nearly choked on the sight that greeted him. "Oh Varda!" Only once in his life had he ever beheld such a sight and he fell to his knees calling to his son's desperately.