Chapter Twelve Ancient Skills: Acceptance

It was past midnight before Glorfindel left Elrond's study. Elrohir had been put to bed hours ago, without complaint. Elrond had quickly left to check on Elladan, who slept soundly. Then the lord's had sat and talked about memories and the past. Elrond had accomplished nothing that day, only to send a guard down to inform Figwit and Erestor to escort the young boys home and inform their families of the day's incident.

Glorfindel wandered through the gardens thinking about what he and his long time friend had talked about. He knew Mithrandir, and remembered him from his frequent travels to Rivendell. Never had he heard of the wizard visiting dreams. Nor had he heard of the Valar stumbling into dreams. He was troubled. Without a doubt, he now knew he was the Glorfindel of the past, but still it made no sense to him. How could he be alive if he had died? Nothing made sense to him anymore. Only the strong bond and protective feeling that over came him when he was around Lord Elrond's family made any sort of sense to his now rattled brain.

Sighing in frustration he climbed the stairs reentering the Last Homely House, and continued down the halls lost in thought. He stopped briefly when he heard a distinct muffled cry of fear, and he quickly followed the sounds to the Halls of Healing. He stopped at the door, and slipped inside glancing at the bed of the lord's son. There he saw, Elladan tossing and turning fitfully.

Almost as though he were trying to outrun something. He wandered to the bed and sat down in the chair, curiously watching the small elfling as he drifted through his dream. Concerned, Glorfindel reached his hand out and whispered softly to the boy, who suddenly cried out and sat up.

"Shh, little one." Glorfindel whispered into the dimly lit room.

Elladan turned horror filled eyes, which slowly faded to awareness to the golden haired elf lord. Elladan shivered pulling the blankets close around him. He lay back down and winced.

"There is nothing to fear." Glorfindel whispered softly. "Would you like to talk about your dream?"

Elladan quickly shook his head burrowing his head into the pillow.

Glorfindel smirked. "I know the feeling." He sat back in his chair and watched Elladan poke his head out from amidst the pillow.

"Do-do you have bad dreams?" Elladan whispered rubbing at his eyes.

Glorfindel smiled faintly. "Yes. Every night it seems." He reached out and pushed the blankets down to inspect the elfling's wound, and satisfied that none of the sutures were torn tucked the soft blankets around him, once again.

"But you are too old to have bad dreams." Elladan frowned snuggling into the warm comforter that surrounded his small body.

"Even one as old as I have night terrors."

Elladan turned over and stared in wonder at the golden haired warrior. "Do you cry out like I do? Do you get attacked in your dream?"

Glorfindel smiled wanly, and nodded silently. "It is due to my dreams that I was wandering the halls tonight, and stumbled across you having one of your own."

"What happens in your dream?"

"Oh, young one, my dreams are too much for one as small as you to hear yet." Glorfindel reached out and tucked the elfling's dark hair behind his ear. "Perhaps one day, but not tonight."

Elladan pouted. "Will you sit here and keep the monsters at bay?" He whispered. "Ro is angry at me and he is the only other one who keeps them away."

Glorfindel smiled and nodded. "I will sit here all night if you like. I am sure Elrohir is missing your company and will wander in here soon."

True to Glorfindel's words, Elrohir had sat up in bed looking around him curiously. His brother had not yet stumbled into his room, and he was alone. He had grown accustomed to Elladan climbing into his bed and seeking company, but he knew tonight he wouldn't. Elrohir climbed off his bed and quickly raced down the halls towards his brother's healing room. He stopped at the door and listened quietly to the conversation. His brother was talking to someone else tonight and Elrohir's heart dropped. He was about to turn away from the door when he heard Glorfindel remark about him. Smiling to himself he reached up to the doorknob and slipped into the room.

Both Elladan and Glorfindel glanced over and saw him, smiling to each other.

"Hi, Ro." Elladan grinned. He waved to his brother and watched him as he wandered over to the bed. "Come up."

Elrohir smiled and pulled himself up onto the bed and rested his head against his brother's chest. "Are you feeling better?" Elrohir whispered.

"I had another dream." Elladan said shivering. "Can you sleep here tonight?"

Elrohir smiled and nodded sitting up. "I got lonely. I missed you coming into my room. I thought you were still mad at me."

Elladan's mouth dropped open. "I thought you were mad at me?"

Glorfindel quietly slipped out of the room closing the door behind him, with a smile on his face. He silently walked to his own rooms and opened the door revealing his tidy bedchambers. He sighed relaxed, and sank into a chair by the fireplace. Quietly he poured himself a glass of wine and pulled out scrolls that were stuffed into a bag by the chair. He gulped down the wine before unraveling the first one, and he began to read.

Erestor sank onto his bed and lowered his head into his hands wearily. 'Finally.' He thought. 'A night of undisturbed rest.' He lifted his head, stood up and pulled off his tunic and shirt. He stretched and lowered himself onto the soft mattress again to pull off his boots. Grunting to himself he threw them across the room watching as the bounced off the wall and fall onto the floor in a pile. Smiling now satisfied at relieving his frustration he lowered himself flat on his back and sighed contentedly. He slowly faded into unawareness and into a deep sleep.
Figwit pursed his lips, lost in thought. He was searching for his papers and could not find them among the mess that scattered his desk. He wandered over to his desk and carefully lifted each and everyone to make sure he had not missed the papers in his first search. Mumbling to himself he dropped the papers back onto the desk scattering across the top lazily.

He wandered to the window and glanced out at the calm night. His eyes lifted to the stars and he smiled. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, smelling the fresh coolness that night often brought. Nature often calmed him, as did the night. "No wonder, everyone thinks I have not rested." He chuckled to himself quietly. "I never sleep at night when they are as calm and serene as this." He turned away from the window and wandered down the halls in the direction he knew brought him to the gardens. He slipped through the doors unnoticed and wandered through the thriving flowers and foliage that grew there.

Elrohir twisted onto his side and looked at his brother's far off eyes. Sadly, he watched as his brother sighed, and a dreamlike smile passed across his lips. He grew startled however when he saw his brother's eyes dim from their happy gleam into one of dread. The smile vanished and was replaced by a frightened 'O'. No sound came out of his brother's mouth, as he started to thrash the covers wildly. Elrohir sat up reaching a hand to his brother's face. He traced the worry lines and tried to ease the frown lines that etched his forehead. He leaned in close and whispered into his brother's ear. "All is alright, Ella. I will not let anything hurt you."

Almost instantly, Elladan eased his thrashing and calm features replaced the fearful ones. Elrohir sat back satisfied and lay down next to his brother. He felt something grasp his hand desperately and he looked down curiously. His twin's hand sought his and clenched onto Elrohir's tightly. Smiling, Elrohir twined his fingers with Elladan's, and both brother's slipped back to sleep.

Elladan raced over the hill away from the stinking creatures and cried out when he heard the twang of the bows as the arrows were released. He jumped over dirt packed mounds and almost tripped at the mogul mud piles that lingered the field. The flowers no longer smelled pretty, but turned foul causing him to gag. He turned his head to glance over his shoulder and his eyes met with a stray arrow. Crying out in fear he ducked, and turned his head to face the direction he was running. He stumbled and slammed hard into the earth as he lost his footing on a hidden twig. He pulled his leg cutting the skin and losing his boot at the same time, but his fear urged him to go on. He quickly got to his feet and started running again. He heard something, and he stopped quickly, turning towards the sound. Startled and excited that maybe he had been found he raced in that direction and he saw his twin motioning him to follow. Elladan held out his hand yelling for his twin to wait, but Elrohir disappeared, causing Elladan to cry out in desperation.

"No! Erhir wait!" Elladan felt something impact into his back and startled he lost his footing as numbness over came him and he lost consciousness, falling into a blackness he had never seen before.