Chapter Seventeen Skills Set in Stone: Accomplishments

He rolled over and groaned. The night had definitely proved to be an interesting one. Lifting an arm over his head, he groaned again at the dull ache that issued inside his head. Behind closed lids his eyes pulsed at the unusual feeling, and his stomach churned briefly. Drawing in a deep breath he covered his eyes with his hands and groaned yet again. His mortal blood had definitely kicked in reminding him of his weakness to drink and celebration.

He silently cursed the men who were at the festival. Always they put a bad influence on him with tales of old, hunting parties and celebrations. An unexpected guest had caused him weakness of joy and giddiness that he had not felt in many a year. Rubbing his eyes, he stopped momentarily. He stunk. 'What happened?' He silently thought to himself. Sniffing his hands, he smelled smoke.

He shot up in bed a little too quickly causing his world to spin several times almost causing him to loose whatever he had imbibed on the night before. Glancing around after he had regained sight, he realized that his wife was nowhere to be found. Moaning at his dishevelled state, he gingerly climbed out of bed.

He winced when the door slammed open to reveal his grinning wife and two small children. Not in the mood for company, he flopped back onto the bed and groaned again. He heard soft laughter and he frowned. His wife was laughing at him? He lifted his head off the pillow and opened one eye, with both open, he saw double. Frowning again, he knew that he did not have four children.

"Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?" His wife asked him laughing harder.

He groaned in response.

"Good morning, ada!" His children coursed together in rather louder voices then he remembered. He felt the bed dip as they climbed up onto it. "Time to get up! It is almost lunch time."

He winced at the thought, and gulped at the lump that formed in his throat. He rolled over and plopped the pillow over his head.

His head still swam and he did not feel well at all.

"Here, drink this. It will help." His wife announced, pulling the pillow off his head. He reached out for the cup and gulped it back in one swift swallow. Gagging, he coughed as the bitter liquid slowly ran down his throat.

"You are cruel. Using my own droughts against me." He accused, his voice sounding like a tarnished harp.

"You brought it on yourself, love. You know better then to imbibe too much mirivor. Not to mention the other things you imbibed on as well." She huffed.

He raised an eyebrow in question.

She glanced away with a twinkle in her eye. "I believe I will allow you the pleasure of discovering what you did last eve." With that she whistled to the boys and left him to ponder her words in silence.

Elrohir raced down the small gravel path towards the fountain. His brother held his mothers hand rambling on about the festival. The youngest twin of Elrond frowned at the memories. His night had been filled with laughter from the other children there, and constant teasing from his brother about his dance.

Elrohir remembered going to his father for comfort but had decided against it when he had seen the grey man with the furry thing attached to his face. He had had a stick hanging out of his mouth that filled the air with smoke. Elrohir had gasped when the old man had passed the stick to his father, and horrifyingly took a puff off it. Thinking better on his decision to see his father, he had turned and walked away pinching his nose at the odour around him.

The young son of Elrond had sat on a boulder crying softly to himself when he had felt a hand on his shoulder. Wiping the tears away, he had glanced up and almost croaked seeing the smiling wrinkled face of the old man. Startled, he had cried out and raced away in terror. Later he had asked his mother about the man, but was told only that he was an old friend of his father's.

"But why is he so wrinkled? What is that thing on his face?" Elrohir had asked when his mother tucked the blankets around him.

"My darling that is called a beard. Mortal men can grow hair on their faces." His mother had explained to him.

Wrinkling his nose, he guffawed. "Must get very itchy." He had commented.

His mother had clicked her tongue at the comment and shook her head disapprovingly. "Sleep now. I must go tuck your brother in, and find your father."

"Mama?"
She paused by the door briefly.

"Why was ada puffing on a stick?" His curiosity had gotten the better of him.

She frowned thinking. "Puffing on a-" She stopped a look of horror on her face. "Oh, Valar. Not again." With that she shut the door and had left him in the dark.

Elrond opened his eyes and glanced around him. Strangely he felt dopey. The room was dim, and the curtains were closed. 'How long have I been asleep?' He whispered to himself. "What did my wife give me?" He croaked. His voice was rough and his throat hurt. He had no memory of the night before and he dreaded facing the world this day. Nothing good ever came from the festivals, especially when a certain friend showed up.

Slowly, he climbed out of bed and headed towards the shower stalls. He still smelled and he knew that it was not from sleeping the day away. He knew what he had done the moment the memory of smoke filled his weary head.

Elladan watched his brother up a head and he released his mother's hand to catch up to him. He knew Elrohir was angry with him for making fun of him. It was time for him to apologize. He felt bad, but the sight had nearly caused him to knock over the feast table, and several elves.

"Ro wait for me." Elladan called out. He quickened his pace when he noticed his brother's steps turn to a trot. "Ro, please?"

Elladan started running, and finally caught up with his twin.

Angrily, Elrohir spun on his brother and shouted. "I needed your support last night and what do you do? You make fun of me? You are no better then the other's who spent the night teasing me."

Elladan lowered his head. "I am sorry, Ro." He whispered. "I had no right to treat you in that manner."

"No you did not. I am not in the mood to talk to you right now." With a sniff, he spun on his heels and walked away. Silent tears formed in his eyes, and not wanting to be teased yet again for being a crybaby, he broke into a run and headed for the small steps that lead to the old part of the house.

He glanced around him as he entered and seeing no one around, he allowed the tears to fall. He felt so small, and alone. He climbed the steps and did not notice the shadow that followed behind him just as silently.

Elrohir glanced at the walls of the tattered old part of the house. Where there had been white wash, there was only the grey of stone showing. He knew that this building was being redone and rebuilt by the architects of Rivendell. He also knew the dangers that were abroad in the condemned parts. He slowed his pace and took a deep breath for courage. The last thing he wanted was to be teased for something else. Gingerly and with careful steps he climbed the stairs to the opening at the top. The old door hung by its hinges, the wood green from wear.

Rubbing his arms from fear rather then from the cold, he stepped over a large pillar that had fallen sometime ago. He walked onto the balcony and smiled at the sight before him. Now he knew why his father wanted to rebuild this place. It over looked the waterfalls and the river. The sun seemed to drench the place no matter what time of day it was. Morning or afternoon, the sun covered the entire balcony with its pale yellow light.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and startled he spun around fearfully. His brother stood before him looking sad and guilty. Elrohir frowned; he could not even find a place of his own to go to in peace without his brother following his every step.

"Ro, please do not be angry with me. I do not know what I would do if you never smiled or talked to me again." Elladan whispered.

Elrohir pursed his lips. His anger was quickly vanishing and his heart ached at the distance between them. Defeated he smiled. "Sit with me." The twin's sat on the ripped wicker bench that sat on the right side of them and they hugged. "Is this place not amazing?" Elrohir whispered afraid to ruin the peacefulness of it.

Elladan nodded looking around him. "I told mama that we had a fight."

Elrohir nodded absently.

"She told me to follow you and make things right." Elladan whispered looking at his hands. "Are we friends again?"

Elrohir turned his grey eyes and met his brothers. He shook his head. The look on his brother's face almost caused him to cry.

"We are forever brother's and you are my only true friend."

The boys hugged again, and both smiled. They were growing rapidly; life would prove to be a great challenge for them. A loon cried in the distance causing both boys to look up and see the great bird. They watched silently as it flew away towards the mountains. In their hearts unbeknown to them, a silent promise was made. No matter what happened in their lives, they would always have each other. Neither would be alone.