Remember
Twilight in the Mountains
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. Nor do I own Elmer Fudd, but I do own my box of Cheez-It's. MINE! Get your own box.
Authors note: Your patience is (hopefully) about to be rewarded. I thank you all for all the wonderful reviews! I am certain this story has gotten faaar more than it deserves. You all spoil me with them!
They reached the cottage in good time, and settled down inside. It was much larger than any cottage Rebecca had ever known. It was the size her old house in Indiana. Then again, when Rivendell is your house, yes, this was a cottage.
Elrohir went to gather wood for a fire and Arwen showed Rebecca her room for the night. It was on the second story, third door from the stair case. It was quite a nice room, complete with fireplace, chaise lounge, and bath.
Arwen's was very similar and to the left of Rebecca's room. Elrohir's was to the right. There were three more rooms across the hall, but Arwen explained that they were seldom ever used by the family, mainly reserved for guests.
In the downstairs, the front door opened up to reveal a large living room that melted into a library on the right and a kitchen/dining room on the left. The three rooms were separated by walls with very wide doors in them. Usually all the doors were open, giving it a very open and airy feel. On the mantle above the fireplace was hung a sword, two bows, and a spear.
"The sword is the first sword my father ever had, given to him by his father," Arwen explained. "The bow on the left is his first bow, and the bow on the right was his brother's first bow. The spear was given to my father from Gil-Galad," Arwen said.
Rebecca gave a low whistle. "Then they are ancient."
"As humans would reckon. Elves only consider them old, but not that old."
Just then Elrohir came in carrying a cord of wood. He set it down next to the fireplace, brushed off his hands and said, "Do you like your room Mirë?"
"Yes I do," she replied with a smile.
"Arwen, would you get the fire started while I go out and get something for supper?" he asked.
"Certainly," Arwen replied.
He left and Rebecca asked, "What did he mean?"
"He is going hunting. I am certain he will catch something quickly, but the skinning and all that is what will take time. It is a long and nasty business and he will not do it in front of me."
"What do you figure he shall catch?" Rebecca asked.
"Probably a pair of rabbits. At least, that is what I hope. He is very good at cooking rabbit and that is my favorite game," Arwen said.
A vision of Elrohir talking like Elmer Fudd and saying, "Be Vaewy vaewy qwiet! I'm hunting wabbits! Hehehehehe!" while creeping through the woods, bow in hand, came to mind, causing herself to press her lips together to keep from smiling and then being asked about it.
"I must ask Rebecca, why Elrohir?" Arwen asked.
Rebecca instantly blushed and smiled. "I'll tell you, if I can ask you why Aragorn."
"Agreed!" she grinned.
"Because he knows when I need to be hugged and when I need to smacked. And he knows what to say and when to say it," Rebecca said. "Your turn!"
"Aragorn is for many of the same reasons. Though, I think many of the reasons Tinuviel loved Beren. He was mortal, and yet so strong and enduring. It is... inexplicable. There are some things I must warn you about Elrohir though. First, he talks in Quenya in his sleep about his horse. Second, he throws his hunting clothes on the bed, his dirty hunting clothes. Third, this shall concern you the most, he twitches in his sleep, violently. On a hunting trip he gave Elladan a black eye."
Rebecca began to laugh. "Should I tie him up when he goes to sleep?"
"You may want to!" Arwen joked.
Less than an hour later Rebecca heard a door being opened and shut in the kitchen.
"That's Elrohir. He probably doesn't want you to see the skinned rabbits so he's coming in through the kitchen," Arwen said.
"And for that I thank him!" Rebecca said.
Arwen excused herself and went into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with what looked like a grill rack with legs. She carefully set it over the fire. A few minutes later Elrohir came out with sliced meat in a frying pan and set it on the grill with legs, as Rebecca now called it. Already seasoned, the meat gave off a delicious aroma as it began to cook. After receiving a nod, Arwen stood and a few minutes later returned with a pot of water with some sliced potatoes and carrots floating in it. She set it down next to the pan and he scraped the meat into it.
Rebecca felt like silly for not getting it earlier, he was making Rabbit Stew. She recalled how Sam and Frodo would be having the same thing sooner or later, perhaps they already had.
Before she knew it, it was done and she was insisting on getting bowls and spoons for everyone, saying how she had to do something so she didn't feel like a complete freeloader. She returned with a tray that held three bowls and three spoons.
As they ate Arwen suddenly said, "Elrohir, have we been so foolish as to come here with nothing to drink?"
"I think perhaps we have. I brought nothing and the nearest well is down the mountain," Elrohir replied. "Unless, Ada still has a few bottles of wine yet in the cellar," he added. "I shall go down and look."
Elrohir disappeared into the kitchen and a few minutes later returned with two bottles.
"So, Elro, think you got enough there? There is only the three of us!" Rebecca teased.
"One is miruvor, the other is Mirkwood miruvor. Father must have drank everything else or brought it back to Imladris with him," Elrohir said.
He set down the bottles and returned with three glasses. He and Arwen had Mirkwood miruvor, and Rebecca had the regular. Once they all had as much as they wanted, they sat around and began telling tales of years gone by to Rebecca. Mostly tales of Aragorn as a child, Elladan, themselves, and Legolas all doing things together, of the pranks pulled, the disastrous excursions, and the meeting of great elven lords and ladies.
"Well, I suppose my one consolation is that I shall meet them all someday," Rebecca said.
They both smiled, and then Elrohir suddenly said, "Come outside with me Mirë."
Rebecca and Arwen followed Elrohir outside. He led them a short ways and told Rebecca to look down. Below them was the Last Homely House east of the Sea, all twinkling and glowing with elves and their lanterns. Arwen had seen this many times before, but realized this would be the last time she may ever see it from there.
A few minutes later they went back towards the cottage.
"I think I am going to retire early tonight," Arwen said. "Good night!"
"Good night!" Elrohir and Rebecca said in unison.
Arwen went up to bed so the two could be alone, and Rebecca followed Elrohir to his room.
"Come, look out here," he said, leading her onto the second story porch. She went with him and gazed out at the world below her. At twilight the mountains glowed, the rivers glowed, the snow glowed, the world glowed. Elvish stars shone over elvish mountains, and on elven men, an elven man with glittering grey eyes and a fair face.
Between the sky and the son of Elrond, Rebecca's breath was gone. Once she got it back, she noted how cold it was. She snuggled up against him and said, "It is cold out here. Let us go in," she whispered.
"Very well," Elrohir grinned. They went inside and she sat down on the chaise lounge in front of the fireplace and then Elrohir shut the door. He had a nice little fire going in almost no time at all, and together they lounged, watching it dance and listening to the crackle of the burning wood.
"I shall miss you when you are gone, Mirë nin," Elrohir said to her. "There is tomorrow, then you leave. It is too soon."
"I know. Far too soon," Rebecca quietly answered. "I shall miss you as well Elro. But let us dwell on it no more at the moment. I'd rather not let thoughts of departure spoil everything."
"As you wish," Elrohir said. He kissed the top of her head. She moved around so she could get at his lips and kissed him. They gave each other long, patient kisses, remembering what was coming so quickly. He pressed her to himself, forcing all of her weight to be on him. His hands slowly slid from her neck and shoulders til one rested in the small of her back and the other on her upper back. Her small frame fit comfortably on his. Her loose hair fell all over herself and him, their dark locks mingling together. He wished so bitterly she did not have to leave. He wished she could stay and they could wed. He wished it was the future and they were both in Valinor together, never to part again. He wished to steal another kiss from her, so he did. It was the only wish he could have fulfilled.
"Elrohir, I wish you could come with me. Then we would never have to leave. Better yet, I wish I could stay here," Rebecca whispered.
"So do I. Maybe I can hide you in a closet somewhere until the day you are to leave has past, then you shall be stuck here forever," he smiled.
"I would consent, but I think the Valar would get upset," she laughed. She gave him a kiss then let her head rest on his shoulder. "Elrohir?"
"Yes," he whispered.
"Why didn't we come up here sooner?"
Elrohir laughed, "I do not know. I suppose this place slipped my mind."
Some time in the middle of the night, when anyone with any sense was asleep, they were still awake, speaking of this and that, nothing serious, kissing now and then, and enjoying the last fleeting moments they could have together.
"I wish I wasn't so sleepy!" Rebecca yawned. "Then I could stay up a little later with you."
"I could perhaps remedy that," Elrohir smiled. "Just rest your head on my shoulder and relax," he said.
She obeyed and could feel his chest vibrating as he sang. What he sang she couldn't hear, but she knew there was singing. Slowly, very slowly she grew more and more wakeful. At last she was quite awake and devoid of all weariness, but very relaxed. She gave a contented sigh and then gave Elrohir a kiss.
"And how do you feel now?" He inquired.
"Relaxed," she dreamily replied. "You should have sang that to me weeks ago!"
Elrohir laughed quietly just before he kissed her. They kissed and spoke all night uninterrupted except when Elrohir had to stoke the fire. When this occurred they went from the chaise lounge to a pile of pillows on the floor, then back to the lounge and so on. During one such switch Rebecca tripped on the hem of her skirt and fell with a loud thunk onto the floor. She began to laugh and Elrohir began to laugh and then he picked her up and laid her down on the lounge, both yet laughing.
They spent the entire night in his room talking and kissing and laughing and enjoying the others company.
Some time around three in the morning Rebecca fell asleep on top of him, so he made sure she was sound asleep then laid her in her own bed, after giving her a good night kiss.
Authors note: YUCK! Nassssty fluff precious! How didst I write it precious? Huh? How didst I write the nasssty fluff? YUCK! I hope you all review despite the nassssssty fluffiness of it all! If I missed replying to you, I apologize greatly! Let me know and I'll write you a nice long response in return.