Disclaimer: Someday I'll own my own elf, but not today. See chapter 1.
Review Responses: Well these are responses from chapter one of this fic, and a couple from my last fic, that just rolled in. I do wish to thank all of my faithful reviewers who I didn't respond to from the last chapter of Brother, which I should have in the first chapter of this fic. So thank you Lintered, ZELENIA, Karone Evertree, invisigoth3, ashlyns, Slayer3 and Larien. I'm glad to see that you all liked what I did with Ugluk. Now I just hope you will like this fic too.
ashlyns: Thank you for traveling on to my next fic. I was afraid I'd lose some readers without our favorite elf and ranger. I always love interaction between Legolas and Gimli, and Van is quickly becoming a member of the group as you can see.
Slayer3: Yes lots of twins, and lots of angst, right up your alley isn't it? And yes I will give you ice cream when you update. I'm waiting patiently. (Foot tapping on floor, drooling over chocolate ship cookie dough ice cream. I wonder if she'll notice if I take a bite? If she doesn't eat it soon it will melt.)
manveri mirkiel: Hello evil twin. I'm so glad you are back from camp. And yes you had four chapters to read and review, and bless your soul your doing it. By the way I saw Star Wars Revenge of the Sith Last weekend. Completely awesome and so much better than the first two (Not saying that they weren't great also that is). Now the character of Anakin I can relate to. He's like my orc in a way. Man I'm itching to write a Star Wars fic. Must resist. Too much already on my plate.
Brother chapter 9: To chose between ice cream and Pippin. You can have Pip. Of course I got the salt in the wound healing idea from you. I remember everything. Makes plot bunnies so much fun. Part f) I already knew, but then again I am evil. Van is going to be so much fun to watch growing up isn't he?
Brother chapter 10: Sorry Veri is here to stay for a while. I like her too much. I couldn't wait to hear what you thought of the vision. I think I had a lot of readers convinced that I was going to kill Atavus off. But no I can't kill her off. Then I'd have to figure out whom to write about next. Too hard to think about.
When she stabbed him all I could imagine her thinking was "Don't think. Just do." And she did. And poor Van. The kid has gone through so much in such a short life. And isn't the saying "Patience is a virtue." Yeah well who wants to be virtuous anyway?
Brother chapter 11: Why are you suggesting that Ugluk isn't really dead? (Authoress looks around very conspicuously.) You know the way I ended this he could die, or he might not. That's sort of the way I wanted it. If I ever get to missing him too much, well he could be there. But for now, out of sight out of mind. But you on the other hand are weird. You killed him, but now you want him back. Honestly though I knew that would be your reaction. All through the first two fics the readers all wanted him dead, but now maybe not. I myself see him as a kindred spirit. I miss him anytime he's not there. Okay that makes me the weird one.
Happily ever after. Does that actually exist? Where? Oh yeah over there in the fairy tale section. Oh well not here.
Their Past Chapter 1: This chapter has a little more comedy and setup for the good stuff, which will be coming oh so shortly. It is 4am and plot bunnies have been attacking me all night. Had to get up and keep writing. Oh yeah this one is gonna be as good as Blood was if all the bunnies make it on board. And Veri is sounding like you, oh cool. I was hoping I would get her right, and she gets to go through so many changes before this story is over. And oh yes I am evil. You have not seen evil yet. Mrhaha.
Larien: Oh yeah another Twins fan. Don't worry Veri is just slow to trust. She'll come around eventually. And yes Van loves Rivendell, and the elves.
A Request
Things were quiet in the House of Elrond. Too quiet. Atavus made her way down the main hall towards her Ada's study. Normally the sound of the twins and Van would be cascaded through the hallways. But on this occasion she heard nothing but silence. She began to wonder if they were outside in the gardens, or maybe with Manveri helping the other refugees from Minas Morgul settle into the deserted homes of Rivendell. It had been very kind of Lord Elrond to offer the empty homes to the throwbacks that had followed her from Minas Morgul. But poor Manveri was left with the task of getting them all settled, and assigning tasks to the new members of the community to make it run more smoothly.
As she rounded the final corner going towards her father's study she heard the smallest of sounds. A snicker. She could see that the door across from her father's study was ajar slightly. She did not let on that she knew something was amiss. She walked to the study door and then knocked, knowing her Ada would not answer. She heard a muffled noise that could pass for Lord Elrond's voice if she had not known better. She slowly turned the doorknob and then stepped to the side pulling the door open with her. She watched as the door across the hall flew open just in time for a flour filled projectile to fly across the hallway and slam into Elrohir and Van. She leaned nonchalantly against the wall beside the open door with her arms crossed. "Elladan. Please step out into the hallway." She called.
She watched as the twin not covered in flour emerged from the study door holding a large piece of material that was stretchy in one hand. "Ooops." He said smiling at his brother and Van.
"Where is Ada?" She asked acting as if nothing untoward had just occurred.
"With Manveri, helping her to organize the new community." Elrohir answered blowing flour from his nose and then promptly sneezing.
"I trust by the time he returns this mess will be completely gone, correct." She suggested.
"Yes Ata." Van said looking down to his flour covered feet.
"Yes Ata." Elladan mimicked the boy.
"Brothers I want to remind you of something. If you corrupt him now, he will be targeting you later with all these wonderful little pranks you are so fond of. Just like Estel." She remarked walking down the hall and away from them.
The twins both looked skeptically down at Van who was smiling innocently at them. "We're creating a monster aren't we?" She heard one of them whisper.
'Oh but isn't he enjoying life for a change?' She thought to herself. She didn't ever want to see Van the way he was before coming to Rivendell. His smiles and laughter were contagious, and she was more than happy to allow him his fun to keep it that way. And besides it was more than fun to watch the twin's pranks backfire on them. Yes let Van have some fun, and one day soon she'd enlist him in her scheme to make sure all of her brother's pranks backfired. Life was going to be good in Rivendell.
As she left the House of Elrond she studied the beautiful area surrounding the home. She could see that in the time that the elves had been gone from Rivendell the gardens had suffered little. She was sure her Ada was responsible for that. She loved the gardens more than any part of Rivendell. After all of the pain and suffering, and all of the horrific sights she had seen in her many long years of life the beautiful trees and flowers always seemed to heal her soul in a way. She could close her eyes and the smell of freshly turned earth and the sweet perfume of the many beautiful flowers assailed her senses and reminded her of the true simple beauty that the land could hold. And then as she opened her eyes and gazed at the wondrous colors it always took her breath away.
But she had not time to spend in the gardens that day. There was much work to be accomplished that day, so she reluctantly left the gardens and went in search of her Ada and Veri. She found them near the storage cellars that the community shared. She could see that Veri was assigning hunting duty to several of the refugees. "These cellars are nearly empty, Lord Elrond. It will take many hunters and growers to fill them again."
"Yes I'm afraid with the few dozen elves that were left in Rivendell we have not bothered overly with stocking the cellars. But now that this realm is to be a thriving community again there are many tasks that will have to be accomplished." Elrond said walking beside Veri.
Atavus watched them speak for a few moments more. She was seeing something that she had never thought to see. Almost all newcomers that met her Ada were in awe of him and let him take the lead in any decisions that needed to be made. But she watched them discuss running the community and realized how much of a true leader Manveri was. She did not back down from her opinions, and she seemed completely at ease with the Elf Lord. She wondered if Veri even realized that all the other refugees looked to her to lead them. She doubted it. As far as Veri was concerned she saw what needed to be done and got it done. But that very quality is what made the others follow her. She was their leader. Yes life in Rivendell would be good, for all her people, including the one she had feared would not fit in the most. Veri more than fit in. No matter if she realized it or not. It would just take time.
When they stopped talking and started to move on she joined them. "And how does the work progress today?"
"Very well. Manveri has assigned all the tasks necessary for keeping Rivendell running. The people seem happy, and content with their new lives." Lord Elrond said then looked back to his home. "And at home?"
"Let's just say you should give them a little more time before you head back to your study." Atavus chuckled. Elrond always seemed to know when something was amiss.
"My study?" He questioned, with a quizzical look on his face.
"Well just the hallway outside of your study." She said sheepishly.
"You look none the worse for wear." He said taking in her appearance.
"Van is still learning. He gives them away." She explained.
"Atavus those brothers of yours are turning our sweet little Van into a monster." Veri warned.
"No not a monster. A child who is enjoying life. I wouldn't take that from him for the world, Veri." She stopped walking as she noticed a rider approaching them.
"Are you expecting company Ada?" She asked.
"No." Lord Elrond peered at the rider and then smiled. "It is a messenger from Lorien." He walked forward leaving the two women behind and greeted the messenger.
"You spoke a little of Lorien on the way here. Isn't that where you said the Lady elf was that had visions?" Veri asked.
Atavus laughed at the simple way Veri described Galadriel. That was one elleth who was anything but simple. "Yes Lady Galadriel. She rules Lorien with Lord Celeborn. They are the parents of Lord Elrond's wife CelebrÃan." She explained.
"Where is she?" Veri wondered.
"She sailed to Valinor many years ago." Atavus said quietly then walked forward to see what the message was. She did not want to discuss CelebrÃan with Veri right then. It was still a very difficult subject in Rivendell.
Lord Elrond nodded his appreciation to the messenger and then offered him the hospitality of his house until he was to return to Lorien, which he gladly accepted.
"Ada, what does the Lady of the Woods request?" She asked stepping up beside him.
"She requests you." He said simply.
"Me?" She asked skeptically.
"Yes you. She wishes to meet you." Elrond explained.
"I did not realize that she was aware of my presence here." Atavus said biting her lower lip. She was in debt to the Lady for the gift she had sent her in Rohan and the kind words she had asked Haldir to bestow upon her, but the idea of meeting her unnerved her slightly. The Lady Galadriel was quite possibly the oldest elf in middle-earth and one of the wisest. She should have taken the time to visit the woods before then, but she was afraid of disappointing the Lady. Was she truly worthy of the words that had been spoken? That was hard to tell. But still if Galadriel requested her to visit she must.
"I'm sure the twins wouldn't mind escorting you." Elrond suggested.
"I know, but I hate to leave Veri and Van after just bringing them here." She said seeing that Veri had come forward and was listening to the conversation.
"It seems the Lady has requested their presence also." Elrond said and then watched the amazed expression cross Veri's face.
"How does she even know we exist?" She asked.
"She sees much in her mirror." Was the only explanation that Elrond would give.
"I'm assuming we shouldn't decline the invitation." Manveri said frowning.
"No, I think not." Atavus suggested.