Chapter Seven: Reunited
Elladan's head shot up. He stood quickly and tilted his head to the side listening. He could have sworn he heard-there it was again. The elf darted to the door and shoved it open. He grinned and ran out the door down the narrow wooden steps.
Elrohir sighed relieved. He jumped off the horse and caught his brother in a tight embrace. Words were not needed as unspoken messages passed between them. Cire stood there dumbfounded as he watched the elves. 'Twins.' He thought. The word formed on his lips but no sound escaped as he watched the brother's hug and then hold each other at arms length searching for signs of injury. He tried to discern a difference between the two only to find himself more confused then before. There was no difference save for their hair. Elladan's was pulled back tightly, bound at the nape of the neck by a piece of leather. Elrohir's hung loose about his face, hanging down to the middle of his back. He noticed a few intricate braids that were bound at the back.
Cire glanced up and saw the family standing in their doorway smiling. They also watched with amusement. The man's eyes caught Cire's and he nodded a greeting. His attention was drawn away from the family as the twin's spoke to each other. He furrowed his brows trying to make out the elvish words, but shook his head instead and listened to the tones instead.
"Are you alright?" Elladan asked holding his brother at arms length. Elrohir appeared pale and slightly unsteady.
The younger elf nodded. "Weary and worried beyond reckoning. How do you fare?" Elrohir asked glancing around them.
"Slightly disorientated, but nothing a bit of rest will not cure." Elladan pulled his brother in his arms again and heard the slight yelp of surprise.
"You big oaf." Elrohir laughed pushing his brother away. "You must tell me everything."
Elladan nodded and turned around staring at Kuyrd. The man smiled and waved them all inside his house.
Elrohir walked beside his brother staring at him with worry and caught the faint smile pass across the older twin's lips. "Stop staring." The mouth whispered.
Elrohir felt his own smile dart across his lips and nodded.
"Why are you limping?" Elladan's voice broke the younger twin's train of thought.
"I broke my ankle." Elrohir shrugged. He turned his grey eyes and locked with his brother's.
Elladan nodded and entered the house. "Sit." Elladan pointed to the chair he had been sitting in.
Elrohir frowned and glanced around the small rooms. It was a simple house, with one room, but a small scattering of furniture.
"Elrohir!" Elladan's voice broke his thoughts. He turned his head and stared at his brother raising his eyebrow in question. "Sit. Let me look at your foot."
Elrohir shook his head but seated himself in the chair. "I set it myself, Elladan. It is fine."
Elladan grumbled and knelt beside the chair pulling off the boot gently. "Perhaps fine, but what possessed you to walk on it in the first place?" Elladan asked in the common tongue. He didn't want to be rude in another man's house.
Elrohir sighed. "To find you. Why else would I risk more injury?" He answered following his brother's lead and speaking common.
Elladan snorted. His fingers unwrapped the bandages and pulled them apart looking at the swollen ankle covered with dark bruises. "Ai." Elladan hissed glancing at his brother. "Lucky you will be if you do not have a limp." He traced the bruising with his fingertips and shook his head.
Elrohir shook his head rolling his eyes. "It will heal. Clover leaf." Elrohir whispered. Elladan's head shot up startled then he grinned.
"How is your shoulder?" He asked lifting his hand to his brother's chest. Suddenly remembering, Elladan narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Elrohir frowned. "Why what?"
"Why did you shove me out of the way?" Elladan asked accusingly.
Elrohir gaped at his brother. "You need to ask?"
Elladan frowned. "Kuyrd?" He looked up and glanced over at the man talking quietly with the stranger who had accompanied Elrohir.
The man looked at him curiously.
"My saddlebags? Were they found with me?"
The man nodded and pointed towards the sheet of curtain covering the beds from view. Elladan allowed his eyes to follow the man's finger and stood. "Stay put." He glanced down at his brother pointedly.
Elrohir feigned mock insult. "Where am I supposed to go?" He chuckled at the glare his brother shot him.
Elladan retrieved the bags and walked back to his brother. He dug through them and found the same bottle as before. Curiously he held it up and looked at the blue glass.
Elrohir's fingers wrapped around his hand and snatched the bottle from his grasp. "Where did you get this?" He asked holding it up to the light.
Elladan shrugged his shoulders. "It was in the bottom of the bag. Do you know what it is?"
Elrohir opened the bottle and sniffed at the contents. He wrinkled his nose and quickly put the stopper on it. The younger twin nodded and shoved the bottle back to his brother. "That is the dreaded herb father makes into tea." He grimaced.
Elladan grinned and placed the bottle back into the saddlebags. "What do I need to ease the swelling on your ankle?" He asked looking up into his twin's grey eyes.
Elrohir snorted. "I told you to pay more attention to father's lesson's on healing."
Elladan narrowed his eyes. "Sorry if my interests run with practicing sword play and skills with the bow."
Elrohir smiled gently. "Do not get defensive. What would you have done if I had not fallen into the river? My injuries then would have surpassed your skill."
Elladan winced at the thought. He nodded slowly and lifted his eyes pleading with his brother for forgiveness.
Elrohir leaned forward on the chair and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Be at ease, Ella. I am not angry with you." He whispered into his brother's ear.
Elladan nodded briefly before glanced into the grey eyes so much like his own it was uncanny. He smiled and touched his forehead to Elrohir's and gripped his shoulder. "Who is the man?" Elladan whispered.
"A ranger who found me in the river." Elrohir whispered back. "Cire."
Elladan nodded and once again fumbled through the bag searching for something to bring the swelling down on his brother's ankle. "I do not know what I am looking for." Elladan snarled frustrated. He threw the bag down and slumped his shoulders earning a chuckle from his brother.
"Let me look." Elrohir reached out and grasped the bags pulling them onto his lap. He dug around and finally found a small pouch and opened it looking at the contents. "Here." He held it out to his brother. "Boil some water and create a paste. Pour about half of this into a bowl and add water until it is smooth but thick."
Elladan stood up and wandered into the kitchen area and asked the woman for a bowl.
Elrohir watched in silence as the children played near his feet, glancing at him from time to time in curious wonder. He caught the little girl's eye and winked. She blushed and whispered frantically at her brother. He chuckled softly and shook his head. The elf lifted his head and looked at the men now seated by the fireplace. Both were talking softly, and sharing a cup of ale. Or so it appeared that way to the elf. Cire looked over at him and smiled kindly.
"How's the ankle?" He asked nodding to the black and blue limb.
Elrohir shrugged and smiled. "Sore." He stated.
Cire watched the other twin as he leaned over him and placed a pot of water above the fire to boil. "Kuyrd?"
The man looked up from staring at the fire.
"You will be properly accommodated for your kindness, as soon as word reaches my father of your hospitality. Thank you again for opening your house to me." Elladan stood.
"My pleasure, Elladan." Kuyrd nodded his head. "I am glad you and your brother found each other."
"I was not aware that elves gave multiple births. I was under the impression that only the race of men had that strange fate." Cire nodded his head in Elrohir's direction.
Elladan nodded. "They do not give birth to more then one." He confirmed causing the men to frown. He turned his head and stared at his brother. "It is through our mortal blood that the chance arose."
"Half elven then?" Cire smiled in understanding.
Elladan cocked his head to the side. "More elf then mortal. But yes, my father is half elven, and my mother is elven." He did a calculation in his head. "A quarter I suppose."
Elrohir grinned flashing pearl white teeth. "Do not confuse them, brother." He started to stand up but quickly thought better of it by the glare his brother shot in his direction. "I am sore!" He complained.
Elladan shook his head. "You will stay put until you have your foot tended to."
Elrohir groaned. He waved his hand at his twin. "Always the bossy one."
Elladan snorted. Cire and Kuyrd looked at each other in amusement. "Someone has to keep your antics under control." Elladan muttered under his breath.
"I heard that!" Elrohir smirked.
"Oak breath." He whispered.
"I heard that too."
Elladan flashed his brother a smile and winked. He turned to the pot on the fire and watched it.
"A watched pot never boils." Telianna slipped into the room. Elladan raised his eyebrow glancing at her. "Go sit, I will bring you the water once it has boiled. You have not recovered from your fever fully."
Elrohir felt his mouth drop open in surprise. "What happened to you for you to draw a fever?"
Elladan grumbled and sat down. "Nothing."
Elrohir reached out and pinched his brother's arm.
"Alright! All right! I tripped over a tree and tore my leg on a branch."
Elrohir howled with laughter. "You tripped?"
Elladan glared and swatted his brother's arm. "I was more intent on finding you rather then where I was going."
Elrohir smiled nodding in understanding. "Father is going to have our hides." Elladan nodded agreeing.
"I suppose the trip to Bree will have to be postponed for a later date?" Elladan turned and looked at his brother.
"I would think so. We are in no condition to travel now. We have no mounts, no bedding-unless-" He paused raising an eyebrow in his brother's direction.
Elladan shook his head. "I was only able to save the saddlebags. I imagine our weapons are still by the river." Elladan whispered shrugging his shoulders. "I think there is an extra shirt in the other pouch there."
Elrohir reached down and opened the bag searching for fabric and quickly found it. Giving a triumphant cry he shook the shirt. "One that will fit." He grinned pulling off the one he wore and slipping quickly into the white cotton one.
Both twin's looked up when Telianna approached them. She handed Elladan the bowl and smiled. Elladan slipped off the chair holding the bowl of boiling water and began mixing the paste. Once stirred he dipped his fingers inside it and gathered a fair amount on his hands. He noticed it tingled on his skin and seemed to numb it almost immediately. He smiled remembering this particular cream his father had used on a few of his own injuries.
He applied the paste to his brother's leg, rubbing vigorously into the bruises, and stretched skin. Elrohir yelped at the pressure. "Gently. That hurts."
"You big baby. Father applies more strength then I do." Elladan smirked.
Elrohir huffed. He watched as his twin wrapped his ankle and he grinned when he had finished. "Finally."
"Impatient imp."
"Snarky toad."
Elladan chuckled.
Elrohir sat at the window looking out at the darkness; he and his brother had decided to take the floor by the fire, while the family took to their own beds. Cire lay curled up also by the fire. Elladan lay still watching his twin silently. Finally he sat up and whispered. "What is wrong?"
"Why do you think there is something wrong?" Elrohir turned and glanced at him.
"Perhaps it is because you are never this quiet." Elladan stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What is it?"
Elrohir sighed. He brushed the back of his hand against his brother's cheek then lowered his hand. "We were so anxious to reach our destination, that we forgot the first rule in travel. Glorfindel will have our heads." He sat down in his chair and stared out the window again.
Elladan pulled up a matching chair and sat down. "Do you suppose they were right?"
Elrohir looked at Elladan. "About what?"
"That we are still too young to on our own?"
Elrohir shook his head. "No. However I think we need to remember that we are not alone in this world. I completely forgot about the evil's and trickery."
Elladan nodded. "As did I. I also forgot father's parting words to me."
Elrohir raised an eyebrow curiously. "What did he say?"
"To watch over you and to keep you safe." Elladan smiled.
Elrohir snorted. "We are safe now, brother. Back to Imladris?"
Elladan nodded. "Let's go home."
Cire listened to the twin's quietly talk and smiled to himself. He had gathered through the night that Elladan was the eldest, but after hearing their conversation it had been confirmed in his mind. His mind recalled the simple teasing, and the bantering between the brothers's and had been reminded of home.
The twin's were a sight. Both tall, dark haired, lithe but strong. There were no visible differences between the two, and seeing them side by side confused him. They were alike even down to their grey eyes. He had also noticed that in their own way they even walked the same. Elladan was the more dominant twin though, he had noticed. Commanding and stern. Elrohir appeared to be light of heart, carefree, and almost playful.
He rolled over and glanced at the dark figures silhouetted against the window. They had caused many laughs through the night with their playful bickering. Cire could see the bond between them. It was an alien feeling witnessing such a thing. It was almost as though they were lovers; rather then brothers and he had been so drunk he had even voiced it to them. However the thought had quickly been diminished by their looks of horror and Cire had been quickly corrected. Everyone that night heard tales of the elves, and had learned a few things they had not known.
One thing he had not known was how the elves got married. For men it was a large celebration, with lots of wine, and family. A gathering of friends and jokes and raw fun. With the elves it was more of a private gathering of family to witness their joining. Simple words of love were exchanged, the release from one family into another. Cuts to the palm and the mingling of their blood. Then a dance, as Elrohir had described it. Then the couple would retreat to their rooms to complete the bonding. Cire was still confused. He knew men tumbled with various women for a night of pleasure. However that thought when brought voice to the twin's, they almost seemed horrified at the thought. Elladan had laughed and told him about simple pleasures the elves shared with each other, such as caresses and kisses. Apparently nothing further then that.
"Elves don't have lovers?" He had asked. Elladan had shaken his head slowly. Telling them that love was a strong emotion and seeing as elves were immortal, had their entire life to find love. The right love.
He remembered his youth, hearing tales of the elves, and most were untrue. After hearing the stories from the twin's tonight, he realized that so little was known of the elves that the stories had been made up to make them sound frightening.
He sat up and once again glanced at the twin's who had ceased their talking to look at him. He nodded his head and wiped sleep from his eyes.
"Cannot sleep?" One asked from the darkness.
Cire shook his head.
"Did we wake you?"
Again he shook his head and stood up. "I was only recalling the nights events and found I could not sleep." He muttered walking to the window. He saw them seated at the window, both leaning close to each other.
"Too much drink." The one on the left grinned.
"How does anyone tell the two of you apart?" He asked frustrated.
The one on the right shrugged. "Confused?" Came a chuckle.
"Yes." He grumbled.
The one on the right grinned. "Would it help if we tie our hair differently while we travel with you?"
Cire nodded and brought a chair over seating himself beside the twin on the left. "You are-" He paused and looked at their features trying to find some difference. There was none.
"Elladan." The one on the right laughed. "I am Elrohir." He raised his foot showing him the wadded ankle.
Cire nodded and chuckled. "Is there any difference?"
The twins looked at each other searching with identical grey eyes, then looked back at him shaking their heads. "We are mirrors of the others soul." They said in unison.
"There is one difference." Elladan whispered. He held out his hand and pushed up his sleeve. Along his arm was a long white scar leading from wrist to elbow.
Cire looked at it and raised his eyebrows in question.
"An accident from my youth." The elf shrugged.
The spoke through the night quietly. Dawn was approaching, and Cire had agreed to accompany them back to their home, Rivendell. Cire had always wanted to go to an elven realm and see the wonders of another civilization. The twins agreed to head back to where his men waited, and then travel to their home from there. It would be an interesting trip. He thought to himself smiling. He liked the twin's, and was interested in learning more about them and their kind. It did not occur to him to even ask them how old they were until midday when he watched them while they wrestled with each other. "Interesting indeed." He grinned.