I have also just learned that snow is forecasted for Sunday night. Argh…
-Disclaimer- Please see Chapter 1.
On the River
Elladan's gaze slid sideways to the Elf on the bench next to him. Orophin's long, bright hair was tied back in a rubber band, he was wearing a pair of Elrohir's old jeans. He was squinting uncomfortably, a hand brought up above his eyes like a badly done salute.
"It's hot here," he said.
Elladan raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "Whining?"
"What?"
"Complaining?"
"Well," Orophin scowled, "yes."
"Oh, stop. It's a beautiful day. It's a nice park, yes?"
"Oh yes," said Orophin, although Elladan knew his friend was unimpressed. It was crowded, the paths were paved and swarming with rollerbladers, cyclists, and small children. They sat on a sagging wooden bench at a fork in the trail, contemplating the day.
"I don't suppose you'd mind visiting Glorfindel soon?" asked Elladan, watching the passerby absently.
"I would like to see him. Will you be coming with me?"
"Elrohir or I will. Perhaps both of us. We haven't really discussed it, to be honest."
"Ah."
"I'd like to go somewhere, though, and visiting Glorfindel is as good an excuse as any. Do you know he lives in an apartment, all alone?"
"An apartment?"
Elladan thought for a moment, biting his lip. "You've seen those high-rise buildings, yes?"
"Yes."
"He lives in one of those. No garden, just a balcony."
"How odd," mused Orophin. "How ugly, to live inside all day."
"It's what we do," Elladan said defensively. "It's culture. It can also become very cold here."
"Yes, but there has always been a cold season. I do not understand the need to live one's life indoors."
To that, Elladan said nothing. An odd kind of silence followed, though neither seemed uncomfortable; the sun sank behind the oaks, the path cleared. They could hear the river beyond the trees. Elladan half-wished he was on the banks rather than the bench, so he rose and stretched, cat-like.
"I'll show you the river. It's not exactly pristine, but this is the city and all things are relative."
"Are they?"
"Probably."
The river was shallow and wide, with a beach of smooth, round stones. It rushed briskly by, around fallen trees and swirling about in tiny eddies. Orophin seemed pleased by the sight.
"Elladan," he said, "I know not why you have forsaken places like these for your houses and apartments."
Elladan shrugged.
Orophin smiled, and Elladan grinned in response. He stood still for a moment, then bent over and began shucking off his shoes. He tossed them over his back, where they rested at the twisting roots of an ancient-looking jack pine. Then, with a laugh and a wink, he raced across the bank and onto a rock in the water. Pausing to roll up his pants, he cried, "Come on, mellon nin!"
Orophin followed suit, over the stepping stones. Out in the river on the tiny rock-islands, he felt a curious security in his isolation, just watching the current go by. Here was something that would always be, until the end of Arda.
He jumped at the sound of a splash and looked up: Elladan had stomped into the water and was making his way toward him at a dangerously fast pace.
"Oh no, you do not!" cried Orophin, stepping backward onto another stone.
"Prepare to be wet!"
"No no no no no!"
"Yes!"
Orophin dashed across the water, his bare feet gripping hard. Elladan plodded along not far behind him, occasionally attempting to douse him.
When Orophin landed gracefully on the opposite back and stretched out on the warm stones, he found himself wishing Elrohir had come rather than go to work. Truly, here was a sight to cherish: Elladan Elrondion, hopelessly soaked and with his hands on his hips, standing shoeless and shin-high in water.
Orophin felt like a child again, oddly enough, and he felt himself enjoying it. With a heavily exaggerated sigh, he loosed his hair from its tail, rose, and stepped in. The stones were slick with algae, he gripped tightly to them with his toes.
"Elladan, you fool!" he shouted, feeling the river seeping into the fabric of his pants, "You've made me wet!" He realized how juvenile the words were as they left his mouth; he wanted to laugh at himself.
"I've made you wet? Dear friend, you are mistaken!" came Elladan's slightly breathless voice. Orophin shoved him away, heard the dim scraping of feet on the river bottom, then a large splash. He felt the distinct lack of presence beside him, and looked: his friend sitting in the water, letting it run over his lap and elbows.
An odd silence followed.
"I am not as wet as you," said Orophin.
"No, indeed."
Orophin considered the idea of taking a step back, for the look in Elladan's eyes was far too mischievous for his liking. He thought better of it though, as he did not think he could be quick on his feet when the rocks were so slick.
"Do not-"
"Do not what?"
"Don't do what I see you are thinking about."
Silence. Orophin inched backward. A mallard called from calmer waters downstream. The sky was slowly turning crimson. They heard no chatting walkers, no playing children. In the end, no one else heard the shouting when Orophin was at last pulled in.
(tbc)
Thanks for reading!