Arwen, freshly washed, relaxed, and dressed, proceeded to go to the dining rooms. She had only arrived in Rivendell from Lothlorien two days ago, and she hadn't had any proper time to greet any of her old family or friends - except for her father, that is. Forty or so more had ridden with her. Two of them were Lord Celeborn, her grandsire, and Lady Galadriel. They had wished to see their kin of Rivendell; it had been some time.
She had heard a lot about Rivendell after she had left; messengers and sentries often came back and forth. A new brother, mortal at that, as well, she wondered. With any luck he won't be like Elladan and Elrohir. Now, their farewell gift last time had been a toad in her bed. How ... thoughtful. Although Arwen was not usually a squeamish person, the feeling of nearly-squashed, a bit slimy toad (it had been fresh; straight from the lake) against your nightgown is not pleasant.
"Arwen!" Two similar voices - yet Arwen could make out the differences in them; one was slightly lighter and the other heavier - called out. "Long time no see."
The twins grinned, mischiveous glints in their eyes. Arwen was unsure to take this as a warning, or if they had that glint all the time. Well, they had it all the time, but you couldn't be sure with Elladan and Elrohir. Then she hugged them both, as the twins laughed.
"I say," Elladan grinned, "You get more emotional every time you come."
"Do not," Arwen playfully slapped Elladan's arm. "Is it just me or is it that I remember you locked yourself in your room, crying, when you were told that one of the sparrows had broken her leg?"
"That wasn't me!" Elladan gasped in mock surprise. "That was Elrohir!"
"I remember it as you," Elrohir mused. "Because you took care of the sparrows. I took care of the bluejays." Each twin had taken a favorite to each species of bird, which had taken a liking to the twins. Sparrows had discovered Elladan when their flock's leader, who Elladan had named Anneth, had gotten a broken leg. Elrohir's bluejays had run straight into him in winter. Actually, if you thought about it, the birds were a lot like the twins themselves.
"So what goes here?" Arwen asked, changing the subject. "Has anything happened?"
"No. There are increased activity of Orcs in the North and the East, but with luck we will be all right. Adar is getting a little frustrated of the dealings with the Dwarves, you know how they are," Elrohir started.
"And Estel just turned seven."
"Estel?" Arwen pondered over the meaning of that word. Hope?
Elladan bit his lip and continued, lowering his voice so that only Arwen and Elrohir could hear. "He's not our real brother, Arwen."
Arwen understood and nodded. "How is he?"
"He's not really like us, if that's what you mean," Elrohir stuck out his tongue, looking rather comical. "He's more serious. But he can be so much worse than us when he feels like it," Elladan continued, winking.
"Oh, Valar," Arwen sighed. "I thought I had it over when I got you two to sign that peace treaty. Remember?"
They did. When Arwen had been equivalent to about eleven and the twins thirteen or fourteen, Rivendell visits had not been peaceful. It all had led up to a peace treaty made by Elrond, and after a few bitter, rough spots, the siblings all got along with each other. That is, most of the time.
"You might find him surprising," Elladan said, winking once more to his brother.
It was a magnificent feast, as Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel, and Arwen Undominel - who was much loved - were here. The dining room after the first few minutes were delighted chatter, greetings, reunions, introductions, and laughter. Arwen greeted her friends and acquaintents, and were introduced to other people as well.
One was Gilraen. She, also, had ridden from her parents' home at the request of Elrond and the twins, for most in Rivendell knew the mortal woman and liked her. Arwen had liked her, for she had a soft, gentle, silghtly sad look in her eyes, yet she was fun-loving and made a good friend even in the first few minutes of being introduced.
She met Estel sometime later. She could see why the people of Rivendell were so fond of him. With his mussed, dark hair, serious silver eyes, and slightly amused expression, Arwen's heart went out to her newly acquainted foster brother.
One thing was strange though. Estel's expression had been strangely afraid, yet curious and bemused. It seems he is fearing me, Arwen thought, rather bemusedly and amusedly. But what for?
It was sometime after she sat on her chair. AFter feeling an uncomfortable, pricking, sharp pain on her, let's say, seat, and pulled it out, she saw it was a silver pin. A silver pin? Then she narrowed her eyes. This was the thing that the twins would do.
But when she looked around for them and made inquiries about them, she discovered that they had been nowhere near her chair after all.
So what was going on?
Estel felt guilty. Kind of. He liked his sister, Arwen. She seemed nice and she was beautiful. But, still, that could be all a trick. Elrohir had said that seeming nice and being beautiful was two characteristics that all vampires had. Estel couldn't fall for this trick. I'm too young to die, Estel reassured himself. Even if she figures out it was me she won't kill me.
Or would she?