Chapter five breaking voices and missing books

by Elven Hope

"Don't be so ridiculous," Rogir said and Admir cocked her head slightly as the sound came again.

"It's you," she said after a moment's hesitation.

"What do you mean it's me?" Rogir asked but as the same sound came he clapped a hand over his mouth.

Elrohir gave Rogir a sharp sidelong glance. "She means it's you. You're voice is breaking mellon-nin."

"What?" Rogir said crossly. "My voice is not breaking." However the tone in which he spoke proved Elrohir correct and he scowled at them furiously. "Fine think what ever you want, just don't tell Aradwyn, or Ada, or anyone." He glared at them all they seemed to think that it was incredibly funny. Elrohir was trying desperately not to laugh.

"Just you wait until it happens to you, then you'll be sorry." He paused deciding that angering them was not a good idea if he wanted them to keep his secret. "Please, don't tell them."

"They'll find out," Elladan pointed out.

"No they won't," Rogir said folding his arms defiantly.

"They will," Admir smiled. "As soon as you speak."

"Well then I won't speak, will I?" Rogir insisted.

Elrohir grinned. "You not speak? I'd like to see that."

"Hey, you're the one with the big mouth not me," Rogir said crossly.

"He has a point there," Admir agreed and Elladan nodded.

"You can't talk," Elrohir said scowling at his brother.

"I don't think I did," Elladan said triumphantly.

"Look just promise you won't tell anyone, especially Aradwyn, I'll never hear the end of it otherwise, do you remember how he reacted when this happened to him?" Rogir said quickly before the twins could get into a fight.

"Yes," the twins said in unison.

"But he's going to find out," Admir said.

"Find out what?" Aradwyn asked from the doorway - he was sharing a spare room with Legolas a little way down the hall.

"Nothing," Rogir said without turning, but his voice squeaked again and he cursed himself inwardly.

"What was that?" Aradwyn asked curiously.

"Nothing," Admir said quickly. "Rogir just has a bit of a cough, don't you Rogir?" Rogir nodded and took a glass of water Admir passed him.

"Here try this," she said. "It might make it go away."

Rogir tipped the glass up gratefully and began to drink hoping that by the time he had finished Aradwyn would be gone, however, his elder brother stayed where he was watching Rogir suspiciously.

"What are you doing up anyway Aradwyn?" Elladan asked trying to draw the subject away from Rogir's supposed cough.

"I was just getting something to read," Aradwyn said holding up a book with a green binding.

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged worried glances. "Aradwyn?" Elrohir asked slowly not sure he wanted to know the answer. "Where did you get that book from?"

"Why?" The Crown Prince of Mirkwood asked quizzically.

"You didn't get it fromErestor's study by any chance, did you?" Elrohir asked.

"Yes," Aradwyn said slowly. "Why?"

Suddenly there was a shriek from down the hall and Aradwyn snapped his head in the direction of the noise.

"That's why." Elladan moaned.

"Quick Aradwyn go to your room, shut the door, and pretend to be asleep." Admir said and Aradwyn bolted. Admir jumped up quickly and shut the door to Rogir and the twin's room, whilst the twins climbed into their beds which were on opposite walls and Rogir lay down on the make-shift bed in the middle. Then she threw her pillow onto the floor and lay down pulling her blanket over her head, there was no time to go back to her own room Erestor would just have to believe that Estel had managed to get to sleep by himself.

"He's coming," Elladan whispered as shuffling footsteps suddenly began to echo down the hall.

"Ssh, pretend to be asleep," Rogir whispered and they all fell silent. They heard Estel's bedroom door open and then shut again.

He knows it's one of us, he knows it's one of us that took his book. Admir thought and what was worst of all was that the only one Erestor knew to be interested in books was her. The footsteps stopped outside their door and everyone froze not even daring to breath. Slowly the door was pushed open and the shadow of Lord Erestor was thrown across the moonlit room. He scanned the room for what seemed like ages before closing the door again and walking out and down the hall.

When they were finally certain that he was gone Admir sat up succeeding better at holding in a fit of giggles than Elladan who was laughing into his pillow. "That was a close one."

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