Cowardice

Eleniel: 20

Elrond and Glorfindel had expected their walk from the Lord of Rivendell's study to the Hall of Fire to be short and uneventful. It was a bit stupid of them to think like that, of course. They lived in a house of Peredhil.

"Daeron! Get. It. Out!"

The ellyn stopped just outside Eleniel's room, turning to each other with expressions of utter confusion.

"I'm trying!It is not easy!"

"What are they talking about?" the balrog-slayer asked quietly, turning back towards the door.

"It is disgusting, Dae. Please try harder."

"Don't be such a coward, El. It's not like you've never seen one before."

"I've seen plenty! Just… not this close- AH! DAERON!"

Elrond and Glorfindel stared at each other with wide eyes. The thoughts that were currently gushing through their minds like water from a broken dam were… they didn't want to describe them.

"Is-"

"Don't say it, Glorfindel."

"Are you sure they're-"

"Shush."

The blond drew his lips together in a straight line and looked at the horrified expression of his lord. He himself was beginning to tense with slight anger. If Daeron and Eleniel were- if they were- hm. They were old enough, of course, but still. Would they really…?

Shut up, Glorfindel, he thought, shaking his head.

"GET IT OUT!"

The two quickly spun around to the door, hearts racing wildly. They were stuck. What were they supposed to do? Walk past and pretend nothing happened?

"Should I knock?" Elrond asked, for once in his life at a loss for what to do.

Glorfindel frowned. "Do not ask me. She's not my daughter."

Elrond looked at his friend with an expression that clearly thought otherwise. "I am going to," he said. Taking a deep breath, and absentmindedly noticing the balrog-slayer doing the same beside him, he walked forward, brought his hand up, and knocked twice on the door.

Everything was silent.

"Who is it?" Eleniel asked from inside the room, tone of voice slightly panicked.

"Your adar," Elrond replied cautiously. "May I come in-"

"NO! I mean, no, not yet, just- er- just wait outsi- OH, ERU, DAERON! I FEEL SICK!"

"You are an elf, you can't get-"

"That is beside the point! AHHHHHHH!"

Elrond had had enough. Whatever was going on in there, he had seen worse…

… actually, thinking about it, that was probably a lie, but he didn't care.

"I am coming in, Eleniel."

"NO!" came Daeron's voice. "DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!"

Elrond growled and quickly pushed the door open, eyes widening when a small, grey bundle of fur scampered out of the room.

Glorfindel's sharp eyesight noticed it, however, and he pounced, capturing the little thing in his hands.

"What on Middle-earth was that?" Elrond asked, beyond confused now.

"Did he catch it?" Eleniel asked, and the elf lord peered into the room to see her standing on the bed, sword in hand, and Daeron slumped tiredly in a chair.

"Catch what?"

"The mouse," Glorfindel said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips as he looked down through the crack between his two hands at the tiny animal. He looked up at Elrond, and the two suddenly felt very stupid. It was a mouse. A mouse. Oh, for Eru's sake…

"Thank the Valar," Daeron said, dragging a hand exhaustedly down his face. "We'd been trying to get it out for half an hour."