# 9 Tradition

It had been a long day, and finally, the twins were now ready for bed. Celebrían had given both a bath, brushed their teeth, brushed and dried their hair, and got them in their night clothes. Now they were ready for the best part of their night routine—a story!

Their father, Lord Elrond was sitting in his large lounge chair with a book in his hands. It was a book the twins had grown particularly fond of—hearing about the history of Middle-earth. Notably, in the First and Second Ages.

After he finished helping the twins settle—one on each side—and with their mother standing behind her husband, Elrond wrapped his arms around their tiny waists. "What story shall it be tonight ion nín?"

"Tell us about the 'Last Battle' please, Ada. The one where Sauron is beat," Elladan asked his voice slightly muffled from his blanket.

Elrohir chimed in. "Yeah, Ada, please!" His small hands clasping onto his father's dark blue robes.

Elrond was taken aback as he was not quite prepared to be asked to relive such a gruesome battle not to mention very painful moments. "I would love to; however, that is a very long tale, and we only have such a short time."

Both twins looked at their father with wide gray eyes pleading. "Pleeease, Ada. We promise to go straight to bed afterward. Just this once."

Elrond smiled and looked at his wife who smiled back at him. "I think it would be okay if they stayed up just a little bit past their bedtime. After all, you are a fantastic storyteller."

"Very well, just this once, and then it is straight to bed." With that, Lord Elrond began a tale which lasted well past two little elflings bedtimes. He only stopped when he noticed both of his sons fast asleep, both of their heads leaned against his shoulders.

Gently and quietly so as to not wake them up, Elrond cradled each twin in his arms and carried them off to bed. When they were both tucked in soundly, Celebrían and Elrond both retired to bed themselves.

A hundred years later, a night very similar to years past, a small dark-haired elleth no older than three was sitting on her father's lap surrounded by her brother's—one on each side—and her mother standing behind him.

"Ada, tell me a story about when you were a little boy with Uncle Elros."

Elrond smiled and caressed his daughter's face. "Very well, iell nín. Where shall I begin?"

iell nín – Sindarin for my daughter