After her departure, Elrohir and Irime had not communicated. Though one day in the beginning of Nenime Elrohir received a letter saying that Irime's father had been killed in a skirmish.
He knew that it was only right to go and see her, though he found it hard with the undeniable knowledge of his feelings for her. Though he went anyway, he knew he had to, no matter what it might cost him.
Elrohir knocked on the door, Irime's mother Artanis answered, her face was tear-streaked. "Lord Elrohir, it is such a–."
Elrohir cut her off, "Where is she?" He wanted to get in, see her, and leave. Hopefully without mishap.
"This way." Artanis led Elrohir to Irime's room, where the young elf had locked herself in.
Elrohir glanced at the concerned Elf as if to say, 'I need to talk to her alone' Irime's mother complied and left.
Elrohir rested his head on the door, there was more than just the thick, wooden door that kept them separate. "Irime, it is I, Elrohir. Please let me in."
He heard the lock on the door unlatch and Irime opened it, "Come in."
Irime stood silently and watched as he shut the door, before pacing the room restlessly. His face was expressionless, but the silvery depths of his eyes were emotional maelstroms.
The peredhil strode over to her and stopped a few feet away. "Irime, listen, there are things that we need to talk about, and do not try to avoid the subject, it will only make things worse."
Irime's brows lowered in confusion. "Of what do you speak, mellon?"
She saw a flicker of something across Elrohir's face, but before she could identify it, it was gone. "Nothing. It is nothing."
"I think it is something. You do not let small things bother you. What is it?"
He looked up in thought, Irime never remembered seeing him so nervous, scared even. "How are you? The death of your atar, I know, must have been harsh."
He was hiding something, she knew it. Though getting information from Elrohir when he did not wish it was harder than trying to find a needle in a haystack, so she let it be.
"I am as well as can be expected. My naneth had a hard time accepting it. A letter has been sent to my brother in Mirkwood." she paused, as if just the name caused her anguish. "He is with his wife there." Another wave of sorrow.
"I am so sorry. It must have be hard. Losing someone you love." He had not even been aware he had spoken the last sentence aloud, the look of anger on her face made him step back.
"You cannot understand. Legolas was my life, still is."
It was like a physical blow to his heart. False hope, that is all his life had ever been. "Of course I cannot. I am a heartless person, I cannot love. So how could I possibly understand?"
His sudden burst of anger surprised her, but not near as much as what he said. It made no sense to her. "Elrohir, what is the matter?"
"You!"
By the look on her face she had not understood in what sense he had meant it, for her face instantly turned to stone. "Elrohir, leave." she whispered, a barely audible utterance. When he did not move, his feet feeling like large stones and his legs like butter, she spoke more forcefully. "Leave!" He could not move, he wanted to, he wanted to run, but he was anchored there. Like a ship tied to a pier in a wrathful storm. Taking his stillness for defiance, she screamed. "GET OUT!"
Artanis sat slowly stirring her tea, she had never thought of life without her husband before. Irime, she knew, probably would have the worst time of all, having probably blamed herself for the whole ordeal.
Suddenly Artanis heard a scream from Irime's room, passing without trouble through the thick stone between the rooms. "GET OUT!" She got up and walked over to Irime's door. Before she could reach it, Elrohir stormed past her, not apologizing when there shoulders hit with bone-jarring force.
Irime's mother didn't really know what to make of the situation, so she watched him leave. She looked out of the window to see him leap up onto his horse and race off.
Irime's mother could not take it anymore, so she, finding the door unlocked, opened it. "What in the name of Iluvatar happened?"
"Nothing."
Artanis sat beside her daughter. "Tell me."
"I know not what is wrong with him. He has been acting so odd lately."
The older Elf grinned slightly. "You have not seen him for four months, lately is a vague word to be used in the circumstances."
"Ever since when he came to see me off when we left."
Artanis looked long at her daughter's troubled face. "How has he been acting that is so peculiar?"
Irime shrugged. "More distant and aloof, quicker to anger . . . . just not Elrohir."
"You have barely gotten to know him."
"Naneth we used to be as close as he now is with his brother." she smiled grimly at the memories.
"Many years have passed."
"I am tired, naneth. I think I will go to sleep now."
Her mother nodded and left. She was beginning see that the one thing that she feared most, the one thing that was forbidden by Elven law, was happening. Right before her eyes, and she was helpless to stop it. She had kept her silence well, ever since it had been put into her keeping. Artanis decided that it was best for her vow of secrecy to not be broken, for she was not even sure. Though it troubled her, it was as if her worst nightmare was coming into reality.