-Half Blood-
-ElvenHope-
Chapter V
Elladan had fallen asleep against the golden haired elf's chest long ago, the horse's rhythm soothing him into a rest he so desperately needed after the night before. One of his fists had caught in the elder elf's tunic whilst the other was wrapped around his own chest. If Glorfindel had spent more time looking at the boy he would have said that the position he was in was a defensive one, but he was too preoccupied with getting back to Imladris.
The sun was nearly at its zenith by now and they would reach the haven soon. Rays of golden light filtered through the tree tops tinted shades of green by the leaves. The morning was a peaceful one, calm and fresh the static in the air gone now that the storm had passed.
The young peredhel mumbled something inaudible in his sleep and shifted slightly. Glorfindel had to readjust to the boy's sudden change of position to stop him from falling and looked down on the child. Elladan's eyes were half mast, which was in a way to be expected after he had spent all night out in a storm. He was still having trouble piecing everything together though and he hoped that the boy wasn't hurt. He didn't even want to imagine the child curled up in some ditch somewhere all night cowering from the thunder and lightning. It sent a stab of guilt straight to his heart.
"We're almost home now pen-neth," he whispered to the child stroking the sienna tresses as he looked up once again.
When he did he was surprised to see a party heading out towards him. It was not large, around seven elves at the most, all on horseback. What concerned the Balrog Slayer was that his Lord was leading the group.
Picking up the pace slightly Glorfindel rode up to his friend slightly nervous about having to explain why he was carrying a bedraggled Elladan home. He found that slightly absurd; he had fought a Balrog and yet he was anxious of his friend - a caring, healer. Then again it was not wrath he was worried about, it was the fact that he had let his friend down like this after he had promised to take care of his son.
Halting he watched as Elrond quickly slipped from his horse's back concern crossing his fair features. Glorfindel dismounted too, though with a little more difficulty than his Lord. He did not want to wake Elladan, and he took his time so as not to jostle the sleeping boy in his arms.
"He's not hurt," Glorfindel said quickly hoping to quell some of the worry on his friend's face. "At least not that I know of."
"What happened?" Elrond asked anxiousness for his son's well being making him skip any pleasantries which might have normally been uttered.
"There was a storm last night," Glorfindel replied supporting the boy as Elladan buried his head in the elder elf's chest mumbling something. "It frightened him…" The golden haired elf paused uncertain of how to go on. "I think he needs to get home, I can tell you the rest there." He said eyeing the solemn guards warily. He really did not want to have to admit this to Elrond already; doing so in front of his own men was not going to make it any easier.
Glorfindel shook the young boy gently trying to rouse him from sleep. He did not want to make the child jump, but he was certain that Elladan would rather be back safe in his father's arms.
"Elladan," he said softly and the boy blinked a few times, his vision clearing. "Your father's here; wake up." Glorfindel wondered why Elrond was actually here. He was certain that his friend trusted him and Sidhe to take care of Elladan, but he was equally certain that Elrond's purpose had been to find his son. He would have to ask later, right now though the child needed to get back to Imladris.
Elladan rubbed his eyes and instantly looked across to his father who smiled warmly at the boy.
"Ada!" Elladan exclaimed and Glorfindel let him down. The young elf raced over towards his father and hugged him tightly. "I thought I'd never see you again," the young elf whispered and Elrond shot the golden haired elf a quizzical look.
Glorfindel attempted a reassuring smile and went back to Asfaloth stroking the stallion's mane. "We should get back to Imladris first," Glorfindel said to his friend. "I'll tell you everything when we get there."
Elrond nodded in agreement and helped Elladan up onto his horse before climbing up behind him. The young elf rested back against his father adopting a similar position to the one he had been in a few moments ago and was asleep within minutes.
The Elven Lord watched his son as they rode back towards their home. He was worried about the boy, there was obviously something wrong. Or there had been. Glorfindel would have probably told him if his son was still in danger. Elrond still wanted to know what had happened though. What his son had just said set of a warning in his heart and he found himself checking the boy over as he slept, making sure that his pulse and breathing were regular.
Finally satisfied that his son was not in any immediate danger Elrond petted the child's raven tresses hoping to sooth any worries that Elladan had.
Elladan rarely stirred and when they finally reached Imladris it took quite a lot of coaxing to wake him. He had been enjoying his sleep in the safety of his father's arms. He didn't want to wake up. He didn't want to have to lie through his teeth and explain what had happened; but he had to for Elrohir and Arwen. In truth he was afraid of Rael's wrath and if he could just get everything over and done with he hoped that he wouldn't hear anymore from the elder boy.
"Do you want something to eat Elladan?" Elrond asked as they left the courtyard with Glorfindel in tow. "Are you hungry?" He really just wanted to get to the bottom of this, but he wanted his son to feel comfortable first.
The young elf shook his head; he had been oddly silent since they entered Imladris, another thing which caused Elrond concern. Elladan was normally the louder of the twins – though only just barely.
That reminded Elrond that he still needed to deal with Elrohir. He sighed, brushing some hair from his face as they rounded the corner leading to his study.
"Do you need anything Elladan before I talk with Glorfindel?" Elrond asked and once again; the boy simply shook his head. Concern knitted his brow; there really was something wrong, and it was frustrating not knowing what.
"I think that Elladan may need to explain a little," Glorfindel offered softly. He felt so guilty that he had let this happen. He could see the worry on his friend's face and Elladan was being oddly despondent. It was not normal to see one of the twins so sombre and skittish; the boy was constantly clutching his father's hand for reassurance.
Finally they reached Elrond's study and Elladan was led inside. Elrond sat down in one of the large comfortable chairs in one corner of the room letting his son sit on his lap. He didn't really want to leave the boy and he sensed that Elladan would not want to sit on his own – even if they were all still in the same room. Glorfindel sat across from him and felt the guilt welling up inside him again.
"So," Elrond started eventually, once Elladan was comfortable sitting sideways in his lap, his head turned into his father's chest slightly. The boy really was too big for this sort of behaviour, but right now it didn't matter. "Do either of you want to tell me what happened?" He did not like being kept in the dark and though he would not push Elladan his eyes fixed on Glorfindel demanding to be told – though there was still kindness in his gaze.
"Yes," Glorfindel replied looking down. He felt like a child again, felt like he'd done something wrong and was about to be punished for it; though he knew that his friend would not hold any blame with him.
"Last night there was a storm," the Balrog Slayer explained. "It frightened Elladan and so we made camp a short way away from the rest of the group." He wished that Elladan was not here now so that he could explain everything in detail. Really that was only half of the reason why they had left the group; though it did not seem to matter to Glorfindel. He could tell Elrond about the trouble makers in his class later if he felt the need. Though he should really be able to deal with them on his own; and besides Rael and his friends had helped them. They had found Elladan in the first place. He imagined sitting here with the boy still lost in the woods somewhere and all thoughts of mentioning the trouble makers fled from his mind. Maybe he could over look it just this once.
"I thought that he was fine, but when I woke the next morning he was gone," Glorfindel registered the alarm on his friend's face and looked away again. "Some of his class mates found him and brought him back to the camp. Apparently he had tried to make his way home in the dark and gotten lost."
Elrond's heart ached slightly as he looked down at the boy curled up in his lap. It seemed as though Elladan was trying to get himself as small as possible.
"Elladan?" Elrond asked gently lifting his son's chin so that he could read the boy's expression. "Is what Glorfindel says true?"
Elladan hesitated avoiding his father's gaze. He didn't want to lie! He wanted to tell the truth. He wanted Rael to get in trouble – but more than trouble, he wanted the elder boy taken away so that he couldn't hurt his siblings.
Elrond saw the moment of indecision pass across his son's face. "Elladan?" he asked again hoping to coax the child into talking.
"Yes," Elladan answered quietly. "I'm sorry Ada, I know it was stupid… I was just afraid… I wanted to be here with you."
"I don't blame you pen-neth," Elrond said softly letting Elladan lower his head and curl back into his chest as he had been before. "And I don't blame you either, Glorfindel." Elrond said seeing the guilt written all over his friend's face. "Why don't we go down to the kitchens and find you something to eat, then you can go and sit with Nana and Arwen. It is a nice day and they are outside on the balcony." It was not really a question; his son probably needed something to eat before he collapsed. The child was an unnatural shade of pale.
"What about Elrohir?" Elladan asked looking up at his father.
Elrond really knew that he couldn't have hoped to avoid that question. "Elrohir has done something very bad this morning. He is waiting for me in his room. You can see him later," he said with a reassuring smile.
Elladan looked confused, what could Elrohir have done? It wasn't like his twin to get in trouble and not for something which made his father look so solemn. The pair of them did often get into trouble, but not because of anything 'bad'. It was normally something like eating with their fingers or getting their clothes dirty, or even occasionally doing something deliberately. The expression on his father's face told him that whatever Elrohir had done was far worse than those other times and he was quite shocked by the revelation.
Relenting to the fact that he wouldn't get an answer out of his father, and that he had no reason to protest he rose and followed the elder elf to he doorway.
Making their way to the kitchens Elrond and Glorfindel spoke in low voices and he pretended not to hear. It was obvious that they didn't want him to and it was also obvious that they were talking about him. He shuddered, rage creeping through his mind. This wasn't fair! Rael was getting away with it all and he had to admit to something he didn't do. Suppressing his raging temper Elladan pushed open the door to the kitchens and grabbed an apple wondering what the elder elves were talking about.
He wasn't really hungry but he took a bite anyway and tried to look happy. His wrists hurt from where the rope had burned into them and he made sure they were hidden beneath his sleeves. He was surprised that his father hadn't noticed the raw skin around his wrists. Half of him wished that his father had, it hurt and he had to resist rubbing at the inflamed skin to try and soothe it. He knew that Elrond would have had some form of healing salve that would have stopped the pain. Then again how would he explain those injuries away? And then his father would want to check him over further. He was certain that there were bruises all across his back after he had been slammed into that tree. There was a cut on his face, but that had healed over night, now it looked like no more than a scratch which a nasty run in with a thicket of thorns could have given him. He was missing several of the silver clasps on his tunic, others had simply been broken by Rael and not cut completely off. His father hadn't noticed that either – or he had put it down his having spent a night in the woods in the midst of a storm. Or maybe it was because Rael had done his best to hide the fact that Elladan's tunic was in tatters before he brought him back to Glorfindel.
"Shall we go find Nana and Arwen then ion-nin?" Elrond asked his son giving him a warm smile. Elladan nodded wondering if he might be able to sneak into Elrohir's room later to see what his brother had done.
As Elrond had said Arwen and his mother were out on the balcony. Celebrían was sitting quietly on one of the benches with her daughter reading to the girl. Both had their backs to the group and Arwen was resting against her mother Celebrían's arm rested around Arwen's waist.
Celebrían looked round though she stayed where she was Arwen did not move. She could have been asleep or close to it for she still rested against her mother even when Celebrían moved.
"Elladan?" Celebrían asked as they drew closer. She could see nothing the matter with him, but Elrond would not have brought their son home unnecessarily.
"I am alright Nana," the younger elf said hurrying over to sit on her other side and into her one armed embrace. He stopped suddenly shocked by the bruises which had spread across Arwen's face.
"What happened?" he asked looking at his sister who was indeed asleep. Elrond and Celebrían exchanged worried glances. They couldn't lie, but what would Elladan think if he knew that it was twin who had given Arwen those marks. "Nana?"
Elladan's mind was immediately on alert. What if Rael had done this to her? Then again he couldn't have, the camping group would not have returned yet.
"You remember that I said Elrohir had done something bad," Elrond said gently as a look of comprehension flickered across Elladan's face. "He hit Arwen."
Rage boiled inside the elder twin, though there was also confusion and worry in his heart. Elrohir and he had sworn to forever protect their sister when she had been born.
Glorfindel also wore an expression of shock and confusion. He knew the twins almost as though they were his own sons and would have never expected such a thing of either of them.
"I want to see him," Elladan said quickly. "Ada, can I talk to Elrohir?"
Elrond looked uncertain, Elrohir was supposed to be being punished. Having his twin in there to cheer him up wouldn't help. Unless of course Elladan was going to fight with his twin; something he would not expect of them, but under the circumstances.
"I do not know-"
"Maybe it would be good for him," Celebrían said cutting her husband off. She still had a short temper with him at the moment and he could tell. She turned to look at Elrond catching his eye and grinning. "I think Arwen would be more comfortable in bed anyway and I am growing weary of sitting."
"Is he in his room?" Elladan asked happy that he was allowed to see his twin, even though he was not entirely sure whether he wanted to console Elrohir or hit him.
"Yes," Elrond replied lifting Arwen gently and taking her to her room trailed by the other two elves whilst Elladan made his way to Elrohir's room.
Elrohir heard the door open and buried his head further into the pillows. He had hoped to find sleep, but it had eluded him and he had laid there for the whole morning thinking everything through in his mind. It made no sense, but memories of his dream the night before and this morning were coming back slowly.
He could see what had happened to Arwen now, but it was as though he was not seeing through his own eyes. In fact when he remembered it all he had felt very distant from the whole affair. He heard Elladan crying in his mind, an echo of his dream the night before and he saw blue green eyes glowering at him.
Everything felt as though it was falling into place, and yet still nothing made sense. Now though when he remembered; he heard himself though his voice sounded twisted and foreign in his own ears. Then something happened. It connected in his mind; the same words which had spilled from his lips earlier were from his dream. Arwen's dark brown hair a few shades darker, and not as wavy, flickered through his mind until he realized that what he remembered was not Arwen's hair in his hand but Elladan's.
"Elrohir?"
Elrohir bolted upright, the sound of a voice so close startling him, and it was not the voice he had expected either.
"Elladan?" Elrohir asked joyfully turning around and hugging his brother. "I was so worried; I kept having the most terrible dreams."
The younger twin yelped when he was shoved backwards none too gently. Obviously Elladan wasn't in the mood for it, though his eyes were not angry. They were confused – they held the same un-nameable emotion his father's had earlier that morning. Elrohir winced inwardly.
Still Elrohir couldn't help but feel slightly hurt and he wanted to push his brother away when Elladan sat down next to him. The next few words however, made him re-think his plans.
"I'm sorry 'Ro," Elladan said softly. "I didn't mean to, I'm just so angry… and you were the first target."
"That's alright," Elrohir replied equally as quietly. "Did Ada tell you…?" He didn't want Elladan to know what he had done to Arwen, but then again he didn't fancy telling his twin either. He suspected that Elladan knew, but he left the question hang in the air unfinished; partly because he couldn't finish it. He still couldn't believe that he had hit his little sister.
Elladan nodded. "Yes he has."
"I didn't mean to," Elrohir whispered trying to fight away the wretched tears again. He didn't know why he wanted to cry, but he felt terrible. It hadn't been him, he hadn't been himself – it hadn't been his hand… But who was going to believe him? His brother would if no one else did and for some reason Elrohir doubted that.
"Why did you do it?" Elladan asked turning to his brother and Elrohir noticed the nasty cut on his left cheek.
"Are you alright?" The younger twin questioned quickly, forgetting what he had been about to say a hand reaching out to touch his brother's face. "How did you get that cut?"
Elladan swallowed hard; trust Elrohir to notice that which even his father missed. "I fell." He gritted his teeth. He didn't want to lie to Elrohir, lying to him was even worse than lying to his father! He needed someone to talk to, to share it all with; if not his twin then who else? He was afraid though. He didn't want to see anyone hurt and though he hoped that Rael's threats were empty he really didn't want to risk it.
"Last night there was a storm and I tried to make my way back home, but it was too dark. I tripped over a root and cut it on a piece of flint."
Elrohir didn't believe a word of it. He knew that his brother wasn't stupid enough to wander off by himself in the dark. He knew that no matter what Elladan wouldn't have left, especially when Glorfindel had been there to look after him. There was another thing as well. Whenever Elladan did something stupid he would try to diffuse it by laughing at himself. Now his twin wasn't doing that in any way what so ever. He hadn't even remarked on how stupid a decision that had been. No, he was deadly serious – which meant he was lying through his teeth. He couldn't, however, accuse his brother of lying without any proper proof.
It came only a few seconds later when Elladan reached up to brush some of his raven locks from his eyes. His sleeve slipped down over the laceration on his wrist and it took the younger twin bare minutes to register what he had just seen.
He grabbed his twin's hand pulling it towards him and Elladan resisted horrified. He had let his guard down, thinking that he was safe with Elrohir; and now he was paying the price.
Elrohir gave a determined yank and Elladan hissed in pain relenting. Elrohir's eyes widened as he turned over his brother's hand, seeing that the inflamed skin travelled in a red ring around his brother's hand, just as he had expected.
"You did not get this wound from any fall," Elrohir said brows knitted. He was certain that had seen this before once and it looked more like a burn than a cut. He tried to meet his brother's gaze, but Elladan had let his head drop, a waterfall of cascading ebony hiding his grey orbs.
Elrohir rose to his feet and inspected his brother's other wrist, probing it carefully and wincing when his brother drew in a sharp breath.
"Elladan what happened?" Elrohir asked a deep biting worry in his eyes as he tried to catch his twin's once again. "These are rope burns." He finally realized what they were and was horrified to see that tears clouded his brother's gaze. "Elladan?" The younger twin whispered kneeling in front of his brother and looking up into his face.
"It's nothing," Elladan finally pulled his hands away blinking back his tears and looking away composing himself. He was stronger than this. He just needed to get everything under control.
"Someone tied you up," Elrohir stated simply pain for his twin showing clearly in his eyes. "'Dan, who was it? What did they do…? How come Ada doesn't know?"
Elladan finally managed to meet his brother's gaze without going watery eyed. "I didn't tell him; and you can't either Elrohir."
"But someone did this to you!" Elrohir half yelled. "Someone bound you and… what else? Are there any more injuries that we cannot see? The one on your cheek would have been nasty only a short while ago."
"Elrohir don't tell Ada," Elladan hissed. "You can't, please, just leave it, let it go."
"I can't," Elrohir sat down next to his twin. "Someone hurt you 'Dan, and that's wrong they can't just get away with this-"
"If you tell Ada it is going to get worse, do you hear me?" Elladan asked sharply. "He said that he would go after Arwen and you, don't you understand that? I can't let that happen. I am fine. It's not going to happen again."
"But if you tell Ada who it was then he will make sure that it never happens again," Elrohir begged. He paused slightly wondering if his twin would trust him enough to tell him who had attacked him. "You could tell me… I could help you deal with it. You cannot just let it stew inside of you."
"No," Elladan shook his head. "It's not worth the risk."
"Oh 'Dan," Elrohir whispered pulling his brother into a tight embrace. He held his twin tightly wishing away the pain and anger he could feel inside of Elladan. The elder twin cursed himself for letting his guard down around Elrohir when he should have been the most cautious. His brother knew nearly everything about him; Elrohir was bound to have picked up on his feelings had he not caught site of his wrists.
"You need bandages," Elrohir said at length pulling out of the embrace.
"I can't," Elladan replied feebly. "Ada will notice if I do."
"But it'll get infected!" Elrohir exclaimed.
"The skin has barely been broken," Elladan said softly. "If I had just stayed still…" his voice trailed off. It was such a weird thing to be talking about and Elrohir's eyes reflected that. The younger twin didn't seem to be managing to process what he was saying. He knew that if it had been Elrohir in his position he would have told their parents no matter what, and maybe that was the right thing to do. Elladan, however, would not be able to live with the guilt if something happened to be his brother or sister. It came with his self-promoted role of eldest sibling – seeing as he and Elrohir had been born barely half an hour apart. Elrohir always acted younger than he was and Elladan older in situations such as this – though he was generally the more thick-headed of the pair.
"I think I understand now," Elrohir said at length. "Believe me or not Elladan, I was not myself earlier… with Arwen. I had dreams about you all night, and this morning…" he shook his head. "I don't know, I was so worried about you. I was trying to reach you and I think, strangely as it sounds, I must have intercepted your thoughts, or something you saw."
"I believe you 'Ro," Elladan said knowing that Elrohir had always showed the promise of having psychic abilities inherited from his father and grandmother. "I just wish that I could tell Ada so that you would not have to take the blame for what happened."
"I do not mind the punishment," Elrohir said quietly. "It is Arwen I am worried about. She must hate me."
"She won't hate you 'Ro," Elladan said squeezing his brother's shoulder reassuringly his strained arm aching with the action. "She can't hate you, no one can hate you. You're too loveable."
Elrohir laughed at being referred to as though he were some fluffy animal. "I hope you're right," the younger of the pair said sobering quickly. He still couldn't believe the revelation he had just learnt. He couldn't believe that Elladan wasn't going to tell anyone – or that his twin had actually been tied up. The idea of Elladan bound against his will and crying for help flashed through his mind mixing with parts of his dream as more of it began to make sense. Now if only he could find out who Elladan's assailant had been. He saw snatches of gold and green, a knife shining in the moonlight, but not enough to give any identification.
He would give Elladan three days. Three days to tell his parents the truth, to reveal all that had happened. Within five days all evidence would be gone from Elladan's body as the wounds healed with the swiftness of the elves. Then if his brother did not admit what had happened, he would.
A/N: I'm kinda pleased with myself this time. Six pages in around two and a half hours and an update in less time than a month. That's got to be a record of mine for the passed six months :) Well this chapter came fairly naturally to me and so I hope that you enjoyed reading it.
As I said in my last chapter, please point out any mistakes I have made and say where they are. I do read my work through and use a spell-checker, but I always end up with mistakes - especially grammar ones. So if you can just take a few seconds to point them out for me I'd really appreciate it.
-ElvenHope