"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley
Arrai was asleep almost as soon as his head hit his pallet. Glorfindel lingered on rising at length and fiddling with a twig as he watched the crackling of the flames. He dared not sleep for fear of another such dream. They were becoming more frequent now. Perhaps this was a sign. That it was time for him to sail. But, he had so much to do. Ai Valar! It is not enough the things I do. Glorfindel's eyes rested on the younger elf how he had grown! Thranduil would be so proud of his son. Another image assailed him. One he tried to suppress but failed. Arrai running toward the pass as the elven child had in his dreams. His hand clenched the twig tighter. No he could not think this.
"Ai Eru!" He lamented. "I have lost too many. Please not him. I couldn't bear it." He had no sons no wife no brothers no sisters and even the elf he raised was not his own. But it was enough, more than he had ever deserved for his failures. Gil Galad, Ecthelion, they were the brave ones the noble ones the ones who had sacrificed it all. Who was he but a relic of the past living far longer than all others. Blessed and yet cursed. His thoughts wandered for a time thinking of things long past as his eyes ate in the flickers and shadows his own heart comforted for a time by the slow rise and fall of the younger elves chest.
It was an hour before the sunrise when a shadowed figure dropped down behind Glorfindel's cross legged form.
"You are getting better Elladan."
The newcomer smirked. "How did you know I was not my brother my lord?"
Glorfindel chuckled. "You have the feet of an archer. His fall is heavier weighed down by his thicker plates."
A second shadow revealed itself causing Glorfindel to raise an eyebrow. "You have come in good time."
"Don't we always?" Elrohir put in.
Glorfindel rose slowly and then hastily pulled on his weapons and armor.
"Why the haste?" A confused look flitted over Elrohir.
Now it was Elladan's turn to chuckle. "He's being a coward. He'll never forgive you for this."
"Tch, there may be no need for his forgiveness ere I fall."
"Such dark thought's, you've never failed in your task Lord Glorfindel. It is not in your nature." Elladan put in once more.
The words did not seem to hit home. Nothing seemed to reach Glorfindel these days not even Arrai at times. Elrohir frowned as the older elf brushed past them.
"Stick to the Anduin when you had for Rivendell. It is not as safe as it once was near the mountains. It appears Fangorn is now host to unwelcome guests. Haldir is now high captain in Lothlórien ere I ride south."
The elves caught each other's eye and the watched the retreating form in sorrow. Adar had withheld something from them. Contemplative they both settled in a pensive silence throwing pebbles in a game of Sani.
Somehow halfway through their game the eyes of both elves glazed over in elven sleep. And if you would ask who had won both would swear to Valor that the other had cheated. Elladan was the first to awaken somewhat startled at the lack of belongings.
"Oi Elrohir!" His twin was instantly alert decades of training kicking in.
"What's wrong?"
Elladan's eyes caught a figure making its way back from the river. "Nothing, sorry for waking you."
Elrohir muttered something unintelligible under his breath before rising. Both were ready with hundreds of excuses for the elder elves absence though only half of them could be considered even remotely possible and only a scarce few believable.
But Arrai's face was grimly set as he met their own. "He left didn't he?"
The twins looked at each other, with a nod from Elrohir Elladan spoke. "He was-"
"He left without me. I knew he would leave." The wistful expression rested on the twins eyes glazed in agony.
Elrohir stepped forward and place a hand on his shoulder. "He did what he had too."
Fists clenched at the prince's sides. "I should have went with him."
"That is not your path."
"When did you become so wise Elladan?" Arrai mocked in an imitation of Elrond. All three laughed at that.
"Still, I should have went with him."
"You're looking at it the wrong way." Elladan quipped. "This way if anything does happen to Glorfindel you can come in riding on a white steed then never letting him hear the end of it. I am sure there will be many more chances for you to drag his stubborn ancient insufferable self from overwhelming odds, though from your last visit it seems you have his luck at avoiding danger." Elladan offered to placate his friend.
The younger elf seemed to grudgingly accept their cause and wicked grins crossed the both of their faces. "So we are to deliver you to Rivendell." Elrohir put in coming in from Arrai's right like a vulture.
"And of course we can't have Estar around Arwen with no competition around." Elladan took Arrai's left hand and began dragging him to the horses that they left a few miles into Lothlórien just to see if Glorofindel still hadn't lost his touch in telling them apart.
"She moons over him more than is good for her."
"Besides Adar prefers you." Elrohir put in. As the two twins dragged their victim to the scaffold.
Estar- Arwen does indeed end up with Aragorn but this is around 70 years before so Aragorn isn't exactly born yet but well that doesn't mean Arwen can't have crushes or like other elves until she falls in love for real. Think of it as dating before you meet the one. At first I wrote Estel which is Aragorn in elven until I went back and did some research and realized Aragorn isn't alive yet so yea! Aragorn hurry up being born so Arwen falls for you! Lol!
Sani- Game similar to checkers and marble flicking. You have to knock out only the piece you are allowed to eat or your piece dies. Not much of a challenge for elves with their eyesight.
Next chapter will be up tomorrow or the day after. Read and Review!