Sorry for the long wait. The twins were being stubborn and the story got stuck for a while. But here is another chapter.

So read and enjoy and please leave a review for me? They really keep me going!

And lady d'Elfe: this is for you as well. Thanks for inspiring me with your relentless waves of creativity. I highly recommend her story: All hail to the king :)

And Leelee202, thanks for the amazing reviews! Your story is amazing, so a small gift back: enjoy reading!

Chapter 15 - Master Elrond, Lord of Imladris, was too old to …..

Master Elrond, Lord of Imladris, was too old to be in need of much sleep. So when his door swung open with force at sunrise, he was already awake, writing a letter in his study. Mildly surprised he noticed his sons, armed and dressed for travel, standing at his desk, staring down at him. Realising what their attire meant he sighed and with a heavy hand he carefully balanced his pen on top of the inkwell and leaned back to give them a slow and pointed stare.

"We are leaving, Father."

"I see. And what of your young companion?"

Elladan stiffened and looked irritated. "It is not of your concern, Father."

It was Elladan who spoke, but it was the haunted look in Elrohir's eyes that he tried to hide from his piercing gaze, that made Elrond connect the absence of the young woman to their current hasty departure.

"She is my concern, my son, for she is a guest here, and I am her host. And since you brought her to my doorstep, you are equally responsible for our guests well-being. Am I correct that you are leaving her?"

His words held a double meaning, something that the twins realised as well. They shared a quick look.

Elrohir shrugged but refused to meet his father's eyes, while Elladan chose his words carefully, saying softly: "Yes, our ways have parted. We have chosen to remain free of these….. entanglements. She will find her way in Middle Earth without our aid. And for now she will partake in the Guard, where Tessarion will watch over her."

Elrond's heart clenched in concern. This was not the first time his sons risked their health and that of another for selfish reasons. But never did they endanger a mortal girl. He felt his anger rise.

"You might have doomed her! What were you thinking! She is mortal, there is no telling how she will react!"

Elrohir seemed frozen at his father's words, suddenly gripping his brothers arm. Elladan gritted his teeth, biting: "She is mortal, Father. She does not feel as we do. Do not meddle in our affairs."

"And how about your well-being? You try to hide it, but I can see the damage done to your fëa clearly, even if you blinded yourselves to it!"

Elladan's features became haunted, mirroring his brother's. Elrond felt satisfied he was still able to read them correctly and get through to them. He saw their carefully built walls crack, if ever so slightly.

"You are exaggerating, Father. There is no damage." Elladan's jaw clenched.

"Then you have fooled yourselves for too many ages. You have corrupted yourselves and you cannot see the truth any longer."

He closed his eyes to their stubborn visages for a moment, regaining his composure. It was folly to try to dissuade them. He had tried so many times in the past. They were lost to him. He tried to see the outcome of the parts to play, but all was hidden from his sight.

Evenly he said: "At least ride north. We need to gather information on this mortal called Aragorn of the Dunedain."

The brothers turned to leave: "We make our own plans father."

"When will you return?"

"Some months. Maybe."

"You need to stop doing this. You cannot neglect your duties and responsibilities."

The sons stared at their father with pity. Elrohir said at last: "We see only one duty and one responsibility. Why do you neglect yours?"

The door closed softly behind them, leaving Elrond to his troubled memories. The twins seemed to trigger his thoughts of his wife effortlessly, as well as his guilt. His guilt for letting her being kidnapped. His guilt for giving up hope where his sons never lost theirs until they found her. His guilt for being unable to help her. His guilt for letting her leave for the Havens without a fight. His guilt for not being able to help his sons, standing helpless, watching them turn inwards and away from their family, and from their duties in protecting his realm, only to pursue their revenge. It was an unending pursuit that would consume them in the end.

Shaken, he noticed tears on his cheeks. He had long made peace with his wife's departure. But a small part of him was still in mourning, still felt guilty and his sons knew how to hurt him with it.

Burying his old heartache underneath centuries of adaptation and healing, his mind went out to the mortal girl. He would have to inform Glorfindel and Tessarion to keep an eye on her. He feared for her well-being, there was no telling how the forceful breach of a bond would hurt her and if his sons could truly weather their separation. His sons were out of his reach, but at least he could help this girl mend her fëa, if such hope existed still.

Xxxxxxxx

Lord Tessarion was tending to his horse, when Elrond's sons entered the stables early in the morning. They were dressed for a long journey, saddlebags filled with equipment for life in the wild. It was not uncommon that the brothers's stay in their father's realm was short lived. They would rather not face his foresight, nor his meddling into their affairs. But Elrohir's wound was hardly healed and already they were eager to leave. It was unwise to travel the wild when still mending from injuries, although Tessarion knew that they would not be so irresponsible. But still it struck him as odd. What made them so hasty for departure?

He arched an eyebrow at them.

"You have just arrived in this sanctuary, my Lords. What makes you leave our peaceful premises so soon?"

His slight teasing manner was ignored by both brothers. "It is not of your concern, Lord Tessarion."

Tessarion's manner became more serious. "Not of my concern? Are you hiding the true purpose of your journey from the Captain of the Guard?"

"If my father wished you to know, he would have shared it with you."

Tessarion's mind worked hard. It was strange behaviour. The twins seemed somewhat off, they moved with tension in their bodies, he could see it clearly. Their eyes seemed haunted.

"And your father wishes for you to leave again without the aid of shield, bow and arrow? Was your injury not enough warning for you, Lord Elrohir?"

"We have no use for those. The risk is part of this … game." Elrohir stared dangerously at Tessarion. His eyes darker than usual with an edge to it. As if Tessarion's words gave a welcome distraction, changing his tension into anger.

Exasperated, Tessarion lifted his hands, only to let them fall to his sides again. "When will you learn how valuable you are to your father and to this realm!"

Elladan, getting angry as well, bit back: "You can only see, as he does! You do not understand. We need this. And we have a responsibility that we take seriously."

Tessarion sighed. "Yes. Reckless behaviour, empty revenge. I have been on that road once. It is a dead end."

"It is the only road for us. If it is ending. So be it." Elrohir said it softly, his anger turned inwards, lessening.

"And you are leaving your mortal companion? Does she know?"

There was a slight shift in their demeanor. If he did not have Elven senses, he would have missed it. But it was there again, the tension and haunted looks at the mentioning of the girl. Tessarion dreaded the meaning of what he saw. He would ask Elrond later about his suspicions.

"Do not act a fool, Captain. We know she rides with you tonight."

"That she will. I only wish to express my hopes, that you have not let her ignorant of your departure. It would crush her spirits."

Elladan shrugged forced, pretending an indifference that seemed completely fake. "She will find out."

Tessarion said softly. "Is that the way to treat your friend?"

It happened in the blink of an eye. Elladan stood, panting, sword at Tessarion's throat, staring into his face, inches apart, teeth bared. Tessarion did not even blink. He stared calmly into his eyes. Elladan hissed: "Do not speak that way of her! You do not know anything about our … connection."

Tessarion blinked at the outburst of the brother. This was uncalled for. His suspicions grew more heavy in his mind. "I will speak of her as I please, with the lady's permission. She will be a member of my Guard soon and will have to answer to me."

Elladan released him with a push, huffing. Elrohir grunted: "And you will have to answer to us."

Tessarion frowned. "Is the lady your responsibility after your hurried departure? I think not. She is an independent warrior and not a possession."

Tessarion assessed them. He seemed to have overstepped some boundary, the wild anger was there in their eyes. He changed the subject.

"My Lords, let us not quarrel over this. You know she is safe in my care. I wish only for your safety in the wild. For we have a joint responsibility of protecting the well-being of one of the few Elven strongholds in Middle Earth. The heirs of my Lord should use their power, skill and knowledge for the safekeeping of it. Will you not aid me in this purpose? We share after all the same Enemy. And the Enemy is gaining strength in the North as we speak."

The feeling of guilt that Tessarion's words caused, angered the twins even more. Elrohir spat on the ground before his feet. "Do not speak of responsibility, Captain. It has been many centuries since you trained us. We are not in your service any longer. We will travel and hunt as we please."

Tessarion's eyes turned darker, while his jaw set. "You still prove to be Elflings, in pursuit of short-lived pleasures, ignoring the larger patterns of power in this world. The evil powers and their small victims. Be gone then, if you savour your petty revenge over the care of this realm. Be gone since you do not care if others have to shoulder the responsibilities that you refuse to take on. Be gone and stay gone, pursue your demise. I care not."

He turned and left them in the stables, his heart troubled. It was never a good sign if they left so soon after arriving. His feet took him towards Elrond's quarters. He knew that he would find his Lord is some mild distress at their departure. He sighed. It was always like this. When would this circle end?

Xxxxxxxxx

"And you are leaving her in the care of Tessarion? Why, sweet Valar? This could be serious! And you are sending her towards the wilderness with the Guard, while her fëa might be torn?" Glorfindel was pacing in Elrond's study, talking heatedly, worried about a possible negative outcome of events.

"Mellon, calm down."

"I wish very much to calm down, Elrond. But you have robbed me of my calm by your rash decision making."

"Tessarion will take care of her."

"He will drag her through the mud and train her senseless, it is the only language that he knows! He will do so until her fëa breaks from the wound and then it will be too late!"

"You see Tessarion only in that light, mellon? Your concern is clouding your thoughts. You have known him for many centuries, but I have known him longer still. He taught my sons since they were Elflings, just as you did. He has a gentle fëa, his nature is not one of violence, but he has embraced violence as a warrior, like we all have. He will not share this softer side readily with warriors like yourself. But he has it nevertheless. Tessarion will do anything in his power to aid in healing her. "

Glorfindel frowned. "If you are certain, Elrond. I do not agree, but I will trust your judgement."

There was a curt knock on the door behind them. After a steady 'enter' from Elrond, Tessarion walked through the door. His face spoke of concern, making Elrond and Glorfindel eager to hear what had made the Captain calling on them unannounced.

Xxxxxxx

Rin was unaware of the departure of the twins, nor of the concern of her host, Lord Glorfindel and Lord Tessarion, the last who learnt about the broken bond between her and the twins, when he spoke to Elrond about his meeting with his sons in the stables.

Glorfindel's search of her whereabouts during the day, went unnoticed. And when she did not show up for the noon meal, nor for supper, it was clear that she had most likely remained in her apartment all day. It could mean that she was responding negatively to the broken bond as they feared, and they agreed that Tessarion would check on her, bringing her some food. He could decide then if she was fit to leave with the Guard. If this was not the case, Glorfindel would step in to help take care of her, while Tessarion left with the Guard patrol.

Time ad no meaning to Rin. Fatigue both physically and mentally, made her body feel like a numb and empty shell. She lay behind closed curtains, her body feeling like a deadweight stuck to the mattress.

Inside this numbness, her mind drifted without aim, until the chill of the approaching night forced her into consciousness. Becoming aware, she noticed her limbs were stiff and skin cold, caused by sleeping in only her panties on top of the blankets. She sat up slowly, staring without seeing.

A curt knock on her door made her stand, fumbling with stiff fingers to put on her sports bra and racer back. The knock sounded again, more urgent. Grumbling, she walked with uncertain feet through the dark, towards the door, opening it. Tessarion faced her with a straight back, looking crisp and fresh, his hair glowing in the backlight of moon, in his hand a small tray of food and drink.

For a moment she couldn't recall the name of the elf standing before her. He smiled, looking like he was relieved. But why? She frowned, and then remembered - he was Tessarion, the captain of the Guard whom she met on the fields.

He stiffened at the sight of her bare legs and arms, scraping his throat nervously, but quickly regained his composure. "My lady Rin, forgive me for intruding. But your presence at meals was missed and I feared that you would not wake in time to join my Guard. So I came to check on you." He bowed his head slightly.

She blinked at him, her mind barely processing his words nor their meaning. The events of earlier that night, hit her with a vengeance, ripping through her soul, shredding her very being. She gasped sharply, grasping the edge of the door, knuckles white. Parts of the events last night, invaded her mind's eye forcefully and for a few moments she could only let it wash over her, eyes closed, head bent downwards. Tessarion stared at her, alarmed. Regaining her composure, while remembering her promise to join the Guard patrol, she said softly: "Give me three minutes."

He nodded, still concerned and puzzled, his sharp Elven eyes following the dance of her hips, while she moved back into the darkness of the apartment. He busied himself with putting the tray down on a small table in the hallway, when he noticed her well-formed behind, barely covered in clothing. His cheeks flushed. To his dismay he saw her stumble again and crash into the doorframe of the next room. Rushing to her side with inhuman speed he was just in time to catch her.

Without hesitation, he scooped her up in his arms, his fingers touching her soft skin, her warmth pressed against him. He held her close, inhaling her scent. She smelled of sweat and tears and something distinctly her, some fragrant type of wood, almost like pine. Sweat covered her forehead, her eyes were puffy, dark circles emphasized the almost black of her irises. Holding her tight, he suddenly was overcome by a feeling of aggressive protectiveness that seemed completely out of place.

Staggering inwardly, he felt it then. The small flutter of her mortal fëa, tentatively connecting with his immortal one. The feeling was subtle and he would have overlooked it, were it not for her closeness, emphasizing it. Shocked, he tightened his hold on her. This was not possible. The sons of Elrond…. He frowned, looking down on her. Elrond had been correct in his assumptions that his sons had disconnected their bond with her. It was true after all. A deep rage was building inside of him.

Rin's voice shook him out of his thoughts. "You can put me down now." Her voice was brittle. Reluctantly he walked into her bedroom and released her next to her bed, his hands lingering on her skin. Then he stepped back.

She turned to find her momohiki pants lying, like a pool of ink next to the bed. Bending down she unintentionally showed Tessarion yet another good look at her behind that made him feel faint. He was no stranger to the female body, but she seemed to have a strong effect on him that was puzzling.

Concerned he noticed her standing up again, trying to put them on, but failing. Her knees seemed like jelly.

Tessarion came to her rescue once again, aiding her in the darkness with stepping into the trunks and tied the straps of her pants. His hands were quick and soft, his Elven eyes sharp and focussed in the night. He kept silent, ignoring her embarrassment at her vulnerability. It was a strange intimate moment. She closed her eyes, trying desperately to regain her composure, but his body warmth distracted her. Taking a step back after he finished, he smiled softly at her.

He quite enjoyed this fragile moment. He was a warrior and his world held no softtness. To his satisfaction she blushed delicately. Her noticed to his surprise that her vulnerability held an attraction for him, since it stood in sharp contrast with her urges, that he suspected to be highly violence driven. Her vulnerability seemed to be her true nature, suppressed by her darkened traumatised fëa. Elven senses could pick up the faint traces that strong life events left upon a fëa and hers stood out to him clearly.

Rin felt conflicted about the intimacy. The pain of the break-up with the twins overshadowed all rational thought and her mind was a jumble of embarrassment, hurt and relief for the silent aid of this stern but kind Elven captain. She studied his features for a short moment, his eyes, his ageless skin, his brown eyelashes. She noticed she found him handsome, although Elves seemed never handsome, only beautiful, Tessarion had a rough edge that made the word handsome more befitting.

The moment was gone and she averted her gaze, concentrating on her body. Every minute she used her muscles by standing up, fired up her metabolism and she felt her strength increasing. And after a short while she felt better. Strapping on her katana, she faced him, her gaze serious. "I am ready."

Gaining strength made her finally really notice him. He was dressed in a plain leather outfit, close fitted with silver mail that peeked from underneath. The metal was finely mazed, looking like priceless jewelry. The leather in contrast looked worn down, scratches from fighting all over, dark brown almost black stains, testimony of the gruesome position he held in the Guard. He carried two swords on one side of his hip, a bow and arrow on his back. His hair had warrior braids, one wide on top of his hair, running all the way down. Smaller ones on the side, meeting the larger one, half way. It freed his face and neck completely, giving him an interesting feral look with his scar standing out, reminding her of Viking warriors that she remembered from television shows. She had trouble averting her eyes and concentrate on his words. What was he saying?

"No you are not. You need to eat. You have slept all day."

She let him pull her towards the small tray with food. Reluctantly she took a piece of bread, chewing on it. It felt like clay in her mouth, an alien substance without taste. She swallowed with force, quickly downing the drink that was standing next to it.

He watched her intently. Then he grabbed two apples, presenting one to her and biting into another himself. Reluctantly she accepted, taking a small bite, staring at him, to see if he approved. She found herself mesmerized by his lips and white teeth sinking down into the lush apple. He was handsome, painfully handsome. But he was very different from the twins, she concluded. She liked his playful roguishness she recalled, although he wasn't anything like that at the moment.

"What happened to you Rin?"

She bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. "I do not want to speak of it."

Her denial irritated him and he looked down at her sternly. "You wish to keep your own council, Rin, I have no choice but to respect that. But I carry responsibility over my Guard, so tell me if you are fit to ride with us?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

He was amazed how quickly she regained her composure. He knew now, for certain what had transpired during the night, but he respected her silence on the topic. Inwardly he cursed Elrond's sons for hurting this girl and he cursed their father for his reluctance to discipline his sons concerning these matters of their hearts. Or other matters, he thought grimly.

How would this mortal girl cope with the forceful breach of their bond? Elrond had briefed him on his suspicions and fears concerning the relationship of their sons with this mortal girl, that seemed to hail from an unknown place. It was not the first time that the sons of Elrond bonded with an elleth, only to break the bond before it went too far. Their thirst for blood always outweighing love for another. They did not care for consequences.

But a bond with a mortal might be different. He had no experience with such matters, since a bond between a mortal and an Elf was rare, but he guessed that a mortal would have lesser effects from a bond that was broken. And he knew it was broken. Only a broken bond could give way to another connection between two fëa.

He was concerned over the tentative beginnings of such a connection. It was premature of course. It could disappear just as easily, either forced or naturally, as he experienced in his long years with elleths. Time would tell if this connection would prove to be steady. But he felt apprehensive. A bond with a mortal would be something to fear. He could not choose mortality over his immortality like the twins could. She would wither and die within the blink of an eye. And he would be left with his own heartbreak for eternity.

He willed his thoughts to quietness. It did not matter now where this connection would develop into, time was of no consequence for him. More important was that it could help her to cope with the current separation from the twins. He was glad that she would ride with his men, so he could keep an eye on her. He vowed to support her with her heartache where he could and suppress his attraction to her as much as he could.

Suddenly she embraced him, mumbling into his ear, in her own tongue: "Arigatou gozaimasu, taichou-sama".

He could not help but smile at her impulsive disarming behaviour and he returned her gesture, bending down towards her and returning her hug. They stood like that for awhile arms around each other, reveling in the closeness of their warm embrace. He noticed his hands tracing soothing circles on her back for comfort and he marvelled at his own familiar behaviour with her. But the tension in her body lessening, that was important right now. Then she released him, staring into his eyes. He noticed the pale white of the window in her eyes, and then his own reflection. In the periphery of his vision, her white small teeth, the black eyelashes, her beautifully shaped lips. He lost himself for a few fleeting seconds.

With effort he turned away and held the door for her. She followed him silently towards the stables.

Before descending down the stairs, she turned to look at the terrace. No evidence of last night's events could be seen. Feeling like a stranger to her own memories, she turned with regret and continued her descent, towards a new beginning.