After pacing his room for the better part of an hour, Elrohir had stalked outside in hopes of alleviating the tension in his chest. He slowed to a stroll as he neared a small garden within eye shot of the stables and pastures, opting to sit at the stone bench. He huffed a sigh as he sat heavily on the cool stone, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands between them. He had another sister. No, He thought. I have another sister. How had he not known? If his father and Elladan had known since they rescued their mother, had they even looked for her? Or simply assumed she was dead? Another spark of anger assaulted his chest, anger and guilt.

Elrohir was pulled from his wallowing by the soft steps of someone approaching him from the way he had come, a soft, tentative voice reached his ears as he looked in the direction of the interruption.

"Excuse me, My Lord?" Dark brown waves framed the Elleths face, her eyes flickered between the ground and his own and she came to a stop a few feet from where he was sitting. Ellawyn. His sister. He hoped that he had masked the surprise that he felt at her approach, setting a calm expression as he regarded her dirty travel clothes and fidgeting hands. A sword still hung at her hip. He offered her a warm, albeit weak, smile as he gently nodded his head, prompting her to speak.

"I was wondering if you would be able to direct me towards an apple tree? I believe I saw one upon my arrival earlier today." His smile grew ever so slightly at her sweet request, concern quickly flooding his eyes as he thought she might be hungry.

"Please allow me to escort you to the kitchens if you are hungry my lady?" At his worry, she smiled at him. He studied the way that her lips curled upwards, a gleam lighting her eyes and he found himself smiling genuinely this time. She shook her head with a small, nervous chuckle.

"No My Lord, I simply seek a treat for a friend of mine," she said, her eyes flicking in the direction of the horses that grazed peacefully in the fields nearby. Following her gaze, he rose to his feet, extending his arm towards her,

"Elrohir, just Elrohir." Her grin grew a fraction as she nodded happily, also extending her arm to clasp his forearm in greeting.

"Ellawyn. Elly, if you like." Elly. Granting himself one last glance down at his sister's shorter figure and sweet smile, he nodded his head in the direction of the stables.

"Come. We keep the apple trees as close to the stables as possible, if only to appease the horses' unending appetites for treats." He earned a light laugh from her at that as she stepped to his side, following him as he led the way to their destination.

Ellawyn strode alongside the young Lord as they marched to the trees that she could now see standing tall beside the back entrance to the large stables. She found herself already enjoying this strange elf's company, basking in the comfortable silence between them. He carried himself with a carefree air about him, and she decided that he was kind. They passed a few elves bustling around the courtyard, all with dark hair just like those who she had seen within the house as well. Her mind began to wander, comparing the appearances of these elves to those in Mirkwood. These elves looked more like her with her dark hair and bright eyes. Was her family here? Did they live here at one time? Deciding that this line of thinking was useless and nerve wracking, she chose to look up at the ellon walking beside her. Only to find his eyes already watching her, offering her a smile. She had not realized that they had stopped in front of a large tree, bright red fruits decorating the branches.

"Here we are." Elrohir stated. She grinned as she examined the lower hanging apples, searching for the biggest one. Squinting her eyes in concentration, they fell upon one of the largest apples she had ever seen, hanging seductively above their heads. Wide eyes turned to the ellon at her side, and she watched as he followed her gaze in confusion. A wide smile grew slowly upon his face as he understood her silent question. The prize was far above her head, too far, really. However, Standing a full head taller than her, her companion would be able to reach it. Elrohir's head tipped back laughing at her huge pleading eyes, biting her lip to contain an outrageous smile. She reminded him of an elfling begging for a cookie from the cookie jar and he felt his heart constrict in affection for Elly. Reaching above his head, he had to stretch to twist the apple off of its stem. As he lowered it in front of his face he let out a harsh laugh in astonishment, meeting her equally amazed eyes.

"This," he started, "has got to be the largest apple I have ever seen!" The pair both laughed as he handed the treat to her.

"That's why I needed it!" She declared between chuckles, beginning to break his gaze to search undoubtedly for her equine companion. Setting his face straight once again he drew her attention back to him.

"Would you mind if I join you? I also know of a certain someone who would enjoy an apple." Without waiting for her permission, he twisted a lower apple off the branch, seeing out of the corner of his eye as she nodded with a smile.

Elly and Elrohir finished their journey to the fields in silence. He followed her lead as she climbed gracefully over the fence to the pasture, stopping a few strides inside. His eyes scanned the herd that grazed on the far side of the large field, spotting a large chestnut that stood out among the black and grey elven horses. He watched as a fond smile grew on Elly's lips when she noticed him and his smile only grew as he watched the horse's head shoot up from the grass, as if sensing her presence. His suspicions were confirmed as the gelding raced towards them, hooves thundering as if he was running for his life. He came to a skidding halt directly in front of his sister, his own mare trotting up as well to greet her master. Elly placed a sweet kiss on the chestnut's nose, the horse's lips flapping happily at her.

"What is his name?" He asked softly as he allowed his mare to take the snack.

"Vorondil." Elrohir could not help but be amazed by the deep connection the two seemed to share. It was true that elves had special bonds with their steeds, but the affection and love present between them was obvious.

"Faithful friend," he mused, "that seems a fitting name." Elly threw him a beaming smile, once again turning to face him. Casually, she leaned back against the front of Vorondir's shoulder, the beast wasting no time in wrapping his head around to her hip, nuzzling aggressively at her tunic pocket.

"Ouch! You greedy nag!" She laughed affectionately, ruffling his forelock as she spoke, "you will leave bruises! I will give it to you, be patient." With that she pulled the massive prize out of her pocket, presenting it to her Stallion. Elrohir could have sworn he saw the beast's eyes widen in joy as he somewhat gently snatched the apple from her. Earning chuckles from the two elves.

Elly figured that a quarter hour had passed since she and Elrohir had entered the pastures, they sat and talked in the cool grass as their horses grazed close by. She found that she enjoyed his company despite never really interacting with many of her own kind, usually only conversing with Beorn and Radagast. He made her feel so comfortable in his presence, it almost set her on edge and before she knew it she was interrupting his tale of one of his and his brother's adventures.

"Elrohir?" He stopped speaking abruptly, not seeming to be offended by her rude interruption, his eyes clouded with worry at the expression on her face.

"Yes?"

She wrung her hands and looked at the earth beneath her before she asked, "how old are you?"

He stared blankly at her, puzzled at her strange question. She was grateful however, that he did not hesitate as he patiently responded,

"two thousand eight hundred and two." She watched his kind eyes, pausing cautiously before continuing.

"The information that I bring for Lord Elrond," she paused, "I first brought the same tidings to King Thranduil in Mirkwood." Elrohir nodded slowly, waiting for her to continue as he struggled to connect the statement to her previous question.

"The elves there look different than the ones here. Different from you and I. Their hair is fair, not one dark head I saw during my visit." Her voice tapered into a whisper by the end of her sentence and Elrohir began to see where her line of thought was heading. Clearing the lump in his throat he tried to provide her with some answers without revealing the new revelation he had discovered only today.

"The Wood Elves in Lothlorien and Mirkwood are often Sindar Elves. You and I are Silvan." She nodded her head, eyes cast down. A long silence followed, and he began to wonder if she would speak again, or if she had dropped the subject. He had to lean closer to her as she spoke next, so softly it was nearly inaudible.

"Would you have known them? My-my family I mean. If they must be from here." His stomach dropped at the dreaded question. Turning his glazed eyes forward to watch as the sun began to sink closer to the horizon.

"I fear that I am not the one with the answers that you seek, young one." At that, she seemed to instantly shake off the weight of her inquiries, jumping up and dusting off her leggings. He watched warily as she turned to smile at him, opening her mouth to say something when Vorondil's head snapped up. She whipped around and all three sets of ears picked up a faint whimper in the distance. Elrohir stood in alarm, scanning the edge of the forest behind the far side of the pasture. Elly snapped her head back towards him, eyes wide in fear as the whimper was heard again, louder this time. Frozen to their spots, the horse let out an agitated snort, eyeing the direction of the sounds. Elly startled Elrohir as she leapt into action upon a third noise, a shrill scream coming from the forest.