Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Greenleaf & Imladris 16 - Strange Fates	By : MPB Category: -Multi-Age > General Views: 3641 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Part II

“The one called Samwise possesses hidden strength,” Elrohir commented as he and Legolas observed the hobbits.

In the last days before the Company’s departure, the Halflings had spent most of their time together though Frodo and his surprisingly knowledgeable cousin Merry also applied themselves to studying maps of the south and learning what they could of their appointed way. This morning the hobbits were gathered in the near empty Hall of Fire, huddled before the great hearth, reminiscing about the dearly missed homely comforts of the Shire during winter.

“He does not realize it yet but he will be a great asset to your Company,” the warrior added. “Indeed, they all will be, even young Took.”

Legolas smiled at his friend’s assessment. Elrohir had a knack for reading people’s hearts and scrying the possible consequences thereof.

“What about the Dwarf?” he queried, the barest hint of belittlement in his tone.

Elrohir glanced at him a little chidingly. “Gimli is noble and stout-hearted,” he said. “You must let go of some of your preconceived ideas regarding other peoples.”

“You can hardly blame me for some misgivings,” Legolas said. “I have not forgotten how the Battle of the Five Armies came about.”

“Your father was not entirely without fault,” Elrohir gently pointed out. “And he did gain much from it at the end.”

Legolas scowled, misliking both criticism and allegation particularly since he could refute neither. He changed the subject.

“And Boromir?” he snipped.

“What am I, a seer?” Elrohir protested jestingly. At Legolas’ humorless gaze, he sighed and said: “He is a noble man but...his loyalty to his father and Gondor may prove his undoing. He is... unlearned in the lore of the Ring. ‘Tis a pity the Steward did not send his younger son.”

“Why do you say that?” Legolas curiously asked.

“The younger one hearkened to Mithrandir when last he went south,” Elrohir explained. “He bears no misplaced pride and seems the more accepting of others’ counsel even if they gainsay his father’s supposed wisdom.” He shook his head. “Boromir is a good man and a valorous one. But I would exercise caution around him nonetheless.”

He glanced at Legolas. The archer’s brow was still furrowed. Elrohir sighed inwardly. His friend’s temper had been anything but pleasant these past few days.

“I had hoped our parting would be amicable at least,” he quietly commented.

Legolas was startled out of his sour mood. He looked at the Elf-knight ruefully.

“I am sorry,” he murmured. “I know I have been terrible company but I cannot seem to help it. The future... I fear that... Elrohir, I must confess, I am afraid of what will happen if we fail in this quest.”

“You are not alone in that fear,” the darkling Elf said. “But you need not struggle with it by yourself.”

The tacit offer of consolation did much to hearten the Wood-elf ere he had even accepted it.

“Thank you,” he said. “And there are things I wish to tell you before I must go. It would lighten my heart, gwador.”—sworn brother.

Elrohir nodded. “Speak freely, Calenlass. I will listen.”

********

Some hours later, Elladan went in search of his twin, the urge to tell Elrohir about Gandalf’s revelation strong in him. He practically scoured the Last Homely House until he was openly cursing in every language he knew, which was a formidable number to say the least. Only at the last did he think to look in the armory though why his brother should linger there was beyond him.

Yet there he was, tucked away in the furthermost corner of the room, eyeing the weapons hanging on the wall in that little visited spot. Elladan felt a chill snake up his spine.

It was the wall upon which were displayed the sword, shield and spear of Elros, first king of Númenor. Their father’s twin, their Peredhil uncle turned mortal. Elrond had borne the weapons back to Lindon after his brother’s death then taken them to Rivendell as mementos of his lost sibling.

Why would Elrohir regard them now so avidly?

“What fascination does our uncle’s weapons hold for you?” he asked abruptly.

Elrohir turned his head sharply, obviously taken unawares by his twin. A disturbing sign in itself. Elladan came up to his side, unable to keep the accusing gleam out of his glare.

Elrohir met his stare head on. “I was pondering his choice,” he answered evenly.

“And?”

“I envy him.”

“Why?” Elladan’s voice turned hard with fear.

The Elf-knight unleashed darkly glittering eyes on him. “What must it be like to be free from sorrow, Elladan? To know true peace? To find bliss in oblivion?”

“Why do you speak thusly?” Elladan demanded. “What brought on this morbid mood?”

Elrohir’s eerie calm did not relent. “I spoke long with Legolas this morn,” he said. “He was fearful of what failure by the Fellowship might lead to. I thought to counsel him, mayhap take some of the burden from him.”

“It seems to me you took more than some of his burden,” Elladan said.

“He was in need of comfort...of whatever caring I could spare him,” Elrohir went on, heedless of his brother’s sarcasm. “I almost told him then.”

Elladan went still. “But you did not?” Elrohir shook his head. “Why not, brother? What stopped you?”

Elrohir looked him straight in the eye. He nearly reeled from the brimming anguish he saw in the pewter depths.

“He called me his dearest friend, his heart’s brother, even his refuge.”

Elladan stared at his twin in confusion. Why should such affectionate terms have pained him so?

“Elrohir—”

“And then he told me that...” Elrohir visibly trembled at this point. “...that he was glad I no longer...held more feelings for him than what was due a friend.”

Elladan stared at him in shock. “Nay,” he whispered disbelievingly. “To what end did he say this? What need was there for it?”

The twilight eyes turned black with hopelessness. "'Twas his way of restoring our friendship to what it once was. Before I...altered it with...” He broke off, unable to continue, and turned back to gaze at the weapons upon the wall.

“But why?” Elladan said harshly. “He already admitted desire for you, why this sudden reversal?”

Elrohir did not look at him. “He is leaving on a journey from which there may be no return,” he said dully. “He seeks peace, Elladan, not only for his mind but also for his heart. It is as guarded as ever, mayhap even more. He does not want anything to impede him in this undertaking. Especially not memories that cause him unease.”

“Valar! Is there no end to his folly?!” Elladan exclaimed irately. “Were he no friend, I swear I would run him through for what he is doing to you!”

“Do not think ill of him, gwaniuar”—older twin—Elrohir objected, looking at him once more. “He is not to blame for the love I bear him. ‘Tis not his fault that he fears what love can wreak. His heart is his to do with as he wishes and if he chooses to lock it up to keep it out of harm’s way, then so be it.”

“But you would protect his fragile heart,” Elladan protested. “You would take hurt first before allowing any evil to befall him.” He grasped his brother’s shoulder. “Do not let him go on his way ignorant of the truth. Tell him now, Elrohir.”

“Nay, I cannot do that.”

“Why not?” Elladan burst out in frustration. “Why do you hold back? Where is the Elrohir who would strive fiercely for what he desired and would even bend others to his will to achieve it?”

The Elf-knight shook his head. “I will not have him shy from me in distress that I should want him. More so when he needs to believe that I do not. I will not have him leave on so perilous a journey burdened by what I feel for him, troubled that he cannot answer it. Nor would I care to bend him to my will. The result would not be love but merely a parody of it that would never survive the test of eternity.”

The older twin’s mouth tightened at this unassailable reply. Dread rose once more to choke him as he considered what his brother might possibly do in his desolation. Desperately, he recalled the hope-filled moment he’d known in Lothlórien.

He’d been walking by himself, feeling a heaviness in his heart that refused to depart. At length, he’d stopped in a small clearing where elanor and niphredil practically carpeted the ground. He paused, staring at the mingled gold and white blossoms. They reminded him even more sharply of what distressed him so deeply. It was then that he felt her presence and turned to see his grandmother regarding him from a short distance away.

She quietly approached him, her eyes sad and understanding. “Forgive me, mell nîn”—my dear—“if I have intruded on your privacy,” the Lady murmured, brushing a strand of sable from her older grandson’s cheek. “But Celeborn and I have seen how troubled you and Elrohir are and that it has nothing to do with the Ring that has been found.”

Elladan sighed. Useless to keep anything from their grandparents. Even without Galadriel’s mirror they saw deeply into the hearts of many. What had they seen in his heart? Or Elrohir’s?

“You are concerned about the choice you must make but even more so about Elrohir’s choice,” she gently supplied.

Elladan nodded. “We sense the time is nearing when we must decide our fate.”

Galadriel smiled. “And would you cleave to the Firstborn, gwaniuar?” she said. “Does a certain maiden of Mirkwood have that much sway upon you?”

The twin blushed. “Aye, Grandmother, she does.” He bit his lip. “I greatly wish to be of Elvenkind for her sake. But Elrohir...”

“He is tempted to take the same path as Elros.”

Elladan was silent for a while. Then he let out a sharp exhalation of breath. “I understand why Elros chose the doom of Lúthien!” he exclaimed. “Why father was able to let him go despite the pain of that separation.” He shuddered. “We will lose Arwen for the same reason though I cannot blame her for her decision. I cannot deny her the love she has found. But for Elrohir to choose the fate of Men because of...” He clenched his teeth in frustration.

“Despair,” Galadriel quietly finished for him. “He sees the ephemeral lives of Men as an escape from his pain.”

Elladan nodded dully. “I have always been able to persuade him in other matters,” he said with a hitch in his voice. “But this time I am not so certain.”

He felt the Lady’s comforting hand on his shoulder. A measure of peace washed over him. She had the same soothing touch as her daughter had, his mother.

“Do not grieve, Elladan,” she counseled. “Elrohir may yet choose as you wish.”

Something in her tone gave him reason to hope. “You spoke to him?” he asked.

“Celeborn and I did, last night,” she acknowledged. “We did not attempt to influence him into making the choice we desire for him. That is not our right. But we did try to enlighten him as to the consequences of whatever decision he may make. Your grandsire, bless his wisdom, pointed out that in the eternity of Elvenkind there is always time to hope and the chance that his desire will be granted. But if he chooses the other fate it will be the end of his hope and of happiness even should his desire come to pass.”

Elladan pondered her words. “Do you think it will come to pass?” he queried. “Have you seen something in your mirror?”

“You know very well that the mirror does not tell the future. It only suggests possibilities. But, yes, I have seen something.” She paused. “I will know more if he comes this way. It shall be an opportunity for us to see if he is worthy of such devotion from Elrohir.”

The warrior’s eyes widened. “Why would he come—?”

A finger to his lips silenced him. “I cannot say. I can only speculate,” Galadriel said. “Do not speak of this to your brother. I would not have him add this worry to his burden. And there is no surety that what I have seen will indeed occur. Do you understand?”

Elladan did not press further. “I understand.”

Galadriel smiled. “I believe your grandfather’s words had some effect on your brother. We could feel a lightening of his spirit.”

Elladan felt his hope surge. “Then I am grateful that circumstances sent us here if this means Elrohir will ponder his choice a little more prudently.”

“You can help him, gwaniaur,” Galadriel softly suggested. “No one would blame you for trying to persuade him to your way of thinking. You are his twin and most beloved of his heart save for one other.”

“Anything, Grandmother.” Elladan passionately said. “Please tell me, what must I do?”

“Remind him of what he will lose if he strays from the path as well as what he may yet gain should he hold to it. He will hearken to you, Elladan, if he sees his hope in your eyes.”

For the first time in a long time, Elladan felt his spirit sing. The days were dark, the times uncertain. Middle-earth was at a crossroads that could take it back to greatest glory or down into blackest ruin. Yet here in a small glade in the Golden Wood, such happiness as can be found took hold and brought a glad smile not only to his lips but to his heart as well.

He hugged the Lady, revelling in the wonder and comfort that he was of her blood, one of her cherished grandchildren.

Elladan came back sharply to the present. He gazed at his brooding brother with renewed determination. Abruptly, he said: “If you choose as Arwen has, you will not only bring grief anew to Ada”—Papa—“and me but sorrow to Legolas as well.”

A pair of eyebrows so like his own rose in implicit scepticism. “He will grieve for the loss of a friend but nothing more,” he said dismissively. “Eventually he will heal and move on.”

“Nay, in that you are mistaken, brother,” Elladan countered. “In closing his heart to love, Legolas has chosen the way of loneliness. He will be alone, Elrohir. Alone for all time. All the more will he seek your company, rely on your presence. Even now he needs you though he refuses to recognize the depth of it.”

Elrohir gazed at him uncertainly. At this sign of weakening, Elladan swiftly pressed on. “And if you choose the fate of our uncle, what then if you should attain your desire?” he challenged. “Would you then spend but a season with your beloved then leave him to grieve without surcease or fade for love of you? Surely you cannot wish that fate upon one so dear to your heart.”

Elrohir had started at his words. Now he shuddered indecisively, torn between the blatant promise of respite from his pain and the tempting glimmer of deliverance from his despair. Elladan, ever the warrior, attacked with the most effective weapons in his arsenal.

“Confound it, Elrohir, I will not lose you as Ada lost Elros!” he bellowed. “I will not be sundered from you for all eternity!” He grabbed his brother by the arms. “By the love you bear me, do not choose rashly! I implore you, do not take that road, gwanneth!”— younger twin!

Elrohir stared into the depths of his twin’s eyes. He inwardly cringed at the grief and fear he saw in the storm-blue pools. Guilt struck him hard as he realized the extent of his brother’s torment – on account of him.

“Ai, Elladan!” he cried and flung his arms around the older twin. “Forgive me for causing you such unhappiness. I would not have you suffer because of me!”

Elladan embraced him snugly. “Then choose as I would,” he whispered. “Be with me always, tôr nîn.”—my brother.

Elrohir drew back and let out a shaky breath. “I will think hard on this, gwaniuar,” he softly said. When Elladan would have protested, he quickly forestalled him. “I will say this much. ‘Twas for lack of hope that I had looked to the Doom of Men for reprieve from my pain. But you have given me new hope with your counsel and made it less of a temptation.”

Elladan stared at him intently, his eyes searching with piercing discernment. Elrohir met his stare unflinchingly. Something in the silvery gaze of his brother satisfied the older twin and he found the means to smile wanly.

“Then I will continue to give you hope,” he quietly said, “if in doing so I may hold you to my path and our kindred.”

Elrohir managed a sad smile. “You do realize that this may all be for naught,” he said quietly. “Even should I take ship with Ada and you, I may yet pass into Mandos’ Halls. I meant it when I said that I could not live deprived of his presence.”

Elladan vehemently shook his head. “I spoke with Mithrandir about this last night,” he said. “What he indicated as a possibility previously, he affirmed. We need not depart with Ada if we are not ready to leave Middle-earth.” He hesitated then gazed bravely at Elrohir and repeated what the wizard had told him.

The implications of his brother’s pronouncement struck Elrohir mute for a few minutes. Finally he said, “Then to remain at his side I would have to pledge myself...” He paled considerably.

Elladan continued to stare at him, apprehension coursing through him that the revelation may have undone all that he had achieved earlier. But then Elrohir looked at him and smiled. It was a heartbreakingly gentle smile and Elladan felt sudden tears sting his eyes.

“If I take your path, I will bind my heart and spirit as you would,” Elrohir whispered.

Elladan forced the next words from his lips. In all fairness, he had to say them whatever the consequences they might wreak.

“Even if he knows it not?’ he murmured.

Elrohir nodded. “Even then,” he said. At his brother’s unhappy reaction, he added: “He is worth it, Elladan.”

The older twin bit his lip then drew the Elf-knight back into a tight hug. “You will come to your desire, gwanneth,” he fiercely insisted. “The Valar would not withhold love from one as valiant and deserving as you.”

Elrohir pressed his face against his brother’s shoulder. “I pray you are right, tôr iaur.”—older brother. “I truly do.”

To be continued…
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Greenleaf & Imladris 16 - Strange Fates