Of Sands and Time

Thaurdae watched his brother with growing concern. Amanhír hadn’t moved for the last two hours, leaning against the frame of one of the large windows overlooking the valley. It had been three days since their fathers had left, both looking somewhat sad and nervous.

Though the evening meal the twins had prepared upon the arrival of Legolas and Haldir, after the disastrous trip, had been pleasant had warm hearted, they all noticed the unease and fidgeting of Legolas and the sudden changes in his demeanour.

Only a day later Haldir had announced that he would take Legolas away for another trip and that they would return shortly. The march warden’s face had been fatigued and drawn and for the first time Thaurdae saw a look of real worry and tension on his younger brother’s face. It hadn’t gone away and now his brother had grown more and more quiet, watching the night and speaking not a single word.

“Amanhír.” Thaurdae called out softly, not wanting to startle his brother.

Only the tiniest inclination of Amanhír’s head told Thaurdae that is brother had actually heard and acknowledged him.

“Why don’t you come back into the living room again? Or let’s go upstairs. We could play cards or I could read my latest poems to you.” The older twin asked carefully.

But Amanhír only shook his head and returned to watch the darkness outside.

Thaurdae furrowed his brow in frustration. It seemed to unnatural for his brother to be that way. He usually was the one taking charge of everything, the strong and determined one, he was not supposed to be unsure and worried. Then again seeing Amanhír like this gave Thaurdae a sudden feeling of protectiveness and strength, he never thought he would possess.

Squaring his shoulders, Thaurdae walked over to his brother with firm strides and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Come, brother. They will return shortly and they need not see you worried like this. You will see, all will be well.”

Pulled out of his reverie Amanhír turned around and looked at his brother in surprise. It felt good suddenly being protected by his older brother. “Are you sure?” he asked weakly.

“Of course I am sure. You heard them. They will go to Lady Galadriel and Gandalf if this little excursion doesn’t settle their problems. Surely you don’t doubt that they will find help if needed.”

“No, of course not. It’s just so strange. Ada, seems so lost and it’s like it isn’t really him anymore.”

Thaurdae shot his brother a warning glance. “Don’t say things like that. You know what Ada had to go through, during the war. Maybe he’s just tired, exhausted in his soul. It still is him. And he needs all the help from us he can get. Now, come let us retire and tomorrow everything will be a little brighter.”

Shoulders slumped and head bowed Amanhír followed Thaurdae towards the stairs and was being pushed upwards in direction of their rooms. “You go ahead,” Thaurdae told him “I will be up shortly. I just want to check on the boars. See if everything is fine, and I promise I wont fall asleep in their stable again.”


A short while later, when Thaurdae returned from the stables, he found his brother sleeping soundly, his brow furrowed and still fully clothed on his bed. Sighing the older brother shed his robe and climbed into his bed beside Amanhír, pushing a little bit to the side, trying to snatch a bit of his blanket.

Why did his brother have to fall asleep in his bed and not in his own? Thaurdae hated it when he couldn’t have his own space and knowing Amanhír, he would eventually take most of the large during the night for himself. Sure Thaurdae could go over Amanhír’s room, but why should he. This was his place and just because his lazy brother…., ‘No.’ Thaurdae corrected himself. Amanhír had not been lazy, but lost and afraid. He surly had come to his twin’s bed for comfort. So Thaurdae turned over to his side and wrapped a supporting arm around Amanhír’s waist and drifted off to sleep himself.


Amanhír groaned at the uncomfortable feeling inside his head. It felt like a large hangover, but he hadn’t even had anything to drink last night. So why all the foggy feeling and dizziness? Also his movements were restricted by some weird weight, holding him down. When his senses became a bit clearer the younger twin remembered the last evening, his distress and falling asleep on his brother’s bed. Shaking his head in disbelief, he untangled himself and carefully sat up, not wanting to wake up the still sleeping form beside him.

Amanhír buried his head in his hands and took a few steadying breaths. After a few moments the dizziness vanished and all that was left was a vaguely apprehensive feeling somewhere in his stomach. The rustling of fabric and a faint yawn told him that Thaurdae had awoken. Seconds later a pale and slender hand rested on his shoulder and the soft voice, full of worry addressed him.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“Not really. I don’t know what has gotten into me, but I can’t seem to find my inner strength anymore and I feel like a small piece of wood somewhere on the open water. No chance of getting anywhere.”

Thaurdae took a deep breath and gave his twin an affectionate squeeze with the finger resting on his shoulder. “All will be well. Come let us get some breakfast and then we will look after our duties. I might even go to the archery range with you, if you like.”

Though he still was shaken and worried, a small smile lit up Amanhír’s face and he stood, offering his brother a hand helping him to get up from the bed. “Your presence at the range would be very much appreciated. Especially be that maiden with the red, golden hued hair that seems to linger longer than it would be seemly, every time you are there.”

Haldir rejoiced in the fact that his husband seemed to be eager to get home to their children and that he was more cheerful and relaxed than he had been for days.

When they reached the house however, they found their sons gone, a single note in Thaurdae handwriting telling them about the archery range.

“Amanhír is becoming more and more like you every day.” Haldir smirked at Legolas.

“Is that so?” Legolas couldn’t hide the grin that curved his sensual lips. “Well then at least one of our boys will carry on with the warrior traditions.”

“Oh, so the art of music and poetry is not worth to be pursued?”

“Ai, it is. But just imagine three singing, dancing and frolicking elves in one house. That is too much.”


Legolas hummed softly as he picked some fresh clothes from his wardrobe. He thought of everything pleasant he could remember. Anything to keep his mind off the meeting they soon would have with Galadriel and Gandalf. He was sure that even though they didn’t know that Haldir and he were going to come today, the Lady and the wizard would have time for them.

“Are you ready?” Haldir’s sotto voice called from downstairs and Legolas shook his long hair behind his shoulder, straightening up and nodding to himself.

“I am coming.” He yelled and immediately encountered an awkward feeling that seemed to be coiling up inside of him. Before all this had happened Haldir would have jested about Legolas answer without any hesitation. But know only acknowledging silence greeted him when he walked slowly downstairs to his husband.

Thaurdae sat beside the archery range and watched his brother carefully aiming at the target, that was fixed to a tree quite a distance away. He couldn’t have guessed the distance even if he wanted to. Weapons and the handling of those were definitely not his world. But when it came to writing music or putting his feeling and impressions into words he was the most happy person. Amanhír truly looked magnificent as he stood there and held his bow drawn, the arrow poised. Like a statue. Sure, he did not have yet the subtle elegance and poise of his father Legolas, which was rather difficult to achieve anyway, but to Thaurdae Amanhír was on the best way to it.

Amanhír revelled in the soft swishing noise as the arrow took its course off the string and followed its flight with watchful eyes. His eyes narrowed to annoyed slits as the arrow missed the centre of the target by an inch. It was a good thing that his Ada was not here right now. The fact that he was more than upset and still trying to compensate the problematic situation at home would not have been enough of an excuse for Legolas. A good archer would not let himself be distracted. No matter at what cost.

Turning, lowering his bow, Amanhír glanced over to his twin and smiled reluctantly at him. To Thaurdae it didn’t matter whether Amanhír hit the target in the centre, or if the handling of the bow left something to be desired. Thaurdae loved and admired him, wrote poems about him and always held him in the highest regards.

He glanced around the range and sure enough, somewhere in the back he spotted a flash of red golden hair. The young, slightly cheeky elven maid had no eyes for the archers and their achievements. She kept studying his older brother intently. Her dark green eyes lit by a fire of interest and also jest. But most of all Amanhír found desire in them. Desire for Thaurdae.

Sighing he loosened the string and slid the bow back into its sheath. Thaurdae had gotten up from the ground and now walked over to him, his face lit with pride and joy.

“You were magnificent!”

“Ai, sure. I only missed the target by inches!”

“You didn’t miss it. You missed the centre.”

“Fantastic. I only missed the centre. Wouldn’t Ada be proud.” Amanhír rolled his eyes.

“Ada would never…”

“Stop, brother. You know what I am talking about. But let it rest. I wasn’t very good today. It seems that my eyes were not really on the target. Has your eye been on your target then?”

Thaurdae blushed immediately. “I don’t know what you are talking about. What target?”

“So, you have seen her then! I can tell by the pretty blush on your face. Say, isn’t she wonderful? She doesn’t have a too puppet like face, she shows wit and has a daring demeanour.” Amanhír placed his arms around his brother’s shoulder and together they walked off the range.


Suddenly they heard Eámanier, a young elfling, only fifty years of age, calling after them. “Amanhír, Thaurdae, wait.”

The twins halted their steps and waited until the elf had reached them.

“I just saw your fathers. They were riding through the valley towards the dwelling of the Lady. I thought maybe you wanted to know.” He panted.


“Come!” Amanhír tugged Thaurdae’s arm and they quickly ran over to where their horses were grazing. “Maybe we can catch up with them.”

“Amanhír! No, I believe they want to speak to the Lady alone.”

“I know, but maybe we can sneak up and hear what they are talking about.”

Legolas nodded nervously over to Elrond, who had his sleeves rolled up and was just instructing a few students of his in the art of healing. Haldir strode before him, following Landihin, Galadriel’s adviser, who lead them to her rooms. If he was nervous, he didn’t show it.

Galadriel bade them welcome when Landihin showed them into the large counsel hall.

“Please sit.” Her voice was smooth and calming.

Haldir smiled at her, greeting her in a somewhat more intimate way when he leaned over and hugged her shortly.

Galadriel giggled shyly and graciously sat down in a large armchair. After she had pulled up her legs and had tugged her naked feet neatly underneath her dress, she turned her sparkling eyes to Legolas and studied him for a while. Gently she probed his mind, encountering all his hopes, fears and joys. The fears and hopelessness were currently overpowering everything else and she saw his inner light fading before her.

“Legolas.” She said quietly.

“Yes my Lady?” he asked carefully.

“Tell me what you want to know.”

“But don’t you already know? Have you not seen anything? Does your mirror show anything about my future?”

“Yes, my mirror shows me things, but I need to know what it is that you feel and see.”

Legolas looked uncertain. “See? I don’t see anything my Lady. I feel this darkness, this inner turmoil, I do not know myself anymore. I loose myself in this darkness, I loose my soul and above all, my family.”

“Legolas, other than we, your soul is bound to Middle Earth more than we all would have anticipated. I have seen things happening, I know of a threat rising in the south. The Valar fear it. I fear it and most of all, you fear it.”

Haldir shifted nervously in his seat, this was taking a direction he didn’t like.

“We still feel the responsibility for Middle Earth even though we don’t live there anymore. But seeing it overrun by creatures of the depths of the underworld is not something we would want.”

“Creatures of the underworld?” Haldir’s voice had taken a stricken tone.

“Please, my dear march warden, restrain yourself.” She turned her attention back to the elf before her.


Amanhír and Thaurdae had dismounted and tethered their horses up near the large gate leading to the Lady’s realm. With swift strides they walked passed the gates and pretended to be on ‘official’ business until they were near her quarters and they would try and find a spot not only to hide but also to listen.


t.b.c