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Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters and places associated with the Lord of the Rings are creations of J.R.R. Tolkien and property of Tolkien Enterprises. No money is being made off of this story, it is for entertainment only.
Chapter 6: Fateful Tidings
Unable are the Loved to die
For Love is Immortality.
-Emily Dickinson
*******
Elladan sighed eliciting a side-glance from Haldan standing next to the elf. It was raining again which plummeted the elf’s mood with the weather.
Haldan could tell the elf’s bad mood and was smart enough to know to leave Elladan alone right now. He wisely moved off to the other side of their campfire and sat next to Aranel.
Aranel glanced at the young human curiously until he looked at the expression on the elf’s face that the ranger had been standing next to. ‘Smart move young one,’ Aranel thought silently.
The one there with the nerve, or lack of intelligence, whichever, to ignore the signs was Elrohir. The dark-haired elf stood from his position on the other side of Aranel and walked over to Elladan. He looked his brother purposely in the eyes.
“A word if you please,” Elrohir demanded more than asked.
Elladan shrugged indifferently at his brother and followed Elrohir away from the camp and further into the trees out of earshot, at least for the human anyway. The ranger and fair-haired elf exchanged a look and Aranel started a conversation with the ranger desperately not wanting to overhear the two elves that were not that terribly far away for an elf.
******
“Are you purposely trying to scare the young man?”
“Of course not,” Elladan answered irritably, “what do you want brother?”
“I told you in Bree that our conversation was not over and that I would not drop it, so I ask again, what are you thinking?”
Elrohir was prepared for another fight and steeled his resolve, which totally crumbled away when Elladan did not respond with anger.
Elladan remembered the thought that he had in Bree that he should have talked to Elrohir. The question he was asking now was whether he could actually do it or not. He closed his eyes and tried to steady himself. He really did want to, but he could not think of where to begin.
How do you tell someone that you had the sickening suspicion that you where fading, knew it, and could not stop it?
Especially telling something like this to your own brother?
Elladan was not sure how Elrohir would take it. After all, the same thing had almost happen to their mother. She had been able to retreat to the undying lands, though, where Elladan knew he would never be able to do that, his heart was tied to strongly to Imladris already.
A light touch on his shoulder brought Elladan out of his contemplations. He opened his eyes to realize he was leaning against the tree he was standing next to with Elrohir’s hand on his shoulder. He looked around to see Elrohir’s worried gray eyes looking at him. Elladan sighed again and looked at his brother sadly.
Elladan did not need to say anything.
That single look held more meaning that any words could have.
Elrohir read it easily. It was a look he would never forget. The same kind of sad look their mother had given him when she knew she was going to leave Middle Earth. Elrohir was not surprised, it was why had been forcing Elladan to talk in the first place.
Not knowing if his stubborn brother would force him away, Elrohir reached out farther and embraced Elladan in a hug. Elladan was caught off guard by his brother’s action, but he did not resist the effort. As a matter of fact, in that moment, the support of someone he trusted and loved crumbled all of the precarious elf’s tight hold on his emotions. Elladan sunk to the ground and for the second time in a week, he cried.
It pained Elrohir to see his brother crying, but he knew it was something that needed to take place. Elrohir depended on Elladan’s usual stableness as much as he depended on his father’s. It broke his heart to see his brother in such turmoil. That coupled with his own grief weighed heavily on Elrohir’s heart and as he sat there rocking his brother tears started to slide down his cheeks as well.
The two brothers sat like that for a long while, salty tears mixing in with the falling rain. They vented their grief in the solitude of the trees and Elrohir did not let go until Elladan’s shoulders stopped shaking. Elladan had needed that, and Elrohir admitted to himself, that he did too, but he was unsure if it would be enough for Elladan.
“It was not your fault you know,” Elrohir said, his voice rough with emotion.
Blinking away the last of his tears Elladan looked away from his brother as he answered.
“I think my head is starting to realize that Elrohir, but my heart is not convinced.”
“What can I possibly do to convince you otherwise Elladan?”
“I do not know,” Elladan answered quietly still not meeting his brother’s eyes.
“This kind of behavior is dangerous for elves brother, you know that as well as I do. Will seeing Gilraen help, is that why you came?”
“Do not worry Elrohir, I will not drop dead before we get her and her son back home,” Elladan said harshly.
“That is not what I meant and you know it!” Elrohir snapped back.
Elrohir took a deep breath and continued on calmly.
“I am just worried for you brother. Orcs have driven our mother away and taken a close friend from us, I just do not want to lose my only brother to them as well.”
“Do not worry Elrohir, I will work through this somehow.”
It was Elrohir’s turn to sigh now. Elladan had closed himself off again and pushing anymore would only result in another argument. Sitting this close Elrohir could feel Elladan start to shiver from the rain again and figured getting back to the fire would be the best thing. If it rained much harder the fire would not last much longer anyway.
“We should head back before Aranel starts to look for us,” Elrohir suggested.
Elladan simply nodded in agreement. He did not trust his voice, or his restraint, right now anyway and biting Elrohir’s head off would not help matters. Elrohir offered his hand and Elladan was grateful for the assistance up. After breaking down in his brother’s arms he felt weak emotionally and physically. An act he would usually be too embarrassed to do in front of his brother, but right now he was just too tired and cold to care. Elladan gripped onto the tree when he stood unsure if his legs would hold him up. As he was steadying himself Elladan felt something warm draped over him and saw that Elrohir had placed his cloak over Elladan’s shoulders.
“Before you say anything,” Elrohir started, “just take it. We both know I am not going to get sick or cold from the rain, you on the other hand are still not well, and I do not want you getting sick again.”
The ghost of a smile lit Elladan’s fair features and he nodded to his brother.
“Elrohir… I apologize for my behavior earlier. I did not mean to hurt you and I am trying even now to remember my patience around others, it… it is just difficult right now. I guess what I am trying to say is, hantale.” //thank you//
“Would you not do the same for me?” Elrohir asked.
Elladan gave him an honest nod that of course he would.
“Well then my brother. There is no need.”
Elladan smiled at his brother and pushed himself away from the tree he was using for support.
The movement was too quick and the night dulled briefly as a stab of pain shot down Elladan’s side. He took a deep breath mentally scolding himself for not thinking before he acted. He decided to try getting up again, but a little less slowly this time. Elladan made it half way up before he realized that he had been standing a second ago and not pushing up from the ground…
******
Aranel and Haldan kept glancing in the direction the twins had retreated.
“You don’t think they are fighting do you?” Haldan asked seriously.
“Probably,” the elf answered dryly.
“Not like that,” he corrected after he saw the young man’s expression.
‘At least I hope not,’ Aranel thought.
The elf looked up when he heard someone approaching. Only one set of steps, not good. ‘What if one of them killed the other?’ he wondered. No, they would never, but the look on their faces when they left…
Aranel stood suddenly startling the ranger and headed off into the trees. He came across Elrohir carrying Elladan towards the camp, which did not sooth his mind any.
“What happened my lord?”
“My brother is simply exhausted and in need of rest and warmth.”
Elrohir said no more as he entered their camp. There was no need to tell them of what he and Elladan had spoken of. For it was a family matter.
Aranel and Haldan wisely did not ask.
*******
The first thing Elladan heard was the soothing tinkling of the rain.
That was until he came to enough that he realized the rain was hitting him as well.
Suppressing a groan the dark-haired elf cracked an eye open. With that done he opened the other eye as well. The sky was still dark through the trees, but it was beginning to lighten. He carefully turned his head to the side to see Haldan sitting by the fire smoking a pipe. The fire was low, but the hot coals refused to be extinguished by the wetness. The coals cast an eerie red glow on the form of the young man and as he puffed at the pipe a brief orange glow lit his face. Elladan smiled to himself. What was it with humans and their smoke anyway?
“We have found one thing you had in common with your chief,” Elladan’s voice rang out tired, but merry.
Haldan nearly fell over and practically yelped in surprise at hearing the elf’s voice sound out of nowhere. The ranger dropped the pipe, but picked it up quickly.
“Some watch,” Elladan said laughing lightly while sitting up, “do you always startle that easily?”
Haldan looked at the elf dumbfounded for a moment than shook his head.
“Um… no, but, elves are just so… quiet.”
“Not quiet enough,” Elrohir groaned from his bedroll without rolling over.
Elladan smirked at his brother and then turned back to the ranger.
“Amin hiraetha, I did not mean to surprise you,” Elladan said. //I’m sorry//
“What about waking everyone else within five miles?” Elrohir asked from his position.
Elladan smirked.
“It is only you, so shush, anyway as I was saying… I did not mean to surprise you,” Elladan directed his attention to the ranger.
Elrohir snorted softly in irritation, but did not move.
Aranel smiled to himself and wisely kept quiet.
Elladan rose and carefully sat next to the ranger.
“Should you be up? Do you need anything?” the ranger asked.
“No thank you Haldan,” Elladan answered kindly.
Haldan nodded and absentmindedly brought his pipe up only to inhale water.
The ranger coughed at the bad taste, made a face, and eyed the pipe like it had betrayed him. He had forgotten he had dropped it and just now noticed all of the weed had fallen out.
At the young man’s crestfallen look Elladan couldn’t contain himself anymore and had to laugh at the ranger. The dark-haired elf burst into silvery laughter. The laughter was contagious and Haldan started to laugh over his own lack of keenness.
“All right, that is it!” Elrohir complained as he sat up, causing the fair-haired elf to sit up as well.
“Others are trying to rest, which is impossible with the two of you making enough racket to keep every creature awake within earshot. So be quiet!” Elrohir finished looking strait at his brother.
Haldan bit his lip trying to hold back the laughter, looking every bit the scolded child. Elrohir’s outburst only caused Elladan to laugh even more, though. Elrohir’s shoulders slumped. Mumbling to himself so that even the other two elves could not hear him, Elrohir testily lay back down and rolled over away from the two. Aranel looked at the two and they exchanged a conspiratorial look before he shrugged his shoulders and laid back down as well.
Haldan and Elladan smiled at each other and the ranger, out of habit, almost made the same mistake again, but caught himself before he inhaled this time. Which only sent Elladan back into another laughing fit. An irritated groan from Elrohir made Elladan bit his lip this time as he tried to calm himself down.
Elrohir groaned like the proper response to a brother required, but since he was turned away from the two they could not see the smile gracing his face. So joyous was he to hear his brother honestly laughing at something, anything. In all honesty he felt more like laughing with his brother than bickering with him, but he knew to draw attention to the fact would embarrass Elladan and his bad mood would probably return. Elrohir smiled a little wider as more laughter rang out from the two. Yes, he decided, it was a comforting sound indeed, a sound that would become far in between on the morrow when they reached Gilraen’s village. Elrohir pushed such grim thoughts from his mind now as he listened to his brother and the ranger taunt each other and drew strength from their light mood. With a content sigh Elrohir let himself reenter the elven reverie to the sounds of merry laughter.
********
The rain stopped shortly after dawn leaving the forest laden with fog. The white mist was heavy enough that it was difficult to see past a few feet in front of one impeding the travel by horseback to a crawl, so the four companions walked along beside the horses. The four walked along in grim silence each absorbed in his own thoughts. The fog lessened as the day went on, but did not relent.
Sometime around midday Haldan stopped and the three elves turned to look at the ranger. Before either could ask why he stopped the human spoke.
“Gilraen’s village is just over that small ridge. We should be their in an hour.”
Elladan gripped onto Arphenhiril’s neck for support. It was still hard to accept the fact that they were here to tell a young woman that she was a widow. Correction that he was here to tell Gilraen she was a widow. Elladan took a deep breath and steadied himself, this had to be done.
“Elladan?”
Elladan looked over at the sound of the ranger’s voice to see three sets of eyes staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“I asked if you were alright,” the ranger responded.
“I apologize Haldan I was just thinking, yes I am fine.”
“Are you sure, you look a bit pale?” Aranel asked.
I will tell her. Elrohir’s voice cut into Elladan’s thoughts.
“No!” Elladan responded out loud causing Aranel and Haldan to look at him curiously.
“Come on lets go,” Elladan said shortly and lead Arphenhiril on ahead.
******
“Are you sure you don’t want me to, I don’t mind?”
“No, Leodry,” Gilraen answered with a smile as she caught the bolting two year old as he passed, “you do enough as it is. We will manage.”
“What is a friend for, huh?” he said slightly blushing.
“Look mommy!”
The two adults looked in the direction the small hand was pointing to see four figures barely visible through the fog approaching the village. As they got a little closer Gilraen’s heart about leapt out of her chest. There were three figures and what appeared to be a ranger coming.
A ranger!
Gilraen almost called out to them in joy, but something held her tongue. Something she could not quite place. When they walked down into the village she knew what is was and her heart sank. There was a ranger yes, and even though she could not see his face, she knew that was not her husband’s gate. She would recognize it anywhere and that was not it! Gilraen’s breath caught in her throat. She was greatly disappointed that it was not her husband returning, but nonetheless travelers were welcome in this village.
“Come on Leodry,” she said shifting the child in her arms, “it looks like our village has visitors.”
Gilraen called out a welcome to the four and walked towards them with Leodry right behind her. When she got close she was surprised to see that three of them were elves and she heard the man behind her say something in amazement as well. Her breath caught again when she saw the twins. She had only met them a few times before, but there was no mistaking who they were. She also knew that her husband traveled with the sons of Elrond frequently. Why then were they here without Arathorn? Deep down she already knew the answer to why Elrond’s sons would come to this village personally, but she needed to hear it, dreaded to hear it. Gilraen realized she was running toward them with Aragorn in her arms. It simply could not be, she begged the Valar that it could not be!
“Elladan, Elrohir!” she called and ran up in front of the two.
“What are you doing here? What is it? What is wrong?”
“Gilraen,” Elladan began, “we need to talk.”
“Is it about…?” Gilraen could not finish her question before her throat constricted.
“Gilraen, please, could we go inside?”
Gilraen numbly nodded her head in response. She put Aragorn down and tried to speak in a confident voice, but event to her own ears her voice sounded weak.
“Why don’t you stay out here and play for awhile?”
“What’s wrong mommy?”
“Aragorn please, just do as I say.”
Aragorn cast his gray eyes to the ground. Aranel knelt down in front of the small child.
“Do you like horses little one?”
Aragorn’s small face lit up as he looked to the elf.
“Oh yes!”
“Then I have three stubborn animals to introduce you to,” said the fair-haired elf smiling.
Aragorn practically beamed. Horses and elves, two of his favorites!
“Come,” Aranel offered his hand to the little one.
Aragorn grabbed the elf’s hand and as he turned around the fair-haired elf caught Gilraen’s eye. She smiled at him and mouthed the words ‘thank you.’ Aranel returned her smile and nodded.
******
Elladan, Elrohir, and Gilraen silently walked into the house. Haldan and Leodry respectfully stayed outside. The older man turned to the ranger.
“I recognize the names of the two dark-haired elves. They are the Lord of Rivendell’s sons are they not?”
“They are,” Haldan answered.
“Then it is as I feared,” said Leodry sighing.
“What?”
“Come boy,” Leodry started, “Arathorn was supposed to be back a week ago and now the sons of Elrond show up at Gilraen’s door.”
Leodry looked down at his feet.
“Was it painful?” he asked the ranger quietly.
Haldan started to answer, but stopped when he realized that he did not know. Elladan had told him that Arathorn was shot by an orc, but he did not say where or how and the ranger finally realized in all this time he had never asked. It had been enough for him to know his chief was dead and to focus on getting here.
“I do not know,” the ranger answered honestly, “the twins were there when it happened and they said he was shot by an orc other than that I do not know, but I think Elladan was injured then as well.”
Leodry nodded glad the ranger was honest with him.
“I don’t rightly know which one is which, but I did notice one was looking a little peaked, that would be Elladan I presume.”
“Yes,” the ranger answered, “I met the three of them in Bree four days ago. He was sick when they entered the inn and still seems to be.”
By listening to the twins bicker Haldan also figured that Elladan was not really supposed to be traveling with his brother and with the two bouts of illness he had seen he had to agree with that. He kept that bit of information to himself, though.
The two looked over as high-pitched laughter sailed to them. They saw the little boy laughing as Elrohir’s horse nosed the human boy in front of him curiously. The horse’s breath was tickling the little one and he squirmed and laughed under the scrutiny. They also noticed the fair-haired elf scrunching his face in pain as the high-pitched sound cut through the elf’s sharp ears. The ranger chuckled to himself.
******
The scene inside was not nearly as calm. As soon as the three entered the house Gilraen wheeled on the twins.
“I already know what you are here for so just say it!”
The two elves stared at the woman momentarily stunned by her ferocity.
“Well?” she asked forcefully close to tears.
Elladan snapped out of the stupor first.
“I am so sorry Gilraen, but you are right, you husband was killed by orcs almost a fortnight ago,” Elladan said quietly.
The news was something, even though she feared it, she had known was coming. Expected or not, for some reason she was too confused to figure out right now, it made her angry, angry at the orcs who murdered her husband, angry at the world for being like it was, and angry with the messengers who delivered the news. Her rational mind told her that they were just confirming what she already knew, but her grief pushed the rational side of her mind to the background.
“Sorry?! You’re sorry! Why should you be sorry!” her voice picked up volume as she raged on.
“You are not the one left alone to raise a son. You are not the one who has to explain to Aragorn why his father is never coming back. He is not even old enough to understand death yet! You are also not the one who has to cope with being alone for the rest of your life! Why on Middle Earth should you be sorry?!”
“Gilraen please…” Elrohir started to calm the woman down as he reached to put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“No!” she yelled as she stepped back.
“You have delivered your message, not get out of my house!”
“Gilraen, I know you are hurting now, but…” Elladan said coming closer to the woman.
“But? But what? It will simply go away? Elves! How can you stand there and talk about is so coldly? You two were his friends, do you feel nothing? Or does the life of a mortal mean so little to you?”
Elladan forced himself to look calm on the outside, but on the inside those words stung more than she would ever know. He had not expected her to react with such anger. ‘Then again, how was she supposed to react?’ he asked himself. He could tell that underneath all the fuming anger she was scared. And who could blame her? Elladan swallowed trying to push his own emotions back down, for suddenly he did not feel well, but he had promised himself he would do this.
“Gilraen,” Elladan tried again stepping right in front of the woman.
“Stay away,” she responded evenly.
Gilraen back away again breathing hard, undaunted the dark-haired elf took another step closer.
“Gilraen stop it,” Elladan said as soothingly as he could, unaware that his voice held an edge to it instead.
In truth his heart was pounding so loud in his ears he could barely hear his own voice and he was unsure if it sounded weak or not.
Elrohir watched the both of them with trepidation. Gilraen was not the kind of lady to hit anyone and Elladan usually always mild mannered, but the two looked as if they could pounce on each other at any second. That was all he needed, for his brother to get into a fight with Arathorn’s widow. Although, he admitted to himself that it looked like it would do the both of them some good right now. Elrohir quickly banished that thought, though. Gilraen was not a fighter, so Elladan had an unfair advantage over the woman, although she looked fierce enough to tear the head off of a balrog right now.
“I said stay away,” the woman reiterated when the elf came closer still.
Elrohir held his breath as his brother stepped in and wrapped the woman in a hug. She balled her fist and tensed and for a moment Elrohir was sure a fight was coming. He let out a sigh when she finally let out a sob and covered her eyes instead of hitting anyone.
Once the first sob came out Gilraen’s pent up fear and grief came with it. Her weak legs collapsed and she slid to the floor. Elladan never let go and sat on the floor with her, holding and rocking her in much the same way Elrohir had done for him earlier. The sobs came uncontrolled and Gilraen wept on the shoulder of a being she barely knew. Even though she had ire toward them a moment ago the presence of the eldar was comforting and what should have been an embarrassing act in front of no more that an acquaintance was not. To her the embrace felt almost fatherly and she soaked in the feeling of comfort it offered.
Elrohir came around and knelt next to the two on the floor. He placed a comforting hand on his brother and the woman’s shoulder. Elrohir smiled reassuringly at his brother for he could tell the emotional toll this was taking on Elladan by looking into his eyes. At a nod from Elladan Elrohir rose silently to leave and closed the door behind him. He took a deep breath and wiped at the tears he did not realize he was shedding. Scanning the area for his companions Elrohir quietly left the house. Maybe Gilraen and Elladan could help heal each other’s heart.
******
Elrohir approached the group as Aragorn was introducing Aranel and Haldan to Trithen the horse. The little one called to him as he walked up and with a sad smile Elrohir realized the child had his father’s eyes. The same vitality and youthfulness, a sparkle that the elf knew would be dimmed very shortly.
The little one walked up to him and smiled.
“Why do you look so sad?” Aragorn asked.
The question caught Elrohir off guard. He hid a smile as he realized the child was a perceptive little thing anyway.
“I was just thinking of something little one. So what is his name?” Elrohir asked indicating the horse.
“This is Trithen,” Aragorn said proudly, “mommy takes me for a ride on him every day.”
“Does she now?” Elrohir asked fondly.
“Do you know my daddy?”
Elrohir’s eyes widened a bit at the question. He had to force himself to keep the grieve out of his eyes as he looked at the boy. He also noticed everyone staring at him hesitantly.
“Um, yes little one I do. You know you look a lot like him?” Elrohir asked changing the subject.
Aragorn just giggled.
“That’s what everyone says! What’s your name? What’s your brother’s name?”
“My name is Elrohir little one and my brother’s name is Elladan.”
“Elrohir and Elladan,” Aragorn repeated, or mostly anyway, the child having trouble pronouncing Elrohir’s name.
Aragorn huffed at Elrohir.
“Aranel’s name is much easier, so his your brother’s.”
“I apologize,” Elrohir said bowing to the little one with a twinkle in his eyes.
“That’s alright, you need a nickname.”
Elrohir’s eyes widened in surprise. A nickname? Whatever for? Aragorn’s face scrunched in concentration as he thought.
“I got it!” he practically screeched making the three elves groan in pain.
“We can call you ‘Ro,” Aragorn stated proudly.
Elrohir groaned inwardly. There was no way Elladan was escaping this either.
“What about Elladan little one? I think he needs one as well.”
“You’re right. Brothers both got to have one.”
Elrohir smiled inwardly. He was not going to go through years of being called Ro without Elladan suffering with him.
“Well,” Elrohir suggested, “since you made my nickname from the middle of my name, why don’t you try that for Elladan as well. You could call him Dan.”
Elrohir smiled outwardly this time, as the child seemed to like that idea. He smiled even wider as he realized Elladan was going to hate being called Dan even more that he already hated Ro.
*******
After what felt like hours Gilraen sniffed and looked up into the eyes of the elf she was crying on. Now that she stopped to look she found profound sadness in the elf’s gray eyes. Why had she not noticed that before?
“I am sorry for my harsh words earlier,” she said quietly.
“No apology is needed. As far as your son goes, you did not say anything that was not true.”
“Maybe, but it was a horrible way to say it and I’m sorry. I accused you of being cold when I can clearly see the sadness in your eyes.”
Elladan simply nodded and helped Gilraen to her feet. Elladan ushered her to the kitchen table and they sat down in chairs this time.
“I knew it had happened even before you came here,” she said quietly.
Elladan looked at her curiously.
“I have had nightmare for close to a fortnight now and somehow I just knew.”
Gilraen sighed.
“I suppose I just needed to vent my frustration.”
She looked to the elf with fear in her eyes.
“What am I to do now? How am I to tell a child that does not understand death that his father is dead?”
“As for young Aragorn I could not even begin to give you advice for I am not knowledgeable with children. By elven standards my brother and I were still quite young when our sister was born, so we do not exactly have experience with children. As for what to do now… Elrohir and I are here to more than just inform you of Arathorn’s death.”
Gilraen looked up sharply at Elladan. She stared in confusion for a moment and then it dawned on her. The reason so many where here now was to take her away!
“You cannot be serious! This is my home; this is my son’s home and these are our people. You have no right to take us away from here.”
“We are not trying to take you way from your people. My father simply thinks that you and your son would be safer in Rivendell.”
“For how long?”
“That I do not know.”
“Maybe not, but I am sure you can take a guess. Does he want us there permanently or temporarily?”
Elladan had not gotten the chance to speak to his father about that, but he had the feeling Elrond wanted to keep Aragorn in Rivendell until he is old enough to understand his heritage.
“I can see it in your eyes Elladan. You want Aragorn to live in Rivendell. No, I will not have him growing up some place where he will be an outcast.”
“An outcast? Isildur’s heirs have always been welcome in Rivendell. The boy is even distantly related to us, how can you say he would be an outcast?”
“Face it, he would be the only human to live within Rivendell’s borders
would he not?”
“I suppose you are right,” Elladan said with a sigh, “but it is for his own protection Gilraen. He is the last of his line, there is no one else.”
“That may be true, but why would he need protection? The village will undoubtedly help care for and protect him. Your father does not think that would be enough?”
“I do not know. My father wishes him and you to be brought to Rivendell and he is rarely wrong on such matter.”
Gilraen huffed and stood up in frustration.
“First you tell me my husband has been murdered ant then you want to my son and I away from everything we have and know? For exactly who’s peace of mind is it for anyway? Ours or your father’s?”
Elladan was desperately trying to keep himself calm. To any of his companions it was no secrete his temper had been extremely short of late and that Gilraen was obviously hurting, but right now this woman was pushing his limit of his patience talking about his father so.
“Excuse me?” Elladan said testily.
“My father has lived through countless experiences and if wants Aragorn to be brought to Rivendell for his safety than it is for more than just personnel reasons.”
“Experience or not, we are not going. Losing his father is going to be enough of a change and I will not force him to change his whole life as well.”
With that Gilraen turned and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Elladan asked as he rose.
“This is the time of day I take Aragorn for his ride. Before you came I had prepared a picnic dinner for us. Now I believe I will use that time to see if I can figure out how to explain death to a child,” Gilraen said without turning around.
Gilraen walked out the door without turning around. Elladan sighed and sat back down. Gilraen had always been so calm and composed the few times Elladan had met her. He had not expected this infuriatingly testy behavior from the woman. But as he had asked himself earlier, how did he expect her to take it?
Elladan sighed again, propped his arms on the table, and rested his head on his arms. This day was turning out to be incredibly exhausting. Thank the Valar it was almost over.
******
Gilraen rode out of the village with a basket and carrying Aragorn. Elrohir was not sure what happened in the house after he left, but the firm set of the woman’s jaw gave him some answers. He respected her need for time alone with her son right now and let her go.
“What do you think that was about?” asked Aranel when the woman had rode out of earshot.
Elrohir simply shrugged his shoulders and headed for the house.
“Do you think she took the news well?” Haldan asked the remaining two.
“Somehow I doubt it lad,” Leodry said shaking his head.
Leodry said his goodbyes and headed for his own house and evening meal leaving Aranel and Haldan alone outside.
“How is it we always get left out?” the ranger asked.
The fair-haired elf simply shrugged his shoulders.
********
Elrohir gently pushed open the door and walked in to find his brother sitting at the kitchen table with his head resting on it. Elladan did not look at him when he entered the kitchen and sat down.
“Elladan?”
Elrohir reached out and touched his brother on the shoulder when he received no response.
“Elladan?” he asked again.
“What?” Elladan asked softly.
“How did things go?” Elrohir asked.
“Gilraen does not want to come back with us,” Elladan answered.
“I guessed as much by the way she rode out of here. How are you doing?”
Elladan raised tired eyes to his brother.
“I think I need to lie down,” Elladan answered wearily.
Elrohir looked over at his brother’s tired face and nodded. Maybe Gilraen would not object to the use of her house while she was gone.
“Perhaps it might be best if you ate something first?” Elrohir suggested.
“Nys,” Elladan answered shaking his head. //no//
“Very well,” Elrohir sighed.
Elladan changed out of his muddy damp clothes and went to rest in one of the bedrooms. Considering how His brother and Gilraen’s talk went Elrohir decided he would ask Gilraen if she objected later. Aranel and Haldan entered the house after Elrohir gave them the all-clear signal and the three sat down to wait.
As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon the fog once again descended on the valley. Elrohir was beginning to worry about Gilraen and her son not being back yet, but how could one put a time limit on a wife and mother’s grief? Elrohir looked up when Elladan finally entered into the kitchen where they were waiting and began to worry for his brother again also. His brother did not look any better than he had before he went to get rest and he wondered if his twin had actually slept at all. Maybe it would have been better for Gilraen and Elladan to not meet at this time after all. Elrohir caught his brother’s gaze and looked at him questioningly. Elladan would not hold his gaze and turned away causing Elrohir to frown.
Before Elrohir could say anything a noise caught all three of the elves attention. All three looked up sharply startling the ranger.
“What is it?” Haldan asked.
“The cry of a horse and it sound frightened,” Aranel answered him.
A wave of anxiety swept through Elladan and he knew what it was from. One look at the other two elves confirmed they felt it as well.
“There are ors close by,” Elladan said to the ranger.
“Gilraen, Aragorn,” the ranger breathed.
The four quickly grabbed their weapons and bolted for the door praying to the Valar that they would be in time.