Chapter
1 - Harsh Choices
Elrohir
laughed as his brother pinned him to the ground. It had been
a beautiful summers day, the sun high in the sky without so
much as a cloud to break it. The twins had left home early that
morning, not wanting to waste a moment of the glorious day.
They had stolen food from the kitchens and taken their horses
deep into the forest to a secluded glade near the river.
Now as the afternoon wore on, the two were engrossed in a playful
wrestling match. It always seemed that whoever began the game
was the winner and the moment Elladan had pounced on him, he
knew he would lose. Not that he minded. He’d simply win
next time. Besides, losing had its advantages.
Elrohir grinned as Elladan suddenly bent and claimed his lips
with his own. He opened his mouth, allowing Elladan’s
tongue entry. He moaned as his twin teased him with his tongue,
entwining it with his. Without warning, Elladan pulled back
and grinned, looking down at his twin.
“I knew you were going to do that!” Elrohir complained
good-naturedly.
“Do what, kiss you or pull away without warning?”
Elladan replied, still grinning.
“Both!” Elrohir laughed. “You are so predictable,
brother!” A split second later, Elladan’s body completely
covered Elrohir’s, the elder twins mouth against the younger’s
ear.
“Predictable?” He whispered, his voice sending shivers
down Elrohir’s spine. “I think not. Would you like
me to show you just how *unpredictable* I can be?” Elrohir
could barely speak. He nodded.
“Yes.” He whispered hoarsely. Elladan’s eyes
sparkled and he swiftly began to remove his clothing.
They returned
to Rivendell in the early hours of the evening, hand-in-hand.
As they approached the gates, they became aware that something
was wrong. Two new banners fluttered by the gates and the house
seemed busier than usual. Elrohir paled suddenly. “Ai,
Elladan we forgot! Today is the day the visitors from Lorien
and the Grey Havens arrive!” He looked at Elladan with
undisguised horror. “Father is going to kill us!”
Though the
twins were past their majority, at 150 they were still young
and often treated as elflings. Their still bore the brunt of
their harsh father’s wrath on far too many occasions.
They lived in constant fear of him discovering their illegal
relationship, terrified of what he would do in his rage. They
had kept it secret thus far and had been together for nearly
100 years, since just after their majority, but as time went
on and their love grew, the secret became harder to keep.
Nobody would understand, they knew that. Their love went against
everything they had ever been taught. But they couldn’t
help it, it was too deep, too strong. They were not complete
without each other.
Now they
walked slowly into the house knowing their father was going
to be - less than pleased. They had barely made it through the
entrance when they heard his voice behind them.
“Elladan, Elrohir. In my study now.” Inwardly cringing,
they turned at followed their father into the room. The door
had barely shut when his wrath descended upon them.
“Where have you been? You knew full well we had guests
arriving today!”
“Ada,” Elladan tried to speak, but Elrond would
not let him.
“You are disobedient and irresponsible children! It is
high time you grew up and stopped acting like elflings!”
“Ada, we just forgot!” Elrohir said desperately.
“We meant no disrespect! We will apologise to Grandfather
and Lord Cirdan!”
“You will do more than that.” Elrond seethed. “When
he returns to the Grey Havens next week, you will be going with
him.” Elladan gasped.
“You are sending us to the Grey Havens?”
“No.” Said Elrond coldly. “I am sending Elrohir
to the Grey Havens. You will go to Lorien with Lord Celeborn.”
The twins looked at their father in horrified shock.
“No! Ada please!” Elrohir cried. “You cannot
do this to us!”
“Do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do, Elrohir.”
Elrond glared at the younger twin. “You are a bad influence
on each other and therefore must be separated. A few centuries
apart should cure your childish whims. Now get out of my sight.”
The twins
fled, running back to their room where they collapsed on Elrohir’s
bed. “He cannot do this!” Elrohir sobbed. “He
cannot tear us apart.” He buried his face in his twin’s
chest, his body shaking with the sobs. Elladan wrapped his arms
around him, his own tears falling steadily.
When they heard the door open sometime later, they didn’t
bother to pull apart. It didn’t matter, not now.
Celebrian
sat on the bed beside her distraught sons. Slowly she reached
out and placed her hand on Elladan’s back. Suddenly her
eldest turned and faced her. “Why is he doing this? Why
are you letting him? Don’t you love us?” Celebrian
looked into the hurting grey eyes of her son. Elrohir’s
face remained buried in Elladan’s tunic.
“Elladan…” She said softly. “I know
you are hurting. But perhaps this is for the best. You and Elrohir
are awfully dependant on one another. Some time apart may be
good for you.” Elrohir lifted his head, twisting in his
brother’s embrace to look at her.
“You do not understand.” He said dully. “You
will kill us.”
“Oh Elrohir.” Celebrian moved so that she could
embrace both her sons. “I do not want this any more than
you do. I will miss you both terribly. But your father is unmoveable
on this. Take heart, it is not forever. The time will go quicker
than you think.” She looked at her sons, Elladan’s
arm’s still wrapped tightly around Elrohir, who gripped
his brother’s waist.
“Nay mother, it will not.” Elladan said sadly. “Ada
has not even told us how long it will be. There is nothing for
us to look forward to.” He turned away and buried his
face in Elrohir’s hair. Celebrian watched them for a while,
saw the desperate way in which they clung to each other. After
a time she rose and left the room silently, knowing that nothing
she could say would soothe them.
They stayed
entwined on the bed for hours, not moving just holding each
other. As ithil rose high in the sky, Elladan made a decision.
“Elrohir.” He said softly. His twin’s tear-stained
face met his own.
“I can’t.” He whispered. “I can’t
be parted from you.” Elladan looked into the grey orbs
that matched his own.
“You won’t be. We will never be parted.” He
said with great feeling. Elrohir looked at him, confused.
“But how?” He said. “Ada said…”
Elladan cut him off.
“I know. But I cannot bear it. You were right, it will
kill us to be apart. Ada wants us to leave Imladris? Then we
will. But we will leave together, for a destination of our own
choosing.” Elrohir’s eyes widened as comprehension
dawned.
“You wish to run away?” He gasped.
“It is that or be parted.” He replied. “Will
you, Elrohir? Will you come away with me?” His heart beat
faster as he waited for his twin’s reply.
Elrohir leaned forward and gently kissed Elladan’s lips.
“Anything for you.” He whispered. Elladan reached
out and stroked Elrohir’s cheek.
“Valar, I love you. Come, let us go now. With luck will
be well away by the time they discover that we’re gone.”
Elrohir nodded and disentangled himself from Elladan. He moved
quickly to a cupboard and pulled out two packs, tossing one
to Elladan. Swiftly and silently they packed, preparing to leave
Imladris, probably forever. When they were done, they turned
to each other. Elladan held out his hand and Elrohir took it,
squeezing tightly. As one, they slipped out of the open window
into the yard below, making no sound as they landed in a crouch
from the short drop. They stole across the yard, using their
knowledge as part of the Imladris Guard to avoid the night patrol.
They were soon in the deep of the forest that surrounded the
valley.
They walked
through the night, heading south towards the Misty Mountains.
They never stopped, knowing that search patrols would be dispatched
as soon as they were discovered missing. They walked in silence
for many miles, until Elrohir finally spoke. “Elladan?
Where are we going to go?” His twin sighed.
“I’m not sure yet. But I know we’ll be safer
if we get over the Misty Mountains, as long as we avoid Lorien.”
Elladan said.
“Don’t forget the Greenwood.” Elrohir added.
“Perhaps we should continue heading south once we get
over the mountains, towards Harad. There is very little risk
of running into any elves there!” Elladan thought about
this for a moment.
“I agree.” He replied. Then he stopped suddenly
and pulled Elrohir into his arms. “And once there we’ll
find a place where we can be together. Just us.” He softly
kissed Elrohir’s lips. His twin smiled.
“That sounds wonderful. But come, we must keep going,
lest we find ourselves hauled back to Imladris.” Elladan
nodded and the twins continued their trek towards the misty
mountains.
********************
Chaos had
broken out in Imladris when the twin’s absence was discovered.
Celebrian had broken down, Elrond had been furious and Glorfindel
had been dispatched to find them. Elrond had been convinced
that they would not go far, only having Glorfindel search the
nearby area, unwittingly giving the twins almost a full day
head-start.
Now Glorfindel’s patrol rode through the dense woodland,
looking for the runaways.
Glorfindel
was deeply concerned about the twins. He loved them as his own
sons and had long been the father that Elrond had not.
He alone had suspicions as to the true nature of their relationship,
but had said nothing, not wanting to frighten them and somehow,
having known them from birth, understanding that no lover could
ever mean anything to them, so long as they had each other.
Such was the nature of the bond they shared.
Now he found himself torn between his love for the twins and
his duty to Elrond. If he found them and took them back, their
punishment would be harsh. Who knew how long Elrond would separate
them for. Yet if he failed to find them, he would forever wonder
what had become of them, if they had survived their escape.
It was a dilemma that tore at his very soul.
“May the Valar guide me.” He whispered as he pressed
on.
********************
For three
days the twins walked, coming continually closer to the Misty
Mountains. Suddenly, Elladan halted. “Did you hear that?”
He asked urgently. Elrohir paused and listened.
“Hoof beats!” Elrohir cried. “They have found
us!”
Elladan grabbed his twin’s hand. “Run.” They
dashed though the trees, fleeing the search party. It wasn’t
long until they reached the edge of the forest and ran on to
a large, dry plain.
Like hunted deer they ran, desperate to escape those who would
force them to go back home.
Luck seemed
not to be on their side though, for in their panic they rounded
an old rock-hill without looking - and ran straight into a group
of dwarves.
Frantically they tried to go back the way they’d come,
but the sound of hoof beats was getting ever closer. They were
trapped.
END CHAPTER
1
