Disclaimer: The characters, places, and creatures of this story belong to J.R.R Tolkien. Characters of my own creation will be mentioned when they appear

Prologue: Innocence in Death

The figure pressed his fingers to his lips telling his companion to remain silent as they tracked their prey. The companion nodded and avoided the branches littering the ground. They were dressed almost identical, in common hunting outfits made special for them by one of the maids in their home of Imladris. The only way to tell them apart was by their hair.

Though they were identical twins, the one who had silenced his brother was wearing his hair down in waves of black. His name was Elrohir and he was, by far, the better tracker of the two. The other, who wore his hair tied by a string of raffia, was named Elladan. Elladan had an impatient streak in him so the constant loss of the deer’s trail had frustrated him.

Within minutes, they were off again as Elrohir found the trail once more. They followed the deer to a clearing where it seemed to look pleadingly for help from its pursuers. Instantaneously, Elrohir lowered his bow and arrow and pushed down Elladan’s as he fired, causing the arrow to fly towards a random tree.

“What was that for! We almost had it!” Elladan complained as he wistfully looked in the direction that the animal had fled.

“We couldn’t kill her. She was with child, Elladan. Did you not hear the baby’s song?”

Elladan had not heard the song coming from inside the mother deer. It was not surprising; Elrohir was much more in tune with nature than Elladan was. He mourned the failure of a long hunt, but he was not upset that Elrohir had stopped him. To kill two animals, one being so young and innocent would have haunted his conscience.

Nodding to his brother they started to head back to their small camp, where one other companion waited for them. When they finally reached the camp they explained to Glorfindel, their father’s advisor, what had happened with the deer. He understood and left the camp with a few arrows and his bow.

Elladan collapsed on his sleeping roll in exhaustion. He smiled at the feel of the material on his skin, but nothing could compare to his bed at home. Glorfindel was told to take them away from Imladris for a few days to take their minds off what had happened two months ago. Both of the twins had come close to death and ‘what ifs’ weighed heavily on their minds. Winter had gone and Spring peeked its head through the cold. Even months later, the possibilities plagued Elladan and Elrohir’s dreams; Elladan’s more than Elrohir’s. Subconsciously, Elladan fingered a vial dangling from a chain around his neck.

He was pulled from his thoughts as Elrohir called his name, “Elladan, Glorfindel has returned with a few rabbits. Come and help me cook them, please.”

He replaced the vial under his shirt and went to help Elrohir cook their dinner.

The next morning the group awoke groggily, skipped breakfast, and packed up to return to Imladris. Elrond expected them back a day ago, so it was a unanimous decision to go home as quick as possible. That meant skipping the meals that they could. And when they could eat it would only be a small amount.

By the time they left, the camp was so clear that it was hard to tell anyone had been there, let only three elves. They had not taken horses so their trek towards Rivendell was on foot. At first, they started off with a quick pace, but as they tired, their pace decreased. They were exhausted when they arrived at Imladris’ borders that night.

“I want nothing more than a hot bath and a bed,” panted Elrohir as they walked up a particularly steep hill.

“I agree, gwanunig nin. My bed seems more like a luxury each time I think about it,” Elladan replied wistfully.

“No dínen, I hear something,” Glorfindel ordered as leaves rustled somewhere above them.

“Stop! It’s just Glorfindel!” a shout came. But it was too late. One of the younger members of the border patrol, caught in the adrenaline of the moment, let his hand slip and fired his arrow.

It happened so quickly that Elladan didn’t even see the arrow coming towards him and his brother. It was the thud of the person next to him that made him aware that something was wrong. Glancing down in horror, Elladan saw his brother’s dead eyes staring back at him. The arrow was sticking straight out of his heart.

“Oh Valar! I’ve killed the lord!” a voice said in shock. It barely registered in Elladan’s ears.

He collapsed next to Elrohir and begged for him to come back, knowing that it was useless. His brother was dead. Their bond had been broken. He had felt it snap.

Glorfindel tried to pull Elladan away from the body but he wouldn’t budge. Weeping his own tears, Glorfindel sent a messenger to Elrond. When he was done giving the orders, he turned back to the twins and knelt down next to Elladan, putting his hand on the living twin’s shoulder.

It started to rain and still Elladan would not let go of his brother. His tears mixed with the bloody mud. It was a scene that would haunt his dreams for months later.

TBC…

gwanunig nin- my twin

No dinen- Be silent