Finding Hope

Tissue warning if you are partial to the twins! (Foxhiei - here's the twins!)

Chapter 11

Elladan and Elrohir returned early from their patrol and were walking down the hall to their rooms. They were just outside Erestor and Glorfindel’s rooms when they heard screams coming from within. They burst through the door, swords drawn, causing more terrified screams, and found Erestor and Glorfindel in their bedroom sitting next to two elflings, holding them and trying to comfort them.

“Ada, Orcs!” Amdiriel screamed, wrapping her little arms around Erestor’s neck and holding on to him tightly.

“You are safe here, sweetheart. No Orcs. Your Adas will keep you safe, little one. No Orcs,” Erestor said softly, holding her close and kissing her little face. “It was just a bad dream, sweetheart. You are safe. These two are just Elladan and Elrohir. They heard you scream and came to help you. You are safe now.”

The twins sheathed their swords, and Elladan went to the cradle where an infant had just started wailing, startled awake by his sister’s screams. He picked up the little elfling, speaking soothingly to him, and rocking and cuddling him in his arms.

Elrohir knelt next to the bed, looking up in surprise at his friends. “Elflings!” he whispered. “You have elflings!” Glorfindel and Erestor nodded. He reached out to stroke the blond hair of the elfling clinging to Glorfindel. The elfling looked at him with large blue eyes.

“This is Elrohir, little one. Remember I told you about Elladan and Elrohir?” Glorfindel asked. Gailion nodded. “They are home from patrol early. They will protect you, too, just like Ada Restor, and Mel and Tur, and everyone else.”

“Indeed we will, little one,” Elrohir said. “You will always be safe with Elladan and I. I’m sorry if we scared you when we came in, but we heard screams, so we rushed in to save you. Were you afraid of Orcs?” he asked the elfling.

Gailion nodded. “Orcs came to our village and killed our parents. But Ada killed them and brought us here. We don’t want the Orcs to get Ada and Ada Restor,” he whispered to Elrohir.

“We won’t let that happen, little one.” Elrohir was shocked at the elfling’s response. He stroked the soft hair. “So much like you, Glorfindel,” he whispered. “Tell me your name, little one,” he said.

“Gailion.”

“A fitting name for you, little one, for you do shine brightly.” Elrohir smiled at the elfling, then turned to Erestor. “And who is this you have, Erestor?” he asked.

“This is my sweet Amdiriel. Will you lift your head and greet Elrohir, my love?” Erestor asked.

Amdiriel kept her tight hold around Erestor’s neck, and simply turned her head, still tucked into Erestor’s neck. Piercing green eyes stared into Elrohir’s gray ones. “Oh, but you are beautiful,” Elrohir said. He carefully stroked her exposed cheek. “What a little enchantress you are.” His gently kissed her brow. “Have no fear here, my beautiful one. No harm will come to you. This I pledge to you. I will always protect you.” Elrohir spoke softly and gently to the elfling.

“Will you protect my Ada from the Orcs, too?” Amdiriel whispered.

“Aye, little one. Your Ada does not need my protection, for he and Glorfindel are the ones who taught me to be a warrior, but I will protect them always.”

“And my brothers, too.”

“Aye, my lovely one, your brothers too. I will always protect them, and you, and your Ada.”

“And Ada Glor, too?”

Elrohir grinned at Glorfindel’s name. “Aye, little one. Is there anyone else you would like me to protect for you?”

“Lainon and Laerien and Calariel and Glawen, and their Adas, and Nana Diwen. Oh, and Mel and Tur, too.”

Elrohir bit his lip to keep from laughing, and somehow managed to continue looking serious. “Ah, and who are these good folk? Although I suspect I know who Nana Diwen and Mel and Tur are, I do not know the others names.”

“They are our friends.” Amdiriel answered.

Erestor spoke. “Lainon and Laerien are the little elfling siblings adopted by Amarion and Diwen, Elrohir. And Calariel and Glawen are the sweetest little twin elflings adopted by Caladir and Velon. Well, the sweetest after my precious Amdiriel, that is.”

“Well, in that case, my lovely one, of course I must protect them, too,” Elrohir answered. “And Mel and Tur and Nana Diwen. But what about Saercaeron? Shall I protect him for you, too?”

Amdiriel nodded.

“And what about me, little one?” Elladan had finally quieted the baby. “Do you want me to protect you too?”

Amdiriel looked from Elrohir to Elladan and back again. And then she smiled at Erestor. “Twins, Ada?”

“Aye, my love. They are twins.” Erestor smiled down at his precious little elfling. “That is Elladan holding Faelion.”

Elladan and Elrohir chuckled. “Gailion and Faelion. Brightness and gleaming brilliance. What perfect names!” Elladan said. “Look Elrohir, Faelion is the perfect little image of his brother and Glorfindel as well!”

“Aye, he is indeed. But how did you come to have those beautiful green eyes and fire in your beautiful hair, little one?” Elrohir asked. Erestor flashed him a warning glance.

But Amdiriel answered. “I had a different Ada and Nana before Orcs killed them. And then I had a new Ada and Nana and went to live with them and my new brothers. And then Orcs killed my Ada and Nana. And I don’t want the Orcs to get my new Ada and Ada Glor,” the elfling wailed into Erestor’s neck, sobs wracking her little body.

As the horror of the picture the elfling had painted hit him, tears formed in Elrohir’s eyes. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said shakily, “I am so sorry. We won’t let Orcs get them. I promise. Elladan and I will protect them. We will protect all of you. I will always protect you.” Gentle Elrohir, so fierce and strong in battle, found his heart breaking for the little elfling’s fears. It was no wonder the little one had nightmares that woke her, screaming in terror.

“Aye, little one, we will,” said Elladan, his voice raspy. “This I also pledge to you. Elrohir and I will always protect you.”

Unknown to all, Elrond had also heard the screams and come running. He stood in the outer doorway, watching the scene unfold. He walked into the bedroom. “Welcome home, my sons,” he said and held open his arms to embrace the twins, being careful not to squish Faelion between them. “You are back early. I am glad to see you both well and safe, and back with me again.”

The twins embraced their Ada and kissed his cheeks. “Aiya, Ada, but look what we found when we came home!” Elladan said, grinning. “And we were only gone for a few weeks!”

Elrond smiled. “Come with me and I will tell you all about it,” he said.

“Aye, Ada, we will let Glorfindel and Erestor take care of their little ones,” Elrohir said. “Unless they want us to stay?” The two new adas shook their heads. “Let me have Faelion first, Elladan, I didn’t get to hold him yet.” Elrohir took the infant, who was falling asleep again, and kissing the top of his head, laid him in his cradle. “Good night, precious little one,” he whispered.

“And you, my beautiful one,” Elrohir told Amdiriel, “always remember you are safe now.” He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Aiya, this one has stolen my heart, Erestor,” he whispered.

Erestor smiled and nodded. “Aye, and mine as well, my friend.”

Elrohir next moved to Gailion and gave him a kiss on his brow. “Gailion, always remember, Elladan and I have pledged to keep you safe. You have nothing to fear now, little one.”

Elladan next said his goodbyes, and he also kissed the elflings and repeated his pledge.

“Goodnight, my friends,” Glorfindel said, “and thank you.” The twins left with their father.

“Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?” Erestor asked, kissing the child sweetly. Amdiriel nodded. “Then come, and you and your brother may sleep between Ada Glor and I again, and we will keep you safe.”

So the four elves climbed into the big bed. After goodnight kisses and “I love you,” was said many times, they snuggled together, and slept peacefully until morning.

~~~*~~~
It was late when Elrohir finally found his rooms. After a relaxing bath, he lay down on his bed, but found he couldn’t sleep. The memory of piercing green eyes, hair of fire, and the horror the elfling had witnessed refused to leave his mind. He and Elladan would help make sure the remainder of childhood for all of the elflings was blessed and happy.
And especially little Amdiriel’s.


Tbc…..