New Love

Part Twelve:

“Gondithen, wait up.” The voice that came from behind him sent shivers down his spine. Elladan came running up behind the twins who had just finished training. Nórdithen kept walking giving his brother a sideways glance, they had yet to talk too much about the fight that they had had the previous night.

“What’s wrong with your brother?” Elladan asked.

“Just a small disagreement, you know how twins can be.”

Elladan chuckled. “Yes, I do.”

They stood in silence for a moment, “Was there something you needed, Elladan?” Gondithen finally asked.

“Uh, well…I…that is I wanted to ask if you would sit by me at dinner, your brother too, of course. It’s just that the council will be soon, and then you will be going home soon after that and I find myself wanting to get to know you better.” The words came out in a jumble and he could not understand why he all of a sudden felt so shy, this was not like him at all. But Gondithen was so beautiful and he had not felt this way in a long time, if ever.

“Are you sure it won’t be a problem? I mean we are just warriors, we can’t sit at the high table with the lords.”

“I am just a warrior also.”

“Yes, but you are also the son of the Lord of this Valley, and heir to the lordship yourself.”

“That may be.” Elladan said and scratched his chin as if thinking. “Well, then as future Lord of this Valley, I make a decree that you shall sit at the high table tonight,” he said very officially, and then winked at Gondithen, who began to smile. “And your brother too, of course.” He said as an after thought.

“Who am I to deny the future Lord of the Valley?” Gondithen replied. “I will see you tonight then.”

With a nod and a smile, the two parted ways, both walked a little straighter and if one looked closely, with a new bounce in their step.

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Nórdithen had returned to their rooms after leaving Gondithen on the training grounds. He cooled off with a bath and had brushed out his hair but his twin had still not returned.. It hurt Nórdithen that his brother was keeping things from him. They had always been inseparable and now it felt like his brother was pulling away from him. ~I guess we’re just growing up~ he thought. Finally, he decided not to waste his time before dinner sitting around their room when he could be out exploring the Last Homely House.

He made his way down corridor after corridor until he came to two large doors. As he stepped inside he was greeted with books stacked to the large cathedral ceiling. The famous Imladris library

He stepped inside and began to look around. He walked past rows and rows of tomes. He turned to the right when he reached the wall that held a large bank of windows. The sun was streaming into the library and warming the air. ~If I am not careful I will get lost in here. ~ At the end of the aisle almost in the very corner of the library sat a desk that was occupied by a little scribe with mousy brown hair.

Melpomaen looked up as he heard foot steps coming down the long aisle that led to his favorite desk.

“Can I help you find anything?” he asked with a smile, but inside he was wracking his brain trying to figure out which twin stood in front of him.

“No, thank you, I am just looking around. You are working late.” He said to make conversation.

“Well someone has to, you don’t think Master Erestor would be doing any work this late with all the potential conquests running around here do you?” Melpomaen replied with a grin. Then covered his mouth, “You won’t tell anyone I said that will you?” he asked not looking the least bit guilty.

~He is a little spitfire~ Nórdithen thought then added out loud “Of course not, I have a feeling you might be speaking truthfully.”

“Why don’t you come and sit with me.” Melpomaen said while pulling a chair closer, “I am sorry I don’t remember which twin you are; I know it drives Elladan and Elrohir crazy when people mix them up but when one is identical to the other what do they expect! They should have to wear signs, but I have found a trick so I very rarely call them the wrong name anymore.”

“And what would that be?” Nórdithen asked with a smirk ~My, he is a talker.~

“It is in the way they walk, Elladan favors his father and clumbers around almost like a man and Elrohir has the grace of the elves. The only time I have trouble is if they are sitting.” He said with a laugh.

“I can see the flaw in your theory.”

“Now you and your twin must have a way to tell, a way to distinguish yourselves from each other.”

“We do, but we don’t like to share it. I think it is much more fun to have people figure it out for themselves, it is easy if you study us when we are together, although not many have seen us together much lately.” He added darkly.

“Why not? If I had a twin or even a sibling, I would spend as much time with them as possible.”

“It seems Gondithen has found someone else he likes to spend time with more than me.”

“Ah, and you are feeling left out?”

“Maybe a little, I hate feeling this way. I know I should be happy for him, and I am, but I just wish I could find someone to light that spark I see in my brother’s eyes now. We had a fight and I have not really talked to him since.” He said guiltily.

“You will, Nórdithen,” Melpomaen said as he laid his hand on Nórdithen’s knee, “But I think you should make up with your twin; lovers may come and go, but he will be your brother for all of eternity.”

“How did you get to be so wise?” Nórdithen asked with a smirk.

“Well, I certainly didn’t learn it from Erestor,” he replied with a laugh. “Now go and talk to your brother.”

“Will I see you at dinner?”

“I might make an appearance, if someone would stop bothering me so I could finish my work.” He said with a wink.