Téci melméva or love letters

Chapter thirteen Return to love, will you

It has been several weeks now since they found the pale, near dead body and nothing happened to indicate a change. He was still breathing but that was all.

And Elladan himself deteriorated. He was almost giving into despair, but his family’s presence keim sim sane. He has turned silent now, but never once left the other alone; he only left if nature called and never for too long.

But Elrond’s hopes went up. It was Elladan’s presence that triggered it; because it ensured the other’s existence and eventually the elf must realise Elladan loves him; he must.

Glorfindel and Erestor remained on the background, but present. Their calm and balance was strongly needed by all of them. Although occasionally either Glorfindel or Erestor sneaked out to check on Imladris.

The soldiers had settled in a nice schedule, relieving each other regularly. Glorfindel’s second in command even made a separate roster for it, making sure all soldiers got their turn regularly. They all wanted to aid.

Cook never stopped making Ereineldo’s favourite dishes and she also made Elladan’s to brighten him up.

She had now appointed herself as the bearer and always came with gossip and news,nginnging some light into their gloom atmosphere. Elrond appreciated her efforts and silently prayed she wouldn’t give in when it proved fruitless. Fact is that she had been thinking about stopping little over a week ago, but Elrond’s hopeful expression and the happiness that greeted her whenever she entered made her rethink her decision.

One day she sat down beside the bed, finding all others in a restless sleep.

She shook her head at the pale elf, responsible for all this mess. “You are something else, know that? You, who’s got what everybody dreams about, namely a very loyal determined true love, and what do you do? You turn away from it. I tell you, if Lord Elladan wasn’t this much in love with you I would have poisoned your food by now.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Just get yourself together, get over your self-pity and start thinking about Elladan: your lover. He’s not going to leave your side and you don’t want him to remain here forever, do you?”

She sighed again and stood up. “What am I saying? I must be going nuts. He’s not listening and even if he could hear me he would not believe me.”
She caressed the twin’s face. “Poor twin, first his naneth leaves him and now his lover.”

She walked around the room, tidying it a bit and airing it at the same time.

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Elladan stirred and woke, his eyes instantly settling on his lifeless love.

He sat up and pulled his legs to his chest. He rested his head on his knees and allowed his tears to fall. He could take no more and could no longer belief in a happy ending.

Elrohir sensed it and woke as well and walked over. The moment he placed his hand on his twin’s shoulder Elladan released an angry growl and jumped up.
The sound woke all others and the guarding soldiers instantly entered the room, weapons at the ready. Seeing there was no attack they hesitantly hovered near the door.
Elrohir had flung himself at his father, actually afraid of Elladan.

The elder twin turned at glared at the unconscious elf. He marched to his desk and retrieved the letters.
Glorfindel swallowed and stopped the twin from whatever it was he was doing. “Elladan,…”
Elladan pulled himself free and ignored the seneschal.

He walked back to the bed and started reading the letters out loud. His tears invaded his speech and he growled again. “You lied, Ereineldo! I hate you, you lied to me. Was this some bet? That you could win my heart? You lied and you do not love me!” He threw the letters on the bed and fell to his knees. “Vát mer nin. Vát mer nin. It was all a lie.”

Elrond swallowed and knelt beside his son, embracing him. For the first time in his life he knew not how to comfort him.
Erestor placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “Take the twins elsewhere. Glorfindel and I will watch him.”
Elrond was tempted, but knew removing Elladan might kill Ereineldo.
Elrohir joined the embrace, weeping his own tears.

Glorfindel smiled at Erestor and silently left with the soldiers. There still was a realm to rule.

Erestor sighed sadly when he noticed the three Peredhil had fallen asleep on the spot. Not risking waking them up he didn’t move them from the floor but only covered them in a small blanket. Next he went to the fire and added some new wood to it, wondering how long they would be doing this. He grabbed a book and sat down in a chair to watch his charges. Before long he too was sound asleep.

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Glorfindel smiled wearily at the counsellors who stood up when he entered. Their faces were concerned and worried, but there was no new trouble to be read from the faces.

He sat down and yawned. “Are you coping?”
Erestor’s secretary nodded, though his frown remained. “Aye, Imladris is still safe. But there’s something we need Elrond’s opinion on. There are human traders closing on us. What should we do?”
Glorfindel shrugged. “Forbid entrée if they’re dangerous. If not, allow them passage and trade with them yourselves. As we’ve always done.”
The secretary nodded and hesitantly grabbed some messages. “Ehm, my lord, these messages have arrived from Mirkwood and ‘Lóriën. They are addressed at Elrond and some are for Elladan and even one for Elrohir.”
Glorfindel frowned. “Business of pleasure?”
The counsellors looked at each other and at last one of them shrugged. “Hard to say, but the birds report that word is out. It is known.”
Glorfindel widened his eyes. “What! About Ereineldo and Elladan?”
They nodded. “Aye, we know not how. But now we fear thetersters might contain painful words for them. But we cannot just open them.”

Glorfindel sighed and understood them very well. He rubbed his nose. “Give them to me. I shall ask Erestor what he thinks.”

The secretary bowed and smiled warmly at the retreating seneschal.
Several counsellors placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let us pray this will all turn out ri Tha That family already had enough pain to deal with.”
They nodded and went back to business.

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Ereineldo groaned when his senses kicked in.

Where was he? Why did his head hurt so much? Why did he feel like he was flying? And what has happened?

He opened his eyes but instantly closed them as bright light attacked him. After centuries of darkness it was too much at once.

He slowly tried again and this time he kept his eyelids close enough to ban most of the light, allowing his eyes to become used to the brightness before he cracked them open a little further.

He smiled when he recognized Elladan’s room. But why was it so hot in here? He carefully sat up, swaying a little as he did so. /Why am I feeling so weak? What happened to me? Elladan, where’s Elladan?/

His eyes widened on their own when he saw the large amount of blankets on the.
.
He shook his head and frowned, gasping when he realised what had happened. He now knew how he got here.

He hung his head. /I tried to kill myself. How could I have done that? It would hurt Elladan. How could I think of hurting him?/ But instantly his eyes widened again. He knew his thoughts were different when he had wanted to open his wrists. His frown deepened. But why hadn’t he?

He forced his thoughts to go back, forced his memory to do the same.

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The darkness was driving him insane. This elf was extremely stubborn. /But I have to win. I cannot let this happen./

`Stop fighting yourself, young one. Accept what is happening and embrace it.`
The elf sagged to the floor and looked up. `But I’ll hurt him.`
Lorein shook his head. `You could never hurt him if you love him. Allow him to love you back.`

The elf nodded and did as Lorien had begged him to do so often. He opened his heart for his love and instantly darkness faded, making way for bright light.

Lorien smiled. `It is time to return.` He moved his hand and the soul before him faded and returned to its body.

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Translation:

Vát mer nin. Means : you don’t love me.

TBC