Ch 4 Warnings

Elrohir had no notion of time passing as they walked. He was certain he did not want to see more, but he was also certain there was no choice. He was mind-weary and heart-sore.

Suddenly, they stopped as the mist cleared. He could see they were in a part of Imladris he knew well, having hunted there with his brothers and their friend. As he looked around, he did not see anyone. Suddenly, he could hear Elladan as he came down the path, laughing as he walked. He could see Estel behind his brother. There was a deer slung over Estel’s shoulder. Both were smiling, happy that they could add meat to the larders of Imladris.

He could hear their gentle teasing as they neared him. “I hear a mighty wind,” Estel laughingly told Elladan. “You are always talking, gwador nin."

Elladan rolled his eyes, and teased right back, “You could talk a leaf to death.”

“Hannon le. I will not forget that, mellon nin. I will make you pay for that,” threatened Estel.

“I am sure,” retorted Elladan with a laugh.

Suddenly, Elrohir could feel a cold wind start to blow. Neither of the two hunters noticed. As Elrohir looked around, he saw black forms moving through the forest. “Estel! Elladan! Orcs! Behind you!” He was frustrated when they did not acknowledge him. He turned to Yaaraen, saying, “Why do they not heed my words?”

He had a sickening feeling as he was told, “How can they hear someone who never existed? Were you not to go with them? Elladan was to stay in Rivendell, was he not?”

Elrohir nodded. He turned back, not wanting to watch. Yaaraen merely stood there.

He saw as the orcs started to loose their arrows with deadly accuracy. He went to his knees as he saw Estel, then Elladan go down under black bodies.

“NO! NO!” He looked at Yaaraen with tears streaming down his face. “Why?” he sobbed, “Why them?”

“You wished you were never born, did you not? You have your wish, Elrondion.”

Mists surrounded them, only this time it was white. As it dissipated, Elrohir could see they were back at the waterfall.

“Come, look in the water.” Elrohir was compelled by the being’s voice to do as he was bidden. As he looked into a small, still pool, he could see a picture starting to form. He realized he watching his memories. He knew what he was watching-memories of the past few days. He watched - and remembered.

It started out with Elladan taking his twin’s boots and dropping them in the fountain. He then had to retrieve a pair from the storeroom.

Then Glorfindel had accidentally dropped hot soup into Elrohir’s lap as the balrog slayer had tripped over Elrond’s foot.

The whole week was the same. Small accidents, but they had him frustrated. It appeared they only happened to him.

His horse stumbling as they crossed the ford, losing his bow and a dagger. Fletching arrows and having the knife slip, cutting his finger. Getting a splinter in his foot, feeling as if it were huge, then having his Adar draw it out, only to see a very tiny piece of wood.

As the flow of pictures continued, he could see how foolish it was to become angered over such small things.

His stomach knotted as the last memories became clear, for those were the ones that he did not want to face, for he would see himself injuring Estel.