XI

Elladan was in a foul mood as he stormed up to Glorfindel.

"It has been ten days since Roh and Legolas were supposed to catch up with us, Glorfindel!"

Before Glorfindel could answer, they were joined by Esendri, who looked equally, if not more distressed than Elladan.

"Perhaps you should not have sent just the two of them," Esendri said, frowning hard.

"And I do not see why Roh could not have come along if Legolas could carry him!" Elladan said.

"Are you questioning my judgement?"

"Nay, Master Glorfindel." Esendri seemed eager to placate Glorfindel, although the same could not be said for Elladan, who stuck his chin out in defiance.

"I do not have to explain my decisions to you! While it is understandable that you might worry for Elrohir, your behaviour these past days has been bordering on unacceptable! Do not think that I shall turn a blind eye to it on account of your father!"

"Ada would not have done what you did! He would never have left a son of his behind!"

Esendri drew in a sharp breath, knowing that Elladan had gone too far.

Glorfindel drew up upon him, anger radiating from his fair face. "You will do what you are told, young Master Elladan, whether or not you are the first born of Elrond's!"

"You might not care for Roh, but some of us do! I shall search for them, whether you like it or not!"

Esendri threw himself in between the pair as Glorfindel took a menacing step forward.

"Master, Elladan, please --" Esendri said.

Elladan responded by pushing him aside.

"Strike me if you wish; I do not see why you are holding back! After all, you as good as condemned Roh to his death when you left him behind!" cried Elladan. Usually rational and reasonable, he found his ears burning with indignation and his cheeks steaming with rage.

Then, he turned his heels and fled, not caring of any of the consequences to his actions, leaving behind a pair of stunned Elves.

"I shall go after him! Elladan is worried sick over Elrohir, so please do not hold anything against him!" Esendri said, before running after the fast retreating figure.

"You were completely out of order!" he said when Elladan allowed him to catch up.

"Did you come after me to lecture?" Elladan snapped.

"Nay, that would be hypocritical, as I have little regard for order myself!" said Esendri.

He was relieved when Elladan let out a sharp laugh at his words. "Although I do believe I followed you to ensure you do not do anything foolish!"

"Is that what the well-being of my brother is worth to all of you?"

"Legolas is with him!"

Elladan sucked in his breath, realising that he had forgotten that Esendri too might be worried sick. "I am sorry, Esendri, I forget --"

"Glorfindel is more worried than he can let on."

"Then why did he allow this to happen?"

"Did you think he asked for this?"

Elladan fell silent, and it was a while before he said, "I am sorry, Esendri, I can find no excuse for my behaviour."

"I worry for them too." Esendri allowed his shoulders to slump. "It has been too long; they should be here now!"

Elladan shook his head in exasperation.

"Two days ago, I felt a sudden feeling of distress and panic overtake me. I have never experienced the likes of it since Roh fell over a waterfall in Imladris. We were mere children then, and I knew he was in grave danger, and led the search, only to find him washed up on the banks of the river, barely breathing! The sight of his broken body still haunts me!"

Esendri reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

"I know too well how that feels! However, Legolas is with him, and should there be any to get into trouble, it would be him! I would have known if anything happened to him."

Elladan tried to smile but gave up.

"You are a good friend, Esendri, I can see why Legolas values you so much!"

"Does he?" Esendri raised an eyebrow and tried not to snigger. "I seem to recall him saying on more than one occasion the only reason he keeps me around is because he cannot cook!"

"He writes of you all the time to Roh, and with much praise too."

"Ai, I am lucky in that Legolas treats me as an equal, a brother even, something His Majesty did not look favourably upon at first. Now he has long given up on any hope of reining in his son and so lets him do whatsoever he pleases!"

"Ada has oft complained about him being a bad influence on us -- Roh, in particular! Perhaps his comments are justifiable after all!"

"You are tired, Master Elladan, you should get some rest! Elrohir must have taken longer than expected to recover, and we will see them soon enough! Why, they might even stroll into the campsite tonight, for all you know!"

"Perhaps." Elladan did not sound convinced in the slightest bit.

"They will do. If you will excuse me, I promised to trade recipes for sticky buns with Galaesslin," Esendri said, before leaving him and returning back to the campsite.

Elladan smiled. Little could dampen Esendri's spirits.

Left alone to his thoughts, he tried his best to calm down. Esendri was right: Elrohir was unused to grave injuries and was probably taking longer than expected to recover. Yet, the knots in his stomach refused to untangle themselves and he paced the open plain.

"You should be resting."

Elladan spun around in surprise, shocked that he had failed to hear another creep up on him.

"Who are you?" he cried, hand flying to the hilt of his sword.

"Just a vagabond who means you no harm." The figure -- hooded and cloaked -- stood before him, a motionless wraith.

"What is your purpose here?" Elladan took a step forward.

"These are free lands, and I can choose to roam where I wish as freely as you, Elf!"

Elladan did not answer.

"You seem worried."

"It is not any business of yours," Elladan snapped.

"Simply an observation -- something I believe I am entitled to."

"Then I believe I would be able to walk away this moment."

"How fares your father?" the man said.

Elladan turned and frowned at the man.

"What are you talking about?"

"A simple question asking after the welfare of your father."

"You know Ada?"

"Perhaps."

Elladan tried to keep his annoyance in check. "What are you trying to achieve?"

"I could not achieve what I wanted if I told you, would I?"

Elladan's temper flared once more, but before he could speak, the man cut him off. "Mortal blood runs in your veins."

"I do not understand --"

"It is interesting to see that the half-Elven has done well for one of his pedigree."

"You will not insult my ancestors in this way!" Elladan cried, drawing his sword.

"And you chose to strike down an unarmed man?"

"You have insulted my honour!"

"Always so preoccupied with your honour, you of the first-born, always so obsessed with your pride!"

"Listen to me, whoever you are! There is enough evil in this world without the likes of you trying to draw out the differences between the races!"

Almost hysterical laughter greeted his words.

"Listen to yourself speak! Nearly a thousand years old and yet so naïve! Has your father taught you naught of the doom of Man? The doom that will results from the forbidden alliance between man and immortal? Of the curse it unleashes onto the world? Have you --"

The hooded figure was cut off by Elladan lunging for him, upon which he stepped to the side, dodging and melting away into the darkness of the night with more laughter, as the furious young Elf glowered at the empty spot.

"Elladan?" A voice called out minutes later, and Elladan started.

Glorfindel was standing behind him, surveying him with his sword drawn.

"What is wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Elladan, I do not wish for this as much as you do."

"I know, Glorfindel, and forgive me for my rudeness; I was hasty in my worry for Roh."

"Do not be, pen-neth. I can see that you were distressed."

"It was inexcusable still; I am sorry."

"I only do this because I have to."

Elladan took a deep breath before he said, "It is the prophecy."

Glorfindel was startled enough to show it outright. "What do you know"

"I came across a mention of it in one of Ada's tomes. It speaks of a peredhel child born this age with noble blood in his veins. It is why Roh and I were chosen for this journey, why you chose to separate us."

Glorfindel looked at Elladan with increased respect in his eyes. While he knew that Elladan had always been interested in the lore books that Elrond kept in his library, he did not quite know that Elladan had enough knowledge of the old languages to understand the prophecy, buried in the midst of a forgotten volume.

"Ai, I see there is no hiding it from you, Elladan."

"I have only just worked it out. Had I made the connection earlier, I would not have lost my temper with you." Elladan looked so troubled and resigned that Glorfindel gave him a reassuring hug.

"Roh was right about there being a reason to why you and Ada chose us for the trip. I cannot understand why it took me so long to work out!"

"We did not tell you because we are yet unsure of it." Glorfindel tried to comfort him, knowing how worrying it must be to Elladan to be spoken of in a prophecy, and how helpless he must be feeling. "We cannot be sure whether it is you or Elrohir it is speaking of, and neither can we be sure whether it is true."

"You think Legolas the one mentioned," Elladan said, his eyes wide with horror as the full implication sank in. "The one who will determine the fate of Arda."

"We do not know."

"You do not have to pretend, Glorfindel, I now see why you watch over him and Esendri so keenly! You think Legolas is the one foretold to have the power to destroy Middle-Earth!"

"Elladan, you must give me your word never to speak to Elrohir of this! Legolas must not know!"

"Will you kill him should the need arise then?" Elladan cried.

"It will not come to that!"

"If you kill him, Roh will never it go. He would rather die than let any harm come to Legolas!"

"Why do you say this?"

"Roh was the one who found Legolas those years ago, and there grew to be a special bond between them, a bond that none of us can explain. Roh feels it is his duty to protect Legolas, whatever the cost." "You are jealous?"

"Nay, Roh and I are twins, and nothing passes over one of us that is not know to the other. We would gladly die for one another, although we know that the other would soon follow suit should that happen."

"What would you have me do then?"

"I know not the answer. But you have my word that I shall not speak a word of this to either of them."

"And pray the prophecy does not come to fruition."

"I know Legolas well enough to be able to say that I do not see how he would ever do such a thing! He will never bring about destruction, much less to say become the next dark lord."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Thank you for understanding, pen-neth, You are truly your father's son."

*****
Sindarin Translations:
Peredhel - half-Elf
Ada - Papa
Pen-neth - young one

A/N: Finally, some more details about the prophecy are revealed, and the stage set for Legolas to tread upon. I apologise for dropping out of sight again, but things around me have gone a little manic, and there is too much which I have to do in the real world. Thanks for staying with me, though!