Black Death

Twins,
Gift by the gods.
Together they walk,
Two parts of one.
Yet their identities,
Are their own.

(*)

Elrohir stared at Elladan who had fallen asleep. His mind wandered to the day they were born, it was a mix of rain and clear weather. The first to come was Elrohir, his birth was uneventful. But when Elladan came into this world complications arose. After several hours of labor he had come out feet first, instead of the usual head first. Anxiety filled him as Elrohir recalled how he almost felt his twin slip away in those first few days.

By all facts Elladan should have died, but Elrohir used all his strength to make up what Elladan didn't. Despite how tuff he played, he was and always will be the weaker of the twins. Devotion to his twin ment Elrohir kept him going no matter what. Hiding his twin's weakness from others. Even if that ment calling Elladan, Elrohir for a day.

"Ro, I know what you are thinking," Elladan whispered as he awoke. "Thank you for never giving up on me."

Elrohir smiled, "it is of no trouble. Do not trouble yourself with thanking me... But you can tell me why you are awake so early."

"How can I not be awake, my heads freezing to your lap." Elladan said dully.

"Yeah I know, I feel like I'm in a giant caste." Elrohir replied chuckling. "And I think I'm feeling a slight chill."

"How long till Legolas frees us?" Elladan asked sitting up, cringing as his hair pulled free from the ice that formed around Elrohir.

Elrohir stopped chuckling, then shrugged. The ice that covered him creaked under the movement as Elrohir shifted his weight. Looking at his twin his face filled with concern, it was clear Elladan's depression was back. The same depression that kept leaving scars on the young elf's arms. It was like the pain helped him, but Elrohir knew that was not true.

"Do not worry brother. Night has turned to day since you drifted off. I am sure Legolas will be here soon."

Pausing for a few seconds Elrohir studied his twin, then in a sudden movement he kicked Elladan. Sticking out his tongue as Elladan glared at him. Elrohir could not comfort his twin, but he could start a fight to get his mind off things. Expectantly Elladan kicked him back.

"What did you do that for?" Elladan snapped.

"Cause I love you." Elrohir kicked back.

Elladan kicked Elrohir again and soon it turned into a kicking match. Their shackles the only things keeping them from slipping off the ledge as blows landed.

(*L*)

The Mirkwood elf awoke late, the sun was high in the sky. As his eyes fell on Estel he nearly burst out laughing. The young child had Legolas' thumb in his mouth. Legolas could not remember when, or how his thumb got in his mouth, but it was there now. Wiggling his thumb he woke up the sleeping child.

"Young son of Elrond, may I have my thumb back?"

Estel opened his eyes and let out a completive squeak as he released Legolas' thumb. Stretching wide enough that he nearly knocked Legolas off the edge off the bed. Then smacking his lips, he looked tiredly at the elf. Wondering why the blonde elf before him woke him from such a blissful sleep. Then his eyes grew wide as he recalled how Elrond was brought in the other day.

"Father?" Estel asked concerning Elrond.

"I know not about his condition Estel, but he still lives." Legolas assumed Elrond was still alive.

Estel looked off to the side, then back at Legolas. "Elly, and Ro?"

"I have not seen them since they left the room last night."

"I want broders." Estel pouted.

Legolas opened his mouth to say something against leaving Estel, but he could not. The young boy looked at him with big eyes that wavered. By now he learned that meant that if Estel didn't get his way he would have a very loud screaming kid on his hands. Right about now Legolas was nearly deaf from the kinds cries.

"I shall go look, and I will have Figwitt come in here to watch you."

"No! No, Figgy, I wish he would be killed by orcs." Estel pouted.

"Fine, no Figwitt." Legolas got out of the bed. "Then will you eat something without splattering it all over my face."

"Yes, I pwomise."

"I will be back in a few."

(*H*)

Legolas walked down the hallways scanning the hallways for a stay elf. Today none were to be seen. But in the gardens of Rivendell there would always be an elf so Legolas headed out there. When he approached the gardens he heard something that stopped him dead in his tracks. Silently he stood listening on a few elves who talked among themselves.

"I cannot believe what Glorfindel did last night. I know the twins deserved it but never would I have thought Glorfindel would do it." One stammered.

"Hey, the twins got what they deserved." One responded back.

"I know, I have not forgotten what they have done... Abandoning their father at a time like this."

"My father would cut off my ears if I did that." A second responded out of Legolas' eye site.

"Mine too." Another responded next to the one he couldn't see.

There was silence for a few seconds before the first one spoke again. "So do you believe Elrond will live?"

The group of elves shook their heads no. Unwanting to hear anymore, Legolas burst into the group. Grabbing the nearest elf to place his elven dagger to his throat. Safe planning, for these elves talked traitorously. Having a hostage would insure he would get his answers. The elf froze in Legolas' embrace, fearing the Mirkwood elf would take his life.

"Tell me what has happened to Elrohir and Elladan?" Legolas asked.

"C... Caves beneath Rivendell." The second elf responded pulling back. "Now put down the knife Legolas."

"Nay, I will not. Now take me to the twins."

The elf he couldn't see before darted off. Legolas shoved the blade tighter against the elf's neck causing the elf to choke. Even still the els put up rejection to showing Legolas. That was until red streamed down the hostage elf's neck.

"I am not joking," Legolas growled.

Taking a moment to look at themselves, the elfs lead Legolas to where the twins where. Legolas could barely fallow with the hostage, but he kept going. He would not loose the twins so fast. He owed the twins their freedom, they had left for a good reason. The vines were pushed away, and they sloshed into a cave. Sounds filled a cave and it sounded like a fight. It stopped at once as they all entered.

"Unshackle them, and do not lie to me I know one of you has the key." Legolas ordered.

One elf growled heading over to the twins. Soon the twins where free from their confines. Rubbing their wrists to get the blood flow back. They stared at Legolas wondering what just come down. Before they could ask, Fignutant and a horde of elves filled the cave entrance. Legolas knew he and the twins where trapped.

"Legolas, you know this does not fair well with the relations between Rivendell." Fignutant hissed. "Your father will know of your betrayal to Rivendell."

The twins watched in awe, they hated Fignutant, especially now. He had no right to make the call even if Elrond was down. The only person to have that right was Glorfindel, and that was only because their father trusted him. Elrohir and Elladan watched at Legolas shifted his position with the hostage.

"You do not understand where they were." Legolas said. "I sent them out to tell the humans how to stop this rapid death that is wiping them out!"

"That is offense to Rivendell regulations. For that all you three should be prisoner. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing the twins of Elrond rot to death in this hole."

Legolas had to make a choice, with a mighty shove he pushed the hostage into the fray of elves. Surprisingly the hostage did not resist, the hostage understood.

"Go!" Legolas shouted to the twins.

Staring at the Mirkwood elf for a second, they ran. Knowing that they would not dare hurt a hair on Legolas' head. Passing by the tangle of elves they recognized the hostage as Ursa, a good friend. Outside they ran square into Glorfindel. His sword reflecting the day sun; They were caught.

"Glorfindel get the traitors!" Fignutant demanded pushing through the vines.

Quietly Glorfindel held out his sword. Holding it not to the twins, but to Fignutant's throat. His eyes showed raw anger, but he herd the whole thing. Still he could not set the twins free. Until Elrond could straiten things up they would be criminals in the eyes of the Rivendell elfs.

Elladan grabbed Elrohir's arm, "run."

Both twins ran off into the wood at top pace. Fignutant gaped at the elves running away, but before he could say a word Glorfindel slit Fignutant's throat. A spray of blood, a futile attempt to stop the bleeding, and then the pesky elf was dead on the ground. Calmly Glorfindel wiped off the blood, ignoring the elves that stared.

"Yes, the twins are criminals." Glorfindel stalling for time. "But traitors of Rivendell get dealt with first. Now go get the twins."

None of them wanting to taste the blade of Glorfindel, they ran. Glorfindel looked into the cave at a startled Legolas who just stood open. Ursa held his throat the bleeding slowly stopping.

"Legolas, what have you started?" Glorfindel groaned. "And what do I do with you? I don't blame you for what you have done."

"I will stay willingly," Legolas said softly. "To ease tensions and to keep things from getting any worse. I also extend my apologies to you elf, I did not mean to hurt you."

"Names Ursa, and it's of no trouble. The twins have put me in worse... Glorfindel if I may protect him to keep him from the others?"

Glorfindel nodded then walked off, in a slow hurry to hunt the twins. He knew by now the look was not worth it, the twins already well concealed. But he had to keep a show up that he actually was holding to the rules.

(*H*)

Estel swung his feet over his bed, wondering when the elf would come back. Rubbing his eyes he yawned, then scratched the sores that were slowly healing. He knew he should lay down and try to get more sleep, but something kept him awake. Yawning again he looked at his pillow tempted to lay down, drift off to some distant dream world. Scratching his neck he stared at the pillow.

"Brother you should not be scratching your neck." A voice came from the window.

"Elly, Ro!" Estel shouted happy to see them.

"Shh Estel, quiet." Elrohir scolded.

"Me and Ro here are in some big trouble, you know where we can hide." Elladan whispered.

Estel nodded hopping off his bed, walking towards the closet. There he pushed the back wall of the closet. It opened up into a tiny room in the wall. Elladan and Elrohir crawled in. Four narrow beds were set into the wall. A small table cluttered the tiny sitting room they had. The sound of foot prints sent them clambering into the hidden room. Quickly Estel closed the hidden door, barely in time.

"Estel what are you doing?" An elf asked, the same blue eyed one as before.

"Looking for toys." Estel said innocently.

Suspicious the elf pulled Estel away from the closet. Looking in they saw nothing out of the ordinary. Sighing he looked at Estel who was playing innocent. He closed the main closet doors with a slam.

"You should be in bed resting, not playing." The elf scolded. "Now stay there, after Glorfindel is done with your father he'll see to you."

With that the elf was gone. Estel let out a deep sigh looking towards the closet. Now he knew why Glorfindel showed him the hidden rooms of Rivendell.