Author's note : This follows on from where Elrohir fell asleep in Elladan's arms.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&
'What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come
To carry you home'
****
It was the cry of a seagull that woke Elladan, though he knew not why, for
the seagulls had sung their calls across the sky ever since their arrival
in the Havens. Then he realised that all had been quiet when they had arrived
at the harbour, as if the birds had slept too. Opening his eyes with effort,
Elladan focused, and started with surprise. His eyesight had begun to diminish
over the last year, becoming on a par with humans, not elves. Now it was
as if a film had been torn away, a veil lifted, and the sharpness of the
view took his breath away - as did the sight before him.
A white gull soared in the sky, lazily gliding on unmoving, out-stretched
wings. The white feathers were pure and bright, reflecting the moonlight
and enhancing it with their own sparkling hues. As it flew, Elladan saw
that it circled the top mast of the grey ship that had just entered the
harbour. A grey ship, bearing two figures upon the deck.
His heart leapt into his throat as he saw them, as he recognised them. Dark
hair flowed over broad shoulders, shoulders he had ridden on as a child.
They led to strong arms, holding him, throwing him up in play and cuddling
him close against that firm chest. Arms that led to a hand that bore a blue-stoned
ring. The hand was lifted in salutation. The elleth beside him was beauty
incarnate. Her silver hair framed a gentle face, shining with a light conceived
in a Golden Wood. Slender arms were stretched out in greeting, in welcome,
in need to hold her sons once more. And her lips bore a smile, warm and
at peace.
" 'Ro, they have come!" he cried, kissing that cold cheek, deprived
of heat by the chill of the night. He squeezed him close. " 'Ro, wake
up! They have come to carry us home!" Elladan's voice rang with joy,
and with mirth that his brother could sleep through such a momentous event.
Safe in his arms, Elrohir was still sleeping.
"Elrohir?"
Cold, quietly sleeping.
"Elrohir?"
Sleeping.
" 'Ro?"
The long sleep.
"Elrohir!"
****
'Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again'
****
Elrohir did not hear the cry, for he was in Elladan's arms no longer. The
darkness surrounded him, but he was not alone, or cold, or afraid. Gradually
he became aware of the golden glow, a pinpoint of brightness as a candle
in the dark. It welcomed him and he fell, drawn towards it. Once drawn,
he flew, his soul gathering speed, falling towards the growing light. He
heard voices calling his name and he answered . He heard a seagull's cry.
His headlong fall into the light was abruptly halted by the white gull hovering
in front of him, blocking his path.
'Stop, Elrohir.'
The words were not spoken yet he heard them in his mind. His soul cried
out for the golden light, and he begged to be allowed to continue his journey.
'I need to go. It calls me. It calls me home.'
'No.' The voice was soft, gentle - but resolute. 'No, Elrohir. It is not
for you. You do not need to go there.'
Elrohir did not understand. He was mortal now. He had died, surely?
'Arwen is waiting for me. We made the same choice. Estel is there. I must
go to them.'
The seagull glided in front of him, refusing to move. Her brightness increased,
and she glowed incandescently, yet Elrohir felt no need to shade his eyes.
Instinctively he knew that a soul sees with an inner eye.
'Her choice was made freely, with joy, out of love. Yours was made in fear,
with regret, out of presumed rejection. Your choice was *not* the same.
Need not be the same. Return to Arda, my beloved Elrohir. Return, my sweet
one.' The voice was now imbued with much sorrow. 'For I have lost a son
and a granddaughter to the race of men. Please, let me not lose my grandsons
as well.'
Elrohir gasped, knowing suddenly who she was.
'Elwing?'
'They have come, Elrohir, in a grey ship, with a grey sail. They have come
to carry you home to Eldamar. Will you go, Elf-knight? Will you reclaim
your elven heritage?'
Emotion welled up in his soul, realising just who was waiting for him -
for them -aboard that ship, and his heart turned from that golden light.
'Adar and - Naneth?'
He felt the affirmation roll across him like a warm wave, and he cried out
in need.
'Nana!'
****
'Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping'
****
"... oh Ada, please save him! Oh Ada, he wants to live, he needs to
live!"
"I know, Elladan. The Valar placed some of their power in Vilya once
more. I hope that it is enough and that we are not too late."
The familiar deep voice was filled with sorrow, and Elrohir's ears heard
the pain even as he became aware again, aware of 'Dan's arms holding him.
With effort, he tried to open his eyes, forming a word upon his lips.
"Ada?"
It was a whisper, but it was enough. Elladan's happy cry resounded around
the quiet harbour as he focused on the faces before him.
"Ada? 'Dan?"
Tears streamed down their faces and Elrond smiled in relief and profound
happiness.
"We have come to take you home with us, Elrohir. Eru gave his blessing,
and Manwë sent us forth. You can come home, and be with us forever."
Elrohir nodded in agreement, marvelling now at the lack of pain in his neck,
his body, at the renewal of energy he had thought long gone.
"Grandmother came. She showed me... Where is she, Ada? Where is Nana?"
It was not Elrond who spoke but a soft and sweet voice beside his ear. He
suddenly realised that Elladan was standing before him and that another's
arms were folded about him.
"My little Elrohir, my Elf-knight. I am so sorry, ion-nín."
He turned his head and burst out crying again as he saw that she was holding
him in her lap, in her arms. He lifted his hand to stroke the silver hair,
needing to know that she was real.
"Nana! My nana..."
Celebrían wept too, kissing her son's face, rubbing her cheek against
his silken hair.
"I am so sorry, my little one. In my despair, I asked of you that which
I had no right to ask. I placed upon you a burden unbearable. Then in my
distance I meant only to protect you from my pain. My Elrohir. You could
always sense my thoughts, feel my soul. I thought to protect you by pushing
you away. I did not want you to sense my experiences, know the depths to
which I was brought.
"I love you, my Elrohir. I love you, my sweet, strong Elladan. I will
always love you both."
Elrohir sighed happily, knowing that this was the truth, and that Celebrían
of Imladris held him once more.
"I love you, mother," he whispered, and Elladan seconded him,
and the reunited family held each other close for the first time in over
a thousand years.
Four elves boarded the grey ship, the younger twin carried in his brother's
arms. And as the grey ship took sail along the silver path, the Straight
Road, a white gull glided overhead, calling out their joy into the silent
night.
For the last of the Peredhil of Imladris were coming home.
****
'Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come
To carry you home
And all will turn to silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West'
*FIN*
Elvish:
gwanneth - younger
twin
melin le - I love you
meleth - love
peredhil - half-elven (pl)
seron vell - beloved
ind nín - my heart
Adar - Father
Naneth - Mother
elleth - female elf
meleth-nín - my love
melethron - beloved/lover (male)
ion-nín - my son
Pairing:
Elladan/Elrohir
Rating: NC -17 Slash
Timeline: Third Age
Elladan and Elrohir have made the choice of
mortality. But did they make the wrong choice?