22I decided to put it as a part of Arafinwean Week, for the last day - legacy. If Celebrian can be there, so can her children. Galadriel will make an appearance later as well.
The story takes place around year 251, with Arwen being ten.
The outside world
Chapter I
"It's so beautiful here!" Exclaimed Arwen as they stopped by Durin's stone.
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged knowing glances. They could remember their own awe when Celebrian had brought them to Kheled-Zâram for the first time, the deep waters mirroring the mountains, the dark blue colour they wished they could capture in jewellery.
"Can we go and see what's on the other side?" Arwen turned around and looked up pleadingly.
Elladan smiled. He had thought that their sister's enthusiasm would have burned down a bit by now, but Arwen still seemed to enjoy every moment of her trip. She had reached the age of ten and their parents allowed her to join the twins on their journey to Lothlorien to meet her grandparents.
It was the first time she left Rivendell and the outside world seemed to be a constant wonder. She wanted to look into every corner in Lorien, and was about to leave with Celeborn on a trip around the forest, when Galadriel asked the twins to run a small errand with the dwarves. As soon as Arwen heard about it, she insisted on going with them, still amazed by the underground kingdom. Galadriel thought it would be a good practice for Elrond's sons and they didn't mind taking their little sister with them. At first Arwen was enthusiastic, but she grew bored before they were finished, so to make it up for her, Elrohir promised her she would be able to pick the place for their camp on their way back.
"I don't see why not," Elladan shrugged. "We can go along the water and make a camp there, then return to Lorien tomorrow."
"It's not like we're in a hurry," agreed Elrohir. "Lead the way, my lady," he mocked a bow.
xxx
They reached the other side of the lake and decided to stay there for the night. Arwen chose a spot by the shore that allowed an easy access, and so they swam in the warm water, washing all the dust from their journey. They spent quite some time splashing and laughing, but then Elrohir reminded Arwen that they needed to prepare their camp for the night and since she was responsible for it, she should appoint the tasks. The girl needed not to be asked twice and soon both of the brothers were sent to collect the wood for the fire, while she went to hunt for food. They had enough provisions to prepare a supper, but the twins let Arwen collect whatever she could find, as long as she stayed within their sight.
"Ro, help me! It caught me!"
Elrohir looked up from the fire he was preparing and laughed as he saw Arwen's foe. His sister was trying to reach for raspberries she had found, but the biggest and sweetest fruits were way beyond her reach. In her eagerness to get them all, she ended up tangled in the bushes.
"The lady is in distress and needs a rescue," he called to Elladan, who went the other way to collect more wood than the sticks Arwen had brought.
"Don't keep her waiting then!" Came a merry reply.
"Elrohir!"
"Coming, my lady!" Despite his valiant pose of a knight rescuing a dame, Elrohir did not resolve to drawing his weapons against the deadly foes of raspberry branches. Besides, the sword he carried laid along with his bag and cloak by the lake.
Arwen giggled as he freed her from raspberries and put her on his hip, trying in vain to smoothen her braids. "Look! There is more!" She cried in delight when she spotted another bushes. "We'll have raspberries for dinner."
"Raspberries are NOT dinner," objected Elrohir, but he put her down and let her drag him towards the bushes she saw. "But we can have them for dessert, if you manage to spare some."
"Of course I will!" The girl pouted and reached for the fruits.
Elrohir intended to follow her when he sensed his twin's alert. The warning Elladan sent him was unclear, but it seemed grave. Wondering if his brother had spotted some animal they wouldn't want to disturb, Elrohir leaned towards his sister.
"Be quiet, Arwen," he whispered. "I'm serious."
The girl nodded solemnly and grasped his hand, her other one clenching and squeezing the raspberries she was holding. Elrohir heard what must have alarmed his brother and he immediately understood why Elladan tensed so much. The noise wasn't that of an animal, but of a group travelling through the forest. Whoever it was, Elladan clearly didn't want to meet them.
"Arwen. Whatever it is, we don't want to attract it, right?" whispered Elrohir. "Come." Slowly he headed away, leading his sister on the soft moss, but a sudden bustle of noises made them both stop. They could hear voices, harsh, ugly voices, though the words were foreign.
"Shhh," repeated Elrohir, feeling Arwen's hand trembling in his grasp. He wanted to go on, but spotted Elladan sneaking towards them, his sword bare in his hand.
"Orcs!" He breathed and Elrohir paled as he realised that his own weapon was by the lake. Judging by the noises, the orcs had just discovered their camp. "Move!"
"We may not be able to escape." Elrohir looked at his brother with despair. Between them, Arwen stood obediently silent and distressed, threatening to burst into tears at moment's notice. The chances of escaping with a child were small.
Elladan glanced at the girl, then at his brother and nodded grimly. Decision made, Elrohir knelt and placed his hands on Arwen's shoulders. "Listen to me. I need you to run, just like you do when we play. But you have to keep quiet, alright?"
"Why?" Arwen stared at him wide-eyed, her lip trembling.
"I'll explain it later. We'll follow you. Run along the lake up to the Durin's stone. There," Elrohir pointed between the bushes at the stone visible at the other side of the deep water. "Go! Don't stop, don't look back. We'll follow you!" He pushed the girl and she broke into run.
As soon as she did, the brothers moved as well, picking the direction that would take the threat away from their sister, should they be spotted. Elladan kept his sword ready. Having no other option, Elrohir picked a thick branch that looked solid enough to withstand a few blows. He had a knife by his belt, but it would be useless against a sword or whatever weapons the orcs used.
The orcs must have picked their trail, as the brothers heard a sudden burst of voices that neared. It seemed that all of them were following the twins, meaning that Arwen should be safe. The orcs were much smaller, and Elladan and Elrohir were swift. Chances were that they would manage to escape without picking a fight.
They ran into a clearing and halted at the sight of more orcs. Elrohir grabbed his brother by the arm and dragged him backwards, but it was too late; they had been spotted. Suddenly the two elves found themselves surrounded.
'When you're outnumbered, never split up,' Glorfindel used to say. Elladan found it hard to follow. They did try to stay together, but soon they got separated and once it happened, there was no way to get to one another among the orcs. There were many of them. Too many. Elladan was aware that the one sword he had and the thick stick Elrohir had picked were not enough. A few opponents, perhaps they would have managed, but not two dozen.
The stick broke and the bludgeon hit Elrohir's arm. The impact was already slowed by the stick, but it made him lose his footing and that was all the orcs needed. Another attacker struck with his weapon and a heavy head of a cudgel hit the elf in the ribs, sending him on the ground.
"No!" Elladan rushed towards his fallen brother. He was too far away to block any attack that would come...
But none came. Instead of striking a final blow, an orc grabbed Elrohir by the hair and dragged him up, heedless to the fact that the elf was gasping and struggling to breathe. He barked something Elladan didn't understand, but the gesture of a knife pressed against Elrohir's throat was plain enough.
"Ru-" air was yet again blown off Elrohir before he could finish, but it would have changed nothing. Elladan froze in horror. It was enough for the orcs, two, three, Elladan didn't know, to overwhelm him. The next few moments were all a blur. He fell, he struggled, he fought to keep his sword. It was taken from him. There was Elrohir there, near, the knife threatening to take his life, but the instincts told him to struggle, to try.
He had no chance. He was pushed down again and had his hands twisted behind his back. We'll die, he thought desperately and tried with new energy to wriggle himself out the foul grasp. The orcs had other plans. Elladan screamed as his right shoulder gave in with a nauseating pop. Pain blinded him and before he could help it, his hands were tied tightly. His dislocated arm hurt as if it was about to be ripped out completely and the ropes prevented him from even trying to find a more comfortable position.
Two orcs pulled at his arms and Elladan bit back a scream. Grasping what they wanted of him, he scrambled on his feet. The orcs were small, but they could easily stab him in the stomach, should he resist, he knew this much. Elladan turned as much as he could and saw his brother being treated in a similar way, though he was still kneeling. There was no knife by his throat now, only a rope binding his hands behind his back. At least two orcs held the longer end of the rope and Elladan suspected he was being held on a similar kind of lash. For a moment disgust was stronger than fright, but it was easily forgotten as he was pushed forwards.
The orc that looked like a commander of the group poked Elrohir, motioning him to stand as well. The elf yelped and obeyed, swaying a little, his expression pained.
"Ro?!" Elladan called in alarm.
"Broken. Ribs," hissed the other twin. He stood a little bent over, his arms curled as much as the rope allowed him. His breathing was quick and shallow. "Arrgh!"
"Don't!" Protested Elladan, seeing that the orc holding his brother's rope intended to poke him with his cudgel again.
The orc made a gurgling noise and only after a moment did Elladan realise it was laughter. Mortified, he found his brother's eyes. What would become of them now?
It didn't look like the orcs intended to kill them; at least not now, otherwise they would have not bound them so. Instead, they pushed them roughly forwards, the whole group forming a more or less organized column. There was no way the twins could resist.
The orcs headed towards the mountains, away from the lake and the path. And from Arwen.
xxx
Elrohir told her to run and so she did. She ran and ran, too frightened to look back. She was swift and her brothers often chased her along Bruinen at home, but eventually they always got her. But now... Arwen stopped as she realised the twins were not chasing her like Elrohir had said. She had a vague idea what was going on, but she knew one thing for sure – they were not playing. her brothers never let her out of their sight, even when she tried to hide from them. They were always there, near.
But they were nowhere near now. Arwen hid in the bushes by the lake and waited, watching the path she had come through and listening. No one came. No one was nearing.
Arwen sniffled. She had always wanted to hide successfully from her brothers, but now that it had finally happened, she suddenly felt very small and very alone. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountains and the night was coming, but Elladan and Elrohir did not come.
A tear rolled down her cheek, then another one. Once they started, there was no stopping them. Arwen dragged her knees up to her chest and curled, her tunic muffling her desperate sobs. Elladan would probably tease her for crying, but she didn't care. She just wanted them to come. Or mum and dad. Surely they would come...
