Seeing Double...

We trudge on cheerfully, much heartened by the laughter and fun from the previous day. I woke this morning thankfully early, on the small hill we had made our rest on.

I stretched and yawned, somewhat sore from yesterday's glorious water fight. And rubbed my eyes to make sure I was not dreaming.

Snow capped peaks were visible in the distance! My heart leaped at the thought of snow, and that we were making fine progress. Then my day - so new-begun - took a turn for the better.

"Aiya, (hail!) Wyn!"

Elladan or Elrohir (I could not tell), called out to me merrily, from a large craggy rock where he was perched - scouting the weather no doubt, with his keen elven eyes.

I halted in amazement, my hands stilling. Surely he did not just address me? I looked around and saw that no one else had risen. Even Legolas was still in his elvish dreams. The other twin was nowhere to be seen.

I turned back to the elf on the rock who was watching me curiously. I wondered if he realized this was the first he (or his brother) had spoken to me. After Lira and I were rescued, they had mainly spoken only to Elena, Legolas and the Rangers. I had grown used to my seemingly invisible presence before them.

They had not said much, even yesterday, but laughed a great deal, rather. He and his brother had splashed me joyfully during the water fight and they had even swung me into the water.

He was still watching me patiently. I smiled back at him friendly, and was shocked again as he half stepped off his perch and beckoned to me with a slim finger. Trying to swallow my heart, which suddenly seemed to have leapt in to my mouth, I made my way to his side without tripping which was astonishing in itself.

He smiled at me and patted the rock beside him. I sat obediently, a very happy bubble of sheer giggling-ish rising within me. I managed, heroically, to stifle it and put on a mature front.

"This is the first you have awoken early, to my knowledge," he observed with a smile.

I ducked my head apologetically, my cheeks warm. I was no morning bird, but rather a night owl. After a few days Rosriel had kindly offered to wake me. To my relief it had been easy; she needed only to shake me and I was conscious.

"Yes," I said. "I do love waking early, contrary to the Fellowship's belief; I simply have difficulty falling asleep."

He laughed at that.

"Where is your brother?" I asked curiously, hoping to hear a name, and thus, solve the puzzle.

"Somewhere gathering herbs for Elena," the elf replied.

Defeated, I opened my mouth. "Are you Elrohir or Elladan?"

The elf winked at me. "The former."

"Ah," I said, satisfied.

Elrohir drew his legs up thoughtfully and rested his chin on his folded arms. "Tell me about yourself," he said in a clear voice. "I know nothing of you, save your name."

"Alright," I stammered, surprised at his request. I slid off and sat on the ground, my back against the rock, feeling more comfortable.

"Um, I live between the Shire and Lotherien with my family," I began slowly, playing with the damp grass with my fingers. "I have many siblings, and even more cousins..."

I continued, undisturbed. I spoke more of my family and the woods where we played. He seemed interested and wanted to learn more.

"What do you do in the woods?"

"Sit in the trees," I confessed sheepishly.

My companion found that amusing and chuckled, pressing me for more.

"I usually read or sing. Sometimes, well - most of the time - I write in the book my father gave me." My eyes flickered to my pack where it lay and I thought of my newest entries of the Fellowship.

I felt Elrohir stir, but moved my eyes to the peaks. I was slowly feeling comfortable with nary a drop of my usual shyness. If I turned to look at him, I'd probably lose my courage altogether. I was nervous for I was not quite used to speaking alone with a male, much less an elf.

I told him of the little talan my siblings and I had made with our father in one of our trees. "We each have a little part, a shelf for each of us. I filled mine with my bow, books and little pots of herbs."

"You practice archery?" Elrohir sounded surprised.

"I am no Thranduilion," I rolled my eyes, "but I can shoot. Not very well admittedly, but I can."

He grinned.

"We are very fond of it. Our talan, I mean. 'Tis our own little home. Or elven hole if you will. I have a Hobbit hole as well, beneath the roots of the tree. I keep pots and pans there and cook a meal for us sometimes."

"Soup?" the elf interrupted merrily, with raised eyebrows.

"All the time," I said gravely, failing miserably to keep a grin from my face.

"Poor Dior," he laughed, his eyes following his train of thought to the snoring dwarf asleep by the fire.

I giggled. "Rose and Lira are being very stubborn, aren’t they?"

He rolled his eyes. "Such Elves."

Thanks, and a Apology

I watched the goings on between the elves and our former captor with amusement and a little bit of awe. So these were Elves.. They were everything my mother and father had told me of.

Turning my mind away from the elves (they were twins!), I turned to Lira who was crying bitterly, from both relief and shock. A tall man was crouched beside her, awkwardly patting her shoulder, trying to comfort her. His friend, a young women, was having better luck.

Lira quieted and was sniffing with her head on the women's arm. The flickering light of the fire illuminated her comforter's face. She was pale with clear cut features. Thick heavy braids spilled out of her hood which was thrown back. She was dressed similarly to the man, who I recognised as a Ranger.

I quickly dropped to my knees. "Lira, are you all right?"

She, the man and the women looked at me. Her brow wrinkled. "Y..yes, but I'm hungry!" The Ranger looked bewildered at that, the woman amused.

Lira's face cleared and she lighted up. "You're here!!" She threw herself at me, and we hugged.

"I was wondering when you were going to give me a proper welcome," I laughed.

"Well I was tied up earlier," she grumbled. I stuck my tongue out at her back as she turned and hugged the woman. "Thank you for rescuing me, Elena!"

She laughed and hugged Lira. "We feared you were lost to us forever. We were having difficulty finding tracks! You have my cousin and the twins to thank for that."

Lira regarded the Ranger for a moment then hugged him, much to all three of ours' surprise. The Ranger patted her on the back with a smile.

Elena smiled. "This is my cousin, Anarion."

He nodded at both of us. "And how came you here, to this land?" He inquired of me.

"To join the Fellowship. I heard of it from Elena."

Now it was her turn to look surprised. "I do not remember you."

We met sometime ago, and you told me of your plan to Walk. When I heard my friend, Lira joined, I set off as well. "

~Wyn