Elrond swiftly made his way down the sunlit corridor to Elros' rooms. The day was special for his brother and he for today they officially came of age. They could say good-bye to their status as elflings in Gil-Galad's court. Though still young, they would no longer be treated as children and be allowed to participate more and more in adult activities.
The brothers looked forward to this day with much anticipation. There were times when neither of them had been sure that they would reach that glorious age of fifty, certain that this or that rival faction would end either life in a moment. Gil-Galad had taken them in only a few years before, and though he had treated them kindly, they never truly forgot being stripped from the only home they knew and taken by Maedhros and Maglor.
"Elros?" Elrond stuck his head inside the door and looked around. Elros was a bit of a slob in his habits. His bed was unmade and clothes littered the floor in a trail from the door to the bed. Muddy boots were stacked beside the bed. A wooden desk beneath the window was covered precariously with papers and books. From the looks, most was unfinished correspondence.
He and Elros had taken separate rooms many years ago, after coming to court. Though they had always been together, they grew to a point where they both needed their separate space as they diverged in personalities and interests.
Elrond came further into the room and looked about. Someone had hung Elros' new robes over the wardrobe door. Elrond moved closer to take a look. The robes were similar to his, deep burgundy and gray with off white trim. Elros's leggings were black, where Elrond's would be white. There were no rules to the style or color of the robes and leggings, just personal preference.
Splashing from the next room gave Elrond an idea where his brother was. "Elros?"
"That you, Elrond?" There was more splashing. "Come in here where I can hear you."
Elrond went in to the bathroom and instantly felt water soak through he soft-soled shoes and the hem of his robe. Elros splashed around in the water as though he were swimming in a river rather than a small bath. At first Elrond did not see his twin and frowned. A great splashing of water and soap bubbles erupted in the bath and Elros at last emerged.
His dark hair streamed in a solid sheet down his back and rivulets of water streamed over his muscular chest and arms. He brushed water out of his grey eyes and blinked at Elrond. His twin wore dark breeches and a matching tunic. Nondescript by Elven standards, and certainly not something that either twin would normally chose for himself.
"You aren't getting ready for tonight?" He leaned back against the tub and draped his arms over the sides.
"I have bathed and all that I need to do to be ready for tonight's feast is don my clothing. You, on the other hand, my brother, shall need to bail out your rooms before you can get dressed." Elrond grinned impishly as this twin.
Elros sloshed through the water with a casual shrug. "What has brought you here, at this hour, my brother? Surely you have better things to do than complain about my housekeeping?" He spoke without rancor. He and Elrond, even as twins and exceptionally close, did often tease one another.
"I wanted to see you, before the party. Once the festivities begin, we will have no time to be alone." Elrond sounded hesitant and uncertain.
Elros began struggling in to his clothes and paused to stare at Elrond for a moment. "Is something troubling you?"
Elrond took a deep breath. "Brother, I know that you and I will be presented with a choice. I fear what your choice will be."
Elros sat on the bed and studied his brother. He and Elrond had gone through many difficulties through out their life. They had been ripped from their parents, Elwing and Earendil during the destruction of the Havens. Had it not been for Maglor and Maedhros, they twins would not have survived to see their coming of age. Soon, sooner than either was willing to acknowledge, they would be given the choice of remaining mortal men or being counted among the first born.
"Sit beside me for a moment, Elrond," Elros perched on the edge of the bed and patted a spot beside him.
Reluctantly, Elrond sat on the bed, feeling the springs give way beneath his weight. Droplets of water trailed down Elros' back and Elrond watched them in fascination. He could smell the soap that Elros had used, ginger and cinnamon with a hint of honey. The spice tantalized and teased him. Made him wonder about more than he should. He unconsciously inched away from Elros, putting a few more inches between them. The thoughts and feelings swirling through his mind were unbecoming and he wasn't sure exactly how much he was willing to share with Elros, though all their lives they'd shared everything. Some things Elrond refused to allow in to the light of day.
"I do not know what choice I will make, when the time comes." The lie was small, intended to assuage some of Elrond's fears. He did know, had known all his life that when the time came, he would not face eternity. His destiny lay elsewhere. Trouble would come to Middle Earth, long after he'd passed beyond the reach of such things, and his choice would mean the difference between the survival and the end for many. He knew darkness would settle like a dark mantle for many years, but one day that mantle would be lifted. He could not say these things to his brother, however, and so said nothing at all of his dreams or premonitions, if his feelings could truly be classified as such.
Elrond knew differently. He sensed his brother's reticence. Something lay hidden behind eyes that were identical to his own but Elrond could not fathom what. "That is not the whole truth, Elros. Seas, do not toy with me, brother, for this is much too important."
Gray eyes met gray and Elros tried not to blink, to look away. After a long moment, he had not choice but to drop his gaze. "Never have I been able to hold anything back from you, mellon nin. Perhaps this should wait until after the party, when we our emotions are not tempered by excitement. Everything will be clearer, then, do you not think so?"
Elrond longed to take Elros' hand and press it to his heart. "Our choice comes tonight, Elros. I have spoken to the High King. Tonight, at the hour of our coming of age, we will make our choice and live with it for eternity. Or not." He glanced away, seeking another focal point. He feared the truth. Yet he feared not knowing.
Elros could stand it no longer. His brother's fear and pain were palpable and beat at his fragile heart like wings. He leaned close and wrapped his long arms around Elrond's shoulders. "Saes, Elrond, I did not know. Perhaps I should have paid closer attention. I thought I had more time."
"Nay. You have no time left." Elrond suddenly knew beyond all shadow of a doubt what Elros' decision would be. He knew the answer, could all but hear it echoing around the room. "You will remain mortal."
"You make is sound like a curse." Elros pressed closer to his brother, relishing the feel of his twin's warmth.
"Is it not a curse?" Elrond tried to pull away, to move from his brother's grasp. The closeness was unbearable. Would Elros stay if he knew the truth? Or did he know the truth and choose to leave? Did it matter?
Elros placed a feather soft kiss against Elrond's ear, just as he had done so many times before over the years. Although, at its heart, the kiss was different from any other he'd given his twin. He'd poured passion and love in equal measure in to the chaste kiss, revealing, perhaps more of himself than was strictly wise. His brother deserved so much more than what he could offer. Were either of them to lay the facts out on the table and take stock, they would both realize that they needed more, deserved more than what they had ever received. Material riches and friends they neither had nor cared to possess. What they deserved and needed was love. And in that, should Elrond say the word, Elros would be undone.
"Nay, though you do not believe so now, this is a salvation." Elros stroked back the heavy locks, felt the heavy waves slide through his fingers and smelled sandalwood and pine. "Hear me, Elrond, and believe what I say. I cannot see the whole future, but I sense enough to know that as an immortal, I will be useless. If I choose to dwell in the world of men, my death will have meaning.
"Your death will have meaning?" Elrond threw up his hands in a rare emotional gesture and tried to rise. Elros locked his arms tighter and refused to allow his twin to rise; to run.
"Yes, I believe so, in the long run. Will you not trust me?"
Elrond's back remained rigid and his face even more so, devoid of all emotions. He kept his eyes focused away from Elros. "What choices have I?"
Elros could not think of an appropriate answer, or even one that would offer his twin any comfort. He averted his face. "You could choose to trust me."
"I trust you, Elros," Elrond replied, though his response lacked either heat or conviction. "Release me, saes, I need to finish getting ready."
Elros held on a fraction of a second longer, unwilling to release Elrond with so many things left unspoken between them. Three words could forever alter his decision, force him to reconsider, make him waver. He knew he'd never hear those words from Elrond, not the way he wanted to hear them. His arms fell limply to his sides.
"I will see you at the banquet." Elrond said as he rose and went to the door. For a moment he hesitated and half turned. His eyes wore an expression of such sadness that Elros' heart nearly broke. Whatever Elrond wanted to say remained locked behind his wide lips.
The door closed with a soft click. Sitting silently for a long time, Elros stared at the floor and watched the shadows slowly make their way across the brightly woven carpets. When at last he roused form his stupor, he brushed a trembling hand across his face and encountered salty wetness. He had not even realized he was crying.
The banquet was a merry affair with fine wines and foods aplenty. Musicians kept the diners company as they were treated to delicacy after delicacy. Elrond and Elros sat at the high table with Gil-Galad and his advisors. If anyone noticed the tension between the twins, they easily attributed it to nervous excitement. The high king had gone out of his way to ensure that the twins were afforded every honor and courtesy.
Once the meal was over, gifts were given. First, Elrond and Elros exchanged gifts to each other. Elros gave Elrond a magnificent robe of copper silk trimmed in black thread. Elrond presented his twin with a hand tooled leather scabbard for his sword. Others came forward and gave the twins fine robes and boots or jewels. Gil-Galad presented each twin with fine crystal boxes lined with velvet. Inside the boxes were silver and gold circlets. The circlets were intricately woven so that three strands of silver wove around a solitary gold strand. Gold edged points swirled around the temples on either side before sweeping back to form a solid silver band.
There was a moment of silence as the twins held up their circlets. Then slowly they lowered them on to their heads and the audience released a collectively held breath. Turning, the twins bowed to Gil-Galad.
"Hannon le," murmured Elrond.
Elros straightened and offered the king a hesitant smile. "I am beyond words, Sire."
Gil-Galad smiled his acknowledgement. "Now, my friends, comes the moment that I know Elros and Elrond have both dreaded and anticipated. Today, on the day of their majority they are to be given a choice unique among our kind. Because they are of two races, the race of men and the race of elves, they must now choose which they shall become."
Gil-Galad's stern visage encompassed both elves. "Do you understand what I am asking of you?"
The twins nodded.
"What you chose now cannot be undone. Think carefully before you answer." Turning to Elros, the elder of the twins, Gil-Galad took a deep breath and tried to judge the elf. "Elros, what say you now? Will you become mortal and pass away as men pass or will you walk through eternity as an elf?"
Elros slanted a quick glance at his brother from the corner of his eye. Elrond's back was straight and his chin was held high. His eyes, however, were distant and blank. Elros swallowed. "I choose mortality, Sire."
A gasp echoed around the room at his words. For a moment Gil-Galad closed his eyes. "You are certain, my friend?"
Elros could only nod, unable to trust his voice. He wanted to turn to Elrond but knew he could not.
"So be it. And from you, Elrond, what answer to we now hear?"
"Eternity, Sire. I will remain an elf and, when the time comes, I will pass to the Gray Havens and beyond, with the rest of my kind."
Gil-Galad stared in shock, his eyes going from one twin to the next. He could barely believe his ears. Not in his darkest dreams did he imagine that the twins would choose to walk separate paths. He could not begin to fathom what had sundered the bond that they shared from the womb. As he studied his charges, he realized that the bond had not been sundered. He saw pain echoed in each twins face and knew that hearts had been broken. But why? He held the question in, knowing such was not his place.
"So be it. Elrond Peredhil, you shall be numbered among the first born while you, Elros Peredhil, will become mortal."
The twins bowed once to Gil-Galad and to his advisors and then faced the crowd. They began making their way through the throng, receiving congratulations and well wishes. Yet Elrond seemed not to hear. His face was cold and stern, an expression that suggested far more years than he carried. Elros concentrated all his thoughts and energy on his brother, trying to breach the wall that had slammed in to place with such force that Elros had nearly choked on it.
Nearly an hour passed before he could speak to Elrond in anything that even remotely resembled privacy. Clasping his brother's hand, Elros pulled him up short. "Elrond? Elrond? Do not turn away from me, saes. You knew what I would answer."
"Ai, I did, Elros. Tis done, is it not? We are no longer brothers." Elrond pulled his hand from Elros and fled the hall.
Elros followed, ignoring the puzzled stares he left in his wake. All he could see was the pain hidden deep in the gray depths of his twin's eyes. He had not made a mistake, yet he felt horrible, as though he had betrayed Elrond. What he'd done was for the ultimate good of all and he had to make Elrond see.
He reached Elrond's door seconds after it slammed shut. Elros paused for just a moment before twisting the handle and thrusting open the heavy portal. He was plunged from the brightly candle lit hall to the utter darkness of the room.
"Elrond?" He stepped in to the room, giving his eyes a moment to adjust.
"Ai, I am here, Elros," Elrond stepped from the deeper shadows near his bed. There was a brief spark and then candles began to flare around the room. His circlet had been tossed aside, carelessly discarded in a fashion very unlike Elrond. "I am tired and I would like to be alone."
"I wanted to tell you, before the ceremony, but I was afraid you would try to change my mind," Elros continued as if Elrond had not made his request. He closed the door and went forward, to the bed and retrieved the circlet. "I have to do this, just as you have to serve Gil-Galad. Do you see? This is my destiny."
"I understand, Elros," he said in a hollow voice.
"No you don't. You say you do, but you don't, not really deep down inside. I love you, Elrond and I would never harm you. In the end, I believe that what I do now will have a more profound effect than if I became immortal."
Elrond stared at Elros for a moment before he sat down on the edge of the bed. He was not unaware that just hours before he and Elros had been sitting in a similar position. "I know you have your reasons, Elros, I only wish you had told me. I—I was ill prepared. There were things I would have told you." Elrond swallowed and looked away.
Elros reached out and cupped his twins' chin in his hands. "If you had said them, then I would have changed my mind."
Elrond sighed. "Then it did matter. I wanted to say something to you this afternoon, for even then I suspected your choice, but I dared not. I wish I had."
"I am glad you did not, Elrond, for then I would have chosen to spend eternity by your side instead of fulfilling my destiny. I cannot explain it to you, only I ask that you trust in me and what I know to be true." Elros forced his brother to meet his gaze. "I love you, Elrond and I always will."
Elrond licked his lips. "I love you, too, Elros. If you had given me warning, I would have chosen to follow you, don't you see? I would have become mortal for you."
"Nay, mellon-nin, you could not be mortal for your destiny is different from mine." Elros watched as Elrond moistened his lips with his tongue. "Tonight, Elrond, you and I."
Elrond leaned forward and captured Elros' lips with his own. For a long moment there was no sound as lips pressed together and tongues probed deeply. When they separated, Elrond took a deep breath.
"Tonight, Elros, you and I become one, even as we are parted."
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