The Sun dipped and vanished, and as if at the shuttering of a lamp, black night fell. Elrohir shifted restlessly in his bedroll, his ears straining to identify the unfamiliar sounds that seemed to come from all directions. A twig snapped sharply, very near his head, and his heart leapt into his throat, the pounding slowing only after long moments passed without disturbance. Almost in spite of himself, Elrohir dropped into an uneasy reverie.
Waking some hours later, he felt rather disoriented and very vulnerable as he snuggled deeper beneath the light blankets. What had seemed a good idea in the light of day was considerably less attractive in the dead of a moonless spring night. Only the thought that Elladan was close by made the ominous noises and smothering darkness vaguely tolerable, until at last Elrohir could bear no more. ��Dan?� he whispered, as though the night itself might hear. �Are you awake?�
There was no reply, and the hair on the back of Elrohir�s neck stood on end. �Elladan?� he prodded, his voice rising with every syllable. �Are you awake?�
Only the creak and groan of swaying trees and other eerie sounds of the night answered his call. Elrohir rose on one elbow, forcing back a rush of panic, and reached out to shake his brother awake.
Elladan was not there.
Elrohir had wheedled and taunted his twin into this foolish escapade, and now Elladan was gone.
As Elrohir struggled to his feet, a cold hand closed over his shoulder and he turned to see a grey-shrouded apparition, its face hidden in the cloying darkness. The wail that had been building in Elrohir�s chest burst free, echoed a moment later by the faceless spectre that would not let him go.
A door burst open and blessed light flooded the darkness, revealing both the familiar shapes of Celebr�an�s garden and the entangled forms that stood at its center, voices raised in a cacophony of screams and screeches.
Elrond hurried out, his hastily tied robe fluttering in the warm breeze as he rushed to the rescue. ��Rohir!� he said, giving the younger twin a gentle shake before pulling him into a comforting embrace, �What ails you, child?�
�I...I...I cannot find Elladan!� Elrohir howled, burrowing into his father�s arms. �I made him sleep in the garden and now the grey thing has taken him!�
Elrond looked in confusion from Elrohir to Elladan, who sat on the ground draped in the light grey blankets of his bedroll. �But �Adan is right here,� he pointed out patiently. �See?�
Elrohir looked suspiciously for a moment at the blanket-shrouded form, then launched himself into his brother�s arms. �Where did you go?� he demanded tearfully. �I tried to wake you up and you were gone.�
Elladan flushed brightly. �I was scared, �Roh. I went back into the Hall to sleep, but then you were here alone, so I came back to get you.�
�I think perhaps we should all go back inside to sleep, until you are a bit older,� Elrond suggested diplomatically, offering a hand to each of his sons. As they walked back toward the house, he squeezed Elladan�s hand gently. �So �Rohir thought you were missing...but why were you howling, �Adan?�
The elder twin looked at his father in surprise.
�Because �Roh was, of course!�