“Can you manage a few more steps, tôren?”
Elrohir nodded, his jaw set against the pain. “Aye, I will make it.”
Tightening his arm around his brother’s waist, Elladan nodded toward a patch of dense woods just ahead. “We will be safe from the storm there, I think. We must not be caught in this open field.”
A jagged streak of lightning lit the darkened sky, followed closely by the crack of thunder. Both young elves jumped instinctively, and Elladan’s eyes went to the blood-soaked strip of cloth that circled his brother’s right calf. “I wish I could carry you. You aren’t fit to walk any further,” he fretted.
“We are nearly there, ‘Dan,” Elrohir reassured him, though the ache of his injured leg made tears gather behind his furiously blinking eyelids. “Ada would say it serves me right for being disobedient. He told us to stay away from the rocks.”
“You were not disobedient,” Elladan insisted stoutly, guiding his brother into the welcome shelter of the trees. At the elf-knight’s raised eyebrow he amended, “At least not alone.”
“Then your punishment is being stuck here with me, rather than riding out the storm safe at home,” Elrohir teased, sinking gratefully to the ground at the base of an enormous oak as rain began to patter down onto the boughs and branches above.
“I would rather be here with you,” the elder twin replied, settling himself beside his brother. A tremendous roll of thunder drew a gasp from both, and they smiled at one another sheepishly. “Shall I hold you?” Elladan asked, unable to keep the hopeful edge from his voice.
“Only if you wish to,” Elrohir said, even as he leaned forward to make room for his twin against the great trunk.
A brilliant flash of light dazzled their eyes as the very ground beneath them rumbled, the tangy smell of saltpeter filled the air, and all pretense of confidence fled.
Elladan wrapped his arms snugly around the elf-knight, his chin coming to rest on top of his brother’s head. “This is better,” he announced with a sigh of relief, pulling Elrohir closer as the storm intensified.
“This is,” the elf-knight agreed, snuggling into the comforting embrace. “This is perfection.”