A Bond That Was Put Down Deep in Our Hearts

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Many eventually forgot, but Elrond would never let himself forget. He had made a promise, so though hundreds of years had passed since he had seen his brother, yet still he remembered. With fondness he looked back on their childhood with Maedhros and Maglor. The memories began to turn bittersweet when they left their foster-fathers and only grew more so when he reflected on the twins' parting and Elros's tearful pleas to his brother, begging him to never forget. So he didn't.

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

Even if he had wanted to break his promise, he wouldn't have been able to. Reminders always appeared, from Elendil's courage and untimely death during the Battle of the Last Alliance (Elros would have been proud), to Isildur's destruction of Sauron and claiming of the One Ring (Elros would have had mixed feelings about that).

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

Elrond's own sons were so alike to him and Elros that the resemblance was frightening. The elder, Elrohir, was calmer than his brother and skilled in healing and archery, so much like his father. Elladan, however, was impulsive, hot-tempered, and skilled with the sword, exactly like his uncle.

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

Elrond, of course, kept up friendship with the Chieftains of the Dunedain, and each generation of them was alike to his brother in a different way. Arathorn, though, took that likeness to an even higher level. His temperament, skill with a blade, and even his voice were so uncannily... Elros's that Elrond sometimes had to look twice to remind himself that Arathorn was not Elros.

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

Then Elrond raised Arathorn's son. Aragorn, or Estel, as they called him, was most certainly Elros's descendant. His eyes, with their spark of playfulness and laughter, bore the strongest testimony of his ancestry, especially when he and the twins were acting mischievously.

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

The most painful and tangible reminder of Elros, though, came when Arwen told Elrond of her love for Estel and her choice of mortality. Despite his attempts to dissuade her from her chosen course, she remained steadfast in her love. Though Elrond was delighted that his daughter had found a worthy man to give her love to, his heart was broken by their impending separation...for eternity. Exactly like him and his brother.

*B*T*W*P*D*D*O*H*

Even as Elrond sailed into the west to join his beloved Celebrian, he remembered Elros. As they passed what little was left of Numenor, he could not stop thinking of their last conversation, when Elros had left with the men who were granted a home on the island. "Oh, Elros," he whispered. "If I could turn back time, I would not touch a day. I do know this: I will never be remiss with the memories locked away in my heart."

A/N: Just a random little oneshot that popped into my head and demanded to be written. The title and the last line, the one Elrond says, are from the song "Wonderin'" by TobyMac, which I once made an Elrond and Elros video to. I might be willing to upload that video and post the link if anyone's curious, so if you are, just ask!