Title: A Small Book

Author: Reona

Email: reona32aol.com

Website: http:

Fandom: LotR

Archive: Lord of Imladris Archive, Peredhil, Library of Moria, Melethryn Archive. Others, just ask.

Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. I do own this story and any odd characters that show up.

Character(s): Established Glorfindel/Elrond, Twins, OCF, a few other passing original characters

Rating: R

Summary: The twins come across a small book that is more than it seems and the Peredhil family is in danger as an evil power turns its attention toward them.

Warning: Rape, Angst, Violence

Authors Note: This was inspired by the movie Ella Enchanted and an episode of the Gargoyles cartoon. We all remember Dae, Elrond's cat? Good.

An annoyed mutter could be heard in the Study, the soft sound swallowed by thick leather books along the walls. Sunlight and a gentle breeze drifted through the open balcony doors behind the large desk, bright light slipping over the messy desk and floor. Happily purring on the warm stone railing of the balcony sat a black cat with amber eyes. Dae idly watched as her Elf paced inside the room and yawned, wondering what had gotten the dark haired Elf lord so irritated. When her Elf was in such a state it was not a good idea to approach him with demands of being petted and cuddled. A cat was sure to only get a rude push to the floor.

Elrond stopped his pacing and knelt on the floor, careful not to place his knees on any of the parchments littering the rug around his desk. He reached into a crate and pulled out another bound stack of papers, his silver grey eyes darting between that bunch and a list in his hands. He growled low in annoyance, not noticing when the sound caused Dae to lay back her ears on the balcony. [This is all wrong!] thought Elrond. [Half of the information I requested is not in the crate and most of what is here I did not request!] The half-Elf reached in again and pulled out a small leather book, the pages yellowed with age and the cover decorated with fading gold accents. Elrond placed the book on the floor, barely looking at it, and continued to pull things from the crate. When he pulled out a ledger from over three years ago, he growled again and stood.

Pushing back a loose strand of dark hair, Elrond picked up his teacup and took a sip. Finding it cold, the half-Elf made a face and set it down with a sigh. A sharp knock on the door announced the appearance of a frazzled looking young page. "My lord," exclaimed the Elf a little breathlessly. "There has been a small fire in the kitchen and Mistress Meneréiel requests your assistance in the Hall of Healing."

Concern for the workers filled Elrond's eyes and he gracefully cleared the mess on the floor to reach the door. "At once, Doron," the Elf lord said, closing the door behind them and hurrying away with the messenger.

Dae listened to the sounds of the two Elves rushing away down the hall and laid her head down on her paws. She supposed that she really should get up since her Elf had left and no longer needed her company. There were mice to be caught in the barns and stables after all. But the warmth of the sun against her black fur felt so good and the cat was simply not inclined to move.

The door opening again caused one ear to twitch and Dae heard the voices of her Elf's offspring enter the Study. "Ada?" called Elladan.

"He's not here," said Elrohir.

The elder twin rolled his eyes at his brother. "Aye, I can see that." Elladan turned to go but stopped when Elrohir walked toward the mess around the desk. "What are you doing?" asked Elladan.

Elrohir bent to look at some of the papers at the edge of the disaster zone around their father's desk. "I'm just curious, brother. Ada has been holed up in his Study all morning since that crate arrived from Lothlórien and I want to know why," answered Elrohir.

Elladan sighed and closed the door, walking over to join his brother. "I'm sure it's something suitable boring and involving the well-being of all of Arda," said Elladan. Elrohir blinked at his brother and Elladan snickered. "The Elders always think everything involves the well-being of all of Arda."

Elrohir grinned. "True," the younger twin agreed. He picked up a small gold detailed book as his brother walked around the desk and stole a cookie from the tray sitting on the corner. Elrohir flipped open the book and grinned. "Oh, it's in Quenya," he snickered.

Elladan rolled his eyes and swallowed. "Probably some magic mumbo jumbo if it's in Quenya," he said. He picked up another cookie as Elrohir paged through the book.

"Don't you believe in magic, brother?" asked Elrohir coyly.

"Hardly," muttered Elladan.

Elrohir's grin widened and he set the book down on the desk. His Quenya was very rusty but he thought he could pronounce most of the words. He cleared his throat dramatically and held his hand up with flair. Trying to keep his voice low and intense, he did his best to speak the spidery words on the page before him. "Ai lathron sen lûth, pân innas caelil rontur! Ten innas nasabar!" A strong silence followed Elrohir's speech and he cracked one eye open. Elladan was standing across the desk from him, cookie half in the air and a blank look on his face. Nothing else had changed. "Drat," muttered Elrohir in disappointment. He began to lower his arms when Dae hissed on the balcony and raced off. Elrohir blinked in surprise and was about to speak when the words on the page suddenly burst into golden light. The younger twin yelped and fell to the floor, watching the light pour out of the book.

The book lit up the Study for a moment before growing dark again. Elrohir slowly raised his head and looked at the book, sitting innocently where he had placed it on the desk. The younger twin stood and nudged the book, as if afraid it would bite him. After a moment, Elrohir grinned. "Wow! I wonder what I did?"

Elrohir looked up at his brother and frowned, finding him still staring and holding the cookie. "Elladan?" he asked. "Hello Elladan?" Elrohir leaned on the desk, his fingers on the book, and waved his other hand in front of his brother's face. "Elladan? Say something."

"Something," Elladan promptly deadpanned.

Elrohir laughed. "Very cute, brother." Elladan kept staring at some point behind Elrohir's shoulder, still holding the cookie. Elrohir looked over his shoulder, fearing that someone was standing in the doorway watching them, but the door was closed and they were alone. "Elladan, stop staring at nothing," said Elrohir in an annoyed tone. Elladan closed his eyes and Elrohir frowned. "Elladan, drop the cookie." The elder twin promptly released the cookie to fall to the floor. Elrohir stood in silence for a moment and then bent to study the page that he had just read, trying to figure out the words. On large spidery word at the top was almost hidden by the looping lines decorating the page but he understood its meaning. It was the Quenya word for obedience. "Ada is going to kill me," Elrohir groaned and sank to the floor.

After a moment, the younger twin looked up and sighed. "Open your eyes, Elladan," he ordered. Elladan did nothing. Elrohir frowned and stood. "Elladan, open your eyes," he repeated but his brother did not obey. Elrohir looked down at the book and carefully picked it up. He looking over the spell again but most of the words escaped him. Something about the 'will' being 'mine'. "Mine who?" muttered Elrohir. "Me because I read it or someone else?" Elrohir glanced up at Elladan and sighed. "I wish you just wouldn't just stand there." Elladan folded his legs and sat on the floor. Elrohir blinked at the top of his brother's head and then glanced at the book. He sat the book on the table and let it go. "Stand up," the younger twin said. Elladan didn't move, still sitting on the floor with his eyes closed. Elrohir picked up the book and repeated himself. Elladan stood from the floor again. Elrohir bit his lip. "Okay, 'mine' as in who ever holds the book. At least that's solved."

The younger twin ordered Elladan to open his eyes and he obeyed. "Okay, we need to get out of here. I need to think," muttered Elrohir. He turned and headed for the door. When he reached it he found that Elladan had not followed. "Elladan, come here," said Elrohir. Elladan walked around the desk and Elrohir flinched as his elder brother stepped on some of the papers. "Don't step on the papers!" he exclaimed. Elladan promptly began stepping around them until he reached his brother and stopped. Elrohir sighed. "Obviously I need to be very specific in my orders."

Elrohir opened the door and stepped out of the Study, the strange book tucked under his arm. "Follow me, Elladan. And don't break anything." Elrohir walked away down the hall, Elladan following a few steps behind him.

[It's not Ada you need to be worrying about, dear brother. Oh, no! When we fix this, I am going to be the one to kill you!] Elladan tried his best to force his leg to rise and kick Elrohir, who was walking in front of him. But, like every other command he had given his body since Elrohir had read that stupid spell, his body did not obey. Although his body had no problem obeying everything his brother said. [Agh!] screamed Elladan in his mind. He raged against the wall that seemed to trap his will in the back of his mind, uselessly yelling to be let out. Apparently, the spell allowed the person to both see and hear the world around them but be unable to control their body, helpless to disobey the one holding the book that contained the spell. [Elrohir, you're going to regret this!]

A single finger tapped the crystal ball, the image of Elrohir and Elladan walking down the hallways of Imladris inside the sphere. An amused chuckle filled the cave. "My my my. Isn't that interesting?" muttered a female voice. The finger lifted to tap the cheek of the woman, a tiny smile curving blood red lips. Bright blue eyes looked out of a pale grey face, as if the skin had never seen daylight. The smile widened and the woman stood, exiting the cave. "Very interesting indeed."

Elrond pushed back a wisp of loose hair as he entered his Study and closed the door behind himself. The accident in the kitchen had been a small fire that had gotten out of control but nothing serious. A few of the workers had gotten mild burns while putting it out but those wounds would heal in a few days with proper care. The Elf lord was grateful that the fire hadn't been anything more serious and that it hadn't spread.

Suddenly, Elrond paused as a strange weight settled on his mind. Cautiously, he searched the room for something amiss but could find nothing out of place. The papers and the crate were where he had left them and nothing else in the room seemed to be disturbed. But still, the half-Elf could not seem to disregard the feeling that something was very much wrong.