Elrond opened the door softly, so as to not wake the sleeping person inside. He slipped inside and neared the bed. Smiling as he looked at the small figure under the covers. Arwen was sleeping. Her eyes open but glazed, she looked peaceful and happy. Hazel hair spread out on the pillow.

He sat down beside her on the bed and gently brushed the hair out of her face. As he kissed her on the forehead Arwen moved under him and her eyes focused again. She looked drowsily at him.

"Ada?" She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

He smiled at her.

"Why are you waking me so early?" Arwen asked sleepily.

"Guess who's back." Elrond answered and widened his smile.

Arwen thought about it for a second before her eyes lit up and she shared Elrond's smile. She jumped out of the bed and hurried out into the hall. Her small feet were waddling on the cold floor.

Finally she reached the door she was so eager to get to, she reached up to grab the doorknob and swung the door open not bothering to knock. The other person turned around to face her just as she jumped into his arms.

"Elrohir!" Arwen said cheerfully.

Elrohir laughed and twirled her around a few times in his arms. "What is my beautiful sister doing out of bed so early?" Elrohir asked smiling.

Arwen giggled at the comment and answered, "Ada woke me."

"Did he now?" Elrohir said and looked towards the door. Sure enough Elrond was standing in the doorway smiling.

"Don't I get a hug?"

Both Elrohir and Arwen looked over there and saw Elladan standing in the door that combined Elrohir's room to Elladan's. Arwen jumped out of Elrohir's arms and hugged Elladan.

"Good morning Elladan." Arwen chuckled and let go of Elladan again.

"Good morning to you too."

"How long have you been home?" Arwen asked.

"We just got home." Elladan answered.

Elrohir smiled at her, "Don't worry you didn't miss anything."

Arwen looked at them thoroughly for the first time. Both of them were dirty and had their patrol clothes on. They were still wearing swords around their waists, though Elrohir was strapping his off at the moment. She smiled when she realized that there really was nothing she had missed, she jumped into up into the unprepared Elrohir's arms again. He managed to catch her, but had to drop his sword in the process.

Elrohir ruffled her hair, "Well aren't you full of energy this morning." He said.

It was as if the moment he said this all energy left her and she yawned again. The excitement was slowly debating. She rested her hair against Elrohir's shoulder.

Elrohir laughed and justified, "Well it is only five in the morning."

Then he looked at his twin they locked eyes and smiled wearily at each other. They hadn't slept for some days so they were tired as well. Elladan was leaning against the side of the door his arms crossed over his chest.

Elrond stepping into the room made Elrohir and Elladan look up. Elrond smiled at them and said, "You should probably get some rest."

Elrond made to take Arwen from Elrohir, but Arwen protested, "I want to stay here."

Elrond looked at Elrohir questionably. Elrohir nodded and said, "That's fine." He carried her over to his bed and lowered her out of his arms. She was asleep as soon as he pulled the covers over her and kissed her forehead.

"When do you want the report?" Elladan asked Elrond as he rubbed his eyes.

Elrond shook his head and smiled, "Get some rest first." Elladan nodded in agreement.

Elrond hugged first Elrohir and then Elladan, "Sleep. You both look exhausted." Elrond said, "It's good to have you back again."

"It's good to be back." The twins chorused, "Good night Ada."

"They've missed us." Elladan said after Elrond left the room.

"It does seem that way." Elrohir agreed looking at Arwen, "It's to be expected we were gone for two weeks."

Elladan nodded and asked, "Will you be alright in here by yourself?"

"Of course. Good night Elladan."

"Good night Elrohir." Elladan said and walked into his own room through their shared lounge.

Elrohir walked into his bathroom after Elladan left and filled the tub with water. He went into the room to get his nightclothes and then took a bath to clean away the dirt. He very nearly fell asleep in the water, only to jerk awake.

When he was cleaned, dried, dressed and combed he climbed into his bed to lie beside his sister. Arwen was deeply inside the world of dreams so she didn't wake up. He fell asleep almost the second his head touched the pillow not caring if his hair was still wet.

O

"Elrohir wake up!"

Someone was shaking him roughly by the shoulders. He tried to ignore it, but that was impossible. Finally he surrendered and opened his eyes. Arwen was sitting beside him looking slightly frustrated, but she smiled when she saw Elrohir looking at her. Elrohir smiled back, but placed his finger on his lips as a sign that they had to stay quiet. Arwen got the message.

"What time is it?" Elrohir asked softly.

"Eight." Arwen whispered.

Eight? That meant he had slept for two and a half hours. He only needed one look at Arwen to see that she wasn't going to fall asleep again. He could feel from his bond that Elladan was still asleep; he didn't want to wake him therefor the whispering.

"Let's not wake Elladan." Elrohir whispered to Arwen, she nodded. He ruffled her hair and got out of bed. Picking some new clothes from his closet, he went to the bathroom and returned ten minutes later fully dressed. He held his hand out towards Arwen and she came over to hold it.

They walked from the room, Elrohir leading her back to her own to get dressed. She bounced in quickly and got into a dress from her closet. Elrohir had to help her button the buttons in the back.

Elrohir then threw her onto the bed and tickled her making Arwen laugh hysterically. When she was slightly out of breath he stopped and let her clam down before flopping her upside-down over his shoulder and carrying her out the door. He had a grip around her ankles.

"Elrohir everything's upside-down." Arwen squealed from behind him.

He laughed, pulled her back up and set her down on the ground. Her hand immediately found his again. They met few elves in the halls because it was still early, but Elrohir stopped up and greeted almost every one of them making Arwen slightly annoyed.

"Ro come on." Arwen demanded and pulled him away from the elf he was currently talking to. Elrohir smiled apologetically to the elf and let Arwen drag him away.

Soon they entered the hall where breakfast was currently being served for the elves who got up early. There weren't many around the table so they took a seat beside them instead of sitting alone at the head of the table where they usually were. Elrohir placed some bread and fruit on Arwen's plate and then got something for himself.

Elrohir noticed that it had gone quieter in the hall after they had sat down so he turned to the other elves in the room and smiled. He then greeted cheerfully, "Good morning."

"Good morning Lord Elrohir." They answered and the carpet was lifted and they started chatting to each other again. Arwen seemed undisturbed and had continued eating.

Elrohir blinked sluggishly at his plate. His exhaustion made any appetite he might have had turn to nausea. He forced himself to eat most of the food on his plate, but it was a painfully slow process. He stifled a yawn and concentrated on Arwen's voice chatting away about what she had done in the weeks they had been gone.

When Arwen had cleared her plate the second time she stood up from the bench and asked Elrohir enthusiastically, "Can we go outside?"

Elrohir nodded and answered, "Sure."

He had only just stood up and walked a few steps before a small wave of dizziness hit him and he was forced to grab onto one of the chairs as his vision darkened. It only lasted for a second though, and afterwards he blinked profusely.

Luckily only a couple of elves had noticed him, the others were having their own conversation. The elves looked worriedly at him and looked as though they were about to say something, but Elrohir shook his head with a smile and walked unfalteringly after Arwen.

She skipped merrily beside him as they walked towards the door that led into the gardens.

"Elrohir?" A voice asked from behind him. Elrohir turned around and saw Glorfindel coming down the corridor.

"Good morning Glorfindel." Elrohir said.

Arwen smiled at Glorfindel and hugged him for a second before coming back to Elrohir, "Morning Glorfindel." She said as well.

"Good morning Arwen." He said crouching so he was on her level. "So what are you doing on this fine morning?"

"I'm going outside with Ro." She answered.

Glorfindel nodded and stood up again, "Well it is a beautiful morning. How about you go outside first and I can talk with Elrohir for a minute? I promise I'll give him back to you after that."

Arwen frowned and looked up at Elrohir who smiled at her, "It´s fine Arwen I'll be out in just a second."

She nodded and went out the door. Elrohir watched her go but then looked at Glorfindel.

"When did you get back?" Glorfindel asked.

"About four hours ago."

"How was the border?"

"Quiet. Except there has been an increase in men travelling close to the forest or through it." Elrohir answered.

Glorfindel frowned and asked, "Did you find out the cause for it?"

"No." Elrohir shook his head.

Glorfindel thought for a second, but then looked at Elrohir, studying him. "You look exhausted." Glorfindel stated.

Elrohir smiled weakly, "I am exhausted." He confirmed.

"Do you need me to look after Arwen?"

Elrohir shook his head and answered, "I'll manage, but thank you Glorfindel. I should probably get back to her."

Glorfindel looked worried at him but nodded, "I won't keep you, but Elrohir don't run yourself down."

"Of course. Have a good day Glorfindel."

"You as well."

Elrohir turned and walked out of the door to the garden. Arwen was waiting impatiently for him just outside the door. She jumped up from her seat on the stair when he came out of the door and took his hand dragging him into the garden.

The sun wasn't very high in the sky, but it shone brilliantly through the trees. They walked through the gardens, Arwen stopping constantly to adore the flowers.

After some hours they sat down Elrohir with his back against a tree and Arwen with her back against Elrohir. She was counting the peddles of a flower in front of her. Elrohir kept an eye on what she was doing and helping her if she forgot a number.

Sitting down with the sun bathing him in its light made Elrohir doze slightly his head resting against the back of the tree. He jerked awake though when Arwen called his name for the fifth time.

"Sorry." He murmured tiredly, "What did you say?"

Arwen pouted at him. "I asked you if we could go to the lake."

"I'm sorry Arwen, but I think I need to go back inside and sleep for a while. I'm really tired." Elrohir said.

Arwen's eyes widened and tears started pouring into then. Elrohir worriedly made to hug her but Arwen jumped away from him.

"You don't want to be with me?" Arwen asked tearfully. "I waited for you to come back, but you don't want to be with me…"

"No Arwen. I really want to be with you." Elrohir tried to explain, "But-"

"If you wanted to be with me then you would!" Arwen cried to him and turned around.

Before Elrohir could stop her, she began running into the forest.

"Arwen!" Elrohir called and stood up quickly. Too quickly it seemed because his vision darkened again, but as soon as it cleared he ran after her following the small footprints in the ground. It seemed as though she was running blindly getting closer and closer to the border. Elrohir speeded op fearfully; he had a bad feeling.

Soon he could see her in front of him. Her dress was flowing as she ran, tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Arwen!" He called again, but she didn't stop.

Blood froze in his veins. Someone was close he could feel it. He ran with all his speed and wrapped his arm around Arwen. Quickly he placed his hand in front of her mouth and pulled them both behind a tree.

She tried to get away from him, so Elrohir leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Arwen do you trust me?" She nodded. "I need you to be really quiet right now. Can you do that for me?" She nodded again, her movements stilled when she heard the seriousness in Elrohir's voice.

Elrohir removed the hand covering her mouth, but he continued to hold her close to him. With the free hand he reached behind him and drew out to dagger he had in the sheath around his waist.

His ears were straining to hear what was happening around him. There were footsteps coming from the direction Arwen had run toward. Arwen stilled even more when she heard them as well more tears ran down her cheeks. The steps were loud and there were many of them, Elrohir guessed that it was humans.

"Isn't this forest infested with them elves?" A voice asked. They were getting closer. Elrohir was right it was humans; they were speaking in the common language. Arwen hadn't learned it yet so she didn't understand what they were saying but Elrohir was fluent.

"You're right." A deep voice answered, "But if they dare cross our path, how about we see what they are really made of?"

"Yes!" Many of them retorted gleefully.

Elrohir filled with dread. It was dangerous to move from the position he was currently at because they were getting close. If only they didn't see them.

They soon came to the place where Elrohir and Arwen were. When most of them walked past Elrohir didn't dare to hope.

"Wait!" One of them exclaimed and held up his hand. He looked intently at the ground. "There are footprints!"

Elrohir tensed.

"Don't be foolish! It's our own."

"No they are smaller. And they are fresh."

That was it… they had found them. Elrohir lifted Arwen up into his arms and ran swiftly from the spot they were standing. He almost didn't make any noise and he ran from tree to tree.

"Someone's there!" One of the humans shouted and immediately they began running after them.

He ran faster, but knew instantly that he couldn't outrun them. Before the humans came into clear line of vision Elrohir put Arwen down on her feet.

"Arwen I need you to run home, okay?" He said trying to keep most of the panic from his voice. Arwen shook her head, clearly afraid. "Arwen I need you to be a big girl right now. Can you do that for me?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks but she nodded at Elrohir.

"That direction." Elrohir said and pointed the humans were almost upon them.

"There they are!"

Elrohir looked behind him and saw a human through the trees. He then looked at Arwen again, "Run! Don't look back!"

Arwen hesitated.

"Go!"

She ran as quickly as her legs could carry her in the direction Elrohir had pointed to. Elrohir looked fearfully after her but then stood up and spun around to face the humans. They were close. He held the dagger tighter and waited; there was no way they were going to get through him.

He watched as one of the humans unstrapped the sword around his waist and came towards him. Taking a step back he parried the first swing with his dagger. Twisting the sword so he changed the direction instead of taking the force of the blow. He kicked the man in the chest, but didn't have much time before the next was upon him.

They circled around him and his mind soon disappeared into a rhythm of dodging, parrying, hitting, kicking and slicing. He knew he couldn't hold them off forever, but he needed to give Arwen a chance of getting away. Some of them managed to wound him, but it was nothing serious.

"Elrohir!"

He froze as he heard the frightened voice of Arwen behind him. The humans had stopped attacking him and were also looking in that direction.

Anger and fear flared up in Elrohir when he saw one of the humans holding his sister by the arm in an iron grip. She was struggling to get over to him.

"Elrohir help me!" She begged fearfully.

Elrohir ground his teeth together and glared at the human.

"Let go of you weapon or I will kill her." The human said while raising his knife to Arwen's neck. Arwen stilled and started sobbing.

"It's going to be alright Arwen…" He said softly in elvish before letting the grip around his knife slacken and the knife fell to the ground.

Immediately the humans hauled Elrohir down and Arwen watched fearfully as Elrohir disappeared into a flurry of fists and kicks.

ELLADAN! Elrohir shouted through their bond.