In a room inside the manor another elfling was miserable. Tears were rolling down his cheeks and his nose was red and itchy. Elladan did not understand why Elrohir had left him. All his favorite elves were out hunting for his brother and he had to stay here, alone. Well, Nurse was here, but as far as Elladan was concerned, she did not count.
He had argued and pleaded and thrown a tantrum, but Lord Glorfindel would not let him search with the guardians. That hurt! Elrohir was his brother; he should be out looking for him as well. Elladan pouted. The thought of no Elrohir in the bed next to him that night made his tears start again. "I want my brother! Why can they not find him?" he wailed, causing his nurse to pick him up and put him on her lap. He buried his face in her bosom and wet her dress with his tears as she rocked him in the big chair like she used to do when he was little.
Elrohir was his buddy, identical in looks, but not in personality. Where Elladan was rough and tough, Elrohir was gentle and persuasive. He was not soft by any means, and like Elladan wanted to be a warrior when he was older. He had more poise, grace and tact than his twin. For where Elladan was impulsive and loud spoken, Elrohir was subtle in his thoughts and movements, a thinker who planned before he acted, he was not like Elladan at all, they were total opposites!
But, in spite of their differences, most of the time they were inseparable. Oh, they had their spats, but Elladan loved his brother dearly. They were closer than most siblings, perhaps because they were twins. Ada thought so, and he used to have a twin brother, but he became a man and died. Elladan and Elrohir both did not understand why any elf would choose the path that Elros did. When it came time for them to make the decision, they would remain among the Firstborn. They had already told Ada, but he said they had to wait a long, long time before the Valar would accept their choice. That way, Ada said, they would know for sure.
But if Elrohir was not found soon, Elladan did not know what he would do. "Why had 'Ro not confided in him, told him where he was going? Did someone sneak in and take his brother while they slept? If so, why take 'Ro and not him? Was 'Ro more special? He began to sob again, crying even harder on Nurse's shoulder. "What if Elrohir never comes back and leaves me here all alone? I want my brother!" Elladan demanded, looking up at Nurse with angry, wet eyes. "I want Ada and Nana too. I do not want to stay in my room!" Nurse just said, "Shhh," and held him while he cried.
