Between Siblings

~ Whitney Maidenhall ~

J.R.R. Tolkien is the creator of Middle-earth. Characters and settings all belong to him. I own only the words and the plot, and if you use them without my permission, I will feed you to my imaginary pet alligators.

(Not a very good threat, is it? ::sigh:: That's why I'm never going to become a Dark Lord. I lack evilness.)

Chapter One

Young Arwen Undomiel hummed happily to herself as she strolled along the terraces above the River Bruinen, admiring the magnificent scenery stretched out before her eyes. The grass was a lush emerald green color, pricked by tiny dewdrops that sparkled like diamonds, and the early morning sunlight transformed the surface of the river into a sheet of wet turquoise overlaid with a sheen of pure gold. A thin silvery mist obscured the faraway mountains, and the valley of Imladris rang with the lilting, chirping melodies of birdsong. The air smelled of renewal and of rain, of flowers and fresh earth. It was Springtime, the season of life.

Unable to control herself, Arwen began to sing.

When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;

When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;

When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,

Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!

"Muinthel!" cried a cheerful voice from somewhere behind her. "What is that awful racket you're making?"

"You're scaring away all the animals!"

Arwen stifled the groan that rose up her throat and turned to face her brothers. Elladan and Elrohir looked so alike that it was impossible for a stranger to tell them apart. The pale sunlight shone weakly on their dark hair and humor lurked in the depths of their gray eyes as they flashed her identical mischievous grins.

"A pleasant morning, is it not?" said Elladan. "Although rather chilly."

Elrohir nodded vigorously. "Yes, it's very cold. You look like you need to warm up a bit, Arwen."

Arwen narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What have the two of you done this time?" she demanded, noticing that they had come from the direction of her room.

"Done?" Elladan echoed, blinking. "I do not understand."

"If you've written on the walls of my room again or thrown my favorite dress into the river…"

"We would never do that!" Elrohir swiftly declared. "We love you deeply, dear Muinthel, and your low opinion of us grieves our hearts." They both looked so hurt, so much the pictures of offended innocence, that Arwen would have laughed if she hadn't been worried about finding her bed overrun with snakes. The twins were not known for their good behavior and angelic dispositions--- quite the opposite, in fact.

"As much as we would enjoy conversing with you, Arwen, we must go," said Elladan, breaking the skeptical silence that had followed Elrohir's fervent declaration. "Adar wishes to discuss a personal matter with us. Come, Muindor."

"We shall see you later, beloved Muinthel."

As the twins brushed past her, she was oblivious to the telltale quivering of their lips.

====================

A cold shiver went down Arwen's spine when she saw that the door to her chamber was slightly open. She walked into the room, her heart pounding, her lips moving in a silent prayer to the Valar to protect her from whatever evil her brothers had committed.

As soon as she had opened the door further, a bucket of warm water came crashing down on her head, drenching her completely.

Arwen's shriek of surprised outrage echoed throughout Rivendell, and when Elladan and Elrohir heard it, they exchanged conspiratorial grins before crumpling to the floor in fits of hysterical laughter outside their father's study.

====================

So, how was it? Rather short, I know, but I'll try to make future chapters longer. Let me know what you think. ::subtly glances at Review button::

Oh, and chocolates for everyone who can guess where the song Arwen was singing came from!