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Elrond reached down and pulled Elrohir into his lap. The elfling resisted little, but let his tired head drop to rest on Elrond's shoulder. As Elrond rubbed his back, he could feel the shudders running through his son but as the broken cries subsided, Elrohir fell asleep, his hands bunched into small fists and his eyes still leaking tears.

Elrond sat to ensure he was fully asleep, leaning his head back on the rim of his chair. He looked up as the door opened and Harune stepped into the room. The elf smiled at the sight of him, the gentleness of the scene not lost on him, and unfolded the blanket in his arms. As he came to tuck it over Elrohir, Elrond stopped him.

"What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Giving you and Elrohir a covering," Harune replied, frowning at the curt tone of his voice.

"You . . . do not think I am going to be siting here for long, do you?"

"I . . . assumed you would stay with your son while he needs you at least," Harune answered.

Elrond moved to rise. "Of course not. I wish to change. I will put Elrohir to bed and let him sleep; he will be all right."

"Oh yes, all right," Harune said, his voice quite suddenly cold. "But not fine by any means. You would abandon him so you could change. Let me have him. I will hold him while you change."

Elrond shifted Elrohir to Harune's arms without a change of expression. But as Elrohir's body left his embrace, Elrohir's arms suddenly clutched at Harune with bordering desperation, and he awoke with a wild cry of, "No!"

He looked up at Harune with confused, sleepy eyes before he let his head drop. His voice slurred as he murmured, "I was . . . dreaming. I had fallen into the river . . . but I was safe . . . Elrond was holding my hand . . . and then he let . . . he let . . . go . . ."

"I will not let go, Elrohir," Harune said softly, sinking into the chair Elrond had abandoned. "I will hold you for as long as you need."

"Elladan?" said the worried twin.

"Elladan is sleeping. Healer Jailil assures me he will not catch more then a mild chill, you brought him home so swiftly."

Elrohir nodded. He rested his head on Harune's shoulder and clasped his hands behind his neck. "When night falls, may I sleep with him? I do not want to be apart from him too long; the river almost stole him from me and . . ."

"I am sure Healer Jailil will agree to your request," Harune said. "Are you hungry?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No . . . I am not tired either. But I am worried."

"As I would be if someone I loved had come close to drowning," Harune said. "Do you want to sit here with me or perhaps you have another idea of how we can pass the time?"

"I would not mind making Elladan something nice to eat when he wakes up," Elrohir said, sitting back in Harune's lap with a hopeful expression.

"Such as?"

"Pastries!" Elrohir said.

Harune pursed his lips. "I have a much better idea. We will make pastries and fill them with cooled pudding. The shapes they can be rolled into are quite versatile. A heart might be appropriate for your brother, might it not?"

Elrohir's eyes lit up and he grinned. He slid off Harune's lap and took his hand. "Come, the sooner we do it, the sooner they will be done. And can I make some for—"

"We will make more then enough to share with everyone in the palace, should the need arise," Harune broke in with a smile as he followed Elrohir out of the room. "But we must see Galion first; there are some things that I cannot do; he will have some extra tasks."

"Oh," said Elrohir, and his voice diminished. "I—I do not want to drag you away from your work, Harune. I will not die without you."

Harune patted the top of his head. "Galion will take a pure delight in testing himself; his passion for the neat and orderly is almost equal to mine. And there is nothing we both enjoy more then trying our patience and our limits. It is time I challenged my young apprentice."

Elrohir considered. He looked up and grinned. "Be ready. Galion will accept the challenge and find a way to counter the attack."

"You young scamp!" Harune exclaimed. "Of course he will; I am ready. And it looks like we have a stop to make at your room, Elrohir. You will not be making pastries in a bathrobe. Not in my palace."

As the two elves walked down the white halls, passing the white and gold clad healers, Elrond stood in the doorway and watched them leave with a blank face. He turned and made for his room, fingering the folds of his dressing gown. He thought of Harune and a frown crossed his face as he remembered the elf's last words. His palace indeed!

OoOoO

Elladan cracked his eyes open, yawning. He shifted under the covers and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"I am glad to see you feeling well and rested after a full day's sleep."

Elladan's head jerked to the side to see Elrond sitting in the chair beside him. A ray of sunshine lanced through the window, telling him it was noon.

"It is not the easiest thing in the world to fall into a freezing river and bounce back in shining colors," he answered. His eyes dropped. "Thank you . . . for saving me."

"It is what any father would do," Elrond said, watching his son closely.

Elladan brushed the hair off his shoulders. "Of course. Is there anything to eat? I am hungry."

"Elrohir made pastries for the express purpose of feeding you," Elrond said dryly. He reached for the blue and white plate on the table behind him and handed it to Elladan.

Elladan took the plate with his thanks and attacked the two heart-shaped, open pastries on the plate, filled with thick, yellow pudding, savoring the flavors with a delighted expression. He swallowed and said, "We knew not how to cook until we came here."

"Mmm," said Elrond, steepling his fingers, and feeling as though something negative was about to be said.

"You always said cooking was for servants," Elladan said, confirming his suspicions. "I would not be eating this food, made by my twin's hands, if we were at Rivendell."

Elrond sighed. "Perhaps not."

"I prefer this belief: it is good for those of noble blood to lower themselves to the tasks performed by those who wait upon them," Elladan said.

"Who said that?" Elrond asked with suspicion.

"Harune," said Elladan, biting into the second pastry.

"He would," Elrond groaned.

"I would not mind being in the kitchens with you," Elladan said frankly. "I have made many things and the cooks are wiling to help me when I need it. I helped make dinner once, and it was delicious."

Elrond hesitated. "We will see what happens, Elladan. I am not making any promises."

Elladan sighed. "I know. But we have so much time to spend. I am willing to give you the chance to be with me—to love me—to try to care. I wish you would take it."

Elrond thought of the Rivendell armies marching to Mirkwood. "We will not be here long, Elladan."

"I will stay here, Elrond, until I decide the home you will give us will be a good one," Elladan replied. "Because I do not wish to see Elrohir hurt more then he is, and I have my own heart to think of. Thranduil will protect as for as long as we ask and we both know it."

"Oh, I know it," Elrond said grimly.

Elrond may have just thrown away a good bonding opportunity between himself and the twins . . .

Thank you all so much for reading! I love hearing from you.