To the West!, or, Sail away, sail away, sail away
An otherwise uneventful day was suddenly made much more interesting as Lord Elrond came into the kitchen. "A boat has washed up on the shore! Go to the water's edge and quickly bring the occupants to the healing room," Elrond instructed those in the room. Haldir, Legolas, and the twins stopped what they were doing and hurried out to the beach. No ship had come to the shores in many a year, and their curiosity was quelled only by the urgency in Elrond's voice.
What they found was not the pale grey ship with white sails that they had expected. Instead, they found a brightly colored craft and quickly and gently lifted the two female occupants from the small vessel and returned with them to the First Homely House. None spoke as they quickly took the ladies inside, all of them amazed at the event that was occurring, and by the strange appearance of those they had found.
Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel were waiting for them in the healing room. They examined the women, checking for injuries. The twins began gathering the herbs and roots their father and grandmother called out to them as Haldir went to the kitchen and boiled water for the healing tea he knew would be needed to administer the healing herbs. Legolas watched quietly waiting for any instructions from the healers, and took a seat in the corner when he realized he was less of a burden out of the way. Celebrían entered the room with sleeping gowns for each woman and soon shooed all of the males, including her husband, from the room. She then helped her mother remove the ragged clothing from their guests, and then bathe and dress them in the gowns. "What unusual clothing," she said to her mother as she lifted up the torn pair of heavy dark blue leggings of sorts one of the ladies had been wearing. In another, she looked strangely upon the tight-fitting garment another had fastened around her chest and frowned, unable to imagine the discomfort such a thing would cause.
"They are not of this world," was all her mother said.
`What was that supposed to mean?' Celebrían wondered to herself as she took the clothing from the room and allowed the healer and his helpers back in.
Elrond and Galadriel worked for many hours and were able to administer some of the healing tea that had been prepared by giving small sips to each of the unconscious women. Elladan and Elrohir were instructed to rub a mild lotion on the patients sun damaged skin to soothe their burns. By the time the four of them had finished caring for the pair who had arrived, news had spread through the house by the sea, and quite a crowd was gathered and was beginning to spill into the room. Elrond wiped his hands and explained in a tired voice to all who had gathered in the room and doorway, "The females will heal. Both are very dehydrated but they have no serious injuries."
A murmur arose from the members of the household, some questioning how mortals had come to cross the sea and find Valinor, and Galadriel then added, "Both females are peredhil who were lost at sea as their parents sailed here many years ago. The world we once knew across the waters has changed much, and the elves finally made the decision to come to the undying lands after many long years spent living among mortal men, hiding their identities. Many perils they faced, and storms capsized their ship. These two were infants at the time of their disappearance, and do not recall the events. Both parents faded at the loss of their beloved children. The Valar have been gracious and not only saw to their safety, but have returned them now to us in Elvenhome. They will now have the choice to live as elves or cross once more the sea and retain their mortal lives. I have spoken with them in their minds as they have slept and they are gifted with some Elven abilities although they do not know of their heritage."
"Nana, what of the unusual boat they arrived in?" Haldir asked. "It is the color of Anor and made from the strangest material I have ever seen."
"These questions and others all of you have will be answered when the young ladies awake. I must warn you their story will amaze you." In turn she looked into the eyes of each elf before her, lingering upon Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir. "It may even shock you," Galadriel finished before clearing the family from the room.
Elladan took the first watch over the patients. He managed to administer more of the healing tea and had settled into a chair between both beds. Elladan stared at the ladies wondering why two such lovely women would wear their hair so short. Their odd clothing puzzled him as well. They were attractive and did not have any obvious Elvish physical traits, but all the same, he wished he might have seen them with longer locks. They looked more like they were of the race of men than of the elves, he decided.
Elladan spent the rest of the night reading some of his father's healing books while taking time to give the patients sips of the healing tea each hour.. According to his father's notes this tea would help replenish the fluids their bodies lost being overexposed to the elements and give them the rest they so needed. It was already apparent that their skin color seemed better. He was so involved in his reading that he did not hear his twin enter the room until Elrohir had leaned close to his ear and said, "They are quite lovely. Are they not?"
Elladan was startled a bit but recovered quickly. "Yes, gwenneth. They are. They have not yet opened their eyes," he responded sadly in Elvish. A bit more cheekily, he added, "I' d really like to see what color they are before I decide whether or not to kiss one of them."
Elrohir sat carefully on the end of one of the beds, his mood more serious. "El, did you feel anything strange when you lifted the lady to bring her to the house?"
Letting his smile fade, Elladan nodded. "Yes, I did. A funny sort of feeling. It was like when lightning strikes nearby and your hair stands on end," he responded, watching his brother' s reaction closely. The two had been so close, since before birth, and he was sure that Elrohir must have sensed his thoughts to have asked him such a question. He was a little surprised at the reply.
"That's exactly what I felt when I was putting the salve on her body My fingers were numb and yet on fire to touch her. What do you think that means, gweniaur?" Elrohir asked.
"I am not certain, El. But is it not like the feeling Nana and Ada described when they first met?" Elladan questioned as he closed his book and placed it on the table behind him.
"Then that would mean--" Elrohir started when Elladan finished his twin's thought.
"--that we are soul mates and meant to bond. But that cannot be right. Why would you have that feeling as well? Are the three of us meant to bond? How can that be? It would not work! One of us must be picking up on the other' s thoughts and feelings," Elladan said, though Elrohir was giving his words thought and chewing on his lip.
"We must ask Ada and Nana right away," decided Elrohir. He crossed his arms and frowned. On one hand, he was upset to think that Elladan had found his other half, though he was happy for his brother as well. Another part of him hoped it was not Elladan, but he who had found the remaining part of his soul. He quickly decided he did not wish for either to be the case.
Elladan seemed to sense this, for he read his brother's thoughts as a mirror to his own, and said, "Right away. In a week or two."
*~*~*~*~*~*
`Am I hearing Elvish?' Joan thought as she tried desperately to open her eyes. `Am I dreaming or have I gone mad from being in the sun too long? Am I going mad?' Through barely opened swollen eyelids, she saw two gorgeous men talking. Gorgeous from their long dark hair to their pointed ears. Pointed ears? She struggled to open her eyes further. They were obviously twins, so perfectly alike that even their voices matched. She would have thought she was seeing double, but for the fact one was wearing a tunic and the other a nightshirt. But… pointed ears? "Elladan? Elrohir?" she asked in a strained and tired voice.
Both turned towards her, startled. "How is it you know our names, my lady?" Elrohir asked.
"Am I dead? I must be," came the answer to her own question. "Maybe I am dreaming," she continued. "I might be dreaming. Elves aren't real, even in heaven."
The twins looked at each other and laughed. After fixing her pillows to allow her to sit up, they sat down on either side of her, speaking soothing and encouraging words all the while. Elladan coaxed her into drinking some of the healing tea while Elrohir took hold of her hand. "I am Elrohir and this is my brother Elladan," he said gesturing towards his brother, "though it would seem you knew that already."
Joan nodded weakly and turned her head upon smelling the bitter liquid that she thought had only been part of a recurring nightmare. "Please lirimaer, you must drink all of this tea," Elladan said. "It will help replenish your strength."
She sat up upon hearing another of the Elvish words and stared at each of them in turn. Then she took the cup in her hands and drank from it "My name is Joan," she said after the last of the tea was consumed. "Where am I?" she asked. She glanced over to the other bed. "Is Carol okay?"
"Mae govannen! Welcome to Valinor, Joan," said Elladan, attempting a half bow from his seated position, and then assured her, "Yes, Carol is well."
"How did we get here?" Joan asked.
"Your strange boat arrived on our shore yesterday," Elrohir answered. "Do you remember what happened to bring you here?"
She looked up at the twins "I never thought `here' really existed, or I would have tried to get here sooner! There was a storm. The boat we were on capsized. Carol and I were able to get to one of the Life boats. Did the others make it?"
"We know of no others," Elrohir answered. "We are sorry."
"When is Carol going to wake up?" asked Joan, the strength and spirit returning to her voice.
Carol stirred slightly and mumbled, "I don't want to wake up. I am having a wonderful dream."
The twins could not stop Joan from rushing out of the bed, over Elladan and to her companion's side. "Carol, wake up! You have to tell me if you see what I see!"
"What? More ocean?" Carol answered sarcastically, still not opening her eyes.
"No, silly. Beautiful men with long hair," she said.
"Pirates?" questioned Carol.
"No! Do pirates have pointy ears?"
Carol squeezed her eyes shut, thinking this a dream. "Do they?"
"No, but Elves do!" exclaimed Joan.
"Elves?" Carol mumbled. "Elves?!" she questioned again as she opened her eyes wide.
Elladan and Elrohir had left the bed and now stood behind Joan smiling. Carol rubbed her eyes and looked at the twins again. "Elladan? Elrohir?"
"Yes," they answered in unison.
"We must be quite popular in that other world for everyone to know our names," grinned Elladan.
Elrohir smirked at his brother, and then looked to the newly awakened guest with a smile as Elladan retrieved a mug of the tea for Carol. "Everyone will be glad you are awake," he said.