If You Give an Elf a Lesson
Part One: Crime and Punishment
It was a fairly warm day, with birds singing and the sun shining. Summer in the valley was just beginning, along with the mischievous natures of certain elves coming to the fore. Certainly considered mature by age –though not always by nature– the two crept around the side of Elandir’s stone building, peeking in to see if he was there and pleased to find he was not.
“Come on, he is gone!” The eldest of the two whispered, hauling the younger by his sleeve. “I want to see the swords!”
“You always want to see the swords. I want to see something else this time.”
“You are so boring! What is better than a sword?”
“I do not know, perhaps anything besides sneaking in? Elandir will be mad.”
“He won’t do anything, he never does.” The eldest shrugged, looking around and sighting on what could only be a work in progress. With awe he looked at –but did not touch, he knew better than that– the unfinished sword.
“Well, well, well. Elladan and Elrohir, we meet again.” A gruff voice said. “What have I said about being in here? It is dangerous and forbidden. GO!”
Scurrying like squirrels, the twins ran shrieking from the forge. Elandir was not like most elves they knew. He was big and brawny, well able to handle the iron and steel he worked with, and his voice was a deep bass that echoed off the stone walls. The scars he sported on his arms and face kept the twins in curious awe, and his rough manner kept them in fear.
They ran until they reached their ‘secret’ spot, a small glade above the falls. There Elladan sulked. “It is not like I was touching his stupid swords. Just looking.” He furiously whacked the head off an unresisting flower.
“I know. Elandir is scary, yelling like that. Only looking.” Elrohir echoed, plucking the grass around his feet. He had not wanted to go to the forge in the first place, but as usual Elladan’s wishes had overruled and they had gone.
“You screamed like Arwen when she sees a little bug.” Elladan jeered, not wanting to admit Elandir scared him too.
“I screamed! You screamed louder, and ran faster.” Elrohir shot back. “And here you call yourself adult.”
“You are the same age, brother. If I am not adult, then you are not either.” Elladan felt proud having seen the distinction.
“Ah, but it is you who are eldest, and therefore must make an example for us younger ones.” Elrohir childishly stuck his tongue out.
“You are not that much younger.” He returned the gesture.
“And neither of you are particularly adult by action, though your parents seem to think age has helped you to mature.” The golden voice of Glorfindel, their training master, said suddenly.
The twins whirled around suddenly and sheepishly as Glorfindel came into view. If Glorfindel had been sent to find them it meant Elandir had been to see their parents. Looking appropriately penitent they awaited Glorfindel’s amused instructions.
“I have been told, children,” Glorfindel stressed the word, “that your parents and Elandir the blacksmith have reached an agreement. He shall take Elladan as an apprentice in the mornings whilst I give Elrohir extra, um, lessons. Come the mid-day meal you shall trade places.”
The twins gaped at the elder. They were to be separated? How beastly a proposition was that! Trading glances they put on brave faces, knowing they would have to own up to their punishments. “And we can assume this begins tomorrow?” Elladan asked.
“Indeed, bright and early.” Glorfindel grinned, not maliciously but certainly in amusement. He knew of Elrohir’s preference to lie in, and Elladan’s love of extended breakfast. “Up with the sun and a quick meal, and then the fun begins.”
“Sometimes, Glorfindel, I think the years have warped your mind and you are truly insane.” Elrohir muttered darkly. The elf simply grinned wider, gave a mocking bow and strode off. Elrohir turned to his brother. “I knew we would get in trouble.”
“I cannot believe Elandir told on us!” Elladan was slightly outraged. “And what did Glorfindel mean by extra lessons? Lessons in what? We already have lessons in weaponry, tactics, supply, and all that. What more can he teach us?”
“That is what I am afraid to discover.” Elrohir sighed. “And I have to get up with the sun!”
“Oh, being up early will not kill you.” Elladan replied, waving a hand in the air. “It’s Glorfindel’s lessons that will. On the other hand, I have to spend the morning with Elandir. How do you think I feel?”
“We are most assuredly dead. Farewell brother.” Elrohir answered solemnly.
“A death sentence, indeed. And to die so young. How tragic.”
“Come on, he is gone!” The eldest of the two whispered, hauling the younger by his sleeve. “I want to see the swords!”
“You always want to see the swords. I want to see something else this time.”
“You are so boring! What is better than a sword?”
“I do not know, perhaps anything besides sneaking in? Elandir will be mad.”
“He won’t do anything, he never does.” The eldest shrugged, looking around and sighting on what could only be a work in progress. With awe he looked at –but did not touch, he knew better than that– the unfinished sword.
“Well, well, well. Elladan and Elrohir, we meet again.” A gruff voice said. “What have I said about being in here? It is dangerous and forbidden. GO!”
Scurrying like squirrels, the twins ran shrieking from the forge. Elandir was not like most elves they knew. He was big and brawny, well able to handle the iron and steel he worked with, and his voice was a deep bass that echoed off the stone walls. The scars he sported on his arms and face kept the twins in curious awe, and his rough manner kept them in fear.
They ran until they reached their ‘secret’ spot, a small glade above the falls. There Elladan sulked. “It is not like I was touching his stupid swords. Just looking.” He furiously whacked the head off an unresisting flower.
“I know. Elandir is scary, yelling like that. Only looking.” Elrohir echoed, plucking the grass around his feet. He had not wanted to go to the forge in the first place, but as usual Elladan’s wishes had overruled and they had gone.
“You screamed like Arwen when she sees a little bug.” Elladan jeered, not wanting to admit Elandir scared him too.
“I screamed! You screamed louder, and ran faster.” Elrohir shot back. “And here you call yourself adult.”
“You are the same age, brother. If I am not adult, then you are not either.” Elladan felt proud having seen the distinction.
“Ah, but it is you who are eldest, and therefore must make an example for us younger ones.” Elrohir childishly stuck his tongue out.
“You are not that much younger.” He returned the gesture.
“And neither of you are particularly adult by action, though your parents seem to think age has helped you to mature.” The golden voice of Glorfindel, their training master, said suddenly.
The twins whirled around suddenly and sheepishly as Glorfindel came into view. If Glorfindel had been sent to find them it meant Elandir had been to see their parents. Looking appropriately penitent they awaited Glorfindel’s amused instructions.
“I have been told, children,” Glorfindel stressed the word, “that your parents and Elandir the blacksmith have reached an agreement. He shall take Elladan as an apprentice in the mornings whilst I give Elrohir extra, um, lessons. Come the mid-day meal you shall trade places.”
The twins gaped at the elder. They were to be separated? How beastly a proposition was that! Trading glances they put on brave faces, knowing they would have to own up to their punishments. “And we can assume this begins tomorrow?” Elladan asked.
“Indeed, bright and early.” Glorfindel grinned, not maliciously but certainly in amusement. He knew of Elrohir’s preference to lie in, and Elladan’s love of extended breakfast. “Up with the sun and a quick meal, and then the fun begins.”
“Sometimes, Glorfindel, I think the years have warped your mind and you are truly insane.” Elrohir muttered darkly. The elf simply grinned wider, gave a mocking bow and strode off. Elrohir turned to his brother. “I knew we would get in trouble.”
“I cannot believe Elandir told on us!” Elladan was slightly outraged. “And what did Glorfindel mean by extra lessons? Lessons in what? We already have lessons in weaponry, tactics, supply, and all that. What more can he teach us?”
“That is what I am afraid to discover.” Elrohir sighed. “And I have to get up with the sun!”
“Oh, being up early will not kill you.” Elladan replied, waving a hand in the air. “It’s Glorfindel’s lessons that will. On the other hand, I have to spend the morning with Elandir. How do you think I feel?”
“We are most assuredly dead. Farewell brother.” Elrohir answered solemnly.
“A death sentence, indeed. And to die so young. How tragic.”