Current mood:	tired
Current music:	my friend's snores

Lost in between
The young elf enters the forests with his small friend bounding behind him. The little wolf's paw is healed now and the bandages have been removed. It is time for him to return to his family and his home.

Though he admitted in his heart he would rather not see the cub go. This little one had become his closest friend and confidant. But he could not force the wild creature away from its home. The cub deserved a chance to return to his family and his habitat. Elrohir would worry about him because hunters would seek his hide. There were many dangers for a little wolf in this world. But to have him remain away from where he could be happiest would be a greater wrong.

Together they traversed the forests searching for any sign of the little one's pack. They track and wander through the morning and into the afternoon when Elrohir at last locates a den. Just outside of the protected enclosure two small cubs about the same size as his friend wrestle in the dirt. A group of wolves watch over them.

The young elf stops a comfortable distance from them; he adopts a submissive stance, communicating that he means no harm and that he will come no further into their territory. His little friend bounds out to the others tail held high and an excited yip from his muzzle. The other wolves sniff him uncertainly. Look him over. There is a tense moment when Elrohir is uncertain if they will accept the cub. But a large female approaches and licks the little one's face. Moments latter he is wrestling with his siblings.

Elrohir stands alone in the shadows of the trees and watches, his expression soft as his friend is reunited with his family. Soon he feels a pair of wise authoritative eyes upon him. He knows he has outstayed his welcome and the Alpha wolf was instructing him to move on with that gaze.

He inclines his head respectfully to the powerful creature watching him. Turns and leaves their home. His light silent steps take him over the forest floor. Not disturbing any of her creatures as he passes. His own thoughts drifting away. Would there be no end to the blood shed? He had hoped…he had thought that with Sauron's destruction there would be peace…quiet…but it would seem that there were old wars more strong. New ones with old hates that could have been let fade emerge every day. The conflict continues and Elrohir wonders why he even bothered to hope for an end to the blood that filled the rivers in his dreams.

The dream of light and void continued. This past night the edges were blurred and it had been difficult to tell where the light ended and the void began. Another dream followed it shortly after. The fields in which he sat of yellow had been beneath a pink dawn sky. He had been there dressed in red and his face turned upward. The sky had filled with grey rolling clouds and a wind of voices had made the yellow grasses waves as though water. The rain came in fat drops of blood. Staining the yellow grasses and the white city crimson. He had turned his face and amid the whispered voices and bleeding sky. A brilliant light of white glowed from the Tower's roof and the blood rain turned to water. The red stains washing from the soil.

But the dreams that haunted him he considered a normal part of his sleep now and ignored them. More pressing matters haunted his waking mind then to mull over images in rest.

The time of his people was past here. And yet he could not leave. Many were ready to as he saw in his Adar's eyes. Many had already taken the journey. Some would wait a little longer. His brother and sister among them would choose to perish here. A thing which caused his Ada's heart to bleed with grief.

Elrohir knew not what to do. He was not a man. Yet he oft felt that he was not an elf. He could not choose a mortal life among the humans but he knew that he could no more so sail to the West with the elves. The water had no call to him. His whispers were sung in the trees and stars above. It was not so much that he could not go to the havens, as he could not leave this land. It was a part of him. Stronger than even his love for his family was the hold the land had on his body. If he did not force control he could be lost forever running a thing of wild through the trees with no thoughts of any of the races or their worries. It would be such an easy thing to do…to let go…even now he could hear the trees soft songs luring his feet. But such a release would leave his family crushed.

He belonged no where. He was not elf nor man and could follow neither. His parents would leave for the havens while his siblings would fade in age. He could not leave his twin here while he yet lived. He would stay on the shores until then…then make his choice. But staying here meant more blood. Watching all that was worked for fade…that hope was for nothing. He was alone. All he knew was dying.

What reason had he to be here? Not an individual. He was a burden. A piece of puzzle that had no place in the world. The city felt like it was strangling him and he did not wish to return so he turned his feet in another direction allowing them to lead. He could let it go…let it all go and follow the trees. But he knew then he would be forced to return to the city and his misery at tasting such freedom then having it removed would be far worse.

He had the blood of legends joined in his body. Yet he was nothing. His brother would take a path that would leave him in misery to make Elrohir happy. He was a burden that fit in no slot. He was alone here. He could not go with men, nor elves, the wilds nor the city.

His silent feet had taken him from the trees to a rocky ledge overlooking the Anduin. Its course here was filled with rapids that the water surged and broke over in its never ceasing movement. Always moving to somewhere but never knowing where. There was a wind today that tugged at his ebony hair and clothing as his pale eyes watched the water move below. Its frothing currents a beauty of their own. Such purity and power…the water would flow for eternity to get to its destination that it did not know. It had a place and a goal. It knew where it belonged and had the courage to forge a path through even rock to see itself there.

Looking up from the water to the afternoon sky Elrohir's pale eyes noted the colours. The froth of clouds in the blue. He mused in calmness at the similarity between air and water. He had always wished to fly. In that moment he decided to do so. He would give himself up to the currents, which would lead him to his place.

He ran from the ledge and pushed off. Arms spread wide and eyes closed he flew for one breathtaking moment. The sweet taste of such freedom could never be compared as his light body hovered a moment above the water than plummeted downward to the release below. He would be swept to his place.

He struck the cold water but somehow managed to miss the sharp rocks below. His eyes remained closed as his body was taken amid the currents as he forced himself to remain relaxed. He hit a boulder that knocked his breath away and left him bruised and was swept onward. He was taken past the rapids with no mortal wounds but lungfulls of water and bruised skin. He remained in the river and was carried by its arms to the rocky shore where he washed up gently in its hold on a large flat rock. The river left him and continued on.

The drenched and bruised elf remained laying prone on the rock. Tears falling from his eyes as he lay there alone. It seemed not even the river would take him today. The afternoon moved on. He remained as he was left. Not wishing to return to the city or to the woods. Wondering if he lay there long enough perhaps he would just disappear into the rock.

The sound of claws scrambling on the rocks reaching his ears. He paid it no attention. The sound grew closer and he was aware of something moving around him. A wet textured tongue followed by a small cold nose pressed over his cheek.

Elrohir opened his eyes and blinked into the small face of his little friend.

The wolf cub tilted its head to the side and wagged its tail in greeting.

Without a word the elf got to his feet and picked up the cub in his wet arms. He made his way back to the city in silence. To the brothel where he changed and then was told that his mother was looking for him.

He placed the wolf cub in his bed and watched his companion curl into a ball and fall asleep.