Chapter Text
Glorfindel found the twins exactly where he thought he would, huddled and alone in Arwen's old room which had long since been emptied. Elladan sat on the floor with his back against the cold stone, while Elrohir laid with his head in his brothers lap obviously devastated and clutching one of Estel's old stuffed toys. They had made it for him on his third birthday.
They had received a letter from Gimli that he and Legolas had reached Eryn Lasgalen from Gondor safely, with a promise upon the dwarfs life that he would get the prince across the ocean and to Valinor. One way or another.
With their last excuse for remaining in middle earth gone, they had planned to depart to the havens the next morning.
It was nearly three in the morning and they did not even sit with a candle.
It was a good thing Glorfindel had expected this, for he brought several candles and a thick blanket. He lit the candles and set them near the twins, lighting a fire in the hearth before finally unfolding the blanket and motioning both of them to move so he could lay it down. There was no need for their physical self to feel as cold as their hearts.
As they all settled on the blanket he sat between the twins, throwing an arm around Elladan while Elrohir resumed laying on the floor but this time in Glorfindel's lap.
He had loved all of Elrond's children, but he always had a soft spot for the twins. Arwen had been so much like her mother and so easily loved. The twins had been much softer, much more like their father. It took them much longer to lose their shyness with new people, for they were so accustomed to only the company of the other.
Their hearts were so soft, even if their faces seemed hard. They had adopted Arwen so readily into their lives, even though they were already nearing their majority. There was nothing in the world the twins had loved more than their baby sister. They would have done anything to see her smile.
Elladan's voice was so soft it was hard to hear, "We didn't mean to love him so much."
They knew well the sting of mortality, acutely aware of their fathers missing twin. They had known that tiny sweet Estel would leave them, they hadn't meant to love him the way they loved Arwen. But their hearts were so soft.
Elrohir hugged the stuffed toy closer, "It feels like we're abandoning them here."
"We promised we would protect them."
Glorfindel took a deep controlled breath, this is why he had stayed. He could mourn his own loss later after he got them to their parents. To make sure they got to Valinor by boat and not through the halls. "You did protect them. With everything you had you protected them, and they knew that. And they loved you for it. Never in my life have I seen such wonderful brothers."
Elrohir had begun to cry again, and Glorfindel comfortingly rubbed his back, "But there is nothing left here, and so much waiting for you there. You loved them with every inch of your hearts, and that's why it hurts so much, but we all know what Arwen would want you to do."
There was a very soft knock on the door and all three looked to find Celeborn standing in the doorway, apparently also having gone searching for the twins.
Elladan reached an arm out to him, "Grandfather." In only seconds the elf lord had come to sit behind his grandson, holding him tightly in his arms, "We miss them so much."
"I know."
Glorfindel and Celeborn shared a look over Elladan's head, they needed to make sure the twins left tomorrow. Even if they had to drag them to the Havens.
"I want to see my nana."
…..
The twins had spent much of the boat ride huddled together in silence, Elrohir still holding Estel's toy. For the most part, Glorfindel and Celeborn had let them be, knowing they were grieving in their own connected way.
But as they started nearing the shores they roused them, and together they all stood at the front of the boat and watched the elves waiting for them get closer. Celebrian was easy to spot, for she had waded into the water past her hips, a spot of glimmering white in the blue water. Having sensed that her sons were finally coming to her.
It didn't take long for both of the twins to jump overboard and swim desperately for her. Elrohir leaving the toy in the boat, the pain in his heart momentarily forgotten.
They would have fallen to the ground when they reached her had they not been in danger of drowning, but they hugged her with the kind of fierceness of one who had been looking forward to his very thing for over a hundred years. Glorfindel could hear the twins telling Celebrian how much they loved her, and how much they missed her.
As they drew even nearer to the shore, Glorfindel jumped into the water as well and swam for the small cluster of his adopted family. After giving Celebrian a fierce hug of his own, he began to help her usher them towards the shore just as another body came plunging into the water from the shore.
"Ada!"
Still reluctant to leave their mother they kept one arm around her and reached the other out for him. Elrond didn't seem to mind and swiftly wrapped all three of them in a bone-crushing hug.
Elladan's voice was muffled, "We tried to tell you what our choice was. Did you hear us?"
Elrond voice was thick with tears and he managed to kiss both his sons on the head, "Yes, I heard you. I have never heard something so wonderful in my life."
He held his family for a few seconds more but then Elrond detached himself and this time crushed Glorfindel in a hug, "Thank you. With everything I have within me, I thank you."
Near them, the twins were still telling their mother how much they loved her.