No one would dispute that the tapestry, one of Arwen's most ambitious masterpieces, belonged to Elladan and him. On it, twice as large as life, they hewed an improbably wide path of carnage across the Field of Celebrant towards Eorl, astride an impressively rendered Felaróf trampling a wain to splinters. Elladan had always complained that the fatuous gratitude on Steward Cirion's face seemed a tad overdone. Elrohir gave the corner of the fabric a tentative heft. The great tapestry would overburden any packhorse. He would hate to abandon this; was that reason enough to stay?

Turning to Elladan with a shrug, he said, "We would have to leave this behind."

Elladan reached out and fingered the weave. "If we could find a way to bring this, would that be reason enough to go?"

Elrohir's hasty, "I will go if you want," was met by Elladan's quick, "I will stay if you …"

The same impasse as always.

Elrohir leaned back against the thick wool and saw the same troubled look in his twin's eyes that he knew graced his own. "Father leaves in the morning. We could just stand here until then; that would be a decision of sorts."

"If we wanted the decision made for us, we could do as father asks and go with him."

"Is that what you want?" Elrohir asked.

"Do you? I will gladly go if you do."

Arwen had found her certainty in loving Aragorn. How had father known he was of the Eldar? Elrohir paced down the hall and swung back aching with frustration. "I want to see mother well again. I want to see what Aragorn makes of his kingdoms and to hold their grandsons. I want to meet new people, see Aman, learn things that have been forgotten here. I want to find my great love and have children of my own. "

"I as well. Does she wait for me in Aman or has she not yet been born here? I want to be a part of the healing of the evils that have been done to Arda. Would I come to miss the peace of Rivendell that is now lost? But Arda is wide and I have seen so little of it. We've always wanted to explore the east."

Elrohir had nothing new to say. Too many things held him here, and too many tugged at him to leave. The only certainty he had was a need to not repeat the rift his father lived with; he would choose with Elladan.

"At dawn, here, we must make a choice," Elrohir insisted.

Elladan started to speak, then his mouth twisted and he nodded and walked away. Elrohir stared at the tapestry. Memorizing the details. He should collect what he wished to take, in case they decided to go, but the meager pack he carried on patrol sat ready, stocked and waiting in his room. For the rest, everything in Rivendell held memories, and choosing daunted him. He aimlessly wandered the corridors, touching carved wood and peopling the halls from his memories. He stood in the forge and the stables, walked the paths and breathed the scents of the gardens. The first tentative greying of the dawn found him leaning once again against the tapestry and no closer to knowing his heart.

At his first look at Elladan's face and the jaunty bounce in his step, Elrohir bowed his head and waited to hear the verdict on his fate. He felt his shoulders grasped firmly by his brother's hands.

"Tell me you heard it too," Elladan demanded, giving him a shake.

"Heard what?"

"Did you listen? Did you sleep?"

"No, I spent the night remembering and trying to make a choice. How could you sleep?" Elrohir asked.

"I did not plan to sleep. I packed and repacked, and chose and discarded over and over. I wanted to dismantle the house and find carts enough for all of it, but I knew that to be impossible. I threw myself down on the bed, and, and…" Elladan's face filled with joy and his smile widened. "I knew. Close your eyes, listen with your heart and tell me you hear the same."

Elrohir shrugged, obediently closed his eyes and strained to hear. The sounds of the morning - the birds calling their song to the sun, the kitchen staff stirring up the fires, the ostlers feeding the horses – stood out sharply. He shook his head but suddenly the sounds faded and a deep calm settled over him. He heard a voice without sound speak without words, but the meaning was clear and unmistakable.

Be at peace. Your time to choose has not yet come.

Thanking Eru, he opened his eyes and clutched at Elladan's arms. "You too? We do not have to choose yet!"