Homecoming

The distant drumming of hooves in a desperate race along the woodland paths roused Elrond from sleep.  The sound grew louder and nearer, and soon the horses clattered into the cobbled stableyard.

There were shouts and yells, and a voice raised in a cry of denial.  "No!"  Then running feet leapt up the steps into the house.  He sprang out of bed and pulled on a robe as he crossed the room, reaching the door just as it was flung open.

Elrohir burst in, elbowing his brother in the ribs. "I win, El!"

Elrond smiled. "Welcome.  Welcome home, my sons!"

(Prompt: Smile)

A Famous Victory

Estel followed his brothers homeward along the narrow, twisting paths.  As they passed beneath a stately oak an unspoken signal passed between Elladan and Elrohir, and they suddenly urged their horses into a mad gallop. 

Whooping with laughter, Estel charged after them; pounding into the courtyard just a breath behind Elrohir.  To his surprise his brother flung out a hand, halting Estel in his tracks, and Elladan reached the steps to the house unchallenged.  He turned in triumph, then glared back at his brothers.

Elrohir winked at Estel.  “Let him have his victory.  He deserves to win at least once!”

(Prompt:  Wink)

And Then There Were Three

Dripping water and green slime, they left a trail of mud  as they squelched across the cobbled yard.    Drawn by unerring instinct, Elrond met them on the steps, one eyebrow raised in disbelief as he regarded his sons.  

Elrohir’s hair hung in limp, lank strands,  Estel had lost both shoes, and  Elladan (presumably) was totally unrecognisable beneath a thick layer of black mud.

“Do not come one step nearer until you have stripped and washed,” Elrond warned.  “I suggest you use the horse trough.  Morgoth’s teeth, what happened to you?”

All three spoke as one.  “It was not my fault!”

(Prompt:  Eyebrow)

Ambush

Elrond was already waiting as his sons raced home.

"We were ambushed," Elladan gasped, clinging to Elrohir's limp body. "El's horse was shot from under him, and he took a hard fall. They fired again while he was down."

Elrond pulled a face as he lifted bloodstained bandages. "Who?  Where?"

"Men. Several of them, hiding among rocks in the Trollshaws. Too many. I was barely able to reach Elrohir, then fled.  I tended his wounds, then came here to alert you."

Elrond straightened.  "You did well. There is no infection.  And now we are warned, we will find these outlaws!”

(Prompt:  Pull a face)

Justice And Revenge

Elrohir watched as the warriors returned. He was pale but determined, supported by crutches and his father’s arm.

Glorfindel was expressionless, but Elladan's face held a fierce joy and relief. He looked up and met Elrohir's eyes with a feral smile.

"We got them. We got them all, El!"

"The outlaws have been destroyed," Glorfindel reported impassively.  "We found their camp, and the remains of several other travellers they had attacked." 

His mask slipped as he saw Elrohir sway slightly, and a flicker of fury crossed his face before he resumed his emotionless account. "The roads are safe once more."

(Prompt: Deadpan)

Home At Last

Elrond heard them long before he saw them - whooping and laughing as they galloped madly along narrow forest paths, hurling insults like the old days.

After the grim, blood-soaked years of bitter revenge and misplaced guilt his sons had become distant strangers, rarely home and never for long. But somewhere, somehow, there had been a turning point and the shadow had begun to lift, just a little. And now ...

They reached the steps in a dead heat, arguing as always; and a smile of rapture lit his face.  At last, at long last, his sons were finally home again.

(Prompt: Rapture)