Our Most Beloved Star by Uvatha the Horseman

The Magic Trick

The sound of horses' hooves and the jingle of harness mixed with the murmur of voices. Mother jumped up.

"They're here! I want you on your best behavior. Remember, Auntie Maiele is the one who took me in after my parents and brothers were killed."

Mother went outside, leaving the boys in the reception hall. They waited while the adults talked outside. A shaft of sunlight caught the dust motes. A mouse scratched inside the wall. It was hard to be good for so long.

"Shall we?" Elros was already moving toward one of the window seats.

"Let's!" Elrond sprinted to its twin on the opposite wall.

He lifted the lid, climbed inside, and pulled it shut after himself. Dust and old wool blankets folded away from last winter made his eyes water. He pressed the side of his hand against his lip to block a sneeze.

Adult voices sounded above the crunch of their footsteps on the gravel. Door hinges creaked. A dozen pairs of feet thumped across the floorboards as a small crowd entered the reception hall.

Mother's voice sounded muffled through the walls of his hiding place. "It's so good to see you again. How long has it been, five years?"

Elros cleared his throat.

"Elros, say hello to your Auntie Maiele. I'm sure you won't recognize the twins, they were babies when you saw them last."

"Auntie Maiele, do you want to see my magic trick?" There was a squeak, a pause, and wood banged against wood. In a voice More muffled than before, he said, "See? I made myself disappear!"

Auntie Maiele clapped politely. "Oh, where can he be? Were did that little boy go? I can't see him at all."

On the far side of the room, Elrond lifted the lid of his own window seat. "I'm right here, Auntie Maiele. I didn't really disappear, I traveled through the Void."

Auntie Maiele's jaw hung open. Her servants and men-at-arms stood frozen in place, equally astonished. Elrond basked in glory. This was their best performance yet.

Mother crossed the room in a few long steps, flung open the lid of the first window seat, and pulled Elros out by the scruff of neck. "There are two of them, you know."

"That was an impressive trick," said Auntie Maiele.

"It's well-rehearsed. They pull it on every new visitor to the house," said Mother.

"Were you ever fooled by it?" asked Auntie Maiele.

"No, I'm their mother. I can tell them apart."

"Even when they were first born?"

Mother looked embarrassed. "Well, when they were about five days old, there was an incident. I'd tied a ribbon around the firstborn's ankle so I could tell them apart. I took it off to wash it, then couldn't remember which baby it belonged on."

"The more I tried to remember, the worse it go. Finally, your father summoned the midwife, who said, 'You're not the first mother this has happened to. The only thing to do is rename them and start over.' So that's what we did." Said mother.

"You really don't know which one was born first?" asked Auntie Maiele.

Mother shrugged. "I haven't a clue."