Our Most Beloved Star by Uvatha the Horseman

The Missing Twin

"This will be our best prank yet, if we can pull it off. They can usually tell us apart by now, so let's not make it easy for them to tell us apart," Elros said as he checked their tunics, belts, shoes, and jewelry.

"That's as identical as I can make us. Ready?" Satisfied, Elros disappeared down the servants' stair.

When Cook blew the horn summoning them to dinner, Elrond clattered down the stairs and took his accustomed place at the table. Maedhros and Maglor were already there but Elros' place was empty.

"Where's your brother? It seems to me he's extraordinarily fond of eating, for one so small," said Maedhros.

Elrond served himself from the bowl in the middle of the table. "I haven't seen him since noon." He made an effort to look worried. "Excuse me, I'm going to have a quick look for him outside."

He pushed back his chair and went into the kitchen. When Cook's attention was on a cauldron over the fire, he looked behind the pantry door and found Elros there, as planned. Elrond ducked behind the pantry door and Elros came out. From his hiding place, Elrond strained to hear the voices from the dining room.

"You didn't see him?" asked Maedhros.

"No, I called for him from the kitchen door, but the yard was empty."

"Do you have any idea where your brother might be?"

"He said something about wanting to go home."

A chair scraped against the floor. "I'm going to search outside. Maglor, you look for him upstairs." Maedhros sounded angry.

Between the door and wall, a glimpse of cloak and red hair swept by, and the kitchen door slammed, and someone took the stairs two at a time.

"Elros where are you?" Maglor called. Doors opened and closed, and the lid of a chest banged against the wall.

Elrond waited until Cook went outside, then went into the dining room. Elros sat at Elrond's place, still heating.

"Go upstairs and help Maglor search for you, and I'll join Maedhros outside."

Outside, it was still light enough to see but it wouldn't be for long. Inside the stables, the horses whinnied and stomped their feet.

Maedhros held the girth against his horse's flank while he tightened the buckle with his teeth. "Fetch Maglor and tell him to bring a lantern. We're going to search the forest."

How many times had Maedhros told them not to go into the forest? It wasn't safe. Even a warrior as tough as Maedhros could get lost and never come back. And that was in daylight.

Guilt washed over Elrond. "Maedhros, wait. You don't need to go into the forest. Elros isn't missing."

Maglor came out of the house with Elros on his heels. "I couldn't find him upstairs. Oh, there he is! " Maglor's face lit up. "Where have you been? We were so worried."

"It was just a prank. We're sorry. It was supposed to be funny," said Elros.

"Well, it wasn't," said Maedhros, wrapping the both of them in a one-armed embrace.

Elrond frowned. Maedhros and Maglor seemed to care about them more than their own parents did, and had done more to keep them safe. He shook his head. He'd worry about it later.