Elladan was restless. Three months had passed and he waited patiently, putting his brother before himself and shaking other thoughts aside for the sake of his family.

Since he arrived in Valinor all was colorful. His family was happy to be at least reunited. His mother was better than ever, she went back to be an artisan and a gardener as she was back in Arda, before the Orc attack… His father couldn't care less about political affairs. Thranduil remained a king but the even the great and arrogant monarch was ready step down from his place of power when his father Oropher came back from Mandos. He, like Elrond, had found his long lost wife. Thranduil's grief was greater for his beloved wife had not left Arda by a ship, but her fëa left her body. Legolas would be most pleased to find his mother was sent back to them.

Elladan was glad he never got to know the Hobbits better for they were gone now. He was there when Pippin and Merry faded, but wasn't in Valinor to say goodbye to both Frodo and Sam. Gandalf still lived and always would or all would lose much. He often seeked council with the Istar about the last ones all were waiting their arrival in the blessed lands. Calm and hopeful as always Gandalf words were a balm, but as soon as he reached his home Elladan would be restless again. His family knew something was wrong but he would tell them nothing. Not even to Elrohir. If even the one that held his heart knew nothing about his suffering, nobody else could.

Elrohir now could practice his greatest passion. As he name goes he was a warrior and would remain one until the stars fell from the skies. But he wasn't practicing the battle with swords but was making them. That kept his beloved twin distracted from the thoughts of Arwen and Estel, but when grief hit him too hard, he had Elladan by his side right away.

Elladan kept asking for his twin's help and comfort and the younger brother got up from his bad earlier than when Elrond lost his brother Eros. As always his father's council was accurate and he knew now how to really help his brother.

Another month passed by while Elladan found no passion, no work to do. He buried himself in his father's library, which were brought in its entirety from Arda. When his father - which would be the one to easily recognize the kind of subjects he was so interested in - would come in, he would shut the books down and take them with him. His father was very respectful and allowed Elladan his privacy, but Elrond was worried and that hurt his son but there was nothing that the older twin could do. No one he could talk about his angusty.

One afternoon, Elladan was buried in books and asleep under a large tree, the type there were not in Arda. The sounds of voices woke him up but the anxiety in the air was what made him jump on his feet. He ran to the shore and he felt his heart pound in his chest at the sight that greeted him.

A large, terribly made ship was arriving. He knew who was there and he felt his mouth dry. He froze on his spot and could not move for several moments.

Waiting to greet them there were Galadriel, Gandalf and what it looked like hundreds of elves he didn't know. Maybe the last ship ever to come from Arda was the big happening everyone was waiting. Indeed all the while he finally arrived in the home of elves they still haven't celebrated anything.

There were cheer and laughter. Elladan bet more than half of those elves didn't know the travelers, but of course had heard about the Nine Walkers, everyone had.

He could see Gimli and he was relieved to see him in one piece. Now that he thought about the dangers one face when coming to Valinor his eyes caressed the ship and he saw some nasty damages. Gimli and Legolas were terrible ship crafters, they were lucky to arrive alive. He should have had stayed behind to help them build, but Elrohir was on the verge of fading and he just took the ship they constructed slowly along the years and sailed.

Gandalf knelt to embrace Gimli and he saw the dwarf blush. "That's enough Gandalf, that's enough. I've seen you just yesterday, come on now." He said, moving away from the Maia. Elladan knew he was near to tears for Legolas often arrived in Gondor with his dwarven companion - such a comical sight - and he got to know Gimli better.

Then he couldn't help but laugh. Galadriel knelt the same manner as Gandalf and then he realized his grandmother was there to greet her very special friend. He heard her talk about him and many were surprised she invited the first Dwarf that was ever going to step foot on the Grey Havens to actually live there.

"My Lady...Oh..." Gimli was blushing, shaking, clearly not knowing what to do. He grabbed her arms but couldn't put her on her feet. "Please my Lady, you can't kneel before me...The Fairest..." He ended under his breath.

"No my dear Gimli. It is you of the Nine Walkers that should never bow to no one."

Gimli suddenly found something over the sand on his feet very interesting because he kept staring at it from that moment on.

Galadriel laughed happily and started to walk, one hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "I have a special stone made home waiting for you."

"My Lady, I couldn't..." He whispered.

"Where is Legolas?" Elladan asked suddenly.

He had turned to the ship but no golden crown was seen. Galadriel turned sadly towards him and that - more than the Prince's absence - that most startled him.

"Where is him?" He didn't care about the scare that was clear in his voice. "Gimli!"

Gimli turned slowly now. Elladan realized then that the dwarf was avoiding his gaze on purpose since his arrival. He felt Gandalf's hand on his shoulder and a very annoying squeeze.

He freed himself of the touch and gave one step ahead. "Tell me!" He raised his voice.

"Legolas… he just refused to come Elladan." For the first time the elf saw tears in the dwarf's eyes. "All this time since Arwen's fading, I've been trying to drag him to the ship and come here but he would have none of it."

Elladan clenched his hands into fists, the same way his heart seemed to have been squeezed painfully inside him. Tears threatened to fall and he thought of how much heartache he could take. All of the tales he heard, that there was no fading in Valinor, that this was the land where all pain could be healed seemed to be a big lie.

His body ached. He felt physical pain and the will to curl up into his bed and never get up again was very strong. He missed his twin that moment but all he could do was to be rooted to the ground.

"You go ahead, I'll talk to him a bit." Gandalf gestured to the other two that rested a compassionate gaze towards Elrond's son, before turning and leaving.

"Gandalf, I need a way to go back."

It seemed that the Istar needed no explanation about his reasons. He nodded only and this was a comfort for Elladan. "How can I go back then?" The elf asked anxiously.

"No Elladan. I understand you would want to go back, but there is no way of going back now. All we can do is to hope Legolas come to his senses and..." A thought occurred to Gandalf and he silenced.

"He can't build a ship right?" Elladan said angrily. "The truth is that even if he came to his senses he could not travel. " Elladan suddenly turned, his stormy eyes seeking. "Where is that..."

He ran until he reached the dwarf and his grandmother.

"You dwarf!" He shouted. "How come you came back without him? I knew I should never had left Legolas there alone with you."

"Now you calm down there, elf. I did all I could. I really tried."

"You haven't tried enough! You call yourself Elf-friend? For I would never leave him in that state. He was fading, wasn't he?"

"Please my son, do not judge Master Gimli without knowing what happened." Galadriel put herself between the two. "I never seen you act as such before." She rested her pale hand on Elladan's shoulder and when he looked at her eyes, he saw she knew too. But more than that, he back from his blind anger and realized he shouted in front of her, something he never wanted to do. "Forgive me." He hang his head in shame. "I am out of line."

She smiled sadly and held him for a moment. "It is okay my son. I know why you are like this. Now please, hear the dwarf."

Elladan took a deep breath waiting for the Lady to step away so he could see the dwarf again. Gimli's eyes were wet and for a moment he felt remorse, but it was overcome quickly with his need to know what happened to Thranduillion.

"I've seen you two together, and I have my own ideas." Gimli started. "So I know what I am about to tell you will be very hard and I hoped I could have more time because I lack of courage now, that's why I pretended like nothing happened on the shore." The dwarf raised his eyes to meet the ones surrounded with thick eyelashes and the power in those globes almost made him look away again. He could see the elf had calmed down and that the urgency in that look came from his despair and made him wait no longer. "All this time I've been looking for him Elladan. You were right on Gondor, you said you should have stayed and yes, I think that was the moment we could kidnap Legolas or something for he was only beginning to fade then. But Elrohir was in need of your help and if I knew better I would have taken Elrohir and the ship and left you there. Even your grandfather could have taken Elrohir alone."

"No..." Elladan whispered. "Elrohir needed my strenght. As twins we have a strange bond. I think the worst could have happened if I didn't sailed with him. It was something my father had with his twin and I didn't dare to risk as we could be just like them. My father lost his twin the same manner as we lost Arwen."

"Yes, for that I am sorry." Gimli said. "At least we were there with her, or I mean, Legolas was. I gave them space and camped few miles away. I waited for Legolas' - signal - but it never came. As he told me to give them three days I went after them, Arwen had faded and Legolas was holding her, laying beside her. When I stepped upon that scene I thought he was dead, the elf really scared me for a moment. But although he was alive he was in a bad shape. He didn't even wanted to leave her body. We actually stood there, arguing and then resting - because Legolas was so weary - for a whole another day. Finally I yelled, I dragged him, I waved my axe until he finally came to his senses. We buried her in a beautiful spot, although Lothlórien is not the same anymore." He turned sadly to the Lady. "Legolas again started grieving and wanted to stay there, but this time I was prepared. I dragged him until Lothlórien's borders when he tried to go back again. After much yelling and discussion all over again we moved again. I found that if I kept the elf angry his grief lessened, and he was too used to argue with me to let me just win an argument."

We walked all the way and I've never seen Legolas rest so much. He was sleeping with his eyes closed, which scared me and he was more pale than usual. He slept more than me and that's a sign that something was really wrong, but still I had to rest as well so I done two watches while he just one. One of his turns he got up and left. I looked for him, we were so close to the ship now, I think he changed his mind or just wanted to make sure I had the chance to sail and although he was dying, he escorted me safely as there are still Orcs and the Haradrim wondering around those lands.

I didn't care and went looking for him. I walked all lands I knew of that he could go, even if there was no reason for him to go there.

Of course I visited Arwen's resting place again and there was no sign of him. I even checked old talan's, like Haldir's for a place that he could be sleeping only to be near his beloved."

Elladan's heart tightened at this point, it always hurt to hear this but he gestured for Gimli to continue. It seemed he was with the tree that knew his secret. His grandmother mostly because she kept reading people's minds.

"I searched for him… I really did." Gimli's bowed his head and he voice turned to a whisper.

"F...Forgive me, my friend." Elladan asked, ashamed.

Gimli waved his excuses and wept.

"Come Gimli, one of the Nine Walkers and savior of Middle Earth. You need a long deserved rest now." Galadriel turned to guide him, her delicate hand resting on his shoulder once again.

"Wait." Gimli could only whisper. "I think… Actually, I am sure Legolas...faded… Elladan."

Galadriel gently forced Gimli to turn and they went away, walking slowly.

Elladan turned to another direction, seeking his books. When he sat to read he saw Gandalf had followed him.

"Not now, please." He said.

"What are you doing Elladan?" Gandalf asked gently. "If there was a way I would tell you, you know that right? I would even go with you because I also loved that elf. He had the gentlest soul I ever met."

"Don't talk about him like he is already gone. Saes Mithrandir*."

"Elladan, much was lost. Because of Sauron, Saruman and the one before them we all bet our lives for their fall. Please, wait patiently until the day the Valar restore Legolas to you. He will arrive here one way or another."

"I am not doing this for me, I won't claim him as mine. I want he to feel the happiness I had when I was reunited with my mother. I want him to heal and feel whole again."

"And he will." Gandalf patiently insisted, sitting beside the elf. "Don't you see that Legolas' journey might not have ended yet?"

Elladan considered the idea for a moment, but then stubbornly shook his head. "Thank you Mithrandir. For everything. But please, leave me be now."

Gandalf sighed. He stood there for a long while and only finally left because he was hungry.

The days went by without an answer. He didn't had to ask for it but was glad that both Gandalf or Galadriel hadn't told his parents or brother about his grief. They mourned for Legolas, of course but didn't know how deeply the older twin was hurting.

Elladan was thankful he started his research a while ago because all he could do now was leave. There was no other answer as his grandmother said the same thing as the Istari: there was no way of going back to Arda.

It was past two when Elladan arose from his bed. His twin already moved to his own chambers day after their arrival. He was alone and with his pack ready. He strapped his quiver across his chest - something he mastered thanks to Legolas although he was no match for the Prince - secured his daggers on his boot and wrist and then his long but light sword on his hips. He traveled long and hard with the Rangers, for Aragorn's protection when he just reached his majority and he needed no food as he knew how to eat in the wild, but for his trip across the sea he would need it.

But first things first, there was one he should see first.

He left his home unnoticed. Moving like the shadow he cut the distance with long strides. He felt sorrowful for a moment when he thought about Elrohir. They were never apart until now, and it would be hard if he could not come back. But he made his decision. He came to Valinor to bring his twin safely, he had done it and now the Valar turned their back at him by leaving Legolas behind.

His seasoned eyes got used to the darkness, and soon the light provide by the stars was enough for that elf ranger.

He went deep into the forest, realizing how silent that place was. He did his travel in Valinor, much as how he liked to do in Arda and everywhere he went everything was merry, there were sounds everywhere. But not that place. Not even an animal moved in there and he suspect not even insects would try.

Only he now knew of this place. All the pages that talked about it were torn by him and thrown into the fire. He could not risk someone coming after him if things went terribly wrong.

Soon the leafy but ugly trees started to disappear and he found himself among dried branches. The air was thick and a foul smell started to reach his nostrils. Elladan furrowed his brows, disgusted by all that surrounded him but that was just the beginning. He reached plain fields where the earth was dry and nothing lived there. Ahead he saw short mountains of rocks and then he found what he was looking for - a cave. The entrance was wide and tall enough for a man but for an elf it was necessary he bent a little.

He entered the dark cave, touching the walls as he went and waiting for his eyes to get used to the darkness. He walked for almost an hour, never increasing or slowing his pace. Finally he saw a light in the end of the corrido, it was faint and it moved. He carefully reached for his dagger and in the other hand he held his bow, he had to only turn to the left to see the source of the light.

A torch was lit inside a cell. A dark male figure was sitting on his bed inside, his hands holding his chin while his elbow rested on his tights. He didn't even turn as if used to having company. Elladan approached cautiously, putting his dagger back to his ankle and preparing an arrow which he pointed to the prisoner's head.

Both didn't say anything for a while. Elladan gave a few more steps ahead. The cave was dead silent.

Elladan watched the other with wide eyes. Before him lay the most dangerous being to ever curse the living. He didn't fear the other but knew that any mistake and this one could bring the end of the world upon all living things.

"You left Valinor once..." Elladan begun. "How did you do it?"

The slim figure rose slowly, his movements gracious like an elf's. His long black hair hid his face until he turned to look at his visitor.

His breathtaking beauty was only marred by the dirty covering his features. He brownish, almost red eyes, but the look in it was of a predator.

"Finally someone that comes and knows who I am."

"Yes I know who you are. Although I'm sorry to say, most don't remember you exist as we vanquished even your most loyal follower. But I am sure the news reached your ears. What elf would miss a chance to tell you that… Melkor?"

Elladan grinned.

Fëa - spirit

Saes - Please

Mithrandir - Name given to Gandalf by the elves

Thank you for reading it. I hope you enjoy as much as I am. I'm loving this Elladan!

Please review, tell me what you think!

Till next chapter.