It was now early morning on the fourth day since Elrohir had taken ill and they were no closer to finding a cure than before. Elrond had spent every moment reading book after book after book, trying to find a list of symptoms that exactly matched Elrohir's. The elf lord tiredly ran a hand over his face. He had not so much as thought of sleep and he had eaten only enough to keep him from collapsing.

Elrohir's condition was steadily worsening. The pain in his son's stomach never left. At times it would grow so agonizing that Elrohir could do naught but curl into as a tight a ball as he could and scream until it was finally eased by medicine and left him weak and exhausted. They had kept the nausea at bay just enough that Elrohir had been able to keep water, medicine, and a tiny bit of food in his stomach, but nothing else. One mouthful too much he would instantly throw everything back up again. After the second day Elrohir had begun having frequent nosebleeds and headaches that only sapped more of the strength he so desperately needed. Elrond was at his wits end. He knew his son was dying, but he could find naught to help him. Elre had even joined the search and he too had turned up nothing helpful.

And it wasn't just Elrohir who suffered. With every attack of pain or new symptom that would arise, Elrond felt Elladan slipping further and further away with his brother. Elladan was preparing to follow his twin even to death if that was what it took. Elrond already knew that his boys could not live without one another. Each was one half of the other. One fëa split into two hröar. But the knowledge did not make the prospect of losing both of his sons any less heart-wrenching. He knew the loss would send him and Arwen both over the edge and if they didn't fade, they would sail.

Thranduil had questioned every servant in his household extensively and had turned up nothing suspicious. The servant who had taken the glass away had not been the one to bring it, only one who was trying to keep things tidy. No one had seen again the servant who had brought the milk. The librarian had also given a detailed description of the elf that had matched what little Elrohir could give and everyone in the castle had been told to watch for a servant matching his description.

Elrond felt cold wetness on his cheeks and reached a hand up to brush away the tears of frustration that rolled from his eyes. He took a deep breath and prepared to go back to work, when suddenly a cry of pain spilt the air from the hall where the twin's room was.

Elrond dropped the book as dread filled him. Elrohir was having another attack. He raced down to the ill elf's room and ran inside, heart breaking at the sight that met him. Elrohir was curled in his brother's lap, shaking and crying in agony. Glorfindel and Legolas stood by the bed in case they were needed, but left Elrohir in his brother's arms alone. Elrond cast his eyes to the two healers in the room, relieved to see that they had started brewing the painkilling medicine that eased Elrohir's attacks. Knowing the medicine was being taken care of, Elrond sat on the bed and rubbed Elrohir's back, trying to offer what comfort he could.

"A…Ada, it h…hurts", Elrohir sobbed, doubling over as far as he could on his stomach

"I know, son, I know", Elrond soothed. "Please try to relax. The medicine will be done soon."

A healer suddenly rushed the tea over to Elrond. He took it and pulled Elrohir into his lap.

"Elrohir, you must drink this, it will stop the pain", Elrond said.

Elrohir forced his eyes open a crack and Elrond placed the cup to lips. The ill elf drank the medicine as best he could, still staying as curled as possible without choking. Finally, the last of the medicine went down and began to take effect. Elrohir slowly began relaxing and his shaking slackened. Elladan pulled his brother back to him and laid down with Elrohir in his arms. The younger twin turned sad eyes to his brother.

"I am d…dying, Elladan", he whispered, his voice no more than a croak.

"Shhh, do not talk like that", Elladan said. "You are going to be just fine, 'Ro. You have to believe it."

Elrohir shook his head. "If I die, y…you have to p…promise not to follow me. Ada and A…Arwen will need you."

"Elrohir, you know I can't promise that", Elladan choked, tears streaming down his face. "Please just rest and heal so we can put such thoughts out of our minds."

Elrohir wanted to argue against his brother's answer, but the attack had drained him too much. He couldn't fight sleep anymore, so he curled closer to Elladan had drifted off where the pain would leave him be for a while. Elladan sniffed and looked up at his father who still sat on the bedside and had tears of his own trailing down his cheeks.

"Ada, I can't promise that", he repeated. "I love you and Arwen so much, but Elrohir is half of me."

"I know that", Elrond reassured him, thinking about how often he felt like only half a person since the death of his own twin. "I will do all I can to make sure that choice never comes to you, ion nin. Now you need to rest as well. Your heart is in just as much pain as your brother's body."

Elladan nodded and let his mind go to his elven dreams. Elrond sighed sadly and kissed both of his children.

"I will be in the library again", Elrond said to the healers. "Come get me if there is any change."

The lord tiredly left the room and headed back to the library. Glorfindel watched his friend shuffle out the door sadly. He knew Elrond was not just burdened with the sickness of his son, but also memories of the past when he could not heal Celebrian's heart and it resulted in her having to sail. Glorfindel got up and followed Elrond out into the hallway.

"Elrond", he called.

The lord turned and looked him with exhausted eyes. "What is it Glorfindel?"

The Gondolin elf stepped forward and wordlessly embraced his friend. Elrond immediately broke down in the arms of one of his oldest and closest companions.

"My sons die before my very eyes and I am powerless to stop it", the healer sobbed. "Once again, I am powerless to stop the pain of those I love more than anything!"

"Elrond, your sons will not die", Glorfindel said softly. "I have complete faith that you will heal them both. And what happened to Celebrian was not at all your fault. You did stop her pain. You rescued her from those foul creatures and then you loved her enough to let her go to a place where she could heal."

Glorfindel continued to hold Elrond as the healer slowly pulled himself together. When the tears finally stopped, they released each other and Glorfindel gently wiped Elrond's cheeks for him. "You are not alone in this, my friend", he said. "There are many here who love both you and your sons."

"Thank you, mellon nin", Elrond said, sniffing back the remainder of his tears. "I must go now and try to find a cure for Elrohir."

"And I will not leave your sons' side."

Elrond smiled again and turned to go back into the library, the support of his friend turning his despair into determination to save his family. He entered the library and set straight to work, scouring book after book.

"My lord?"

Elrond looked up to see an apprentice healer standing over him and holding a cup.

"Hir nin, Master Elre has requested me to bring this to you so you will keep up your strength."

Elrond glared at the cup suspiciously, smelling its contents for sleeping herbs. Elre had been trying nonstop for days to make him get some sleep but he always refused.

"Master Elre swore It contains no sleeping herb, my lord", the apprentice said, guessing the reason behind Elrond's hesitancy. "He only wanted you to have something that would help you stay strong."

Another cautious sniff of the drink told Elrond the apprentice was telling the truth. He smelled no sleeping herb in it. He thanked the apprentice and downed the potion, handing back the empty cup when he had finished. "Thank you, my friend. It is restoring me already."

"I am glad to hear it, my lord", the apprentice said. "I wish you luck in your search."

He bowed and left the room.

"Aye, at this rate I shall need it", Elrond inwardly sighed, picking up yet another book.

Elvish Terms:

Fëa/ Fëar – An elf's spirit

Hröa/Hröar – An elf's physical body

Ada – Dad

Mellon Nin – My Friend

Hir Nin – My Lord

Ion Nin – My Son

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