Chapter 12

Elladan only had made it about halfway down the hallway when he realized he didn't want to leave Elrohir's side again. His father had forced him to go to the kitchens, which was why he wasn't there, and Arwen was left alone to try and pull his twin from the darkness. Perhaps this would not have happened, had he been there...

Feeling very stupid, he knew that he could not go back into the room where his father and sister were and explain to them that he hadn't thought about it when he left and that he really hadn't meant to. They would think him mad.

So he climbed easily from a window in a nearby guest room, which was conveniently empty, and clambered across the stone sides of the house.

He looked down, at a height that would set even the bravest of souls on edge. However, he was not high enough for the people dallying in the courtyard not to see him. He would have to be careful.

When he thought no one was looking, he darted across to the window, grabbed the ledge, and pulled himself up to peer over the edge.

It was empty, other than the form on the bed. Elladan breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled himself up easily.

He sat on the bed, looking into his brother's pitch-black eyes. He took one cool, smooth hand in his own and stroked it absently with his thumb.

"Are you in there, El?" he asked. He put the other hand on his brother's cheek, stroking it gently. "Can you hear me? It's me, Elladan. I am right here for you. I am alive and well. You have nothing to fear in all of Arda, because while I am here nothing shall touch you."

Nothing. No response. Elladan sighed.

"Alright. I will wait until you are ready. Until then, I will be right here."

He positioned himself so that he was sitting on the bed next to his twin. He leaned his head on his brother's shoulder.

And he waited.

A few hours later, a knock came at the door.

"Come in," Elladan called. It slid open, and a tall, proud figure with golden hair walked in.

"Oh. Hello, Glorfindel." Elladan began to get up to meet him, but Glorfindel stilled him with a wave of his hand.

"Stay with him. And, hello," Glorfindel said, rather curtly, and he sat down in one of the chairs next to the bed. "Your father told me what happened."

Elladan unconsciously grasped Elrohir's hand tighter. Glorfindel's sharp eyes saw.

"Yes," Elladan said. There was a rather awkward pause.

"I'm sorry, I should say something, I just...I..."

"Don't know how to feel about it?" Glorfindel finished for him. Elladan nodded, his eyes locked on his and his brother's entwined fingers.

"Yes. I am glad he does not feel pain for a while, because Valar knows he needs a break, but at the same time..."

"I know what you mean," Glorfindel said simply, and Elladan allowed a small smile to show on his face. Finally, someone who understood. There was a comfortable silence.

"Is that all you came to do? Check on me?" Elladan asked after a few moments. Glorfindel smiled and shook his head.

"I wasn't going to come at all today, until I saw you scurrying along the outside of the House like a spider. That, and I came to check on him," he said, pointing to Elrohir. "And I can confirm that he will indeed wake up again with a stimulus. I have seen this in a few other elves in my time here on Arda."

Elladan grinned suddenly.

"You're not the only one to have met and barely escaped Mandos, now."

Glorfindel snorted.

"It is hardly something to be happy about."

Elladan barked out a laugh, and suddenly his whole body was shaking with mirth. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow at him, but he could not help chuckling himself.

"Ai. Thank you. I needed that," Elladan said, having calmed down a short while later. He ran his hands over his face. "I need you, and your strangeness. It makes things more interesting."

Glorfindel scoffed and did his best to look offended.

"I am many millennium your senior, and some centuries your father's senior. Don't get ahead of yourself, elfling."

Elladan smiled slightly. Another knock came at the door.

"We have quite a few visitors today, don't we, El?" Elladan observed to Elrohir, who of course did not respond. Elladan called for the person at the door to come in.

Erestor came in. Seeing Glorfindel, he blinked in surprise.

"Glorfindel. I didn't expect you to be here."

Glorfindel smirked. Elladan recognized that look. It was the "I-am-going-to-annoy-Erestor-because-it's-fun" look.

"What, can I not go places without your permission?"

Erestor began to retort, but it was only half way up his throat when he shook his head, dismissing it.

"I know you enjoy provoking a reaction from me. I will not give you the satisfaction of a response," Erestor said, and Glorfindel grinned.

"You're learning," he said. Erestor huffed, biting back a sly remark, and turned back to where Elladan and Elrohir were. His eyes softened as he saw how Elrohir's body was leaning against Elladan, who held his hand protectively. Everything would've seen normal, nice, even, if it weren't for Elrohir's soulless eyes.

"Hello, Elladan," Erestor said, and Elladan smiled back at him. Erestor walked over to the bed, surprising Elladan and Glorfindel by putting a hand on Elrohir's cheek. Erestor had never been one that enjoyed contact or speaking of feelings. A small smile graced the Chief Counselor's face.

"And you, Elrohir. It is good to see you again, penneth. You have been sorely missed."

He drew away, looking at the twins fully. He frowned.

"What?" said Elladan.

"Your hair. The ends on your hair and his are all uneven...I will go get some scissors."

Erestor left the room, and Glorfindel grinned.

"That is the happiest he's been in a long time. You have achieved something great, Elrohir."

"Why is he happy?" Elladan asked. He could not fathom why Erestor would be happy. Elrohir's soul had practically left his body, and when it returned it would be just as crushed as it was before. There was nothing good in this situation.

"Elladan," Glorfindel said, looking mildly surprised. He stood, walking over to the younger elf and putting a hand on his shoulder and forcing him to look him in the eye.

"He is here. Don't you see that? Elrohir is right here, right next to you. You can touch him and be with him again. Yes, he is wounded in both body and spirit, but he is here. Are you not glad?"

Elladan turned to stare at his twin. Glorfindel was right. Oh, Valar. Elrohir was here, right here. His lips were slightly parted with each breath, and he was alive. Here, and alive. What more could Elladan ask for?

Elladan released a shaking breath, putting an arm around Elrohir's shoulder and pulling his twin into him, stroking his hair. He looked up at Glorfindel.

"Thank you," he said, his voice wavering. "Thank you. Sometimes, I just need to be reminded..."

"What else are annoying uncle-figures for?" Glorfindel said, chuckling. He ruffled both twins' hair, as he had done when they were elflings, and went back to his chair by the window.

Erestor came in, holding the scissors and a small basin, which he brought to the bathroom to fill with water. When he did, he put it on the bed and worked together with Elladan to lift Elrohir so that his hair lay in the warm water. Elladan took over from there, and the overwhelming happiness and love in his eyes as he washed Elrohir's hair stopped Erestor from even thinking of interfering. When it was clean, they sat Elrohir up and Erestor trimmed his hair so it was even. They wet Elladan's hair and did the same for him. Elladan braided Elrohir's hair and his own, and for the first time in a long time they looked identical again.

Elladan eventually fell asleep at his brother's side. Sharing a smile at the sight, Glorfindel and Erestor left them in peace.

A/N: New chapter. Yay :).

Please review (if you need motivation, it was my birthday on Sunday, so...yea) :P