Disclaimer: See chapter 1

It had been an hour since had Rubah had given his more than cryptic answer. There had been no sound since. No one dared speak, no one dared move, lest they shatter the silence around them.

It was the perfect time to let Elladan mull over his thoughts. On one hand, he was ecstatic. Not only was his brother alive, he was found. But then, this elf wasn't the brother he remembered.

'Ro wasn't Elrohir.

He could tell that Rubah knew that, but the rest of his family didn't seem to.

How was he to treat this elf that was his closest friend but also a stranger?

He sighed, but no loudly enough to be heard by the others. This was his own turmoil, his own decision. Should he leave his brother here, to his peace? That seemed like the best answer, but Elladan couldn't bear the thought. He knew he wouldn't be strong enough to do it.

"This situation is complicated." Erestor said, speaking for the first time that evening.

"How so?" Glorfindel questioned.

"We set out to find a family member. We thought we had succeeded, but he is still lost." The advisor replied.

"What do you mean? We just saw him." Legolas asked.

"Yes. But it is his body, not his mind. I think the true question we should ask is whether 'Ro is still Elrohir, or someone else entirely." They paused, before Elrond asked,

"I doubt he's lost completely. I mean, it's only been ten years."

"I don't know." Elladan said softly. "If you look at it that way, Estel's only seventy-seven." He added with amusement. The man gave an indignant squawk, but no one else responded. "Think of it this way," The elf continued, "He hasn't acted like Elrohir at all. He chose to hide himself from us in the guise of the name Celebaelin. He clearly didn't want to be found by us, or anyone. He had a breakdown in the woods, for reasons unknown to us, and then vanished to Valar-knows-where. He hasn't laughed, or even cracked a smile, for the time we knew him as 'Ro or as Celebaelin, nor with witnesses who saw him. Does that should anything like Elrohir?" No one answered. Their silence was answer enough. "No. It doesn't. It does, however, sound like 'Ro. What he need to decide is simple, ada; how do we treat this stranger who is nothing like the brother we remember?"

"He seems like he's hurting." Glorfindel replied with hesitance. Elladan rolled his eyes.

"That much is obvious. But why? And, perhaps even more important, does he need our help, or would we just make it worse?" Seeing the disbelieving expressions on their faces, he explained, "With Elrohir, I would not falter. But, you must remember, this isn't Elrohir. This is 'Ro, a stranger whose made it very clear that he doesn't want us around." Elrond gazed at his son. Where had this wisdom come from? The lord had realized that his son was different, yes, perhaps entirely so, but he thought that Elladan would reject that idea, fight it with all his mind. What he saw a placid kind of acceptance. Elladan was usually cutting fury, precise rage, able to strike you down with words at the slightest insult. But here, he didn't seem angry, he just seemed… sad. Calm. Unruffled.

Though the twins looked the same, inside, they couldn't be more different. Elrohir was peaceful, usually. The healer and the negotiator. Elladan was on the other end of the spectrum. He was protective fierceness, like that of a mother bear. Sharp words with no apologizes. But here, they appeared… flipped. 'Ro was the one with the anger, while Elladan projected the perfect calm. It was unnerving, and a bit odd, seeing a side of the twins that not even their father had experienced before.

No one answered him.

"I see…" The young elf lord mused, "If we cannot choose, we clearly do not know enough. The question of whether we should help or leave him to his peace is still on the table. However, it appears we have another to answer. Is 'Ro still Elrohir, somewhere inside him? Or has the elf we remember been lost to this new one that bears his face?" Legolas spoke up, softly,

"I think that he believes he is someone different, that he has become someone new. But I think he's lying to himself. In the days we spent together a few years ago, some of his old self would shine through the layers he built up."

"Yes, Legolas," Elladan continued, "but you must remember, that was over five years ago. That could have changed. The question is, did it?"

Not even Erestor could answer that.

'Ro returned soon after, but he did not speak. The conversation from before was still ringing in the minds of the Family of Elrond and they watched him closely for any hint of Elrohir, but the elf paid them no mind. He did not even glance that them. Rubah tried to start a cheerful conversation, but it died out quickly.

Somehow, by unspoken agreement, 'Ro took first watch. Elladan sleep peacefully, despite his rampant, uncontrollable thoughts. But he awoke to the sound of singing. Beautiful… familiar, singing. He paused, glancing around slowly, as not to alert anyone. There, yes. 'Ro. His voice was just as clear and free as Elladan remembered.

"As the stars drift by on the evening breeze…"

The elder brother closed his eyes as two, twin tears trickled down his cheeks. He was lured to sleep by his brother's voice, raised in song, which he had not heard in so long.

Perhaps there still was Elrohir somewhere inside 'Ro.

After all, his voice was just how Elladan remembered it.

Author's Note:

Here it is! Another shorty, sorry! The next one will be longer, I swear!

Translations:

Ada: father