It wasn't very often that I had more than one person in my office. There was seldom the need for it. Couples' counselling wasn't really needed in Imladris given the typical harmony of Elven unions.

I'd been sitting in my office in my usual shut-in manner, devising a life satisfaction questionnaire suitable for the Imladris demographic. A curious, distinctly out-of-rhythm knock at the door made me look up from my work. It sounded like someone was using both hands to knock without managing to pay any attention to either hand as they did.

I invited the unsteady enquirer in, and found to my delight that two people I was very fond of entered.

"Elladan! Elrohir! What a nice surprise," I beamed at them as I got up and fetched a second chair. "Sit yourselves down."

They smiled as they took a seat. It was a rare treat getting time alone with my nephews these days, now that they were often out exploring the plains with the Dúnedain.

"I'm so pleased you both came to visit," I said as I dispensed some water for the two of them. "Have you got time for a round or two of snap?"

They both nodded, and when Elladan saw Elrohir nodding as well, he stopped, and said, "Snap sounds excellent."

I shot them the thumbs-up as I fetched the playing cards and started to deal them out into three small piles. I picked up my little stack of cards, and they both retrieved theirs, holding the cards in the same hand. This time, Elrohir was first to pick up on this, and he quickly switched his cards into his right hand.

I looked at them both and put my cards face-down on the table. "Not to pry, my loves," I said diplomatically, "but I'm sensing a theme here."

There was such an interesting mix of Elrond and Celebrían in the both of them. They required prodding, just like their father, to divulge information- even when it was something they were bursting to talk about. Celebrían's hot-headedness, however, made it so that I had to prod much less with them than dear old Elrond.

It would seem like a small mercy, but as soon as my words were out, they both launched into their own separate rants, gesticulating irritably and looking thoroughly disgruntled. I waved to try and get their attention, to no avail. I decided to pause and wait for the duo to quieten down, and when that failed, I started whacking the desk with my hand like a judge getting their money's worth out of their gavel. They paused and looked at me.

"Indulge me and pretend I'm only smart enough to process one angry rant at a time," I requested, arching an eyebrow.

Each let out a sigh—much to the other's displeasure, and when they went to lean back in their seats, they got frustrated again. It was a little late in the piece for this to be happening, but I got the impression there was some small identity crisis going on here.

"Raise your hand if you're sick of being a twin," I said, getting comfortable in my seat.

Elladan and Elrohir's hands (both left hands, of course) shot up, and then they uneasily took them down, watching each other guiltily as they did.

I watched them closely. "Keep in mind how I phrased that. If you're sick of being a twin, as opposed to each other's twin."

"What's the difference?" Elladan asked.

"One is how everyone else sees and treats you, and the other is being that closely connected to each other."

"I like being your twin," Elrohir offered to Elladan. Elladan smiled.

"Do you like being his twin?" I asked Elladan. Elladan smiled and nodded at Elrohir.

"So what's wrong, then? Are people accidentally swapping you around?"

Elrohir groaned. "I wish that was all it was."

My brow furrowed. "Is someone trying to sew you both together?"

"You may well joke," Elladan said defensively, "but they might as well be!"

"You may think I jest, but there's no upper limit on what some people try to do," I said, holding up my hands in a peacekeeping gesture. "I am merely giving you options. So what is it they're actually doing? And who, in this case, are they?"

"They are all of the people we meet while we roam with the Dúnedain," Elladan said.

"People treat us like we are one single entity!" Elrohir added. "It is becoming frustrating in the extreme."

"Are you hoping to discuss this with a psychologist, or with your aunt?" I asked simply.

"Is there much of a difference?"

"As a psychologist, I'll take notes and keep them in your file, and I'm bound to secrecy, plus we have to have a short talk about said secrecy and ethics. I'll ask you questions so you arrive at your own answers, which means I will keep a professional, objective distance from you. As your aunt, I'll listen and won't tell anyone if you ask me not to, but I'll dispense advice as I see fit. In aunt mode, I am also able to provide hugs and food."

Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other, and said in chorus, "Aunt mode, please," as they turned to look at me. I nodded. Their choice was no real surprise to me. All three of Elrond and Celebrían's children had turned out to be rather snuggly people, particularly when something was bothering them. It would have been beyond unprofessional to cuddle up to a client, even in times of great distress.

"Well, you know of course that you can change your mind at any time, but all right. Tell Auntie Rhodri all about it."

"Ai, Auntie, all these people we come across in our travels, they pay attention to one of us and ignore the other," Elladan started.

"Apparently one person's opinions count for the other's as well," added Elrohir.

"If only they would get our names wrong," grumbled Elladan. "At least that would show they know there are two of us."

"So you don't feel like you are being recognised as individuals, but as though one is simply an exact copy of the other?" I asked.

They nodded.

"Right, so what have you done about it so far?"

"That's the thing," groaned Elrohir. "We do not know where to start. It will be exhausting telling people constantly about this as we travel."

"Though that does seem like the obvious choice," I added quickly. "Look, here's the thing. Twins and multiple children, especially identical ones, are much closer than regular siblings because they share so many more physical and emotional traits. Because of this, you will, as a rule, be much more likely to have similar opinions on things, similar ways of thinking about things, solving problems, that sort of thing. And let's face, it, you two do behave very alike at times."

Both of them scowled at that, and I raised my eyebrows at them.

"Hey now, look, I know you're two separate people," I clarified. "But you know, you grow up in such close proximity of one another, and we are creatures who imitate each other so that we can fit in. Unfortunately, most people aren't automatically inclined to understand what it's like to have a twin. We who do not have them simply cannot imagine it for ourselves, so you're not likely to find many who will understand the issues you face."

I picked up my pile of cards and threw one down on the table. "You are not without options, though. You could always try to make your differences, rather than your similarities, stand out a little more."

"Like what?" Elladan asked as he put a card down.

"Well, think about the ways you both behave that set you apart. As an example, you, Elladan," I pointed at him, "are usually the one to initiate something. Jumping into painting the bigger picture."

I moved my finger to Elrohir. "You, however, are the one to continue things. Provide context, fill in the details. You follow through. Do you want more examples?"

They nodded.

"Louder. Quieter. Tidier. More messy. More impulsive. More cautious. Harp. Flute." I moved my finger between Elladan and Elrohir respectively as I went through the list. "These are all things you could exaggerate to make the differences seem bigger."

They looked at each other.

"Did you say we have other options?" Elrohir enquired after a moment.

"I mean, I suppose you could do something physically to distinguish yourselves from each other. You both dress identically, and your styles don't differ in the least. Could one of you dye your hair blond or something? Wear different clothes perhaps?"

They both sat there, brows knitted, and after a moment, Elladan asked, "I don't think that will work for us. We do not wish to change our appearance."

Elrohir nodded. "Not at all. We are quite used to looking this way, and it would be inconvenient to keep up. Do you have any other suggestions?"

They weren't making this very easy for themselves. That was the third perfectly viable option they had turned down now.

"Be more vocal about your differences in opinion. Develop turns of phrase that one uses and the other one doesn't. Elrohir," I pointed at him, "You think toasted bread should never have fruit on it. Be open about it. Talk about fruit-free toast whenever you can get a word in. And Elladan, you should rebut that with your argument that jam should be the only thing that goes on toasted bread. Elrohir, greet people by saying something like, "Hello," and Elladan, say "Good day.""

Elladan and Elrohir looked at me wide-eyed, shocked at my suggestion. I I blinked so hard I could have sworn I could hear my eyelids clap together, such was my struggle to contain my incredulity.

"Look, you two, If you don't want to change anything about yourselves, then you will have to speak to people about it. They're never going to know unless you tell them, and the people worth being around will take your request on board and treat you as you wish to be treated."

"But we don't want to have to speak to them," Elladan complained petulantly. His voice had grown uncharacteristically high.

I shut my eyes for a moment, hoping that some deity would have mercy on me and grant me the patience I knew I would need. Elladan and Elrohir were usually very relaxed and open to compromise, but sometimes they were seized by a moment of mulishness, and it was game over for any reasonable arguments.

"So let me get this straight," I said slowly, looking down at my fingertips as I summoned the last ounce of my forbearance. "You want to continue to look identical, act in ways that are almost identical to people who don't know you, voice the same opinions, not inform people that you would like to be treated differently, and somehow would like to be treated more as individuals. Is that correct?"

"Yes," they said in a noisy but curiously cheerful chorus.

"Well," I said as I started to look up, "I'm sorry, but you'll just have to- what on earth are you laughing about?"

The two of them were sitting there, red-faced and biting their lips as they suppressed a grin, an occasional tiny snort escaping them. And then it hit me.

"You horrible children, you've been having me on this entire time," I said in disbelief.

With that, the two of them dissolved into hysterical laughter, wheezing into their laps as they doubled over in their seats.

"Why did I not see this coming…" I whispered to myself as I rubbed my temples. "You've been pranking me ever since you saw Aunt Bregedúr put that lizard in my bed."

"Not to worry, Auntie Rhodri," giggled Elladan as he wiped a tear from his eye. "It was all very sound advice, really."

Elrohir took a shuddering breath as he calmed himself. "We do talk to anyone if it's a real problem, but most of the time we are not bothered by it any longer," he informed me. "We are happy, do not worry."

"Are you still interested in playing that game of snap, by the way?" Elladan asked brightly, joining his brother in giving me their sweetest, most winning smiles.

I looked at them and sighed. They already knew they had won.

"Kids today…" I mumbled under my breath as I threw my next card on the pile, failing to completely keep the smile off my face.