Happy Sunday everyone!

Sorry for the late posting. It seems like life doesn't stop lately even on Sundays!

I hope everyone has had an awesome week and I hope you all enjoy the new chapter! Don't forget to let me know your thoughts down in the comments!

Enjoy!

Elladan didn't have to wait long for his father. Within a few more moments Elrond burst into the room. The elder elf's face went pale and a tremble wracked his body as he took in the sight of Elladan cradling Elrohir's motionless body. The servant had said nothing except that he was needed in Elrohir's room immediately and Elrond feared now that it was because his son was dying.

"Ada, it is alright", Elladan rushed to reassure his father. "I think he is getting warmer and I can begin to feel our bond again!"

Elladan felt the fear start to abate from his father's but the elf lord did not allow himself to relax until he placed his hand on his youngest son's brow and entered Elrohir's mind. Relief so strong it was almost painful swirled through Elrond as he saw flashes of color and snippets of sound echoing in Elrohir's mind and he began to drift closer to them and not further away. He was beginning to enter a more normal sleep and the lights and sounds were the beginnings of dreams echoing in his mind.

Pressing deeper, Elrond encountered Elrohir's broken fëa, joy once again filling him as he observed it was much more whole. No longer was the young twin's heart shattered into tiny shards of who he was. Now, while still broken, the tender soul was in far larger pieces and Elrond could make out entire memories and emotions that had rebuilt themselves. The thing that still concerned Elrond was that he still felt like there was a large part of Elrohir's heart missing. Something had yet to return but there were no more shards of Elrohir that were visible to the ancient healer. That could only mean that whatever was still missing was buried too deep inside his son for him to venture. He had to still wait and hope that this thing would return soon.

Gently, Elrond began to nudge Elrohir's thoughts, recalling happy memories and soft emotions to try to coax his son into pleasant dreams. Ever so slowly, Elrohir began to respond and the flashes of color began to solidify into images and the sounds were not broken. It was now even more evident that Elrohir was indeed regaining consciousness. The fact that he was now fully in a dreaming state testified that he slept ever more naturally.

When he was satisfied that his son would continue to awaken on his own as his body was ready, Elrond withdrew and returned to his body. His eyes opened to meet the hopeful and anxious eyes of Elladan.

"He is waking, ion nin", Elrond reported with a broad smile on his face. "It may take a bit longer yet, but he will soon come back to us. What happened to make him begin to return? Do you know?"

"Aye, I do know", Elladan said excitedly. "I figured it out, Ada! I figured out what Elrohir was trying to tell me by the creek. I know what has caused this and I was able to let him know I understood through where our bond is supposed to be. I did not know if he could hear me since I could not sense him, but he must have and now feels hope again!"

"Well done, my son", Elrond praised, an excited smile gracing his face. "Tell me what has caused this so we may right this wrong before your brother awakens!"

"It is Aragorn", Elladan said. "That day, Aragorn made all the difference in Elrohir's attitude. He became so joyful the moment he held the boy. He depression vanished instantly Aragorn can touch Elrohir's heart in a way I do not think anything or anyone else can, Ada, and Elrohir already loves him so dearly. I think that day as we were playing with the Aragorn, Elrohir realized that he would be leaving soon. You said you were going to look for a human family to send him to once he began to come out of his grief. I think the thought of having to say goodbye to Aragorn was so already so painful to Elrohir that he tried to stop his love for Aragorn from growing anymore. He tried to separate it from himself so he could let go when the time came to say goodbye. The problem is that he needs Aragorn. I think that child is just what Elrohir needs to nurture and raise to heal his heart. We know that a large part of Elrohir is still missing. Well, that part must be his love for Aragorn and the joy the child brings him. Without the boy Elrohir will never be able to rebuild that part of himself to be the same. Ada, must we find Aragorn another family? Can we not be his family? For his sake and for Elrohir's?"

Elrond sighed and stared off into the distance for a moment as he thought. Such a thing would fit with Elrohir's symptoms. Elladan was right in thinking the large piece of his twin that was still missing must be his attachment to Aragorn that he had apparently torn from himself. Feelings that strong could not be so easily parted from and the strain of the separation must have been too much for Elrohir to bear. Still Elrond had reservations that adopting Aragorn was the right choice.

"Elladan, I know you all love the boy, for I do too, very, very much", Elrond said slowly. "But, ion nin, he is a human child. His life will seem to flash before your eyes and then he will be taken from you. True, he will live longer than other humans because of his relation to Elros. Much longer. But there is not enough of my brother's blood in him to grant him the choice to be an Eldar. He will die one day, Elladan. Do you not think that it will wound Elrohir's heart all over again if not more so to have one he loves so dearly and would nurture as a blood brother be taken from him someday?"

"I do not know what will happen in the future", Elladan said honestly. "I know it will hurt when Aragorn's time comes, but neither of us are strangers to death. We chose to ride with Arathorn's rangers and we had to bury many a good man that we cared for after battle and witness the anguish on the faces of their families. We also had to watch as many of the village elders succumbed to incurable illness and natural deaths. I know too that we did not bond with them as much as we will with Aragorn, but, Ada, such an outcome is years and years down the road. Here, now, and today Elrohir needs Aragorn in his life. I think we all do. I can only hope the future will take care of itself and Elrohir's heart will be healed enough to accept Aragorn's death once it is his time. Besides, Ada, he will not be a child forever. He will grow up and eventually have to strike out on his own. He has a destiny to fulfill after all. That separation will begin to prepare our hearts for the permanent one."

"What of the responsibility of a child", Elrond asked. "I am far too busy to care for a three-year-old alone. It would not be fair for him to be neglected love and attention because we took on a responsibility we could not handle."

"You shall not be alone, Ada", Elladan said. "With Elrohir and I staying home from hunts now, we can take on many of the responsibilities. What would be the point of having Aragorn here to help Elrohir if we do not spend time with the boy. We will give him so much attention that he will probably grow tired of us! You know Glorfindel, Erestor, and Lindir will help too. Glorfindel simply adores the boy as does Lindir. You should see how patient he is when Aragorn decides he wants to 'make music' and ends up making the worst noise on Lindir precious instruments that then each have to be tuned afterward! And Erestor tries to act stern and indifferent toward Aragorn, but I have seen him being trailed by the boy for hours while Aragorn asks ceaseless questions. Erestor answers every single one with patience that most blood fathers would envy. I swear we would never neglect to give him love and care. He shall be showered with it, from all of us!"

Elrond shook his head. "I do not know, Elladan, I simply do not know. His humanity still troubles me greatly. If it is truly a child Elrohir needs, would it not be better to adopt an elfling? Mirkwood always has orphans that are in need of a good home."

"Nay, it is not a child Elrohir needs! It is this child. It is Aragorn. We have known him since he was born. Elrohir delivered him! He was the first to touch Aragorn when he came into this world! That alone is a very special bond. The boy has been a part of Elrohir for such a long time since then as well. Most often it was Elrohir that Aragorn wanted to play with him, read his bedtime stories, and tuck him in when we would stay with Arathorn and Gilraen. Elrohir would not have that same connection with an elfling he has never met before. Oh, I am sure he would love him or her dearly. Always has he been especially tender with children. But an elfling could not do for Elrohir's heart what Aragorn can."

Elrond heaved another deep sigh and rose to stare out Elrohir's window and into the valley below, hands clasped firmly behind him. Elladan could feel the war raging in his father's spirit and remained quiet, letting Elrond think and hoping that he would realize how important this was to Elrohir. Finally, Elrond seemed to reach a decision for he turned around and met the gaze of his eldest once again.

"When your brother awakens, we will discuss it with him", Elrond stated as he returned to his seat. "If this is truly what his heart needs, if Aragorn is that important to him, then I do not see how I can send him away."

"Oh, Ada, thank you", Elladan said, reaching to grasp his father's hand. "We will give Aragorn more love, support, and attention than he will know what to do with, I promise. I know this is no light undertaking. If Elrohir wants us to make this commitment, we will do so wholeheartedly. Aragorn will become to us as a cherished baby brother. We will love him and teach him and protect him always!"

"I am glad you understand this commitment so completely", Elrond said, squeezing his son's hand. "If this happens, I do trust you both will take it seriously, else I would not entertain the thought at all. Above all, I promised Gilraen that I would make sure Aragorn was happy. If he becomes a part of our family that promise will fall on all our shoulders to uphold for all his life."

"I understand completely, Ada. That is exactly what we want for Aragorn as well. We love him dearly and we want him happy always."

"Good, my son. Well, I suppose now we must wait on your brother to awaken. The final decision is up to him."

Dream Plane: Wow I really butchered that! I can't believe I forgot to reply to you Sunday! So sorry about that. Yes! Elladan persevered until he figured it out! Now all that's left is for Elrohir to awaken to the good news that his father and brother understand what he needs! Thank you as always for rading and reviewing! Hope you enjoyed this new chapter!

Elvish Terms:

Ada – Father (familiar)

Fëa – An elf's spirit

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