A/N: Short chapter, due to real life and all that. Thanks for reviews and all the feedback I've been getting. I feel so loved! *sniff*

Part 14:

The last of the winter storms passed over Imladris, turning the skies clear blue in their wake. The days started to lengthen and the first hints of green appeared on bare branches. Legolas stayed with Elladan through the days and nights and, slowly, Elladan's strength finally began to return. Elrohir spent most of his time with his brother, though he was perceptive enough to sense when he and Legolas needed time alone. Then he would be found in the stables or in his father's study, catching up on reading he was unable to do on his long journeys away from home.

Glorfindel entered the stables, leading Asfaloth to his stall. He had been away on a long patrol since the day after the storm passed. He was clearing the paths and roads in preparation for the travelers who would journey to Imladris for the New Year's celebration. He spied Elrohir grooming his own mare a few stalls down. Glorfindel smiled at the sight; he had not seen Elrohir since he shoved him into Elladan's room after the fight. Elrohir looked at peace, he noted. That was a good sign.

Glorfindel ensured his horse was comfortable, and then he went to lean against the stall where the younger Elf was. "How goes it, Elrohir?" he asked.

Elrohir looked up, startled. He had been engrossed in his own thoughts and did not notice Glorfindel enter the stable.

"Well enough, my lord," he replied. Glorfindel noticed the blush that tinted the points of his ears and the formality in his tone.

"And your brother? Has Legolas thrown him into the river yet?"

Elrohir smiled, though his gaze was still turned towards his horse's neck. "No, though now it may be the other way around. Elladan grows stronger every day. His spirit is tempered with Legolas's fire."

Elrohir licked his lips and set down the curry comb. "Lord Glorfindel, I would do well to apologize for the embarrassment I caused you that night. I overstepped my boundaries, and I will not do so again."

Glorfindel smiled genuinely. "I know well the actions that can be caused by drinking too much wine, and I daresay you were more embarrassed than I. Your apology is accepted, and I think that it would be best to forget about the incident."

Elrohir smiled as he picked up the brush again. "Truly," Glorfindel continued. "Is your brother well?"

Elrohir considered the question. "Yes, he is much better, though not fully healed yet. Father says that his blood finally runs clear, but he still has his moods. Legolas is the most help when Elladan falls into depression or anger; he does not let Elladan run away from his problems as I have wont to do." Elrohir shrugged in a self-depreciating manner.

"Yet I hear that you are the only one who can keep him from his night terrors," Glorfindel commented. "Do not think your love or support any less than Legolas's."

Elrohir smiled. "I do not," he said. "But I know there are things I cannot help him with. I am glad Legolas is here." He stepped out of his mare's stall, giving her a kiss on the nose and an apple from his pocket before he turned towards the house with Glorfindel.

"Lady Arwen arrives tomorrow," Glorfindel said.

Elrohir looked up excited. "She arrives earlier this year," he said. "Does she worry for Elladan?"

"Of course, though she would not insult him by racing the storms as Legolas did, as he specifically asked her not to."

Elrohir laughed outright. "She never listens to him, not since she learned that she could outride him when he became angry. But it is good that she waited at least this long."

"So as not to anger Elladan further?"

"No! So that *she* would not throw him into the river!"





Elladan sighed into the air, but it was a sound of contentment. He felt better than he had in weeks, with his wounds hardly paining him anymore and the sure feeling of strength returning to his limbs, albeit slowly. He still had to be careful not to tire himself overly so, but someone was always there to remind him.

Now, the afternoon sun shone in through the open window, falling in golden streaks upon the fair hair of his companion. Legolas dozed beside him, having fallen asleep reading. Elladan took the book from his slack hands and marked the page before setting it aside. He curled his body against the other Elf, nuzzling into the heavy silk of his hair. He loved Legolas's scent, like trees and rivers and summer sunshine. Legolas told him once that he himself smelled like mist and moonlight, with a hint of the Bruinen running through his blood. A good combination, Elladan decided, settling down for a nap.

A soft knock on the door sounded just as he closed his eyes. He rubbed his face and sat up again as his father entered the room. Elrond crossed over to the bed and sat beside it.

"Did I wake you?" he asked, noting Legolas still asleep.

"No, Ada, I was not sleeping. Legolas just bored himself with some book."

Elrond smiled and laid a hand on his son's cheek. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Better," Elladan was happy he could answer truthfully. "I feel well today, though yesterday was not as good, and perhaps tomorrow will not be either."

Elrond was glad that he was accepting his temporary limitations. "Your sister comes tomorrow. She begs your forgiveness if she has insulted you by ignoring your requests."

Elladan's eyes lit up. "I will be too happy to see her to be insulted. I would, however, like to meet her at the gates when she arrives, as has been mine and Elrohir's custom."

Elrond nodded. "I do not see why custom should be broken," he said. "And it will comfort her greatly to see you at the gate when she arrives."

Elladan sighed wistfully, barely wincing at the tiny hitch of pain in his ribs. "It will be good to have our family together again."

Neither father nor son spoke of the one member who would forever be missing. But Elrond saw something in Elladan's eyes that had never been there before. It was acceptance, for he more than anyone now knew why Celebrian had chosen to leave her family behind to sail west.

Unconsciously, Elladan laid a hand on Legolas's arm, as if assuring himself that he was still there, alive and merely sleeping next to him. Elrond noticed the movement, but did not comment on it. He was fully aware of the strange moods that still descended upon Elladan at times, though they were growing less and less frequent. He rose and bent to kiss his son's forehead.

"Rest now and I will come get you for dinner," he said. "Tomorrow will surely be a taxing day, though we could always let Elrohir and Arwen wear each other out."

"That sounds like a reasonable option to me," Elladan replied.

"Go to sleep!" Elrond admonished.

Elladan lay back down and closed his eyes dutifully as his father left, quietly closing the door behind him.