chapter 13

Elladan felt consciousness calling him. Events of the past few days seemed all but distant memories, even only an evil dream.

The Elf opened his eyes, when had he closed them? He looked around to see Glorfindel watching him, "welcome back, you have been out for over two days. That brother of yours was getting extremely worried."

"Estel?" Elladan murmured hopefully.

"No, but his condition is more stable, no thanks to your stupidity and foolishness." Gandalf stared with seemingly cold eyes. "I do not want you to even think of using that Ring again, not even for your brother. It could have and nearly did kill you, you have no proper control over it, it is dangerous. What if it had unleashed its full power? Did you think of that? Everyone here could be dead now because of what you did."

"I'm sorry. How many more ways can I say it? I know I should have done something more, even knocked him out and hid him and let them take me, but I couldn't, I was too weak, I just stood there watching as they took him. He should be here now, not me. I have failed him. Failed to save him, nearly gave away Vilya's location. I can do nothing right. Perhaps I should just go and bargain myself in father's stead, if he is still alive, if not you will all be rid of a great burden of failure." He buried his head in his hands closing his eyes against the tears that threatened.

"Elladan, listen to me Elladan," Glorfindel said sharply, "look at me." When the younger was looking at him he continued, "You are no failure Elrondion, your heart was in the right place. And you most certainly not a burden..."

"Failure? Burden? Why do I have a feeling Elladan is blaming himself?" Elrohir strode into the room.

"I have...I..."

"Don't argue. You failed no one brother...you cannot help the choice of others, or control their actions, no matter what you think." Elrohir sat on the bed beside his twin, "we need you Dan, I need you, we both know I'd be lost without you, Estel needs you too, if he has any chance of waking up."

"I have done all I can, I know not what else can be done." Elladan protested.

"You should not doubt yourself Elladan; you have greater skill than you believe," Glorfindel tried to assure the younger Elf, Gandalf had decided to leave somewhere in the arguing.

"I thought you had gone to Lórien." Elrohir noted.

"Haldir met me halfway; he said Galadriel told him to tell me I was needed here, I just didn't know how badly." Glorfindel explained.

"Glorfindel," Elladan spoke to him, "could you please go home, keep an eye on the place, until we return. Could you also tell the people what happened."

"Of course, my lord." Glorfindel bowed to the twins and left them alone.

"I think we will have to get used to that," the elder murmured.

"Elladan, I...I was thinking..." Elrohir said softly a while later, "about the whole taking over Imladris thing..."

"What about it?"

"I...I was sort of hoping...I could leave that to you...I'm not great with the whole leadership thing...that is more of your area of expertise."

"Still doesn't excuse you to go off wherever you want and getting into trouble, especially without me, I don't want to have to find out how father coped with patching you Estel and Legolas up every other minute."

"I know not of what you speak," Elrohir answered, feigning innocence.

"Whatever you say." Elladan rolled his eyes, "come I think it about time we went to see to Estel."