Moonlight and Shadow
Disclaimer: as usual, not mine.
A/N: If you have any suggestions, feel free to use the review button. ^__^
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
‚THE MOON!!' with a shout Estel shot upright.
His eyes snapped open, and he slumped back in his chair.
A moment later the door banged open and two identical elves still in their night clothes jumped in.
'What....' Started the first
'...happened?' the second finished the question
Scanning the room with a quick glance and sensing no danger, the twins relaxed. Seeing their younger brother sitting peaceful in his chair behind the desk, his head leaning at the back of the seat was not what they had expected.
They had heard the shout in their adjacent room, they had thought that Estel probably had a nightmare.
'Estel don't you think it is a little bit to early to wake up everybody?' teased Elladan.
Gaining no answer the twins made their way towards the desk, their feet shuffling through piles of parchments which covered the entire floor.
'What's that?' a concerned Elrohir bent down to retrieve a few of the pieces.
Turning them over he saw pictures, pictures of the moon to be exactly, in its different forms.
Elladan glimpsed over his brothers shoulders and also picked up some of the paintings.
Each and every picture showed the moon. One detail caught his eyes, All the different types of moons had one thing in common.
The colour, they all were red, red like blood.
Confused both turned and looked at their brother who had not moved nor had he made a sound since they had entered the room.
He sat behind his desk, palms flat on the parchments that covered the tabletop., eyes downcast.
They heard a dripping sound and noticed that it came from the desk.
'Estel?!' shouted Elladan
No reaction.
'Estel what in Erus name have you done here?'
Coming closer Elrohir glimpsed the hilt of a dagger hidden under the stock of parchments on the left side of the desk.
He frowned and took a closer look. The hilt was covered with dried blood.
Meanwhile Elladan had reached the chair and touched Aragorn lightly at the shoulder.
'Estel, are you sleeping? You have a nice... ESTEL!' he burst out when Estel slumped down in his chair like a puppet cut of its threads.
'Ro, come and help me!'
Elrohir jumped out of his thoughts and rushed to his brothers' side.
Elladan had already lifted Estel's body out of the chair and for the first time, both of them noticed the blood that covered the sleeves of Aragorns tunic and the wide open, glazed over eyes. Gasping Elrohir touched Estel's neck to search for a pulse, relieved to find a slow but steady beat he touched the forehead, looking if there was a fever. It felt cool to the touch.
Elrohir carefully scooped back the sleeves and revealed forearms covered with many cuts, some deeper than others, some of them older ones, the blood had already clotted and closed the wounds, but none of the cuts were older than a few hours.
'Oh Eru what had happened here?' He muttered under his breath. 'I go and fetch ada, he needs to know and we need his help.' He run out of the room an down the hallway to the rooms of their father.
Elladan shifted the weight of his brother and carried him to the large bed at the other end of the room.
Putting his brother down on the covers he muttered to himself.' What have you done, young one, what have you done.'
Taking a towel from a sideboard and a bowl of water from the bathroom he returned to the bed, seeing all the pictures of the moon coloured with the blood of his brother he felt bile rising up his throat, swallowing hard he began to clean up the various cuts. With one hand he brushed aside a few dark looks for the face oh his little brother. The sight of the wide open unseeing eyes disturbed him to no end.
He was used to see elves sleeping with their eyes open but Estel was human, he was not meant to sleep with open eyes. Had there not been the slow rise and fall of the chest one could have thought the young man was dead.
Constantly whispering soothing words in elvish he tried to stem the constant blood flow.
Tears welt up in his eyes when he thought that his brother hade done this all to his own body.
He heard running feet approaching the room and knew that their father was on his way.
'Estel,' he whispered. 'Ada is here, do you hear me, all will be well.'
Bursting into the room the Lord of Imladris literally jumped to the side of his son. Shocked by the sight of the open eyes he frantically searched for a pulse and sighed when he found the steady beat.
'Elrohir would you please bring me my herbs and Elladan, we need some more fresh water, please.' Elrond ordered.
The twins immediately left for their tasks, while Elrond sat beside his foster son. Touching the humans chest and forehead he reached out with his healing powers, searching for any sign of poison or sickness, he found nothing. When the twins returned, all three focused there attention on the task of cleaning and wrapping the cuts.
Each twin grabbed one arm and pressed a fresh towel against the still bleeding cuts while their father prepared a paste of various herbs. When Elrond had finished the mixture he went over to Elrohir's side and spread it all over the cuts. Elrohir noticed the trembling hands of his father and shot a questioning glance across the bed. Elladan only shook his head, he had noticed the tremor, too, but this was not the time for questions. Besides, his hands trembled slightly, too.
Elrond had finished bandaging the first arm and laid it gently down in the rangers chest. Picking up the bowl the went over to his eldest and repeated his work on the other arm.
The twins watched in silence.
None of them had spoken since Elrond had ordered them to their tasks and words were not needed now.
They were shocked, never before had something like that happened .
Yes, it was usual, that Aragorn would arrive at home with cuts and bruises, sometimes with broken bones or sick.
But nobody had ever expected that the ranger would wound himself.
Noticing that their father had finished his work, both of them grabbed for a chair and sat down on the bedside..
Slumping down both watched Elrond as he crushed a few leaves of athelas in a bowl with warm water. The sweet scent of the herb took away their tension and they watched whether the scent had any effect on Estel. Elrond stood beside his foster son brushing lightly over his brow. 'Ion nin, what trouble is seeking you?' Bending down, he kissed his son on the head.
'Do not leave us, you know how much you are needed.' He whispered.
'Ada, do you have a clue what took place here last night?' Elladans question broke the silence.
'I don't know but I wish I would. We will have to wait until Estel can tell us what he had done last night.' 'Look around, Ada, 'Elladan called out. ' look around and you know what he had done. He painted all these pictures...with his blood....and...' his voice trailed off and a sob escaped his lips. 'look at him...his eyes are open...he looks like he is dead....what if he is fading..'
Elrond knelt down in front of his eldest son and embraced him. 'hush, ion nin, he will not fade. He will wake up and then we will find a solution for this riddle. It will be all right.' Rocking his son back and forth Elrond constantly whispered comforting words in his ear.
Elrohir joined in the embrace, wrapping his arms around both, his father and his brother. The family huddled together and for a few moments they took strength from their love for each other and they remained in silence.
A little later Elladan was the first who broke the embrace. Sniffing he whipped away the last tears.
He forced his face into a lopsided grin.
'What do you think, should we clean up this mess, while we wait? Or let we do Estel the work when he is up again?'
'I need something to do, and we do not have to leave Estel alone, so let us clean up this ...' waving a hand towards the littered floor, Elrohir replied.
Elrond rose to his feet. 'If you both stay here, I will have a look in the library, maybe there is something that could explain a few things. Send for me, should there be a change.' With a last thoughtful look at his foster son Elrond left the bedroom.
The twins started to collect all the pictures that littered the floor and piled them up beside and on top of the desk.
'Look at all these paintings. There are so many of them. He must have worked the whole night.' Elrohir mussed after he had deposited another pile of parchments.
'What madness drove him to injure himself for colouring paintings?'
'This one is without colour, see? Elladan said, lifting up one of the pictures. He dug through the piles, 'Look these ones too.'
'So he started painting some times at night and suddenly he made the decision to paint with blood? That does not make any sense for me.'
'It makes no sense for me too, brother.' Elrohir replied.
Kneeling on the floor Elladan glanced back over his shoulders back to the bed where the ranger laid, oblivious to the world, staring with unseeing eyes up to the ceiling.
Turning back to his brother Elladan sighed.
'I hope he can tell us what happened to him.'
Elrohir moved closer and hugged his twin tightly.
'He will be well and up in a short time, you will see, we will have to tie him down on the bed until he is fully healed, you know him.'
A sudden commotion from the bed drove them apart and up on their feet.
Aragorns body began to shake and spasms shook his whole frame.
His fists clenched and he dug his nails into his palms.
The twins rushed to his side, Elladan grabbed the shoulders while Elrohir pinned down the rangers legs with his weight.
Aragorns body arched upward and after a few seconds he went limp. His head lolled sideways on the pillow black hair falling over his face.
Elladan released his grip and pressed his forefinger against his brother's neck, searching for a pulse.
The beat was steady like it hade been before.
'If you want to wake me up by tossing me into the river, I must tell you that you are too late.'
The teasing words caught the twins totally unaware and they nearly jumped out of their skin.
'What in Mordor.... Elrohir blurred out, realising his hold of the rangers legs.
The twins looked incredulous down.
Their gazes met by the sparkling sailver eyes of Estel.
'Thank's the Valar, you'r awake.' Elladan shouted
'Why should I not be awake? Am I supposed to sleep while you can do with me what you want, hm, like dyeing my hair green and braiding it with pink ribbons?'
Estel tried to push himself upright, and felt back in his cussions when the effort shot hot pain through his arms.
Curious he looked at his forearms and noticed the bandages that covered them from the wrist to the ellbow.
'What is this?' he asked, showing his arms to his brothers.
'Dan, Ro, could you please explain this to me!' Is this one of your pranks? Yes? Ok, then I have to tell you, it is not funny. It hurts, and I hope for your sake, when I take of this bandages that there will be no tattoos on my arms.'
The speechless twins changed a concerned glanze. 'I go and fetch ada, he surely wants to know that Estel is awake.' Patting Aragorn's hand gently Elladan left for the study.
'Ro, why call ada? Why does he have to know that I'm awake? What had happened?' Touching his head Aragorn searched for a bandage that maybe was wrapped around his head. He could feel none, and he let his hand fall back on the coverlet. He obviously suffered of a concussion, because he had lost a part of his memory so it seemed to him, but there was no evidence for this diagnosis, no blood, no headache, nothing.
Sitting down beside his little brother Elrohir gripped his hands.
'Estel, can you explain what happened here last night? Do you remember?'
'Remember what? Came the bemused counter question.
'What you did last night, my son!' the deep voice of Elrond answered instead of Elrohir.
The elf lord had appeared in the doorframe unnoticed, carrying a tray which held a few plates and a cup of steaming tea, Elladan short on his heels.
'What *I* did last night?' Ada you are frightening me. Please tell me what is *that* all supposed to mean?' Aragorn lifted his arms. 'Why am I injured?' 'What happened to me?' Wide fearful silver eyes locked with the deep brown ones of his father begging for an answer.
'I hoped you could tell us.' Elrond came close to the bed, depositing the tray on the bedside table.
'You really don't remember?' Elladan threw in a deep frown marred his features.
He walked over to the desk, took up a few of the paintings and waged them in front of his brother's eyes.
'You don't remember painting all these ...things?
'YOU DON'T REMEMBER CUTTING YOURSELF TO COLOUR THE PICTURES WITH YOUR OWN BLOOD?'
Elladan had lost control over his emotions and yelled at his brother, sick with sorrow.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself he looked down to Aragorn, noticed the tear filled eyes, ready to spill over, and the trembling lower lip of the young man, he regretted his outburst immediately. Collapsing beside the young one, he hugged him closely, putting his chin on top of Estel's head, stroking gently the trembling back.
'I'm sorry little one. I did not want to yell at you.... I'm sorry... please forgive me.' He begged, pressing the humans head closer to his chest.
Elrohir watched for a few heartbeats and then he joined in the embrace, wrapping his arms around both of his brothers. No words were spoken and no words were needed. The bond they shared was so deep, they do not have to talk to show each other how they feel.
Elrond looked at his family, he could understand Elladan, he really could, he had been only a blink of an eye away from loosing his calmness too.
Moving to join his sons he stopped mid steps when he felt something touching his awareness. He knew the feeling, it hade come in sporadic terms since the last years.
He had never found out what it was...this had disturbed him greatly... but he never abandoned the task to try to grab that presence, he tried again ...and failed again, like so many times before.
Then the presence left him, like it had done before only leaving a slightly feeling of unease tingling at the brinks of his mind.
Releasing the breath, he was not aware that he had hold it, he closed his eyes to collect himself, opened them again and walked up to the bed where his sons huddled together.
Aragorns sobs had quieted and feeling his father's approach, he lifted his head and turned red rimmed eyes towards his father, meeting his gaze.
'Why can I not remember, ada? I cut myself and I can not remember....am I going insane?' he whispered.
Elrond cupped the face of his youngest between both hands lightly brushing away the last tears on his son's cheeks with his thumbs.
'We will find out, ion nin, we will find out, I promise.'
He hugged the young human for the first time this day.
'Would you like to eat something? We prepared a few things, and you need your strength.'
'I'm not hungry ada.' Aragorn answered not feeling able to eat something, but his traitorous stomach chooses to betray him with a clearly audible growl.
Elrond and the twins burst out with laughter, easing the tension that still lingered in the room.
Standing up in a rustling of robes Elrond retrieved the tray from its place on the bedside table and placed it beside Aragorn, the twins had already slipped to the end of the bed watching the young ranger when he eyed suspiciously the cup of tea on the tray. Sniffing he took in the scent of the liquid.
Perking up an eyebrow he addressed Elrond.
'I will not drink *this*.'
'See ada, I told you he will notice.' Elladan laughed out.
Elrond shot him *the look* eyebrows nearly touching the line of his hair.
'I knew he would notice, he is a smart guy.'
Looking back at Aragorn he saw that the man had started to devour the cheese and the fruits on the plates, he literally shovelled the food into his mouth, like he had not eaten the last days.
Only a few minutes later all plates were empty and Aragorn settled back into the cushions with a sigh.
'What?' he asked, perceiving the surprised looks on the faces of the twins and his father.
'I never saw someone finishing food in that rate. ' Elrohir muttered dryly.
'The only thing left is the tea. ' Elladan teased.
'I will *not* drink this.'
'You know that you need it, it will take away the pain...no...don't tell me that you are fine...I know that your wounds pain you.' Elrond remarked.
'But I am fine, really, it only hurts a little, there is no need for this drink.' Aragorn pouted, fully aware that he would not escape the drug, but he had to try.
'You sound and behave like a child and you want to tell us that you are an adult?' Elladan taunted, knowing that Aragorn could not stand to be called a child. 'You are a ranger, do not tell me, that you are afraid of a cup of tea, I can not wait to tell Halbarad when we meet again.' Elrohir added grinning.
'I am no child.' Grabbing the cup fiercely Aragorn gulped down the liquid with one draught. Shuddering he put back the empty cup, sinking back into his cushions again. 'It makes no difference how often I have to drink this foul thing, it will always taste like it is made by orcs, no offence meant, ada, but you should really decide to put honey in it.' Yawning Aragorn huddled deeper into his bed.
'One day...one day...I....promise, I...will force....' His voice trailed of and his eyelids dropped, sound asleep shortly after.
Elladan rose graceful from his place and took up the tray, while their father covered the sleeping form of the ranger with the comforter up to the chin.
Stroking away the dark unruly locks Elrond kissed his youngest on the brow and noticed a small smile appearing on Aragorns lips.
'He always looks so innocent when he sleeps, almost like the little boy he was when his mother brought him here.'
Elrohir chuckled 'Do not let him hear that when he is awake.'
Sobering he looked at his father,
'I will stay here and keep an eye him. He should not be alone in his state. Nobody knows if it will happen again.'
TBC
Disclaimer: as usual, not mine.
A/N: If you have any suggestions, feel free to use the review button. ^__^
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
‚THE MOON!!' with a shout Estel shot upright.
His eyes snapped open, and he slumped back in his chair.
A moment later the door banged open and two identical elves still in their night clothes jumped in.
'What....' Started the first
'...happened?' the second finished the question
Scanning the room with a quick glance and sensing no danger, the twins relaxed. Seeing their younger brother sitting peaceful in his chair behind the desk, his head leaning at the back of the seat was not what they had expected.
They had heard the shout in their adjacent room, they had thought that Estel probably had a nightmare.
'Estel don't you think it is a little bit to early to wake up everybody?' teased Elladan.
Gaining no answer the twins made their way towards the desk, their feet shuffling through piles of parchments which covered the entire floor.
'What's that?' a concerned Elrohir bent down to retrieve a few of the pieces.
Turning them over he saw pictures, pictures of the moon to be exactly, in its different forms.
Elladan glimpsed over his brothers shoulders and also picked up some of the paintings.
Each and every picture showed the moon. One detail caught his eyes, All the different types of moons had one thing in common.
The colour, they all were red, red like blood.
Confused both turned and looked at their brother who had not moved nor had he made a sound since they had entered the room.
He sat behind his desk, palms flat on the parchments that covered the tabletop., eyes downcast.
They heard a dripping sound and noticed that it came from the desk.
'Estel?!' shouted Elladan
No reaction.
'Estel what in Erus name have you done here?'
Coming closer Elrohir glimpsed the hilt of a dagger hidden under the stock of parchments on the left side of the desk.
He frowned and took a closer look. The hilt was covered with dried blood.
Meanwhile Elladan had reached the chair and touched Aragorn lightly at the shoulder.
'Estel, are you sleeping? You have a nice... ESTEL!' he burst out when Estel slumped down in his chair like a puppet cut of its threads.
'Ro, come and help me!'
Elrohir jumped out of his thoughts and rushed to his brothers' side.
Elladan had already lifted Estel's body out of the chair and for the first time, both of them noticed the blood that covered the sleeves of Aragorns tunic and the wide open, glazed over eyes. Gasping Elrohir touched Estel's neck to search for a pulse, relieved to find a slow but steady beat he touched the forehead, looking if there was a fever. It felt cool to the touch.
Elrohir carefully scooped back the sleeves and revealed forearms covered with many cuts, some deeper than others, some of them older ones, the blood had already clotted and closed the wounds, but none of the cuts were older than a few hours.
'Oh Eru what had happened here?' He muttered under his breath. 'I go and fetch ada, he needs to know and we need his help.' He run out of the room an down the hallway to the rooms of their father.
Elladan shifted the weight of his brother and carried him to the large bed at the other end of the room.
Putting his brother down on the covers he muttered to himself.' What have you done, young one, what have you done.'
Taking a towel from a sideboard and a bowl of water from the bathroom he returned to the bed, seeing all the pictures of the moon coloured with the blood of his brother he felt bile rising up his throat, swallowing hard he began to clean up the various cuts. With one hand he brushed aside a few dark looks for the face oh his little brother. The sight of the wide open unseeing eyes disturbed him to no end.
He was used to see elves sleeping with their eyes open but Estel was human, he was not meant to sleep with open eyes. Had there not been the slow rise and fall of the chest one could have thought the young man was dead.
Constantly whispering soothing words in elvish he tried to stem the constant blood flow.
Tears welt up in his eyes when he thought that his brother hade done this all to his own body.
He heard running feet approaching the room and knew that their father was on his way.
'Estel,' he whispered. 'Ada is here, do you hear me, all will be well.'
Bursting into the room the Lord of Imladris literally jumped to the side of his son. Shocked by the sight of the open eyes he frantically searched for a pulse and sighed when he found the steady beat.
'Elrohir would you please bring me my herbs and Elladan, we need some more fresh water, please.' Elrond ordered.
The twins immediately left for their tasks, while Elrond sat beside his foster son. Touching the humans chest and forehead he reached out with his healing powers, searching for any sign of poison or sickness, he found nothing. When the twins returned, all three focused there attention on the task of cleaning and wrapping the cuts.
Each twin grabbed one arm and pressed a fresh towel against the still bleeding cuts while their father prepared a paste of various herbs. When Elrond had finished the mixture he went over to Elrohir's side and spread it all over the cuts. Elrohir noticed the trembling hands of his father and shot a questioning glance across the bed. Elladan only shook his head, he had noticed the tremor, too, but this was not the time for questions. Besides, his hands trembled slightly, too.
Elrond had finished bandaging the first arm and laid it gently down in the rangers chest. Picking up the bowl the went over to his eldest and repeated his work on the other arm.
The twins watched in silence.
None of them had spoken since Elrond had ordered them to their tasks and words were not needed now.
They were shocked, never before had something like that happened .
Yes, it was usual, that Aragorn would arrive at home with cuts and bruises, sometimes with broken bones or sick.
But nobody had ever expected that the ranger would wound himself.
Noticing that their father had finished his work, both of them grabbed for a chair and sat down on the bedside..
Slumping down both watched Elrond as he crushed a few leaves of athelas in a bowl with warm water. The sweet scent of the herb took away their tension and they watched whether the scent had any effect on Estel. Elrond stood beside his foster son brushing lightly over his brow. 'Ion nin, what trouble is seeking you?' Bending down, he kissed his son on the head.
'Do not leave us, you know how much you are needed.' He whispered.
'Ada, do you have a clue what took place here last night?' Elladans question broke the silence.
'I don't know but I wish I would. We will have to wait until Estel can tell us what he had done last night.' 'Look around, Ada, 'Elladan called out. ' look around and you know what he had done. He painted all these pictures...with his blood....and...' his voice trailed off and a sob escaped his lips. 'look at him...his eyes are open...he looks like he is dead....what if he is fading..'
Elrond knelt down in front of his eldest son and embraced him. 'hush, ion nin, he will not fade. He will wake up and then we will find a solution for this riddle. It will be all right.' Rocking his son back and forth Elrond constantly whispered comforting words in his ear.
Elrohir joined in the embrace, wrapping his arms around both, his father and his brother. The family huddled together and for a few moments they took strength from their love for each other and they remained in silence.
A little later Elladan was the first who broke the embrace. Sniffing he whipped away the last tears.
He forced his face into a lopsided grin.
'What do you think, should we clean up this mess, while we wait? Or let we do Estel the work when he is up again?'
'I need something to do, and we do not have to leave Estel alone, so let us clean up this ...' waving a hand towards the littered floor, Elrohir replied.
Elrond rose to his feet. 'If you both stay here, I will have a look in the library, maybe there is something that could explain a few things. Send for me, should there be a change.' With a last thoughtful look at his foster son Elrond left the bedroom.
The twins started to collect all the pictures that littered the floor and piled them up beside and on top of the desk.
'Look at all these paintings. There are so many of them. He must have worked the whole night.' Elrohir mussed after he had deposited another pile of parchments.
'What madness drove him to injure himself for colouring paintings?'
'This one is without colour, see? Elladan said, lifting up one of the pictures. He dug through the piles, 'Look these ones too.'
'So he started painting some times at night and suddenly he made the decision to paint with blood? That does not make any sense for me.'
'It makes no sense for me too, brother.' Elrohir replied.
Kneeling on the floor Elladan glanced back over his shoulders back to the bed where the ranger laid, oblivious to the world, staring with unseeing eyes up to the ceiling.
Turning back to his brother Elladan sighed.
'I hope he can tell us what happened to him.'
Elrohir moved closer and hugged his twin tightly.
'He will be well and up in a short time, you will see, we will have to tie him down on the bed until he is fully healed, you know him.'
A sudden commotion from the bed drove them apart and up on their feet.
Aragorns body began to shake and spasms shook his whole frame.
His fists clenched and he dug his nails into his palms.
The twins rushed to his side, Elladan grabbed the shoulders while Elrohir pinned down the rangers legs with his weight.
Aragorns body arched upward and after a few seconds he went limp. His head lolled sideways on the pillow black hair falling over his face.
Elladan released his grip and pressed his forefinger against his brother's neck, searching for a pulse.
The beat was steady like it hade been before.
'If you want to wake me up by tossing me into the river, I must tell you that you are too late.'
The teasing words caught the twins totally unaware and they nearly jumped out of their skin.
'What in Mordor.... Elrohir blurred out, realising his hold of the rangers legs.
The twins looked incredulous down.
Their gazes met by the sparkling sailver eyes of Estel.
'Thank's the Valar, you'r awake.' Elladan shouted
'Why should I not be awake? Am I supposed to sleep while you can do with me what you want, hm, like dyeing my hair green and braiding it with pink ribbons?'
Estel tried to push himself upright, and felt back in his cussions when the effort shot hot pain through his arms.
Curious he looked at his forearms and noticed the bandages that covered them from the wrist to the ellbow.
'What is this?' he asked, showing his arms to his brothers.
'Dan, Ro, could you please explain this to me!' Is this one of your pranks? Yes? Ok, then I have to tell you, it is not funny. It hurts, and I hope for your sake, when I take of this bandages that there will be no tattoos on my arms.'
The speechless twins changed a concerned glanze. 'I go and fetch ada, he surely wants to know that Estel is awake.' Patting Aragorn's hand gently Elladan left for the study.
'Ro, why call ada? Why does he have to know that I'm awake? What had happened?' Touching his head Aragorn searched for a bandage that maybe was wrapped around his head. He could feel none, and he let his hand fall back on the coverlet. He obviously suffered of a concussion, because he had lost a part of his memory so it seemed to him, but there was no evidence for this diagnosis, no blood, no headache, nothing.
Sitting down beside his little brother Elrohir gripped his hands.
'Estel, can you explain what happened here last night? Do you remember?'
'Remember what? Came the bemused counter question.
'What you did last night, my son!' the deep voice of Elrond answered instead of Elrohir.
The elf lord had appeared in the doorframe unnoticed, carrying a tray which held a few plates and a cup of steaming tea, Elladan short on his heels.
'What *I* did last night?' Ada you are frightening me. Please tell me what is *that* all supposed to mean?' Aragorn lifted his arms. 'Why am I injured?' 'What happened to me?' Wide fearful silver eyes locked with the deep brown ones of his father begging for an answer.
'I hoped you could tell us.' Elrond came close to the bed, depositing the tray on the bedside table.
'You really don't remember?' Elladan threw in a deep frown marred his features.
He walked over to the desk, took up a few of the paintings and waged them in front of his brother's eyes.
'You don't remember painting all these ...things?
'YOU DON'T REMEMBER CUTTING YOURSELF TO COLOUR THE PICTURES WITH YOUR OWN BLOOD?'
Elladan had lost control over his emotions and yelled at his brother, sick with sorrow.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself he looked down to Aragorn, noticed the tear filled eyes, ready to spill over, and the trembling lower lip of the young man, he regretted his outburst immediately. Collapsing beside the young one, he hugged him closely, putting his chin on top of Estel's head, stroking gently the trembling back.
'I'm sorry little one. I did not want to yell at you.... I'm sorry... please forgive me.' He begged, pressing the humans head closer to his chest.
Elrohir watched for a few heartbeats and then he joined in the embrace, wrapping his arms around both of his brothers. No words were spoken and no words were needed. The bond they shared was so deep, they do not have to talk to show each other how they feel.
Elrond looked at his family, he could understand Elladan, he really could, he had been only a blink of an eye away from loosing his calmness too.
Moving to join his sons he stopped mid steps when he felt something touching his awareness. He knew the feeling, it hade come in sporadic terms since the last years.
He had never found out what it was...this had disturbed him greatly... but he never abandoned the task to try to grab that presence, he tried again ...and failed again, like so many times before.
Then the presence left him, like it had done before only leaving a slightly feeling of unease tingling at the brinks of his mind.
Releasing the breath, he was not aware that he had hold it, he closed his eyes to collect himself, opened them again and walked up to the bed where his sons huddled together.
Aragorns sobs had quieted and feeling his father's approach, he lifted his head and turned red rimmed eyes towards his father, meeting his gaze.
'Why can I not remember, ada? I cut myself and I can not remember....am I going insane?' he whispered.
Elrond cupped the face of his youngest between both hands lightly brushing away the last tears on his son's cheeks with his thumbs.
'We will find out, ion nin, we will find out, I promise.'
He hugged the young human for the first time this day.
'Would you like to eat something? We prepared a few things, and you need your strength.'
'I'm not hungry ada.' Aragorn answered not feeling able to eat something, but his traitorous stomach chooses to betray him with a clearly audible growl.
Elrond and the twins burst out with laughter, easing the tension that still lingered in the room.
Standing up in a rustling of robes Elrond retrieved the tray from its place on the bedside table and placed it beside Aragorn, the twins had already slipped to the end of the bed watching the young ranger when he eyed suspiciously the cup of tea on the tray. Sniffing he took in the scent of the liquid.
Perking up an eyebrow he addressed Elrond.
'I will not drink *this*.'
'See ada, I told you he will notice.' Elladan laughed out.
Elrond shot him *the look* eyebrows nearly touching the line of his hair.
'I knew he would notice, he is a smart guy.'
Looking back at Aragorn he saw that the man had started to devour the cheese and the fruits on the plates, he literally shovelled the food into his mouth, like he had not eaten the last days.
Only a few minutes later all plates were empty and Aragorn settled back into the cushions with a sigh.
'What?' he asked, perceiving the surprised looks on the faces of the twins and his father.
'I never saw someone finishing food in that rate. ' Elrohir muttered dryly.
'The only thing left is the tea. ' Elladan teased.
'I will *not* drink this.'
'You know that you need it, it will take away the pain...no...don't tell me that you are fine...I know that your wounds pain you.' Elrond remarked.
'But I am fine, really, it only hurts a little, there is no need for this drink.' Aragorn pouted, fully aware that he would not escape the drug, but he had to try.
'You sound and behave like a child and you want to tell us that you are an adult?' Elladan taunted, knowing that Aragorn could not stand to be called a child. 'You are a ranger, do not tell me, that you are afraid of a cup of tea, I can not wait to tell Halbarad when we meet again.' Elrohir added grinning.
'I am no child.' Grabbing the cup fiercely Aragorn gulped down the liquid with one draught. Shuddering he put back the empty cup, sinking back into his cushions again. 'It makes no difference how often I have to drink this foul thing, it will always taste like it is made by orcs, no offence meant, ada, but you should really decide to put honey in it.' Yawning Aragorn huddled deeper into his bed.
'One day...one day...I....promise, I...will force....' His voice trailed of and his eyelids dropped, sound asleep shortly after.
Elladan rose graceful from his place and took up the tray, while their father covered the sleeping form of the ranger with the comforter up to the chin.
Stroking away the dark unruly locks Elrond kissed his youngest on the brow and noticed a small smile appearing on Aragorns lips.
'He always looks so innocent when he sleeps, almost like the little boy he was when his mother brought him here.'
Elrohir chuckled 'Do not let him hear that when he is awake.'
Sobering he looked at his father,
'I will stay here and keep an eye him. He should not be alone in his state. Nobody knows if it will happen again.'
TBC