This story starts about 300 years after Celebrian sailed to Valinor. Arwen will not be appearing in the fic either, she's in Lothlórien for the duration and there she will stay! Besides, this is a twin fic with a heavy focus on my favourite, Elrohir!

Feedback would be most appreciated, including constructive criticism!

Many thanks to my reviewers!

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Changing the Stars – Chapter one – Torn Apart

Would you do it for me, Heal the scars and change the stars?

Ever Dream – Nightwish

"No." Elrond's voice was firm. "I will not allow it. It is folly." Elrohir shook his head, desperate to convince his father.

"But Ada, it could work! We will not know unless we try! Please!" He begged and fixed Elrond with his most pleading gaze, but the Elven-Lord held firm.

"I have said no. My decision is final. Do not continue to push me Elrohir." Elrohir's eyes filled with tears as he turned and fled from his father's presence. It just wasn't fair.

He ran along the corridors until he came to his brother's room. Stepping inside, he went and sat beside Elladan. "I don't know what's wrong with father these days." He said quietly. "Nothing I do pleases him and we only ever seem to fight." He put his head in his hands in despair. "Oh Elladan, what am I to do?" His brother didn't answer, but Elrohir hadn't really expected him too. After all, Elladan had been in a coma ever since that fateful storm 200 years ago.

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When Elrohir had finally brought his brother back to Imladris, after struggling for hours to free him from beneath the branch, he had been dangerously close to death. Elrond had battled for hours to save his oldest son, knowing that to lose Elladan would be to lose Elrohir also. The twins were too close; one would never survive without the other. He had eventually stabilised the older twin, but the head injuries had proven too much even for his extensive skill. Despite his best efforts, his son had slipped into a coma that same evening.

During those first few weeks, he had maintained hope that Elladan would heal and awaken on his own. But as weeks turned to months and months became years, hope gradually faded. After five decades of almost unending research and uncounted attempts to heal his eldest, Elrond had been forced to give up, knowing that time was the only cure left. Reluctantly, he'd stopped seeking answers and tried to move on with his life. Those around him sadly did the same, knowing that there was nothing more to be done for the young Lord.

Only Elrohir had refused to stop trying. He continued to seek for any way to bring his brother back to him. Elrond let him, knowing he could never tear the younger twin from his brother's side. For the past 200 years Elrohir had cared unwaveringly for his brother, accepting help only when absolutely necessary. For a time, life in Imladaris had settled into an almost comfortable routine, until the strain of not knowing whether Elladan would live or die finally began to take its toll on his family.

As the years passed, Elrohir withdrew more and more from the outside world, hardly leaving the adjacent rooms that the twins shared. Occasionally, Glorfindel or Erestor would drag him out for a short walk, but such excursions were rare and never lasted very long. He had left Rivendell only six times in the past 200 years, when some evil had threatened the borders of the Elven-sanctuary and all hands were needed to fight it off. Even then, his actions had been for his brother, for if Imladeris were to fall, Elladan would lose whatever chance he had left.

Elrond, on the other hand, had showed an almost palpable desperation for the first 5 decades, a desperation which had seemingly changed overnight into sad acceptance. When he had told Elrohir that he would continue looking for a cure, but that he could ignore his responsibilities to his people no longer, the younger twin had been infuriated, though he had said nothing and continued to search for a cure on his own. Unbeknownst to them at the time, it had been the beginning of a downward spiral in their formerly close and loving relationship.

It hadn't been noticeable at first, the odd sharp word and small misunderstandings. But soon that escalated into rows that left both father and son feeling bitter for days. By the time several decades had passed, Elrohir had simply stopped speaking to his father unless he absolutely had to. He found silence easier than the constant fighting.

Elrond tried to prevent their relationship from completely disintegrating, but eventually he too grew weary of all the fighting and left Elrohir to continue his lonely vigil.

The conversation that had led to the most recent argument had been over the most frequently raised topic – a potential cure for Elladan. Elrond had dismissed the obscure potion as pointless and a waste of time. Deep down, Elrohir knew his father was right, but Elrond's casual dismissal of the idea had angered and hurt Elrohir deeply. More and more he felt that his father had given up on Elladan, had accepted that he was as good as dead. That very thought made Elrohir want to break down and scream his pain to the heavens.

But instead he went to his brother's room. Now he sat in the soft chair that was perpetually next to the bed, staring at the still, pale form lying there. Elladan's eyes were closed unnaturally as he remained trapped in his coma, had Elrohir not still felt their faint bond in his heart, he would have been sure that his twin was dead. With a heavy sigh, he crossed his arms on the bed and rested his head upon them, mere inches from his twin. His eyes slowly glazed over as emotional exhaustion took hold and he drifted into elven dreams where he was temporarily free of the ever-worsening pain in his soul.

Elrond looked out of his bedroom window. From where he was he could see Erendil shining brightly in the night sky. It seemed to be his only light these days.

A hand on his shoulder made him turn around. Glorfindel stood behind him, eyes full of concern. "Please, don't," said Elrond softly. Glorfindel shot his old friend a quizzical look.

"I said nothing." He replied.

Elrond sighed and shook his head.

"You didn't have to. I know what you're going to say. That I shouldn't have angered Elrohir, that I should have been more supportive of that foolish remedy. But it would not have worked Glorfindel, surely you know that!" He looked desperately at his friend.

"Ai, it would not." He agreed. "I know that and so does Elrohir. But he's desperate. He knows how slim Elladan's chances are and he's willing to try anything, no matter how unlikely."

Elrond nodded.

"I understand his desire to help Elladan, I have never forgotten what it is to lose a brother, not to mention how much it hurts seeing my son like that. But had I let him try, he would have found some hope, only to lose it again and sink even deeper into his despair. I could not bear to see him in any more pain. He has suffered so much already." He turned away from Glorfindel, trying to hide the tears that threatened to fall. Glorfindel looked sadly at his oldest and dearest friend.

"I know you wish only to spare him more pain, but his continuing search for a cure is all that keeps Elrohir tethered to this world. The moment he gives up, he will start to fade and then you will lose them both to Mandos halls."

Elrond's tears were falling freely now and unable to do anything else, Glorfindel pulled his Lord into a comforting embrace. "Peace mellon nin." He whispered soothingly. "Do not give up. The bond the twins share is powerful – trust in it. All will come right in the end."

"But when will that end be?" Elrond asked brokenly. "Two hundred years have passed already, long years in which my eldest has shown no sign of waking. How many more years must we endure without knowing his fate?" He pulled away from his friend.

"I do not know." Glorfindel admitted. "But somehow, I feel that the answer lies with Elrohir.

Elrond did not reply to that, his eyes once more fixed on Eärendil's glowing light.

End Chapter 1

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Note: OK, some of you may think 200 years is too long. But personally, I think that for an elf, it's a reasonable amount of time. But if that doesn't work for you, just think of the angst factor!