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Title: Elusive Dreams
Author: Pickle Pixie
E-Mail: picklepixie83@hotmail.com
Rating: G so far
Summary: Elrohir can't sleep …
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognise belong to JRR Tolkein, God and author extraordinaire. I am making no money from this and mean no infringement upon his works.
~*~
It was with a heavy heart that Elrond opened his arms to his mortal son. Aragorn, his little Estel, did not hesitate to step into his foster father's embrace, folding his arms tightly around his form. The Elven Lord gently rested his hands on the strong back of his son.
He inhaled Aragorn's scent deeply, sighing in relief. This, at least, was one less burden to him. His youngest was well, and so it would appear was Legolas. But Elrond had not the strength nor the heart to return the hold with the same fervour as his son.
"Father, Glorfindel told me to come to you. He said it was my brother! Tell me, was Elladan wounded on patrol? What could have happened? I thought we had driven the wargs away from our borders."
Elrond listened to Aragorn's rushed questions. He flinched when reference was made to Elladan. Of course Aragorn would assume it to be the elder of the twins to have been wounded. Elladan was always more … enthusiastic when it came to hunts or border patrols. He would think on his feet, or more often than not simply follow his feet before thinking. Elrond had lost count of the times he had soothed and healed Elladan's hurts. But it was not Elladan. It was Elrohir who's hurts he must mend. But he could not! Ai, he did not know what was wrong!
Aragorn saw the helpnessness descend upon his father's countenance. His heart screamed in his anguish. He must know!
"Father please, I beg you. Tell me what is amiss. Is Elladan hurt? He is not …" Aragorn choked on the thought. He could not bring himself to say it. He felt Legolas' hand upon his shoulder, steadying him.
"Peace Aragorn, do not despair, both your brothers' live. Elladan is well. It is Elrohir with whom we must concern ourselves. But … I do not know what ails him." Elrond placed a comforting hand on Aragorn's arm and began to lead him towards Elladan's chambers.
Legolas fell into step on Aragorn's other side. He knew not what to do. He felt as though he were intruding upon the Elven Lord's family in their time of trouble, and yet he could not bring himself leave. He was sick with concern over what could cause Lord Elrond to falter in the art of healing. What could possibly have afflicted Elrohir that Elrond Peredhil could not cure, could not even identify!
No, Legolas could not remove himself. He held Aragorn and the twin's as brothers. Elrond had always made Legolas welcome in Imladris, and given the appearance of the Elven Lord, the prince's assisstance may yet be of value. Elrond was clearly drawn and exhausted, and knowing Elladan as he did, the elder of the twin's would no doubt be a shadow of his usual self. Legolas had been silent up until that point. What could he say? But he found he could not hold his tongue any longer.
"My Lord, forgive my intrusion, but what has befallen Elrohir? Was he wounded?"
Elrond looked into Legolas' pale blue eyes. The conflict Legolas saw in the Lord's dark orbs chilled him. But they softened as they regarded him.
"There is no intrusion, dear Legolas. It eases my heart to know that you are here. Perhaps you can be of some comfort to Elladan. You have always held a bond with my sons', and Elladan is sick with worry. He is tormented so … but please Legolas, forgive my rudeness at your arrival. I fear there is little to welcome you to."
"Oh Ada please! Stop speaking in riddles!" Aragorn stopped their progress and turned angry eyes on his father, shrugging off the Elf's grip on his arm. "Tell us plainly what has happened!"
"Ai Aragorn, how I wish that I could tell you. All I know is that Elrohir has been restless of late. Many of the household staff have come to me and told me that they have seen Elrohir wandering the halls in the night time hours. I myself came upon him last night in the library. He seemed distant, troubled almost. I too had a sense of forboding. I feared for you Aragorn; how wrong I was."
Elrond stopped then. His eyes searched the walls, the ceiling, the floor. Searching for an answer he could not find. In the candle light he looked even more pale and fraught than when he had met them at the healer's quarters where he had been gathering supplies.
"Ada?"
"Elladan woke this morning and found Elrohir sleeping in his chambers. His eyes were closed." Elrond looked at the dismay and shock on the faces of the two youngsters before him. He was reminded terribly of the raw fear he saw on Elladan's face as he came across him cradling his brother that same morning.
Was that only a few hours ago? It felt like an eternity. This was the first chance Elrond had had for contemplation since he had been woken by an anguished cry. Elladan had called for him in his shock at discovering Elrohir, and the pain in his voice had sent a chill straight to his heart. That chill had spread and taken hold of his entire being since that moment.
"He seems to be suffering terrible nightmares, and I can find no way to wake him. He cries and trembles. It appears that a touch can cause him pain. I have exhausted all my knowledge. The scent of athelas appears to soothe him somewhat, but Elrohir seems to be developing an immunity of sorts to its properties, and I fear it will not aid him much longer. I am lost Aragorn. And Elladan is suffering too. The bond between them allows him to sense Elrohir's torment. But he cannot discern its cause."
Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other in alarm. Elrond could not be so defeated already! What hope had Elrohir if even his father already despaired. Aragorn would not allow it. He began their walk again, this time with urgency, tugging at his father's sleeve. He must get to Elrohir. That was all he could think.
Soon they reached Elladan's chambers. Elrohir had not been moved to his own room, or even the healer's quarters. It caused the young Elf enough pain to simply be moved to the bed. When a litter had been brought and Elrohir was moved onto it, he had cried out in pain. Elladan too had clutched his head and sunk to his knees, begging his father and the other Elves to stop their ministrations. So Elrohir had been borne to the bed and no further.
Aragorn slipped around the heavy oak door silently. The room was dark except for the area around the bed, which was softly lit with a few candles, and the path of the starlight bathing everything it touched in a silver glow.
Aragorn's eyes were drawn to the bed, where he saw both his brothers. For a moment, despite all the years he had dwelt in the house of Elrond, Aragorn knew he would not have been able to tell them apart if not for one disturbing detail. One of the pair's eyes were closed. But the pained expressions on both faces were as identical as the rest of their lithe forms.
Aragorn had experienced a few moments such as this. The twins. So close were they, so deep was their bond that, when truly at peace, one could not tell them apart. A harmony came to them that could not be fathomed by others. And it was this bond that now caused the sorrow Aragorn saw on his eldest brother's face. Aragorn silently approached the bed, fearful of disturbing the slight peace his brothers' seemed to have found.
"'Adan?"
Elladan did not take his eyes from Elrohir's still face, but held out a shaking hand to Aragorn. The ranger stepped forward and took his brother's hand. Kneeling, he held the hand to his cheek and sighed deeply.
"He hurts, Estel. I can feel it."
Aragorn could not help the grimace at the use of his childhood name. Had he not mere hours ago wished to be addressed as such by his brother again? But Elladan's slip meant that the Elf was exhausted, tormented; grieving. Elrohir's ordeal had ripped down Elladan's guard. How the young human wished that Elrohir was well and he could again be Aragorn! Fate was surely a fickle mistress.
"It is alright Elladan. We will help him. Whatever pain he endures, he is not alone. We will not abandon him, and he could never abandon you. He loves you too much to be parted from you, my brother. He will find his way home."
Elladan looked to Aragorn then. His resolve stiffened once more, and he stood from the bed and held his brother by the shoulders.
"You are right, Aragorn. He cannot sleep forever, unlike you! Welcome home, young one. You also, Prince Legolas. Thank you for returning him to us in one piece!"
Aragorn looked then to Legolas, a smile touching his lips for the first time since he returned home. But Legolas did not meet his mirthful gaze as he expected. Both the prince and his father had their eyes fixed on the bed behind him. A frown had barely furrowed his brow before Legolas spoke.
"Look, he stirs."
Both Aragorn and Elladan whipped around to just in time to see Elrohir's eyes flicker open.
