Chapter Eight: Setbacks

Elladan leaned back against his brother, his body growing weary from the ride and lack of proper rest. He felt his brother shift behind him and wrap a protective arm around his shoulders whispering softly in his ear.

"Are you alright?" The concerned voice asked softly.

Elladan nodded his head briefly closing his eyes and taking a deep breath from the all too familiar nausea that threatened to resurface. He felt his body grow hot again, and he knew his fever had come back full force, but refrained from mentioning it to his brother due to saving his pride. All he wanted was to go home and slip into his comfortable bed and sleep this nightmare away. The dreams from his childhood resurfaced and he shivered. 'It was uncanny.' He thought, 'that his dream, actually his night terror.' He corrected himself, 'was reality.'

He felt the arm around his shoulders tighten. Elladan opened his eyes and glanced upward into his brother's eyes. Elrohir was looking at him concerned. 'Figures.' Elladan thought. 'How could I hide such a detail from my own brother?'

"You have grown pale, Ella." His brother whispered his brow scrunching in worry.

"Fear not, Ro. I am well." He turned his head away from the white lie. However not fast enough, for his brother caught it and threw it back at him.

"You cannot hide things from me. I sense your frustration and weariness." Elrohir muttered. The younger twin looked away from his brother and called out to Cire. "We must stop. My brother is not well."

The ranger nodded and reigned in his horse dismounting quickly and aiding Elrohir in helping Elladan off the horse. A small groan issued from Elladan's throat as he was held up while the other elf jumped to the ground. Elrohir glared at his brother who slumped in defeat.

Once Elrohir placed the bedrolls down and then helped his brother into a lying position, he gently placed a rolled up blanket under his head and heard Cire gathering wood for a fire. Elladan sighed and shook his head wearily. "I do not want to sleep just yet."

Elrohir growled angrily. "Perhaps you would after you collapse?" The younger twin shook his head. "Nay, Elladan. You shall rest until your fever has diminished. You will lie still and stop your complaints."

Elladan groaned. "I want to go home." He hissed between clenched teeth. "Please, Ro?"

Elrohir stood up and walked away ignoring his brother's pleas. He wandered over to the ranger and knelt down picking up sticks and gathering rocks for the fire pit. With his arms full, he wandered to the middle of the clearing and placed the stones in a circle, then placed the smaller tinder inside. In his heart he knew his brother had still not recovered from his ordeal, but in all truth neither had he. His ankle throbbed every time he put pressure on it, and his shoulder burned as though it were being dug at with a white-hot poker.

Elrohir lowered his head in defeat. He knew his brother sensed the weariness that he felt, just as he had felt Elladan's. Shaking his head, he wished they were not so closely bonded; it caused frequent arguments, more so lately then when they were younger. Sure they had their fun, laughs and pranks. But lately they had been arguing over the simplest of things. He smiled remembering only weeks ago when his brother had thrown his parchment onto the floor in a crumpled heap.

"This is useless!" Elladan had roared, he had risen from his chair in his father's study and paced back and forth. "I wish to go outside." His hands had waved towards the window glowering at his younger brother.

"These reports, father trusted to us, Ella. They must be done." Elrohir had quietly murmured.

"Then you do them! You are the one who wishes to learn, read, and gain wisdom." Elladan had cried. "I wish to be outside."

Elrohir had grown weary of his brothers' tirades, and pushed away from his desk. "Then go outside if you wish it, just do not come crying to me when father finds out, nor will I be part of your punishments. I grow tired of taking the blame for some of your pranks, and your lack of study."

Elladan had turned on his brother angrily. "You grow tired? Then I shall not draw you into my moods again brother." The words dripped off Elladan's tongue like it was poison.

Elrohir had cringed.

Shaking his head from the memory he cringed again. He glanced over his shoulder and glanced at his brother who looked at him with sadness. Cursing silently he stood and wandered back to his brother. "What it wrong?" Elrohir whispered kneeling down beside his brother.

"I am sorry." Elladan moaned.

Elrohir crinkled his forehead confused. "Sorry? For what?"

"I still remember the hurt in your eyes." Elladan whispered. He rolled over and propped himself up on his arm. Almost as though thinking better of it he lowered himself to lie flat once again.

Elrohir shook his head. "We talked about it, Ella. Worry not. Sleep." He pushed himself to his feet, but a hand prevented him from walking away. Looking down he saw the confusion in his brothers' eyes.

"Do you really wish we were not so close?" Elladan asked softly.

Elrohir's breath caught in his throat. He quickly knelt down again and leaned over hugging his brother close. "Sometimes I wish it." He whispered honestly in his brothers' ear. He felt and heard Elladan's sharp intake of breath. "I wish it only when we argue. Lately that has been daily." The younger twin pulled away from Elladan. "What is it that causes us to argue so much?"

Elladan shook his head not uttering a sound. In truth his thoughts were far away from the moment. He tried to picture life without his brother and found that he could not. Thinking about it burned his chest, caused his heart to pound frantically, a tightness squeezed at his heart and it fluttered anxiously. Looking up, he saw his brothers' closed eyes, a look of shock pasted on it. Elrohir's eyes flew open and his face paled considerably. The horrifying realization hit the both of them like a tidal wave.

The twins stared at each other in shock for a moment before either of them drifted to each other's faes for comfort. They both realized then that they would not survive the other; outlive the other; nor would they choose their fates alone. They were half of one. Both making the other a complete person where alone they would be torn, lost and in grief. If one died the other would follow, with out a doubt.

Elrohir stumbled to his feet tearing away from his brother's fae forcefully, causing Elladan to cry out in shock. Unsteadily, Elrohir wandered to the fire and fell to his knees clutching his chest shivering from a coldness he had not felt since childhood. He wrapped his arms around his body trying unsuccessfully to control the shaking. A hand on his shoulder made him look up with horror in his eyes, causing Cire to step back in surprise.

"What is it?" The man asked glancing at the brother's confused. Elladan had curled up into a fetal position and Elrohir had his arms wrapped around himself protectively. He had witnessed their encounter in wonder, but the cry from the elder twin had told him they had gone through something unseen to him.

When he received no response from the younger twin, Cire wandered over to Elladan's side and placed his hand on his shoulder, making sure he was all right. Elladan rolled over and looked at Cire. The pain in the elder twin's eyes was too much for him and he looked away from the penetrating gray eyes.

"What has happened?" Cire asked softly. "What can I do to help?"

Elladan shook his head but whispered. "Nothing." He rolled back over curling up once again.

Concerned, Cire stood up and wandered to his horse, stroking the neck lost in thought. He didn't want to leave them here alone. But he needed help. Cire pursed his lips thinking. His men would be watching for signs from their leader, he knew, and they would come if called. Scratching his scruffy chin he tried to think of a way to send a message to his rangers. Snapping his fingers, he pulled out a small silver whistle and left the camp, looking for a higher vantage point. They were close, but not so close to hear a yell, but his rangers would recognize his hunting whistle. They were close enough to hear that, he grinned.

Elladan drifted into a lost dream state. He could not feel his brother nor could he find comfort in his dreams. Lost down an unknown path, alone, he felt his heart grow heavy. Elladan called out for his brother, any sign he was near, but felt and heard nothing. His dreamland was black, filled with sadness and despair. Frantically, he raced down the darkened path searching for his brother, drifting further and further down the paths of illness.

Elrohir felt a tug at his unconsciousness, and his head shot up startled. Glancing around him he saw his brother sleeping, curled up in a tight ball. Frowning, he stood up and wandered to the edge of the clearing his mind still reeling from the fae connection they had shared. Never before had he and his brother connected in such a manner, lost from consciousness, reality and sanity. Their fae's had known each other, that was a known fact, but to have them connect and communicate with the other was startling.

The twins' were always able to feel the other's pain, sadness, anxiety and excitement. Most times it was the higher emotion that was easily shared, rather then just a simple one such as happiness. Elrohir shivered again thinking back on his fae's joyfulness at connecting with his brother's. At the simple touch they had been one, feeling the pain, and fear of loosing the other. Shared thoughts, emotions, and love, even sadness. Elrohir had heard his brother's thoughts almost as if they were his own. Felt his brother's fevered brain, and confusion. Felt and heard his brother's grief, even felt his brother's heart frantically beating at the simple thought of being alone.

Elrohir knew he had pulled his fae away roughly. It had been too much for him. The simple bond they had once shared as children was no longer simple; it was now complete, but complex. He rubbed his arms absently, trying to dislodge those thoughts. But felt that he was eager to feel his brother's fae again. Slowly he closed his eyes taking in a deep breath. Without another thought, he freed his fae to search once again for his brother's. He almost smiled at the happiness of his fae when freed. After a few moments however, he felt a heaviness enter his stomach at the loss of connection. His brother was not there. Startled he opened his eyes and scrambled to his brother's side turning him over. With a strangled gasp he took in his brother's closed eyes and pallid face.

"Ella!" Elrohir cried shaking his twin roughly. "Ella, do not drift too far!" He called.

His brother's still form did not respond. Elladan was lost in his fever.

Elrohir glanced around the camp searching for anything to help him and his brother, but even Cire was no longer around, he did frown when a faint whistle reached his ears causing him to flinch at the high pitch. He picked up his brother and carried him to the horse and gingerly placed him on the saddle. Grabbing the saddlebags, Elrohir jumped up behind Elladan and kicked the horse hard, guiding the racing horse towards Rivendell. Where his father would know what to do.

He prayed he would reach the Last Homely House in time to save his brother's life. "Sweet Elebereth! Please spare his life!" Elrohir called out pleadingly. Unbidden tears welled up in his eyes at the simple prayer. The Bruinen was a full days ride, from their location, weather permitting they would reach the ford at dawn.