Elladan shivered against the cold. The stone floor he lay on was like ice. The depth of the chamber in which he lay he did not know, but knew it must be deep because the south was warm even in the winter. He did not know how long he had been there. Days, months, years? Time meant nothing to him. Only pain, there was so much pain. His shirt lay in torn strips about his shoulders, which were covered with scars from the lash. He shifted slightly and felt one of them reopen; he felt the blood run down his back. His skin was black from dirt and blood. His normally short, worn down nails had grown long. There were cuts from them on his hands from when he had clenched them during the beatings. His hair, Elladan ran a hand through it, had been cropped above his ears. Elladan shuddered, his ears. With a surgeons accuracy they had been cut round. At first it brought nothing but immeasurable fury, but now there was only an emptiness. It was a strange feeling. It was as if part of his elven heritage had been stolen away.

He looked up when he heard keys rattle. A southron was opening his cell. The swarthy man stepped inside. "Come, prisoner." They had used to call him "elf". Elladan wondered if he really looked so different that they wondered what race he belonged to. He strugged to his feet. "Hurry." The man prodded him with the end of the whip. Elladan knew that he could easily kill this man and perhaps be free. At any other time he would have, but now he felt no desire to. Perhaps, now, they would kill him.

He eyed the whip that had become his constant enemy, and wondered if now he could find release in it. "Are you going to kill me?" He asked, his voice was rough from disuse and screaming. The southron did not answer. Elladan followed him through the now familiar network of passages to the main hall. He was tied to the whipping post. The guard raised his vicious looking whip, then suddenly the door opened.

Elladan blinked rapidly. The light of many torches flooded the room. His guard was quickly slain. Only after his eyes adjusted the brutal light was he able to realize what was going on. Elves, close to fifty of them, had broken in. His knees buckled in relief and tears of joy trickled from his eyes. He immediately recognized their leader. Elrohir looked terrible. He was haggard and dirty, but not injured. Too stunned to speak, Elladan watched as his twin looked around the chamber. When he spotted him, Elrohir ran to his brother. Elladan laughed in his joy, never in his life more happy to see his brother.

Elrohir knelt beside him and cut him free. He looked Elladan in the eyes and spoke.

"We are looking for my brother, an elf, have you seen him?"

Elladan's world fell around him. "B-brother?"

Elrohir nodded patiently, as if explaining something to a child. "He and I are twins. I ask again, have you seen him?"

Elladan collapsed onto the ground, tears falling uncontrolled from his eyes. He looked at his twin. "I am your brother." His voice was weak.

"I do not jest." Elrohir said, suddenly stern.

Elladan closed his eyes. "Neither do I."

"Have you seen him?"

Elladan ran a hand over his face. "No." His brother stood to leave. "Ro . . . ."

Elrohir paused. "What did you call me?"

"Ro." His voice was choked.

"You know not of what you speak, orc."

Elladan staggered to his feet. "How can you not know who I am?" Elrohir shook his head and began to walk off. Elladan gathered his strength and ran after him.

The arrow, when it came, came without warning. It struck Elladan's chest at the same time a soldier yelled, "My lord!" and fired. Elrohir turned to see the prisoner clutching an arrow in his chest, blood seeping between his fingers. Elrohir ran to him, barely listening to the soldier's explanation. He stopped a couple feet away. He had not meant for the prisoner to be killed. He did not want any innocent bloodshed.

"Ro . . . ." Elladan murmured, looking up at his brother. Elrohir put a hand on his shoulder. He startled slighlty when the prisoner fell into his arms. "Hold me, Ro." Elrohir wrapped his arms lightly around the prisoner's back. How could he deny a man his dying wish, no matter how illusioned he was? Elladan put his head on his twin's shoulder. Breathing was becoming difficult. "D-do you remember when we got into that . . . ." he winced in pain. "Store of Mirkwood wine with Legolas and Irime?" Elladan coughed, blood trickling out of the side of his mouth. "You were so drunk." His laugh came out as a horrible hack, and blood sprayed Elrohir's armor. "You kissed her, did you not? I am not sure . . . . . if I ever really . . . . ." he steadied himself before continuing. "Forgave you for that." He grinned weakly. Tears continued to fall from his eyes. "I am older . . . . . I should have gotten the first kiss." His knees buckled and Elrohir guided him to the floor.

By then, Elrohir was weeping. How could he have not seen it? He wiped the dirt and tears from his twin's cheek. "I am so sorry, Dan." He cradled his brother in his lap, running his fingers through the cropped hair. "So sorry."

"Do not be." Elladan said weakly, the life draining from him. "It was just a kiss." He laughed, but his whole body trembled violently. "You are forgiven, little brother."

"No . . . ."

"I could . . . . never hold . . . anything against you." He shivered.

Elrohir rested his head against his brother's. "By Eru, you cannot leave me." He wiped the blood from his brother's lips.

"Damned orcs. They do not like halfelves much."

Elrohir's tears splattered on his brother's shoulder. "I guess not."

"Be careful, Ro." Elrohir could not speak, but nodded. "Do not . . . . worry about me. I am sure . . . . I will drive . . . . Mandos insane."

"No . . ."

"I shall put in a good. . . . word for you."

"Dan, brother. . . . I love you."

Elladan shuddered. "Do not get mushy on me." He stopped. "It is so cold."

Elrohir wrapped his arms tighter around his brother, as if to hold his fleeing spirit in. "Better?"

"I am worm's meat now, Ro." Elrohir shook his head. "Namarie." He shuddered violently one last time before his head lolled backwards. His spirit had fled. Elladan was gone.

Author's note: This chapter was a hard one to write for obvious reasons. Reviews much appreciated.