Author note: Hi everyone, I honestly hadn't realised I hadn't posted this chapter on here, it's been written for…about a year now? :P Sorry! I still hate the format of this site and I've more or less stopped writing fanfiction, but you can find me on lotrfanfiction . com

Elladan gave Erestor a harsh shove, "Get Adar. Now! Go!"

Without pausing to see if the elder elf had obeyed him Elladan put his fingers under his twin's chin and forced his head back.

There was a crashing from behind him, but he ignored it, his ears bent over his twin's mouth, praying to feel a moist gust of air, or to hear an inhale or exhale of breath. None came. He swore, and pinched his twin's nose shut before sealing his mouth over his twins and breathing into Elrohir's mouth.

"What is happening?" someone asked dazedly. He again ignored them, exhaling again before drawing back, intently listening for the sound of his brother breathing. He shook his head when he found nothing and repeated the process.

"He has a pulse. It is weak and erratic, but it is there. Keep going 'Dan!" Niphredil urged. He didn't pause to ask her what she was doing there, continuing the routine, his fëa crying out for its twin to return.

"His pulse is getting stronger," Niphredil murmured as Elladan again for the countless time in the last few minutes breathed out into his unresponsive brother's mouth.

Checking again for breathing, Elladan's heart leapt as he heard a soft sigh, and felt a gentle brush of air against his cheek. He waited there for a few seconds, gradually feeling the gusts of air becoming steadier and deeper.

Elladan looked up and grinned at Niphredil who smiled back. The half-elf stretched and looked around. He noticed the chair Niphredil had occupied earlier was on the floor, and guessed the crash he had heard earlier had been her falling off it. His guess was proved right when she followed his gaze, blushed, and muttered, "Ever tried getting off a chair in a hurry from an uncomfortable position?"

"I have actually. With a lot more grace I might add."

Hurried footsteps signalled the entrance of Elrond and Erestor. Both hurried over to the bed, looks of relief and delight on their faces as they saw that the youngest son of Elrond had not yet passed to Mandos' Halls.

Erestor paused at the edge of the bed, trading relieved grins with Niphredil, but Elrond swept on past and caught Elladan in a hug.

Elladan wrapped his arms around his father's waist and buried his head in his chest. "This does not look good, does it ada?" he asked sadly.

"I am afraid not 'Dan. But 'Ro is strong. If he has pulled through this time he may well do it again."

***

Elrohir stopped breathing twice during that night, both times revived by Elladan and Elrond; both had stayed by his bedside unable to leave for fear something would happen whilst they were not there.

The birds were beginning to chirp outside, signalling the oncoming of dawn. Elladan was sleeping fitfully on Elrond's shoulder, his eyes closed with exhaustion (1). Elrond's arm was wrapped around him, keeping him close to his father, whose eyes never left the still form of his younger son.

Elrohir's eyes slowly opened and he weakly whispered, "Adar?"

Elrond leant forward, accidentally awakening Elladan, who moaned sleepily, but immediately straightened on seeing his twin awake, "'Ro!"

"'Dan? How...?"

"Damn orcs had poisoned blades. You have been unconscious for days, we have been worried."

"Oh…sorry," Elrohir murmured.

"How do you feel íon nin?" Elrond asked softly.

"Sleepy…"

"Go back to sleep then tithen pen, we will be right here."

***

"'Dan? I am cold," Elrohir said pitifully.

Elladan laid a hand on his twin's forehead, "I think you have another fever coming on."
"What do you mean, "Another one?" I have had a constant one for…how long did you say it was?"

"I am not sure, I have lost track of time…it is at least a day since you first woke up," he stood, "I should go and get adar."

Elrohir murmured something incomprehensible, but Elladan guessed it was something rude he would have said if he was in his right mind, before saying, "I will be alright 'Dan, do not fuss so," he gave his twin a wide-eyed pleading look before asking, "Come and lie with me?"

Elladan sighed, "Adar told me to get him if your fever rose again."

"And? It is not like I am going to die Elladan."

"Do not say that Elrohir!" Elladan's voice rose several levels, causing Elrohir to bite his lip and turn away from his brother. Elladan sighed; he had never been the best at being sensitive. And his twin was always easily upset when he was ill.

"'Ro, look at me," Elladan said. Elrohir shook his head, his body beginning to shudder. Elladan hesitated a moment, before climbing into bed with his twin, wrapping his arms about his brother's waist. Elrohir tensed, but Elladan did not appear to be angry, more upset than anything else, so he relaxed, leaning his head back onto his brother's chest.

"'Ro, that was a foolish thing to say. You nearly died thrice. You stopped breathing."

"Why did you not tell me?"

"I…I do not know. I guess I did not feel it was something you needed to know."

"But if I had known I would not have upset you there by being ignorant."

Elladan placed a kiss on his brother's hot forehead, "I could never be angry with you for long muindor nin. It was not your fault."

Elrohir smiled and closed his eyes.

They lay like that for several minutes, and then Elladan started to pull away from his brother. Immediately Elrohir's eyes flew open, he turned and grabbed Elladan, "Please do not leave me!"

"I have to 'Ro, I have to go and get adar."

"Why?" Elrohir was sounding like an elfling now, and Elladan could feel his temper rising again.

Clenching his fists, hoping Elrohir would notice and take it as a sign to leave him alone, he said, "Because you have a fever, and it means you are still ill and adar should be here in case something goes wrong."

Elladan turned his back to his brother, heading for the entrance, when Elrohir made a heart-wrenching noise of abandonment that simultaneously filled Elladan with sadness, pity, and anger.

He turned. Elrohir was watching him with wounded eyes, "Ai Valar!" he swore.

"Elladan?" his heart leapt at the sound of his father's voice.

"Adar, come quick, Elrohir is being a nightmare!"

***

Several weeks later…

Elladan lay against the trunk of the tree, a leg dangling from the branch he was sitting on. Niphredil was leaning against the tree-trunk, watching Elrohir and Glorfindel, both restored to full health, sparring on the lawn outside the east entrance to the Last Homely House.

His heart warmed to see his brother and mentor with bright sparkling eyes, their movements swift and unhampered by wounds, poison, or exhaustion.

Elrohir did still occasionally awaken in the dead of the night with a heart-wrenching scream. But Elladan would always be there, ready to comfort his brother, reassure him everything was alright, to let his twin cry on his shoulder as his Elladan held him until he had fallen asleep again.

Elladan snarled, glaring fiercely at a rose which drooped slightly, as if feeling the elf lord's withering gaze. Everything came back to orcs. His mother…his dear beloved mother…Glorfindel's wife, Nimdil…and now with that attack still fresh in his mind. Elrohir groaning on the ground as blood oozed from his wound, Elrohir lying corpse-like, not even breathing, Elrohir writhing desperately in his arms trying to escape from a nightmare…And there had been so many others, so many other attacks, so many friends, family, fellow warriors, he could picture their faces, dead, dying, wounded, lost in nightmares…how many friends had he lost to orcs?! Countless members of his family slain by the forces of darkness! (2)Just because he had never known them did not mean that he would not have liked to have met them!

And no matter how many lives were lost by the elves, there were always more orcs. Always. Well, they would pay. Elladan swore it. They would be the ones with nightmares, waking up with cold sweat after dreaming of lethal blades and ringing elven war-cries. They would be the ones worrying over the latest raids which had killed so many, and they would be panicking as the bright-eyed elves with shining blades stormed their dark tunnels and killed indiscriminately.

"'Dan?" he looked down at his twin. Niphredil and Glorfindel were talking on the steps to the Last Homely House. Too far to hear exactly what was said, but close enough incase anything should happen.

"Yes 'Ro?"

"Are you…well?"

Elladan nodded, i I will be muindor. When you and I are side by side killing the orc filth…when my blade is bloodied and I am drenched, b drowning /b in their blood…I will be fine. Just fine. /i

(1). My theory on Elven sleep is that they only sleep with their eyes open when they're well. If sick, poisoned, wounded, fading, or exhausted their eyes will close during sleep.

(2) Elladan's referring to family like Elwing and Eärendil, who he has never met, who sacrificed themselves in the fight against the darkness (Wow, am I in a poetic mood tonight or WHAT?!)