Elrohir did not understand what was happening, what had happened…neither did he even care about the situation he was in. He could not comprehend or interpret anything going on. Sometimes there were noises, but that was all they were, just noises, nothing of significance, and when it filled the air it washed over his inability to process that information. When his body did not demand sleep, there were images also, but that also was something that washed over his close to non-existent awareness. Sometimes the images would move, that was the only point of interest as far as his body was concerned, but again, it was non-significant.
When there was pain, his body would throb in response, but he made no effort to move away from the source of the pain.
When there was food or drink, he would swallow whatever was in his mouth-including built up saliva.
When there was movement, he gave it no heed in the midst of the anchoring weight and numbness throughout every nerve.
When there were hunger pangs, no heed also was garnered to this, he simply waited for whatever outside source would satiate the need.
When people called his name…there was no Elrohir, not in his mind. There was nothing about this person in the interrupted circuit of the brain. Nothing.
The hroä wants sleep now, so it did so with eyes closed, cutting off whatever information of the outside world for the time being.
Glorfindel mutely watched as the younger twin's body went to rest again, for it was drawing near evening now. In dimmed light of the situation, Glorfindel mused, that Elrohir had a normal sleep cycle instead of being awake all night and restless, and then awake during the day 'watching' whatever it was that moved. If the light was brighter, that was one thing he wished for.
A week had passed since Elrohir's initial awakening. Estel was back to being "normal", if one ignored the current shadow transpiring. Elladan, other than a slightly stiff and sore arm, and not doing any strenuous activity beyond walking, also had a shadow lingering. Elrond…he had grown quiet and rather set in emotion, which was nothing. The elf-lord kept working, trying to do anything to keep his hands and mind occupied so he will not sit without doing anything with Elrohir. There was one, as much as Glorfindel hated to think it, "vegetable" too many in the Vale.
Regarding Elrohir himself, disregarding the lack of response to everything, was healing well enough. The puncture mark looked like a scar, however that will soon fade. Little to no bruises could be found, and the twin had regained much color to his skin.
Glorfindel sighed and sat back, briefly looking at whatever was on the scribe table in his lap before back to Elrohir. What a humiliating thing to know when one wakes up, of what needed to be done in order to keep the body healthy and alive. Muscle deterioration was already beginning to set in, and if one looked closely enough the elf may have gained a very small amount of weight. But at this rate weight loss will be a bit more prominent than gain. Stars know the change will be obvious in a couple months…
…Or longer, if they were unfortunate.
Glorfindel lifted his head and gave a smirk towards the shadowed figure by the archway. "Did the mutt keep you? You are late."
Erestor returned the smirk. "No, however I expected Elladan to be here…and if there is one still here…" The dark-elf frowned in the direction of Elrohir.
Glorfindel lost the smirk and closed his eyes. "We ought to move him to the healing ward, if to leave Elladan the privacy of his own chambers. But Elrohir…the last memory he would have would be in here, and three times waking up in different places with no recollection of how he got there would be too much."
Erestor grimly nodded. "He has been through too much…"
Most nights went like this, quiet companionship. Sometimes, Elrohir would be awake also, and Erestor in hopeful curiosity would watch as Glorfindel tried to get a meaningful answer out the vegetabalized elf. And every night would be in silent disappointment until Erestor took his leave.
Glorfindel mutely agreed with the statement, then returned to his work. Erestor took a seat at the opposing end, a hand lightly rested on the sleeping elf's arm. As much as the dark-elf wished for a response, much like everyone who were in the vicinity of seeing one, held back a sigh.
'Ai, Elrohir, and you are the smarter of the two.'
The crickets cricked and the breeze blew softly through the open window. Elladan had not showed up yet, but neither scholar nor warrior bothered to question about it, knowing that the older twin likely needed to be away, not near. Estel always came during the afternoon, to just watch as elves fed Elrohir, or to watch him be carried to or from the bathing chamber for necessities that needed to be dealt with. The adan felt sad for his brother, and wished that it was not so. Elrond came every once and a while. Elrond was only truly involved when it was dealing with the more intimate things. But overall, like Elladan, Elrond had kept away for the most part.
In the quiet, tonight apparently was one of those nights. Erestor felt his heart beat more prominently seeing half-opened eyes, then looked to Glorfindel.
The golden-elf looked calm…again. "It is good to have you with us, little one." Then at last he looked to his aware companion. "It may do good for him to hear you again, Erestor." At the look of protest Glorfindel continued. "You know what to do…and even if he does not acknowledge it, it may do you good to speak."
Erestor bit back his words before looked back to the twin, still staring straight ahead, and where he was positioned, looking off into the main chamber. The scholar took a breath in. "Shame on me for not speaking when you are awake during these dark hours…Though, you know Glorfindel has to do everything himself." What would have been a playful jest ended up making the elf in question look a tad annoyed, which surprised the other. Erestor did not stop though. "Estel so I hear has seen you every day…no one has left you alone for that matter." Inexperience with one-sided conversations were obvious. "…Elladan may have misplaced some scrolls and tomes with what I had made him do lately…perhaps you may join me in the search for those misplaced." This time he did utter a sigh, and unconsciously asked. "Elrohir, blink three times, for us? It would mean very much, no matter how menial it is." Glorfindel smirked in the background. Unsurprisingly, no answer, or not one in a reasonable amount of time.
A question bogged at the back of Erestor's mind and looked to his friend. "How is it you know what to look for? When it comes to…awareness? You as far as I know never received such training."
Glorfindel stopped cold and was silent for a while; giving a vague answer eventually. "…I know."
Erestor gave a disapproving frown. "What deep dark secret do you have stored up this time?"
Glorfindel was a bit astonished at the quick shift of mood from Erestor. He was a bit more…softer, when with Elrohir, and other times: hard and a bit blunt. Lamely he plead, "Please, do not-"
"You cannot help Elrohir at all if you are caught up in the past again. Who knows, he may have answered one of your requests and you failed to notice it. If not for your sake, then the rest of us, please."
Glorfindel felt very, very small all of a sudden, and in an unelvish way slid down in his seat. Even in a small and meek voice he answered whispery, defeated. "…I went through this also…but for a much longer time…"
Erestor went back to being a bit gentler than before, blinking a bit at this confession. "What…what led to that, if I may implore?"
"Dying."
"…"
That was such a sensitive topic. A shame for elven kind, but…never on this side of the sea was actual knowledge of what an elf went through in Mandos. Erestor had managed to pry some knowledge out of Glorfindel before, but the Vanya never truly went into great detail, or told it in a story-like manner.
Erestor did not have to ask, for Glorfindel continued. "…we were never meant to go into dreamless sleep, mellon…It is akin to a state of non-existence, there is just…nothing, something that Elrohir experiences now." He paused, "That is just the state you are in when…not in a body. Asleep…"
"But…you went through…this?" Erestor motioned to Elrohir and inquired as non-intrusively as possible.
"…That is what you are told, when you wake up from a seemingly innocent slumber, which is exactly what it is. The last thing you remember is…the final moments, then you just wake up again in a new body." Glorfindel looked to be worked up slightly, nigh giddy, and he smiled with mixed emotions. "Oh, Erestor…it can be complete hell if you desire it…or you just let them change you. It is so…humbling, and satisfying…" The elf chuckled and about moaned. "Oh I am such a fool, such a fool! Oh Eru…" Moving the scribe table off his lap he leant forward and wept.
At the giddiness and slight hysteria Erestor stood and put both hands on the golden-elf's shoulders. "This is what I meant…I will stay with the elfling for the night, while you take time to get a grip on yourself." No answer, and Erestor could have growled, but did not.
He waited until Glorfindel had some semblance of calm before the Vanya looked up finally, mutely nodding and moved to do what Erestor had said. "Thank you, for listening, mellon…"
Erestor nodded. "Have a peace of mind, Glorfindel. Nothing bad will happen for now." The Vanya only nodded before he disappeared, the door beyond clicking faintly in the night.
The dark-elf in the meantime returned to his spot at the head of Elrohir's bed. The peredhel's body had given into sleep again. Erestor sighed and said aloud. "Try, elfling, try and get your mind back again…you are causing a lot of pain for a lot of people right now."