It was hard to think. In fact, he could not think at all. There was just a big coat of heaviness and numbness in his cognitive processes, much like his body. Yes, there were noises, yes, there were images, and yes, there were touches, but Elrohir just could not understand any of it. He did not seem to understand his own existence either. But, then one day, the faintest thought, fleeting and just moving beyond reach, thought: "Who, what, why?" Then it was gone, the small bit of ability to sense a self and beyond dimmed, but not entirely gone. Yet, to the outside world, there was no change to the monotony when it came to caring for him. If the awareness still existed and was much stronger, Elrohir would have been able to appreciate what was happening presently.

"You should be glad, brother, that you are getting ada's greatly-famed massages. Now, you just got to pay attention so you can appreciate it."

It was Estel. The adan was much more involved with speaking to the awake-unaware Elrohir, a favored tactic was pointing out all the things the elf was missing out on, in hopes that it will get the elf's attention. Sadly, three weeks since waking, there still was listlessness.

Elrond in the meantime was silent as he did his ministrations on his younger son by birth. The others needed to change the bedsheets after…a small incident. First Elrond had bathed and dressed Elrohir in fresh clothing. Still slightly damp from the warm water, the elf-lord took advantage of the relaxed muscles to work out some knots that had somehow gotten themselves in everywhere.

Elladan just sat on the couch and watched in melancholy silence. His world had become dull and empty since Elrohir's, practically, disappearance. He was there in body, but the person was not. For a moment, he thought he felt a flicker in their bond, but it was soon gone, and Elladan shrugged it off as his own imaginings. 'Why, Elrohir…?'

The twin heard Elrond give a sigh, one that sounded like frustration, and leaning forward went to see why. The older twin practically cringed seeing bruises and a couple of sores scatter Elrohir's back.

"More time on his sides, not his back." Elrond ground out.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Glorfindel look very ashamed. The Vanya really had been ignoring his own health and it was taking its toll finally. Erestor stood nearby also, looking much like himself. Elladan, when he did come to this suite, had seen the scholar with his twin much more often than Glorfindel lately. With that thought, Elladan felt guilty not doing what he should be doing, sitting with his twin…

Elladan looked out to see the changing colors of fall. A good number of leaves had fallen to the forest floor already, and an early winter seemed prominent. Then a small idea came to existence, but it had to be done soon… "Adar, would it do any harm if Elrohir was brought outside? Maybe the small nip in the air will…snap him out of it."

Elrond looked up briefly when Elladan spoke this and looked back to his listless son. Elrohir looked rather peaceful and innocent staring off into nothing, but it hurt Elrond to look and to imagine what the outcome will be if Elrohir gets out of this. An underlying fear was persistently present in the elf-lord's heart: he may lose Elrohir one way or another, if not from this plant-like state. As for the older twin's suggestion… "…Perhaps when these have healed. But time it right; to the private gardens…" His voice was low. It was bad enough other healers must witness this. Others truly beholding what was happening now will likely cause more shame. Alas, if Elrohir woke up and was not fully there…

Elladan caught the underlying tone in his sire's voice: Elrond, even though Elrohir could not completely register discomfort, nor did he express it, the elf-lord did not want to inflict more distress regardless. The twin accepted this. Surely the temperature will not drop enough for snow to fall in that matter of time…

Estel had gone quiet again after his prodding, now just watching (again), and listened to things going on. The adan tried not to listen to the subtle despair and frustration from his father when in desperation asked a command. Like always, nothing. Then mutely he watched as Elrond bore Elrohir back to his bed, this time laying him on his side and facing the window that viewed the outside. Estel discreetly (not really) followed behind and stood in a corner, watching as Elrohir's eyes slowly followed the occasional falling leaf, or a bird darting across his line of sight. Estel would love to imagine the elf watching to pass the time, or trying to truly see what it was the eyes were tracking. If only it were true…

Elrond placed a couple fingers on his forehead, keeping himself together ere turning towards Erestor and Glorfindel, the latter still looking worn from too much work, observation, and other things.

"How long?" The elf-lord asked dully.

The Vanya was the one to answer. "Almost a month, my lord…Just…a few more weeks at most." Glorfindel begged pathetically.

Elrond gave a long-suffering sigh. "We are not repeating…" He paled, "Oh stars we are."

"There is no ship this time!" Elladan out rightly barked and stood. "If you are thinking of giving my twin an escape, the only way is…is…" The older twin did not even finish; his hands clenching every now and then.

And both twins had not decided which fate they will go to. Would there be a limbo if Elrohir died now?

Elrond slowly approached and looked at Elladan in the eye. "We know, but Elladan, if this continues for a much longer time than the estimated time…"

"A year!" Elladan stepped back. "A year, or two, if it takes! Do not lose patience so early in the road!" The twin huffed, very much looking irate. He had reached his limit, holding in all those emotions. Giving a dark look towards the three elf-lords, "This is our space anyway…Please, get out; leave us alone."

Elrond was grateful Elladan was smart enough to ask instead of outright shouting and demanding it, but he did not truly appreciate being lashed out at, even if it was completely reasonable. Elrond closed his eyes and sighed again, then open silver orbs. "Remember it is mostly my decision to make regarding this, my child…" He said lowly before leaving.

Glorfindel had taken on a sterner and disappointed look when the rage was unleashed. Erestor silently followed behind Elrond, but the Vanya stayed. He did not flinch with the coals being flung in his direction. "You should have let some of that out earlier…Your father does not deserve your attitude, elfling."

Elladan opened his mouth to rebuke, but becoming red with shame bowed his head. "He would do it…just because he cannot stand to witness this happening to us anymore."

"Ah…are you just as willing though?"

"Elrohir is my twin! It…"

"So Elrohir is of less value to you to keep him suffering like this than your mother?"

Elladan gaped, "N-no…"

Glorfindel exhaled. "Ai, elfling…this has all gotten to your heads. It is the matter of letting go, I am afraid. Some situations much easier than others…only Elrond seems to be ready to do so than you are."

Elladan continued gaping, close to losing his grip on his emotions now. "L-leave, please…"

"Think about it, elfling…I also think you need to reconcile with your sire when you have a grip again." With that Glorfindel departed.

Elladan remained in place for a good many minutes, the sounds of breathing only in the air. Ah, Estel…

The older twin deftly approached his incapacitated twin, briefly look at him before turning eyes towards the adan who was hiding in the corner with big eyes.

"Don't kill me…" Estel said meekly.

Estel has been around elves enough to know some things a common person does not know…some which even now still frightened him. That being the burning of elven moods. The negative ones more precisely. The man could only describe it as if the elf's fëa was shining through its body. Anger: burning eyes and quite glowy, almost as a barrier against something: assault or pain upon its being. Grief, it made the observer want to fall over and cry too. But, at least the former only expressed itself when the situation was really bad. Elladan raising his voice, though Estel did not see, was bordering on such extremes.

Said elf only looked at the adolescent man, shoulders slumping before looking out the window, "I am not that mindless…" Changing who he was addressing to… "Elrohir, why are you not rousing from this? It should not be that hard!"

Estel slid to the floor as Elladan began his small and quiet entourage; the adan was still a bit afraid. Hence, again, he was mute, allowing his adopted brother to unleash feelings and thoughts that he badly needed to let out. It took probably ten minutes until Elladan was also listless in voice, sitting in a chair with elbows on knees and hands on face.

Tentatively, "El…you know, about the garden thing…Maybe, we could go out and find a spot to sit when…we go out."

Elladan lifted his gaze to the man in the corner, thinking. The elf nodded. "We need air…maybe we can find a bunch of leaves and make a pile to sit on. A cold shock could do wonders."

Estel grinned at the acceptance and he scrambled to his feet. "A…quick stop to…" a jerk of his head towards the bed.

The aware firstborn sighed. "Yes, yes…come on, before it gets dark."

So the adopted brothers left the suite. If they had stayed for a few minutes longer, they may have heard the weakly uttered moan from Elrohir.

A/N Apparently, if you are making people sad or have emotions when reading your writing, then you are doing something right. Thank you Lydwina Marie, AndurilofTolkien, Thaishi, and guest reviewer Silk Leaf for your comments.