Elrohir blinked.
A finger twitched slightly.
But something gave the impression the twitching was not his doing, little though was he aware of what transpired around him. Still…a small inkling of his self came trickling back, like it did the day before. Stronger, lasting a little longer.
It was cold, or slightly chilly by half-elf standards. People? Unable to tell.
That really did not matter at all now, given the sudden, sharp pain trailing down his neck and his skull.
Elrohir could not think anymore again, as his body's frayed nerves started to do their own thing, in a more chaotic manner; drowning in the obscurity and pain.
Elladan and Estel were sitting quietly as the sky started to become pink. No one had moved since the end of their conversation around an hour ago.
Estel observed the scenery, enjoying the sight: the beautiful colors that came as the sun began to rise, and the last bit of stars were disappearing into the west. His hand had not moved from Elrohir's shoulder…so he felt the elf's muscles begin to twitch. At first it was just that, but it slowly grew to be minor spasms.
The young man looked at Elrohir when he noticed the change. He took note of the twitching fingers. First, he thought nothing of it, aside from the burning hope and anticipation he had in his heart, but as it grew steadily worse…
Elladan panicked as he hastily pushed Estel away and moved Elrohir on his back. "Get help!" The elf cried out.
Estel remained rooted in his spot as he watched the spasms eventually became a seizure.
"ESTEL!" Elladan yelled.
Estel snapped out of his dazed fright and ran back to the main house. To his sadness amidst his urgency elves were slowly starting to rise and begin their day. He ran into some of them, but did not look back; never saw their concerned looks. The healers…they must be up by now! He should not be too concerned about who the void he grabbed to help, but only save Elrohir some dignity.
Estel came to realize that was slowly beginning to be impossible.
His running was interrupted suddenly, and his feet flew out from under him. Two hands were on him, one on each shoulder, belonging to different people. Estel struggled against them.
"Let go! I need the healers!"
One hand let go, but the other remained. "Where are they?"
Glorfindel.
"Gardens!" Estel finally stopped struggling, but he was still shaken by what he saw.
"Check the private ones," said the other voice, who was Erestor. Estel wondered if he should be thankful to have run into them or not. Probably thankful. "Elrond made it clear that is where to go if they were to go forward with this."
Estel's breath hitched. Everything was going so well, too…
The human heard Glorfindel run off in his search. Erestor placed his other hand on Estel's shoulders and forced the human to face him.
"Child, get a hold of yourself and tell me what has happened." Erestor said firmly though urgently.
"Healers…"
"They are coming, Estel." After a quick message to Tathardes mentally, who likely was closer to them than the elf-lords were in the house. Erestor mentally groaned about the fact Elrond would have to see what is going on. No doubt whatever has happened that made Estel shaken would have affected Elladan as well. So much for that week respite.
Estel took a few deep breaths, but was nowhere near collecting himself. "E-elrohir…s-seized up…"
The steward closed his eyes and let go for a moment. He looked at the man sadly. "Find your father, Estel. He will have to know about this; he might already know."
"Elladan…"
"Elrond first, Estel, then you can comfort Elladan." Erestor said as he made his way down the hall, at a fast pace, but not exactly running.
Estel knew the twins came first…but he felt all alone just then. He wanted his mother to be here, to hold him, still being the boy that he was. He wanted this nightmare to end. He bit back a sob…
He had reached his own limit.
Estel began his new task of finding his father. In the back of his mind he wondered if Erestor had sent him to find Elrond for his own comfort. He did not think of it overmuch, even his heart was not fully into it. He did not want to disturb Elrond…but what more wrath could fall upon people than that of an uninformed parent to a child's pain and struggle?
Estel went back down the hall where he was running in just a few minutes ago. It was empty now. Please do not have it be they went to see what is going on…that was the last thing that was needed.
The human heard some footsteps echo across the stone floor. As the human turned he about ran into his father, only he barely saved himself from doing so. Estel refused to look up immediately, although his breathing pattern gave away his mood.
"Estel." Elrond said softly.
The human eventually looked up. He crumbled there and flung himself against Elrond, weeping.
Elrond wrapped his arms around his foster son and held him. He felt a disturbance…from two children. One: panic and despair, the latter more prominent at the moment. The other…pain, physical pain.
But instead of disappearing, the presence remained.
He will see them soon, but he needed to comfort Estel for now.
"Elladan, stop for a moment."
"I felt it! He was back for a moment!"
"For a moment! Elladan, cease your hysteria and explain; listen!"
"Nay!" Elladan shuddered, staring at the bloodied bite to his palm. "He came back…why did you leave again? Why are you doing this to us?"
They took Elrohir away…they came, a few moments after Elrohir finally became still again. His brother had bitten him. Elladan knew that it was his own fault for that, for getting in the way during a seizure. He saw the scream coming, and had to muffle it. He had to.
And he paid for that action.
"Elladan, come back." Glorfindel shook the younger elf, as he happened to be holding the elf and tried to calm him. Elladan fought but eventually became a weight in the Vanya's arms as he failed to escape.
The separation, despite it being a short time in elven standards, felt like a long time to the twin. And to have things be normal for even just a moment, and then disappear again, sent him to near madness.
He would trade places with Elrohir at this point, or if it came to it: die. Anything. Just bring the normalcy back…
"Elladan!" Glorfindel shook him again, his tone sharp. "Do not even think about leaving us now. You yourself said to wait a year or two, now hold onto your own words!"
Elladan came back to himself after that. He was finally released, but he flopped onto the ground, holding his head.
He knew Erestor and Tathardes came by. They and a healer who was not occupied with Elrohir were bringing the sheets and blankets back inside. The laiquendi may come back, given some time.
Glorfindel stared at Elladan, exhaling quietly. He let the older twin be for a moment. "Elladan, try and take heart, small it may be…"
Elladan did not reply.
"…given what we know about the functioning of the body, this may be a good thing." Even though Glorfindel knew seizures were bad to begin with, his support was the fact Elrohir had done nothing on his own volition for the last few weeks. Could not, perhaps, but maybe…just maybe.
Elladan sat up and glared. "None of it is a good thing. And forgive my rashness once again towards you, my elder."
"You said you felt his presence."
Elladan stopped and bowed his head, "…only for a moment. And there was a lot of pain." He said quietly.
Glorfindel frowned. "Where?"
Elladan carefully lifted his hand and hovered around the back of his head and his neck.
Glorfindel nodded slowly and bit the inside of his cheek. He looked at Elladan carefully. "This was unexpected. I doubt anyone of us could have prepared for it. But now that it has happened, we can prepare for it, and look for other, more positive signs."
Elladan was hugging himself, whether he was listening or not was hard to tell. He looked tired as well.
Glorfindel exhaled again and got to his feet. "Are you going to be alright, alone?"
Elladan blinked, and in a quiet voice answered, "Yes."
Glorfindel stayed a moment longer and gestured to the twin's hand. "You might want to wash that in the meantime."
Elladan turned his palm upward, looking at the dried blood from the bite marks. He did not fear any infection and the holes would be sealed at the end of the day. And Elladan had been exposed enough to Elrohir's germs over their long lives to be immune.
Glorfindel turned to leave but he stopped seeing Elrond and Estel approach. Some shock fell on his features, "Master Elrond."
"Head to the healing ward." Elrond replied evenly. "I may need your help later."
'And support.' Glorfindel read that in the elf-lord's eyes. He bowed his head to the master and his adopted son before moving on his way.
Estel detached himself from his father so Elrond could approach the moping elf. The human felt sad for his brother.
Elladan raised his head and guilt crossed his face seeing his sire, "I-"
"Do not apologize, Elladan." Elrond said firmly, already knowing that was the first thing his firstborn was going to say. "None of us knew, and we were not expecting it. You cannot do anything about it now to change it, so let us move away from that."
Elladan bowed his head in acquiescence, though inside he was being a little rebellious and did it anyway.
Elrond sighed and shook his head internally, sensing those thoughts. He had hoped that bad habit would have dissipated. It may be too late for that now, given elvish habits are hard, if not impossible, to break. He looked at Estel, who stood a way with his arms wrapped about himself. The half-elf doubted the human would be able to sleep tonight.
He looked back to Elladan. "Walk with me."
The twin sluggishly got to his feet.
Estel followed them as they walked.
The three made their way to the Great Oak. No words were exchanged during their walk. When they arrived, Elladan pressed himself against the big trunk, Estel tried taking his mind off of the situation and admired the view that came with the location. It was easy to become lost in the beauty when left to silence for minutes.
Elrond could have sent Estel away for this talk with the older twin, but chose not to. They both needed him here, needed his assurance. Instead he simply tapped into Elladan's mind. 'My son, stop drowning yourself in misery over what happened.'
Elladan sometimes hated when ósanwë came into play, and answered not.
Elrond waited, and got nothing. 'You have been told the same thing many times, and I know you tire of hearing it. But you cannot keep yourself bottled up,'
'I tried,' Elladan replied in a bitter aura. 'And I end up being brought lower for doing so.'
'Who is bringing you low?' Elrond got no answer. 'Elladan, it was ill timing. But if you had not brought Elrohir out and this happened, for all we know he could have killed himself unintentionally in your room, and where would things be then?'
Elladan's breath shuddered. 'Worse…Ada.' He raised his head and finally met his sire in the eye. 'Please, make it stop. Elrohir cannot keep living like this, we…'
Elrond became fearful at the flicker throughout Elladan's being and had to catch him before he fell like a dead man to the floor.
Estel noticed this and cried out his name.
Elrond held Elladan, half voicing out to not fade away, and as Glorfindel did earlier: reminded the twin of his own words.
Elladan did not cry openly, but he was awfully close. "What misfortune is brought on all of us of our house, father! Is our incredibly unique lineage the cause of this havoc? Have we done something to deserve any of this? What could we do to amend it; stop it?"
"None and none, Elladan." Elrond said softly.
"Is our mischief from our childhood finally repaying us for the ill we did to others?" Elladan groaned.
"No, you paid for that enough long before now."
"Why then?"
Elrond closed his eyes. "I have no answer to that, Elladan, only that we have been caught in the discordance of the Song." He stroked the dark hair. "But that also means it does not last forever, and will be resolved when the time comes."
"Patience is a virtue…"
Elrond smiled. "Indeed it is, but even the most patient may become impatient."
Elladan frowned. "But I am not impatient…I am…" he stopped before continuing, "…wishful, and disappointed."
They were kneeling on the ground. Estel as he watched and listened carefully got behind Elladan, he knelt as well and wrapped his arms around the elf's shoulders, encasing Elladan between Elrond and Estel.
"I am wishful too, if it makes you feel better." Estel said quietly.
"But you are doing more than I am."
Estel shook his head. "And? You may be right about you needing to be more involved in matters, but you have seen and witnessed things beyond my years and understanding." 'Like what you told me this morning…' "Overcoming is hard, especially for the Eldar, I imagine. Just try, keep trying, brother. And if you get overwhelmed…well, then stop, regain yourself, and then get back to it."
Estel stopped talking, and from the look Elrond was giving him, he seemed to have done the right thing. He hoped it worked…
Elladan gave a small sigh and nod, "Alright…And please let me say it: I am sorry for the mess I have become."
"You are not at a fault." Elrond assured, allowing himself a moment of self-chastening for some of his negligence. He released the hug and sat back. "Are you feeling better?"
Elladan gave a meek nod.
"Then I need to take my leave and see to Elrohir…" He lifted a hand up at their eyes shooting at him again. "I need to see if there is anything that can be ruled out, after what has happened. He may yet see the light for truth soon."
It was a flimsy, weak hope, but it was better than nothing.
"Do not let us keep you then, adar." Elladan said. "…I will stay here for a while before returning to practical work."
"I thank you, my son." Elrond smiled slightly, then looked at Estel.
Estel did not answer. Just his appearance and look in his eyes basically said: I am not leaving either.
"I will speak with you both later this day, and share anything if there is a new revelation." Elrond said at last before he turned to head back to the house.
Estel had not unlinked his arms from Elladan's shoulders. He did not want to let go, and Elladan did not make him either. Instead, the elf began petting his head like a puppy, something that was done when Estel was much younger.
"Thank you, Hope…"
Estel simply does his job.
A/N Thank you for your comments. :)