Elladan and Estel walked down the stone path, down a hill, towards the hall. It was three in the morning, and neither of them slept. Estel decidedly glued himself to Elladan after the small family were given word that Elrohir's procedure had started, as Estel was afraid of what might be sent to his mind if he slept. When Elrond was the first to leave, they knew it was over. They both breathed a sigh, relieving some of their anxiety, but not all of it.
They had waited three hours: occupying their time by talking about trivial matters, Estel complaining about his education, and Elladan sharing some adventures of the past. The young man ate up the words like a hungry dog, much more pleased with these sorts of stories than what he had read a couple of days ago and the forced reading for his schooling.
After the three hour mark, Elladan thought they could see their father and brother, or if not: at least get an update.
Estel's heart raced at the idea but he swallowed his anxiety, again, and agreed to it.
Seeing the building, the human thought it was rather lovely in its simplicity and its welcoming appearance.
Elladan felt memories being recalled of his childhood, given this was, in a sense, the nursery he, Elrohir, and their sister were brought up in when they were very small children. Away from all the activity of the Vale: a place to just be.
When they entered…the twin then remembered he had almost no idea where Elrond and Elrohir would be. Luckily, that issue would be resolved when they saw a white garbed elf-maid walking towards them, carrying a covered bowl. She gave them a small smile.
"Suilad, my princes."
Elladan bowed his head to her. "Good evening, lady. We-"
"Are here to inquire about master Elrond and lord Elrohir. They are in the master bedroom, along with the lady Tathardes to tend to them."
Estel simply watched; for some reason, his eyes were lingering on the bowl the elf-maid carried.
Elladan hesitated briefly. "And…how fairs Elrohir?"
"He fairs better than he was prior, my lord. He may be confused and a little out of it for some time yet, but he was moving and speaking a few words before I left."
Elladan and Estel's shoulders slumped from the released tension. Even their expressions changed dramatically from anticipation to controlled elation.
Elladan bowed his head again. "Thank you…Are we permitted to see them?"
The healer smiled. "I do not see any reason why you cannot. Elbereth shine down on you both this night." With a small curtsy, she left them.
When she had departed, the two brothers began walking again; Elladan knowing where to go this time.
"What was she holding?" Estel asked, unable to hold back the question.
"If it is what I suspect it is, you do not want to know." Elladan remarked grimly.
Estel frowned but did not press. Maybe he will get an answer from Elrond, if he asked.
Estel continued admiring the simple design while Elladan felt nostalgia. When they approached the door, the human suddenly got cold feet.
"Estel?" Elladan asked in concern.
The human shook his head as he went to stand against the wall. "I…I need to think for a moment."
The older twin frowned at him, and not out of disapproval. "You can take as long as you need to, Estel…no one blames you for needing to let this all sink in." He would have added more, but what he would say may be considered a lie. Elladan opened the door, standing in the doorway for a moment before going in.
Estel strained his ears for any sounds going on in the room and found none. Estel took in a slow breath and leaned further into the wall. He berated himself for suddenly becoming afraid…It all just hit him heavily so abruptly. The new realities that might be in their lives. Elrohir was fine: better, in fact, so they were told. But what could have changed? Would Elrohir be a completely different person? What would life be like now?
'These are not questions you should be asking.' The human reminded himself. 'You are not the one who got hit in the head by a rock…'
Still…
Estel exhaled before turning towards the door and opening it slowly. As it was still dark, the chamber was lit by multiple candles. He looked around and saw Tathardes humming a tune while writing something down. Estel turned his attention to the large bed and swallowed. Elrond and Elladan were sitting at the center, both looking at him. Between them was a covered mound and a book, and a white hand rested on said book.
"Estel." Elrond called softly.
The young man looked at his father and fidgeted in place.
"You do not need to be afraid." Elrond held a hand out to the side.
At that gesture Estel slowly came over and took it, then let it go. He stared at a chair for a good long while before looking at Elrohir.
Aside from Elladan absently petting his head and the hair at the upper part of his scalp, the sewed incision was there for all to see. It was red from the quick scabbing. When Estel looked at his face, he did not think such quick change could occur: white skin and dark circles under his eyes to show further energy drain. The mortal blamed it on the stressful surgery Elrohir had just gone through and maybe some blood loss; the sickly look would go away quickly. Or so he hoped…
Aside from the exhausted look, Elrohir appeared mostly content curled up with his head on Elrond's leg.
"Ada," Estel said at last. "What…"
"Better, Estel." The elf-lord assured. "Elrohir is weary and out of sorts concerning many things, which does not surprise Elladan or me in any way. This, is normal."
"Nothing has been normal this last month…" Estel said lowly, as he kneeled down to the floor and pressed his face into the mattress.
He felt a larger hand rest on his head. "No, nothing has been normal lately. And you have not seen these sorts of things before." Elrond mentally added 'except what you do not remember.'
"Let alone having it happen to us…" Elladan murmured from above.
Estel made a noise. "Having a bunch of rocks fall down on us was not on my life-plans."
It surprised him that the two half-elves chuckled slightly.
"No…and it was not on my plans to have to repair your bodies that day." Elrond commented. "But unexpected things happen in life, little one. We cannot change what happens in the past…and we have no true way of predicting things that are insignificant."
Estel's head shot up and stared at his foster-parent. "Is the accident insignificant to you? What is-"
"Do not twist my words, Estel." Elrond cautioned. "To us and our circle, yes, the accident in the pass is very significant and has impacted all of us…but how is that compared to the grand scale of the Song? We stumbled over a disharmonious note…and to many, none will notice it or hear of it. There has been, and will be, much larger events that will impact the entire world and all that are in it, and will be written down in the books. Those are much easier to see and prepare for."
Estel mulled over those words. "…But the path getting to those large points in history is…uncertain."
"Yes…"
"Adar." Elladan said suddenly.
"I think your stimulation did it. Stop for now; we do not want to hurt him."
Estel's eyes darted to Elrohir. He then noticed the sound of something clicking and snapping together. When he turned to look, he noticed that it was the book with a leather strap around the covers to keep it from falling open. Elrohir slowly unfastened and refastened the clasp in repetitive motion.
Estel waited for more life in his brother, and now that it was happening, he could feel his heart go THUMP in his chest.
Elrohir moaned and grunted softly, continuing the small activity with his fingers. Elrond moved carefully and adjusting Elrohir's head slipped a small pillow beneath it.
"Elrohir," the father called.
Estel briefly looked towards Elladan. The older twin was watching intently and his eyes were glassy.
Elrohir's eyes slid open by a small amount. He was facing Elrond: the first person he saw. His lips moved before opening his mouth a bit.
"Hello there, Elrohir." Elrond said with a small smile.
"…d-daa…"
Estel felt tears sting in his own eyes.
"Do you know where you are, Elrohir?"
Estel literally counted the clock…and it was almost two minutes before some sort of understanding showed on the twin's face. He did not answer however, instead his eyes lost their focus on their father and drifted towards his clothes.
Elrond tapped his face with a finger. "Elrohir?" The eyes drifted back to him after another agonizing minute. Elrond, unlike the composed-close-to-emotional-relief messes that Elladan and Estel were, he kept firm and steady. With the longer time to process his words, Elrond tried slowing his words down."You have a couple of people that want to see you."
The tactic worked, if minutely. Elrohir's eyes started looking around for said people. He did not bother to move anything save the unclasping-refastening motion to the book. Elrond moved his head again to have Elladan within view.
Elladan waited until the grey eyes were locked to him.
The older twin let out a shaky breath, one of the tears breaking free and trailing down his face. "Welcome back, brother." He said, faltering over his tongue.
Elrohir looked so out of it, that he was not fully there still, yet the small bit that has found its way back was welcoming, instead of a motionless shell, "…d…d-aaa…" He said in a half mumble. It was hard to tell if he was trying to form Elladan's name or still sought Elrond.
No matter, Elladan scooted a bit closer and rubbed the younger twin's arm gently; the action rousing Elrohir again, but once more he made no sound nor much of a sign of acknowledgement to the soothing motion.
Elrond looked at Estel. "Come here and let him see you. I do not think he will be conscious for much longer."
Estel felt the frost creeping back to his feet again, but instead of letting it form into ice he quietly climbed onto the bed, trying not to cause too much movement. He got a better view, and his stomach flopped and his heart continued to throb much too loudly in his chest it probably hurt. "Good…night, Elrohir." He said dumbly. Well, he was not lying, it was night.
Elrohir's ear twitched, the only sign that he may have heard those words despite not actually looking at the man. Repeating the longer response time, the elf did look and stare like he did with Elladan. He hummed, "…lloo'stel…"
'Hello, Estel.' Were the slurred words and Estel smiled big. "Hello to you too, brother."
There was nothing for a few moments before Elrohir shut his eyes and grimaced. He began shifting in discomfort, weakly turning his head back and forth (Elrond prevented most of the movement). The dazed sleepy voice was replaced by a tearful one. "…h-h…huurrt."
Elrohir got a lot more physical contact at that moment: Elrond placing his free hand on another part of Elrohir's head, Elladan cupping his cheek, and Estel, unsure of what to do, held his hand; the one that played with the book before the interference. The fingers continued to twitch within the mortal's grasp.
"I know, my son," Elrond said softly. "It will go away soon. Sleep."
Elrohir ceased his restless movements very soon after those words; Estel felt the fingers stop twitching and folding up again, as much as they could with Estel's getting in the way of that.
Elladan turned away and wept silently.
"Elrohir will be in pain for a while…Where, we are not sure yet, but we will figure it out." Elrond said to the young man, as Elladan already knew all of this. "Remember this is the first time Elrohir has been truly awake in over a month. The inactivity has wrecked his body; mostly to his leg, and his head has been messed with and thus shaken things up. It will take time, effort, and patience until he can get back on his feet."
"H-how long will he be…so dazed?" Estel asked shakily.
"A few days, Estel, and Elrohir will get more cognizant and more aware of things." Elrond paused and bit his cheek.
Estel gave a small nod, setting his brother's hand back down on the bed before crawling over to Elladan.
"Do not worry about me…" Elladan said in a small voice. "…I am both tremendously thankful and relieved."
Estel nodded again and sat back on his heels. He felt very tired now. The emotional drain was getting to him finally. He was thankful too.
Elrond regarded both of them before looking to the elf-maid that was still there to witness this moment from start to finish. Tathardes had tears streaming down her face. Were that she alone she may have wept openly, but she had remained in case they needed her. Elrond gave a bow to his head to her in thanks. The elf-maid smiled to her lord, bowing her head in return before leaving the family alone with each other.
Elrond looked down at Elrohir; now peaceful again and no longer hurting. Elrond will let him sleep uninterrupted and without pain for most of the next day. They all needed some rest.
Elrond finally let some of his own composure drop, smiling down at his precious son and one tear dropped from his eyes. 'Thank you, All-father, for bringing him back to us.'
A/N Thank you for your reviews and support :)
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