A/N Yes, give Elrohir all the hugs, Marie :) And all the bunnies too I suppose. MistressofImladris, I might come up with something for you in the near future, so keep an eye out. :)

Thank you, Silk Leaf, for your detailed review.

'The snow fell heavily. We do not have much to spare for me to travel back, Estel. I know this is a terrible inconvenience, and I miss you so, but I cannot come back to Rivendell this winter.

As soon as I am able I will return, my dear hope.

Mother'

Estel felt dull inside as he read the letter from Gilraen. He was not too surprised by this. It was almost expected. Still, it did not make him feel any better by the confirmation.

Estel sighed and set the letter on the desk, covering his eyes with both hands and having his elbows rest on the wood's surface. Even after a few days of being alone and spending time with Glorfindel and the laiquendi pair, he remained feeling horrified and upset, and scared.

Elves could drop dead at the snap of a finger if they really wanted to. Estel had a very bad thought one night, a daymare. He dreaded one day he will wake up and when he saw Elladan, their father, or someone else, they will tell him that Elrohir passed in his sleep.

It had affected him more than it probably should. Elrohir may be feeling bad now, but it would pass, he…

Oh, might as well accept that dark ending now. It will hurt less if it does happen.

"Estel?"

The young man turned his head and saw Tathardes standing in the doorway.

Estel sighed and shook his head. "You can come in or leave…it does not matter to me at this moment."

Tathardes frowned, but she let herself in the room.

"Why are you here, lady?"

"We are concerned about you, little one."

Estel stared, "Who?"

"Your father and brother, but the rest of us more so since we have seen you more often as of late."

"Can I have some time to mourn?" Estel snapped. "Some time to grieve for the possibility of death in this house?"

Tathardes said nothing.

Estel slapped his hand against the desk and stood up; he walked to the window. The elf-maid could see Estel trembling. "I cannot put on a happy or calm face for everyone. I am poor company, I know, but I just cannot fake it…I can do nothing to help, I can do nothing but become a mess before everyone…just add to the pain. I cannot do anything to help."

Estel finished ranting. Tathardes still said nothing, even when he was done speaking.

"Come here," she requested.

Estel did not obey.

The elf-maid exhaled. "You are aware you cannot mend everything in a short period of time."

"Yes…but is it wrong to wish for it to be different, to be able to fix everything?"

"Only if that becomes your constant thought and it hinders you. "

"What am I supposed to think about then?"

Tathardes closed her eyes and she stood up from her seat. "I think you know."

"I am not an elf, Tathardes." Estel hissed. "Neither do I have that famous patience the green-elves possess. If you were sent here, or came of your own free will, to tell me to ignore all of this, then you better leave."

Tathardes looked neutral as she was lashed at. She bowed her head and did leave.

Estel made a sigh that sounded almost like a growl. He rubbed his face with both hands. Stars, he was falling into his own pit, and he knew it. They were just trying to help…do things that are in his best interest. But this was trying to defend himself. Maybe he should go and cry himself out again, just to remove these ill emotions, for good, hopefully.

Erestor chipped into the branch as he worked on an engraving. Glorfindel had been called away to answer a matter concerning a risk of another rockslide due to the snow and ice. The earth was unstable this year, dreadfully so it seems. If they could keep another disaster from occurring, or make the possible damage as mild as they can, it will be worth it.

He looked up as he saw Tathardes walking in.

"You still refuse to show the carpenter your tricks?" She asked.

"They are not "tricks", as some may call it…it is skill, a specific way of doing it." Erestor looked back to his work. "A technique I rather keep to myself for preservation sake."

Winter allowed Erestor to revisit some things concerning his origins, mostly involving searching deep within his memory for times long past, to keep it alive and fresh.

"Have you thought of the gem you will place in it?"

"White crystal, something blue, or a blend of those two colors. There will be small diamonds near the top…when I get to that part."

Tathardes hummed.

Erestor paused again, raising his head. "Is he any better?"

"No…and having a woman try to speak to him gave no different outcome."

"And the man is sorry for that."

The laiquendi's brows lifted as they saw Estel standing in the doorway. His head was bowed, and the elves saw the signs of crying in his eyes.

"I know you are trying," Estel began. "…I appreciate the effort and concern. And yes, you are right about the fact I should not dwell in the dark, especially after so much time since…" He sighed. "…Just let me be, and try to manage it in my own way."

Erestor and Tathardes nodded their heads.

Estel swallowed. "…I did not come here just to tell you that…I want…Is there anything new? Improvements? Anything?"

The couple looked at each other. Erestor was the one to speak.

"They are having Elrohir write, now that he is able to lift his arms and keep hold on an object. Try to regain that finesse he has. Elrond might want to have him stand in a couple of weeks."

Estel nodded, his eyes pleading for another question that he did not want to ask.

"Elladan did something that has made him Elrohir's least favorite person…when he recalls what Elladan did to warrant that. What it was, we are not sure." Erestor exhaled a quiet breath, "He feels guilty over the moment he disclosed his emotions to you, Estel."

Estel closed his eyes and bowed his head. "It is about time I stop hiding."

"You did what you needed to, Estel. You have given yourself the time you believe you needed."

Estel nodded and turned to leave. "Thank you, Erestor." He looked to the elf-maid. "…I am sorry for my rudeness to you, lady."

"There is nothing to forgive, Estel." Tathardes reassured.

The human left them.

"The one last nudge worked." Erestor murmured.

Tathardes gave him a faint smile. "At your request."

Elrohir stared dully at the parchment in his lap. They gave him a scribe table with an inkwell, a few pens, and told him to write. He had written on it, there was visual evidence of that, but the Tengwar was sloppy, a result from his shaking hand. Velegdal was under his other hand, and his fingers absently petted the rabbit. Rabbit petting and trying to sit up without any support or help was more entertaining than writing.

Elrohir, losing interest in what was before him again; let himself gaze at his twin, who had fallen asleep in the corner in a chair. They were half-lid sleepers, given their mortal blood, though Elrohir normally slept with his eyes all the way closed ever since the incident with the hillmen. Elrohir ended up feeling upset even just looking at Elladan, his mouth drifting to a frown. His subconscious told him that it was for his own good, what Elladan did, but presently Elrohir did not care and did not want to care. He was being deprived of his freedom.

Ada seemed pleased with Erohir. Mostly it related to him being able to be a bit more self-sufficient, small as that was, and cognizant. Elrohir felt better too, that he was able to remember more and keep new memories in place, but still…

Now knowing what had transpired, it made him feel shamed and generally depressed.

And then there was Estel.

The human did not deserve to hear that, he should not have told the adolescent any of that. He should have said it to Elladan or Ada…they could have handled it better. But both of them have told him he was not at fault, he needed to speak at the time and no one was angry at him. Yet it had been a long time since Estel was last in here. Elrohir had not tried to ask for Estel to come back. One of the reasons included him not being able to articulate the question well, and the words required conveniently decide to slip from his mind at those times.

Some words just would not come…and he knew them, but they were just out of reach.

Elrohir heard louder than elf footsteps. He would have looked up at them instantly before the accident, but it took him a while for the signals to be interpreted and labeled.

"Elrohir?"

The elf blinked his eyes opened since they were trying to close on their own will again. His heart lifted seeing who it was, "E-estil…" He said quietly.

Estel looked sad. He always seemed sad, when Elrohir searched his memory. He did not blame the young man. He blamed himself.

"Elrohir, I am sorry for disappearing on you so suddenly without so much as a warning, or even telling you I needed to be away personally…It was not fair to you, and I may have made this past week miserable for you as a result of my actions."

'It was my fault.' Elrohir thought. But he accepted Elrond and Elladan's words about him not being at fault. He had little control at the time. He still had little control over things even now, but it was better than then.

Elrohir felt tears sting his eyes and the self-anger came back. Blast this lack of control!

"Elrohir?" Estel asked timidly, scared. "I am sorry if I have distressed you…I can leave, if you want me-"

"N-n-no…" Elrohir plead desperately, shaking his head to get his point further across, paying for it by needing to rest against the pillows. His body felt grateful for not having to strain anymore to stay upright on his own power. "…S-stay."

Velegdal hopped away as Estel got closer. Elrohir lost himself for a moment before blinking back to the present.

"You are doing better."

'Not emotionally…' Elrohir stayed silent, the word he wanted to say not coming to him.

Estel looked to the paper. "…I was told they will have you standing in some weeks."

Elrohir looked at the man, alert. They had not told him about that. Or did they?

Estel tried smiling. "See, brother? Things are coming along finally. Eventually things will be back to normal."

Elrohir tried really, really hard not to let his discontent about that show. He sighed and bowed his head. "S-stay…"

Estel slowly sat on the bed. He picked Velegdal up and stroked her ears. The rabbit made one of the rare bunny noises to show her disapproval of her position. The man blinked and let the creature go.

"I think you broke her, Elrohir. She does not seem to like anyone else touching her but you."

Elrohir actually smiled, for the first time in months.

Estel cast his eyes towards the older twin. Elladan was awake now, and he looked proud.