Elrond had some help be sent for this session, or at least to change things up a bit.

Glorfindel returned to being his normal cheerfulness with a touch of irritating (from Erestor's view). Of course it was not out of place cheer, and his presence made Elladan and Estel feel happier, if for a time. Elrohir did not show how he felt, instead wishing for this torture to be done and over with as soon as possible.

"Just like a long walk into the snow, elfling." Glorfindel said as Elrohir leaned on him heavily (and gripping his clothes). "A walk that lasts two weeks too long."

"D-dan was worse than me." Elrohir said softly and slowly, monosyllabic.

"Two weeks?" Estel said from a chair that he sat in, facing the wall. "Was this a true thing?"

"Aye," The Vanya affirmed. "Boredom from the intense storms and finding a fable to follow for the sake of doing it. I had been kicked out to keep them from drowning in the snow."

"Did they?"

"…All three of us did." Elladan spoke from the background. "Of course, typical Glorfindel managed to melt most the snow and unbury himself and tried to find us when we were two feet away, and it took him an hour to realize that before we surfaced again."

Estel stared. "How did you even allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the snow?"

"We were tired," Elladan continued. "At least, Elrohir and I were. Enough exposure to the cold can slow us down."

"Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel exaggerated the look of thinking while Elrohir took a step. "I wanted to take a break and sought that escape in my dreams."

Estel smirked at the response.

Elrond listened to the banter and storytelling but did not tear his gaze away from Elrohir. The father watched for signs for when Elrohir will need to stop, given the twin had been pushing himself to do more than he is able. It would do the opposite effect instead of helping him.

Elrohir was mostly withdrawn nowadays, but he tried hard to please them as much as the limitations allowed.

"I am sure you can sympathize with me," Glorfindel said. "They were very energetic when they were younger."

"Being drowned in the snow was the least strange of our adventures." Elladan murmured with a frown.

"Co…" Elrohir stuttered over the word and shook his head. "…S-show E-stl."

"Show me what, Elrohir?"

Elrohir became vacant in expression as it took time for him to understand the question. The look did not change as he lifted a hand to his neck.

Frowns fell across everyone's face at the gesture. Elladan already approached him and asked what he was meaning. Glorfindel began feeling Elrohir's weight further and the shuddering increased. Estel remained silent as he watched. Elrond tried to warn Elladan not to crowd him…

Elrohir went limp and would have landed with a thud if Glorfindel was not there to guide him to the floor.

Elrond closed his eyes and tried to keep a sigh of frustration from escaping his mouth as he knelt down on the floor before the two elves. Elladan swore mildly and banged his head on the wall; Estel hugged his legs to his chest with wide concerned eyes.

"I do not want to have to deal with you too, Elladan." Elrond warned. "I have enough to work with already."

Elladan stopped hitting his head and he hugged himself, head bowed and chastised.

"Estel, go and retrieve some snow for me."

Estel blinked out of his daze and leapt to his feet, quickly heading to fulfill that request.

Elrond adjusted Elrohir's head and opened his eyes. They were vacant and glassy.

"Is there a pattern that we can discern?" Glorfindel had wisely kept silent.

"None that can be seen." Elrond admitted with a sigh. "There is no way to tell before it happens."

Glorfindel frowned, looking down at Elrohir. "There is not enough happening to see if there are triggers. It will be unfortunate if it is just a random occurrence."

"We will find a way to manage it…"

Estel came back with some very cold snow, his fingers red as a result. Elrohir began to come around slowly when the man returned, while Elladan was isolating himself in a corner, not looking at the scene.

Elrohir would become mildly feverish whenever these blackouts happened hence the snow, and to bring him back quicker. Elrohir blinked and stared at nothing stupidly, wondering why there was water streaming down his face from his forehead.

"Elrohir?" Elrond called, minding the twitchy fingers.

Elrohir slowly looked at Elrond. He had a dull expression; an uncaring look. He did not ask any questions, did not ask them why he was on the floor when he was just standing a moment ago. His eyes drifted away to the wood, accepting this for what it was.

Elrond frowned, silent before looking at Glorfindel. "Help me move him. I think we are done for the day."

Glorfindel nodded.

Estel diverted his gaze by watching Velegdal, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed this whole time. He did not watch the struggle as his father and teacher moved a dream expressed Elrohir back, the twin even tried to help in his delirium, but did not succeed save for making the journey harder for the elders.

Estel walked over to Elladan, the eldest of the three still staring at the wall.

"I can see why he would not want this; I would not want it either…" Elladan murmured sadly. "…This is more severe than the first."

"This might be a setback…" Estel whispered.

"To his desire to persevere, yes…this might be a massive blow." Elladan sighed and turned around.

Estel bit his lip, also turning. He felt mildly surprised to see Elrond and Glorfindel gone. Elrohir was lying on his side, one arm wrapped around himself uselessly while he petted Velegdal with slow movements.

The man and older twin felt guilt for ignoring Elrohir, leaving him to dark thoughts, which would serve no one good.

Elladan came back to the side of the bed, dragging a chair with him and sitting in it. "I am sorry, Elrohir…"

"D…d-don't." Elrohir whispered, the harshness in his voice did not go unnoticed.

Estel also returned but did not sit. They waited to see if Elrohir would speak more, as he had effectively stopped Elladan from doing so.

Elrohir stared at the covers mutely. He exhaled quietly and closed his eyes for a moment. "N-no blame. Ha…hap…" Elrohir gripped his clothes.

The blackouts slowed him down, and he had enough trouble with that already .

Elrohir moved on after giving up trying to articulate that word. "…N-new year." He said softly, looking at his brothers.

Elladan and Estel blinked, remembering the date. It was for Gilraen and Estel's sake that they remembered mannish celebrations.

"…We will not go." Estel said first, appearing firm in this decision. "We can celebrate it here."

Elrohir shook his head, moving to prop himself on his arm and with some difficulty. Velegdal hopped to avoid being bumped. "No…you go." Elrohir breathed, "We…go."

The others' brows lifted into their hairlines.

"Elrohir, there is no requirement for you to go…" Elladan began.

The younger twin shot a glare. "N-no need…but I w-want to."

Estel's heart became heavy and loud with anticipation. This would be a big step for Elrohir…Does he want to do this?

Elladan had concern lining his brow. "It will be taxing on you, if we are to move you back to the house, and then being awake for most the night."

"I know." Elrohir said wearily, "I-I know…" He looked around the room. "…I t-tire, here. I don't want t-to b-be here n-no more."

Elladan frowned slightly.

"P-please…" Elrohir pleaded with some desperation. "L-let me live."

Estel tried to keep himself together, now feeling slightly ashamed for trying to keep Elrohir in this place. Not much could be done here to alleviate bordeom, and all that could be done in this hall had been exhausted. Elrohir must be restless to see something else beyond the building, the river, and the tree alcoves. The adolescent turned his eyes to Elladan.

The older twin was pondering deeply. He bowed his head and raised it again. "We wanted to let you have your privacy, Elrohir…" he began carefully, "Do you think you are ready to come out?"

That prospect obviously did not cross Elrohir's mind before now and he looked troubled. There was an internal struggle, as he debated with himself if he wanted to leave that badly. He looked at random objects through the process and his hands had that restless and nervous twitch to them again.

Elladan nearly made the decision for him, given the stark signs of fear Elrohir was exhibiting, but the younger twin finally spoke.

Elrohir sounded unsure still. "…I want t-to leave."

Elladan nodded. "I will tell Adar what you want to do, and we will see what his verdict is." Elrohir accepted that answer and lay back down. Within a few minutes he was asleep. Velegdal returned to her place next to his face.

"Why the sudden desire?" Estel asked abruptly. "I did not think he would want to do this so soon…"

"Perhaps the blackout altered his thinking…he might change his mind when he wakes." Elladan looked to the archway, waiting for Elrond to come back.

"I hope Ada will be alright with it." Estel thought aloud. "…Elrohir needs to see and witness something more than what can be found here in this private corner."

"I hope father will say no."

Estel's eyes went big in disbelief at that.

Elladan looked at the man neutrally. "I doubt Elrohir's ability to know what he wants concerning large matters…He does not acknowledge his limits and what things can do to him. Did you notice the wavering when he answered my question?"

Estel did notice. "It is not fair to him to stay cooped up and alone, while there will be bright cheer in the air all through the night and day."

"I know…but we cannot always have what we want." Elladan answered in a low voice. "Which is why your idea sounds better to me." He shook his head. "If Adar is alright with this prospect, then I shall keep my peace."

Estel found that reasonable enough and dropped the matter. The man glanced at Elrohir. The half-elf had a look of consternation on his features. Estel wondered if he could dream still, or if that had been knocked right out of him. Estel chewed the inside of his mouth, "I better inquire about that staff then. It gives Elrohir the chance to join Erestor in beating people when needed."

"I do not think that is a behavior we should encourage." Elladan warned though his tone was lighter. "I am sure Elrohir will find plenty of reasons to hurt us."

Estel merely shrugged, "He has the right." And with that he left.

Elladan sat in silence and his eyes lingered on nothing. The twin found it hard to tell if this was the easier part, or if it was going to get a lot worse. Elrohir would still be able to do nothing if he were set loose, be it here or there. There were still so many unknown factors. Elrohir was not ready, could not be ready…Ai, but Estel was right, it was not fair.

But life never was fair in anything, really, so this should not surprise him.

All Elladan wanted was to keep them safe: family and friends. He bowed his head as he felt the burden of failure press on his shoulders.

"I am sorry, brother, that I can do nothing more to help you." He said lowly, "If I am missing something, then please, tell me."

"Be smart…" Came the soft reply.

Elladan's attention snapped to his twin, as Elrohir had woken up.

"I try to be." Elladan answered casually. "…It has never prevented me from going back to being stupid, sadly enough."

Elrohir smiled slightly and Elladan's heart melted. "M-m...makes you y-you."

"I do not like being me sometimes." Elladan replied with a small frown. "We have experienced enough in our lives to prove that I cause the most problems."

Elrohir sighed. "N-not as…much, l-like past."

Elladan was going to say seething when he saw their father return.

"I am sorry for stepping out without telling you, though you and Estel were busy speaking to each other." The elf-lord looked around, "Where is he?"

"He went to inquire Erestor about Elrohir's staff." Elladan grinned, "Soon you will be able to join his party, brother."

Elrohir looked bewildered.

Elrond returned the smile as well. "How convenient…" He looked at his second child. "And how are you feeling?"

"S-sleep…" However Elrohir did not show any signs of going to do that, instead he stared imploringly at Elrond.

"Elrohir wants to attend the celebrations." Elladan stated calmly. Elrohir looked a little grateful for him stating that for him.

Elrond concealed his own surprise; internally glad Elrohir had shown interest in something. "Are you sure?" He asked.

Elrohir hated that they were questioning his sincerity: every time they did it made him so unsure of himself. And the word…it was not there, thus forcing him to speak his answer with more words. "…I want to go…"

Elrond gave a small smile, but it disappeared for a few moments, "It makes me happy to see you do. We need to see how you fare until then, however."

Elrohir's face fell as he interpreted that as a no.

"You have two weeks before any finality comes, Elrohir, do not worry."

Elladan smiled faintly at the look of hope Elrohir had then, perhaps a bit of delight too.

"I try…" Elrohir sighed, "…I will try…"

Perhaps things are turning better at last.

A/N ...Not the best chapter, but it's been two weeks since the last one...I think another Interlude is coming up, as our little group moves onto the next year.

Sorry for some inconsistency or the fast paced. :l

I'm glad you guys liked the last chapter, and I hope we can get to some lighter/happier things too soon. :)