A/N Small thing: "...and we know from other sources that each bore a star-like jewel on their forehead." - From Encyclopedia of Arda on Elrohir's page, in the notes. I don't know where the heck it says in the book or what other source is, I looked in RoTK and didn't really find it, but that website is trustworthy and where I can get my time lines straight. So couldn't resist trying to describe that out in this chapter. I couldn't express it the way I want...so, if you want some help: look up on Manwe on JankaLateckova's profile on DeviantArt (please don't kill me for mentioning an artist ._.)

Elrohir found he did not like being back in his former chambers.

The trip back was not the main problem, which the others would suspect is the cause. It grated on his nerves on how they had to transfer him back of course, but…Ai, being here annoyed him tremendously.

Elrohir could not figure out why he was being bothered by these new surroundings. Familiar surroundings at that. Everything seemed wrong and out of place. The last thing he wanted to do would be to rearrange everything; thankfully, it was not that form of restlessness.

What irritated him so much?

"Elrohir?"

He turned his attention to Elladan, once he registered and understood the question…well, his name, rather. He blinked when he saw Erestor present too.

"Are you alright? We lost you for a moment."

Elrohir's brows furrowed together. He did not remember them talking about anything, or…Erestor coming in here at all in fact, "When?"

Elladan gave a small smile, mainly for reassurance. "Worry not, brother, you did not miss much." He glanced at Erestor.

The green-elf held something behind his back. With graceful movement he revealed the object. "Your scepter, young one." Erestor said with some levity.

Elrohir picked up on the joking tone. He eyed the presented staff: the one the others had been speaking about lately. A sapphire was seated at the top, and smaller gems encrusted its side to a certain point down the wood. He held a hand out to take it, and Erestor gave it to him. Elrohir almost dropped it from the sudden weight, but he held onto it.

The younger twin had mixed feelings about the staff. It was just another reminder of his disabilities, yet he took some comfort in the knowledge that he was a little closer to independency. And gifts from Erestor, who possessed great skill, were rare. Elrohir tried to set it down at a decent angle, but he failed. Elladan had to help him in that regard.

Elrohir gave a soft exhale, "Thank you."

"Your welcome, Elrohir." Erestor said with a kind smile.

The younger twin's eyes drifted away, his other hand on the rabbit that was in his lap.

Elladan and Erestor frowned without him knowing. Erestor took his leave silently.

Elladan flopped on the other couch and watched his brother quietly. Elrohir's eyes roamed to random objects before moving onto the next.

"What are you thinking about?" The older asked finally.

Elrohir lifted his head without needing to. He searched himself before answering. "Some…thing, is wrong."

Elladan frowned, "What is wrong?"

Elrohir shook his head. "I don't…know…"

Elladan breathed in slow, and cautiously asked another question to rule something out. "What do you see?"

Elrohir's face twitched at the implication, his heart rate going up at the anxiety that he might see something that should not be there. Velegdal must have sensed this, because she tried crawling up her favorite elf's chest and resting her head on it.

Elladan's brows furrowed. He wished he did not have to make the question obvious, but if Elrohir did not say anything, he needed clarification. "Is there anything that seems out of the ordinary?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No?" He was uncertain.

Elladan sighed and sat up straight, as he was laying on the couch instead of sitting on it. With hallucinations ruled out, Elladan prodded some more. "What are you feeling then?"

"Lost." Elrohir admitted in a whisper, "…tired. It is all wrong."

Elladan closed his eyes. He eventually decided this is one of those inexplicable moods that occurred for no reason.

In three days, it would be the new year. Elrond had given the approval for Elrohir to attend, as he had shown them he could manage that, and with some help: stand and walk. Elrohir tried to remain consistent mentally, he put a lot of effort into doing so, and only paid for it with some minor side effects and weariness. The effort and focus into trying that ended up him remaining reclusive, however.

They had come back to the main house a few days ago. Elrohir did not seem to completely register the change until the day after that. He did not seem bothered by it, but like now, there were random bouts of discontent, with or without reason. The nights were rough on both the twins: Elrohir needing to readjust to a familiar place, and Elladan just watching Elrohir be restless throughout the entire night. They asked if he dreamed; Elrohir said no. It appeared Elrohir kept forgetting they even had moved.

Perhaps they did it when he was having memory issues again.

Still, they could grant Elrohir his wish, and Elladan admitted that he was happy for that, but he still felt that concern that something would go wrong. It was not a heart-faltering worry, only a concern to be kept in the back of the mind, just in case.

The elder of three stood up from his seat and walked to Elrohir's chamber. He saw the object of his interest and he picked it up.

Their circlets were strange. They still possessed elven beauty, but they were strange regardless. They were mithril wrought, and white gems encrusted the sides throughout the entire piece. At the center, where it would rest against the center of their foreheads, sat a clear, cut crystal. The gems and all the extra adornments were normal in all elven craft: it was the shape that was bizarre, that it would not be considered a circlet at all in fact.

Instead of a circle that fitted around the head, it fitted on it. It was an encasing like a helmet, but not. Gaps were present between each blade of wide mithril. It pressed the hair down in the back, and at the front where it held the crystal, a flat plane in the shape of the triangle curved back into the head.

These circlets had symbolism connected to them: their whole apparel concerning events of remembrance that were not seasonal had symbolism. Elladan and Elrohir stood in as memory of Elwing, for their colors and dressing like a bird, while Arwen the Evenstar, fit into the memory of Eärendil. Elrond would have discreet signs in memory of Maglor, his adopted father, and of being a herald to Gil-Galad during these times.

Elladan walked back into the main chamber with the circlet. Elrohir had been drifting while Elladan was out of the room, but when he detected his brother, he woke up again and watched him.

The older twin approached and set the circlet on Elrohir's knee, "I hope grandfather will accept the lack of flaunting. It will be a relief not do that this year."

Elrohir eyed the head piece thoughtfully.

"Estel will not have to call us chickens…"

"You can…do it, alone." Elrohir interrupted.

Elladan raised a brow. "Breaking tradition will not do anyone harm. In fact, it might be better if we break it."

Elrohir looked at him carefully.

Elladan tilted his head to the side. "It is a dance, Elrohir. Nothing significant. Do not worry about it."

Elrohir's expression turned sour at that and he looked away, "Not right."

Elladan found himself baffled. This was one of the rarer, more challenging scenes. "Talk to me," he pressed non-intrusively.

"I don't know!" Elrohir hissed, "Stop, ask-ing me…" He trailed off in a whisper.

Elladan looked mildly sad. He took the sign: Elrohir needed to be alone. Elladan exhaled softly. "I will be back in a while." And he turned to leave.

Elrohir remained laying on his couch. He did not watch his twin go. He sighed wearily and felt his head throb dully.

Now where was that ent he just saw outside?

Estel presently worked extra hard to get his studies done. He was almost finished for the rest of the week. This time he sat in the hall, deeply focused in his work. The human occasionally looked up to see what was happening, seeing a few passersby as they went on their way to do whatever.

Things were quiet this new year.

The elves' way of celebrating was something he was used to: a reflection of the year's events, ranging from the happy and joyful all the way down to the sad and less favorable things. Estel did not think there were a lot of bad things that happened this year, aside from the accident in the pass, obviously he had not been paying attention.

'Well…it is not all gloomy.' Estel mused. 'There are smiles still about and people are talking about the good. There have just been enough things of concern to warrant a slightly somber air…'

Or these past months and his feelings about it all were being projected out into this event, and thus making it seem like things were much gloomier .

Estel closed the book and let out a puff of air. It seemed they needed to have a change of perspective. This was the perfect time to have that change…it would do them benefit to try.

Everything was not the same…Estel still tried to digest these new changes the rockslide had enforced on them. Being back in the main house gave him that realization. This place was where "normal" happened, not the abnormal. Back in the other place, that made things easier: a different place and circumstances were different, so different could be managed.

Here in the house, there was supposed to be smiles and laughter all around, at least from his family. None of that remained: Elrond was pensive and his age showed a lot more than it used to before. The twins…

Estel looked up and his heart skipped a beat momentarily when he saw Elladan walking, eerily silent as elves normally are. The twin did not regard the adolescent and continued on his way. Estel knew he should not interrupt, but he could not help it: he set the book aside and stood from his seat.

"Brother?" He called out timidly.

Elladan stopped in his tracks. He did not turn immediately, and Estel felt a little afraid that he indeed made a mistake.

"Estel…" The elf said finally, and turned to face him. "I am sorry, I did not notice you."

The human breathed a sigh in his mind and shrugged outwardly. "I was out of the way anyway."

Elladan smirked.

Estel hesitated for a moment. "How do you fare?"

The elf said nothing immediately. He lowered his eyes to the floor. "Tired; as much as things are improving still, it has been an uneven walk as of late." He turned and started walking again.

Estel followed, "What of Elrohir?"

"He is still settling in, I believe…I am not sure if we timed the move correctly, for he keeps becoming agitated for some reason or another." Elladan frowned. "It is a new pattern I have to figure out, and so far, I am failing in that."

Estel pondered this briefly, and recalled the comparisons he had made a few minutes ago. "We are all expecting things to be the way it was before all this happened…We are not actively thinking about it, but it is there."

Elladan answred naught.

Estel bit his cheek. "Elrohir is very likely seeking that out, and I would not blame him for wanting that."

Elladan had stopped walking when they reached a balcony. His shoulders slumped. "I must be overthinking everything again, to miss that small detail." He looked at the man, "Our wisdom is finally rubbing off on you."

Estel grinned at the comment. "I have you to thank for that."

Elladan looked away. "I admit to not being wise as of late."

Estel had nothing to say in answer, so they stood in companionable silence for a time.

Then the young man asked another question. "Was there more calamity this year than I thought there was, or is it just me that feels a more solemn air this time?"

Elladan exhaled softly. "Trust me, Estel, you are not alone in that feeling."

Elrond regarded the scene thoughtfully.

Elrohir had curled up on the couch and slept (Elrond spread a blanket over him when he first entered), and Velegdal was sprawled across his eyes and forehead: the twin's hand resting on her back. Ever since Estel found the bunny, she recieved more than enough food, and had grown to be a large rabbit. A boon companion as well.

Animals always have their way with individuals that no person could ever replicate. Whatever the trait was, Velegdal was helping his son, and he was thankful for that.

He had been given daily reports of Elrohir's reaction to the transition. What he had heard almost made him deny Elrohir to attend the celebrations for his sake, even though Elrohir would likely become upset with that.

Elrond still allowed permission, however. The issues were not too concerning to have him intervene. He would let Elrohir try to decide what he wanted to do. Elrohir had gotten to that stage of trying to rule his life once more, at least in the small things.

The father regarded the rabbit again, 'Continue what you are doing, little one.'

And he let Elrohir be.

...I tried to have a pensive mood for this: not heartbreaking sad, but not too happy either.