A/N Well...here's the next bit. I again tried to be in the middle: not sad but not happy.

I am in a writing crisis: in the sense of trying to improve it. Do you prefer the periods over the commas before the dialogue, or do you like it with the commas? If you like periods: I will go back and edit that in in all the other chapters.

Muindor is brother.

He woke up…at a snail's pace, after another night absent of dreams.

Elrohir tried to keep himself calm as much as his foggy conscious allowed. Sometimes his body had trouble keeping up with his mind after being asleep for a long time, making him temporarily paralyzed. Two months prior this did not occur, for Elrohir never reached that deep level of sleep, because he kept waking up for one cause or another. These episodes where his spirit and body felt disconnected did not happen every morning, thankfully.

Elladan was not next to him; Elrohir could not hear him or sense his presence…A couple of weeks ago Elladan wanted to set up a routine, and that included when Elrohir wanted to get up and start the day. This either meant that it was early morning and Elrohir miraculously managed to wake up without needing to be prodded…Or something was wrong.

The younger twin hoped it was the former.

Surely enough, everything came into line again, and he opened his eyes. Darkness filled the room, so his earlier (now fading) idea of it being morning was true.

Elrohir closed his eyes again and breathed slowly. He felt dull inside. Each day passed in monotony and little happened to be exciting. He would wake up, eat, read a little bit before he had to nap, eat again, and then go to sleep. It annoyed and frustrated him.

There were some good things, though. He could walk without needing help beyond using the staff. He could articulate words clearly when he was not exhausted. He could keep up with conversation and news…but he still would forget.

Then there were the blackouts and hallucinations.

Elrohir felt the place where his skin was cut open begin to throb, and he slowly lifted a hand to rub it. The visible wounds from the procedure were long gone, though what happened underneath the skin is what incited this pain.

Elrohir thought about his current situation…

Life was not too bad, if he was honest…but it was not good either. Right now, it was unfulfilling and he despised it.

He was still bound to Elladan, Elrohir had not sought to be released from that yet…he felt sure he did not want to be released. He could not trust himself with anything like he used to.

Like before.

Elrohir discerned the little lump of fur curled into his side and he moved a hand to rest on Velegdal's back. The rabbit seemed to understand him. He would share a lot more of his thoughts with her than he did anyone else. Elrohir developed a habit of speaking to himself when alone (or when he thought he was alone) as a result. Elrohir knew it made him appear crazy, especially since the others knew about the hallucinations, but he had to hear his own voice…It helped keep himself together.

As much as Elrohir felt glad he woke up early without help, he found little motive to get up and start the day. He wished he could see what his family's faces would be like if he did get up…Alas, he lacked the energy and will.

He would try another day...

Elladan looked out the window and towards the sun. Nine in the morning at the end of January. The sky had been without many clouds lately, and some of the snow had started to melt. There would be some more snowfall before spring ended the winter, but it was refreshing to see the bare ground again.

The half-elf turned his attention to his brother. Elrohir was not so restless anymore in his sleep, though he tossed and turned every now and then. Elrohir always said he did not dream. Elladan believed he did, but instead of elven dreams where it was vivid and real, they were indistinct, unclear, and it faded from memory when one woke up…like that of a mortal. Elladan felt some apprehension concerning this. As Elrohir's brain healed, new quirks came to replace the old. The older twin was not sure what the next quirk would turn out to be, or when.

Elladan regarded the bunny silently. Velegdal sat between the space of Elrohir's neck and shoulder, awake with whiskers twitching away contently.

Elladan breathed quietly. It was time for the morning ritual.

The elder placed his hand on Elrohir's forehead. "Muindor, wake up."

He got no response. Elladan repeated the phrase a few more times before he felt a twitch. The older twin moved his hand to Elrohir's shoulder after that. A few moments later Elrohir blinked his eyes open.

"Elrohir?" Elladan questioned softly to be sure.

Elrohir answered naught, instead he took time to reorient himself and looked outside. A thoughtful look crossed his features, "Wasn't too far off…" He murmured.

Elladan blinked, "Too far from what?"

Elrohir rolled his eyes back to his sibling. The expression he had showed far too much unease and hesitation about what he wanted to say. He even appeared to be ashamed for even speaking for what sounded like a random thought. "…I…woke, early."

Elladan maintained a calm aura, but he allowed a pleased smile to reveal what he felt inside at the admission. "That is good to hear, brother. We are finally making some progress." He removed his hand.

Elrohir lay quietly as Elladan walked around the small chamber. When the older twin placed a set of clothes at the foot of the bed, Elrohir finally started to sit up. Velegdal hopped away. The twins each glanced at each other, not saying anything.

Elladan left Elrohir to his privacy.

Elladan watched the outdoors while Elrohir dressed. Balancing this new routine, Elrohir, and his work, the mental strain put into it wore him out. He gave his help, as Elrohir never truly pushed him away. Elrohir was very aware of the fact that he still needed help and a small bit of supervising. Neither of them liked it, but it could not be avoided, and they dealt with it as best as they were able.

Elrohir rarely confided anything to him now, unless it was a matter of grave importance. Elladan could read him easily though, even if Elrohir had been struck dumb. Yet Elladan respected his twin's effort in trying to keep some of his damaged dignity and pride by not pressing him, and treasured the moments when Elrohir did speak.

The elder looked over his shoulder. Elrohir stood at the archway leaning on his staff with lazy posture, his eyes set onto nothing.

Elladan moved to the door to the hallway. The movement caught Elrohir's attention and the younger watched. Elrohir forced himself to look upright and lordly, as people would be seeing them in the hallway, and he approached the door. Elladan opened it, and they left the room.

Estel stared at his food as if ants crawled all over it.

He had a small growth spurt a week ago, and the slight deepening of his voice disturbed him. Estel felt a little awkward in his movements and whenever he spoke.

Everyone he met teased him good naturedly and he took it with a blush and a smile, though growing up stayed a scary thing regardless.

But him growing up was not what was bothering him.

Elrond sat across from the boy whose birthday was in two months. "You have not touched your food. What is on your mind?"

Estel's head shot up and he blushed. He always felt embarrassed lately. "Well…I'm…worried."

"About what?"

"Nana…The snow is melting at fast pace. Do you think she is coming back?"

Elrond raised a brow ere speaking in a reassuring tone. "Your mother is alright, little one. If you want me to I can send a falcon to inquire of her whereabouts.

"No, that…will not be necessary. Thank you, Ada." Estel's face felt warm.

Elrond smiled at the man. The soon to be fifteen-year-old showed a lot of self-conscious behavior and it amused him. "You do not have to try so hard at being mature, Estel. You still have a few years left before you are fully expected to behave such."

That did not help reassure Estel. "I know but…I got to start somewhere."

"It will come naturally, Estel. Do not think too hard on it."

That helped, and Estel sighed and his shoulders sagged.

Elrond's ear twitched and he turned his head to behold his first two children enter. Elladan stood still while Elrohir walked in with a forced image of complete health. Elrond did not let his face fall at the sight. Elrohir should not have to act as if nothing was wrong when in the presence of his loved ones…

"Good day, father. Estel." Elladan greeted brightly.

Estel nodded his head in their direction.

Elrond waved a brief hand and kept a discreet eye as Elrohir sat down at his respective seat silently. "I hope the night treated you well." The father said.

"Chilly and quiet." Elladan turned his eyes to Elrohir.

Elrohir tensed under the scrutiny of three pairs of eyes. In a quiet voice he finally whispered, "Fine…"

Elrond offered a faint smile before returning to Elladan. "Any news from abroad?"

"All is well."

And the small talk began. Estel and Elrohir shared mutual silence while the other two spoke.

Estel did not bother to hide his worry and concern. To his eyes, Elrohir had slowed down in his healing. It was there, obviously, but it did not show itself in large steps anymore. Elrohir's leg healed fine. It might take a little while longer before he could stand on it without aid…at this slowed rate however, Estel was not sure when that would be.

Elrohir had lost interest in working towards those higher goals.

The elf himself, in the meantime, felt anxious and by extension: stressed. There was no reason for this anxiety…much like other emotions he felt at random. They simply happened, and it made life more difficult than it already was. And stress led to the bad things and thereby making everyone else miserable.

The younger twin heard words with no meaning, instead he focused on subduing his uncontrollable moods.

Unfortunately, that could only be achieved if he was left alone and out of everyone's way.

"Elrohir?" Elrond called him out of the mist he had lost himself to.

Elrohir snapped his eyes to his father. Elladan and Estel also were looking at him, and that did not help either.

Ashamed, Elrohir did what he thought was best. He grabbed his staff and stood up, "I'm sorry…" he whispered regretfully. Elrohir gave a hard look at Elladan. "Don't follow."

The rest of the family watched sadly as the second son left them.

"Something is wrong." Estel broke the silence a few minutes later. "Ada, Elrohir is not healing-"

"Yes, he is, Estel." Elrond cut him off effectively. The father looked to his eldest with an unvoiced question.

Elladan breathed. "There is lack of interest, but I would not blame him for that...given what he is allowed to do."

"But that lack of motivation is having a poor effect on his health." Estel stated, unintentionally sounding mature.

Elladan frowned. "I know…but what can we do?"

The brothers cast their eyes to their father.

Elrond looked at each of them. "You know what I will say."

Both sets of shoulders slumped in unison. They knew. This is part of the process.

It never lessened the pain however, even if it was normal and necessary for Elrohir to get anywhere.

Elrond pondered for a moment. "Challenge yourselves," he began. "…I will relieve you of your assignments to give you time. Find something that can bring your brother out of this hole he is in. Do not be forceful though, or it will be for naught."

Elladan and Estel nodded their understanding, and they began to use their heads.

Elrohir brought himself to a quiet room with a table and chair. He had his upper body on the table as he waited for his head to stop swimming. Light headedness warned of a blackout, he figured out that much by now. Whether it happened or not was left to fate. Elrohir wanted to be safe in case it-

…

Elrohir opened bleary eyes and assessed his surroundings. He did not recall coming here. Why was he here? He was walking in the hallway, feeling uneasy again, and he…

Oh, that was why…and that just happened.

Elrohir pressed his forehead into the bend of his arm, and with a couple of fingers rubbed his brow. If he had any energy before, it had been sucked out of him again. Elrohir had to wait for the lethargy to pass…

He must have dozed on the table, because someone had their hand on his shoulder the next moment he was aware, calling his name…not his name.

"Come on, elfling, there are better places to lounge than the table."

Elrohir made a half groan in response. He was not supposed to behave like an elfling; he was far too old for that. Still, he did not want to be bothered. Not now. Not ever.

"Elrohir? Elrohir, if you are not going to show any signs of being alright, I am going to get help."

Elrohir heard and interpretated that as a threat. Perhaps it was not a threat…but it sounded like one. The younger twin forced himself to make eye contact with the speaker. Elrohir stared irritated at Glorfindel.

The Vanya was not phased, and continued with his firm yet gentle prodding. "Good to see you too, elfling. Why are you in here alone?"

Elrohir stared out the window, not raising his head or moving his arms. "I'ws too much…" He sighed.

Glorfindel frowned. "You have to be clearer than that, Elrohir. Can you elaborate, or am I forbidden from knowing?"

The twin did not answer.

Glorfindel exhaled out his nose. "Alright…I will stand in this corner here until you continue…or you leave me by my lonesome."

Elrohir had mixed feelings about the light tone Glorfindel used. The Vanya stayed true to his word and did stay for a long time. Elrohir did not feel stressed out though, so there was that. Eventually, the twin pulled himself upright off the table and leaned back into the chair.

He continued looking out the window. "I felt overcome…again…Had to get away."

"Why did you feel overwhelmed?"

"No reason…" Elrohir's mouth curved downward. "No reason why I feel half the things I do."

"What do you feel now?"

This made Elrohir shoot daggers at the elf-lord. "Why ask this? Is it not obvious?"

"Calm." Glorfindel requested, and Elrohir tried hard to do that. The Vanya continued. "We know you are easily irritated and unsettled, elfling, and we try hard not to fuel those emotions if we can. What we are trying to do is to understand you better, and we need your involvement to do that." Glorfindel paused. "Why do you not speak? Do you fear something?"

'Stop asking questions.' "You don't understand…"

"If I may say otherwise: I do understand to a certain level. I have been hit in the head many times by Erestor and Ecthelion combined, and I have had wounds that made me want to rip myself apart to get the insect out." Glorfindel sighed. "Elrond has had his moments too, I am sure."

Elrohir said nothing at once, now reminded of his thoughts that morning. His lot could have been a lot worse, and the life he had at present was not terrible. But it could be better... "What's your meaning?"

"Trying to get you out of your self-pity, Elrohir." Glorfindel answered easily enough. "You have made a lot of progress these past months, it would not do well for you to give up after so much time and energy have been expended. Now," Glorfindel crossed his arms. "What would you like to do?"

Elrohir's brows came together at the sudden question. "I-I don't…no, thank you."

"Not an answer." Glorfindel's mouth curved up. "What do you want to do?"

Elrohir did not know what he wanted…Some things he knew he could not do, but so desperately wanted to. The things he could do did not hold his interest. Other activities…he was in the dark about, either unsure if said activity was allowed or if he could find enjoyment in it. Unless his memory played false again, he felt sure Glorfindel is the first person to ask him this question.

Elrohir went through the very small list of things he thought he wanted to do...and places he wanted to see again. "…Training field…?"

"Then there we shall go." Glorfindel looked to the exit and then back to the twin.

Elrohir shook his head and made motion to stand by himself.

The Vanya stood out in the hall. "Still no dreams?" He asked when Elrohir was within normal-speaking range.

Elrohir shook his head again.

'Well…let us see if this will help.' Glorfindel thought.

Erestor set aside a letter from the rangers to Elladan's pile, quiet and efficient in his work.

Then he felt the moron knock on his mind's door.

'What do you want, Glorfindel?' He asked politely.

'Are you overdue for your monthly insults, my friend?'

Erestor blinked. 'My what?'

'The field, Erestor. Get your acting skills equipped. For Elrohir.'

Erestor blinked again. He eyed the parchment and quill in his hands, and set them down. 'You asked for it.'

'I know, and that is the fun part.' Glorfindel answered cheekily.