A/N Well...three months later or so. I lost inspiration for everything at first (plus playing Minecraft), then school started, and for the past month it's been a cycle of anger/grief, electronic confiscation, and bad depression because I'm more of a negative thinker than positive half the time. I've finally broken out of that cycle, and may the Lord help keep it that way. I feel a lot better if you must know, enough to finally get A chapter finished.

I really wanted to do two chapters, but since it was late when I finished this chapter (which I started before my absence happened) it wouldn't be wise of me to be doing super late-nighters. I'm not really inspired enough to do a chapter every week yet, but we'll see. I do have some ideas on how I wish for this to go-perhaps getting closer to the end when we reach a certain plot idea I have in store. I didn't feel like this was going to be good quality, because I literally felt like I was going to be rusty; you are the judges though.

Two months ago was the anniversary of when I posted the first chapter.

"A new horse," Estel mentioned out loud. "Have we done that yet?"

"It has been covered, we just have to introduce Elrohir to him."

Estel made a face. "I was not aware of that."

Elladan stared ere looking at something else. He sighed, "I have nothing that has not been tried."

"I have another one."

Elladan raised a brow, "Oh?"

Estel looked mischievous. "You are not allowed to know."

The twin frowned, "Why?"

"Because you can't."

Elladan tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, "I will be watching you."

Estel did not look concerned by the threat.

The levity disappeared quickly after that. Estel and Elladan, when they finished eating, left to find themselves a place to contemplate. They came up with nothing that could elevate Elrohir's mood: they had hit a boulder on the road.

Elladan lifted a hand to cover his eyes. "He is both easy to read and hard to understand. What used to bring him joy no longer does…"

Estel looked sad by the admission and lowered his gaze. Some of his fears finally were true and it weighed on his heart. He had not really spent time with Elrohir lately, finding it hard to do so, as the elf really had changed.

For the mortal, he was learning early on how life operated. And it tends to lean toward unfairness.

Estel's head shot up as he saw Elladan stand up looking guilty. "I have neglected Elrohir for too long."

Estel blinked rapidly and had to jog down the hall as Elladan left their "council" so abruptly. "Brother-"

"Estel," Elladan interrupted. "Who is to say what he will do when left alone for too long, or what could happen. For all we know…" he exhaled again, shoulders slumped. "I do not want to think what the possibilities could be."

"But we have others that can look out for him too."

"I care not." Elladan answered with some bite in his tone, before sounding resigned again. "I am supposed to be his keeper, or he mine in these sorts of situations. I am failing in keeping to that."

Estel bit his lip and his depression increased. He hated this new reality; hated what it has turned his family into. Hated what it did to Elrohir and Elladan…Hated what it was doing to him in turn.

It broke the two people he treasured deeply; revealing persons he did not wish to know. It revealed aspects he never wished to see. If only different choices were made that day, this could have been avoided. Alas that it was not so.

The young man reached out and pulled his brother to a stop. Elladan turned his head and waited for him to speak.

"You have not had the chance to let any steam out lately, have you?" Estel questioned shyly.

Elladan blinked in subdued surprise. "No, I have not. I do not think I ever thought about it." He shook his head. "No, I cannot right now. I need to know, I need to be sure…"

Estel let Elladan pull away from his grasp to return to his search. Estel sighed and quietly followed behind, having nothing better to do but help. And help Elladan regain composure should he have a meltdown from worry in the near future.

They found no sign of Elrohir inside the main house. Elladan grew frantic, but he took comfort by the fact that Elrohir, through their bond, was not showing any signs of distress. Still, it did not help them in finding him.

'I know you do not mean to do this to me, but it makes it so much easier if you did not wander like this!' Elladan mentally yelled in frustration.

Estel became anxious when they found no trace either. Elladan finally acquiesced to the need to vent his emotions and they walked to the place best for it. When the man and elf got closer to the training grounds, they heard something peculiar going on and could see a small crowd. They heard some laughter as well, and the words became clearer as they got closer.

"Oh, such uncouth words coming from one such as yourself! Why, I do not think you are who you claim to be!"

"Who is to say my words are uncouth? You do not understand my tongue!"

"By your gesturing and irritated tone, I do understand."

Unfamiliar words followed and then more laughter.

"My lord, we should deal with this rebel at once! A follower of stone is not worthy to be in the presence of the lord of sticks," pitched in a new voice.

Elladan and Estel felt some amusement rise in their hearts, especially realizing the owners of two voices. They broke through the foliage and beheld the scene in full.

A drama was playing out: executed humorously by Glorfindel and Erestor. A couple other cadets were a part of it, acting out whatever role seemed right for the scene. They had successfully gained an audience it seemed, as any drama being played out by two of Imladris' esteemed lords was worth to watch.

Glorfindel looked very offended by the cadet's words while Erestor had his back turned to the golden-head, smug and amused at the same time. Glorfindel lifted his chin up.

"Oh, I see: no guests are allowed? What does the lord say about this behavior?"

The four actors looked to the person being referred to, and Elladan and Estel felt greatly shocked and immensely relieved by the sight. Elrohir sat on the trunk of a twisted tree. He could not keep up with the fast conversation, but he looked very much entertained.

And happy.

The younger twin glanced at Glorfindel and dramatized to look like he was thinking. With a faint smile, he looked to the laiquendë as if conveying a message.

Erestor turned to face Glorfindel after receiving the "message". "You came at such an inconvenient time-with no invitation either! Who can vouch for your innocence-that you have come with no evil intent?"

"Excuse me for my ill-demeanor, master," Glorfindel replied sarcastically and folded his arms. "My own master sent me to…observe. And so far, the hospitality is horrible."

Erestor guffawed and closed the distance, holding his own staff dangerously. He spoke in a language unfamiliar to all.

Glorfindel straightened again and looked even more affronted, "How dare you!"

"No evidence," Elrohir finally spoke, tiredly and slowly. "You came unannounced and never spoke your reasons why…Remove him."

Glorfindel gaped, Erestor smacked his arm with the staff. Glorfindel stepped away and harrumphed. "You have not heard the last of me. Mark my words!" And with that final "threat" he walked away.

That marked the end of the drama and those who understood the plot gave their applause. Elladan and Estel stayed silent: having not fully understood what happened. Elladan was more concerned about his twin than anything else. When most of the people had dispersed, Elladan approached the tree. Estel followed, but only for a short distance, while Erestor and Glorfindel (the latter having returned) let the brothers be.

"Elrohir," Elladan breathed; his heart still beat with an anxious rhythm.

Elrohir snickered slightly, now able to break character, and he glanced at Elladan with a smile. "Y-you missed it. T-they got c-creative this time."

Elladan smirked, "It sounds like it." He looked back to his tutors.

Glorfindel appeared well pleased with their success. "What number was that on the list, Erestor?"

"Twenty-Seven I think," replied the advisor. "That one was more suitable for people to jump in on. I daresay it surprised me that so many gathered this time."

"You clearly have forgotten the attention we grab whenever we put on these shows, Erestor." Glorfindel harrumphed. "Obviously it means that more must go on!"

Estel tried suppressing his laughter and Elladan snorted. The older twin took note of Elrohir's hand grasping his sleeve for support. "I wish we could have seen it in full instead of seeing the end."

"I can have it transcribed for you." Erestor offered. "Even I want to remember this for a time yet."

"We would appreciate it."

"Alas, duty calls," Glorfindel intervened. "I got enough beatings than I was expecting, and I do not want more for slacking off."

Elrohir's voice floated into the air finally, "Thank you…"

The golden-lord bowed gracefully and maintaining the dramatic flair to it. Erestor stayed in his place while he looked at Elladan. The older twin gave him the silent dismissal and the laiquendë bowed his head before he too left the small field.

The human approached his brothers, but he stayed silent, not knowing what to say. Elrohir did not seem to notice Estel yet as he looked off into space, still holding onto Elladan's sleeve.

Elladan placed a hand on the back of Elrohir's head. "Are you with us?"

Elrohir blinked a few times but otherwise did not respond. Not in the way they expected that is. "It's been a long time…D-dan?"

"I am here, Elrohir." Elladan frowned and shot a glance at Estel. The man also shared a concerned look. The elf glanced back at Elrohir and gently prodded Elrohir to stand up. "The lord of sticks needs his rest after holding court."

"No!" Elrohir snapped slightly and resisted the pull. Elladan paused, shocked and afraid of doing something to ruin his twin's day. Elrohir sat with tense shoulders before he let out a sigh. "I don't want to go back…" he said in a softer voice. "It's d-driving me insane, being there."

Elladan felt guilty at this admission after he realized what he tried to do. Slowly, he retracted his hand. "I am sorry…I was not thinking."

Elrohir waved a hand absently before shifting his weight onto his staff. His eyes went towards the direction of a small glade nearby. "Help me…W-we can be t-together there."

"Are…Do you want anything to eat?" Estel finally asked. "I mean, you did not exactly eat anything earlier."

Elrohir turned his head slightly toward the mortal, "Please."

Estel grinned at not being refused and he immediately started jogging away. The human sensed Elladan's calmer attitude now that he was with his twin, so Estel felt confident that things would be alright. Elladan knew how to deal with Elrohir better than he could.

When Elladan offered to help Elrohir stand this time Elrohir accepted it. In mutual silence, the twins walked towards the place that had caught Elrohir's interest. When they arrived, Elrohir made way to another tree and sat on the green sward. Elladan sat on the root nearby while Elrohir got comfortable.

Elladan glanced at Elrohir after a long pause. He had to keep Elrohir awake until Estel came back. Elrohir could be hard to wake up during the afternoon, and Elladan did not want to go through that. Not wanting it to be completely still, he asked a question that would not incite irritation. "What was the story about?"

Elrohir breathed out his nose and the smile came back on his face. "A-allusion towards the old d-debate of who's greater…G-glorfindel does an awfully g-good exaggeration of N-noldorin pride."

"And Erestor?"

"Is Erestor," Elrohir said simply. "T-the start…while Glorfindel and I were w-walking, E-erestor came from the t-trees and pulled me away, c-claiming that I w-was kidnapped by the evil stone-lord. H-he led me to the tree, and it a-all f-flowed from there."

Elladan thanked the two lords in his mind again and he smiled outwardly. "I look forward to reading the transcript. Adar may like it."

"H-he does…always does."

Elladan shifted a little and bit his lip, uneasy with the quiet that followed. Elrohir lost the smile and drifted into a peaceful calm. Elladan knew he should not prod, but he could not stand it. He did not want something like what happened months ago to repeat itself. "Elrohir?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you tell me your thoughts?" Elladan asked softly.

Elrohir, of course, did not respond, and from Elladan's perspective, he could see the change in the younger twin's expression.

"You know why I ask, Elrohir. We have come a long way-"

"I already told Ada," Elrohir interrupted with some bitterness. "…b-before the new year."

"That was then, brother, this is now." Elladan kept a calm approach despite the fluctuation to Elrohir's mood. "If you opened up to Glorfindel, then that is all I need to know."

Elrohir bit his lip and rested his cheek against the root, "No…"

Elladan decided then to drop the subject completely, and he made no more comment on the matter.

Elrohir surprised him, however, as the younger twin seemed to crawl out of a cave he resided in. "I'm afraid, I'm tired, I'm f-frustrated…impatient, you c-could say."

Elladan nodded even though Elrohir would not see it.

Elrohir sighed, "I d-don't know how we can continue w-what we did before, Elladan…I'm v-vulnerable."

"It is nothing a helmet cannot fix," Elladan replied.

"It's not that alone…I-I don't know if I…will ever be the same. If this happens a third time…I'm not c-coming back."

Elladan frowned and placed his hand on Elrohir's head again. "Then live life now and do not worry about the what-ifs. You have no reason to worry right now."

"But I do," Elrohir complained. "I c-can't be an i-invalid…I have to do s-something."

Elladan did not answer immediately and he closed his eyes before reopening them. "Then here is something you can do, brother. Try and be happy: unburden yourself from these worries and please, stop hiding. It hurts Adar to see you like this."

Elrohir made a half whine, out of annoyance rather than misery. "I d-don't want to w-wait…"

"I know, it is painful for me too to have to get up in the morning," Elladan answered with a small tease in his tone.

Elrohir lifted his head and stared. "Y-you deserve that."

"Velegdal is leaving gifts behind out of spite too I may add."

Elrohir bit his lip at that, and how bowed his head to hide a shy smile.

Elladan felt his heart rise with gladness seeing the change in Elrohir's demeanor. The play and finally speaking some of his concerns worked its magic. Elladan hoped it can continue this way, to avoid the inevitable difficulties to be easier to manage.

"Elladan, I brought more so you can participate. I knew that once you saw the food you would want it," called Estel.

The twins turned their gaze to the human and to the elf-maid he had to have help. Elladan blinked rapidly at the platter and indeed started desiring it. Elrohir smiled gratefully at his adopted-brother and at the other elf.

"Thank you for being considerate of me," said Elladan. "It would have added to my list of torments if I had to simply watch."

"Of course, but most of it is for Elrohir, mind you," Estel answered.

Elrohir in his silence listened to the banter. The busy afternoon had left him more tired than usual, and he was quite overdue for a nap. With the mini feast Estel brought, he felt sure his journey to sleep would be fast. At least this time, he had an appetite, and he felt thankful for that.

The permanent shadow on his heart allowed a little light to shine through today.