I grab another arrow, string it and watch it fly. I have been doing this consecutively for the past hour. Arrow. Aim. Fly. The rest of the class has stopped and they are now looking at me as if frightened. I do not care. I have found a way to replace my grief with anger, and it feels great.

       Arrow. Aim. Fly. Master Gwesthilol has tried to approach me, but he doesn't get very far. He sees the fire in my eyes, the anger in my heart, and it scares him. I grab another arrow. I string it. I then hesitate. Glorfindel has stepped between me and my target. He glares at me concerned, but still showing his authority. All I want is for the grief to go away. Would I shoot Glorfindel, the elf that helped raise me, that cared for me, to make the torment lessen? Yes. I would. I close me eyes, trying to ease the inner turmoil.

          "Move!" I order threateningly, hoping to avoid the fighting between my heart and my head. My head keeps telling me to ignore Glorfindel and just hit the target. My heart tells me to stop, Glorfindel is trying to help me.

          "I won't," Glorfindel says stubbornly. I feel my arm pull back on the string and I am ready to fire. I hear the arrow fly by and then I look at Glorfindel. His eyes glare at me in shock and disbelief. The arrow is embedded in his heart and I watch him fall as if time has stopped and it takes all of eternity for his body to hit the ground, broken.

          I open my eyes shaken. Glorfindel stands as stubbornly as ever, the class and Master Gwesthilol still watch in fear, and my anger is gone. Somewhere in the middle of my dilemma, I had a vision. All I needed was to see it happen for my heart it to finally win the battle. I almost killed him, I almost killed my protector, my friend. Grief flows through me like poison. I drop my weapon and fall to my knees. I no longer have the strength to stand. Glorfindel comes rushing over to me, embracing me like I am his own. My own emotions break as I realize Glorfindel's eyes are tear-stained. My own tears can keep themselves in no longer. Valar knows how long they have needed to be shed.

           I hear Glorfindel yell some orders at Master Gwesthilol, but I can not determine what the words are. I find myself weeping into Glorfindel's shoulder. I can not believe what has just transpired. My anger nearly killed him! I nearly killed him.

            "Elrohir!" I cry in dismay. I can't live without him. My father is caring for him. I always thought that if we died it would be on the field of battle, side by side. I can't bear to see Elrohir like this, with a horrid mortal sickness! I can't help but think that it should have been me. I should have realized. No. I never imagined that we could get sick. I didn't know. When father told me that the human blood in us allows it, I felt anger toward everyone. How come I was not told of this? How come it was Elrohir who got sick and I was spared?

            Elrohir caught pneumonia on a peaceful winter day. It had begun to snow that very morning and we always loved to play. It is something that went along with being an elfling. We both went out without coats or protection from the cold.. We lost our way and were out, alone, for quite awhile before Glorfindel found us. It was Elrohir who caught pneumonia and all I got was a cold. It was my idea to go out, Elrohir wanted to make sure Ada knew first. I didn't even listen to him. I should be the one with pneumonia. Why was it not me? That is where my anger came from. My guilt. I was angry at myself.

       "Elrohir!" I cry again into Glorfindel's tunic.

      "I know, elfling. I know," says Glorfindel. He is crying as well, I can tell.
     It feels as if all hope has left us and all we have to hold on to is memory. Elrohir. My Elrohir. We are still crying when father arrives. He takes me from Glorfindel sweeping me into his own loving arms. Stroking my hair he sings a song. It is a lullaby from when we, Elrohir and I, were younger. It comforts me for awhile, but the horrible reality comes back to me worse than before. My brother is dying, and it is my fault.

      "Oh, Elladan. My wonderful Elladan," my father says in dismay. He knows, as a healer and as twin himself, what is about to happen. I have stopped weeping, but my grief is still present. Horribly so. It hurts, like a knife was stabbed through my heart and twisted.

        "I can't live without him, Ada," I say. I feel my father's tears fall onto my face before my vision clouds and I fall into darkness. My twin and I, we both still breathe. Only Elrohir can make me return, and only Ada can save Elrohir. It is all up to Ada now. If he loses one of us, he loses us both.

      Another breath. And another. That's good. He is still alive, but for how long? I have worked endlessly trying to save my son's life, and at last there is a change. Not much of a change, but still a change, nevertheless. The foolish boys! They never should have left without my approval. Of course, I never told them that they could get sick. So its my fault as well.

Hopefully Elrohir will make a full recovery. It looks like he inherited more of the human blood then his brother. It was the same with Elros and me. I was more immune to human sickness, Elros however got it all the time. Ah, Elros. I have lost so much in my life, I can't lose my son as well. Never my son. Please, I'd give anything for you to spare him. Elrohir, why you?

             I go to fix Elrohir's blankets that have found their way to the floor, escaping my son's feverish fury. Elrohir is plagued by hallucinations in his dreams. When he is awake, I see the fear in his eyes. It is like he is with us, but not with us at the same time.
Suddenly the door slams open and Gwesthilol comes barging in. I start to reprimand him for the loud noise, my son is sleeping after all, but I stop in mid-sentence at the look on his face.

         "Gwes, breathe. What is going on?" I ask.

          "El-Elladan... he... he's.." he says panting. I hold my hand up telling him to stop. I am never going to get anything out of him like this. Instead I ask him to lead me to Elladan. My heart contracts. Elrohir barely alive, and now something is wrong with my other son! I can't handle it.

            "Gwes, where are we going?" I ask disguising my worry. Elves that know me well would have noticed the slight tremor in my voice, but seeing as how I am fairly good at hiding my feelings, Gwesthilol didn't notice.

             "Archery range." he says too quickly for my liking. It seems as if he is in a rush. That can't possibly be good for my eldest son.

         My heart drops and my stomach rolls as we approach the range at a run. Elladan is sobbing into Glorfindel's tunic. I can hear the heart-wrenching sobs above my harsh breathing.  I really hope I am not too late. I should've known it was grief, when Gwes first came running in. There is always a high possibility that an elf can fade from grief if someone they love dies or is close to it, especially if they have a bond as great as my sons'.

             As I reach my life-long friend and my son, I feel tears begin to dampen my eyes. I reach out and sweep Elladan into my arms, where he will know he is loved. He feels so broken and vulnerable. I have no clue what to do. I am considered one of the wisest beings on Arda, the greatest healer alive, and yet I know not what to do to help my son. Some healer! I begin to sing a song from the twins' childhood, a soft lullaby that always lulled them to sleep and gave them comfort when they were frightened.

"Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You have come to journey's end..."
-Annie Lennox

     The song isn't working! I start to panic. I do not know what else to do, but I would do anything to keep him alive and conscious! Please Valar don't take him from me yet!

             "Oh, Elladan. My wonderful Elladan," I say in despair! He is going to leave, I can see it in his eyes. He is trying to speak. Please let him say something positive, and nothing that would take him away from me.

            "I can't live without him, Ada." he says. No! He is definitely leaving. Please, Valar, don't take him yet. Let him see that he is loved more than he knows.

My tears turn into sobs, almost identical to the ones heard coming from Elladan's form only a few moments ago. Suddenly, the figure in my arms falls limp. The hand I have been holding loosens, his head tilts backwards making his hair fly all over the place. This is my son, this is what grief has brought him to.

          Wait! He is breathing! Valar, thank you! There is still hope! My sons can still be saved. I hope now that I will have the willpower to save them. Only I have the power to save them both. I know this, but am weary to the outcome of such pressure. Please Valar, help me. Help them both.

          "Glorfindel," I say finding my voice, "Help me get the twins in the same room. They can draw strength from each other." He complies immediately. Hold on my sons, there is still hope. 

Disclaimer: I do not, never did, and never will own anything having to do with LotR.

My Sources of Hope:

I hold Elladan in my arms rocking him back and forth as Elrond and Erestor set up his bed next to Elrohir's. Elrond is weary. He knows what is on the line, but he is unsure of himself. He needs to be strong. It is the only thing that can help the twins now.

             I look into Elladan's pale face. It is still tear-stained. My own face is still tear-stained too; I have not stopped crying. I may cry softly on the outside, but my insides scream in despair. The young ones have brought such joy into my life, I can't lose them now. I remember when they were still babies, and they would play with my golden braids. That is until they met Legolas and realized I was not the only elf with golden hair. I was surprised that they didn't realize their own mother's hair was golden.

            "Amme's is Yellow, Glorfi! Not Golds!" Elladan had said fondly with that small child's chuckle that makes me want to hug them and give them tons of ginger cookies. Now that I think about it, Celebrían's hair is more of a yellow color rather than gold.

                   I was so scared for them when they were younger. They were accident prone and the way I acted when they got hurt you would have thought I was their father! They often got hurt, falling out of trees, that kind of thing, nothing serious.

          And then there were the times that they pulled their twin pranks on us; switching places, trying to be the same twin, that kind of stuff. I realize now that if they pulled that these days, they wouldn't get away with it. I have developed a sense of who is who. My wonderful elflings, please do not despair!

                   Elladan's bed is ready. As I start to get up to put him down, I realize, I do not want to let him go yet. I want to hold him for a little while longer. Elrond nods, almost mechanically, and I sit back down. Elrohir is awake and has seen most of what is going on, he, however, can not comprehend it. His mind is clouded by the fever that is slowly killing him.

            Elladan didn't know how to handle the situation and Elrohir doesn't either. Elladan's grief was too much to bear. Maybe if I had not stopped him from letting his anger out, this would never had happened! Maybe if I had just let him destroy the target, he would not be here, dying, right now!

           Elrond re-enters to give Elrohir some herbs that are supposed to help him breath properly. He seems to know that something bothers me. Of course he does, he's known me for a long time and has learned my habits.

           "It was not your fault, Glorfindel." He says, his sparkling eyes digging into mine.

            "But I made him remember his grief! If I had just let him shoot, he probably would have been fine!"

            "Either way his grief would have consumed him. The anger was only a temporary escape." I lower my eyes, unable to meet Elrond's gaze.

             "Do not lose hope, my friend."

              He is right. Elrohir and Elladan need my strength and love right now. The least I can do is give it to them. I stand up and lower Elladan onto the bed. Elrohir realizes that his brother is not well. He is worried.

           "What's w-wrong w-with 'Dan?" he asks weakly his voice wavering. Oh, little elfling, if only you knew!

           "You need to get better young one," I say, "Elladan's fate is in your hands." His eyes get wide before they slowly close from exhaustion. Elrond puts a wet cloth onto his brow to dull the fever. I kiss what is left of his covered forehead.

           "Sleep, young one. Save your strength"

          I then do the same with Elladan. My two sources of hope hold on, please! Imladris needs you, your father needs you, and I need you.

Authors notes: Thanks to anyone who reviews and who has already. I appreciate the compliments and constructive criticism. Thanks! Please R&R

Too Far Gone: Elrohir POV

When I next wake, sunlight shoots through the leaves on the trees and dances upon my face. I feel it rather than see it, for my eyes are still closed.

I sigh as the rays of the sun bathe my weary soul with their light. My hand is grabbed by another. It is probably either Ada's or Elladan's.

“Elrohir, come on. Elrohir, open your eyes, my son.”

It is Ada then. His hand squeezes mine as I try to open my eyelids which feel like they have weights on them. I blink a few times to straighten the blurry images. Ada's face comes into focus a few moments later, his eyes sparkling with joy.

“Ada?” I manage to croak. Wow, that was painful. Note to self: Avoid speaking, it hurts my throat.

“Yes, Elrohir, it is me. You're making rapid progress, though you're not breathing as well as I would like you to,” he says.

I flash him a grin. Elladan will be so happy when Ada tells him how much I have improved. Elladan...wait.

Now that I am more aware, the previous night's events come back to me with a burning feeling of regret.

*Glorfindel rocking a limp Elladan*

*Elladan's pale face*

*My sense of loneliness*

“Elladan?” I cry pitifully. Ironically, that doesn't hurt my throat.

Ada's strong arms wrap around me and he picks me up. I am too weak to walk to 'Dan's bed. He sits me down on Elladan's bed, though he still holds me tight, so I can see how my brother fairs. His hair is unkempt, his face pale, his body unmoving except for a slight movement in his chest. I would have thought him dead if Ada did not place my hand on his chest so I could tell that his heart was still beating.

“What's wrong with him, Ada? I just don't understand.”

“My beautiful son, he was consumed by his grief. He blamed himself for your sickness and was so upset about your declining condition that he wanted to die. I suppose he is waiting for you.”

“But Ada, I am not leaving for Mandos' Halls, yet.”

“No, my son, you aren't.” I quickly realize now what father is saying. My brother, my twin is waiting for me to travel with him to Mandos' Halls. He will give up on me and die thinking that I never tried to save him. He is going to die, and I, the one who was supposed to die, will survive.

My spirit screams in agony. This not fair! This was not supposed to happen. We were supposed to grow up together and be there for each other always to confide in. I can't just be left here alone!

“I'm so sorry, Elrohir. He's too far gone.”

No, it isn't possible, it can't be possible! My brother is NOT going to die, I will NOT let him. My tears fall down onto 'Dan's face. This is going to destroy our family.

*too far gone*

*too far gone*

*too far gone*

A/N I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. If you can please try to take the time to review. I'd appreciate it!

Halls of Mandos: Elrohir's POV

I know I can't just let Elladan die. It's not fair. He shouldn't have to die. I know there is something I can do. There has to be. My brother and I are meant to be together forever, never to be separated. All I have to do is find a way to bring him back. Come on, it not that hard, Elrohir! Think! There has to be a way!

Ada is sobbing onto my shoulder now. I have stopped crying; I am too consumed by my own thoughts to cry. There must be a way for me to call him back. What has Ada done to call back his patients from the darkness? He's used athelas, but they've already tried that, the scent is in the air.  He's gone to speak with them before but-
     

That might work! If I can only think of how Ada did it, he never taught us before. Ugh! I don't know! Well, Elladan and I have a very strong bond, if I can channel that I'm sure I can bring him back. I really can't believe I am going to try this. Ada says that inexperienced healers who try this often die. I just have to believe in myself, I know I can do this. 

Alright Elladan, I am coming. I draw inside myself. My memories flash through my mind: Elladan and I as toddlers playing with our toy soldiers, us slightly older pulling a prank on Glorfindel, my first Westron language class. Everything that has happened to me flies through my head within a few seconds. When I am almost near unconsciousness and closer to my brother, I go limp. My father knows now what I have done. His voice screaming my name echoes as I fall into the darkness of death. Falling, falling....

~*~*~*~*~

My whole body feels on fire as I slowly open my eyes. It’s incredibly dark where I am, no light except for tiny candles that seem to light only a small portion of the long corridor that I am in. The candles seem to go on forever. I can't see what I am walking towards. Is this where my brother is?  Is this where he has been for the past few days?

The dark hallway seems to get darker as I walk down it. The carpet is a dark shade of burgundy, but it appears black because of the lack of lighting. The walls are black from what I can tell. There seems to be a slight wind in the hallway that gives me chills all the way down to my feet.

Eventually, I begin to see a light up ahead. As I reach it, I notice that it is a bright white door. No doubt this is the unconscious and the door way leads to Mandos' Halls. Death is only a door opening away. In the corner of the end of the hallway, there is a curled figure. His head is laid upon his knees. His ebony hair is spread out, covering his face, and falling past his knees and onto the floor. He rocks back and forth. This pitiful figure is my brother. He's almost lost.
 

"Elladan?" I whisper. He doesn't answer. It is as if he's in a trance. I kneel down next to him and lift up his chin, forcing our eyes to connect.

"Elladan?" I say again.

"Elrohir," he breathes, eyes welling up with tears, "I thought you'd never arrive." The tears took me aback. Elladan has never cried since he grew out of childhood. Not knowing what to say, I take the moments of silence hugging my brother and drying his tears. Elladan's eyes are tear-streaked, proving that it wasn't the first time he had cried.

"It feels like a millennia since I began waiting for you." he says. His voice is small. It makes him seem vulnerable, like a small child and his nightmare over the monster under his bed.
 

We sit there for awhile, savoring the other's touch that we've been deprived of for so long. I can't help but think about how much I almost lost, how much I can still lose. My brother is the most important thing in my life, if I lose him, I don't know what I will do.

"Are we ready?" Elladan says as he pulls away from the embrace.

"Ready for what?" I ask.
 

"To leave,” he points to the door, “to die?" This surprises me. I know that my brother wants to die, but I thought that maybe if he saw me okay and not dead from pneumonia then he might change his mind.

"I didn't come here to die, Elladan. I came to bring you back.” I say finding my voice. Elladan's face falls. He obviously thought that we could just remain forever in the Halls of Mandos. I can't abandon father and mother; they'd be devastated if they lost us both. Yet I can't leave Elladan; we need each other. I help him to get up and place my hand on his shoulder. He brushes it off and walks toward the white door to my confusion.

"Elladan?" He turns around, a frown on his face.

"I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD BETRAY ME!  I've waited for you for Valar knows how long and when you finally get here you expect me to go back to a world full of grief and loss" he snarls. His outburst scared me and I begin to think that I have lost the brother that I love.

"Our world, my twin, is not full of grief and loss, but hope and love if you could only see it." I say. Doubt lingers in his eyes, but anger also reflects. The fact that I am the cause of that anger terrifies me greatly.

Elladan, heedless of my pleas, opens the white door and enters. I too enter the passage way not out of curiosity, but out of fear of this place. The walls seemed to run blood and the stench from it was making me feel indisposed.

Elladan and I have entered a field of green. Flowers bloom within seconds. Trees grow tall within minutes. There seems to be no sense of time in this place, just the cycle of living things. Elves dance among the trees and a great song rises above the air and into the clouds. This place is connected wholly with the elves and nature as one: it is paradise. The wind breathes my name, calling me to the land. Like a drum it repeats and its beat soaks inside my soul. The sun shines and bathes the land in its orange light.  A rainbow flitters across the sky. The roar of waves hitting rocks can be heard in the distance. This is what all elves dream of, but my heart feels empty. I am surrounded by all I have ever dreamed of, but I don't feel complete. What is it that I am missing?
 

Elladan is left speechless as he admires the place. His eyes widen as he sees the birds wave to us from the sky. A butterfly lands upon his nose and he lets out a child's giggle.

"This is paradise, brother. Isn't it wonderful!" he says as he spins in circles. I grin at his enthusiasm. It’s great to see him happy. He's been so locked in about his emotions recently. For the first time in a long while, happiness shines in his eyes. It makes my heart smile to see him like this, but then I suddenly remember where else I have felt my heart like this: when I am around my mother and father!
 

"This is not paradise, ‘Dan. It's missing something," his gaze falls to me questioningly.  

 "Ada and Nana. Glorfindel and Erestor. Elladan, it's missing Imladris!" I long to be home and it shows in my stature, but Elladan is convinced that this place is home. As I look around once more, the roar of the ocean sounds threatening, the song of the elves turn dark, the voice calling my name is getting louder and my head is ready to explode within me. I can't remain here. 
 

"Elrohir, Elrohir, ELROHIR!" the repetition continues....
~*~*~*~

"Elrohir, ELROHIR!" I groan; my head is spinning and my stomach is reeling. That is not the voice in the wind, but my father's grievous voice. I feel his hand holding onto mine and trembling in fright. His other hand is tucking a stray hair behind my ear. His touch feels exhilarating on my soul. I feel safe now, even though part of me is torn. Elladan did not return with me. I failed.

"I'm sorry, Ada." I murmur. It’s still painful to speak. Ada's hand tightens around mine.

"My son," his says relieved, “I have not lost you and that gives me hope." I finally open my eyes, hoping that the light will not blind me. Surprisingly, it doesn't. I look over to Glorfindel who is still trying to revive Elladan. I look away. My brother's form is pitiful. He has lost so much weight from the coma, his arms and legs have lost most of their muscular roundness. 

Glorfindel looks up at Ada and I saddened. We both know now that my brother will not return to us. Glorfindel walks over to my bed and kisses my brow before wiping away his tears and whispering something to Ada. I was able to catch the words, "body… funeral... service"

As Glorfindel opens the door, Ada and I look at each other's damp faces. Suddenly, a large gasp comes from the bed next to mine. A loud choking sound follows before I fall unconscious. The last thing I hear is the thunder of footsteps, running into the room.

 A/N I hope everyone enjoyed this. Please read and review if you can, I love to get the feedback!

Chapter 6
Elladan POV

The Loss of Paradise

 I lean against the wall of the long hallway catching my breath. My lungs refuse to inhale for what seems like hours, but is only a few moments.  As I look back, I realize I have not even walked very far. The white door still stands luminescent against the onslaught of black that I enter.

I can't believe that I almost assumed that I was free. The repetition of the voice calling my name is still engraved in my soul. I will never forget its strong timbre. That voice held power.  I almost lost my life to the lies that I was feeding myself. I realize now that what I want is not in the Halls of Mandos.

 I feel the wind caress my face and the gulls cry as they fly across the sky. Rainbows cover the sky in their blinding array of colors. There are elves singing and dancing in all their glory. I know I am home. This is where I want to remain forever. A butterfly lands on my nose and I start to giggle as its wings flap, tickling my nose.
 

"This is paradise brother!" I say. "Isn't it wonderful?" I can't help but to spin in circles as I did when I was a child. ‘Ro and I used to have spinning contests when we were younger. Elrohir is smiling and I think that he is remembering those times.

Elrohir suddenly ruins my mood by saying that because this place is absent of our family, that it is not paradise. This is perfect! I can't understand why he thinks that we need them to live in harmony.

I was so angry at Elrohir for abandoning me after he entered the Halls with me. I never thought that my brother and I *could* chose different destinies. I was so devastated. I don't ever want to feel like that. If we ever have to choose our future like Ada did, I promise that I will choose with my brother. We were meant to remain together forever.

I long for my brother. I now see what he has been seeing all along. It's making me sick. The walls scream with the agony of Middle Earth. The noise is deafening.  It seems ironic that I am walking towards the darkness and not towards the light.  This tunnel is making me claustrophobic. Oh Valar, help me!

Elrohir, I need you! Please come help me, Elrohir! My knees give out and I fall to the crimson floor.

"I don't care what you want, Elrohir! This is my choice whether you choose to remain with me or not!" I say.
 
"Brother, you don't mean that!  You love me. You need me and you'll realize that before the end of this journey. Good bye, brother"

In a whirlwind of color Elrohir leaves the Halls of Mandos and I am left all alone.

"Elrohir! Wait!" I cry. I never thought he would actually leave!

"Elrohir!" I cry. Suddenly I see very familiar boots in front of my face. I look up to see my twin staring down at me.  Oh, Elrohir, I'm sorry.

"Elrohir," I breathe lightly, "I'm so sorry, brother. I need help" My eyes are bloodshot, and I can't seem to get up. Elrohir embraces me saying that he will always be there when I need help.  I feel ashamed that I have to rely on my brother. He doesn't seem to understand that as a developing warrior, independence is required.  However, as a twin, it makes me feel safe to be in his embrace.
 

"Elladan, we must leave."

 "Okay, ‘Ro." We both get up and walk hand in hand down the long hallway.

"Elrohir!" My cries are swept away by the wind. Cursed wind! I still feel a connection with him, but my pleas are not sent.  The wind grasps my desperate calls and strangles them. I begin to doubt how like paradise this place is, surely if it is ignoring my needs, it is not all it is said to be.
 

I move forward and try to catch a few of the sparkles left over from when Elrohir disappeared. It might be all I have left of my brother to hold on to. I take a small vial that is on a chain from around my neck. It holds medicine; Father always says to have some handy. I empty the vial and capture the rainbow mist.  I then put the chain back around my neck, the safest place that I have. The mist disappears as if it was waiting for me to do that. I feel a tear slide down my cheek, but I wipe it away quickly. I can't be seen crying!
I turn around quickly to admire my new home. I am not blessed with the beautiful scene of butterflies, dancing elves, and rainbows. Instead in front of me there is a blindingly white figure, staring down at me and in the background, only black.

The light has officially disappeared and I can't see my twin who is right next to me. The candles ran out awhile ago. I can feel him hyperventilating slightly. He hates the dark almost as much as I hate small places.  We can only get through this together.  Our hands are still clenched together, sweating slightly, but entwined. I know that we can get through this. 

I need to find a light for my brother. He hates this dark, he is uncertain about our progression and it scares him. There has to be something that produces light. I should've grabbed one of the candles from before, but it's too late now.  I know! The vial, the rainbow mist, that will give Elrohir at least enough light to relax slightly.
 

I pull out the vial, and indeed it does produces a miniscule amount of light, but it is enough. Elrohir looks into my eyes. I smile at him and he mouths a thank you. He is about to ask me where I got the mist, but I shake my head. I'd rather keep this secret to myself. Maybe when we are older I will explain to Elrohir about the mist.
 

After what seems like forever, we make it to a light. When we get closer, I realize that it is coming from the ceiling and that we are required to climb a ladder to get there.  Great! Elrohir is more than a little frightened of heights.   His face grows pale as he also realizes what we need to do.
 

"I skipped this when I came here earlier," he says. He lets out a big sigh before grasping the edges and taking the first step up. I follow soon after.   When we are almost at the top I look down to see how far we've climbed. A white figure stands at the bottom, supporting the ladder. He gives me a nod and I continue up the ladder with a smile.

"Mandos!" I say surprised. Mandos shrinks to my size so that we are eye level to each other. He looks at me in despair. I don't understand why. His blue eyes burn into mine.
 

I suddenly am forced to relieve my memories. Elrohir and I as Elflings, we were being thrown into the air by Glorfindel and Adar. Our first reading lesson in Westron. Elrohir's first injury, a paper cut.  And many other memories. After painfully relieving what I am being forced to lose, Mandos lets my mind free and I no longer see the happy times.
 

I shunned myself from those future memories that could've been just as pleasant. A tear falls again, but this time I can't brush it away. It is followed by many others, which turns into sobs.

"Young one, do you want another chance?" Mandos says to me, his voice over-powering. My eyes light up. There is a slight chance, a small hope, that I can return!  I nod my head vigorously.

"Then go, child! Your family awaits you!" He says. He leads me to a passageway under a rock. He tells me that through there I can re-enter the world. I now realize that the white door where I entered has disappeared.

"You can enter, but not exit through that door." Mandos says to me reading my mind.

"How come Elrohir was able to leave so quickly?"

"He for one, was being revived by your father, who has skill in calling people back. He also wanted badly to return and he quickly changed his mind about this place."

"Why can't I leave that quickly?"

"Full of questions, aren't we, young Elladan! You have been exposed too long to the Room of Waiting. You need to exit physically, rather than mentally as your brother did."
 

"Room?  That wasn't the Halls?" I ask. He looks at me surprised.
 

"You didn't think that that was the Halls, did you?"  I smile sheepishly.

He sighs before saying, "The Room of Waiting is a sort of "dock" to the halls. It's still death, but it's for easier passing to the Halls. The Room of Waiting takes the form of what the subject wants most. But it can't take the shape of any creature in particular.  Which is another reason why, when your brother knew that paradise was where your family was, he was able to exit quickly.

I thank him and enter the small tunnel. Claustrophobia sets in and I shakily crawl toward the corridor that I was trapped in for so long. In the distance I hear, "You will be in the same place you entered." Sure enough I surfaced right at the white door.

A/N I hope everyone enjoyed that  chapter. Much thanks to slayer9649 for beta-ing this chapter. Please R and R if you get the chance.

Elrond:
A great weight has been lifted from my heart. Both of my sons are alive. There were many moments throughout the past few days that I really thought that I would lose one or both of them. I can still feel my heart stop as I think about them lying there so pale and calm. A father should never have to witness that. My sons are still growing; they have their whole lives ahead of them. They do not deserve to die young. I am grateful to Mandos for sending them back to me.
 
I came so close to losing most of what matters in my life. My two wonderful sons returned to me when I had only a thread of hope left. I loathe to think of what I’d do if they had left for good. I nearly did lose them and it scares me that they came so close...
 
They’re still healing. It’s been about a week since they both woke up.  I’ve seen them attached at the hip. They are scared to let the other one out of their sight. I can understand how it feels.  They came so close to being separated forever, this is not something that they will get over quickly.

 Elladan is still not eating as much as he should. He was very malnourished when he woke up and he hasn’t gotten that much better. He is not strong enough to do what he wants and it’s taking it’s toll on him. As a Son of Elrond and a future warrior he perceives his reliance on others as a weakness when, as I have tried explaining, it is merely the process of healing. I am happy to say though, that he lit a smile yesterday. It was such a beautiful smile and I will never forget it. I have missed the joy radiating off him. It was a pleasant reminder that through all of this they will get better.

 Elrohir’s illness is almost fully gone. He has a small case of the sniffles and it is quite funny to hear him sniffling at the dinner table full of all my advisors. He himself laughs some times when he sniffs at the least opportune moment. He, like my eldest, is dealing with the possibility that they could be separated. I think that this has been a rude awakening for them. They won’t fight over the most useless things that much anymore.
 
 I am overjoyed though that they both survived. I would hate for my sons to have to go through what I had to go through. The pain is nearly unbearable and I am glad that they were spared from facing it. When Elros died I was devastated. He was my second half, losing him was losing half of myself. I nearly died from the grief. I miss him so much sometimes that I wish I had died, but then I think of my sons and my gorgeous wife and I am happy that I chose the way I did. However, the ‘what if’ is still there and it always will be... I love you, my brother; I wish you could see your nephews. They’re so much like us.
       
Elladan:

I sit content in Ada’s large lounge chair. I finally have 5 minutes free from... everything. That is except for Elrohir, of course. He is sleeping near the fire, his head resting on his hands and his eyes are glazed over as he wanders the Paths of Dreams. I’m finally free from the cooks constantly telling me to eat. Do they not understand that I am NOT hungry? I get so frustrated sometimes. They treat me like I am helpless and I am not.
   
I’ve been getting better. I know that I have. When I woke up I couldn’t even hold a spoon. Now I can not only hold a spoon, but I can use it as well.  I am up and walking, but Ada refuses to let me ride my horse or run as I feel so inclined to do.

 I can still sometimes hear the palpitating call of my name as I was... there. The images are still fresh in my mind. I can see clear as day the figure of Mandos. I can still feel my guilt over letting my brother leave, his face as I told him that I would not go with him, the pity in his eyes.

 I consciously start stroking the vial hidden under my shirt. I can feel my brother’s essence as it shimmers. I’ve been observing it. When he is angry it turns a red-ish color. When it turns blue my brother is depressed. When my brother is happy is turns a beautiful mix of yellow and white. All the while it is swirling, sparkling. It truly is my brother. I will always have a piece of him.   It will always lie above my heart.

 I’m debating if I should tell Elrohir about the vial.  He has seen it before and he has been considerate enough to not ask any questions. He is giving me the chance to tell him when I am ready, on my on terms. I think, for now, it will be my secret with myself. Elrohir will know in time, just not now when the grief is still too near.
 
 The fire’s warmth seeps through my body as Glorfindel steps over Elrohir and convinces the flames to light. My eyes close, lured by the heat and soon I am asleep, wandering the Paths of Dreams as well. 

Glorfindel:

I love watching them sleep. It’s the only place that they can escape from the pain. I love the twins like they are my own. I remember not being able to suppress my smile as I heard Elladan take that glorious breath, the breath that brought him back to us.

Elrohir is another matter. I’ve never seen someone I consider an elf sick. It was a harsh reality as Elrond explained to me, that because they haven’t made The Choice, they are still subject to mortal disease. He himself is, as well, but not to the extent of his sons.
 
 I lift Elrohir and Elrond picks up Elladan who was awake when I entered the room.  We carry the twins up to Elrohir’s room where they both are sleeping. Elladan’s bed had to be moved, a task which I gave to Erestor to carry out. As we lay them down Elrohir turns onto his side and begins searching desperately for his brother’s hand. I guide Elrohir’s hand to Elladan’s and Elrohir lights a small smile at the contact.
 
I grin at Elrond who pulls the covers over Elladan. I do the same for Elrohir. I know that it is all going to be alright. Elrond’s memories are resurfacing, but they do that every year on the day of Elros’ death. The twins are dealing and healing. They’re making progress.  And I am just so glad they returned that I am not depressed. Seeing them each day is enough. Yes, it is going to be perfectly okay.

A/N This story is now completed. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and read this story. You guys are the best!