Elladan hesitated a long moment in response to his father's assessment. He didn't want to give up so quickly. Maybe he just needed to go a little further in…

Another, more insistent but still gentle, thought pierced his mind from Elrond as well as a warning of damaging himself if he strained much more. Elladan finally sighed in defeat and began to draw back from his inner healing ability. He knew his father had been a healer long enough to recognize the healing gift if it was present. He truly didn't have it.

Elladan watched dejectedly as the light swirled within him for a few more moments before collecting back in the deep part of his fëa and resuming its dancing, twisting circle around itself. He sighed again and then began to pull out of himself, opening his eyes and sadly meeting his father's. "I am sorry, Ada. I could not do it."

"Ah, ah, ah, none of that, ion nin", Elrond murmured, drawing Elladan into a tight embrace. "You have no control over what you are or are not born with. What did I tell you before? Say it back to me."

"You and Nana love me the same no matter what", Elladan said, giving his father a small smile.

"Precisely so", Elrond said. "All this tells us is that your true gift lies elsewhere. Perhaps it is combat, something you already excel at, or perhaps it is something else entirely. All will be revealed in due time, my son."

Elrohir wrapped his arms around his brother as well. "It is alright, 'Dan. You tried your best."

"Your brother is right also", Elrond said, patting his eldest's head gently. "I am so very proud of how hard you tried. You will never know what you can do in life if you never try. You did very well."

Celebrian came forward then from where she had observed quietly off to the side while her husband and son concentrated.

"I am proud of you too, my son", she said softly. "It is as your father said. This only means you have something else to look forward to discovering."

Elladan smiled bigger this time and nodded with his old lively spark back in his eyes, the love of his family easing the sting of disappointment within him. "I shall find it, whatever it may be!"

"That is my boy", Elrond laughed, leaning forward to kiss Elladan's brow again. "Now then, Elrohir, it is your turn, son. Are you ready?"

Elrohir swallowed nervously, but slowly nodded. He feared that, since Elladan lacked the gift, he would not have it either, so similar were they. The younger twin was terrified of what it would feel like to know for sure he did not nor would not ever have the gift he so desired. The prospect of wondering forever was no better though so he steeled his nerves and made himself ready.

Again, Elrond pricked his finger with the small needle and held his hand out to Elrohir, repeating the same instructions as he had given Elladan.

The young twin took his father's hand in both of his, trying to still their trembling, and then reached down inside himself.

"Come on, El", Elladan breathed silently. "Come on, brother."

Elrohir slowly dove down into his own fëa and his eyes alighted on the swirling ball of light that was his own healing power. He reached out to touch it as Elladan had done but, to his horror, he found it stayed just out of his reach. No matter how hard he tried to get closer he was always just shy of touching it. Panic began to swirl in his mind. Did this mean already that he lacked the gift? Were his hopes so soon crushed forever?

Suddenly a wave of calm from outside his own mind washed over him and soothed the panic gently away.

"You have not failed, my son", Elrond whispered softly in Elrohir's mind. "You are being hindered by doubt. Focus not on your brother lacking the gift, for while you may be identical to him in body, you are not identical in mind or fëa. Elladan's talents or lack thereof are not your own nor are yours his. Relax and trust yourself, ion nin."

"Yes, Ada", Elrohir replied.

He took another deep, calming breath and forced his brother's failed attempt out of his mind, focusing only on himself and what lay within him. Again, he reached for his healing ability and this time he succeeded.

As with Elladan, the light flowed within him, bringing warmth and a tingly, tickly happiness along with it. However, unlike Elladan, Elrohir found himself drawn into the flow. He felt it swirl around him and tug eagerly at his very mind, coaxing him inside as it swirled and danced and twisted with light cheerfulness. Elrohir laughed in delight as he excitedly joined with the warm stream. It felt so foreign and yet so natural at the same time. He loved the sensation!

He continued to meld with the flow until they were as one. They twisted and turned within him, soaring through every part of his being. Then they swirled faster and faster and grew larger and larger. Then…

Then they flowed outward.

One moment he was whirling happily within himself and in an instant, he could suddenly feel all the life that surrounded him. His brother, mother, father, other elves in the hall as they passed by the room, even the trees that grew outside the window and the animals that lived in them, though their life felt much different than did the lives of the other elves.

Elrohir gazed in awe at all the light that surrounded him from his fellow living things. It easily became one of the most wonderful and beautiful sights he had ever seen in all his life. Then, as he gazed at his father's light, he became aware of the two small wounds on his body. They appeared to Elrohir as black spots on Elrond's glowing form and the young twin eagerly reached out to them with all his healing flow.

Elrond tried to call a warning from where he still observed, but Elrohir heard it too late. He touched the black spots and instantly a huge portion of his healing energy was sucked away from him. He cried in pain at the unexpected and enormous loss, feeling as though a part of himself was being ripped away. Suddenly a wall slammed up to stop the uncontrollable flow of his energy and then his father's gentle fëa guided him back into himself.

Elrohir's eyes flew open and he gasped for breath as he sagged weakly into his father's supporting arms, body trembling and feeling exhausted and sick.

"Celebrian", Elrond said. "Miruvor, quickly, my love."

He stood and Elladan quickly scrambled off the bed to make room for Elrond to sit and pull Elrohir into his lap. The elder twin quickly returned to sit at his father's feet where he could hold his brother's hand. Elrohir was limp and his flesh cold and clammy to the touch. He moaned softly and had his eyes squeezed shut as if in pain.

"Elrohir", Elladan cried terrified for his brother. "Elrohir, what happened? Are you alright?"

Elrohir moaned again, his brother's shout hurting his aching head, but had not the strength to ask for quiet. Elrond, of course, knew what his youngest son was feeling and gently patted Elladan's head to soothe him before he might cry out again.

"Elladan, we must be quieter, ion nin", Elrond murmured in a much lower volume. "He will be alright but loud noises will hurt his head right now. Hannon le, meleth nin."

Elrond took the flask of miruvor that Celebrian handed him and pressed it to Elrohir's lips. "Several swallows, my son. It will make you feel much better."

Elrohir obediently swallowed mouthfuls of the strength restoring draught until Elrond pulled the flask away and replaced it with a glass of cold water. Elrohir downed that in seconds and blinked into the room, his fuzzy head clearing as the miruvor did its job.

He realized only now that he was lying down on the bed with his upper body in his father's lap and head cradled in the crook of Elrond's arm. He felt Elladan still gripping his hand tightly and looked down to see his brother kneeling at his father's feet and looking at him anxiously. Celebrian hovered overhead also with a concerned look in her eyes.

"Wh…What happened", Elrohir croaked weakly.

"A common occurrence when a gifted healer first uses their powers", Elrond said with a twinkle in his eye. "You do not yet know how to control the flow of your energy and used too much at once. But you will learn, my son, you will learn."

It took Elrohir's muddled mind a moment to grasp what his father was saying, but when it finally dawned on him, his eyes lit up in joy. "I have it? I have the gift?!"

"You have it, ion nin", Elrond said, joy shining on his face. "You have it and it is strong, so very, very strong!"

Elrohir laughed aloud in ecstasy as a few happy tears rolled from his eyes. "I wanted it, Ada! I wanted it so badly!"

Elrond laughed; eyes alight as he shared his son's joy. "I take it that you do wish to grow it and use it then, my boy?"

"Yes! Yes! More than anything", Elrohir said immediately, beaming at his father. "Ada, I…I remember touching your injuries once I could see outside of myself. That is what took my strength. Did I do it? Did I heal you?"

Elrond smiled and held his hand up for Elrohir to see. Both pinpricks were completely gone.

"I did do it", Elrohir exclaimed. "I did! I did it!"

"You certainly did, my sweet, tender little healer", Celebrian said, her face radiant with joy now that she knew her son was be alright and so happy. She leaned down to kiss his brow and stroke his cheek, pale with exertion, but deeply dimpled with his huge smile. "We are so very, very proud of both of you."

"Congratulations, muindor", Elladan said, his own face split into a thrilled smile too. He reached down to give his brother a big hug.

Elrohir tried to sit up and meet the embrace, but he had barely begun to rise before the room tilted around him and his head swam. He fell back with a groan and squeezed his eyes shut, willing the dizzy spell to pass.

"Easy, Elrohir, easy, my son", Elrond murmured, holding his hand tightly to ground him. "Your body was shocked by the energy it lost so suddenly for the first time. You will adjust but it will take time. For now, you need rest. Lots of rest."

Elrohir nodded as the dizziness passed and a new exhaustion settled into his limbs. Not as bad as before, but quite enough to make his bones ache. "Aye, I think I do at that, Ada."

Elrond chuckled softly and slowly stood with his son still cradled in his arms. Together, they all headed down to the twin's shared room, Elladan running ahead to open the doors and turn down the blankets of Elrohir's bed. Celebrian removed her son's shoes and clothes and got him changed into cozy sleeping clothes while Elrond helped support him. Then they tucked him warmly into bed.

"Now go to sleep, Elrohir", Elrond murmured, stroking his son's hair back. "Let your body recover. Once the weakness has passed, we will begin developing your gift together."

"Sleep well, baby", Celebrian said, pressing a kiss to her son's face.

"You did great, Elrohir", Elladan said, still beaming as he laid down next to his brother. "You will be a fantastic healer."

Elrohir yawned and smiled tiredly up at his surrounding family as his eyes drifted closed, taking him peacefully away into a deep healing sleep, his dreams filled with light and lives he would return with his gift. He finally had his place in the world. He knew who he was. He had a goal to pursue. And while he knew and believed his family would have loved him the same either way, he was so happy to have this gift, this blessing, this talent to call his very own.

It was something he would love and cherish for the rest of his life.

The End

Elvish Terms:

Ada – Father (familiar)

Hannon Le – Thank You

Ion Nin – My Son

Meleth Nin – My Love

Muindor – Brother

Nana – Mother (familiar)

I hope you enjoyed this short little story! As always, please review and I'll see everyone tomorrow for Tenderhearted!