Elrohir walked into the room just in time to see Elladan try to stand up and Erestor push him down. Elladan wasn't ready to get out of bed that was clear to see. He had determined look on his face, but it changed to surprise when he saw Elrohir.

"Ro…" Elladan choked.

Elrohir immediately jumped onto the bed and threw his arms around Elladan. Elladan leaned against Elrohir, not having the strength to remain sitting otherwise.

"I thought I'd lost you…" Elladan whispered pain etched in his voice. "Don't ever do that again."

"I'm so sorry Dan." Elrohir said. He knew what kind of pain Elladan had been in. Both of them had over the centuries been close to dying. Every time it hurt just as much, or even more, for the one who wasn't, it felt as though a part of you was being ripped out. It always took a long time to recover after such incidents. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere…" Elrohir murmured and tightened his arms around Elladan.

"What about Estel?" Elladan asked.

"Ada says that he'll be fine, but he won't wake up for at least a couple of days…"

Elladan nodded against Elrohir's chest. Elrohir could feel him weakening through their bond. "Thank you Elladan."

Elladan knew that he was talking about giving so much energy, "You would have done the same for me Elrohir. Or rather you have done the same for me before as I have you… Why do we always end up almost dying…?"

Elrohir grinned and lowered Elladan and himself down onto the bed again. Elrohir watched as Elladan's eyes slowly closed again. He knew form experience that he should be here when Elladan woke up again. If Elladan woke up without him by his side then he would think that Elrohir was dead. They always did… Elrohir didn't take any notice when Erestor slowly went out of the room.

Erestor met Elrond on the way to the healing ward; "My lord is it true that Estel will be fine?"

Elrond nodded and smiled, "The twins?"

"Elrohir is with him. Elladan is sleeping again." Erestor explained.

Elrond nodded, "I'll go see to them anyway…" Then he went down where Erestor had come from. He quietly opened the door to the room and stepped inside. Elladan was snuggled deeply inside Elrohir's arms and it seemed as though Elrohir himself had fallen asleep again.

Elrond just stood there for a moment watching his children sleep. They seemed so peaceful trapped inside their dreams. He could barely see Elladan's face, but he could faintly make out that he was sleeping with his eyes closed again and he was still pale. Elrohir was also sleeping with his eyes closed, Elrond wasn't quite sure why, but he guessed it was due to the shock Elrohir's body had received after first being wounded so gravely and then being healed instantly.

Elrond spread a blanket out over them, knowing that they would be more affected by the cold when their energy levels were this low especially Elladan. When Elrohir felt the blanket land on him he woke up instantly.

"…Ada?" He asked tiredly.

Elrond came over to Elrohir and kissed his forehead lightly, "Go to sleep my son." He whispered. Elrohir just nodded and went back to sleep.

Elrohir was alive. Elladan was alive. Estel was alive. No one had died. They were safe. Aerque was gone. Those conclusions slowly made their way through his mind. Few tears slid silently down his cheeks… it was over…

As Elrond had predicted Estel woke up a couple of days after losing consciousness. At the time both Elladan and Elrohir were by his bedside with Elrond. He wasn't very strong yet and further two days went by before he was allowed to get out of bed, even though he complained loudly. Luckily (or something like that) the twins kept him company, by the time he was allowed out of bed they had nearly driven him to murder.

Elrond had asked, but Estel didn't really know himself what he had done. It had just come over him. Like a reflex, he had no idea how he had healed Elrohir.

Now a week later Estel walked through the now bare trees in the garden. He was alone, finally managing to get away from the twins; it wasn't that he didn't enjoy their company. He just needed to be alone sometimes… He knew they wouldn't like the decision he had made with himself about going back to the rangers next week, but he had been gone for too long. A letter had just arrived from the rangers, but he guessed it had been a long time in coming. They were worried about him.

Estel shivered and pulled his cloak tighter in around him, he needed to go before the weather became too hostile. His wounds were almost healed and he wasn't having nightmares every night, he had only had one since waking up.

A sudden wild thought went through his mind and he ran up to the nearest big tree. He grabbed hold of the lowest branch and swung himself up onto it. Then he continued climbing upwards until the braches became too small. He sat down near the trunk and looked over Rivendell. From there he could see the whole valley and the mountains surrounding it. The night sky was also clearly visible through the branches.

He sat there for a while feeling the wind run through his hair until he heard Elladan's voice.

"Estel!" He called and looked around. "Where are you?"

Estel grinned at his brother sniggering slightly as he watched Elladan look for him. Before the incident he would have stayed up there and watch Elladan search, but everyone's nerves was a wreck especially towards him. He could hear the slight worry in Elladan's voice and he saw Elladan search almost frantically.

"I'm up here Elladan!" Estel called down and watched as Elladan whipped his head up into the trees soon their eyes locked. Elladan smiled at him looking relieved and worried at the same time.

"Are you sure you should be climbing trees?" Elladan called up and began climbing the tree.

Estel groaned exasperated.

It only took Elladan a few moments to get up to Estel and sit down beside him on the branch. He also looked over Rivendell.

"Thank you Estel." Elladan said after some time, "For saving Elrohir."

Elrohir had already thanked Estel for saving his life, but he hadn't heard it from Elladan, "He's my brother too, of course I would save him." Estel answered lightly.

"I know…" Elladan told softly, "He just… he wasn't breathing when you came. I could feel our bond slowly disappearing…"

Estel grabbed hold of Elladan's hand. "But you didn't lose him Elladan. He's alive."

"I know, but sometimes I dream that he is dead… and when I wake up." Elladan sighed, "Luckily Elrohir is sleeping in my room. We always do after something like that happens. In times like those it's hard being a twin, but I wouldn't be without it." Elladan smiled his eyes looking at something far ahead.

Estel didn't say anything, nothing could be said, and so he just held Elladan's hand tighter. Hoping that somehow just being there would ease the pain in Elladan's heart. But he knew from experience that it was painful for both the twins if something like that happened and they always needed time to revert into their old selves again.

After some time of sitting in silence enjoying each other's company Estel teeth began clattering. Elladan realized worriedly how cold it was outside; he wasn't troubled by it and hadn't even noticed it before Estel had started reacting. "Come on let's go inside. They're probably waiting for us." Elladan said and stood up on the branch. He pulled Estel up as well and they started descending to the bottom. Elladan glanced constantly at Estel worried for any signs that he might slip. Finally they made it to the bottom and started walking through the trees back to the house.

Suddenly Elladan was tackled from behind sending his face-first to the ground. He cursed and lifted his head just in time to see Estel running away from him laughing. There was no way he could be mad after hearing Estel laugh, it was far too long since he had last heard it earnestly. He smiled as well but then put on an angry face.

"You're going to regret this Estel!" He shouted after Estel only making him laugh harder.

Elladan hurried up and ran after his brother. Soon he was right behind Estel who was human and didn't run as fast as Elladan. He was also still weak from the injuries. Elladan tackled him so he landed on the ground still laughing slightly until Elladan turned him over on his back and sat on him pinning his arms above his head.

"Did you think you could outrun me human?" Elladan said jokingly. Estel knew he shouldn't have reacted the way he did and he later came to regret it, but being held down and called human brought memories back. He flinched and his eyes darkened, a panicked expression on his face.

Elladan saw the change and immediately let go of his arms and got off of him. He sat down beside Estel wide eyed with guilt. He heard the slight hitch in Estel's breathing and put his hand on Estel cheek forcing him to look at him.

"You are home Estel, there is nothing to fear here." Elladan said quietly to the still panicked Estel. "You are safe and free."

Some recognition flooded back into Estel's eyes, "Elladan." He gasped and immediately sat up. "I'm so sorry." He said when he saw the sad and guilty look in Elladan's eyes. "I don't know what happened."

"It's my fault Estel not yours." Elladan responded, "I should have never done what I did. It was thoughtless of me." Elladan's voice was laced with guilt and his eyes were dark.

"No, please Elladan" Estel said and hugged his brother making both of them fall to the ground. "You cannot blame yourself for this. You had no chance of knowing what my reaction would be to it, as I didn't. I cannot just freeze every time someone grabs me, this is just something I need to get used to again."

"I called you human, that was unforgiveable."

"I am human, elf." Estel countered and lifted himself enough to stare at Elladan.

"He called you human! He tortured you and called you human." Elladan said madly at both himself and at Aerque.

"Calling me human does not mean that you are the same as Aerque, Elladan!" Estel said loud enough to block out Elladan's voice. Elladan flinched when Estel said Aerque.

"Yes Aerque." Estel continued, "Aerque is dead and he can no longer hurt any of us any more. No me, not Ro, not Ada and not you. There are more people out there like him in middle earth and something like this could happen again. Things like this have happened before we have all been injured more or less gravely. Every time it is like a setback and there are certain things you have to start over with, some things you need to get over. This does not stop you from going out there again. Neither should it stop you or anyone else from throwing me into the mud and calling me human and joking. This is something that I will learn to deal with and little by little it will be normal again." Estel started with a raised voice but dampened it the longer he talked.

"You should never have had to deal with any of this." Elladan said.

"Sometimes things happen without you being prepared for it and you try to make it through it even though maybe it wasn't meant to happen. There is nothing else you can do but go forwards step-by-step until you reach the end of the journey." Estel answered, "After that you deal with whatever is left and then you go on another unexpected journey. Some are harder than others and this one was particularly hard, for all of us… but there is only one road and that is forward to get past this. Things will get better Elladan."

Elladan nodded slowly and pulled Estel down into a hug again, "If you ever need any help Estel, you better come ask for it instead of doing everything on your own." He strengthened his hold, "I'm sorry Estel."

Estel raised his head and looked at Elladan, there were tears in his eyes. He knew that it was about more than what had just happened. Estel closed his teeth around his sleeve and pulled it up over some bandages, he then ripped the bandages off his arm revealing an almost healed cut that ran along his arm. The tears streamed down Elladan's cheeks when he saw it. "I'm so sorry." He said again.

"It's almost healed Elladan, the wound does not bother me anymore. All the wounds are almost healed; a week and you would have trouble seeing them. It does not hurt Elladan. My wounds are almost healed, but yours are still there Elladan." Estel said and placed his hand over Elladan's heart feeling its rhythm, "and that hurt's me more than any wound ever would. I do not blame you Elladan; it was unavoidable in that situation. I know you are never going to believe me if I said that you saved me by doing it, but I'm going to anyway. Elrohir would have died Elladan, and I would have thought that it was my entire fault,"

Elladan made to say something but Estel stopped him, "No, let me finish. I love Elrohir and I love you Elladan and my heart would burst if any of you died. That pain would have lasted so much longer than any wound. You saved all of us by doing it, if Elrohir had died you would have too, and then Ada and then I would be alone. You chose the only possible option."

Elladan nodded tearfully, "I would never hurt you Estel, I never wanted to hurt you…"

"I know…" Estel said and hugged him.

The front door opened after a couple of minutes bathing them in light. They hadn't noticed how dark the sky had turned before now. Elladan and Estel looked up to see their father standing in the doorway a worried expression marring his face.

"Elladan, Estel are you okay?" Elrond asked them and began moving towards them.

"Yes." They answered at the same time and smiled.

Elrond came over to them and crouched down beside them he put his hand on Estel's cheek frowning worriedly at how cold it was. "You're freezing, how long have you been out here?"

Estel smiled innocently at him and then allowed Elrond to pull him up and shush him into the house. Elrond came inside a couple of seconds after with Elladan after pulling him up as well. Elrond leaded them both into the hall of fire were Elrohir was sitting and waiting for them. Elrohir smiled at his twin when he sat down beside him, immediately noticing a change in Elladan. He had followed Elladan through the conversation him and Estel had had. He hadn't heard what they had said but it wasn't so hard to guess based on Elladan's emotions.

Estel sat down in front of the fire stretching his hands towards the fire. His hands were still shaking from the cold, but after a while they stopped and he looked more relaxed. Elrond sat down beside and pulled his sleeve up revealing the now not bandaged cut on his arm. Elrond arched his eyebrow and looked inquiring at Estel, but Estel just smiled. He sighed and then wound a new piece of bandage around it.

"I'm going back to the rangers." Estel said quietly his voice breaking the silence in the room. Both Elrond and the twins sat dumbfounded for a moment.

"Why?" Elrond asked after some time. They couldn't bear not being able to look after him after everything that had happened.

Estel took Elrond's hand in his when he heard the weak question, "I got a letter from them today, but I think it was sent a couple of weeks ago. They're worried; I've stayed in Rivendell a lot more than what I had told them. If I don't go soon then I'll have to stay here for the winter."

"Then stay here for the winter." Elrond said.

"I can't Ada, they depend on me. The winters are hard especially out there. The rangers need any help they can get and I'm their chief. I have a responsibility to them and to everyone we protect during times like these. They will soon need me as a healer as well. I've been gone for far too long already."

"But it was not of your choosing that you were gone." Elrond countered.

"No it wasn't, but that does not change the fact that I'm still here. My wounds are almost healed and my people need me. I cannot stay here any longer, I'm sorry." Estel apologized knowing how much it hurt his family to let him go again.

That finally sobered Elrond, "When are you going to leave?"

"Before the week is at its end." Estel said quietly, he wasn't going to sway in his decision but it still hurt him to see the sadness on his father's and brothers' faces. "I'll come back again, I don't know when, but I promise to come back."

"We respect your decision Estel," Elrond said seeing the look in Estel's eyes. He was worried for them. "We're proud of you and we know that the rangers need you, you're very important to them. We will not stop you from going; we just weren't prepared for it. To us it still seems like yesterday we were in Aerque's hands. I had wished that this would be an enjoyable visit, but it seems fate was not so merciful. Do not worry for us Estel; we will be fine and look forward to when you come back. Just ease our hearts a little and send signs that you are still alive once in a while. We will be worried, the very thought of you going back to the rangers worries me, but you are right."

Estel nodded and embraced his father and then his brothers, "I promise." He said.

"Good…"

Estel fastened the cloak around his neck and strapped his sword to his waist smiling at the familiar weight. He was back in his ranger outfit, though his family could not see why it was necessary for him to wear it. He just shrugged at them and said that now he didn't have to worry about ruining it because it was already ruined in many places. He hoisted his pack onto his shoulders and walked into the stables where he met Elladan and Elrohir, they had already gotten his horse ready. He gently stoked its muzzle and guided it outside.

"Thanks." He said to the twins.

"Just don't fall off." The twins grinned and followed him to the gate where Elrond was waiting.

Elrond hugged Estel tightly when they got close. "Take care my son. Remember to write."

"I promise." Estel said and hugged his father back, when he let go both of them had tears in their eyes.

"Watch your back little brother." Elladan said and hugged him.

"Take care of the rangers Estel. They need you." Elrohir said and joined the hug.

"I will." He promised and walked away from them towards the horse. He hoisted himself up and turned around to face them. "Don't worry too much."

"It's impossible not to worry when it's you Estel. Why do you always have to drag yourself back here?" Elrond said, "You're lucky I don't lock you inside and forbid you to go out."

Estel smiled innocently, "I don't drag myself back every time."

"Oh really, tell me about one time when you didn't." Elladan said.

"That time when…" Estel frowned, and then he smiled. "The visit before the last."

"That's only because you dragged Legolas back instead." Elrohir groaned.

"Exactly." Estel laughed and spurred his horse towards the path. "I will miss all of you." He said to his family.

"As we will miss you. Take care Estel." They all said.

Then Estel galloped down the path without looking back, there were tears running down all their cheeks as they saw Estel being swallowed up by the distance and forest. Time went by before they turned around and went back to the last homely house all of them missing him already. The house felt empty without him.

"Come back safely my son…" Elrond whispered to the wind and went inside.

THE END