Back in Imladris, Elrohir was greeted at the gates by Elladan, who enveloped him in a hug, heedless of the bundle clutched to his chest.

"Roh, we were so worried for you!" he cried.

"I need to get him to the Houses," Elrohir said, trying free himself from the effusive embrace.

"Who is he?" Elladan said, as the twins strode down the hallways and he noticed his brother's burden for the first time.

"Ada and I came across him at the foot of the mountains. He has not woken."

"He is so small!" exclaimed Elladan, pulling back the blanket wrapping the small form.

"Ai, his parents must be worried sick about him." In his concern for the child, Elrohir seemed to forget his own pain and loss.

They reached the Halls of Healing, annexed to Elrond's house, and Elrohir stormed in, heading for the first empty room.

Ever dedicated to Elrond's service, the healers responded swiftly in spite of the late hour. Elrond came into the room half an hour later, where he found Elrohir working on the Elfling's frostbitten fingers while Elladan tended to a cut.

"Ada," Elladan said, moving aside. A brief look of mutual relief passed between them as Elrond risked a glance at Elrohir, bent over with concentration.

Elrohir looked up, startled, for he had been so engrossed that he had not noticed his father's arrival.

"It has been a long time since I used my healing skills," Elrohir murmured, almost to himself. "I thought I had forgotten how to use them."

"I think you will find them undiminished," Elrond said, moving over and taking Elladan's place.

*

When Elladan returned, he found Elrohir deep in thought, staring out of the window, his gaze travelling far beyond the silver rooftops.

"Roh, you should rest."

Elrohir spun around, a picture of veritable fury. "I am not some weak --"

"I was concerned for you, Roh. As you were for him."

Elrohir felt his insides knot at Elladan's calm response. This was Elladan, his twin, the other half of his soul. All he had done was to hurt him -- again -- after years of pushing him away, of attempts to cut the bond between them. He knew that Elladan was near the end of his patience, but felt that he could not bring himself to weaken his vow to force a wall between himself and those whom he loved.

"He is so small," Elrohir said.

"I made some enquiries, but nobody knew where he might hail from."

Elrohir pointed to a broken bow and sheathed knife on the windowsill.

"These were with him. The bow, while broken, was worthy of the best archers in Imladris, an unusual weapon for one so young. This knife is well carved, and I believe the handle is wrought of a mixture of mithril and white gold."

Elladan let out a low breath as he examined the blade.

"They are of Silvan origin."

"But he cannot be Silvan! It is too far away for him to have made it here on his own! The mountain would have killed him before he set foot on it!"

"Not unless he was with a party, and became separated from it," Elrohir said, his silver eyes flashing with anger, convinced that the Elfling had been a victim of the increase in Orcs in the vicinity of the Misty Mountains.

"There are no signs he had been attacked, Roh," Elladan said, aware that they were treading on dangerous ground. "There is naught you can do for him tonight. Take a rest."

Elrohir closed his eyes and nodded; he was so tired.

"Gwenophor has been asking for you," Elladan said, before leaving, missing the softening of Elrohir's features.

Left alone again, Elrohir approached the Elfling and stared at his face for a few minutes.

Letting out a sigh, he turned to leave, but a small, fretful whimper filled the room. Freezing, Elrohir turned around, and saw that the Elfling was tossing in his bed. He hesitated, but hardened his heart. What was he doing, allowing the Elfling to evoke such feelings in him?

All his reservations fled with the wind as the Elfling gave out a distressed wail.

"Baw! Nana! Not Nana!" the Elfling screamed and sat up in the bed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Elrohir clambered onto the bed and swept him up into an embrace, calming him with soothing words and stroking his trembling frame. He allowed the child to cling to him, before the blue eyes lost their focus, and the Elfling collapsed back into sleep, pressed closed to Elrohir in his fear.

Long after the Elfling calmed down, Elrohir tried to sooth his raging emotions. What he heard ripped open his soul and set it bleeding anew. Had the Elfling suffered the same, unbearable fate of having his mother torn from him? Why? Elrohir saw that the tears had yet to dry, and the Elfling's arms were still wrapped around him for comfort -- and protection.

But how could he protect the Elfling when he had failed in his duty to keep his mother from harm? A burning desire to know the story behind the strange discovery rose in him, and Elrohir bent down to brush a tendril of damp hair away from the small face. The Elfling let out a low moan, and without thinking, Elrohir placed a kiss on his forehead. The furrowed brow eased, before the Elfling calmed down and passed on to a more restful sleep.

*

Elrohir woke to a gentle touch to his shoulder. He tried not to wince as stiff muscles protested at their ill-treatment of the past week. His head felt fluffy and confused, and he struggled to recall why he was lying in unfamiliar surroundings.

He was aware of Elrond staring down at him, and tried to sit up. An additional weight caused him to look down, and he saw that the Elfling was pressed up against him, still asleep. He had burrowed his face against Elrohir's neck, and his shallow breath tickled Elrohir's sensitive skin.

"Ada," Elrohir whispered.

"You were here all night."

"Yes," Elrohir said. He had not the heart to untangle himself from the Elfling, and so remained where he was. "Nightmares were assailing him. I did not want to risk him hurting himself."

When Elrond did not answer, Elrohir spoke again, "He was so scared, Ada!"

"I am glad you were there when it happened, then." For the both of you.

"Did you manage to find anything of his origins?"

"No, Elrohir. Nobody knows where he might hail from."

"We will have to wait for him to wake up, then."

"Indeed. However, I believe you are much in need of a long bath. I do not want to risk infection to his wounds from week-old dirt."

The corners of Elrohir's mouth twitched in a way so unfamiliar to him as he disengaged himself, ignoring the distressed noise that escaped the Elfling.

"I do not want you back until you have rested properly and spoken with Elladan and Gwenophor."

"You will let me know, Ada --"

"Yes, ion. I will send for you if he wakes up."

*****
Sindarin Translations:
Baw -- no
Nana -- mummy
Ion -- son

A/N: The Elfling's age here is equivalent to just under 10 years old in human terms.

So here's Chapter 2, with the Elfling waking up. I hope the little one isn't too cloyingly cute as can sometimes be the case, and as always, feedback is always welcome. I will be going away on an extended break for Easter, having finally got my act together to go inter-railing, so don't expect any posts for a while yet.