Legolas limped alone through the trees of Mirkwood. Aragorn had left for Imladris the day before, so the elf had gone back to his previous duty of scouring the territory for orcs or spiders that might penetrate too close to the dwellings in the forest. He had run into only one orc, and that in the last ten minutes. His particular sector was the 'safe' elf path. He had to insure that it remained clear of noxious invaders.
He was not thinking about that, though, but of his friend, a Man. He had rather surprised himself with the friendship and was even more surprised at how easily his father had accepted it, especially knowing whom the man was, the Heir of Isildur. As he pondered on this, he didn't quite notice where he was. In fact, he was so deep in thought that he actually tripped on an exposed root.
With a muffled cry, he fell forward, holding out his hands to catch himself. Unfortunately, one of his hands did not land on solid ground, but in a puddle of blackwater. Even worse, he had cut that hand in his fight with the orc, and it hadn't had time to completely seal. He did not remember that a moment later, though, for the enchantment of the water entered his bloodstream.
Instead, he fell unconscious for two hours, though, of course, he did not know that. When he did awake, the last thing he recalled was his sobs as he killed more than a dozen orcs over a month before in the woods of Imladris. Feeling rather confused as to how he had gotten to the woods of his home so quickly, he was nevertheless ashamed to have been crying, though his face was now dry.
With that thought in mind, he climbed a tree and crossed the stream of black water that he now saw before him and headed west. His mind, though bewildered, gave him a confused impression of safety and a vague impression of the man who had saved his life, seemingly bare minutes ago.
~+~
Thranduil struggled to control his facial expression. One of the scouts had earlier reported that Prince Legolas was missing from his assigned sector. Now another scout stood before him, having just reported seeing Legolas running southwest along the plain outside of Mirkwood in the direction of the Old Ford and the Misty Mountains. The scout had taken the time to scour the Prince's scouting area thoroughly and had found the impression of a body and a wet handprint in what appeared to have been a puddle of water near the Enchanted River, now mostly dried up.
What scared Thranduil the most, however, was that there were also traces of blood. The Woodelves were somewhat more immune to the magic water under normal circumstances of just touching the water than mortals, but if it entered their blood, it resulted in the same long term amnesia, and worse. It could result in death if not counteracted.
Dismissing the scout with thanks (and making a mental note to reward him for the observation that might save Legolas's life) Thranduil got out parchment and began composing a letter.
~+~
Elrond was very surprised to receive a pigeon from the Woodelf King so soon. He was expecting Aragorn in a few days thanks to the last message, but was rather nervous about opening this latest one. It was dated two days earlier. Steeling his nerves, he unrolled the letter.
"To Lord Elrond from King Thranduil," he read out loud slowly. The handwriting was rather sloppier than usual and the style was amazingly informal for the usually strict king. "I fear for my son, for he seems to be in trouble and is heading your way. One of my scouts noticed him leaving Mirkwood in a hurry and then discovered a bloody handprint in enchanted water. I fear he has no recollection of our reconciliation, and moreover has bloodpoisoning. Please watch for his arrival and send me word."
Elrond blanched and stumbled backward at the words. Strong hands caught his shoulders and lowered him to a chair. Looking up, he met Glorfindel's eyes. "Why now?" he begged. "Why so soon after all the good that has just come into his life?"
The golden haired advisor shook his head. "I know not. Do you have the remedy to blackwater?"
Elrond sighed. "No, as a matter of fact I don't. There hasn't been any problem from it in so long. Fortunately, though, it is the season for the necessary herbs to be harvested; though I don't usually need them for other ills. Now I have to find where they are currently growing." He levered himself out of the armchair. "Would you go find the twins? They will need to know. And with all their wandering, they surely have the location of every herb growing wild around here."
As Glorfindel sped away to find Elladan and Elrohir, Elrond searched through his volumes on herbal remedies, most of which he had himself discovered and written. Though he knew what ingredients he needed, he wanted to be sure of the exact proportions lest the needless death of one result in many more from despair.
After flipping through the pages of several books, he finally found it, just as his sons rushed into the room.
"Adar!" They exclaimed in unison. "What's" "going on?" "Glor" "findel wouldn't" "say."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Elrond still had to laugh at the way the twins still completed each other's words and sentences. Then he sobered as he remembered his own lost twin. "Legolas is in trouble. He was poisoned by the Enchanted River and is now on his way to Imladris. And he probably doesn't remember that he gets along with his father because otherwise he would have gone home rather than heading here."
He held up the book that he had open. "I need you to find me the ingredients for Thar Moralu. It is long since it was needed but we must have me'aered, poika agar, and huidagner. Athelas we already have of course but more wouldn't hurt. Please go now and find them."
Exchanging a swift glance, the twins charged back out of the room and he heard them once more trading syllables about where they had seen those plants. Then his blood ran cold as he heard them say, "But huidagner is only in Lorien." Praying that they would get everything on time and that the prince would actually make it, Elrond lowered his head into his hands. Hope was growing smaller.
A/N Okay, I found some elvish words on the grey-company.org website and sort of put them together in my own made up herbs. They mean: me'aered—lightseed, poika agar—pure blood, huidagner—murkbane, and Thar Moralu—against blackwater. Yes, I know, I'm sooo creative ;p Anyway, I'll try to get the next chapter up soon.