Chapter three:

Fighting For Life

Legolas leaned back on his hands and looked at his knees. He shook his head and breathed in slowly to calm himself.

" What is wrong with me?" He muttered.

Just then Aragorn came past looking for him once again. When he saw the sight of Legolas sitting on the ground with blood stains on one knee he wondered if he was dreaming.

" What is wrong, Mellon-nin?" Aragorn asked. " Are you ill?"

Legolas struggled to his feet.

"No." He stuttered, barely able to speak clearly.

Aragorn knew Legolas was ill, he took the pale elf's hand and let him into the palace. There Lord Elrond was waiting for them.

" He is ill." Aragorn whispered into the wise elf's ear. Elrond nodded.

Just then Legolas began to cough violently. Elrond rushed forward and took hold of Legolas's shoulders.

"Ada..." Aragorn said in an alarmed tone.

Suddenly Legolas lost consciousness and his thin form fell into Elrond's arms.

Aragorn rushed to his unconscious friend and lifted him up.

" Take him to his chambers." Elrond demanded.

Just then Calendes came inside the building and saw the frail elf.

" Legolas!" She cried as she ran to him. " She looked at Elrond. " Is he ill?"

"Yes, but we don't know what ails him." Elrond replied.

Aragorn carried his friend to the bedroom and laid him on the bed. A servant rushed in.

" Change his clothes." Aragorn ordered.

The servant undressed Legolas and put on him nightclothes. When the servant was done, Elrond stepped forward and put his hand on Legolas's forehead. A grave expression crossed his face.

" Ada?" Aragorn asked softly.

Calendes ran to Elrond and stared intently at what he was doing.

" He has a high fever. Calendes, prepare cold water and some cloth. Aragorn, prepare a poultice."

Calendes got the cold water and a servant brought the cloth. Aragorn was making a poultice. Elrond stood by Legolas, his hand on the prince's pale forehead.

Just then Calendes rushed over to the bed and placed the water on the side table. She dipped a cloth in and laid it on Legolas's forehead. Aragorn finished the poultice and brought it to Elrond. The older elf took some in his hands and rubbed it together.

" Open his shirt." He told Aragorn.

Aragorn obeyed and Elrond placed the mixture of Athelas and other things on Legolas's chest.

Just then he began to breath heavily.

" It's not working!" Calendes cried.

Elrond stared sharply at Aragorn. " What did you put in this?" He demanded.

" Only Athelas and Lissuin. And a bit of water."

" Servant!" Elrond called. The servant ran up to the Elven lord.

"What plant did you bring Aragorn?"

" I brought some Athelas, I think." The boy responded.

" You think!" Elrond shouted.

" Yes, this is what it looked like." The boy produced a bunch of flowers from his pocket.

" Those are daisies!" Elrond yelled.

Elrond began taking the current poultice off Legolas's chest.

Just then Glorfindel entered the room.

" Is there something I can do to help?" He smiled.

" Yes," Aragorn replied, " Please get some Athelas."

Glorfindel looked at Elrond. " Really, get someone else to do such a lowly job."

" I did that! But they failed!" Elrond said.

Glorfindel ran out of the room and then returned a few minutes later.

" Here." He said, placing a bunch of delicate white flowers with entangled greenery on the table.

Aragorn snatched it up and mixed with it into the new poultice he was creating.

Suddenly Legolas, who had been still the whole time, began to cough wildly. He began to shake violently as well.

" He is having trouble breathing!" Elrond shouted. " Bring the poultice, quick!"

As quickly as it had come, it stopped. Legolas was still. Elrond placed a hand on Legolas's chest. A very worried expression crossed his face.

" He isn't breathing!" Elrond cried.

TBC