Author's Note: See first chapter for all other story information.

**********

Every time that Aragorn's horse moved, a fresh wave of pain shot through Legolas' aching head. His face twisted into a slight grimace for just a moment, and he struggled to stifle the moan of agony that threatened to burst from his lips. The cut on his head didn't seem to be healing nearly as quickly as it should, yet there didn't seem to be any logical explanation as to why--and until one showed itself, the elven prince had decided not to let his human friend know just how much he was hurting. Apparently, he wasn't succeeding very well.

"Legolas?"

The Ranger's voice was quiet and calm, yet there was the unmistakable sound of worry in his words. His hand squeezed the elf's shoulder gently, and Legolas could almost see the human's gaze focusing on him.

"The cut on your head is hurting you again."

To almost anyone else--elven, human, or otherwise--Aragorn's words would have seemed as a question; however, Legolas had known Strider long enough to understand that it was in actuality an accusing statement, meant to let him know that his friend wasn't pleased with his trying to hide his pain. For a moment, the elven prince wasn't sure exactly how to reply to his friend's words--those both spoken and unspoken. After several seconds, the elven prince decided to take the easiest way out--to just ignore the Ranger.

After it had become apparent to Aragorn that his elven friend wasn't going to say anything, he gave Legolas an annoyed glare and rolled his eyes upwards. Almost immediately afterwards, however, a pang of guilt suddenly swept through him. Under any other circumstances, their exchange would have been nothing more than friendly banter, but now... He let out a quiet sigh and let his gaze drift off into the distance.

"We should reach Rivendell within the hour."

**********

Legolas felt lightheaded, and the cut on the side of his head felt like it was on fire. His head was screaming for the horse to stop moving, or maybe even for him to let Aragorn understand how much pain he was in. His pride, however, forced him to keep his mouth closed. For a moment, he closed his unseeing eyes tightly--trying to clear his aching mind enough for him to think.

His eyes suddenly shot open, and his hands gripped the horse's mane tightly. Doing his best not to let Strider hear pain in his voice, he broke the eerie silence that had settled over them earlier that day.

"There is something coming."

Immediately Aragorn reined in his horse and swiftly let his gaze sweep over the surrounding area. When he didn't see anything, he looked back at Legolas with an uncertain look on his face.

"Are you sure? I do not see a thing."

The elven prince let out a sigh at the doubtful tone in his companion's voice.

"My eyes might fail me at the moment, my friend, but my ears do not."

Strider gave Legolas one more doubtful look before peering around once more.

"If you say so, then I believe you. However, I still do not see anything..."

The young human's voice trailed off, and Legolas automatically started to turn his head around so that he could see the expression on his friend's face. He caught himself, however, as the sudden movement sent another wave of throbbing pain through his skull. Trying to hold back a pained gasp, the elf once again spoke.

"Well?"

Aragorn turned his attention back to his friend and couldn't help but start just a bit as he noticed how pale Legolas had gotten. His eyes quickly darted to the bandage wrapped around the elf's head, and he was startled to see a bright red stain on the cloth, right where it covered the wound left by the orc's sword. Before he could contemplate why the injury was once again bleeding freely though, Legolas' voice rang out again--sounding weaker that just a few moments earlier.

"What is it?"

The young Ranger placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder before letting out a quiet laugh.

"My brothers."

**********

As soon as the horse started moving again, Legolas couldn't help but let out a low moan of pain. He started as one of Aragorn's arms grasped him firmly to help him stay steady. He hadn't even realized that he had been swaying slightly.

Within moments, Legolas heard the voices of Elladan and Elrohir--the twin sons of Elrond--and a brief smile came to his face as he realized that they must be near the elven haven which their father ruled over. The smile quickly faded, however, as he realized that their familiar voices seemed strangely quiet--as if they were coming from far away. So far away...

**********

Elladan let out a sigh as he watched Legolas slump forwards in unconsciousness. His eyes quickly darted to the bloody cloth wrapped around the prince's head and then back to his adopted brother.

"Tell me Estel, do you think that there will ever be a time that both of you will be able to ride into Rivendell without being injured?"

Aragorn gave the older twin a wry grin before shrugging his shoulders helplessly. "What can I say, we are both bad influences on each other."

The young Ranger looked down at his unconscious friend for a moment, and a helpless look slowly appeared on his young face. After a moment, however, it quickly melted away, and he looked over at the two elves.

"I need one of you to ride back to Rivendell and tell Ada that we will need his help."

He paused for a moment, his mind drifting back to the conversation that he and Legolas had shared several days earlier. What if Lord Elrond is not able to help me? He quickly forced the memory from his mind, and a grim look slowly appeared in his eyes as he turned away from them for a moment.

"Tell him that Legolas is hurt. Badly."

Elladan and Elrohir both stared at their brother for a moment, uncertainty shining on both their faces. When Estel turned back towards them, though, the look in his eyes set them into motion. Sharing a quick glance, Elrohir turned his horse around and, within seconds, was hurrying away in the direction of Rivendell.

**********

By the time that Elladan, Aragorn, and Legolas reached their destination, Elrond himself was waiting for them. The twins quickly, yet carefully, pulled the unconscious prince off of Estel's horse and managed to get him safely inside, with their brother and father hurrying close behind them.

The twins carefully laid Legolas onto the bed, before quickly moving out of the way so that their father could heal the wounded prince. Aragorn stood in the doorway, watching them through weary eyes. He hadn't realized just how tired he was, not until that very moment...

Aragorn's eyes shot open as he felt two strong arms grab him, and he immediately realized that he must have fallen asleep while he was leaning against the door. A sheepish look came to his face as he looked up, expecting to see on of his brothers keeping him from falling flat on his face. His eyes widened a bit, however, when he found himself staring at his father.

There was a slightly amused look in Elrond's eyes as he looked at the young human that he called his son. It faded slightly, though, when the sound of quiet laughter suddenly came from behind him. Putting an annoyed expression on his face, he turned towards his two sons and gave them a stern look. After a moment, however, he turned back towards the young human standing in front of him.

"I think that you should go to sleep, Estel. But not while you are standing up."

Aragorn have him a tired grin, but it was swiftly replaced with a worried one as he turned towards the bed.

"Legolas..."

Elrond smiled gently at his son before turning his own gaze to the sleeping prince.

"Do not worry, Estel, he will be fine. The cut on his head was deep, but it was not much trouble for me to heal."

He paused and gave the young human a quick look.

"Though I would like to hear how he got the injury."

Aragorn shook his head, obviously not having heard his adopted father's words.

"No, you do not understand. He... Something happened, and he has not..."

He could see the worried look on Elrond's face as he struggled to force his tired mind to explain what had happened.

"The wound to his head... It... Legolas has not been able to see for the last several days."

**********

Legolas lay still for a moment, listening to the sound of Aragorn's heavy breathing near him. He knew that he was in Rivendell, laying injured in one of the haven's many rooms. The cut on his head still ached, but it was only faint, meaning that Lord Elrond had already helped to heal him. Meaning that, if the elven lord had been able to restore his eyesight, all Legolas had to do was open his eyes.

A shiver ran down the prince's back, and he took a deep breath as he slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. Then, silently offering up a prayer, he carefully opened his eyes and found himself staring at... darkness. Nothing but the utter darkness of blindness.

A pained sigh escaped Legolas' lips as he let himself collapse back onto the bed, his unseeing eyes filled with a look of utter helplessness. Without warning, the sound of voices nearby suddenly reached his ears, and the elven prince was able to make out some of the words being spoken. It was apparently Elrond and one of the twins...

"Is there nothing you can do to help him, Ada?"

"I am afraid not."

"There has to be something that you can do to help Legolas..."

"His blindness was somehow triggered by the head injury that he received. It is beyond my ability to heal."

"But..."

"There is nothing I can do. If his eyes are to be mended, they must heal on their own."

Legolas felt his blood turn to ice at Elrond's words. The elven lord couldn't return his sight to him. He wasn't going to be able to help him. His own words suddenly came back to him, the question that he had asked Aragorn days earlier. What if Lord Elrond is not able to help me? It appeared as if he was going to have to find out.