A/N: I am so dreadfully sorry about completely messing this chapter up the first time through, but now I have fixed it, and hopefully it is better now. Please enjoy.

"text" –westron

*text*--Sindarin

*text*--mental speech

Even the Leaves Fall

Chapter 7

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Darkness. All consuming, chilling darkness was all that he saw and all that he felt besides a pain so intense that it felt as if everything that made him up was being stripped away, leaving only the pain. He was lost in this loneliness, unable to move, unable to call for help, and only feeling the invading darkness and cold.

About one hundred meters into the forests located between Rivendell and the Bruinen the slowly moving rescue group was met by one of the boarder patrols. Glorfindel's eyes lit with hope when he saw that the patrol was led by his second in command, Laicëpilin, who just happened to be one of the strongest runners among the guards. *Lord Glorfindel,* he greeted in his smooth baritone voice, *What has happened? The trees are in an uproar and Lord Elrond sent us as soon as Bruinen's water began to rise.*

"There is no time, Captain," Aragorn broke in, interrupting Glorfindel's response. "We must get both Frodo and Legolas to the Healing Halls at once."

Laicëpilin gave a short nod in return, and waved one of his runners forward to take Frodo out of the human's arms. He then moved forward and gently took the injured woodland prince from his commander's arms, surprised at his state. As his companion began to run, his hand came into contact with a bare patch of skin *Ai! He is so cold.*

*Take him with all speed. I fear that he is in grave danger even with the aid of Lord Elrond. We will follow as quickly as we can.* He then watched with relief as two of his responsibilities were taken with all haste towards aid.

He lay suspended in the darkness for what seemed like hours stretching without end. At some point he noticed that the temperature swung violently from numbingly cold to an intense burning heat leaving him wishing for the chill to return to relieve him from the torture. Any strength that he may have had left in his body was quickly drained away, and he soon despaired of ever returning to any life that he may have had outside of this nightmare he was living.

As his hope sank into nothingness a cool, feather-light touch ghosted across his feverish forehead. It was a familiar sensation and brought to the fore of his mind memories of sparkling blue eyes and laughter that sounded like tinkling bells. "I-Inwë," the whispered name slipped past his lips along with a pained moan.

Laicëpilin burst through the doors to the Halls of Healing with barely a pause to open the doors. He gently lay the prince down on one of the beds as two healers came over to tend to his wounds. He then returned to his post, worry filling his mind, but comforted with the knowledge that he would be alerted should the prince's condition change.

The healers quickly peeled back the stained and torn tunic that adorned the prince's torso and winced at the sight of the blood soaked bandage covering his wound. One then rushed to prepare both a poultice to apply to the infected area and an anti-toxin to battle the poison while the other cleaned the wound with clear water and athelas. After his wounds had been bandaged once more, they slowly forced him to ingest the anti-toxin by pouring small amounts into his mouth and stroking their lithe fingers down his neck to either side of his throat. When their work was finished, they stood back in order to observe his condition, their expressions only changing from calm to worried when his features turned to a grimace and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. One swept out of the room while the other soaked strips of linen in the water that they had used to steep the athelas to place on his now fevered forehead.

She stepped back as the door opened only a few moments later to reveal Lord Elrond dressed in rich plum colored robes and appearing pale from the healing he had been performing on the young Halfling. He rushed over to the golden prince's bedside and immediately ran cool hands over the feverish flesh of his charge. At the master healer's touch, Legolas stirred for the first time since he had entered the boarders of the Last Homely House. A pained moan passed his lips along with a whispered, "I-Inwë…"

A small smile crossed Elrond's lips at the sound of the prince's wife before he placed his fingertips on Legolas's forehead and closed his eyes. He reached down inside of himself to find his healing powers before stretching his awareness toward his patient's mind. *Hear my voice, Legolas Greenleaf, come back to the light,* he intoned, both mentally and aloud to provide a focus for himself, before trying to find Legolas's consciousness. He found what he was looking for buried deep within the prince's mind and tried once more. *Hear my voice, Legolas, come back to the light.*

*Inwë…I'm so sorry…I've tried…*

Elrond felt a great sadness sweep through him at the sound of Legolas's voice filled with a soul wrenching grief, where there was generally only joy and a love of living could be heard. *I am sure that Inwë will forgive you, as soon as she sees you Legolas. But until she comes, I need you to fight the darkness.* He found the prince's consciousness sitting in the darkness, folded as small as he could make himself with his arms wrapped around his knees and his face buried in them. *Listen, Legolas. You have been poisoned by an orc arrow, and I am doing everything I can to help you, but there is only so much that I am able to do. You need to fight this. I can help you but I need your help, your strength.* Elrond felt his heart drop as Legolas lifted his head to reveal tears running down his cheeks. Elrond reached out his hand and spoke once more, *Legolas, whatever is wrong, I can help you through this, and I have already sent a message to your wife and your father. Fight the darkness. I know you can. The first step is to reach out and take my hand.*

Elrond felt hope rise in his chest as the tears running down the prince's cheeks slowed for a moment as his grip on his knees loosened. *It hurts Elrond,* he said, mental voice choked, burying his head in his knees once more. He tentatively reached a shaking hand towards where he knew the healer's presence was, his voice sounding once more, *Help the hurt go away.* He then gripped onto Elrond's hand as if he was afraid that the healer was going to slip away if he let his grip slip for even a fraction of a moment.

With the acceptance of his hand Elrond mentally held on to Legolas's consciousness and withdrew, pulling the ailing prince back into awareness. He blinked his eyes as the room came back into focus, and he swayed as the exertion of the past couple hours caught up with him. He sank onto the bedside just as his patient's pain dulled green eyes blinked open. He grabbed one of the damp cloths and wiped the sweat off of Legolas's now drenched brow.

*E-Elrond…* a choked whisper managed to pass through the parched lips.

*Legolas it is good to see you awake,* he said gently, reaching for a mug of water that had been left on the bedside table by one of the other healers. *Here, drink some of this, I am sure that you are thirsty.*

Legolas sipped at the water Elrond offered him before he relaxed back into the pillows once more, drained of energy. His eyes drifted towards closed once more but before he dropped off into a healing sleep he breathed, *I'm sorry.*

Elrond smoothed the silky, rumpled blonde hair and comfortingly intoned, *It will all be alright, Legolas. I promised to help you and I will. You rest for now, regain your strength, and we will talk about this sadness that you have walled up inside of you.* He then rose carefully to his feet and walked out the door, only to run into both his twin sons.

Elladan and Elrohir were both covered with grime from the long miles that they had traveled to return to Rivendell from the battleground where they found Legolas. Their expressions mirrored each other when they saw the state of Elrond after the two major healings that he had performed that afternoon.

*Father!* Elladan exclaimed, rushing to Elrond's side to support him as he staggered. *Are you alright?*

*I am fine, Elladan.* Elrond answered his son as he accepted the arm around his torso and leaned onto his son's strong shoulder. *It has been a draining afternoon. All I require is a night's rest and I shall be completely recovered.*

*Glorfindel made it here with Legolas then?* Elrohir asked impatiently, worry for his friend shining through the concern for his father. *How is he doing?*

*I have done all that I can for him, and now it is up to him and his strength.* Elrond's reply came back softly. *I will tend to him once again after I have rested.*

The twins gave each other a knowing look and after a short nod from Elladan, Elrohir said, *I will stay here and look over Legolas. 'Dan will make sure that you make it to your chambers without any troubles. No worries need trouble your sleep tonight.* He then moved away from the door to allow his brother and father to pass and then entered the room and sunk into the chair at Legolas's bedside. He whispered to the prince as he took up his vigil *Legolas, if you succumb to this poison Inwë will kill me.*

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Legolas opened his eyes to see bright sunlight streaming though a large window and slowly gazed around the room, not quite remembering how he had come to be indoors. His confusion only grew when he saw the beauty he had been introduced to during the feast as Inwë, dozing in the chair by his bedside. He wracked his mind for a reason for this, and remembered the battle with the orcs along with the discovery that he had been poisoned. Apparently someone must have helped him back to Rivendell. "Father is going to kill me when he finds out what happened," he thought to himself as he moved to sit up. As he began to lift his torso from its relaxed position, he was hit with a wave of pain feeling as if he had tortured his muscles and a groan snuck past his lips as his muscles cramped.

"I see that you are awake now, Prince Legolas," Inwë said softly from the bedside and Legolas slowly turned his head to see that her gorgeous blue eyes were aware once more and sparkling with what appeared to be relief. "How are you feeling?"

"I have felt worse," he said after a bit of thought, his voice quiet and scratchy with disuse.

Inwë softly laughed her bell-like laugh at his show of bravado. "That is good to hear, Prince, as you have been resting in a healing sleep for almost three days straight. I was almost ready to go retrieve Lord Elrond to check on you again so that we could be sure you were going to awaken at all," she said quietly, handing Legolas a mug of clear water as he gingerly raised himself into a seated position.

He slipped slowly at the cool liquid, allowing it to soothe his throat before smiling slightly at the elf maiden. "I am sorry that I have worried you, my lady. I shall strive to not do so again in the future."

She smiled in return and placed a cool hand over one of his, "I thank you for this, but what did I tell you about calling me my lady?"

"I will address you by your name if you will remember what I told you about calling me Prince."

Their laughter filled the room as the door opened to reveal Elrond approaching, carrying a tray of food. A slight smile passed over the usual somber face of the Elven lord. "Good morning, Prince Legolas. I see that you are now well enough to not only sit upright but to regain your sense of humor."

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Elrohir sat staring at the motionless, pale face of the Elven prince lying in front of him. He had drifted off for a few hours as the moon and stars appeared in the sky. He carefully monitored his friend's condition when he was awake. Worry grew in him as the hours stretched and the injured blonde still did not change position. As the sun began to peek over the horizon the door behind Elrohir creaked open causing him to jump in surprise. He turned to see the travel worn face of his foster brother, Estel, also known as Aragorn, son of Arathorn.

"How is he faring?" Aragorn asked quietly so as not to disturb his sleeping friend.

Unfortunately, even his carefulness resulted in Legolas stirring in his sleep and slowly his eyes came back into focus as he awoke. He closed his emerald eyes slowly before reopening them. "E-Estel? Elrohir?" he asked quietly. "Have I made it to Imladris?"

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A/N: Hey all! Thanks for all the comments, I'll try to work on the mistakes that everyone has pointed out, but right now I have a very limited amount of Internet connection. This also means that my updates will take a little bit longer than before, but I promise to do my best. Let me know if you liked or disliked this chapter/whole story, I like to find out what everyone thought, and constructive criticism is always welcome! Thanks for reading.