Chapter twenty-five – Well earned rest

The Halls of Healing were quiet for a long time after the twins finished their story. Elrond had given them drugged tea afterwards to help them sleep, and they had been lying together ever since on the bed beside Legolas', their hands entwined. Faneth and Elrond were by now the only ones awake in the room, since Faneth had sent Glorfindel off to check on Kirion and Maliel, who was still with her parents and hadn't been told that her father was back yet. Faneth would like to keep it that way until Legolas had recovered enough to see her.

Both Elrond and Faneth had the story Elladan had told them spinning around in their heads, trying to believe it and imagine it even though it seemed so distant, even though neither of them could imagine that happening to their loved ones.

Faneth took the wet towel off of Legolas' forehead when it was no longer cool and soaked it in the water once more, wringing it before lying it across Legolas' forehead. Legolas was lying still as death, not even dreaming because his sleep was so deep. It was almost as if he had entered a coma.

"He burns with fever." She said softly, breaking the silence in the room and looking back at Elrond.

Elrond lifted his head from where he was gazing at his sons and looked at Legolas. He got to his feet and walked over to the bed, sitting down on the bedside. He lifted the towel from Legolas' forehead and placed his hand on it instead, feeling the heat that radiated off of him.

"His body is completely drained of strength." Elrond said, "It's trying to heal his wounds and fight off infection using other means than taking Legolas' energy, as is usual for elven healing, because there is none to take at the moment. It seems that the last of his energy is still going to maintaining the barrier around his mind, like he hasn't realized its safe to let it go yet."

Faneth shook her head slowly, "Even though he was exhausted Legolas would have noticed that he was inside Rivendell's barrier, but after all he's been through I think he's using it more to guard his emotions and memories than guard his mind against attacks."

Elrond nodded without moving his eyes from Legolas' form. He was covered carefully with the covers and the woolen blanket, both of which tucked up to his ear so he was only just visible underneath them. His cheeks were still flushed in a soft red, but otherwise he was pale, almost the same color as the pillow under his head.

"The best for him now is rest and lots of it." Elrond said, reaching out to brush a wayward lock of his short hair behind his ear. "His wounds will heal in time, but much slower than he is used to. I reckon we'll be hard pressed to keep him in bed before long."

Faneth gave a small smile but the worry in her eyes didn't reside. She looked up to him and asked, "What exactly are his wounds?"

Elrond sighed. He got to his feet and gently swept the covers down to the foot of the bed so Legolas was uncovered. Faneth hadn't seen all of him yet so her eyes immediately swept over his form. She was able to see the bulge of bandages around his right arm and the bandages under the white tunic he was wearing but none of his injuries were truly visible.

What drew her eyes the most were the shackles around his wrists. With a shaking hand she reached out and took his left hand in hers, pushing the sleeve over the metal shackle and studying it. Legolas' wrist felt so thin and delicate under her fingers that it frightened her, and she was able to see signs of bruising and cuts under the shackle that Elrond hadn't been able to reach.

Instantly hot anger flared up inside her chest at the though of how those low-life, despicable, revolting humans had dared put shackles on her husband! How they had dared to hurt him and use his love of life and nature to cause him harm!

Elrond's eyes widened slightly when he saw the dangerous glint in Faneth's golden eyes. Legolas often joked about it but this was the first time Elrond had experienced Faneth's temper. He had no doubt that had any of the humans, preferably Turner, been in front of them she would have taken him down, hardly and painfully despite her lack of combat training.

Faneth's eyes remained glued on Legolas as she placed his hand on the bed once more and asked again, "What are his wounds?"

Elrond turned his head to Legolas once more and ran his hand first over the bulk on bandages around his right arm. "His right forearm is broken, it hasn't begun to heal yet because of the times it has been displaced." His hand travelled upwards to his chest, "He has a lot of bruising and three of his ribs were broken as well, they've mostly healed by now but should still pain him. He also has a …burn-mark on the left side of his chest, under his collarbone."

"A burn-mark?" Faneth whispered, both suspicion and dread in her voice.

Elrond sighed and loosened the neckline of Legolas' tunic; he decided that it was better for her to see it now before Legolas woke up so he gently pealed the bandages away from it, showing her the brand.

Faneth grew cold at the sight of it and almost didn't realize she was talking as she asked, "Will it scar?"

"Yes…" Elrond said regretfully, "It was left untreated for too long. The mark will remain on both Elladan and Legolas. We can hope that it will fade with time but I'm not sure if it will ever disappear completely."

Tears welled up in Faneth's eyes and rolled down her cheeks at the thought of what pain that would cause Legolas. She knew that from now on every time he looked at his own reflection he would be reminded of the pain he had endured the past month. Just thinking about the pain it would have cause him to get the mark… just imagining hot red iron being pressed against his skin made her shudder.

The fact that Legolas had endured this pain and still returned to her, made her sniffle and wipe the tears angrily off her cheeks. She had to be stronger for him, help him overcome this not dissolve into tears every time she saw it.

She nodded for Elrond to go on.

"The thing that will trouble him most are the lashes over his back." Elrond continued solemnly, "It will be some time before they heal and will pain him when he moves, but once they were healed I believe that they will fade completely given time, as they usually do."

Faneth nodded, she stayed sitting there for a while in silence, but then she stood up shakily and walked over to the balcony and into the moonlight. Elrond covered Legolas with the blankets once more while keeping an eye on her. It was while he was replacing the towel on Legolas' forehead when he heard a sob from the balcony. He whipped his head towards it and watched as Faneth sat down on the bench, burying her face in her hands, sobbing.

Sadness immediately welled up inside him and he hurried over to her. Even if she had moved away from them to cry alone he couldn't leave for to her grief in solitude. He owed it to Legolas to help her.

He sat down beside her on the bench and drew her into his arms, reminded of the times where he had comforted his daughter. He fell into a usual rhythm and rocked her back and forth while shushing her gently.

It wasn't long before Faneth's sobs stopped, so Elrond drew back keeping an arm around her shoulders. Faneth straightened out, her chin held high even with the tears still rolling silently down her cheeks. At that moment Elrond saw a Queen in her, saw her for the Crown Princess she had become by marrying Legolas, saw her strength, saw a woman strong enough to stand by Legolas and help him through his difficult life.

"Why do you go out here to cry?" He asked softly.

Faneth didn't answer for some time, keeping her eyes on the bright stars. Then she answered just as softly, "Because he always wakes up when he hears crying, and I don't want him to. I want him to rest…" Two more tears rolled down her cheeks but she took no notice of them. "I guess until now I held onto some naïve idea that once he came home everything would be all right… but he is still closed off to me."

"He needs you by his side."

Faneth turned to him with an unwavering look inside her amber eyes, "And I will be. Always."

Elrond smiled to her, "Then he'll be fine. Legolas is strong."

Faneth huffed, "Legolas is stubborn."

He laughed at her exasperated tone of voice and managed to draw a small smile from her as well.

At that moment the door to the healing wing opened and both Faneth and Elrond looked up to see who entered. When Faneth saw Kirion she got to her feet and reached her hand out towards him with a small smile. Kirion stared at Legolas while walking towards the balcony and only looked away at the last possible moment.

Faneth immediately wrapped her arms around him as he stepped up to her, and kissed his cheek.

"Are you all right Kirion?" She asked gently.

"…I didn't mean to hurt him." Kirion whispered shakily, "Is he all right? Did I worsen his wounds?"

"He's going to be fine." Faneth soothed him and led him over towards his elder brother with her arm wrapped around his shoulders. Kirion's eyes were wider than normal from the remaining shock of Legolas returning in this condition. She pressed him gently down in the chair by Legolas' bedside and sat down on the edge of the bed herself. "Legolas knows you didn't mean to hurt him. I reckon he wouldn't have traded that hug for the world after being away from you for so long."

"You do?" Kirion asked turning his expressive emerald eyes to her.

She was instantly reminded of the fact that Kirion was an elfling still and gave him a gentle smile while reaching over to squeeze his hand, "I'm sure. Haven't you seen all the times he lets Maliel hug him no matter how injured he is?"

"But that's Maliel, I'm just…" Kirion trailed off, looking down.

Faneth reached out and cuffed him over the head. Kirion yelped and reached up to place his hands on the spot, snapping his eyes up to Faneth's. She was glaring at him. "You're just as precious to Legolas as Maliel is, to both of us. You're practically our son so don't go around questioning your worth. Just think about how much we suffered changing your diapers every day and soothing your tears, why would we do that and just cast you aside now?"

Kirion had turned beat red and was staring firmly at a spot on the floor.

"I know that you do not remember much of that time Kirion." Faneth said softly and placed her fingers under his chin to lift his head. His green eyes flickered up to hers. "But never doubt Legolas' love for you."

Kirion finally nodded and tears rolled down his cheeks. Faneth leaned forward and drew him into her arms once more.

When he had calmed down, Faneth asked, "Did you meet up with Glorfindel?"

Kirion nodded, "He stayed behind to help your parents move here. They decided that it was easier if Maliel was closer to the Halls of Healing so you wouldn't have to travel between their house and here to see either of them. They told me to tell you that they would look after Maliel for as long as you needed."

Faneth nodded, inwardly relieved. She sent a silent thanks to her parents. They had been extremely worried about Legolas as well, apparently they had gotten a lot closer to their son-in-law after all the times Legolas had been to Rivendell.

Kirion's eyes were once more locked on his brother and he reached out to place his hand against Legolas' cheek, as if wanting to make sure that he was really there. He could feel heat of Legolas' fever and a brush of air as he slowly breathed.

"He's completely out." Kirion said softly, "I've never touched him like this while he was sleeping."

Faneth smiled and said mischievously, "We could probably draw him a moustache without him noticing."

Kirion's eyes widened and he looked shocked at Faneth, relaxing slightly when he saw the loving look she was giving her husband.

"Just what are you planning to do to my patient?" Elrond's stern, but amused, voice sounded by the foot of the bed.

Faneth looked up at him and smirked, but Elrond's eyes were soon drawn to the yawn Kirion was trying unsuccessfully to hide.

"Go to your room and sleep Kirion." He said gently, "Legolas won't wake up tonight. You can come back in the morning if you wish."

Even if it was said in a soft tone, Elrond's voice gave no chance for debate. Hearing this Kirion got mutely to his feet. He brushed his fingers gently over Legolas' cheek once more before he turned and walked out the door, downtrodden.

As soon as he was gone worry and sadness flooded into Faneth's expression once more and she seemed to deflate, almost like she had been keeping a façade up for Kirion. She moved over to the chair Kirion had just vacated and reached under the covers to pull out Legolas' left hand. She studied the scarred and cut surface for a while but then wrapped her hand around it and leaned forward so her upper body was resting on Legolas' bed and her head was lying close to his.

Elrond walked over and gave her shoulder a squeeze before walking over to the twins and sitting down by their bedside once more. Remembering the times when he himself had put on a façade for his children, they were old enough now for it not to be necessary.

They started their long vigil once more, none of them able to sleep.

O

It was noon when the twins woke up from their slumber. Elrohir was just minutes before his brother and looked around disorientated before coming to rest on his father, who was slumped on the chair beside their bed, sleeping in what couldn't have been a comfortable position.

He could feel his brother waking up so he propped himself up on an elbow and ran his fingers across his twin's forehead and through his hair to give him a gentle awakening. When Elladan's eyes fluttered open they looked just as disorientated as he had felt, probably something to do with the drugs their father had given them.

"Ro." Elladan whispered, a small smile lightening his features. "We're home."

Elrohir glanced up at their father once more and the same smile appeared on his lips. "We're home."

"Elladan, Elrohir."

The twins turned towards the voice and saw Faneth walking towards them from where she had been sitting by Legolas' bedside. She was talking softly as well, apparently wanting to let their father continue to sleep. She herself looked tired and worried, and it was easy to see why. Legolas didn't look like he had improved during the night, if anything then he looked worse.

Once Faneth was beside their bed she wrapped her arms around both of them. Elladan and Elrohir returned the hug, trying to give her some comfort. She drew back before long and kissed their foreheads before sitting down on the bedside.

"How are you feeling?" She asked them.

Elrohir reached out and took her hand in his. "We're all right." He assured her with a small smile. "Our wounds are not serious."

Faneth nodded and then her eyes fluttered over to Legolas once more, almost like she was afraid that his condition had worsened during the small minute she had been away.

"He came back for you, you know." Elladan said softly, drawing Faneth's eyes to his. "He came back for you and Maliel. Even when he was about to collapse the thought of his family kept him going. He will give up now that he's finally here, his will is too strong for that."

Faneth nodded, giving him a small smile. "Thank you for looking after him." She said softly to both of them.

Instead of accepting her words, guilt flooded into their eyes, especially Elladan's.

"I do not deserve your thanks…" Elladan spoke quietly, his eyes moving over to Legolas. "I did nothing to stop them from hurting him, if anything I caused him more hurt then he would have gotten elsewise. You do not owe me any gratitude."

"You were still there with him." Faneth said. She reached out and placed her fingers under Elladan's chin, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "You were there to take care of him when he was hurt. You were there to lend a supporting hand when he stumbled. And you made sure that he made it out of their alive. I see all the reason in the world just there, to thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I stood by silently while they dragged him out of our cell, knowing that they would hurt him." Elladan choked, "I stood by that night when they tore his back to shreds and did nothing even as the other slaves around me fought for him, for someone they didn't even know."

"You had your family to take care of Elladan." Faneth pressed gently, "Elrohir wouldn't be sitting here today if you hadn't stood by quietly. Legolas knows how much it took from you to keep still in those times, he understands because he has a family as well."

"You haven't spoken to him."

"I know my husband." Faneth answered, "And he would rather have all three of you safe than losing both of you even if it caused him to get hurt. I think all of us are aware that you would not have been able to live without Elrohir. Where would Legolas have been then if both of you had died?"

"I could have stopped it." Elladan whispered, "We could have given our lives for him."

"Turner wouldn't have let him go just because you died. The only thing it would have achieved was leaving Legolas alone with him." Faneth told him softly and placed her palm against the side of his face. "Let go of your guilt. From what you told me then this ended with the best possible outcome."

Even though she said this Elladan was easily able to see the sadness and despair in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." He breathed.

Faneth gave him a teary smile and whispered, "I forgive you."

Just then a hitched breath cut through the silence and made all their heads snap towards Legolas. There was a thin sheen of sweat covering his forehead and flushes on his cheeks from the fever and his expression had become pained. He was jerking his head slightly from side to side, obviously caught in a fevered dream.

A small sound of distress came from Faneth as she shot up from the bed and hurried over to him. She took his hand and placed her other hand against his cheek, kneeling beside the bed.

"Shh… Legolas." She shushed him soothingly, "Shh… you're safe now. I've got you my love. I've got you. Go to sleep…"

Faneth continued to talk softly to him until he settled and his expression relaxed once more. From the way Faneth was unfazed about it, it was clear that it had happened already during the time they had slept.

They watched as she dipped a towel in some water and wrung it before gently running it over Legolas' burning forehead, cheeks and neck. She then did it once more before placing it on Legolas' brow.

"Hasn't he improved at all?" Elrohir asked worried.

"His fever has worsened during the night." Elrond's tired voice sounded form behind them. When the twins jerked startled and whipped their heads towards him he smiled to them and said, "I think I fell asleep."

"You think?" Elrohir commented sarcastically, arching an eyebrow to his father, nonetheless a smile tugged at his lips.

Elrond chuckled and then got to his feet. He gave his sons a short hug before walking over to Legolas' bedside and removing the towel so he could place a hand on his warm forehead, a frown appearing on his features at its fierceness.

He was just about to go to the herb storage when the door to the Halls of Healing opened and Glorfindel walked into the room followed by Hádhon, Rivendell's master smith. Hádhon was carrying a toolbox in his right hand and looked as though he had just been pulled out of the smithy.

The smith bowed once he saw Elrond, "My Lord." He greeted gruffly, "Glorfindel said that you required my assistance."

Elrond looked puzzled at Glorfindel, but it was Elladan who responded. "Hádhon." He smiled in greeting to him, but it faded slightly when he raised his right hand so the shackle was shown. "Do you think you can do anything about these?"

To say that Hádhon looked shocked would be an understatement, and it was quickly replaced by fiery anger. He halfway threw his toolbox onto the table at the foot of their bed, snapping it open and picking some things out. He waved Elladan closer to the foot of the bed and had him place his hand on the table so he could study the shackle.

While Hádhon began working on it Elrond walked to the herb storage and picked out some more pain and fever-reducing herbs to make a tea for Legolas. He then boiled some water and added the herbs, before pouring it into a mug.

As he was walking back to the room several sharp sounds of metal hitting metal sounded through the ward. He cringed inwardly when he thought about how it was disturbing Legolas' sleep, but the displeasure was instantly switched when he saw Elladan staring down on a freed wrist with a mixture of emotions. He then thrust the other one at the table and Hádon quickly redid the procedure with it.

Cut and bruises wrapped around Elladan's wrists where the shackles had been but it wasn't as bad as Elrond had feared.

It was a little while before Elladan raised his gaze from his wrists and looked at Hádhon again. "Thank you." He said sincerely, "Can you do Legolas' as well, even if he's sleeping?"

Hádhon hesitated for a moment, looking at Legolas before looking at Elrond, wanting the healer to guarantee him that it was all right. Elrond noted his gaze and then turned to Faneth. "Faneth?"

She lifted her gaze from Legolas and nodded slowly while getting off of his bedside. "Even if you wake him it will be worth it." She said to the smith, "Just try to be gentle."

Hádhon nodded gravely and moved over to the bed, he sat down on the chair and moved the bedside table over so it was placed before him. While he did this Faneth uncovered Legolas' arms, after a moment thought she took his broken arm and placed it so the shackle was placed on the table. She then kneeled beside the table, placing her hands on either side of the break to stabilize it as Hádhon began working on the lock.

Legolas' shackles were made from another design than Elladan's and were locked tighter around his wrists; therefore they were more difficult for Hádhon to remove. Even when the locks were cracked open the shackle didn't fall down from Legolas' thin wrists.

There was a small crease between Elrond's brows in thought, but then his eyes widened as realization hit him. Before he could get the chance to stop the elf, Hádhon had grabbed the crease between the ends of the shackle and forcefully pulled it away from Legolas' wrist. Immediately blood rushed out of cuts, previously hidden by the tight metal piece, and a pained groan escaped Legolas' lips. Faneth immediately rushed to her husband, comforting him and trying to keep him from waking.

Hádhon's eyes had only just widened when Elrond's hands were on Legolas' wrist, putting pressure on the blood vessels just over the band of cuts. The cuts had been torn open by removing the tight shackles that they had previously been staunched by.

"Get some bandages Elrohir." Elrond said without looking up.

Elrohir immediately rushed over to the cabinet and pulled out a fresh roll of bandages, knowing what Elrond wanted done he quickly wrapped them tightly just under the place where Elrond was putting pressure, so it would replace his fingers. Then he hurried back to the cabinet and grabbed some herbs, a cream, a needle and some thread. Elrond had already stood up as well and was pouring water into the pot over the fire. Elrohir threw the herbs in and walked back to the table to place the other things on it. Blood was already tickling onto the surface of the table, and Faneth's hand was holding Legolas' arm down securely.

It was because of this that his gaze was directed upwards and he saw that Faneth was trying to soothe Legolas as he was thrust into another fevered dream in response to the pain. His head was turning slightly from side to side and he had probably already attempted to pull his arm to him, only to have it restrained by Faneth. Elrohir quickly replaced Faneth's hands in holding the limb down before he could hurt himself more and gave her free hands to comfort him.

By the time when Elrond came over with the herb induced water she had managed to calm him down, but Elrohir had a worrying feeling that it was partially because of weakness from the blood he was losing.

Elrond sat down in the chair Hádhon had vacated after taking off the shackle and quickly washed the wounds around his wrist, before he stitched them together, covered them in a cream and wrapped white bandages around it. Then he removed the bandages Elrohir had wrapped tightly just over the wounds, allowing the blood flow to continue. Everything was does with quick and flawless movements from the healer's side, and Legolas' hand was soon under the covers once more.

He took Legolas' other hand and placed it on the table before looking up at Hádhon, who was standing wide-eyed by the side. He could see the guilt and horror inside the elf's steel eyes.

"We can't just let wounds like that remain untreated." Elrond said while getting up from the chair, gesturing for Hádhon to take a seat. "We'll try taking it off in another way this time, but if you would be so kind as to unlock it."

Hádhon nodded, albeit hesitantly, and sat down in the chair once more. He took his tools into his hands and started working on the lock while Elrond tied bandages tightly just over the shackle to cut off the blood flow. He then prepared a tub full of warm water with herbs and brought it over.

Once the smith had unlocked the shackle, Elrond placed Legolas' hand and wrist in the water to soak the wounds off of the surface of the shackle. Seeing Hádhon's eager to be away he dismissed him with his sincere thanks.

He kept Legolas' hand in the water for some minutes and listened to Glorfindel tell his sons what he had been doing all night. When he looked to the side he saw Faneth sitting against the headboard gazing down at Legolas while she ran her fingers through his short silvery-white hair. Legolas had calmed down completely once more and was breathing slowly. It was clear that Faneth's sole presence beside him soothed him like nothing else. He was happy that Legolas had someone like Faneth by his side especially through something like this.

Once he was satisfied it had soaked enough he took hold of the opening in the shackle, and pulled the edges from each other. It wasn't as rough and painful as the other had been, but the wounds still opened and colored the water in the tub light pink. Elrond quickly repeated the procedure he had done to the other and then laid that hand under the covers as well.

When he did this Faneth slowly stood up, she could barely tear her eyes from Legolas even as she said, "I have to go check Maliel."

When she continued not to make a move or take her eyes off Legolas, Elrond placed his hand on her shoulder. "We will look after him and send someone for you immediately, should something happen. Get some rest as well Faneth, you look tired."

Faneth sighed in a way that confirmed Elrond's words, but still gave him the feeling that she wasn't going to take his advice and rest. She leaned down and pressed one final kiss to Legolas' forehead before tearing her eyes away and leaving the room, knowing that if she looked back at his pale face she wouldn't be able to get herself to leave.

Even though Elladan and Elrohir had told her the story of what had happened last night she was painfully aware of the fact that there were passages missing from it, passages where only Legolas knew what had happened because he hadn't told the twins what had happened in any details. There was also something that the twins knew extra that they were hiding from her, something important. Just around the time where Legolas had been whipped the third time and the harshest time, their voices had become hesitant before they had more or less skipped over the rest of the night….

Faneth turned a corner, but then realized that she didn't know where her parents were staying with Maliel. She blinked dumbly and then turned towards the more crowded areas, asking the first maid she came by for directions.

As she walked through the halls again her mind kept turning back to how frail Legolas looked when lying pale and unresponsive covered with an extra blanket just to keep his shivering body still, even through the fever that held him in its clutches and refused to let go.

She saw Legolas' expression twist in pain as nightmares haunted his sleep, and even through this she felt nothing in her heart, nothing to indicate her husbands distress and this frightened her more than anything because she knew that he could be having a nightmare at this very moment, he could need her and she wouldn't know it.

Shaking the thoughts out of her head she stopped and looked around, through her musings she had been able to get herself lost again. She was just about to turn around and go back to where she started from, but then a voice rang through the corridor.

"Faneth?"

She turned around and looked out of a large open arch in the side of the corridor, leading into a garden and saw her father moving towards her. Fanor had a worried look in his eyes but nonetheless gave her a smile. Once he was close enough he wrapped his arms around her.

Faneth relaxed slightly in his arms and hugged him back, "Ada."

"Have you come to see Maliel?" Fanor asked gently.

Faneth nodded against his shoulder, reminding him of when she had been an elfling.

He chuckled and pulled slightly away, keeping one of his arms around her shoulders. "Well you're not going to find her here. You must have made a wrong turn a while back." As they started walking he asked, "How is Legolas?"

"He is still sleeping deeply." Faneth answered, "Almost like unconsciousness and he burns with a fever that will not let go. Elrond had full belief that he will make a complete recovery though. He just needs rest."

Fanor nodded, "That is well."

"How is Maliel?"

"She is confused over being away from you and is afraid that something bad has happened to you as well. Gilrin and I have been trying to comfort her but she will hear nothing of it." He answered, "It's good that you came."

"You could have called for me." Faneth said tiredly.

"Nah, we wanted you to stay with Legolas. Valar knows he needs you more than Maliel right now, no matter what agreement the two of you have. Maliel will learn that she can trust what we tell her if you come back with me now, then everything will be much easier." Fanor said, "Maliel is safe with us, so you're free to be with Legolas as much as you want. She had taken a liking to Glorfindel as well after he showed her his gift for story telling." Faneth chuckled.

When they rounded the next corner Fanor led her up to one of the doors and opened it to let her inside. Almost as soon as she stepped beyond the doorframe a small whirlwind came at her and latched itself onto her legs. A smile turned the corners of her lips upwards and she reached down to hoist Maliel into her arms.

Maliel looked at her through teary blue eyes, so much like her father's that it sent a pang of longing through Faneth's heart for Legolas to open his eyes. She brushed her thumb over Maliel's rosy cheek so a tear was wiped away. Maliel sniffled in response and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, burying her face in her hair.

"I thought you were gone… just like Ada." She whimpered, "I thought you had left me…"

"Your Ada hasn't left you sweetheart." Faneth said gently and ran her hand up and down her back. She stepped further into the room and smile to her mother before sitting down on the couch.

"But he's not here." Maliel whimpered, lifting her head and showing Faneth her tearstained face. Up close it was easy to see the shadows under her eyes and the sadness and fear in them, fear from losing whom she knew was strong and would protect her from everything.

Seeing this Faneth realized that she couldn't keep this from her. She brought her hands up and brushed Maliel's hair behind her ears, cupping her cheeks, and looked into her eyes.

"Legolas came back last night." She told her gently. Maliel's eyes widened. "He hasn't come to see you yet because he is hurt. Right now he's sleeping."

"He's hurt…?" Maliel whispered, her eyes widening even more.

Faneth nodded, "But he's going to be all right, just like the other times he has been hurt. Just like on the trip here."

Tears rolled down Maliel's cheek even as she nodded. "I want to see him…" She whispered.

"It's better if you wait a little, until he's awake and better."

Maliel shook her head, stubbornness flooding into her innocent eyes. "I want to see him."

"You can't yet sweetheart, I'm sorry." Faneth said tiredly.

Maliel shook her head even more violently, her auburn curls flying around her face. Tears rolled even quicker down her cheeks and an expression of fear reentered her eyes. "You're lying he's not back."

"I'm not lying sweetheart, I would never lie to you." Faneth sighed.

"Then let me see him." She sobbed, "Let me see him... I don't understand why I can't see him if he's here… I promise I won't wake him… Please… I promise."

Faneth closed her eyes for a second. She really couldn't find the strength to deal with this as well so she just nodded weakly, scooping Maliel into her arms once more and standing up. Her father still stood in the doorway so he gave her a small smile before walking off towards the healing ward so they could follow him. Her mother came as well.

"You need to promise me not to wake him up." Faneth said softly as they walked, "He needs a lot of rest. He doesn't look so good at the moment, but that is only because he needs rest."

Maliel nodded dutifully, but then her eyes were drawn to one of the open arches and the white roses beyond it. She tugged Faneth's sleeve to get her attention and then pointed toward them. Faneth sighed before setting her down on the floor, the roses looked beautiful so she was sure that this was one of the private gardens in Rivendell. They were after all close to where Elrond and his family had their rooms.

"Only one." She said, hoping that Elrond would forgive them.

O

The twins looked up from where they sitting on the bed when the door opened and Fanor stepped into the Healing ward. The elf's eyes immediately went to Legolas and they went wide, before narrowing in anger when he saw the cuts around his wrist that Elrond was currently checking. The healer looked up once he entered the room.

"Fanor?"

His voice drew Fanor out of his anger and made him move his eyes to the healer. "Faneth is bringing Maliel here to reassure her that Legolas is back." He said, "I'm slightly ahead of them because Maliel wanted to pluck a flower."

Elrond nodded and then hurriedly wrapped bandages around Legolas' wrists again before sliding his sleeve over them and placing his arm back under the covers. He did the same with the other wrist and then took the small wet towel and ran it gently over Legolas' face. Afterwards he rubbed it over the small table by the bed, deftly removing the bloodstains.

Elrohir as well got up from the bed and started moving various healing items to the storage room instead so they weren't out in the open. Once Elrond had cleaned the table he took it and moved it over to its normal spot.

Elrond tied the neckline of the loose, soft tunic Legolas was wearing, effectively hiding the bandages underneath, before pulling the covers up and tucking them in around him. Fanor had to commend them for effectiveness, Legolas looked slightly better now with all his wounds covered and the overbearing feeling of being in a ward dimmed with the removal of supplies. The only thing that indicated that everything was not all right with his son-in-law was his closed eyes, pale complexion, and flushed cheeks. Not forgetting the bruise and crusted cut on his cheek.

Elrohir had walked over to the balcony doors and opened them completely, allowing fresh air to stream into the room and wash away the lingering scent of blood and herbs. Elrond moved over to the chair beside the bed Elladan and Elrohir were sharing and sat down allowing the others to have Legolas' bedside. Elrohir soon joined his brother on the bed, but Fanor didn't take any notice of them as he walked over to Legolas.

He gazed down at his still features for some time before reached down and ever so gently brushing a lock of hair that had been blown in front of his eyes by the wind, behind his ear. Legolas neither stirred nor reacted in any other way to the touch. Anger welled up in him once more when he thought about what those humans had dared do to a member of his family.

He hadn't had a close relationship to Legolas before Maliel's birth but he had come to know that Legolas was a good husband, Prince and a damn good father. To see him lying here after battling his way to get home to his family and finally succumbing to his wounds sent a jab of pride through his heart.

Not even a minute passed before the doors to the ward were opened once more and Gilrin stepped in, followed closely by Faneth who was carrying Maliel.

Elladan and Elrohir's hearts melted at the sight of Legolas' daughter. It was the first time they had seen her they realized guiltily.

Both Faneth and Legolas' features were clearly seen in her still childish face. Her eyes were definitely Legolas', but lacked the ability to block out her emotions. Her hair was the same color as her mother's and they were sure that when she got older her curls would subside and her hair would be wavy instead. Her hair was braided away from her face on both sides of her head and was tied back with small blue ribbons that matched her eyes and her dress.

Both twins felt a pang through their hearts when they noticed the salty tear tracks down her rosy cheeks, and the faint shadows under her eyes.

Her innocent eyes landed on them first and they gave her a small smile, but her eyes were already latching onto the bed beside theirs and her father's form. They went wide and she immediately fought to get out of Faneth's arms.

Faneth held her tighter for moment and asked her, "Do you remember what we agreed?"

"No waking Ada." Maliel whispered.

Faneth nodded and then put her down on the ground. It was first then that the twins saw the white rose in her grasp, as it had previously been placing behind Faneth's back. Their eyes went wide and their mouths dry, pain shooting through their hearts. It was a rose from their mother's garden, the only place in Rivendell that held white roses. She had taken care of them herself and never had a flower been taken from it if it wasn't her own hand doing the plucking.

For a moment anger flared inside their bodies but then they watched as the little elfling walked to her father's bed and ever so gently placed the rose in the bowel of water they had been rewetting the small towel on Legolas' forehead in so it's stalk was in the water. She then walked over to the bed and glanced briefly back at her mother before reaching out and placing her small hand against Legolas' cheek.

"I asked the bush if I could take a flower just like you taught me Ada." Maliel whispered to him, nonetheless the twins were able to hear what she was saying. "I think it knows you. You need to get better so we can go out and talk to it… I think it's lonely."

Maliel paused for a moment, looking at him expectantly and then called timidly, "Ada?"

Legolas didn't have any reaction to that either.

When Maliel turned around to look at Faneth there were tears running down her cheeks once more. "Nana, why won't he wake up?"

Faneth hurried over to her and lifted her into her arms, running her hand repeatedly over her hair when she cried softly into her shoulder and wrapped her arms around her neck. "Shh… He'll wake up when he is rested. He'll be on his feet again soon enough. You'll see." She told her softly, "Now it's time for us to let him rest and get some ourselves."

"I want to stay…" Maliel mewled.

"We had an agreement that I would let you see him, but all of us need rest now. You can come back tomorrow." Faneth said, and started towards the door.

Before she had taken a step Maliel wriggled out of her arms and back to Legolas. She carefully kissed his cheek and whispered, "Sweet dreams Ada." Then she walked downcast back to her mother and allowed her to pick her up. She rested her head on Faneth's shoulder and gazed at Legolas for as long time as possible before they walked out the door.

Gilrin and Fanor stayed behind for a little while asking Elrond about Legolas' condition, but the twins couldn't concentrate on what they were saying, instead they stared at the white rose on Legolas' bedside table. As they continued to look one of the petals fell off it and floated down until it landing in Legolas' hair.

Only when the door closed and Elrond wrapped his arms around both of them from behind did they shake off their stupor. They looked back at their father as he started talking.

"It is high time roses like that adorn the halls of Rivendell once more." He said, looking at the rose. "It's almost like she is here with him, watching over him and thanking him for taking care of the two of you, just like he had promised her."

"Legolas promised Nana that he would look after us?" Elladan asked with a cracked voice.

Elrond nodded, his eyes travelling from the rose to Legolas. "She told me just before she boarded the ship to Valinor that she was afraid she had made a mistake placing such a burden on someone so young with so many burdens of his own. I forgot about it quickly in my distress, just as I forgot Legolas' pain. It is first now I realize how he must have felt while helping us…"

"We owe him a lot…" Elrohir whispered. "Just now I think I've truly realized how much how much he left behind when he decided to go with us."

Elladan nodded in agreement, "She was so small…"

"Take care of her." Elrond said, "Make sure that she doesn't feel the reduced contact with her father too much over the coming weeks, so Legolas has time to recover."

"We should not touch something so innocent and pure." Elladan whispered bitterly, "When our own hands are stained with blood and destruction."

"Why do you worry about staining her when she might as well lighten you?" Elrond asked gently, moving around the bed and kneeling before them. He took their hands in his gently. "I do not see killers in front of me, but my sons. The killing is done, now it is time for redemption and healing. Allow her to heal you. Allow everyone to heal you. Allow the light to chase away the remaining darkness and overcome it. I have faith in you."

Elladan swallowed thickly and attempted fruitlessly to stop a tear from rolling down his cheek. Immediately a comforting presence invaded his mind and wrapped itself gently around his self-loathing thoughts and guilt, and toned it down so it no longer drowned out everything else He looked to the side and saw his twin give him a small smile through his own tears.

They would get through this, that was what the smile said, we will fight. Elladan gave one in return.

"Now let me check your wounds."

The twins groaned.