"May I have something to eat?" Legolas requested quietly, staring at his own reflection in the window which became more and more prominent with the darkness outside.

"Of course," Celebrian's gentle voice answered. Legolas closed his eyes and allowed himself for just one moment to believe it was his own mother who spoke to him. The resemblance the two women had shared was uncanny. At least how he remembered Luineth. He found on pictures he could barely identifiy her, even though his father and siblings told him this was exactly how she had looked like. He remembered her differently, but maybe it was more her gentle aura that Celebrian reminded him of and not so much his mother's actual looks.

"How are you feeling, Penneth?" Celebrian asked and handed him a plate, sitting down on the empty chair next to his bed. Legolas had not heard her come into the room and was slightly confused to see that the other Noldor had at some point left him as well.

"Better," Legolas answered quietly and set the plate on the tray Celebrian placed on his knees. Legolas picked up the fork to eat the vegetable stir fry. He awkwardly held the instrument with his left hand. His right hand still did not function properly; he could not move his fingers very much and could not lift his arms higher than to his chest. Lord Elrond had warned him he might never regain full function of his arms ever again. Legolas refused to think about it for it would mean he could never again hold a bow and handle his twin knives or his sword.

After eating as much as he could he timidly asked if he could have a bit of bread as well. While Celebrian left the healing ward to get the food, Legolas lay back down and closed his eyes, focusing on slowing his breath to make it look like he had fallen asleep. He had heard how Glorfindel had told Lord Elrond in worried tone that he still slept with his eyes tightly closed.

He heard Celebrian return and then sigh as she looked down at him. He nearly flinched as the blond Lady leaned down to adjust his covers, before she left the healing ward altogether.

For the next few hours Legolas slipped in and out of sleep, careful to not ever fall into a deep sleep. It was around midnight when Legolas forced his eyes open and carefully sat up, suppressing a wince as he did so. It was dark in the long room, only one candle was light, encased in a glass as to hinder it to fall and set the entire room on flames while the patients slept.

Carefully, Legolas swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, his left hand gripping the headboard. He looked around and found a plate with several slices of lembas bread sitting on the chair were Celebrian had left it. She must have taken it directly from the kitchens without finding an extra plate because for one meal this was way too much food. Lucky for Legolas though. He found a woollen jumper and put it on, then taking the lembas and rolling it into the fabric before putting a knot in it to carry it more easily. He also found his old boots standing under the bed. Putting them on proved to be highly difficult as he could not bend down all the way to his feet with the hole he still had in his torso.

Slowly, his arm slightly outstretched for balance, Legolas made his way to the door. He opened it carefully to look furtively outside. The hallway and the staircase lay in complete darkness, nothing more than shadows in the dark. The elven prince felt the adrenalin washing through him, his heart thumbing loudly in his chest, almost taking his breath.

Without making even the slightest sound, Legolas moved towards the staircase and slowly made his way down, his good hand holding tightly onto the banister.

"And just where do you think you are going?" Glorfindel's stern voice sounded from behind his back. Legolas span around, instinctively raising his hands and crouching down in a defence position. He did not feel any pain with the adrenalin pumping through him.

"You will let me go," Legolas said and his tone of voice left no room for argument.

"Let's get you back to bed, shall we?" Glorfindel said, clearly tense.

"Forgive me," Legolas murmured under his breath and shoved Glorfindel away from him. The balrog slayer stumbled, a look of utter surprise on his face, though Legolas could not see it because of the darkness. He began walking towards the direction of the staircase leading to the garden. Glorfindel grabbed his arm to pull him back, being surpsingly gentle as he did so. Legolas could not stay here. He had to go. Now! So he span around and landed a strong punch against the broad chest of the older elf.

"Penneth!" Glorfindel yelled angrily and surprised about the attack. Legolas felt bad. He had sworn himself to never purposely harm an elf and here he found himself unable to do so. He had to go.

Again, the balrog slayer tried to stop him and Legolas realised with quiet horror that the only way for him to flee this place was to incapacitate the blond Noldor.

Glorfindel sucked in a sharp breath as Penneth expertly stabbed him under the armpit with his braced left hand. His battle honed instincts took over and he ducked under the next attack as the young warrior attempted to hit him against his neck with the side of his hand to render him unconscious.

Shocked, Glorfindel rose both arms to block the next two hits aiming for his torso. Even in his weakened state the young elf before him was proofing to be a talented warrior.

"Penneth, stop this at once!" Glorfindel bellowed, sidestepping the kick to his stomach. Suddenly, he saw stars before his eyes. Damn the darkness! He had not even seen the fist flying to his head! He no longer could simply defend himself, he had to overpower the younger elf! Glorfindel had fought many battles and knew how to fight. In an ordinary fight he would easily be able to kill his opponent. However, this was exactly what he did not want to do! He had no desire whatsoever to hurt the Silvan – perhereg! – elf. And his opponent what covered in painful stitches. There was barely any place left where Glorfindel could strike without causing serious damage to the healing patient of Lord Elrond.

Glorfindel sidestepped yet another precise and powerful attack and blocked the next. At the same time he scanned Penneth's body as far as that was possible in the darkness. His entire right side was out, Glorfindel decided. The hole in his torso caused by an arrow with a cruel head still had not closed. Furthermore, Penneth did have several deep cuts on this side, not to mention the injury close to his shoulder which had harmed both his arm muscles and the bone structure of his shoulder. The way Penneth barely used his right arm to attack him and the lack of strenght behind those attacks also showed his lack of control, which was why the young warrior relayed mainly on his left side. He should be able to place a good hit just under Penneth's left armpit without causing too much damage.

Glorfindel span around and crouched down. Penneth's swing went over his head and the balrog slayer shot forward like a viper and placed a well-aimed hit at the targeted area just underneath Penneth's armpit.

Glorfindel screamed as an agonizing pain suddenly ripped through his chest. In his ears he heard his young opponent scream as well. Instinctively, Glorfindel's right hand went to the origin of the pain. He pressed his hand against a bleeding wound over his left chest, just above the heart. How the hell did this happen? Penneth had not inflicted this pain, he had had no opportunity to. And yet it felt as if someone had sliced his chest open with a sharp knife. It had seared up the same second his fist had made contact with the wood elf's body.

A hand went to Glorfindel's dagger which was, as always, attached to his belt. This tore him out of the unsuspected pain in his chest.

Now, Glorfindel's blue eyes found the glinting blade of the dagger, the sudden pain completely forgotten as he focused on deflecting his own weapon turned against him. He backed away and both his arms came up as he crouched in a defence position. However, Penneth surprised him by simply taking the dagger and throwing it against the far wall, hurling it with enough power so it stuck in the light wood, being out of the way. It was obvious that the elfling had no desire to use such a harmful weapon either.

In the darkness, Glorfindel could hear Penneth's harsh and uneven breath, proofing his unfit state.

"Stop it, Penneth! Just return to the healing wing and I promise we will forget what you did tonight?"

"What I did?" Penneth asked in disbelief. "All I do is trying to get out of this place! Why do you not simply allow me leave! You will not keep me prisoner here any longer. You brought this upon yourself!"

The next blow came and Glorfindel reacted without thought as his hand shot out. An agonizing scream rang through the silence of the night, barely constrained by the wood elf who was clutching his side and leaning over. Penneth fell to his knees, raising his good arm over the head as to block the next blow, which never came. Glorfindel was shocked to see he had dangerously harmed the young one and kneeled down before him.

"Let me have a look," he said, worry lacing his voice. In the next moment a blinding white light appeared before his eyes before everything turned black. The last thing he felt was the cold floor meeting his back.

I know, another short chapter, but admit it, this time I updated quickly!

Please review!

Guest1345: Thank you. I am happy you continue reading and are giving me so many kind reviews!

Scathach47: Nice to see you back :D Am am happy you like the characters so far. There will be a lot of stuff happening in the next few chapters :D

Aearvir-TheModernDayElf: Thank you so very much. It makes me so happy whenever I hear someone enjoys my writing. It makes it worth the effort.