Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

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Mirkwood's Plague

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Chapter 24 ~ Nightmares

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It was the dull sunlight filtering through the curtains that woke Elrond from his unintentional sleep. The fire had long since gone out and yet the room remained pleasantly warm. Rubbing his hand over his face, Elrond looked over at Legolas. The young prince was still fast asleep although he had thrown his mass of covers off at some time during the night. Elrond leaned forward and placed his hand lightly on Legolas' forehead. Although still a little warm, his temperature remained at a safe level and already Elrond could see a little colour returning to his previously pale skin. With a smile, Elrond sorted out the sheets, pulling them carefully back up over the sleeping Elf. Legolas shifted in the bed but didn't wake, settling back down into sleep almost immediately.

Elrond sat down on the bed, taking Legolas' weak hand in his own strong one. "My poor friend," he whispered softly. "You've had a rough time of it lately, haven't you? I'm so sorry. There's only one thing I can do for you now."

He calmly picked up a spare pillow from under the bed and held it aloft. "It's time to end your suffering." With that, Elrond slammed the pillow down hard, smothering Legolas' face with the fabric.

Immediately, blue eyes shot open, staring wildly in shock and panic at the figure leaning over him. Tears slipped from his eyes as he tried to push the other Elf off him. Had the Elven Lord gone mad? Had he also been affected by the disease? A thousand thoughts ran through his frantic mind as his lungs burned and screamed for oxygen. He hadn't even had time to take a deep breath before the air was cut off and his body was desperate for it.

His hands futilely tried to fight off the older Elf but he was just too weak and with his diminishing strength it was almost impossible. The Elven Lord was a lot stronger than him and as his struggles died to a useless twitching he felt warm and comforting darkness enveloping him…

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A silent, muffled shout for help turned into a real, loud one as Legolas' eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright in bed. For a moment all he could do was gasp in the precious oxygen, relieved beyond belief that there was actually free air to breathe all around him.

The prince's cry had also woken Elrond, who had been dozing in the chair by the bed after keeping his vigil all night long. "What is it? What's wrong?" the elder Elf asked gently, placing a soft hand on Legolas' trembling arm. Tears formed in Legolas' eyes as he struggled not only to control his breathing but also his shattered emotions. Seeing his panic and difficulties drawing breath, Elrond soothed, "It's alright. Just breathe; nice and slowly in and out." Achingly slowly, Legolas' breathing evened out and Elrond pulled him gently into his arms. "It's alright, mellon nin, it was just a nightmare."

The young prince leaned heavily against Elrond, wrapping his arms around the Lord's strong form, desperate for comfort. The younger Elf was still trembling slightly, from fear as much as from the icy chill that ran through him.

Although he felt better than he had before his sleep, Legolas still felt absolutely exhausted, his head felt light and fuzzy, he still felt nauseous and he ached all over.

As Legolas held tightly onto Elrond, who was now rubbing reassuring circles on his back, tears once more ran down his face against his will. "Please make it stop, Elrond. Please just make it stop. Please," he whispered despairingly against Elrond, his tears dampening the Elf-Lord's robes.

"I will, mellon nin, I will," Elrond murmured, willing to say just about anything to reassure his young friend. When Legolas' cries had died down a little Elrond said gently, "Do you think you can go back to sleep now?" A small, tired nod from the blonde was his only response. "Good. Try and get some more rest, alright?" Carefully Elrond helped an exhausted Legolas lay back down amidst the mass of pillows and blankets.

"Can you please stay?" Legolas asked wearily.

Elrond took his hand and smiled. "Of course I can. You just rest now. I'll be right here if you need me." Legolas nodded and his eyes fluttered closed and he fell almost immediately back into sleep.

Although Elrond stayed right next to the Prince, he woke up several more times during the day before night fell. This was not the kind of sleep he needed though and each time he woke he seemed more exhausted and distressed than ever. It was gone midnight when he abruptly woke again and Elrond was there to comfort him, again pulling him into a hug at seeing the distress in his tired eyes. Instead of clinging to him though, Legolas just laid in Elrond's arms, too tired to do anything else despite his obvious desperation. The healer knew this couldn't continue throughout his recovery or it would take too long. It was hardly surprising that the young frightened prince was suffering; he had been through so much already and was still in a lot of pain.

When Legolas finally spoke, his whispered words almost broke Elrond's heart. "Please help me. Make it stop. Please."

Tears formed in Elrond's eyes and he nodded, rubbing the prince's back reassuringly as Legolas just laid passively against him.

"Alright, Legolas," he said, his voice catching at seeing the Elf like this. He carefully pulled away and was met with exhausted yet expressive sapphire eyes that almost begged with Elrond for help. "Let's make it stop, alright? I'm going to help you now." Legolas nodded weakly, closing his eyes in what was most likely relief. "Alright, lie back down." Legolas did as he was bidden with Elrond's help. "That's it. I'm going to give you a sedative. It will help you fall into a deep, uninterrupted sleep," the healer explained, walking over to his healing supplies and mixing the correct powders into a glass of water. He returned to the bed and helped Legolas sit up again. "Drink this slowly." Legolas sipped at the sweet-smelling liquid, ignoring the horrible taste, trusting Elrond's skills. "There you go. It won't take long to take effect."

Elrond eased Legolas back down, pulling the covers back over, making sure he was warm and comfortable enough. He knew that under the circumstances sedation was dangerous but he couldn't allow Legolas to suffer any longer. It was just cruel to leave him in this state.

After about a minute Legolas' eyes became almost too heavy to keep open. Elrond noticed him fighting sleep, obviously afraid of what he might see in his dreams. "It's alright, Legolas. Sleep now. I'm right here if you need anything. Just rest now."

Legolas allowed his eyes to slip shut as Elrond's soothing voice lulled him into the sleep he so desperately needed. "Thank you," he breathed before sleep finally claimed him.

"You're welcome," Elrond smiled, stroking Legolas' hair back from his pale face.

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When Legolas finally woke again, it was slowly and painfully. His fever had practically vanished and he no longer shivered and trembled but his muscles were now weak and aching from the recent strain of his illness. His head was fuzzy and it took him a few moments before he even registered the bright sunshine that streamed through the windows, shining right onto his bed, making him feel more warm and comfortable than he had felt in a long time.

"Hello there," a familiar voice greeted, bringing Legolas back from falling once more into sleep. "How are you feeling?" the person asked. Legolas finally recognised the voice as Elrond and turned sleepy eyes to the dark-haired Elf, who was stood by his bed. He didn't expect an answer and Legolas didn't provide one; he was just too tired to speak right then, not to mention the fact his sluggish mind couldn't work out anything to say.

"Ion nin," another voice came from beside him.

He recognised that voice and it allowed him to croak out, "Ada."

Thranduil's pale but smiling face came into view and for the first time Legolas felt his father holding his hand tightly. "Good morning, Legolas." The Prince went to sit up, wanting to see that his father was alright but both Elrond and Thranduil stopped him. "No, no. Don't get up, ion nin. Shhh stay still." Legolas stopped trying to push himself up, tired from even that small effort.

"You're alright," Legolas whispered in relief at seeing his father was well.

"I'm fine, ion nin. It's you we have been concerned about," Thranduil smiled down at his sleepy son.

"How long have I been asleep," Legolas murmured, thinking from the level of tiredness he was currently feeling that it could only have been a couple of hours.

"Nearly three days," Elrond answered in Thranduil's place.

"Three days," Legolas exclaimed, shocked that so much time had passed.

"You earned it, so I hear," Thranduil smiled.

"Indeed, he did," Elrond confirmed, looking pointedly down at Legolas. The prince merely nodded and closed his eyes; this conversation was so tiring.

"How is everything?" he asked with what seemed to the last of his dwindling reserve of strength.

"Everything's fine. Don't worry about it," Thranduil answered quickly, smoothing his son's hair back.

The young prince opened his eyes again, looking pointedly up at the King.

It was Elrond who answered more truthfully, knowing the vague answer wouldn't satisfy. "Frodo is much better; he's up and eating breakfast last I heard, just as a Hobbit should be. Gimli and Aragorn are both fine and helping those still displaying symptoms, although that number is fast reducing. And Mirkwood's people are beginning to rebuild the kingdom. The cure worked wonders. Oh, and your father has disobeyed every single piece of medical advice I have given him and has not left your side since he woke and found you unwell." Legolas opened his eyes and smiled weakly up at his father, who rolled his eyes at Elrond's 'advice'. "And you are just about the luckiest Elf in Mirkwood. There were a few times we honestly thought we'd lost you in these past three days. But you pulled through."

"And Ada?" Legolas asked.

"Recovering nicely," Elrond reassured. Legolas nodded, closing his eyes again almost too tired to keep them open anymore. When he forced himself to focus once more on Elrond and his father, the healer smiled down at him. "You rest now, Legolas. Your body is still recovering. There will plenty of time for more talk over the next few days."

Almost immediately, Legolas slipped back into his comfortingly deep and dreamless sleep, allowing his exhausted body to begin to recover from the ravaging it had recently received.

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To Be Concluded…

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Translations

Mellon nin – My friend

Ion nin – My son

Ada – Dad

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A/N: There's only the epilogue left now. It rounds up the story but also leads into the upcoming sequel.