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Mirkwood's Plague II:

Aftermath

Chapter 23 ~ Dedication

~*~

Legolas woke to find himself lying in a warm, comfortable bed. It was dark in the room but he wasn't panicked. He felt safe here. His head was pounding and swimming nauseatingly but at least he was no longer terrified. No, he was safe here.

"Legolas?"

The king looked over at the chair where Elrond should have been sitting. It wasn't the healer sat there anymore though. "Gimli?"

"I thought you were awake." The Dwarf stood and opened the bedroom door to allow light from the lounge to brighten the bedroom.

"What are you doing here? Where is Elrond?" Legolas asked wearily.

For a moment, Gimli didn't know how to answer, unsure of what he was supposed to say. "I…I'll see if I can find him," he said.

Legolas sat up in bed, immediately knowing something was going on. "Gimli, what's wrong?" he asked croakily.

"Nothing," Gimli answered a little too quickly.

"Gimli…"

"It's nothing. Nothing is wrong. Nothing for you to worry about."

Now Legolas was certain something was going on. "Gimli, tell me what is wrong," he said as firmly as he could through the haze.

"Alright, but I don't want you to panic, alright?" Gimli said, looking over at the obviously concerned king. "There was an incident in the forest."

"What kind of incident?"

"That Elf we were tracking…We found him but he…Glorfindel…"

Suddenly, Legolas was infinitely more alert. "What about Glorfindel?"

"Now don't panic, alright? Glorfindel was hurt."

"What?"

"Elrond and Aragorn are with him. He'll be fine."

Already Legolas had pushed the blankets off himself and was going to climb out of bed. "Wait, what are you doing?" Gimli asked in shock.

"Where is he?"

"Legolas."

"Where is he?" Legolas demanded.

"The healing halls but you have to stay here."

"I have to see him," the king insisted.

Gimli stood in front of him in an attempt to stop him. "Don't be ridiculous, Elf. You can barely stand."

"Get out of my way, Gimli."

"Legolas, please…"

Legolas merely stepped past Gimli and strode as purposefully as he could from the room. He only just remembered where the healing halls were in his blind panic. Gimli followed close behind him, still calling for him to stop. Legolas ignored him though. When he had been told that Glorfindel was hurt all thought of what had happened to him and the pain he was still in just vanished and all he could think of was getting to his love.

When he came to the healing hall he pushed the door open and quickly found Aragorn sitting beside the bed in which Glorfindel laid. The man stood up, exclaiming, "Legolas!" The king stepped forward so he could properly see the seneschal. For a long while he could do nothing but stare helplessly at Glorfindel, not even hearing what Aragorn and Gimli were saying to him. Slowly, cautiously, Legolas reached out his hand and ghosted his fingers over Glorfindel's pale face. The older Elf didn't respond to the touch though.

Behind him, Gimli watched the bizarre scene in confused silence. He looked up at Aragorn and asked, "What…?" but Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder to halt the question. Now was not the time.

"What happened?" Legolas eventually asked in a quiet voice, not turning to look at either Aragorn or Gimli.

"It was that Elf. He stabbed him. But he's going to be fine, Legolas. Really. He wasn't too badly hurt. He'll be up and about in a few days. We just have to wait for him to regain consciousness."

"The Elf."

"Dead," Gimli said proudly. Legolas just nodded shortly.

"Maybe we should get you back to bed. You're exhausted and you have to rest," Aragorn said softly, walking up to Legolas and placing his hand on his shoulder.

"No, I want to stay."

Aragorn smiled sadly. "You can barely stand up. He really will be fine, mellon nin."

"I'm not leaving," Legolas said firmly, glancing back at Aragorn.

Sighing heavily, Aragorn nodded understandingly. He should have expected this. It wasn't like Legolas could be forced into anything. He had the power here not Aragorn or Gimli. "Alright," he said kindly, squeezing Legolas' shoulder gently. "At least let me find you a comfortable chair to sit in so you can rest." Legolas didn't respond but Aragorn nodded to the Dwarf, who went off to find something for Legolas to sit on. When he came back, Aragorn had laid a blanket over Legolas' shoulders and the king was clutching Glorfindel's hand. "Here, sit down," Aragorn said and Legolas let go of the seneschal's hand so he could sit down in the soft chair.

"You can both go now and rest if you want," Legolas said to the Man and Dwarf at his side.

"We can stay. If you want us to," Aragorn replied, reluctant to leave Legolas alone.

"I'll be fine."

"You're kidding right?" Gimli scoffed. "Elrond would have our heads if we let anything happen to you."

Legolas turned to face them with tearful eyes. "Please," he muttered softly.

Although Gimli was about to protest again, Aragorn nodded his understanding. "Alright, we'll be close by if you need us. Please try and rest," he advised. Legolas nodded and turned back to take Glorfindel's hand again. Aragorn shoved Gimli towards the door and out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"We shouldn't leave him alone," Gimli protested when they were in the corridor.

"Give him some time alone with Glorfindel."

They walked slowly down the deserted hallway. "So, what is going on with those two?"

"Ah. I suppose it would be alright to tell you now."

"Tell me what?"

Aragorn put his arm over Gimli's shoulder and led him towards the kitchens so they could get some food. It had been a long day and he still had some explaining to do.

Legolas sat in silence, watching Glorfindel's steady breathing. It was mesmerising. It felt a little creepy though. Seeing Glorfindel like this made his throat constrict and tears spring to his eyes. He had seen so much death in the last few months, he wasn't sure he could handle losing Glorfindel as well. Ignoring the tears that fell down his cheeks, Legolas leaned forward and kissed Glorfindel's hand but the seneschal didn't respond.

"Please don't leave me," he whispered softly, looking up at Glorfindel. "Please." For a moment he cried softly to himself. When he looked back up though, he placed his hand on Glorfindel's chest, comforted by the steady breathing and the soft fluttering of the heart beneath his hand. He carefully moved to sit on the bed, which was thankfully quiet spacious, and laid down beside him, his head resting lightly against Glorfindel's shoulder. He placed his arm around the seneschal and closed his eyes as he was still feeling the effect of whatever the dark Elf had drugged him with. Laying there listening to Glorfindel's soft breathing, Legolas slowly drifted off into a light slumber, glad for the support the seneschal offered him even in unconsciousness.

When Elrond entered the room he was surprised to find Legolas curled up against a still unconscious Glorfindel. Sighing softly, the healer walked over to them and gently placed a blanket over the king. Legolas stirred slightly but remained asleep and Elrond wasn't keen to wake him any time soon. The king needed all the rest he could get. Knowing Legolas would be safe in here; Elrond crept from the room and closed the door quietly behind him.

Now that everything was reasonably quiet in the palace and the latest threat had passed, Elrond went to his guest rooms and immediately crawled under the sheets. Within seconds he was fast asleep. In fact, the entire palace was quiet that night. Some slept more soundly than others. Legolas' sleep was more restless but whenever concern or pain woke him, the soft feel of Glorfindel against him lulled him back into sleep.

~*~*~*

When Glorfindel woke up he winced against the sunlight that brightened the room. Surprisingly – or perhaps worryingly – he didn't feel any pain. In fact, he felt almost numb and warm and contented. He turned his head towards the source of the light and squinted to see Elrond stood by the window, looking out at Mirkwood. Glorfindel moaned softly to attract his friend's attention and Elrond turned around to look at him.

"You're awake," he said softly with a smile.

"What happened?" the seneschal asked croakily.

"You were…"

"Stabbed," Glorfindel suddenly remembered. "That…I could kill him," he growled out, suddenly feeling the twinge of pain in his back.

"Sorry mellon nin, Aragorn and Gimli beat you to it," Elrond smiled, still speaking little above a whisper.

"Damn it," the seneschal swore loudly. "I really wanted to…"

"Shhh," Elrond hissed, nodding to the other side of the bed. Glorfindel turned his head on the pillow and was surprised to see Legolas fast asleep in the chair beside him. "He hasn't left your side for two days," the healer explained.

Now Glorfindel also lowered his voice, not wanting to disturb the king. "I've been asleep two days?"

Elrond nodded slowly. "We've been trying to persuade him to leave but he was insistent."

"Is he alright?"

"Not really. But he's more concerned about you than himself." Glorfindel nodded and reached out a hand to Legolas but didn't actually touch him, not wanting to wake him. "You'll be fine by the way. With a little rest you're healing nicely."

"I feel fine already," Glorfindel said, withdrawing his hand and pulling himself into a sitting position gingerly.

"Don't get too used to it. You've been drugged. Painkillers. You appeared to be in a lot of discomfort yesterday," Elrond said softly.

Glorfindel frowned at this and looked over at his Lord. "I didn't think we had enough supplies for that. Celeborn said they were at an all time low."

"They are. In fact, I'm afraid you were given nearly the last of it."

"But…Elrond, you wouldn't even give them to Legolas."

"I know. And believe me, if it had been my choice I would have left you," he smiled with no maliciousness. "But Legolas ordered it and I had to obey." Glorfindel looked back over at the sleeping King of Mirkwood. "I know. I warned him against it."

"Is he going to be alright?" Glorfindel asked again.

"He hasn't left your side long enough for me to check him over. Now, you should rest, mellon nin, recover your strength."

"And you should get him out of here and into bed."

"Believe me, I have tried. He is very stubborn when it comes to you though," Elrond smiled knowingly. Glorfindel slipped back down the bed and relaxed back, sleep already beginning to drag him back down. "Rest now."

"Look after him, Elrond," Glorfindel whispered, his eyes falling closed.

"Worry about yourself right now, not Legolas." Glorfindel had already fallen asleep as Elrond said this and he smiled softly. Even though he had told his friend not to worry, Elrond's concern for the young king was growing by the second. The Elf had barely left Glorfindel's side, refusing to even lie down or eat anything in all that time. He barely spoke to Elrond or anyone else, instead just sitting there holding Glorfindel's hand and watching for any small change in the Elda.

Once he was certain Glorfindel was sound asleep, Elrond knelt down beside the sleeping King of Mirkwood and placed his hand on Legolas' knee to wake him. Instantly, Legolas' eyes snapped open and he was looking to Glorfindel.

"It's alright. He's fine," Elrond assured softly. "He woke briefly moments ago. He told me to make you go and get some proper rest." Legolas quirked a tired smile at him and Elrond laughed softly. "I'm serious."

"How is he?"

"He seemed well enough," the healer said genuinely. "He was worried about you though."

"He wasn't in pain was he?"

Elrond smiled at the young Elf's concern. "No, he wasn't in any pain. He's resting peacefully now. Come on, Legolas, you're worn out. You should go to your rooms and get some proper sleep." Legolas looked reluctantly from Elrond to Glorfindel then back again. "He'll be fine. Come on. Even if it's just for a few hours."

"I'm really fine, Elrond," Legolas said, sitting forward in the chair and wincing slightly at his stiff muscles. He had been sat in the same position for nearly two days.

"You're not fine. You're exhausted, upset and in pain. Please, even if you only lie down on the bed. Someone will be with Glorfindel at all times and I will wake you if his condition changes, I promise."

Legolas thought for a moment. On the one hand he really didn't want to leave Glorfindel but on the other he was tired. Finally, he nodded slowly to Elrond and the healer smiled, standing up. Legolas pushed himself up out of the chair and Elrond took his arm to steady him. It took a moment before Legolas was able to stand on his own, feeling rather light-headed after being sat down for so long.

"Alright?" Elrond asked and Legolas nodded, just about managing to summon up a smile. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I want you to stay here with Glorfindel. Use everything at your disposal to keep him comfortable. I don't want him to be in pain," Legolas said firmly as he walked a little unsteadily to the door.

"He won't be in any pain, I promise." He followed Legolas to the door and opened it for him. "Listen, don't worry about Glorfindel. Go and rest now. I'll send for you if there is any change. Go on." Legolas still appeared reluctant but seeing as he could hardly stand up straight anymore he nodded and walked straight to his rooms. The chambers were mercifully warm and tidy. It felt strange being in his father's rooms instead of his own smaller ones but right then he was just too tired to care. He considered getting changed but instead he just laid down on the bed and closed his eyes, not even bothering to close the curtains or pull the sheets over himself.

When, an hour later, Elrond checked in on him he was still fast asleep. The healer smiled softly and quietly closed the curtains. Not wanting to disturb the king while he was peaceful, Elrond crept out of the room, leaving him to sleep.