Summary: While visiting Estel in Imladris, Legolas suffers a concussion with amusing results. Estel and Legolas star in this chapter.

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Author's Note: I realize that there is nothing funny about a real head injury, but since it's just for pretend, I have no regrets. I'm posting this at the same time as the last chapter of my multi-chapter story Fidelity as an apology and thank you—an apology for the long delay and a thank you for hanging in there with me. Please enjoy a short and (hopefully) humorous story!


Concussed

"Estel, what are you doing on my horse?"

Estel sighed, this was the third time Legolas had asked this question, "I am not on your horse, Legolas, you are on my horse."

"Oh," Legolas paused and considered this for a moment, "Why?"

"You hit your head, perhaps harder than I realized."

"I did?"

"Yes."

Legolas took a moment to think this over, "No, I don't think that's right. I don't remember it happening."

"I assure you that it did."

They rode in silence for a while. "Estel, what of the other warriors?"

"What?" Estel's brow crinkled in confusion, "It's just us, my friend."

"We must find them, then!"

"There is no one to find. It's just the two of us out, Legolas, no one came with us."

But the elf was not satisfied with this answer, he twisted in front of Estel, nearly pulling them both off of the horse in the process, trying to look around. "We've lost them!" he cried in concern.

Estel sighed again and changed tactics, "No. No, they are ahead of us. We will meet them at Imladris."

Legolas' concern changed to confusion, "Not at my father's halls?"

Estel looked around, taking in the mountains, valley, and river, uncertain of how even a concussed Legolas could think this place looked anything like the dark, forested lands of his home, "No, not your father's halls. My father's halls are closer."

Legolas nodded, this apparently made sense to him. "We should have sent a messenger ahead, it is not polite for so many to intrude unannounced."

Estel chuckled, "I'm sure we will be forgiven."

"Do you think…" Legolas began and then trailed off, his eyes flitting skyward and tracing a bird as it soared above the valley.

Estel waited for a moment, "Do I think what?"

"Sorry?" Legolas replied, confused.

"Never mind."

Legolas leaned forward suddenly, almost drunkenly, nearly tipping himself forward over the horse's neck. Estel quickly tightened his grip around his friend's waist, keeping him on the horse at least. Legolas brought his hands to his face and pressed his palms into his eyes, still not sitting upright, "It is quite bright, don't you think?"

"It's the concussion, Legolas."

"What concussion? When did you get a concussion?"

"Not me, you."

Legolas put his hands down and again tried to twist around, trying to see his friend's face, "Are you sure? Sometimes you are not honest about these things. I minimize injuries frequently, but I know my limits. I think you are worse about that than I am. Perhaps it is because you try to keep up with elves."

Estel smiled slightly, he needed a witness to this sort of admission—it was hard to catch Legolas with his guard down. "I swear that I am fine."

"Concussions shouldn't be ignored, Estel," Legolas stated sagely.

"I agree completely, which is why you must stay still," Legolas was clearly still not satisfied, so Estel continued "I do not have a head injury of any sort."

"Good," Legolas was pensive for a moment, "You know what? I've got a bit of a headache myself. Perhaps it is because it is so bright here. There hasn't been much time to rest in Mirkwood either. It is good that we are taking some time away."

"Bright light and fatigue certainly could cause a headache. Of course, it could just be the concussion," Estel offered.

"No, I haven't hit my head."

"You fell off of a horse, Legolas."

"I most certainly did not!" Legolas replied indignantly, denying the accusation more on instinct than anything else. "I've not fallen from a horse in," he paused, seeming to consider the issue, "Well it's been a long time. Years. At least…fifty years. More, I think. And the last time I can recall was only because a spider bit the horse. I didn't fall off, I was thrown off. It's not the same."

Estel bit back a laugh, curious about that particular story, "Aye, well now it's not been fifty minutes since you last fell from a horse."

"I didn't fall."

"Fine then, not fifty minutes since you were last thrown from a horse."

"My horse would not do that."

"Maybe not, but Elladan's horse would. And did."

"Elladan is here? That's wonderful! I don't get to see Elrohir or him nearly as much as I used to," Legolas said wistfully, "I used to spend so much time in Imladris, Estel. Sometimes I stayed for years! That was before the darkness fell in my home. I wish you had lived here then. Did your great, great, great grandfather ever visit Imladris? Perhaps I met him."

Estel answered selectively, "Elladan is in Imladris, you saw him this morning. You rode his horse because yours needed rest after your journey from Mirkwood."

"Greenwood," Legolas corrected absently.

"Elladan's horse spooked, you were not paying attention because you were talking to a tree, and you were thrown from the horse and into the tree. I suspect the horse is nearly home by now."

"Is the tree alright?" Legolas asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Estel sighed heavily, "Yes, the tree is fine. And you are too by the way. Or at least you will be soon enough."

The rode in companionable silence for a few moments.

Legolas ran his fingers through the horse's mane and scratched his withers, "You're right, Estel. This is not my horse."


Legolas did not cease chatting the entire way home, though his speech became decidedly more slurred as time passed.

Estel halted his horse in the courtyard. Naturally, no one was around when you needed them, "Legolas, can you sit here for a moment without me?"

"Of course," Legolas replied, sounding confused at the question, "I've been sitting on horses for millennia."

"Of course," Estel replied, rolling his eyes. He let go of the reigns and swung his leg over the horse being careful not to jostle Legolas. He quickly slid down to the ground and took up the reigns again.

Legolas listed dangerously to the side, and Estel steadied him just in time. Rather than pushing him back up on the horse, Estel controlled his fall and gave Legolas a second to get his feet under him before pulling Legolas's arm up and over his shoulder. "Together then, my friend," Estel said, helping Legolas to the healing wings, trusting the horse more than Legolas to stay out of trouble at the moment.

Estel settled Legolas into a bed, and pulled a chair up next to him. He leaned over the elf and looked carefully into his eyes, one pupil was definitely more dilated than the other. Carefully, he reached out and probed Legolas's head where it struck the tree. There was a bump forming, but no sign of anything serious beneath the slight swelling. Legolas pulled away from him. Perhaps it was the pain, but he did seem more lucid, "It's fine, Estel, let it be."

Estel frowned, "It will be fine, eventually. This puts a damper on some of our plans."

"It does indeed," the elf reclined against the pillows and let his eyes slip shut.

"Sleep if you can, you've been awake long enough that I'm not worried about it."


Legolas shifted restlessly on the bed, drawing in a deep breath and moaning involuntarily as he exhaled. His head was pounding, and the rest of him felt sore as well. His eyes were closed, but the light wherever he was still seemed bright. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter and took carefully controlled breaths. He felt nauseous, and didn't care for the sensation. Inhale, hold, exhale… Inhale, hold, exhale… Inhale, hold, exhale…

He heard a rustling beside him and then a voice, "Legolas, are you awake?"

Legolas adjusted his carefully controlled pattern. Inhale, hold, find the energy to speak… He meant to say 'yes,' but instead he just groaned.

"Legolas? Come on, my friend, wake up."

Estel, it was Estel. That made some sense. Legolas was certain that this was the human's fault somehow.

Inhale, hold, "What happened?" he succeeded in asking. He hadn't spoken loudly, but his voice still seemed to ring in his ears. Inhale, hold, exhale…

"You hit your head. Do you remember?"

Inhale, hold, exhale… "No," he answered, more quietly this time. But he thought back, what was the last thing he remembered? Estel had been on his horse… No, that wasn't right. Imladris. He knew he was in Imladris. He remembered going for a ride with Estel, and then…things were fuzzy.

Estel had moved, Legolas could hear him on the other side of the room and then more rustling.

"You hit your head on a tree, my friend. There, you can open your eyes now, I closed the curtains."

Cautiously, Legolas opened his eyes to find the room was spinning. He quickly closed his eyes again, "This is fine."

"Dizzy?"

"A bit," Legolas admitted.

"Ada thinks you'll feel better tomorrow, and be fine in a few days if you take it easy. But…" Estel hesitated.

"What?" Legolas asked.

"Well, I know you hit your head hard, but I didn't expect it to affect you this much. I thought you would be fine."

Legolas could hear the worry in his friend's voice, "I am fine."

Estel snorted, "Then open your eyes."

"Mostly fine," Legolas amended, now it was his turn to hesitate, "It may be because of the concussion I had before travelling here."

"What? Legolas, you didn't say you were hurt!"

"I wasn't! I had recovered. It happened on a patrol, but I didn't leave until it was better."

Estel scoffed in disbelief.

"Truly, my friend. I was stuck in the healing wards for a time with the concussion and other injuries. I didn't leave until after I had been released and the healers didn't object to my travelling. I was no longer experiencing any ill effects when I left. I think my father suggested this trip because he wanted me to rest more. If I hadn't come here, I was going to go back out on patrol."

"You should have said something. Head injuries are dangerous!" Estel strongly suspected that the healers hadn't objected because they knew they wouldn't be able to keep Legolas confined to the stronghold for long once he was up and about. Even a strenuous journey to Imladris would not be as taxing as a patrol and potential battle in Mirkwood.

"Estel, I was cleared by the healers and I had no more symptoms. I simply wished to relax and visit as a friend, not come as a patient for your father's healing wards."

Estel sighed, giving up. He supposed he should be grateful that Legolas at least seemed to be being open about what had happened, "I'd recommend you not hit your head for a while."

Legolas chuckled, but grimaced at the movement and subsequent pain it caused. He stilled and took another carefully controlled breath before responding, "Aye, that seems like a good idea."

"It will probably take longer to heal this time; I doubt you were fully recovered from the first concussion."

"I know," Legolas said, sounding annoyed, "I have been through this before."

"Perhaps you should have the smithies make you a helmet."

"And run around like a dwarf? I think not," Legolas replied with his eyes closed as he stifled a yawn.

"You can sleep if you want, Ada said it was alright."

Legolas sighed in response, "I'm sorry, Estel, this is not how I pictured our time together here."

Estel shrugged, "Nor did I, but I don't doubt that you need the rest. I suppose this is one way to ensure you relax during your visit."

"Hmm…" Legolas responded, already half asleep, then he roused himself somewhat, "Estel?"

"Yes?"

"Is the tree alright?"