Other: Who says I won't let Meron go to Hell?? As for Boromir's actions… he's being controlled by the same spell as Thranduil. I've decided to use more than just three of the characters from LOTR. Sorry, Tasha, it would be too hard to introduce Arwen in this fic. But I did include most of the others. And no, I am not so cruel as to send Legolas, alone and pregnant, to Mordor. What kind of a sadist do you take me for?

Disclaimer: See the Author's Notes! A/L shounen ai! Takes place a few hours after the last chapter! Lanta kaima = Sleep

Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed

Part 12. Lost

Elrohir had carried his unconscious younger brother back to Rivendell, and was now sitting beside Aragorn, as he lay motionless in a bed in the Healers' Room.

Elrond sighed and murmured, 'Poor, foolish young one.' He was speaking of Legolas, of course.

Elladan squeezed his eyes shut in anguish. 'What should we do, Father?'

'I have already sent messengers to the Lord and Lady, informing them of what has happened. Until then, we must wait,' Elrond answered. He looked at Mithrandir. 'You have no idea of where Legolas might have wound up?'

Mithrandir shook his head. 'I pray that he is somewhere close to the Shire, for the Hobbits would be more inclined to help an Elf than the Dwarves or even some Men.'

Aragorn groaned, whispering Legolas' name, drawing all eyes to him.

'What's happening to Aragorn?' Elrohir questioned.

'They are joined in body, soul, and heart, Elrohir. Aragorn is merely feeling the side-effects of what has happened to Legolas,' Mithrandir informed him.

The door opened slowly, and in stepped a blond Elf, wearing a light green shirt, matching leggings, and a gray tunic. A sword hung at his side, with a quiver on his back, and glinting deep, blue eyes. Firm muscles rippled under his shirt, as the Elven lord known as Glorfindel walked over to Elrond.

'I came as soon as I heard,' Glorfindel told Elrond. 'I met up with the messengers on their way to Lothlorien. There is no sign of the Prince of Mirkwood?'

Elrond and the others shook their heads solemnly.

Glorfindel took a deep breath and let it out slowly, as he closed his eyes. There were any number of places that Legolas might have teleported to, each one more gruesome as it came to his thoughts.

Aragorn stirred and finally blinked his eyes open. 'Where'd the sky go?' Aragorn muttered, before he remembered. 'Where's Legolas?' he asked sharply, his brown eyes taking in the figures who stood around him. A flush was on his face, as the half Elf tried to sit up and stand.

Elrohir firmly pushed Aragorn back down onto the bed, before he brought his hand up to his brother's forehead. It was searing hot to the touch, and he flinched. 'Father, Aragorn's got a fever now.'

Elrond frowned, for Aragorn had not had a fever an hour ago. He walked over and felt his youngest son's forehead for a few moments, before he looked at Mithrandir. 'I am correct in believing that Legolas must also be ill, Mithrandir?' the Elven lord questioned, concern in his eyes.

Mithrandir nodded, looking even more worried now. 'We have to find him, before Sauron, Saruman, or Meron do. It's even more important now than ever. Aragorn will only get better if Legolas does. Neither herbs or magic will help him, if Legolas' fever gets worse.'

Elrond and Elrohir both had to hold Aragorn down at those words, as the younger half Elf struggled to get up, so he could go find the one who meant the world to him. Though Aragorn was not certain if his feelings were love or affection. All he knew was that he had never felt like this before.

Glorfindel questioned, 'Why is it so important now? I agree that Legolas should be rescued as soon as possible, but until the Lord and Lady from Lothlorien arrive…'

Elrond and Mithrandir exchanged a troubled look, for they were the only two who knew. However, it was not the way that Elrond would have chosen for Aragorn to find out.

'Legolas is carrying a child, Glorfindel,' Elrond said gravely. 'He found out before he went to find Aragorn, to tell him the news.'

Elrohir and Elladan paled at those words.

Glorfindel narrowed his blue eyes and breathed, 'By Elbereth…' That was serious and dangerous. He himself did not know the person that Elrond called 'Meron'.

Aragorn's eyes were wide with shock as he digested the news. Legolas had not been sick; he was pregnant. Legolas was currently somewhere else, alone, carrying his child. 'I'm going to be a father?' The half Elf turned pale, before he fainted.

Glorfindel looked directly at Elrond. 'I believe that I would be most useful if I went and spread the word to the Hobbits that an Elven Prince is…missing. Then I can go inform some of our other allies.'

Elrond nodded slowly. 'Be careful, my friend.'

'I shall join you,' Mithrandir murmured. 'At least part of the way. Someone must tell Thranduil.'

'Are you certain Thranduil will care?' Elrohir countered. 'He and Legolas have not been close for centuries. They barely get along when they're apart, and it's even worse when they're together.'

'Surely he will care about the fact that his son could be in grave peril,' Elrond said, distress on his face. Though he knew that Elrohir was right; Legolas and Thranduil were not as close as they had once been, though the Elven lord suspected it had something to do with Meron.

Glorfindel took his leave, along with Mithrandir, to go to the Shire. Afterwards, the Istari would go to Mirkwood to inform Thranduil that his only child was missing.

A short time later, Aragorn awoke.

Elladan and Elrohir were speaking to their father, the half Elf realized.

Elrohir murmured, 'Is there any hope that Legolas can be found by one of our kind or the Hobbits?'

Aragorn scowled and tried to leave his bed once more. 'I will find him,' he argued, his fever making him even more stubborn and irrational.

Elrond frowned at his youngest son. 'Aragorn, you need to wait until you are well,' he said pointedly. 'If you get sicker, so will he.'

'But-' Aragorn felt that he could not just lay here, leaving Legolas by himself, lost and alone, while carrying his child.

Elladan cut in with, 'If you get out of that bed before your fever has broken... I'll sit on you.' Elrohir vowed the same thing.

Aragorn frowned and attempted to sit up.

'Don't make me have to force you to sleep,' Elrond said sternly. 'I can and I will, if I must.'

'I must find Legolas!' Aragorn stubbornly insisted.

Elrond shook his head and went over to his youngest son, who had sweat on his forehead. He hated to do this, but it was the only way. Though Aragorn had never seen him use one of the limited, few spells he could, the older half Elf thought. It would have been too suspicious because Aragorn would have questioned why he could not do such things.

'Lanta kaima,' Elrond murmured. A tiny glow shone around his hand, which rested on Aragorn's forehead.

The younger half Elf struggled for a few moments to stay awake, anger, betrayal, and shock in his brown eyes, before they finally, slowly, closed.

Elrohir and Elladan saw the sorrow in their father's eyes. They exchanged a look and nodded.

'You didn't have much of a choice, Father,' Elrohir told him. 'Aragorn would have tried to find Legolas, not realizing that if he gets even sicker, Legolas will too.'

Elladan added, 'When he wakes, we will try to explain it to him.'

'Thank you,' Elrond said, for he did not want to explain it to Aragorn. There had been enough secrets kept for one lifetime, and his limited magic was yet another that had been hidden.

***************

Elsewhere

***************

A lone figure lay on the ground inside of a dark place, unmoving. Golden hair was strewn out, tangled with dirt streaks. A tiny light emanated from pale skin, partially hidden by the dark shirt and leggings that the figure wore. His right cheek was pressed against the ground, as he lay face-first in the dirt.

His eyes were closed, which was unusual, for he was an Elf. An unhealthy flush was on his face, along with sweat and dirt. Desperation and terror were written across his face, as he remained motionless. One arm lay next to his side; the other stretched out above his head. His sword was nowhere to be found, for it had been lost in the teleportation.

Legolas had fallen unconscious from the drugged cloth right after he had teleported. Even if he was awake and well, he would not have known where he was, for very rarely did Elves ever set foot in this place. Not to mention that his fever would have impaired him, as well. The drug that had been used had had a second side-effect, apparently.

These dark caverns were not healthy for Elves, for it deprived them of light and nature. Legolas could not have known that he had teleported right into the deepest caverns of the Mines of Moria.

And he also could not have known about the rapidly approaching short-statured figures.

The leader of them stopped cold when he saw the appalling, pitiful sight of the lone figure crumpled on the ground, beginning to shake from feverish cold. He drew closer and peered down at the person, carefully looking him over.

'By my axe! It's an Elf!' he exclaimed, surprise, anger, and confusion in his voice.

To be continued