I'll try to have the next chapter up on Friday cuz I'll be gone for 10 days (leaving Friday)

~* Days Later *~


Elsa paced nervously in front of the cave entrance. She didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit.

Elrohir had gone into the cave to look for Legolas and his captors, but before doing so he had ordered Elsa to remain outside. She was also to run away if spotted by any foes.

Elsa had a mind to obey Elrohir…as long as she could stand. She had never actually agreed to Elrohir's instructions, but she would still try.

It was very difficult to wait outside while thinking of Legolas in who-knew-what kind of shape.

What was taking Elrohir so long? What if he had been captured? Then what? Elsa ventured a few steps into the cave, satisfied for the moment. But then her anxiety returned and she had to go further into the cave to put it to rest. She found a boulder not far into the great cavern and seated herself on it. Perfect. She was in the cave, but she could still see the opening to the outside.

Elsa leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. She let out an exasperated sigh. She wanted badly to go exploring through the tunnels looking for her love.

In the silence a strange sound echoed through the walls and reached Elsa's ears. It sounded like…metal against metal…clinging together…like chains…

The noise faded. Elsa shook her head. She was imagining things. Then she heard it again. She looked down the tunnel, her heart beating fiercely within her. Legolas was down there. She just knew it.

With a last glance at the sunlight, Elsa slowly began to make her way through the cave. She was doing fine until she came to a spot where she was forced to decide to go left or right. Her instincts told her the right was safer, but the left would bring her further into the mountain and that was just what she wanted.

Gathering her courage, Elsa went to the left.

Her eyes had now adjusted to the dark and she was able to make her way along more easily.

It was not long before the faint echo of Legolas' voice caught her attention.

"Elsa…"

It was so quiet and weak that Elsa would have thought she imagined it if she had not heard it again. Her heart swelling with hope, Elsa hurried along towards the source.

The tunnel turned to the right and opened into a large room then became smaller as it went on its way.

In the room seated on the floor was Legolas - in a very poor state. He was leaning against the jagged wall for support. From his lips, as gentle as a whisper, came, "Elsa…"

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as Elsa went to Legolas' side. His eyes were closed.

"Legolas," Elsa said quietly, her voice quivering. "Can you hear me? It's Elsa."

Slowly, Legolas' eyes fluttered open and he looked up. "Elsa…you're here."

"Yes. Yes, I am. We need to get you out of here."

"Can't…too weak…chians…" Legolas tried in a feeble attempt to lift his arms.

"Oh, Legolas," Elsa breathed when she saw his bloody hands. Knowing what she must do, she placed her hands on Legolas' shoulders. She closed her eyes and began. It was the first elf magic she had actually performed, but she could tell it was working. The words rolled off her tongue easily. Slowly, she felt herself getting weaker. When she had finished she looked at Legolas.

Slowly, Legolas began to sit up on his own and his eyes opened fully. He looked at Elsa in surprise and then snatched her into a hug. "You did it. You gave me some of your strength. How do you feel?"

Elsa pulled back from the embrace. "I feel…fine. Not much weaker. How do we get you out?"

"There cuffs won't come off. I've tried it. But now that you're here maybe we can pull that stake out of the ground. Here, let's try."

Elsa and Legolas both took hold of the chains and pulled with all their might. They strained for a few moments before stopping to catch their breath.

"Let's try again," Elsa said taking the chains again in her hands.

The stake slid out a little from its place. Legolas and Elsa pulled harder and finally the stubborn thing popped out, causing both elves to fly backwards.

Legolas rose to his feet rather swiftly and helped Elsa up. He then gathered his chains in his arms and the two elves began to make their escape.

Surprisingly, they made it to the outside with no complications. Despite this pleasure, Legolas wasted no time in scolding Elsa.

"What were you thinking coming here? You could have been killed. This was a trap for you, Elsa, and we aren't out of this mess yet."

"I came here to help you. I couldn't very well sit around wondering where you were. Besides, I didn't come alone."

Legolas looked at Elsa curiously, ready to throw a fit if it was Arwen who had foolishly risked her life alongside Elsa's. "Who came with you?"

Elsa took a breath to calm herself down. "Elrohir. Without him I would never have found you."

"Mm."

Elsa looked at Legolas. What did that mean? Was he angry with her? She hoped not.

"Where is Elrohir?"

"I don't know. But we need to get you back to Rivendell to be fully healed."

"Yes. Let us start. Elrohir can easily catch up."

Elsa nodded in agreement and followed Legolas down the path that spiraled around the mountain to the base. A couple times Legolas tripped and she had to help him up. His weak state prevented them from going too fast.

They reached a section of the path where it was perilously narrow, but it did not damper their spirits for now they fel they were in the clear.

Legolas tripped again and Elsa's arms shot out to assist him.

"Are you all right?"

Legolas shook his head to clear it. "Yes. Let's continue."

"I'm surprised you got this far."

Legolas and Elsa looked up in shock to see Falien ahead of them. Nutortho stood beside his master with an arrow poised on the tightly drawn string of his bow.

Legolas narrowed his eyes.

"What do you want?" Elsa forced herself to ask, trying very hard to rid herself of her overwhelming fear.

An evil smile spread across Falien's face. "Only your necklace, my lady. Nothing more."

Elsa's hand flew to the charm and grasped it tightly.

"No, Elsa," Legolas said quietly but firmly. "You musn't."

"No," Elsa said to Falien.

"I thought you'd turn me down."

At the nod of Falien's head, Nutortho let the arrow fly - right into Legolas' left leg.

Legolas' face registered the pain, but he refused to cry out. He sank to the ground.

"No!" Elsa cried kneeling next to Legolas. She helped him away from the edge and then stood to face Falien, her features cold.

Behind her Legolas gently touched the arrow, winced at his own touch, and then began the unpleasant task of removing it.

Falien held up a small leather pouch closed off at the top by a leather tie. "The arrow was poisoned. The only antidote is this powder. It's only found in more southern kingdoms. I would be happy to give it to you…for a price."

Elsa's heart ached and she felt lightheaded. She had no choice…

Suddenly, Elrohir leaped down out of nowhere, sword drawn. He plunged his sword into Falien's stomach and then withdrew it to strike Nutortho before either of them could react.

Shock tightened Falien's face and as he stumbled about he slipped and plunged to the bottom of the mountain.

"No!" Elsa wailed as she rushed to the edge and looked down at the disappearing medicine. "No, no, no!"

A bit out of breath, Elrohir approached the she-elf. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"

Elsa gestured back towards Legolas. "He's been poisoned. The antidote cannot be found around here! What will we do?"

Elrohir walked over to Legolas who was perspiring feverishly and gasping for breath. He inspected the wound and then announced, "I cannot heal this. It is too strange to me."

"So he will die?" Elsa looked frantically to the now half-conscious Legolas.

Elrohir licked his lips. "I may be able to slow the poison. It will buy us time to get him back to Rivendell."

"All the way back to Rivendell? That will take too long. What if is doesn't work?"

"It's all I can do. I'll be back in a moment."

"Where are you going?"

"There are a few plants I need. Don't move him until I come back."

Elsa felt helpless next to her injured love. She could see the poison infecting his whole body. Crying, Elsa knelt next to Legolas' still form and reached out to touch his face.

*I'm so sorry,* she whispered. *I put you in such great danger. I should have… Oh, please don't leave me! I need you… I love you…*

Elsa was only allowed a few moments of privacy for Elrohir returned promptly with a couple of different kinds of plants. He layed them on a boulder and crushed them with a smaller rock. After grinding them into a fine powder, he swept it into his palm and applied it to Legolas' wound. He then leaned closer and scrutinized the wound to see if it was working.

"You're sure this will slow the poison?"

"Yes," Elrohir answered as he tore a strip from his cloak and wrapped it tightly around Legolas' leg. "But not as much as I had hoped. It will not prolong it long enough for us to reach Rivendell. Change of plans, Elsa. We will head to Mirkwood."

Elsa looked uncertainly at the ranger. "Are you certain we will be well-received there? There is a war going on. And will they be able to help us there?"

Elrohir became a bit testy. "If you keep talking you will waste the little time the medicine has given us. Come, now. Help me lift him. Easy. There we go. On to Mirkwood."

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