Hullo everyone! :) You know, the further into the story I get, I don't know whether to say "Glad you're enjoying it!" or- *hides behind Grimi* ;) But I figure you must be enjoying this, else you wouldn't endure my TERRIBLE cliffies just for another long, angst, cliffy-ending chapter. ;)

Well, responses will have to be a little short again, because I spent most of my day at my friend's house (my friend who lives two hours away ;) as sorta a birthday activity today. Anyway, I haven't had much time to write responses and all. Really sorry guys! :( I hate having to show my priorities, but we can't ignore I've got some, right? :| *sigh* Ah well, the point is, right now I'm here talking to my faithful readers, correct? The bright side! ;)

*grins, giggles, and various other signs of extreme mirth* THANK you, Myfanwy! :) Yes, you sure DID give me a laugh! Oh-HO, just ask my sister! I'm over here CRACKing UP over my e-mailer! And Hannah leans over to me and goes "Chloe, what are you DOING?!" "Myfanwy!" I gasped out "-posted." ;) You truly know how to generate the most hilarious mental pictures! And as for what you said…yes, Sarah is saner on ff.net under other circumstances…but not in real life. No, she's slightly nutty in real life!…but I think 'slightly' doesn't cut it. ;) I'm so sorry I didn't respond to your previous feedback! It happened AGAIN that several reviews for the previous chapter rolled in too late to be responded to on the next chapter. I HATE that. Oh well, you're reasonable, and nice, you understand. :) And what's with your teacher? My dad is ALWAYS comparing the Bible to LOTR. "The Christians are like Elves." He said the other day. "We live in the same place as the Hobbits (children) Dwarves (atheists) and Men (misc. lost people) but we know the truth about life, so we are wiser and stronger than the others on Middle Earth." Isn't that cool? I wish your teacher would see it that way. :) As for Mornaeg, well, it's not necessarily him, OR Thranduil, (and yes, major spoiler) it's NOT Legolas. But there's always the possibility that A. It's someone not yet introduced or B. It's someone you've completely forgotten about. :) I'll just let you figure it out. :D…and Grimi's not a balrog, he's a DWARF!…not a WHOLE lot of difference, I know, but never mind that. And- *rubs head, and chucks Myfanwy's book to Grimi…who eats it* you're going to KILL me with all this book-throwing!…oh…you know, that may have been your intent…*gulp* ;)

My little sister's here!!! *hugs and kisses for Princess of Mirkwood* Nice to see you, Katherine!!! :) It's okay if you don't have time to review or anything. Just nice of you to come by in the first place. :D

Hey, thanks for the info, Cheysuli! Oh, and I'm so glad you have a new mind…but wait…does this mean that you're not going to be nuts on me? Oh please, don't let the insanity end here! ;) And certainly let us keep Nilad around. *hands muse a Lina Legolas Gift Shop card* He's handy to have around. :D

Oh my, I think you can get banned for sending the ff.net staff Ringwraiths, eepeep. ;) Besides, I can't send them Bengwiil either. You have to send that via snail mail. Besides, what if it got in the wrong hands? It's too much pressure. ;) Anyway, ff.net's pretty good, considering everything they do on here. They don't have time to iron out ever wrinkle in every fic. So, let's cut them a LITTLE slack, right? ;)

Well, Witchmaster, I can't say what that dream was about because, yes, it will be explained…I'm afraid much, much later. :)

Yeah, I know what you mean, Julia. I kind of pity Thranduil right now as well, though he's made some bad choices. And as for Raustal (the injured hunter) I WANT to give him a second chance…but…well…I can't say. :) And what makes you think that Aragorn's attacker's gonna come back? Intuition? Well…you just may be right, but you never, NEVER know. :D

Wicked twist, Karri? Oh how sweet of you. ;) I'm glad I managed to keep spontaneous at times, even though I feel my stories get somewhat monotonous now and then. :)

Yes, well plot twists are how I keep people reading this stuff, IC. ;) And I'm doing to our favorite characters what I'm ALWAYS doing to them…being mean. :D Ugh, I know what you mean about annoying nick-names. See, I don't have too many I REALLY don't like, but I've got a friend who's always getting called BuBu, and Peanut. She HATES that. *sigh* ah well.

Thanks, goblz! :) I kinda have to keep the endings of these chapters interesting, else everyone would- well -LEAVE! ;)

*grins* You two just CRACK me up, Melfina! And I'm sure you could write angst-fics if you tried. I never, NEVER thought I'd be able to write anything fit for ANYONE besides my over-sized cat to hear, so you never know. ;) And I'm sure your sister agrees…RIGHT, Twisha? *tries to look stern, but does about as gooda job as Frodo and Gandalf* I can't help it, you sound too much like me with my sister, Hannah! :D

*giggle* hyper-shark indeed! High on caffeine, are we? ;) I'm glad you don't mind the fast updates. I just can't wait to get the next chapter up, so I only wait a day to do so. :)

*hugs Gollum plushie* Hantach, gwyn! :) And as for Thranduil, I think it's a good idea to stick with the 'more than meets the eye' philosophy. Let's just say you just may be right about Thranduil…but let that be ALL we say, lest we give away plot-pieces. ;)

Oh, SO glad you liked that particular Ara-Lego scene, chrisalin. :) Many would look at that and start screaming SLASH, but I hate that. I LOVE to write them as FRIENDS. Friends ONLY. I love that. :) And, yeah, Thranduil's looking a little on the certifiable side, isn't he? Well, you never know…

*grins and pulls SilvenLegolas to her feet* Don't worry, Cat, everything'll be better eventually. And being confused isn't bad, I would expect you to be understanding all this. I barely do!…and I wrote it…and that's sad, so we won't talk about it. ;)

Keep your hair in, Callie! (hey, I've a friend named Callie :) And that wasn't QUITE a cliffy…open-ended, yes, but not exactly cliffy material. ;) And yes, Grimi's pretty cute…except in the morning…then he looks like he's never combed his hair in his LIFE…which, well, he hasn't, because I comb it as best I can. Hey, I can't have my bodyguard going to my story like- *points at her haystack bodyguard* THAT. ;)

Oh no, not aGAIN S.K. Snicket!!!…a phrase which does NOT mean, 'oh, I wish you'd stop reviewing my story' but rather 'I wish you wouldn't be so funny the point that I don't know how to respond'…also, this phrase indicates that Sarah K's name has changed to S.K. Snicket, which is hasn't, but that's a different matter entirely. ;) Well, Sarah…uh…great, you've gone and made me at a loss for words. Do you know how WEIRD that is?! Chloe-the-human-chatter-box-who-seems-to-think-it's-amusing-to-talk-people's-heads-off is at a loss for words!…okay, so I'll have to make something up…uh…*hands Sarah a new reward* no, it's not a change of subject- well…okay, never mind. Here, it's the Doing Whatever Enemies Evaluate Best Are Zero Only In Driveways…which makes NO sense, and spells DWEEBAZOID, so never mind. I think…I should go before I get hurt by…something. Or hurt YOU most likely…end up scaring you away from my writing forever, I shouldn't wonder. Then you'll never come back, likely…;)

Oh, no problem, Rosie. You're talking to a girl who writes mindless angst for FUN. I know exactly what it's like to make no sense. ;)

Okay, Aislynn Crowdaughter, obviously you've got several problems with this fic, so let me see how much of it I can clear up for ya. Aragorn is attacked in this room he is sent to at first…well that I can't explain at this juncture (due to giving away some of the plot) And there is nobody in whole Mirkwood going to search for who did attack him? No, you didn't miss anything. You may recall that this was brought up between Legolas and Aragorn in Chapter 5: "I am sure the culprit is long-gone by now. And besides, as long as my father shows no interest in an investigation, I can do little." Now, okay, even I admit that sounds lame. But here; for the first part, the culprit being long-gone carries more weight than it sounds. Someone who would come into the Prince of Mirkwood's friend's room, and attack (nearly kill) him for no reason would not stay in the Halls where everyone knows everyone and all that. And it's like impossible to turn Mirkwood upside down. Plus, the last part about Thranduil carries more weight than I can reveal at this point. …Or why it apparently helped? Since, of course, that dwarf who ate it most definitely did not help, nor did it do anything for Legolas…okay, well about the dwarf, I mentioned in Iston (when Bodruith is telling the tail of Minaeg, the first elf to die of Bengwiil): "At first, it gave him sweet rest, and he felt good as ever, but when he awoke an hour later, he was not himself." Now as for why it took more than an hour for the plant to effect Aragorn…that I can't explain right now either. But you WILL find out. And about it not helping Legolas, the idea was that Legolas was given much too much from the beginning, and it took effect immediately. (dwarves aren't the greatest doctors, you know ;) …Then, there never that I could see was an explanation just why Thranduil comes to believe that giving Aragorn a leaf of Bengwiil would save his life and heal him?…but Thranduil seems at no point in this fic so far inclined to sit Legolas down and explain to him what he was thinking and why he thought the damned thing would help Aragorn in the first place…I'm sorry to say that much of this I can't explain. There are several things about Thranduil that you don't know yet, and won't find out for awhile yet. …No seems Legolas to demand it, what for me seems to be very out of character…Well, we must consider this; Legolas has already tried to demand things out of his father, and gotten no satisfying response. Not only that, but Legolas hasn't managed to contact his father much lately (why? Can't say now…) and he's a little too preoccupied with his dieing friend to force a visit with his father, just so he can interrogate him for answers he probably won't get. …And instead of throwing a fit all he does is deciding to go to Rivendell alone if Aragorn doesn't come with him?…Okay, well #1, I don't think it's in Legolas to throw a fit of any kind. And I also feel that going to Rivendell without Aragorn was a logical action for him. This is why; his best friend is dieing, and he doesn't even realize it. Legolas can't take this terrible tension, waiting for his friend to die, while he stands by and watches. Feeling a need to simply get away, Rivendell, the place of rest, seems an obvious place to turn to. Not only is it Rivendell, but Elrond as well. Legolas obviously feels he'll find comfort in Estel's father's house, since his own father is like GONE. …No accusations to Thranduil?…I think Legolas has accused Thranduil enough (Rastaul and all that) and plus, what would he do? "Dad I can't believe what a DIMwit you are!" as impulsive as Legolas is at times, I'd like to think that he's not THAT dense. …I'm sorry, but I am afraid with all these questions, this whole thing lost me along the way. If I haven't over read a lot, there seem to be gaping plot holes. It just doesn't makes sense to me. Oh, don't be sorry, Aislynn! I'm glad you brought this up, and thank you for being such an honest critic. I hope I've answered this to your satisfaction. I think once this is over, it'll make more sense. And if no, I can always go back and edit it before submitting it to Cassia. Thank you once again for talking to me! And if you have any other questions, PLEASE ask! :)

Woah, what a theory, Angel of the Elves! I love it. ;) As to the truth…I'm sorry to say the magic truth of Thranduil won't come up till later. And thanks for the- eh -protection advice. I have a feeling I may need it…Grimi's been looking kind of green lately…yeah, he's going to wimp out any second, you just watch. ;)

*grins* Don't miss your bus over elf and ranger angst, Kaeera, they're not worth it. ;) And don't worry about not reviewing every day. I understand that you too have a life beyond ff.net and it's LOTR fics…at least I sure HOPE you do. ;)

DON'T WORRY Auriena! ;) I really don't mind if you fall behind on reviews. I'm just glad that you're so determined to read it! :D I'll see you when I see you, okay? (thank you again for the cheerleaders, we'll all wait up for ya ;) Apprécier votre voyage à la France, mon ami! ;)

Oooh I know what you mean, Siti! I've actually HAD mud-colored-tea before…BLECHY!!! ;) "Poor Aragorn!" Yeah, well, that was inevitable. :D And, yes, the end of the chapter wasn't supposed to make sense all on its own. It'll be explained eventually. :)

Eomer, you're NEVER going to get south as long as you have to double back for Lina every post. How in the world do you keep losing her?! E: Well, okay, first she kicked me, then she punched me, then she held one of my men hostage all the way to your fic, then she threatened my friend with Bengwiil, then she bit my horse, then- C: Never mind, I shoulda figured I didn't want to know. L: *giggles absently* You're kind of funny-looking Chloe!…*blinks and looks blearily up at Eomer* and so do YOU, Rodrick! E: I thought we had this straight, I'm Eomer remember? L: *mumbles with silly grin on her face* Yes, well, that's what you think… C: Okay, Eomer, why don't you try and ride south?…again. E: Yeah, right, like I'm going to have ANY more luck this time. She'll probably- I dunno, feed my horse Bengwiil or something. C: Don't be so wimpy. E: I'm NOT! L: Rodrick, quit screaming! C: Go, Eomer. NOW! E: Alright, alright. Rohirum! We ride south!…and will hopefully make it this time. ;)

Well, guys, I want to thank you again for being such faithful readers! I'll tell you, I can't express how thrilled I am to have so many people enjoying MY writing. I never would have dreamed of this 4 years ago, when I was still writing unfinished stories about talking Beagles, and Lizards that were really secret agents. (no, really guys! That was me, age 9 ;)

I guess I just want to thank you SO much for sticking with me, and enjoying my stories. :)

Well, 'nough of that, onto the story you are likely here to read anyway. ;)

Chapter 9

Father and Son

Legolas left his room, a faint smile upon his lips. Walking silently down the hall, he yet again entered Aragorn's room. It was dark, but faintly lit by the hint of sunrise. Legolas' gaze shifted to the window, and watched as the blue-tinted clouds moved about, and prepared to let the sun rise. He smile once again, and looked down at Aragorn, who was still lying in the huge bed.

The human's eyes were open, and he too was looking out the window. Perhaps he had not noticed his friend in the room, for he didn't raise his vision to the elf.

Legolas' smile widened. "I know, I was just here an hour ago, but I couldn't help it. Every other minute, just when I think I shall actually fall asleep, I think of you. And then, I rise from my bed, come down the hall, and am determined to check on you…again." He smiled once more and walked towards the bed. Aragorn didn't make a sound, besides his rather loud breathing.

Legolas didn't find this out of place, so he sat down on the end of the bed. "So how do you feel? Better, I hope, for I have been impatient through this night to leave for Rivendell." There was no response, save the continual breathing. "Aragorn? Are you all right?"

Legolas rose from the end of the bed, and started walking to Aragorn's side, listening closely to the noisy breathing. It didn't quite sound right. Almost congested, it seemed. "Aragorn?" Legolas murmured again, as he reached his friend's side, and knelt down to his level. "Aragorn?" He asked for the third time, and finally the human looked at him.

Aragorn's face was completely pale, and he shook all over. Legolas realized in an instant that his breathing had not been merely loud, but labored. The human couldn't breathe.

"Aragorn!" Legolas jumped to his feet, and sat down on the bed beside his friend. "Mornaeg!" He shouted, heaving his gasping friend's head into his lap, in an attempt to ease his breathing. "Mornaeg!"

The young elf came running into the doorway, his eyes wide, and expectant. "What is it, your highness?"

"Aragorn. He's- look." Legolas shifted his weight beneath the panting human, and continued at a fast pace. "Go. Fetch my father, and Tirniel. Tell Tirniel he will need Nanegro and likely Salab. Tell my father to allow him any other herbs he deems necessary. Haitha, na noro!"

//go, and hurry!//

Mornaeg nodded, and ran off down the hall, leaving Legolas and his rasping companion alone in the dimly-lit room. "Aragorn? Aragorn, calm down." Legolas instructed, as the human's panicked mind tried to force more air out of his lungs. "Just breathe. Just breathe."

"I- I- I- don't want t-to breathe…it h-h-hurts." Aragorn gasped, still trying to gulp air into his starved lungs.

"I know. I know it hurts, Aragorn. Just hang on." Legolas felt all over his friend's body, and soon found the source of the human's painful condition. His heart was beating much, much too fast, and sending waves of adrenaline through the sick man's body. All this put together made it hard for him to breathe without great pain.

Legolas squeezed his eyes shut, and pulled Aragorn closer to him. This was the work of Bengwiil to be sure, and it cut him to the heart to see it.

"Just breathe, Aragorn." Was all he could say. "Just breathe." He couldn't get the phrase out his mind, for it was all he could think of that might save his friend. To keep him alive until Tirniel got there. Where *was* he?!

Legolas found that his guidance to Aragorn was echoing around in his mind as well. "Just breathe, Legolas. You must keep your head, and keep Aragorn breathing as well. You cannot lose him-not now- so just keep him breathing. Just breathe. Breathe. Breathe…"

When the bedroom door came flying open once again, Legolas was startled out of his dazed thoughts, and found himself looking with relief upon Mornaeg, Tirniel and one other unfamiliar healer.

"Thank goodness." Legolas sighed, smiling weakly at Tirniel. "His heart-rate is too fast, and he is having trouble breathing. His entire body is being tormented by Bengwiil, I have no doubt in my mind of that. Can you- will you help him? And please, tell me how I am to help, for you cannot make me do otherwise."

"We have- have figured out how to help him." Tirniel said quietly, and Legolas didn't like how he wouldn't meet the prince's eyes.

"Tirniel, do not lie to me. What is wrong-" Legolas' voice trailed off as he noticed the other healer walking silently around the bed, carrying a bundle of something wrapped in brown cloth, and a bowl of water. The room went unexplainably dark, and Legolas' mind reeled. He knew what was wrapped up in that brown cloth. He knew.

"Bengwiil." Legolas shook his head slowly, and pulled Aragorn closer to him. "I will not let you give him Bengwiil again. Not this time."

Tirniel's tone was not unfriendly, but still completely grave. "Your highness, your father has given us specific instructions. Either you must go out, or we will force you out. These are the only choices we are to give you."

Legolas couldn't believe his ears. Not again. Not this again. But he knew there was no two ways about it. He pressed his forehead against the top of Aragorn's head, and whispered softly so only the young ranger could hear. "I have to go, Aragorn, but I will be back. I will be here if you need me, all right?"

"Le- egolas? W-w-where-er are you going?"

"Just outside. Oh Aragorn, I'm sorry. I cannot avoid it." He pulled the human against his chest, and gave him a squeeze of reassurance. "Ea benifred, Estel. I will not let them hurt you. I *will* not let them hurt you." //be without fear, Estel//

Legolas felt a slender hand on his shoulder. "Legolas, do not make me." Tirniel's voice was half-pleading, and his sincerity was pronounced by the fact that he *never* called the prince by his first name.

Legolas slid out from under Aragorn, laying the human down on the bed gently. He knelt beside the bed a long while, and whispered some incoherent elvish to his friend. Finally, he rose to his feet, and nodded to Tirniel. "You must understand that though I go willingly, I by no means approve of what you are doing to my friend. *again*."

The sharp words seemed to cut the healer deep, and he tried to find words to express this. But all he could say was, "It is your father who commands this."

Legolas' eyes flashed, though he tried to hide his sudden anger. He then shook his head wordlessly, and began towards the doorway.

"You may not want to stay *too* close to the door, your highness." Tirniel advised. "The simple smell of Bengwiil wafting under the door was enough to render you unconscious last time."

"I am aware of that, Tirniel. But I have no intention of staying by the door."

"Then- then where are you-"

"I must go have a talk." Legolas responded flatly, and looked down at Aragorn one last time, a look of deep pain in his eyes. The aggrieved look was replaced by one of anger when he met Tirniel's gaze again. "With my father." He finished, and went swiftly from the dark room.

***********

All the way down each corridor, past each door, up each stair, Legolas wondered what he was doing. Even once he reached his father's bedroom door, he didn't know what he planned to say. But pushing it open, he walked purposefully into the room, with the air of one who knows *exactly* where he is bound and why.

The first thing he saw when he reached the interior of the room, was his father's back. The elf was sitting on his bed, looking out the dark window. He was whispering. Talking to someone.

"He will not understand, I know. But it *was* the only way, and you believe me, do you not?…I know. I know you do. I miss you, you know. But I am glad you are back…though, I suppose…" There was silence awhile in which the only sound was Thranduil's heavy breath, and the slight creak of Legolas' feet over the wood floor. But Thranduil was too absorbed to notice his son's entry.

"You *must* be back…I saw…I saw you…did I not? What if he is right, meltha? What if he is right, and this- this thing is wrong. I *need* you to be back. I *need* you…"

Legolas continued to approach his rambling father, feeling more than a little uneasy at the strange conversation he was having. Especially since when Legolas grew closer, he could see there was no one else in the room.

The king shook suddenly, and pitched forward slightly. His body shook with sobs, and he buried his face in his hands. "Where are you, meltha? Where *are* you?! Come back! Come back to me!"

Legolas felt completely confused, and though his heart had been angered and rebellious coming here, he felt suddenly sympathetic and ashamed of his moment of anger. "Father?" He spoke kindly, and his soft voice came so smoothly up from silence that it did not startle the king. Thranduil turned, and saw his son over his shoulder.

"Legolas…" He said in an strange tone, turning away again.

Legolas crawled the rest of the way over the bed, and sat down beside his father, looking over at him with deep concern etched on his face. "What is it? And do not tell me 'nothing' for I know better."

Thranduil shook his head blankly. "I gave your friend more Bengwiil, didn't I." He responded in a tone as blank as his face.

"Yes." Legolas sighed. "Yes you did."

"I am sorry. Is he going to die?"

"I- I hope not." Legolas studied his father with more confusion than compassion now. These strange questions seemed just too frank. "Father, are you feeling well?"

"No." Came the vacant answer. "Why are you here, Legolas?"

"Well, several reasons. I'm wondering why you are using Bengwiil again, why you are so distant, why- why you have not even *tried* to search for Aragorn's attacker."

"He is likely long-gone from here, Legolas. There is no reason to interrogate every elf in these Halls all for that."

"But you have not even *tried* to look, nor have you shown any emotion towards the matter. Does it not anger you that one of your people have attacked an innocent man under your roof? And you have done nothing."

"Well," Thranduil murmured at length, as though he hadn't heard a word his son had spoken. "At least your friend is well."

"Not yet." Legolas answered sighing again, and suddenly remembered the horrible scene that was likely taking place beneath his feet. "But I think- I know he will be. He will make it."

"So you agree now." Thranduil whirled around, and looked directly at Legolas for once. "You agree!"

"I- what?"

"You agree that the Bengwiil heals! It heals! Then I have something to tell you, Legolas. I have-"

"Father, father." Legolas sprang to his feet. "The Bengwiil does nothing but harm! You *know* I believe this. I shall *never* change my mind. Never! The only reason my friend will make it is because Aragorn is *strong*. Despite all you have put him through, he will make it. For awhile. Then he and I will make all speed for Rivendell where Lord Elrond will *truly* heal him. I have no intention of resorting to Bengwiil willingly. And I wish you had never-"

Thranduil shot to his feet almost as quickly as Legolas had. "Be silent!"

Legolas bit back the last of his sentence and simply stared at his father a long moment.

When Thranduil spoke again, his voice was shaking with rage. "You have *no* right to come and speak to me like this, Legolas. I am your father, and the king of Mirkwood. You will not speak to me thus."

Legolas shook his head, closing his eyes against his father's angry stare. "I ask your forgiveness for my disrespect. But that is *all* I can apologize for." Legolas opened his eyes again, but now his own gase seemed to pierce his father's.

"Father, you are right. I am wrong to come to you speak thus. I should not have lost my temper. But who else is going inform you of these wrongs? You have left everyone thinking Bengwiil is a healing plant again. Where will it lead us? To another Minaeg. Someone is going to die again, and then they will all realize-again- that Bengwiil does no good. But too late. This elf will be dead, and we will fear Bengwiil for another eon. Then you will 'need' it once more, and all will begin again. That is not worth the life of one of your people, father."

Legolas had run out of things to say, and the words he'd spoken so far didn't seem to have sunken in anyway. He was tired. So tired. Turning from his father, he walked towards the door.

"It is Aragorn, isn't it?" Legolas stopped at his father's words, turning to look over his shoulder.

"What do you mean?"

Thranduil was looking pale and distressed. "Aragorn is getting killed by this Bengwiil, and so you automatically hate it. For Aragorn is special is he not?"

"Father, what are you talking about?"

"You are letting your emotions cloud your vision, Legolas! Just because *you* think it is killing Aragorn, and because *you* had an overdose of it, you say Bengwiil is evil. That does not mean it is. Let it go, and look at the truth as it *is*!"

"Father, it is possible that I simply had an overdose, and that Aragorn's only sick. That *may* be true, though I doubt it more than anything. But. You cannot explain away Minaeg. You know he died, and you know it was Bengwiil. You will never change my mind about this plant, father. Never."

Legolas didn't want to be here anymore. Grabbing a small, silver key off of his father's side table, he left the room. Thranduil watched his son turn, and leave the room. He couldn't stand it! Not again. Not now. Again. "Oh, Legolas." He whispered, sinking onto the bed again. "I wanted to tell you..."

***********

Legolas made his quick way to Aragorn's room again, bits and pieces of his conversation with Thranduil ringing through his head. He didn't want to remember any of it. He was so tired of arguing his case. Of saying "Bengwiil does no good!" No wonder none would listen to him. It all sounded like repetition, and somehow didn't carry enough meaning anymore.

The prince finally reached Aragorn's door, and not caring what he'd find inside, thrust the silver key into the lock, and turned it.

The room was no longer dark, for the sun had risen half-way into the sky. In the pink lighting, Legolas saw Aragorn lying motionless in the bed before him. "Aragorn-" He began, and expecting the worst rushed to the bed. Leaning over his friend, he was going to ask Tirniel, who was standing on the other side of the bed, how he was, but at that moment, the human opened his eyes. The first thing they fixed on was Legolas, and he smiled.

"I hope you did not brake the door down."

Legolas smiled back relief flooding through him. "No, I used a key."

"Well," Aragorn sighed. "I knew you didn't wait for them to *let* you in."

"Lucky guess."

"Don't be so optimistic." The two seemed to have a composition of who's smile could broaden the most for a moment. Then Legolas looked up at Tirniel. "How long till he can ride to Rivendell?"

Tirniel studied Aragorn close, and then nodded. "Maybe a day?"

Legolas nodded back, and sighed. "We'll go home soon, all right, Aragorn? Assuming that you still want to go."

Aragorn shrugged. "I'm not one to argue with an elf who has arrows hanging from his bed."

"I won't murder you in your sleep, Aragorn." Legolas promised in mock-seriousness.

"No, I am afraid of you murdering me in *your* sleep!"

"You have *no* faith in my archery skills." Legolas jibbed, sitting back on his heals.

"No, but you have no faith in mine, so I must find *some* way to get even."

"Perhaps when you are out of bed, my friend."

Aragon nodded, smiling. "Fair enough."

Legolas smiled back, and slowly turned from Aragorn to Mornaeg who was standing behind him, and nodded to the door. "Come, let us leave Aragorn to rest. The healers will take care of him."

"That we will." Tirniel promised as the two left silently, Legolas leaving Aragorn a nod of encouragement first. As they closed the door behind them, Legolas and Mornaeg heard the soft whispers of Tirniel telling Aragorn how much rest he would need, and how he needed lots of water et cetera.

Legolas looked over at Mornaeg as the two walked down the hallway. "So what happened in my absence?"

Mornaeg tilted his head to the side in thought. "He had trouble breathing as he had previously, and then we administered…his treatment." Mornaeg was obviously hesitant to name the plant he *knew* the prince hated so.

"Go on, my friend." Legolas told him gently, understanding the hesitation.

"Well after that, Aragorn started calling for you, and then completely slackened. He went so still, we thought he had- had slipped into shadow." Legolas was suddenly relieved he had not been there, knowing what seeing Aragorn like that would have done to him. "Then, Tirniel reported his heart was still beating, normally now, and his breathing was normal. You came in, and awoke him, and you know the rest."

Legolas nodded. "Thank you. I am glad he is momentarily well. Well enough to reach Rivendell, at least."

"Why are you to ride to Rivendell?"

"I am going to take him to Lord Elrond. He, I am sure, can heal Aragorn. He is a good healer, and wiser than even Prestomin."

"But- will it not harm Aragorn more to ride over the Misty Mountains?"

"If so, we've nothing to lose. He will die, of that I am sure, if we leave him hear unattended. The Bengwiil is in his bloodstream, as I am sure you know."

"Well- yes, but I thought that this was to heal him, not harm him."

"And you are not the first to believe this. I had thought when, long ago, another elf died from Bengwiil, that would stop this belief for good. But alas, it has not."

"I have heard tales of tragedy in these Halls, but I never quite understood them. But the story of the elf wounded hunting is true, then. And so is the moral I have heard along with this tale, I assume. You can die from Bengwiil."

"Yes, indeed you can. And Aragorn will, unless I get him to Lord Elrond."

Mornaeg stared hard at Legolas. "You seem to know much about this plant, highness."

"Indeed, for I myself have been infected with it, as you well know."

"I must confess, I do. That is why I asked you that night- I thought I would bring this healing plant back. But I was wrong. So wrong."

"Do not blame yourself." Legolas sighed, and leaned against the hall's stone wall.

"Will- will you not tell me what you know about Bengwiil?"

Legolas studied Mornaeg a moment. "No, my friend. You do not wish to know more than you must about this accursed herb. Trust me on this. And I do not wish to speak of it anyway."

Mornaeg nodded as though he completely understood, though a look of almost irritation crossed his face. But too quickly for Legolas to see it.

"Well Mornaeg, I think I shall- read awhile. I will see you later?"

Mornaeg only nodded, and Legolas turned swiftly towards his room, and closed the door behind him. He sat down on his bed, and from his side table, pulled the old, musty papers Aragorn had found. Scanning the pages one by one, he tried to decipher what it said, but couldn't read more than a few words her and there. At one point, he thought he'd translated a whole sentence, but it made no sense.

"Cut at shoulder, right, top, deep, six above wrist, shallow, left five, deep deep deep on…"

And the writing became so illegible that he couldn't translate anymore. None of it seemed to make any sense, though it seemed uncannily familiar. Once again, he pulled the sketch of the elf out, and studied it. It too seemed familiar. Looking closely up and down it, he realized something strange. The shadow of the leaf below was slightly green. He drew the paper even closer to his face, and tried to get a good look at it.

Legolas' body tensed completely, and he couldn't breathe. His mind had gone far away, it seemed, and all spun and swam around him. He vaguely felt Aragorn's hands tightened over his own in comfort and reassurance. But somewhere in the back of his mind, Legolas knew. His brain was losing oxygen, and he didn't have long. He was dieing…dieing…dieing…

Legolas jerked himself upright, and realized that he was on the floor. The elf's picture was crumpled and lying a few feet away as though he'd thrown it. He didn't remember doing anything. He didn't remember falling on the floor. All he remembered was…that night. That night he had nearly died in Rivendell.

Legolas pulled himself up onto the bed again, and laid down on one of his many pillows. Why? Why was he constantly reminded of this? What was happening to him? And why was it happening? Why…?

Hm…does this question sound familiar to anyone? ;)