Chapter Sixteen

Estel sat panting, leaning up against a tree. His teeth were chattering and his whole body shivered with cold. Elrohir removed Estel's soaking wet coat and then wrapped his own cloak over him.

Elladan approached them.

"L-l-l-egol-l-as. H-how is h-he?" Estel said through his shivers.

Elladan stooped in front of his brother. Estel's lips were blue and his skin was very pale. His wet hair was partially frozen. He had drawn his knees up and wrapped his arms around his legs, trying to curl into a tight ball. His eyes were slightly glazed and unfocused.

"It is bad, my brother. Broken ribs, I do not know how many, his arm is broken also, a compound fracture. And I believe he has a concussion. We must get him back to father quickly. Do you think you can ride?"

"Aye, I may need a bit of help getting mounted, but I will be fine."

"I wish we had time to start a fire and warm you up, but I think the longer we wait, the more in danger Legolas is."

Tan pulled Estel to his feet and placing an arm under his arm, helped him back along the narrow path to where the horses were. Elladan returned to the unconscious prince and gently lifted him. Elrohir walked ahead of his brother. He mounted quickly when they reached the horses, and Elladan carefully placed the prince into his brother's arms. Elrohir leaned Legolas back and wrapped his arms around him, gently cradling his body. The blond elf's head rested against Elrohir's shoulder.

Tan mounted after helping Estel onto his own horse. Elladan took the reins of Legolas' horse, who whinnied in distress over his lack of a rider. They headed back to Rivendell in a single line as the path was narrow.

Not too long into the ride, Elladan noticed that Estel no longer shivered. He was extremely worried for his brother. The lack of shivering indicated that his hypothermia had worsened. When the trail grew wider, he drew his horse alongside his brothers. He glanced over at Estel, noting the drooping shoulders and unfocused eyes.

"Estel?"

Estel turned his head at the sound of his voice. It seemed to echo in his head as though his ears were full of water.

"Estel, how do you feel?"

"I am not so cold now, Elladan, but I feel very tired. Is it much longer to home?"

Estel had lost all track of time. He gripped the reins of his horse with white-knuckled fingers.

"Estel, we have several hours left to ride. I am afraid it will be dark ere we reach home."

"Brother, I do not think I can ride alone. I cannot feel my legs and my hands, and my head is pounding fiercely."

Elladan knew Estel must have been feeling very bad to admit this. "I will ride with you, little brother, just like when you were young and learning."

Estel smiled at this memory. Elladan stopped both horses with quiet words in elvish and then mounted up behind his brother. He wrapped his cloak around his brother's body, offering him the aid of his own body heat.

The young ranger was grateful to his brother for not finding fault in his current weakness. The bond they shared was strong, and Elladan had never made Estel feel any less for not having the abilities that his elven brothers possessed. He leaned back into his brother's warm embrace, closing his eyes. His mind was foggy and full of worry for his friend, and he felt very distraught over his inability to not be of help. He truly trusted his brothers to care for him as well as Legolas, but at the same time, he wished it were he sitting with Legolas.

Elrohir and Legolas were only steps behind them now, and he could hear his friends labored breathing and soft moans of pain. He tried to turn to see his friend, but the firm hold his brother had on him stopped him.

"You cannot help him, Estel. We are doing all we can. It is important to get him home where father can tend to him. It is too cold to stop and do anything for him here. I know you are worried and it is not in your nature to idly sit by, but you must this time. You would not be of help to him in your condition."

"Elladan, I cannot help it-t-t," the ranger whispered. His teeth had begun to chatter, a good sign that his body was warming under the embrace of his brother. The only problem now being as his feet and hands began to warm, they began to hurt and tingle as well.

"Shhh, we will be home sooner than you think. Close your eyes and rest."

The group traveled for hours under the darkening sky. Gray clouds filled the sky and the aired had a metallic scent. Before they had reached Rivendell, large, fat flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. The wind picked up, and by the time they could see the blinking of lanterns of home in the distance, it seemed that a blizzard was beginning.