I'm in shock -so many reviews! Thanks everyone! But under pain of being considered evil and more seriously, badong, I have been moved to write again. Also, as weird as this may seem, my Kazaa downloads are much faster when I'm typing- I'm not kidding! ^ ^ Anyway, once more this chapter isn't beta read, so anyone who points out an error gets a cybercookie!!

So, without further ado....

Landslide

By NekoMegami_chan

Nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com

            Silence. A leaden hush blanketed the contingent of elves who stood on the road to Rivendell. No one stirred.

            Time stretched. An Age passed in the space of a single breath. Two dozen immortal hearts fluttered and skipped a beat as the last of Elrohir's wavering cry fell away.

            It was Arod who brought the party back to its collective senses. His nostrils flared at the scent of his master's blood and the whites of his eyes showed. Then he squealed and snorted, his teeth flashing out in all directions. With a great push off of his powerful hindquarters the fiery grey raced forward, shouldering past Elrond and Thranduil. The two elven lords joined the horse at once, their feet hardly touching the frozen dirt.

            Taking charge Glorfindel ordered Elrond's healing supplies be given to him, and that the rest of the company be ready to move out at a moment's notice. All quickly obeyed without question.

* * *

            Thranduil was particularly swift of foot and he reached the huddled lovers several seconds ahead of Elrond. The tall blonde slid to a stop, going down on his knees and shoving Arod's head away. Elrond watched in horror as Thranduil swiftly stole Legolas from Elrohir's embrace. The wounded elf gasped in pain, his eyes squeezing tightly shut. 

            "You fool!" Elrond declared, his voice rose in anger as he gently collected his own son. "You'll only injure him further! What kind of a father are -" he stopped in mid-sentence; his hands supporting Elrohir's back grew still.

            Tears shimmered in the proud king's eyes. Orange and red from the day's last light filled them with fire as they spilled over long auburn lashes. He clutched at Legolas, pulling his son firmly against his broad chest. Elrond knew that Thranduil had lost numerous loved ones over the millennia and the dark haired elflord was suddenly reminded of the cause of the king's coldness. It was a mask. The greed, the desire for control, the sharp tongue - all of it.

            Elrond brushed those thoughts away as soon as Legolas began to groan and shift uncomfortably in his father's arms. Thranduil tried to soothe him, petting the blonde head and whispering words of comfort. Legolas only attempted to push away as he moaned Elrohir's name.

            Having crested, Elrond's ire ebbed. Yet his sense of urgency and fear for both the stricken elves' condition grew stronger. With a sigh he surrendered Elrohir into his brother's care and stood to face Thranduil. "You are hurting him Thranduil." Elrond gestured to the litter that was being unfolded just to their left. "Lay him down so that I can determine exactly how hard we're going to have to work to keep Legolas alive."

* * *

            Elrond helped Thranduil arrange the wounded prince on the litter, supporting his head with a folded cloak. At his elbow, Glorfindel was already unpacking rolls of bandages and setting out Elrond's jars of liniments and salves. A kind faced Mirkwood elf brought several blankets for Elrohir and Legolas, as well as a sheet of oilcloth for Elrond to kneel on. Glorfindel motioned the elven ranger closer and gave him the task of riding ahead in order to alert Erestor at Rivendell that their lord and the wounded prince of Greenwood would be arriving within the hour.

            The elves of the joined search parties sat astride their horses or stood in small clusters, though few words were whispered among them. Every pair of eyes followed Elrond's movements, making the Lord of Imladris wish that they would turn away. It was not the first time he had felt apprehension over his unofficial title as the best healer in all of Middle Earth. It made people expect things. They often brought their grievances to him, believing him capable of spewing forth miracles from his fingertips. He put such thoughts aside as he set himself to his task, speaking his mind for the sake of those nearest to him. He attempted to be as clinical as possible, so as not to give false hope.

            A feverish blush stained Legolas' pale cheeks. Taking off his gloves, Elrond confirmed his suspicions by laying the back of one hand over the prince's forehead. Then his eyes widened slightly in surprise, "His fever - it is not so high as I had thought. Still, he is in peril from this alone."

            Elrohir trembled lightly in his brother's gentle grasp. "What of his injuries, father?"

            Elrond's hands carefully roamed Legolas' damaged body. "His upper left arm is broken and the swelling quite severe." Elrond gently probed his patient's ribs. "Bruised on the left side," he muttered, "But no cracks, it seems."

            Glorfindel wrung a clean rag in water from a canteen. "That is good news."

            Noticing something amiss with the shape of Legolas' left hip, Elrond undid the unconscious elf's breeches to expose the injured joint. The flesh was a deep and puffy purple. Legolas moaned and thrashed his head when the healer applied even light pressure. "His hip - it's crushed!" Elrond whispered in disbelief. "He should not have been able to walk!"

            "I told you! My son is a strong warrior," Thranduil declared with a note of triumph in his voice.

            "That is all well and good," Elrond replied curtly. "But I fear that having so long traveled upon such an injury may leave him with a limp. And there is no telling if it has put pressure or pieces of bone into his internal organs."

            Elrond instantly regretted his hasty words when he saw Elrohir blanch. His son's grey eyes grew dark with worry and his ashen lips became a thin line. "Have faith, Elrohir," Elladan murmured, rocking his brother. "Father will make him well." The grief-stricken elf only sighed shakily and blinked back tears that he would not let fall again.

            Elrond took a deep breath and continued his examination. Legolas' right shin was a mess of bloody rags. Cutting the damp and soiled cloth away he uncovered the gruesome wound beneath. Raw strips of flesh were barely held in place by the blood that had congealed there. A greenish-white puss oozed past the broken skin in places; a sickening testimony to the infection that resided there.

            Glorfindel's breath caught in his throat. Thranduil felt ill and Elrohir hid his face in his twin's shoulder with a strangled sob.

            Elrond instantly reached for the wet cloth his seneschal had prepared and dabbed at the wound, gently cleaning away debris. Then he applied a thick salve and wrapped the ugly wound in white bandages.

            It was almost completely dark now. An owl hooted nearby before taking flight. Elrond had no desire to finish such delicate work out of doors and at night. "We must leave. Now! I will tend to him further when we are all safely back at Imladris. Glorfindel, please give the signal to move out."

            The Elda inclined his head and rose to shoo everyone into position and to requisition a quartet of litter-bearers. Four Greenwood elves promptly volunteered and went to the aid of their prince, whom all greatly admired.

            "Elladan, pack up my things while I get your brother safely on your mare. Then you can climb up behind him," Elrond instructed while helping his youngest son to stand as the older twin moved to obey him.

            "I do not want to mount, Father," Elrohir said, somewhat breathlessly. "I wish to stay with Legolas. He has need of me!"

            "I know, my son. Yet how well can you serve him if you are barely able to remain upright?" Elrond's voice was quiet and filled with understanding.

            "I am well enough -" Elrohir protested, even as his knees gave out beneath him.

            Elrond easily picked his child up and settled him Arod, who had remained. "My dear Elrohir, it pains me to see you suffer so! I too have known this grief, that of a true love in danger of their life. I had so long hoped you would never feel its deadly sting. I regret what has happened, but I vow to do my utmost to restore Legolas to you."

            "Thank you," Elrohir murmured as Elladan swung up behind. Then he was riding away. Slowly at first, than Arod began to trot, his nimble feet avoiding the potentially treacherous dips and hollows in the ancient dirt road. And Elladan was singing quietly in his ear to comfort him. Elrohir let the tears come again.

* * *   

            Thranduil stayed at his son's side even as he was lifted by the litter bearers and carried off. The king gently held Legolas' hand and spoke softly, though he later remembered little of what he had said. Mostly he attempted to hide his substantial worry by demanding that Legolas survive.

            "I am awake Father," Legolas said after a particularly strong oath from the distraught king of elves. "And I fully - intend to live..." He ground out through clenched teeth as another wave of agony ripped through him. "So ple-ase, be quiet!"

            Elrond suppressed a laugh. His humor was short lived, however. Legolas' very life still hung precariously in the balance; that he would still breathe ere the sun rose next was not a certain thing. He urged the party to move faster through the cloak the darkness and the mist that was rising through the ground. Elrond had a promise to keep.

* * *

Question. Is anyone interested in doing any fan art to illustrate this story? It's also being posted on The Library of Moria - which if you are an LOTR slash fan - is like winning the lotto. The address is www.libraryofmoria.com! Go! I command you!! Go! Anyway, they also accept fan art and the "in thing" is to put up illustrations to go along with your story. However, I don't have time to be doing that. So if anyone would like to do some art for this fic, please send it to my email address listed above. Those who do will get chapters dedicated to them as a thank you!

Perhaps that was a pit pretentious of me...I hope not.

As always, please review and let me know what you think!