I think I've gone crazy! I'm posting TWO chappie in one day! Argghh!

Anyway, enjoy. ;)

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Keldarion gathered his brother's shaking form closer against him and secured the warm blanket around them both, sharing whatever warmth they had left. Legolas buried his face deeper into Keldarion's chest, sighing softly in contentment.

Keldarion smiled slightly, glad that his brother was quite comfortable for the time being. He stared at the darkness outside their sanctuary under the outcropping of a large rock. Night had fallen right after they found the place which was dry enough for them to lie down and take refuge. By then Legolas was already on the verge of collapse, while Keldarion had trouble in taking further steps on his injured ankle.

As he looked down, Keldarion saw that Legolas still hadn't stopped shivering. His brother's eyes were drooping, apparently about to fall asleep. Knowing how easy a freezing body succumbed to slow death while unconscious, Keldarion shook his brother awake. "Don't sleep, brat."

Legolas blinked and glared at his brother. "Why not? I'm tired."

"Because if you sleep now, I can't guarantee you will wake again."

"Really? Well, just wake me up after I'd catch some dreams." Legolas firmly shut his eyes and started to do just that.

"No! Don't sleep, you idiot!" Keldarion cried out, patting Legolas' cheeks repeatedly. "Stay awake, I said!"

"Leave me be, Kel!" Legolas growled as he reopened his eyes and feebly knocked his brother's hand away.

"I'm the Crown Prince of Mirkwood and I command you to obey me! So stay awake! Is that clear?"

Legolas glowered back. "That's not fair!"

Keldarion grinned despite it all. "I will use all the means I have to keep you conscious...even if I have to pull rank."

The younger prince rolled his eyes in exasperation. "You're pulling it too far, big brother. But please…let me sleep. Just one… short…minute..."

Hearing the fading note in Legolas' voice, Keldarion grew desperate. "No, Legolas, I can't allow it. Don't sleep. Please! Stay awake!"

"But I'm so tired…"

"You have to stay awake!" An idea struck Keldarion's mind then. "I think I know how to keep you occupied. Come, let's have a quiz, shall we? I'll ask you questions and you'll answer them."

"And I think you are mad, Kel! Leave me be!"

"No, I will not! Now tell me, what is our father's name?"

Legolas looked strangely at his brother. "Valar, you are crazy! His name is Thranduil son of Oropher!"

"And what is mother's name?"

Legolas sighed heavily but answered anyway, "Marwana daughter of Calafalas."

"How old are you?"

"Lay off, Kel! This is getting stupid!"

"Just tell me, how old are you?"

"Right now, I feel like I'm more than one hundred thousand years old!"

Keldarion chuckled. "Right. And what about me?"

"What about you?"

"How old am I?"

"Three."

"Three what? Three years old?" Keldarion prodded.

"No! You are a three-month-old elfling pest who wouldn't stop bugging me like a fly on a pig waste! Now get off my back, I'm warning you!"

"Not yet, brat. Now that you can still cuss, I know you can keep up with this."

"I don't want to! Blast it all to Mordor and back! Get lost, Kel!"

"Good. Curse me, swear at me. I don't care, brother. Just stay awake."

But Legolas' eyes had already fluttered close. "I….can't…"

"Legolas." Keldarion gently slapped his brother's cheeks but received no further response. "Legolas? No…Legolas!"

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She watched with full interest as the elf prince tried again to rouse his brother. Their father is Thranduil? So, they are Thranduil's children. Hmm…I wonder. Which one of them is mine?

She moved closer, clearly hearing the distress note in the voice of the raven haired prince.

It's time to find out.

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"Legolas, please…" Keldarion was begging as he chafed his brother's cold hands, trying to give him more warmth. "Awake now! If you don't, I'll…"

Keldarion's voice trailed off when a sudden presence caught his awareness. He stared open mouthed when a bright light slowly appeared, penetrating the thick darkness of the night. The light seemed to take root a couple of yards from their feet before it changed into a form of a beautiful lady in red.

Although in shock, Keldarion remembered to grab his sword and held it up in a defensive stance while his other arm curled protectively around the unconscious Legolas. "Who…who are you?" he asked hesitantly, awed and slightly frightened by this strange spectacle.

 The lady smiled. "I am Lady Zuïlean, the goddess of winter pomegranate, the fruit that your brother tried to savor during the day."

Keldarion frowned, clutching Legolas ever closer to him. She saw us? But why didn't we see her? The prince had heard of her once, but it was so long ago that he had trouble recalling the details. Wondering at her emergence, Keldarion firmly believed that the lady was not there to lend them aid.

"My brother didn't take the fruit," Keldarion said in his brother's defense. "We have done nothing wrong."

"I know that, dear child."

She was still smiling in assurance, but Keldarion was feeling far from comfortable. "Then why are you here?"

Zuïlean gave a small laughter and leaned forward to touch Keldarion's face. The prince flinched and scooted backwards out of her reach. She laughed again. "That's correct. The both of you didn't do anything wrong. But your father did…many, many years ago."

Keldarion was perplexed. What is she talking about?

"He had taken something from me," she continued. "Now it is time he pays his debt." She leaned closer and stared at Legolas' sleeping face before moving on to Keldarion's. "Your father had promised one of you to me. All I need to find out is…which one?"

TBC…