Chapter 5

There was a pleading look in his eyes. He wanted to say no badly, but he couldn't. "Legolas, if you are feeling better you may get out of bed, but I would recommend that you wait another few days." The reaction was instantaneous.

"How did you know?" Aragorn shouted from the opposite side of Legolas' bed.

Elrond only gave an omniscient smile. "I know everything, Estel." He wasn't sure, but he was pretty confident in his guess. Apparently he was right. Aragorn's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. Elrond couldn't help his smile. Legolas looked no better, but at least his mouth wasn't hanging open like his friend's.

"But....but...," Aragorn stuttered.

"You two are very bad at hiding things. For starters, Estel has never called me Lord Elrond." Legolas' cheeks blushed a little when he realized he was the one who blew their cover.

"I didn't realize that you knew last night." Legolas was suddenly ashamed for acting like that in front of the elf lord. He would have never done that if he was in his real body. Of course, he also wouldn't be left out like he was last night. No matter what he told Aragorn, it still stung a little.

Elrond glanced at Legolas one more time before deciding that his instincts were right. "Legolas, I want you to stay in bed for at least another day. If you feel better tomorrow morning, then you may get up."

"But you just said I could get out of bed."

"I changed my mind." As he got up to leave he turned to Aragorn. "May I talk to you for a minute?" He beckoned Aragorn to follow him out of Legolas' hearing range.

Legolas was extremely upset at being left out again, but he assumed it was for the best. He impatiently waited for Aragorn to come back. When he did, his face was red and Legolas thought it was best to not ask what had happened.

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"What do you want, Ada."

"I wanted to ask you about last night."

"Oh." Aragorn got a sickening feeling in his stomach. He thought he knew what this was about.

"Yes. I am disappointed in you. You know that Legolas would never leave your side if you were sick, and no matter how many times you tell us to leave you alone I can't help thinking that you would be upset if he and the twins left you out of something like that." He glanced at his son, letting his words sink in. "And you know that they would never do something like that. Especially Legolas." The look that he gave Aragorn made him feel like the worst person in the world. He would have preferred it if Elrond had yelled at him. However, after a while Elrond's gaze softened. "Estel, I know that you feel ashamed for what you have done, but there is no use brooding on it. What is done is done; you cannot change it. I suggest you just make sure it never happens again." The elf lord turned and walked away. When Aragorn walked back into Legolas' room he could feel his cheeks burning. He tried to avoid eye contact as he hastily made his way to the chair in the corner. He sat there for a few minutes, thinking about what his father said.

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Legolas was unsure of how to shake his friend from his reverie. He wanted to talk to Aragorn, for he was too tired to do anything else. He had almost been happy when Elrond said he couldn't get up yet. Almost. He was incredibly bored. He had run out of things to do. Reading had lost its appeal a long time ago. Picking up a pen to write with took too much effort. That left talking, certainly not his first choice since his throat was sore, but it was the only thing left. "Ar...Aragorn?" His voice was weak, but he still got Aragorn's attention.

"Yes?"

"I'm bored." Aragorn had to laugh at that. The prince sounded like a whining child.

"Well, what do you want to do?"

"I don't feel like doing anything."

"I thought you were bored?"

"I am. You entertain me."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"I don't know. Tell a joke, a story, stand on you head; I don't care." His voice was laced with sarcasm.

Aragorn pretended to think really hard. Legolas rolled his eyes. When he turned his attention back to his friend he noticed that he was indeed upside down, his arms supporting his entire weight as his legs stood perfectly straight in the air. "There was once this hobbit...."

"Estel, what are you doing?"

"You're the one who suggested that I stand on my head. I'm multitalented. I thought I might as well tell a joke while I'm at it." Legolas started to smile, but Aragorn had a feeling that it wasn't because of him. He turned his head a little in time to see a pair of feet walk behind him. A second later he felt a pair of hands push him onto the floor. He heard laughter above him as he laid sprawled on his stomach. He pushed himself on his elbows and scowled at the elf above him. "That wasn't funny, Elrohir."

"Strange, I thought it was hilarious. Don't you think so, Estel." He looked toward the person on the bed, who was trying to stop laughing. However, his laughter soon turned into a hacking cough.

When he stopped Aragorn sat next to him. "That doesn't sound very good." He let his friend lean on him a little as Legolas tried to catch his breath.

"Are you all right, Estel?" Elrohir was concerned for his little brother, or rather, who he thought was his little brother.

"Yes," Legolas managed to moan. He felt like his chest was on fire. Pain was shooting up and down his body, radiating from his lungs. Obviously the other two did not believe his assurances that he was fine. When he laid back down he started coughing again. Aragorn gently pulled him back up into a sitting position to help him breathe easier. Legolas started wheezing between coughs.

"Elrohir, go get A..., Lord Elrond. Quickly." Elrohir rushed out of the room. Aragorn took some pillows and stuffed them behind the elf. He held his friend's shaking hand. Legolas' forehead was soaked with sweat. Aragorn gently pulled a few dark strands of hair out of Legolas' face.

"It hurts," Legolas whimpered.

"I know." Aragorn tried to soothe him as best he could. "Just concentrate on breathing in and out." He was worried when he noticed that Legolas' lips were turning blue.

"Estel, I can't breathe."

"Shh, don't talk. Just breathe in and out." Legolas tried as hard as he could, but it hurt too much to breathe in too deeply. When he took a huge breath he started coughing. He panicked as he realized he couldn't stop.

"Legolas? Legolas!" Aragorn saw his friend grow pale.

Legolas couldn't breathe; he couldn't think. He felt a floating sensation, and then he knew no more.

To Be Continued.....

Author's Note: Finally, I was able to pull off a real cliffie. Maybe I will take a break from writing for.....a month! (lol, I'm just kidding. I would never do that.)

Elfmage: I am undeserving of your compliments. Thank you so much. I was kind of late at updating this time. Unfortunately, my math teacher doesn't accept "I had to update my story" as a real excuse for not doing my homework. (I tried it on my English teacher too, with no results.) As for your question, I don't know why we love to torture them, but it is a lot of fun. Thanks again.

Shauna: Thank you for your review. I am not worthy of your praise. Thanks so much for your review.

Websterans: I'm glad you liked the update. Of course Elrond knows everything. I couldn't imagine having to live with him. I could never get away with anything. lol

Berry: Thanks for your review.

Soul: Hopefully this chapter explained a lot of it. If not, I'll just plead artistic license. lol Thanks for reviewing.

Evenstar: Here's the next chapter. I promise I won't leave you hanging for too long on this one either.

Restless-soul: Thank you so much.

Seelenspiel: Thanks for your review.