Hearing the sound of galloping hooves, Elrond quickly went outside, wondering if his sons had found Aragorn already.

"Ada!"

Elrond heard fear in his voice of his oldest son, and he rushed over to the horse that Elladan still sat on. He gasped at the sight of a motionless form in his son's arms, seeing the blond hair and realizing that it was Legolas, not Aragorn.

Reaching up to take him from Elladan, Elrond asked, "Where did you find him? How did he come to be in the woods?"

"He was with Estel," said Elladan, dismounting. "Elrohir is bringing him back. He seemed to be fine."

Elrond was greatly relieved to hear that as he ran back into the house, bringing the unconscious elf to the bedroom that Legolas regularly used when he visited Rivendell.

Aragorn and Elrohir came into the house a minute later, quickly rushing to the room to find out the condition of their friend.

Elrond studied the wound while Elladan held a wet cloth to Legolas' forehead. "What happened, Estel?"

Aragorn sighed nervously. "We encountered orcs…"

"What kind of blade was used?" Elrond asked, unable to tell because of the wound's jaggedness.

Aragorn felt a stab of anxiety at the words. "A…a dagger." My dagger…

"I do not see evidence of orc poison, thankfully," said Elrond. "But the foul creature twisted the knife."

Aragorn sighed, fidgeting. I never said an orc stabbed him…Ai, how will they react when they found out that it was I!

Elrohir saw his brother's anxiety, and patted his arm. "Do not fear, Ada will heal him."

Aragorn said nothing, and Elrond looked up at him, seeing the fear on his face. He could tell that there was something that the human wasn't telling them, and vowed to find out about it…but first he had a patient to treat. "How great was his blood loss?" he asked, frowning at the elf's terrible paleness.

Aragorn sighed again. "Very great…he went into shock for a while, but then developed a fever and was delirious for a few hours."

Elrond echoed the sigh, moving to mix some herbs into a drug to lower the injured elf's temperature. Bringing it to the bed, he and Elladan fed it to Legolas.

Aragorn was relieved when his friend's body reflexively swallowed, even thought he was still unconscious. "Will he live?"

Elrond looked up as he placed the cup on the nightstand. He gave Aragorn a look; one that plainly said, 'let me finish my examination first'.

It was difficult, but Aragorn stayed silent as he watched his father reexamine the wound, before again mixing more herbs.

"Ada?" Aragorn said, understandably impatient.

"I cannot be sure as to the extent of any internal damage," Elrond said, stirring the contents within the cup. "There is no bruising to indicate serious internal bleeding, but if there is any, this will halt it."

Aragorn moved forward, holding Legolas up while Elrond gave him the drug.

The heat coming off the injured elf's body was very noticeable, and Aragorn held out his hand for the wet cloth that Elladan held, replacing it on his friend's forehead.

Elrond now set to work stitching the wound, not wanting to risk further bleeding.

"Where did you encounter orcs?" Elladan suddenly asked.

Aragorn gasped, grabbing his brother's arm as he remembered the creatures' plan. "They mean to attack Rivendell!"

Elrond paused in his work, looking up at his human son. "What?"

"I came upon them in the woods. They demanded information."

Everyone looked at him in shock.

"Demanded information?" said Elrohir. "Orcs?"

Aragorn nodded. "They held me captive, and Legolas…"

Everyone noticed his hesitation.

"Estel?" said Elrond, prompting him to continue.

Aragorn sighed. "He risked his life to save me," he said, vaguely.

No one asked further questions, assuming that Legolas had been injured during a fight with the creatures.

"The orcs said that they would attack today," said Aragorn. "I assumed that they meant before dawn, but now I see that they must've meant tonight." He sighed in utter relief at the realization.

"Then we must prepare," said Elrond. "Elladan, Elrohir, you know what must be done."

The twins nodded, but they left slowly, not wanting to leave their wounded friend.

Once they were gone, Elrond finished his stitching, and took Aragorn by the arm. "Now, Estel, what are you keeping from me?"

Aragorn tried to look innocent, but he couldn't hide his guilt and fear. "Nothing."

Elrond gave him a stern look. "Nothing? Nothing at all?"

Aragorn looked at Legolas. "He came out of nowhere. We weren't traveling together; I don't even know why he was there. He saved me from the orcs, and…was stabbed." He hoped that his father would accept this answer, and not press him for more details. He was still unable to deal with what he'd done, nevermind tell of it.

"Were you hurt?" Elrond asked, looking his son over.

Aragorn shook his head. It was a lie, but his injuries seemed so minor in comparison to Legolas' that he saw no point in mentioning them.

Elrond made a face, picking up Aragorn's arm and pointedly looking at an ugly bruise on it.

"That is all that there is," Aragorn told him, pulling his arm back. "They are minor. I can deal with it myself."

Elrond seemed ready to protest, but he changed his mind, patting his son's arm. "I believe that Legolas will be all right, Estel. Do not worry so."

Aragorn looked away from his father, nodding, though the anxiety still showed in his features.

In that moment, Elrond knew exactly what had occurred. It was written all over Aragorn's face…and he knew that Orcs didn't commonly use daggers. He started to say something, but stopped. Aragorn obviously was not ready to talk about what had happened.

Knowing that his son had to come to terms with it first, Elrond retrieved a chair and brought it to the side of the bed, motioning for Aragorn to sit.

His son complied, never taking his eyes off his unconscious friend.

"I shall return shortly," said Elrond, sensing that Aragorn needed to be alone with Legolas.

Aragorn nodded, saying nothing.

Elrond left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes, not able to imagine how his son felt; accidentally causing serious injury to a friend…nearly killing him…

With a sigh, Elrond fervently hoped that Aragorn would be able to forgive himself.