Oh my gosh, I am SO SORRY, people! I had a problem with my computer, that's why I wasn't able to post all week. Sorry, sorry, sorry! I'd been so eager to post this chapter because something funny happens in it, lol. Don't worry, you'll all find out what's up with those orcs soon, and yes, there is more angst to come to poor Legolas! LOL! ;)
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The atmosphere in Elrond's home was one of anxiety, as they awaited word from the twins.
Legolas didn't get much sleep, as he was too worried for his friends. "Why did your father let them go alone?"
Aragorn was pacing, and he didn't stop as he answered. "He didn't. They left without asking."
Legolas wasn't surprised. "I'm sure they are fine," he said. "They must have joined the other warriors hours ago."
Aragorn abruptly stopped pacing, throwing his friend a contrite look. "Legolas!" he said, crossing to the bed. "Forgive me, I should not have told you where they'd gone. You need to rest and recover, not keep awake worrying about my missing brothers!"
Legolas half-smiled. "You were never able to fool me. I would have known that something was wrong."
Aragorn nodded, returning the smile. "I know." He frowned when Legolas closed his eyes with a weary sigh, looking paler then he had that morning. "Sleep, mellon-nin, you are still not well."
"I am fine," Legolas answered, eyes still closed.
Aragorn opened his mouth to counter the ridiculous statement, but he saw the slight smile that graced his friend's face, and knew that Legolas was trying to bait him.
When Legolas received no answer, he reopened his eyes. The expression on the human's face made him chuckle, but he quickly stopped with a wince.
Aragorn grabbed his arm. "You all right?"
Legolas said nothing, holding his breath. This was the worst jolt of pain he'd felt all day, and he tried to will it away.
When Legolas didn't answer, Aragorn quickly headed for the table of herbs.
"No," Legolas managed to say, sighing as the pain finally lessened.
Aragorn gave him an incredulous look. "Do you not wish to decrease the pain?"
"I do not wish you to put me to sleep," Legolas said, his voice sounding weak after the flare-up.
Aragorn sighed. "Sleep is what you need."
"I need to know about your brothers."
Aragorn sighed, going back to the bed. "Mellon-nin, I swear that I will wake you the instant that word arrives."
Legolas sighed, seeing that he was defeated. "I will hold you to that."
Aragorn smiled. "I'd expect nothing less."
Legolas tried to say something more, but his mouth wouldn't cooperate. Closing his eyes, he immediately dropped into a deep sleep.
Aragorn was relieved, but upset to see that his friend's eyes closed in sleep. It was to be expected given his injury, but he still sighed as he sat in the chair, watching his friend and awaiting news on his brothers.
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When Legolas awoke, he did so abruptly, his mind telling him that there was reason for urgency. The face above him wasn't the one he expected to see. "Elladan!"
The older twin smiled. "Very good, Legolas, that is my name!"
Legolas smiled at him, as he looked around the room. Elrond was on the other side of the bed taking his pulse, while Aragorn spoke with Elrohir near the opposite wall.
"I am relieved at your safe return!" Legolas said, sighing with relief.
Elladan smiled. "I am relieved to hear you able to speak complete sentences. You have improved."
Legolas nodded.
Elrond let go of Legolas' wrist, shooting a stern look at the older twin. "I am relieved that you both returned without injury."
Elrohir snorted, as he and Aragorn walked over. "Of course we did, we aren't Legolas and Estel."
Aragorn punched his brother in the arm, looking down at Legolas. "They found no sign of the orcs either. It seems that they did change their plans."
"Estel told us that you slew some of them," said Elrond. "Did you recall how many?"
Legolas thought for a minute. "No," he said, with an embarrassed sigh.
"Do not fret," Elrond told him, patting his arm. "It does not matter."
Legolas disagreed, but he knew that they were saying it to ease his mind. Suddenly hearing a noise to his left, Legolas looked to see Aragorn carrying a tray towards the bed.
"Do not attempt to tell me that you are not hungry," Aragorn said, before Legolas had a chance to speak.
Legolas smiled at the stern tone of his voice. "I know where you learned that from."
Elrond also smiled, seeing much of himself in his youngest son, who wasn't even his by birth.
Aragorn handed Legolas a piece of bread, who took it, looking around for a glass of water. He was very thirsty, but before he had a chance to request any, Elrohir walked over with a cup.
"Here, Legolas, try this—" he said, but stopped in surprise when Legolas quickly took the cup, and in a rare show of need, gulped down the entire contents.
Everyone looked up in alarm at the sound of Elrohir's gasp.
Legolas suddenly sputtered, nearly dropping the cup as he unexpectedly started to choke. The remaining few drops of liquid in the cup fell onto the blankets, and Elrond's eyes widened when he saw the deep red color.
"Elrohir! What did you give him?!" he exclaimed, grabbing Legolas when the elf's chokes turned into gasps of pain.
Elrohir looked horrified. "I wanted him to taste the wine that I made! I did not expect him to drink the entire cup at once!"
Elrond groaned. His son had made an extremely potent batch of wine, and was very proud of it. It tasted very good, true, but it was the strongest wine that Elrond had ever tasted, and Legolas really didn't need that much alcohol traveling through his veins at a time like this. "You should have given him water! The wine could have waited! He needs to increase his blood volume, not poison the decreased amount that he has!"
The injured elf tried to curl onto his side as his stab wound continued to shoot agonizing pains through his body, aggravated by the coughing induced by the unexpected drink.
"Forgive me, Legolas!" Elrohir exclaimed, unable to bear the fact that his friend's suffering was his fault.
Legolas heard him, and tried to push the pain to the back of his mind long enough to speak. "I am…all right..."
No one in the room looked like they believed him, and Aragorn rushed over from the herb-laden table with a cup.
Elrond shook his head before the human could give it to Legolas. "No, I would not combine that with the wine. I am sure that in his condition, the alcohol will be enough to dull some of his pain."
Elrohir sighed, guiltily.
Legolas opened his eyes, slowly uncurling his body for his friends' benefit, not wanting them to worry further. "I am fine," he said, not allowing his face to reflect his pain. "Elrohir…"
"Yes?" the twin whispered, ashamed.
Legolas smiled. "You should sell that wine."
Elrohir's eyebrows rose. "You think it to be that good?"
Legolas nodded. "Do not let my reaction to it speak for me…I was merely surprised. I had expected water, and your wine is extremely strong."
Elrohir nodded, with a smile. "Quite strong, yes! I have never found anything stronger!"
Legolas sighed at those words, suddenly feeling a tingling sensation grow in his head. He wondered how far the effects of the wine would go…ordinarily, he was capable of handling wine very well, but at the moment, he was seriously injured; his body's blood volume depleted…not to mention that his stomach was currently empty, and the fact that Elrohir's wine seemed at least triple the strength of anything he'd ever drank in Mirkwood…
"Ai!" he muttered, closing his eyes.
