Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: As in Chapter 1
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Chapter 6 - The Longest Night
The commotion had woken Elladan from his slumber. Still in a daze, the older twin made his way towards the room where all the sound had come from wondering why his brothers had returned ahead of schedule. Rounding a corner, he was almost knocked off his feet by two shadowy figures brushing past him.
"Nice to see you too," he mumbled after his brothers, not knowing the reason that had brought them home this early in the morning. Poking his head into Aragorn's room, he saw his father bending over the bed.
"Ada?" Elladan called, his voice still raspy from sleep.
Elrond straightened and turned to face his son, his movement giving Elladan a better view of the person lying in the bed. He blinked, all traces of sleep left him in a split second.
"What happened?!" he blurted out.
"That's what we want to find out. Go fetch some wood for the fire. We must keep the light strong."
The three returned shortly with their respective items. Elladan balancing a stack of firewood in his arms and Elrohir wobbled unsteadily behind a pile of blankets. Aragorn came in behind his brothers with a basin of water in his left hand, a jug of water on his right and a mixing bowl for the herbs and a glass tugged under each arm. Elrond's healing packs hung around his neck. Elrond would have laughed at his son's comical appearance if the situation were not so tense.
As Elladan tended the fire, Aragorn set down the items on a table beside the bed and helped Elrohir spread out the extra blanket over Legolas. The growing fire warmed the room slowly, the golden flame dancing in the hearth but the body beneath the blankets remained cold and still.
"Leave the room," Elrond commanded. His sons started to protest but his voice left no room for arguments. "Go."
Slowly, the three brothers moved out of the room and closed the door behind them. Leaning against the wall, Aragorn slid down to the floor with a loud sigh, his face buried in his hands. The twins settled down beside him and Elladan gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
"He will be fine. Ada will help him." Elladan reassured his brother.
Aragorn lifted his head, haunted silver-green eyes stared up at the twins. "You were not there, Elladan. You should have seen him." Aragorn shook his head sadly and reached up unconsciously to rub his jaw where Legolas had hit him earlier.
"What happened to your jaw?" Elrohir pushed the human's hand away and held the human's chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting his head towards the light for a better view. Dark bruises spread across his jaw all the way up his left cheek. The younger twin prodded it gently and the human winced, swatting his hand away carelessly.
"What happened?" Elladan pushed his brother for an answer.
"He hit me," Aragorn answered.
"Who?" the older twin questioned.
"Legolas," the worn out ranger sighed dejectedly. "He thought I was someone else and…" Aragorn shuddered. "He was terrified! I could see it in his eyes! I have never seen him so afraid before in my life!"
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Crushing some athelas in his hands, Elrond dropped them into the bowl of hot water. He sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on Legolas' chest and the other found the elf's slender hand. Closing his eyes, he focused his healing powers into the almost lifeless elf. "I know you are hurting although I do not know why. But whatever is troubling you, it is not worth giving up your life for it. I will help you with your pain. Stay with me Legolas. Do not give in to the darkness." Elrond's soft words and the sweet scent of athelas filled the room.
He searched for the prince, calling out to him for a long time but he could not feel the presence. "Hear my voice Legolas and take comfort in them. Come back to me. Life is precious. Do not turn your back on it." He felt a small flutter and held on to it. "I know you are there, Legolas Greenleaf. I know you can hear me. Come little one, your friends await you." The presence grew stronger and he could almost touch it. "Be strong. We will fight it together." Feeling a twitch in his hand, he opened his eyes and found that Legolas' slender fingers had wrapped themselves around his hand. Some color had returned to his pale face and the skin beneath his hands had started to warm. His breathing evened out and the heartbeat grew stronger and steadier under his palm. Elrond smiled wearily. With the life threatening situation resolved, he proceeded to clean and dress the prince's other wound.
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The young man got to his feet and started pacing in front of the closed door. Elladan and Elrohir watched as their brother walked back and forth the short corridor, his movement making them slightly agitated after a while. Finally, Elladan sprang up to his feet, blocking the ranger and forcing him to a stop.
"You know Estel, the house was not built for such extensive pacing. Stop before you wear a hole in the flooring," Elladan stated flatly and a snicker came from behind him. He turned around and glared at Elrohir who feigned innocence. Looking at the mischievous smirk on his brother's face, Elladan eventually gave in, his gaze softened and he let out a small laugh.
"Come, sit with us," he draped his hand around Aragorn's shoulders, guiding him back to where they were seated earlier. Elrohir brushed a strand of stray hair from Aragorn's face after his brothers rejoined him on the floor and tugged it behind his ears. "Don't worry Estel, he will be fine."
As if on cue, the door to the bedroom opened revealing an exhausted Elrond. The trio greeted him and was relieved to see a small smile breaking out on the elf lord's face.
"Legolas will be fine. It was not easy to call him back but there are things that he still holds dear in this world which kept him with us." Elrond motioned them into the room. "His wounds are healing but rather slowly. Watch him closely. Alert me if there are any changes." He proceeded out the room but paused near the exit. "Elladan, take care of your brother's bruise please," and with that, he left his sons to do what they do best…keeping vigil beside someone's bed.
The remaining of the night passed quickly and uneventfully. Aragorn had rooted himself beside Legolas' bed and had settled into a comfortable spot, intending to keep a watchful eye on his friend but exhausted from the night's event, the ranger had eventually succumbed to sleep. After draping a blanket over their brother, Elladan and Elrohir had each commandeered a large chair in front of the fireplace, curling up snugly into it. A few moments later, sounds of light snoring could be heard throughout the room from where the twins slept.
Legolas regained consciousness briefly sometime near dawn, his incoherent whimpers brought Aragorn out of his dreams instantly. Smoothing Legolas' hair back from his forehead, he whispered soothing words to calm the distressed elf and after some time, the prince quieted down and drifted back to a more natural sleep.
The days passed swiftly but Legolas' wounds healed slower than he had expected. He knew that it was caused by the poison, but he had no intention of letting the others know about it. He lied about how he felt and pretended that all was well. Although he claimed that he was only attacked by a group of bandits, the haunted look in his eyes said otherwise. The elf had become reserved and was frequently found at his room window staring out blankly, trapped in some distant memory. But no matter how long the three brothers had interrogated, he insisted that nothing was wrong. Even Elrond was unable get any details out of him.
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To Be Continued...
Responses to Reviewers:
Sparrow Greenleaf - No mind? Hmm... interestin... :D So you're calm. Good... very good. Now stay that way until the end of the story and there won't be any problems. Hehehe. Remember to take deep breath and count to ten five times. LOL!!
Black Mirror - Legolas torture and angst is good. :D Can't have enough of them. *eg*
MelanyeBaggins - Elrond saves the day... *again* LOL! What can we do without him. *huggles Elrond* Better treat him well so that he wouldn't go on strike. Hahaha!
K-rock - Right... *looks hard* I don't see anything. I see... trees... and more trees. *Whacks you with a branch* Now gimmie better direction! :P *glares at humanities book* Evil!!
Kept-Secret - The part where Legolas has to make a choice? Hold on... let me check... Ah... chapter 16 I believe. But I could be wrong ;) Actually the whole story is about his choice. Well, not entirely but you get what I mean. :P
White Wolf1 - The mystery will be unveiled in later chapters :) Delund thinks Vilya should be his because he was the *oh wait, phone call* "Hello? Yes... uh huh... right... okay..." Well, Delund just called and threatened to poison me if I tell you his identity :S So I guess you'll have to wait :P
Cris - Welcome back my friend! It's true that Legolas can't take care of himself. He's such an accident prone elf. Give me your number and I will call you when he needs protection. You can be his personal bodyguard :D I hope you will be around more often. I love reading your reviews! :D *hugs back*
Deana - Not only is Legolas back in Rivendell, he's back in the comfort of the warm bed :D He better rest while he can. *eg*
Any - Elrond's patched him up already. He's such a dearie. :) The evil elf is still hiding inside his cave. I think he's too afraid to come out. Hahaha!!
Gwyn - Update for you :) You're right... poor everyone... including the readers. LOL!
Gin - Oh don't worry. Legolas will survive a little longer. He still has much to suffer. *eg* They will find out who Delund is eventually... the hard way. ;)
Rissa of the Saiya-Jin - *blinks too* You have not been reading? Oh well, it's not too late to start. :) It's just starting to get interesting... *g*
Twisted Fool - I apologize for the long wait. *blush* But it's out now so I hope you won't hurt us too badly. LOL! Exploding from the inside out is NOT good! I can clean up other messes but not picking up bits and pieces of a dead... evil... something. The chapters are all written so no fret. They will be posted eventually :D I don't leave stories hanging. And don't even bother sending out stalkers. You will not be able to find me. MUAHAHAHA!!!
leggylover03 - I'm bad? Hmm... *contemplates Rhonda's comment* Noooo, I'm not bad. You are :P Will hurt ranger some in later chapters so keep waiting. LOL!!
Joee1 - Thank you for taking the time to review. It's much appreciated :D Cliffies are meant to drive one insane. That's why we love them so much. LOL!!
FallenStar2 - Yes he is. What will we do without him? :D And you are right that in my universe... they will need to me twisted and hurt to the maximum before I fix them. Well, it's not my intention but the request of readers so don't blame me. :D
Luthien Galathil - Aww... don't hate me. See, I've updated :D Until next time :D *sneaks away*
Kyliah - Ouch! *places pillow on your desk* Can't have you hurt your head now. Elrond is too busy on the other side and we can't drag him over to heal your fracture skull. *g*
Purplefluffychainsaw - Evil! Evil! *sprouts horns* Evil is good for fanfic ideas. Too bad my evil plot bunnies have all been stolen *glares at Rhonda* :P
elfmage - All hail Elrond of Imladris! He's the best father/friend/healer that one could find on Middle Earth! The one and only! :) And yes, I have worse things planned for Legolas. Be afraid... be very afraid! And be thankful you're not him for I don't think you could survive it. LOL!!