I just wanted to say THANK YOU all so much for the fantastic reviews! Alinah, you were number 700! LOL woo hoo! ;)

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Elrond patiently held the cup of medicine before Legolas' face. "Please drink this, penneth, it will help."

Legolas opened his eyes and looked at Elrond, as if trying to read in his face whether his words were truth. The half-sitting position made his head spin even worse, and he squeezed his eyes shut with yet another groan.

Aragorn was beside himself with worry for his friend, as he watched Legolas allow Elrond to feed him the medicine.

The healer gently laid the wounded elf back down again, pulling the blankets up to his chin when Legolas suddenly shivered in the chilly day's air, clutching his broken arm.

Aragorn sighed at the sight, remembering when the cold had affected Legolas because of his recent stab wound. He had felt so guilty; for it had been his fault that Legolas had been hurt. His guilt mounted as he realized that if Legolas had never been stabbed, he would most likely be in much better shape now; as his weakened state would not have existed and he would've been able to defend himself better.

Aragorn was jolted from his thoughts by Elrond's voice.

"You remember fighting orcs with Aragorn?" asked the healer, trying to keep Legolas awake.

"Yes," Legolas whispered, eyes still shut. "We…fought them…near a river." He was silent for a minute as he tried to remember. "I almost drowned."

"That was five days ago!" Aragorn told him, shocked that he remembered nothing further.

"I have…lost…five days?" Legolas said, anxiety lacing his weak voice.

"Hush," said Elrond, gently grasping the wounded elf's hand. "Do not fear, your memory will return. You suffered a severe blow to your head, Legolas. I would have been surprised if there was not some form of memory loss."

Legolas sighed but said nothing more, the anxious look not leaving his eyes.

Elrond and Aragorn were likewise quiet, giving their friend a chance to regain his composure.

Legolas' hand was still in Elrond's, and the healer suddenly felt the younger elf's grip tighten as his pain flared.

Legolas couldn't hold back a groan, closing his eyes so hard that it hurt. He tried to pull his hand away from Elrond so that he could grasp at his head, but the older elf held it tightly, giving a comforting squeeze.

"Be still, penneth," Elrond said. "Let the herbs do their job."

But they're not doing anything! Legolas' mind argued.

"Legolas!" they suddenly heard.

Elladan and Elrohir ran over and dropped to their knees beside their friend, looking happy and concerned at the same time.

Elrond opened his mouth to shush his sons, not wanting them to cause Legolas further pain, but he stopped himself. His sons were adults…though they tended to sometimes act as though they weren't.

"Stubborn elfling!" Elladan said to Legolas. "What took you so long to wake up, eh?"

Legolas smiled at the twinkle in the older twin's eye. "Not wanting to see…your orcish face."

Everyone laughed, not expecting that for an answer. It lightened everyone's mood to hear the Mirkwood Prince able to make jokes.

Legolas smiled as they laughed, desperately hiding the fact that he felt about to pass out from the pain in his head. It throbbed mercilessly—not at all eased by Elrond's painkiller—and he reached up his good arm to feel the bandage around his head. They tell me that an orc did this, he thought. Dung-smelling spawn of Mordor!

Everyone stopped laughing, looking at Legolas in shock.

"So that's what you think of me! I see!" said Elladan, with a mock-hurt look.

Legolas' jaw dropped when he realized that he'd spoken aloud. He looked at Elladan, intent on apologizing, but his surroundings suddenly started to spin wildly and he had to close his eyes.

Everyone saw the change in his expression as his skin paled even further than it was already.

Elrond pushed between his sons and quickly turned Legolas onto his side again, thinking that perhaps the wounded elf's stomach was rejecting the painkilling herbs.

Legolas gasped at the agony in his head. He'd had more than a few concussions during his long life, but he didn't recall any of them ever being this painful.

He felt hands touching him, trying to comfort him through his pain. Legolas suddenly remembered what he'd wanted to do, and tried to open his eyes. "Elladan," he whispered.

The older twin frowned, bending lower to his friend. "Legolas?"

"I didn't…say that…to you," Legolas gasped, wincing as the pain increased again.

Elladan sighed, squeezing his shoulder. "Oh Legolas, I know! Hush, be still."

Aragorn shot a worried look at Elrond, who was sorting through his herbs.

The healer sighed, looking back at the suffering elf. "Anything stronger would put him to sleep."

Aragorn echoed the sigh.

"Shouldn't we start back?" said Elrohir, whispering so as not to add to Legolas' pain. "Everyone is ready."

Elrond looked up, seeing that the campsite no longer existed. He realized that his sons' arrival of a few minutes ago was likely to inform him of that, and stood. "Yes, let us leave."

Aragorn gently laid Legolas on his back again, tucking the blankets around him securely before carefully picking him up.

Legolas gave a soft whimper of pain, before relaxing in his friend's arms.

"Estel," said Elrond. "I will take him."

Aragorn shot Elrond a look of surprise, holding Legolas tighter.

Elrond was slightly amused by the human's reaction, but not surprised. "I wish to monitor him closely on the journey. It will be hard on him."

Aragorn knew that his father's words were true; now that Legolas was awake, he would feel every motion that the horse made.

Admitting that his father was the better healer, he waited for Elrond to mount.

Elrond crossed to Legolas' horse, knowing that the mare would provide an easier ride for her injured master.

Aragorn followed, smiling when the horse knelt by itself, clearly knowing their intentions.

Elrond mounted, petting the horse's mane before holding out his arms towards his son.

Aragorn handed Legolas to him, helping to situate him sidesaddle.

Legolas made no sound, and they realized that he'd fallen asleep.

"Wake, penneth," said Elrond, sighing. "It is not safe for you to slumber."

Legolas opened his eyes, looking confused as to his surroundings.

Aragorn sighed and took a step back, watching as the horse carefully stood.

Legolas was about to close his eyes again, but he suddenly saw Aragorn, and gave him a slight smile instead.

Aragorn smiled back. He knew that his friend was saying to him, 'I'm fine, do not worry'.

But they both knew that it was a lie.

Everyone else mounted their horses, kicking their steeds into a walk.

Aragorn quickly mounted his own, riding beside his father. He couldn't stop himself from looking at Legolas every few minutes.

The elf leaned sideways against Elrond's chest, eyes closed. He fought to hide his pain, but each step of the horse sent waves of agony through his head. He sighed tiredly, wishing to sleep but understanding that what Elrond said was true; if he slept with a head injury of such severity, he might never wake up.

Elrond heard his sigh. "Na le mae, Legolas?" he said, asking if the injured elf was all right.

"Mmm…" Legolas replied, in too much pain to speak.

Elrond loosened his hold around Legolas' waist, bringing his hand up to gently stroke his golden hair. "Rest, penneth. You will be fine."

Aragorn heard their words, and reached out a hand to touch his friend's shoulder.

Legolas didn't react, the pain-caused tension in his body suddenly melting away.

"Legolas," Aragorn said, squeezing his good arm. "Do not sleep. Wake, mellon-nin."

Legolas didn't respond.

"Legolas?" Aragorn said louder, frowning worriedly.

Elrond stopped his horse and tipped the injured elf's face up. "Legolas? Ped an enni!"

Legolas remained limp, his eyes closed.

The twins rode closer, alarmed at the scene, while the elven warriors stopped their horses and watched worriedly.

Aragorn grabbed Legolas' wrist to check his pulse. He was relieved to find one, but it was faster than it should be.

Elrond was examining the elf's eyes, finding the pupils still very dilated. "Legolas, please wake!"

The injured elf remained limp and unresponsive.

"Ada?" said Elladan, anxiously.

Elrond sighed, trying to appear calm for his sons' sakes. "He is unconscious once more. We must make haste to Imladris!"

Aragorn felt panic well up within him; Legolas had fallen into a sleep that he might never wake from…..

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(runs even faster LOL!)

'Na le mae' : Sindarin for, "Are you well?"

'penneth' : "Young one."

'Ped an enni!' : "Look at me!"