They rode on for most of the day, stopping when the sun set. Legolas was still out, having showed no sign of impending consciousness.

Everyone was so worried that they barely spoke to each other. They all sat around their friend, praying and trying to wake him but the wounded elf was still as death, eyes closed and his body completely motionless.

Elrond watched his sons, feeling immense pity for them. Legolas was the greatest friend that they had ever had, and if he suffered irreparable damage from his injury—or died—it would completely crush them…and I, as well.

Elrond sighed heavily. He remembered the day that Legolas had been born…remembered the uncertainty over his future. He'd never seen another newborn that small, and had been instantly entranced by the tiny elf. He considered Legolas to be as one of his own sons.

The four of them got hardly any sleep that night, as they worried over their wounded friend. When dawn broke, it seemed as if an age had passed, and thanks to their ordeal over the past few days, they were all very tired.

Elrond again took Legolas into his arms for the journey, nearly forgetting about his own injury that he'd sustained in the battle. It was healing quickly, much faster than Legolas' more serious wounds.

Aragorn couldn't stop fidgeting as he rode. He was terrified for his friend, desperately wishing that he'd wake. He couldn't help but wonder if Legolas' and Elladan's humorous conversation of the day before would be the last time that they'd hear the blond-haired elf's voice.

Please, Aragorn prayed. Please let Legolas wake…do not take my friend from me!

Several hours later, his prayer was answered.

It was after noon, and Elrond suddenly stopped his horse.

His sons likewise halted, their eyes widening when they saw their father gently but firmly tap their friend's face.

"Legolas!" Elrond called, loudly. He'd felt the slender body twitch, and heard the softest of groans a few seconds ago; his heartbeat quickened at the thought that the younger elf might be waking.

Legolas' eyes remained closed, but his expression was slowly changing; his eyebrows furrowing as pain began to fill his senses.

"Penneth, hear me!" said Elrond, desperately. "Wake; come back to the ones who love you!"

Aragorn nearly couldn't speak as he watched. He felt tears trying to come—tears of joy, or heartache...he couldn't be sure, as Legolas still had not opened his eyes.

Elrond suddenly sighed, clutching Legolas tighter and closing his eyes. Resting his chin on the younger elf's head, he whispered in elvish too soft for anyone else to hear.

Legolas could hear the voices, but he didn't know why he couldn't respond. He felt like he had no strength, and his body was throbbing with pain. He tried to obey the words that he heard, but was unable to. It wasn't until he heard a sudden sniff that full awareness came to him.

Aragorn.

Everyone gasped when Legolas' eyes suddenly opened, and Elrond sighed with relief, smiling down at him.

Legolas felt someone take his hand, and found Aragorn and the twins grinning at him.

"Mae govannen, mellon-nin," said Aragorn, emotion pouring out of his voice.

Legolas smiled at him, re-closing his eyes.

"No, Legolas!" said Elrond, gently tapping his face. "Do not sleep, do you understand? You cannot sleep! You risk further spells of unconsciousness!"

Legolas reopened his eyes, seeming very groggy.

"Legolas?" said Aragorn, realizing that his friend had yet to speak.

Legolas looked at him, repeatedly blinking his still-blurry eyes as he slowly gained coherency. "Estel?"

Aragorn and the twins all let out huge sighs of relief.

"How do you feel?" Elrond asked.

Legolas automatically opened his mouth to say 'fine', but he knew that such an answer would be completely ridiculous. "Terrible," he said, actually telling the truth.

Everyone inwardly winced at his admission.

After giving Legolas something for the pain—including a stimulant to keep him awake, which Elrond would've rather not done but felt that he had no choice—they rode on.

Legolas knew that Elrond had slipped him something odd, but he was too out-of-it to even bother asking. It was obvious anyway; even though he was exhausted, his mind felt almost anxious and his heartbeat was faster then normal. He was unable to sleep, but knew that Elrond had given it to him for that reason.

"Legolas?" he suddenly heard.

"I am well, Estel," he answered, drowsily. His head was throbbing as if a cave troll was loose inside, but the herbs made him feel almost detached from his body.

Darkness fell swiftly, and Legolas suddenly felt himself being lowered down from the horse. He was startled and snapped open his eyes, wincing at the pain in his head and arm.

"Be calm, Legolas!" Aragorn said, holding his friend tightly as he saw the disorientation in his face. "We have stopped for the night."

Legolas said nothing, realizing that he'd been in a daze for the past hour.

Aragorn carried the injured elf to where the twins had set up a bedroll, and carefully laid him down.

Legolas closed his eyes, sighing tiredly. He was exhausted and suddenly felt cold. He realized that during the ride, Elrond's body heat had kept him warm. I hate feeling cold, he thought. How do humans deal with it?

Aragorn saw his friend shiver, and covered him with two blankets. He grinned when the elf opened his eyes. "Better?"

Legolas almost nodded, but caught himself in time, smiling instead. "Can I sleep?" he asked, in a whisper.

Aragorn's smile slowly faded. The question alarmed him; Legolas needed rest badly, but his head injury made sleeping too dangerous.

"Not yet, penneth," said Elrond, kneeling beside them. "Let me see your eyes."

Legolas looked at the healer, trying to focus on his face. His vision was still blurred, but at least it wasn't permanently spinning any longer.

Elrond could tell that Legolas' vision was still affected; the dilation of his pupils kept changing as the injured elf tried to focus. "Be still," he said.

Legolas realized that he was hindering the healer and relaxed, letting his eyes do what they would.

Elrond continued his examination, noting the fast pace of Legolas' pulse. He knew that it was an effect of the stimulant that he'd given the injured elf, but the drug should have worn off by now. Inwardly sighing, he sat back and thought for a minute, concerned that Legolas' heart was still reacting to the drug. He didn't yet think that it was safe for Legolas to sleep, but it could be dangerous to give him more of the stimulant.

"Ada?" said Aragorn.

Elrond looked up, realizing that his silence made it appear as if something was wrong. "Forgive me, I was thinking." A sigh from the ground made him look at Legolas, who had closed his eyes. "You may sleep, penneth," he said. "But we will need to frequently wake you to be sure that you do not slip into unconsciousness."

Legolas opened his eyes for a second, giving the healer a slight smile in acknowledgement of his words before instantly falling asleep.

"How often do you wish him woken?" Elladan asked.

"Every twenty minutes," Elrond told him. "If he wakes each time without incident, then we can increase it as time passes."

The three brothers nodded, settling themselves next to their friend. They divided the night into three watches so that someone was always able to wake Legolas, but when it was Aragorn's turn, Elrond didn't let them wake him. He took the watch himself, aware that the human needed the sleep more than he did.

Legolas didn't handle the interruptions to his sleep very well; he woke each time, but was usually disoriented, having been pulled so abruptly from the deep healing sleep that he needed so badly. He was exhausted, and it showed in an uncommon irritability, such as when he mumbled at Elrond to leave him alone. The healer understood, and had merely hushed him and told him to return to the world of slumber.

When Aragorn woke the next day, he was slightly confused at how quickly the night had passed. When he saw Legolas, he realized that no one had woken him for his watch, and quickly sat up.

"Sleep well?" he heard Elrond ask, from where the healer sat beside the injured elf.

"Yes," Aragorn answered, sounding annoyed. He saw the sun's position in the sky, and made a face. "Too well."

The healer chuckled. "You needed the rest, ion-nin. Do not try to tell me that you did not."

Aragorn realized that his argument would be futile, so he instead scooted closer to his friend. "How did he handle the wakings?"

"Physically he handled it well, but mentally…" Elrond smiled slightly. "Naturally, he did not enjoy it. I have been waking him every hour since first light, and am considering letting him sleep uninterrupted for two hours if he wakes right now without incident."

"I'll do it," said Aragorn, touching his friend's shoulder. "Legolas? Wake, mellon-nin."

A groan was his reply, as the injured elf squeezed his eyes shut tighter.

Aragorn opened his mouth to try again, but Elrond shook his head, waving his arm as if to say, 'leave him be'.

"Now we need only wake him every two hours," the healer said.

Aragorn smiled. "He is healing," he said, relieved.

Elrond nodded. "Indeed."

============

YAY I have no reason to run this time! LOL ;)