To all my faithful reviewers...THANK YOU so much for your support and your comments. It makes me feel good to know that people other then myself enjoy this fic. i hope this chapter is to your satisfaction as well and sorry about the cliffie...

-Gwenneth


Chapter Six: Life or Death

This can't be happening...it's just a dream, I'm going to wake up soon having fallen asleep on watch or something...Estel will be right beside me, hovering near the fire for warmth...this is just a dream!

But it wasn't a dream. It was the harshness of reality and Estel, his dear friend, really was dying in his arms. His life's blood seeping from the ghastly wound in the man's torso, slowly pouring through the bandage and the cloth Legolas held against it as they rode, covering the Elf's hand with the crimson liquid.

"Estel, I don't know if you can hear me, mellon nin, but I am here and we are going to get you to Lord Elrond. You are not going to die like this. It didn't kill me and it won't kill you! I won't let it." His voice trailed off as he urged the horse a little faster, strengthening his grip on Estel's lifeless body.

He was nearing the border of Imladris, inwardly hoping that he could find a border guard to send ahead with word of Estel's condition. As he rode, he was vaguely aware of the insistent pain in his own shoulder, though he had long forgotten why it was there. He was too focused on Estel.

"Daro!" Came a command from up ahead. Legolas reined in the horse and didn't even wait for the Elf to show him or herself.

"Estel is bad off, I need to get him to Lord Elrond!" the Prince begged, his voice edged with intense worry. "Please, take Estel's horse and ride ahead!"

Emerging from the woods, a dark-haired Noldor Elf looked up at Legolas in awe, quickly taking in the condition of the man in the Prince's arms. Then, the Elf nodded wordlessly, approached Estel's horse and was soon off at a fast gallop.

Breathing in relief, Legolas nudged his mount forward again, making haste to Rivendell.

"My Lord!"

Elrond broke from his reading and looked up at the strangled cry. Surging to his feet, he swept from the room, fear in his eyes and heart. Somehow he knew. What he feared must have come to pass.

"My Lord," Nerelan, a border guard, vaulted from atop a familiar horse. Estel's horse. The Elf lord realized with a pang of anguish. "Lord Elrond, Prince Legolas is on his way. Estel is injured, it doesn't look good, My Lord. They should be here shortly."

Almost as if on cue, Legolas burst into the courtyard, his horse covered in lather from the hard ride, a listless and unconscious Estel perched in front of the Elf.

It didn't escape Elrond's eyes that Legolas had an arrow protruding from his chest, nearly where he had taken his old wound years ago. The shaft was buried deeply and it was a wonder that the Elf was still conscious, let alone coherent and able to ride.

He frowned, hurrying to the Prince's side and taking his foster son down from the horse, worried when the man made no noise at the action. He was far gone by this time and Elrond knew he would have a time of calling the man back.

As soon as Estel was no longer touching Legolas, Elrond felt the man start to convulse and his breathing and heart rate skyrocketed. The Elder looked up at the weary Prince and it dawned on him that without that contact, Estel would die.

"Legolas, you are all that is keeping him alive right now, can you manage to bring him in?" Elrond said, hating to cause the Elf more pain, but knowing it was necessary all the same.

As he expected, Legolas took Estel from him and grunted under the man's weight. But as soon as the contact was back, Estel quieted and his breathing evened out a bit. Elrond's eyes narrowed. He had a feeling Legolas had inadvertently opened a bond between the two when he desperately channeled his strength to the dying human.

They hurried as fast as possible into the Healing Chambers and Legolas gently placed his precious cargo onto the nearest bed, not taking his hand from Estel's as he collapsed into a chair beside the bed.

Elrond hurried to the man's side and cleared away the bandages to get a look at the wound. He cringed, not wanting to imagine the pain it would cause if Estel was still conscious.

They had gotten there in time though and Elrond had no doubts he could save his son's life. The door to the chambers burst open and a disgruntled pair of Elven twins rushed in, tripping over each other in their haste.

"We just got back..." panted Elrohir, "and we heard about Estel," finished Elladan.

Elrond didn't respond; he was too busy working on saving Estel's life. Seeing this and quieting, Elladan looked at Legolas who was shaking in his chair. Then the twin's eyes found the arrow.

"By the Valar, Legolas, you have that still in you! And you are shaking like a leaf!" hurrying forward, immediately taking on the air of a healer, Elladan knelt in front of the Elf Prince.

"I'm fine," Legolas protested, feebly trying to push the Elf's hands away from him, his voice slurred and his head swimming.

Elladan would not take no for an answer and pressed his hand to Legolas' forehead, pulling it back quickly. "You are burning up! You were attacked by Orcs, there is a good chance this is poisoned!"

With a wordless glance at his father, Elladan motioned for Elrohir. "Hold him."

Legolas, only now realizing what the twins were talking about, looked up quickly. His hand tightened on Estel's arm and he shook his head. "I can't let go of him, he'll die."

Elrond nodded in agreement, but spoke. "Aye you can not let go, Legolas. But Elladan and Elrohir must remove that, I fear they are correct and it is poisoned. You would not do either of you any good by succumbing to the poison now."

Legolas did not answer, but nodded lightly, readjusting his grip on Estel. "All right," he muttered, looking up with imploring eyes, "just do it quickly, mellyn nin."

Elrohir wasted no time in coming around behind Legolas in the chair and wrapping his arms around the Prince and the chair back in a tight bearhug. Elladan, trapping Legolas' legs between his own, leaned forward and grasped the arrow. Then he stopped.

"Ada? This looks very, very deep. I fear pulling it out will cause more unnecessary damage."

Elrond frowned, now noticing this as well. "You must push it through then," he said solemnly, locking eyes with Legolas.

The Prince groaned lightly, than felt a squeeze on his hand. Eyes snapped toward the bed and found Estel's eyes open, though not all the way. He was looking at the Prince, focusing all his attention on his best friend.

"I'm here," he whispered. Then he sighed and waited, struggling to stay conscious.

Legolas nodded and tensed as Elladan pulled him forward and Elrohir repositioned himself to keep Legolas from pushing backward. Then, Elladan pushed forward hard on the arrow and sobbed when he heard his friend cry out.

But it wasn't finished yet. Elrohir hurriedly cut the arrowhead off the shaft and Elladan pushed Legolas back, while his brother pulled the Prince, and the shaft slide from Legolas' body.

For a moment, he lost his grip on Estel and Elrond jumped in surprise as the man jerked and convulsed.

"What the..." Elrohir said, seeing the sudden and rapid deterioration of the human. "Ada? What is wrong?"

Elrond's eyes narrowed. "Legolas? Just how much strength did you give him?"

The Elf Prince didn't answer, just looked down a little. He was still trembling and his hand shook as he grasped Estel again. "Too much..." the Elf finally muttered.

Elrond nodded. "I do believe that Legolas is so deeply connected to Estel that if he lets him go for an instant, we might still lose your brother."

As he spoke, he saw Legolas sway. Then, suddenly, to the horror of the Elves and the semi-conscious Estel, Legolas tipped forward and passed out, caught in the nick of time by Elladan.

Quickly, Elrond held the Elf's hand on Estel and thought for a moment. What they did here and now would determine if Mando's Halls would gain an Elf and if Estel would live to fulfill his destiny. "Estel. Can you hear me? Do you understand me?"

Estel nodded lightly, tired beyond belief. "Yes."

"If Legolas continues to connect with you, he will kill himself, Estel. You must use your own strength and my strength to stay alive now. You have to sever the connection from your end, he will not do it."

Estel blinked and closed his eyes. In seconds, he started to convulse. Elrond grasped his hand and poured healing strength into his son as the twins disconnected Legolas and Estel.

Estel continued to convulse for a few minutes while Legolas was taken care of by the twins. Then, three sets of Elven eyes turned to the man in the bed.

He arched off the bed once.

Then, he was still.

A/N: Ohh...so sorry about this nasty little cliffhanger, but it was necessary. I ran out of time and was just barely able to get this post up for you guys. I try to post my stories daily, but life gets in the way. I'm becoming increasingly busy...please r/r and make me post on time!!