It was nearing noon the next day and Elrond was beginning to fret, although he did not let his nervousness show through. Already it was near noon and neither Legolas nor Estel had shown any signs to stirring.
Legolas, Elrond wasn't that concerned about. Yes, his arm had been badly broken and he had pushed himself beyond his body's endurance, but given a few day's rest, he would be fine. In fact, Elrond expected that Legolas would wake up by mid-afternoon, if not before then.
It was Estel that Elrond was worrying about. Estel had shown no signs of alertness since he had arrived back home, with the exception of when Elrond had stitched his arm.
He looked down at Estel and frowned at what he saw. Estel was sweating from the high fever and his pallor was very pale, except for the red flush on his face that came from the fever.
Elrond was relieved that Estel's wounds were healing nicely and that there was no sign of the dreaded poison, but the illness that Estel had apparently caught seemed to be getting worse.
The young man was smoldering to the touch and the fever only continued to rise as the hours went by. Elrond had treated it with athelas and other herbs that usually worked when Estel fell ill, but so far, there did not seem to be an effect.
While Estel's fever had not risen since Elrond had treated him with the herbs, yet it had not lowered either. Elrond couldn't help but be worried, he had seen the effects of high fevers that lasted to long, and he did not wish to see his youngest suffer that fate.
Sighing aloud, Elrond rubbed his temples wearily, and looked around the room, which was empty save himself, Estel, and Legolas.
Yesterday evening, he had sent Thranduil, Delelen, Thilloth, and his twin sons to go and get some real sleep and something to eat. None of them had slept during the past two days, even Elladan and Elrohir, who were nearing if they had not already passed the point of exhaustion. They were all far to worried about Estel and Legolas to even think of sleeping, despite the fact that their bodies were demanding it.
That had been the second night in row that Elrond hadn't slept and it was starting to show, but he would not give into sleep. Not while Estel was still injured and seriously ill. Elladan and Elrohir, along with Thranduil and his two middle sons, had already tried to get Elrond to sleep.
They had pointed out that if they were nearing the point of collapse from exhaustion, then clearly, so was Elrond. After all, Elrond had not slept in two days either and needed the rest as well.
Elrond had listened patiently to their request but had firmly said no. Someone needed to watch over Estel and Legolas, and he knew that he would not be able to sleep anyway.
They hadn't been happy about it, but they had understood. They too did not wish to sleep while their little brother and friend was seriously injured and ill, but their bodies were close to collapsing if they did not rest at least a little.
Elrond was jerked out of his recollections of the previous night when Legolas gave a slight moan.
Hearing the moan, Elrond quickly turned away from Estel's bed and turned around to face Legolas.
Legolas was shifting slightly on the bed and his eyes were slowly fluttering open and closed.
"That's it little Greenleaf. Come, awaken tithen pen," Elrond said commandingly, watching as Legolas slowly opened his eyes all the way.
The first thing that Legolas was aware of was that his arm was paining him terribly and that he was no longer moving. "Wait, that can not be right! Why am I not moving!" he thought, while panicking somewhat.
He attempted to open his eyes, but found that he could not at the moment. Legolas groaned in both frustration and in pain. He wanted to know where he was!
As Legolas grew to be more aware, he became aware of the fact that he was lying on something soft and comfortable, which was most likely a bed.
He heard someone approach him and a soft familiar voice saying something to him, though what the voice was saying, he could not yet tell.
Legolas slowly opened his eyes and was surprised to find Lord Elrond standing over him. For a moment, he was at a loss, and then the memories of the past several days came back to him.
"Estel! Where is he? Is he all right? When did we get here?" Legolas asked Elrond all at once, while trying to sit up.
"Slow down there young one, you have only just awakened," Elrond said soothingly, while pushing Legolas back down on to the bed, taking care not to jostle his broken arm.
Legolas glared at the elder elf, but settled back down on the bed knowing it was pointless to try and get up if Elrond had decided he needed to remain in bed.
"How is Estel?" Legolas questioned worriedly. The last he remembered was that Estel had been slowly becoming worse.
Elrond sighed and looked over at the bed next to Legolas, where Estel was still unconscious.
"I will not lie to you Legolas for I know you would see through any lie I could construct anyway. I have treated Estel's wounds and thankfully, they have responded well and should be completely healed within a few days. His illness however, concerns me. He has a high fever and his lungs are congested. The herbs I have given him have prevented the fever from rising, and has somewhat lessened the congestion, but other than that, he does not seem to be responding to them," Elrond said worriedly.
Legolas paled at Elrond's description of what was happening to Estel. From what he had been told, it didn't sound like the herbs were working as they should have.
"May I..." Legolas started to ask, but Elrond interrupted him.
"May you see him? Of course Legolas, but you are not to get out of that bed. Estel is lying on the bed right next to you," Elrond said.
Legolas blinked for a moment. He had not seen Estel at all. "I must be more tired than I thought," he thought.
Legolas turned his head slightly and saw that Estel was indeed on the bed right next to his. Estel truly looked awful. He was pale and sweaty, and covered with bandages, but he did look somewhat better than Legolas remembered, and for that, he was grateful.
"Legolas, if you feel up to it, there are several people who would like to visit you. I'm afraid I had to kick them all out yesterday evening in order to get some rest, and they have been pestering me ever since to be allowed back in," Elrond said with a slight chuckle.
Legolas couldn't help but to smile. That sounded exactly like the twins. He was amazed that Elrond had gotten them out of the room at all.
"Yes, I would like to see them as well," Legolas said softly.
Elrond smiled, knowing that Legolas was in for a surprise.
Elrond knew that Legolas did not know that his father, Delelen and Thilloth were in Imladris. The only reason that he did not tell Legolas was because he thought that Legolas and the others could use a good laugh, himself included. Legolas's expression was sure to be priceless.
"I'll be right back Greenleaf. Keep an eye on Estel for me though Legolas. With an illness such as this, things can change is seconds," Elrond said seriously.
Legolas nodded in understanding. He would watch over Estel while Elrond was momentarily out of the room.
"Good and thank you Legolas, for everything," Elrond said smiling at Legolas before leaving the room to find the others to tell them that Legolas was awake.
Translations:
Tithen pen: Little one