Disclaimer: Please see chapter 0ne

Thank you to Katy My Beta.

Chapter Nine

The door opening quietly, brought his head up and he had to blink before he could focus on who ever it was in the door.

"Ada? Can you really see with its dark?" He blinked again. It was dark. When had it become so dark? "You know I have been told you can ruin your eyesight reading in the dark." The teasing tone of Elladan's voice brought a smile to Elrond's face. They used to tell Estel that as a child. So many times they found him huddled in bed with a candle and book. So many times he found burnt sheets….

Elladan was moving around the room, lighting candles and drawing curtains as he went. "You did not come down for the evening meal, so I brought you some food and wine. How are you getting on with the samples?" He moved closer to the desk.

"With great difficulty, every time I think I have isolated the poison it mutates into something else. I have never seen anything like it. It also seems to mimic other poisons; if I knew no better I would think it was sentient. How is Legolas?"

Elladan pushed the parchments and herbs clear on the top of the table before laying a tray of food. Not remotely interested in taking no for an answer he gave a set of knife and fork to his Adar. "His temperature is still high. The herbs are not touching him at all. He had another fit, a mild one. Estel and Elrohir are with him."

Elrond stop the fork from entering his mouth. "It stopped?"

"Yes, with the tea. Ada, Glorfindel thinks the seizures are becoming more frequent. He has not said anything but I think there is something worrying him."

"I know, Elladan. We both are. We are missing something. At times it is almost as if it is right in front of me, but then… it is gone. Where is Glorfindel?"

"He is sleeping." Elladan both looked and sounded sheepish.

Both eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hair line. "Sleeping?"

"Yes, Ada, sleeping. He tried to tell us he was alright, that he did not have a headache. We kind of guessed that neither of you were taking proper breaks nor really eating, so I drugged his tea." He had gone from sounding sheepish to quite proud.

"You drugged him? You actually drugged Glorfindel? Oh, My. Just do not, what ever you, do tell Erestor. Glorfindel will never live it down."

"Ada, what…?"

"Well, when Erestor heard that Glorfindel had been attacked… Well he laughed. You could feel the cold from Glorfindel's eyes from across the room. I think even Mithrandir's fireworks would have fizzled out." Elrond finished his food and set the fork down, noting with amusement the look of calculation on Elladan's face.

"I see, no, the Great Balrog Slayer would not be happy at having been caught out. But twice in one day?" He gave a shrug and continued. "Can I be of help here? Haldir and I will take the last watch duty in the healing room, but I can not rest. I am so worried about Legolas, so if I can be of help, please use me?"

"Of course, Ion-nin, that would be a great help. Come, look. Tell me your impression of the samples…" Elladan joined his Father.

Slowly time passed as sample after sample was analysed to no avail. Just as Elladan was about to take his leave of his Father to relieve his brothers, Elrond thumped the table. "Got it!"

In the Halls of Healing, Estel and Elrohir were taking it in turns to care for the Prince. Since his last fit he had seemed to settle a little, if only they could bring down his temperature. They were almost constantly sponging their friend, but it was having little effect.

Estel had to admit that seeing Legolas so still, so pale and sleeping with his eyes closed was more than just a little worrying. He was used to Legolas disappearing up into trees and using his incredible skill with his bow to make almost impossible shots. Well, the only person who found the shots possible was Legolas; even Haldir had trouble matching some of the shots.

"I wonder how Ada is getting on." Elrohir could take the silence no longer.

"I am sure that if he had any news we would know. What do you think, Legolas? I really wish you would stop this silent treatment, Mellon-nin. A conversation on your own is a little difficult." Estel once more wiped the sweat from the fair face. No sooner had he wiped it off than it returned, testament to the raging fever that continued to plague the Elf.

"I know, Estel, I just wish I could do more to help. At least Legolas can not argue with you. Just think, at least this way you come out on top in one of your spats! I just wish he would move. It just seems unnatural…" He sighed, frustrated. "Do you need to give him more tea?"

Estel looked at the progress of the moon across the sky. "Yes, please, we need to make sure he has it on time. We can not risk another fit so soon." He watched as Elrohir poured the tea into a goblet.

They had just positioned Legolas between them and had begun to feed him the tea, when the door flew open to reveal a flushed Elladan.

"Ada's found it! He isolated the poison! He sent me to tell you. He hopes to have an antidote soon. Legolas just need to hold on." He moved to the bed and kneeling down took a limp hand in his own. "Do you hear me, Legolas? Just hold on, fight. Ada can help you now."

"Thank the Valar! We will keep him here, do not worry, Gwador" Elrohir noticed how tired his twin looked. "I thought you were meant to be resting? You look dreadful!"

Elladan shrugged, concentrating on his friends face. "I could not rest. I took Adar some food and stayed to help him."

"Well, you can not watch Legolas…"

"What! Why not?!" Elladan was outraged.

"Elladan, Legolas needs people who are rested and alert. What would happen if you fell asleep and he had a seizure?" Estel tried to calm his foster brother, agreeing with Elrohir.

"Haldir will be with me. I can cope. I want to help Legolas."

Haldir's voice broke the tableau. "I agree. With the two of us here, I can not see what the problem will be."

"And if you are attacked while Elladan sleeps? What then?" Elrohir was trying to be logical.

Estel turned to him. "I will also stay. If Adar has found the antidote, I want to be here." He turned pleading eyes at his brother. "Please, 'Ro, I can not leave him."

What more could Elrohir do? How could he say no to his brothers? In the end they all stayed, taking it in turns to sleep, leaving three awake at all times…

Dawn was just breaking as Elrond made his way to the Halls of Healing. Elation filled his heart. For the first time in days something had gone right. Finally they had a chance to really help Legolas.

He opened the door to the room. Chaos reigned. Legolas was seizing once more. Elation forgotten he joined the melee to try and calm the young Elf.

"We gave him the tea, Ada, not an hour ago. Why is it not helping him?" Anguish sounded in Estel's voice

"It is a mixture, Estel, of the fever and the head injury. We need to be patient, he needs time. Time I can now give him." He reached for the goblet he had set down on one side. "I have the antidote." Four suddenly hopeful faces turned towards him. "Who ever created this was very clever. They mixed three types of poison and then added an herb to stop both the wound from healing and to promote bleeding. It is no wonder the wound is in such a state. I do not know if it was deliberate but the herb also affected Legolas' healing ability by fooling it into thinking it was not needed. I would never have thought of all four of them being used in one go."

With Estel's help, Elrond succeeded in feeding the potion to Legolas. "Now, we wait."

And wait they did as the sun gradually rose in the sky. As the rest of Rivendell woke, Elrohir made his way to the kitchens to order food for their breakfast.

He left the room with a tray full of cups and bowels. The food would join them later when it was ready; Elrohir carried a jug of fruit juice and tea. Set to one side was the bowl of porridge and a cup of weak tea for Legolas.

As he made his way down the steps and made for the Halls of Healing, he could not help thinking what a much better day the day looked to be turning into. He got to the door when he was knocked from behind. He went to his knees, somehow managing to keep the tray upright.

"What the…!"

"I am sorry, my Lord. I am late, I did not see you. Please let me help you?"

Elrohir finally saw who had knocked him over. "Faren?"

"Yes, Elrohir. Are you alright?"

"Yes. Just dusty." He brushed himself down, not noticing the other Elf as he bent surreptitiously over the tray. Turning he found Faren standing in front of him tray in hand.

"Here you are, I am sorry to collide with you. I must be going or Andechoriel will have my hide. Namarie!"

Elrohir shook his head in amusement as the other Elf disappeared from view. What he did not see was the self satisfied grin on Faren's face as he left. "Not long now Brat. I promise you. Not long now….."

To Be Continued….

Replies to reviewers:

Angelbird 12241: Thank you.

Gemini969: Again, thank you!

Gwyn: Thank you for your comments. About the seizures. We know it is wrong to hold a fitting patient down, but think of the age this is set in. Modern Medicine has not even been thought about. When I started my nurse training, far too many years ago, it was standard procedure to hold the person down and force a wooden stick between their teeth to stop them biting their tongue. Now we know not to do this. Times and trends change. We also used to treat pressure areas with castor oil and heal pressure sores with egg white and oxygen. I wonder how many modern nurses will be shocked at that. I thought long and hard before writing it this way. I just kept thinking of how things change, like not swabbing injection points with alcohol; wipes because the alcohol can be introduced into the skin….. I'm glad you like it though.

Aronoiiel: More? You want more? Why??? Glad you like it. I miss the inclusion of Glorfindel in other stories too; he's just kind of taken over a little….. Faren? You want to know what's going on? So would I!!!

Dragonfly32: Sorry about the mistakes, had a bad day and they kind of slipped me by. Glad you like it though. Faren? Who is Faren??? What can be going on and why, oh why would Thranduil want to get hold of him? Has he hurt his Son by any chance? Bog Evil Grin!!!!

Lady Lenna: Yep, the boys are here and brought Haldir with them. It had to have Haldir didn't it?

Coolio02: Why does every one want Legolas to wake up? Imagine him laid out so beautiful before you…. You want Legolas awake? I give in! Wait and see what is coming…..

Jopru: Chapters too short, but then I couldn't update daily!!

Shadow Fox777: Here you are, Mellon-nin, your first daily fix…

Iccle fairy: Of course I missed you. I promised the twins and Estel, but they brought a friend along too. Let that Mothering start!! Luvu!

Many, many thanks to every one who has taken the time to review. It means so much to me that you like this little story. If you like this why don't you try Once Upon A Time? It's co-authored with Meisalliam…

Love,
Shell