Disclaimer: These characters still do not belong to me, alas.

Thank you to Katy, my wonderful friend.

Chapter Seventeen

Elrond was in the middle of insisting that Elladan help him into a sitting position when the conversation from earlier replayed in his mind and he stiffened.

"Adam do you need to lie back down?" Elladan was concerned the last thing his father needed was leaving his pallet, no matter how important he felt it and feeling his Ada stiffen in his arms only reinforced that fact.

"Elladan, did you sat Legolas' right eye was dilated?" The strain in Elrond's voice was obvious to them all and earned him a dark look from Glorfindel.

Elladan wrinkled his brow as he thought back to earlier. "No, Ada it was his left eye. Why?"

"Ai, Elbereth!" If Elrond could have been able to swear in Dwarvish he would have done.

"Ada, what is wrong?" Estel was leaning over Legolas, holding a clean cloth to his nose, but looking in worry at his foster father.

"The last time we checked it was Legolas' right eye that was not reacting properly. If it is his left then we may have a problem. Elladan, I need to get to Legolas' side."

"Ada, no, you need…" Elladan was adamant.

"What do you mean 'may have a problem'?" There was outright fear in Thranduil's voice.

"Elladan, I neither care nor have the time to worry about what you think I should or should not be doing. I need to get to Legolas NOW! Thranduil, I will speak to you later. Elrohir, Haldir, I need you to take both Thranduil and Estel to my study and keep them there. For the moment I care little for anything but Legolas." His tone was such that no one in the room dared do anything other than what he had ordered.

"Glorfindel, I will need both yours and Mithrandir's help. Elladan will have to be my hands; mine are not steady enough, if we need to operate."

The room was quickly organised as to just how Elrond wanted it. The pallets on either side of Legolas were moved aside and the one containing Legolas pulled further into the middle of the room so that the light from all the lanterns and candles could be concentrated.

Between Glorfindel and Elladan they moved Elrond from his pallet, trying hard not to jostle his wounds as they moved. Once he was as comfortable as he could be on the side of the pallet with Glorfindel supporting him physically, he accepted a candle from Mithrandir and began his own examination.

All in the room held their breaths as he sat back, lips pursed. Saying nothing he gentle moved to examine Legolas' head, feeling for the skull beneath skin and hair. Then he sat back.

"He has pressure building in his skull, the fact that it is now his left eye that is affected tells me that this is more than just concussion. Also the skin around his forehead and eyes seems tighter, this will happen as the pressure builds. We need to release that pressure or Legolas will die. The skull is just not built to handle pressure of this sort, which is why he had the nose bleed."

"What do you intend to do?" Mithrandir's voice was calm.

"Well, given normal circumstances I would operate to relieve the pressure, but." He held up shaking hands, a side effect of his own concussion. "This is not a normal situation. Elladan will have to be my hands. He has seen me do this before out of all of you he has the best idea exactly what it is that it is needed."

Elladan looked pale but nodded his agreement. He had seen his father do this operation, three times in fact. Two had lived with out any problems, but one a young man who had fallen from a roof, had died. He could do this. He had to do this for Legolas, his friend.

"What do you need me to do?" Mithrandir was close by, looking at the unconscious Elf with compassion.

"I need you to firstly help Elladan give Legolas some tea." Elladan was already at the table, knowing exactly what it was that his father needed. "We need to make certain he really is unconscious. I would not like to wake up during this, even though I really do doubt he is beyond that at present. Then I need you to get Elladan anything he needs. I will talk him through it."

"I will stay right where I am." Glorfindel's voice brokered no argument. Not that Elrond was going to give any.

Half an hour later they were already to go.

Haldir stood with his back against the door exchanging amused glances with Elrohir who stood in front of the closed windows. Despite the seriousness of the situation, neither could help but find the scene in front of them amusing.

First Thranduil would pace in front of the desk going one way. Estel would pace from the opposite direction. They met in the middle, but neither said a word.

This had been going on for hours. At first they had tried to suggest that the pair sit down, but neither would accept that. After Estel had tried to 'escape' to go and see what was happening, they had silently decided that their present positions were best, at least this way the Elf and Man would have to physically walk through them to leave the room.

Finally just as dusk was falling Thranduil could take no more. "What in all Arda is taking so long?!"

"These things take time." Elrohir shrugged he knew just how long this could sometimes take, but he was not going to impart that knowledge until absolutely necessary. "As soon as they are finished I am sure Adar will come to us."

That earned him a glare from Thranduil before he once again returned to his pacing. Time seemed to crawl for all present.

"That is it! I do not care, I am going to see what is going on and I do not care what either of you think." Estel glared at his brother and friend as he crossed the room to stand in front of Haldir. "Get out of my way."

"No." Haldir's voice was cool and collected; he had certainly faced worse opponents in his long life.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." Estel's voice was low and vicious.

"Or what, Mellon-nin?" He kept his amusement out of his voice. Did Estel really think he could make him move?

Estel bunched his right fist and was prepared to use it, accepting the challenge in Haldir's eyes. The door opening and Estel was luckily saved a lot of pain by his brother Elladan entering the room.

"What is going on here?" They could all see just how pale and tired Elladan looked. Strain showed around his eyes.

"Nothing." Estel was embarrassed when he thought of just what he had almost done. "How is Legolas?"

Thranduil had moved to join him.

"Come, Adar wants to see you all." Elladan was already moving back to the door, only to be stopped by Thranduil's hand on his arm.

"Please how is my son?" His voice held the fear that only being a parent can understand.

"I have been told not to tell you, my Lord, Adar had said he will speak to you. He is waiting. Please, come with me?" Elladan tried to be reassuring, he wanted so much to tell them the news and put them out of their misery, but he also accepted that it was not his right.

It was a very subdued group that left the Last Homely House and made their way across to the Halls of Healing.

As they stepped into the room they all took in the room.

Mithrandir stood before the open window, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe. Elrond was once more propped up on his pallet, supported by pillows, Glorfindel by his side. He was alternating between shooting the Wizard and his seneschal dark looks. Glorfindel ignored this as he made certain his friend really was taking the herbs he had prepared for the pain in his leg and head that he would not admit to. Of course his winces when he thought no body was looking were a little bit of a give away as was the deep frown between his brows.

As they moved further into the room, Elrond snapped at Mithrandir. "Must you use that disgusting thing in here?"

Mithrandir raised a calm eye brow at this as he looked at the Lord. "It helps me to think." None the less, he tapped it out and returned it to his pocket with a sigh.

Legolas lay still on his pallet a bandage now firmly wrapped around his head. Thranduil and Estel moved to his side and both were relieved to see the young Prince actually looked more peaceful and relaxed than he had done in days.

"How is he?" Thranduil turned to his friend, anxious to hear the news.

"The operation went well, Elladan made what are called Burr holes into Legolas skull to relieve the pressure. He drained a lot of old stale blood away. As you can see Legolas is already easier and he is reacting more sharply to any source of pain. All we can do now is wait for him to wake up. He is sedated and I do not think he will waken anytime soon, but I am far more hopeful." He sighed as he relaxed back, relief filling him as the dual pains began to fade under the herbs influence.

If he were to think about it all the alarm bells that had been ringing since Legolas had been brought to Rivendell were know silent. It would appear that his subconscious had been working on the problem even if he had not realised it.

"Thank you, thank you all. I can not thank you enough for once more keeping my son safe and alive. I know he will be for ever in your debt as am I." Thranduil was softly brushing Legolas cheek, willing colour to return to the pale skin.

"You have nothing to thank us for, Mellon-nin. We love, Legolas to." Elrond felt happier than he done in days and not a little giddy. No doubt due to the herbs.

"I think it would be best if we all eat something. I will go and speak to the kitchen and bring the meal back with me." Mithrandir left the room in a sweep of robes, while the others once more settled in for the wait.

The cave was dark; the only light source was the fire which was sending shadows flickering on the wall. Four beings sat around the fire once more trying to hash out a plan that was usable. Many had been discarded.

"We need to create a diversion, something to bring Elrond's brood away from the Prince. It will have to be good enough to draw the Istari and the March Warden." One of the Elves was poking the fire to encourage it to spark.

"We have one." The voice came from the entrance of the cave and the four moved to make space for the new arrival. "Our employer has set plans in motion. In two days a large group of Orcs and Wargs will attack two of the outer villages. They have instructions not to leave a single Elf alive. They will then begin to move towards the next village, which should grab their attentions quite nicely. It will form a descent distraction."

The four other Elves nodded happy with their plans.

"Then we can go and finish what we started."

Once they had eaten and were content, they all settled down to relax somewhat. Elladan had challenged Haldir to a game of Chess. Elrohir was reading Estel and Thranduil were still sat next to Legolas, watching him for any signs of improvement. Elrond was sleeping, his injuries having finally taken their toll. Glorfindel was taking the time to replenish the herb table and prepare those that they still might need.

Mithrandir meanwhile, sucked on his empty pipe, staring into the fire, lost to the world as he thought out the puzzle. This had all started in Mirkwood, could it just be that the answer was there too?

"Check!" Elladan's voice was full of glee.

"Oh dear, that will do no good. Check mate." Haldir's voice was smug.

"What?! How?"

"You left your Queen open and did not see my last Knight already in place. That makes it three nil to me does it not?" Haldir sat back to watch in amusement as the elder twin once more took in the board.

"I am never paying you again. You are as good as Legolas." Elladan grouched.

"Thank you for the complement, but I have yet to win against him." Haldir admitted looking across at the Prince.

"Ada is the only one who has beaten him here In Rivendell and that was only once. Is he the same in Mirkwood?" Elrohir had put his book down and was facing Thranduil.

"Yes, I have yet to meet any one who can beat him more than once. He has such a wonderful analytical mind. Or he did." He looked sadly down at his son.

Glorfindel squeezed his shoulder in comfort. "I am sure he will be just as good in time. He has a reputation to hold up, after all."

"In what way?" This was a side of his son he rarely got to see.

"Well, our warriors are always trying to best him. When they come back off patrol and he is visiting, they always challenge him, having been playing amongst them selves first. It never works, he always wins. Beats them hands down if the truth be told." Thranduil was quietly laughing by the time Glorfindel finished his explanation.

"It is the same at home. The number of time they have challenged him and had to pay a forfeit even if it is only small. Ai, I do not think they will ever learn." Thranduil was still chuckling as they began to settle down for the evening, sharing out the watch good naturedly.

The night passed with no problems and dawn found Elladan and Elrohir planning their next prank, determined to hit Haldir at least once before he returned to Lothlorien. Everybody else was sleeping; Thranduil had given up his place at Legolas side at some point during the night to rest properly on a pallet. Estel sat slumped at Legolas' side, hand still held tightly.

He was not sure what it was that first woke him, at first he could not place what it was. It was as he was shaking his head sleepily that it happened again and suddenly he was wide awake and looking at his hand, hardly daring to breathe in case he had been wrong.

There it was again. He looked up to find a pair of bleary blue eyes looking at him.

"M… m. Mellon?" The voice was croaky and weak, but it was as loud as a bell in the quiet room.

"Legolas?" Estel felt his heart thumping as he looked at his friend.

"M.. Mellon? F…friend?"

"Yes, Legolas, friend." He was smiling not trying to hide the tears that wanted top fall.

"E….Estel?"

To be continued.

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers.

Replies to reviews.

Jopru: Just for you a 'nice' cliffie, I'm in an incredible mood tonight!

Mepb: Thank you for your kind comments. This is my first fic in quite a long while, so I'm learning as I go.

Oracle10: No not good, but not as bad as it could ne. Here you are another chapter.

LoveOftheElf: Horribly miserably fics, well written? Why thank you! J

Shadow Fox777: Here you are, just for you!

Coolio02: IS it good that there are pieces missing? Projectiles? Gulp! Looks nervously about before creeping from room…..

Azla: Ah, at last someone other than me that is awake all night! I didn't think that was possible. Non real cliffie this time.

Well, every one here you are till tomorrow. The next chapter is well on the way.

Till then,

Love,

Shell

xx