Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Chapter twenty three

The next morning was dull and overcast, a thin rain falling as day tried to break. Elrond was sleeping, his dreams pleasant.

Legolas had woken not ten minutes ago and was in pain, a lot of pain. His head felt as if a dwarf was using it as his anvil. Estel had been reading and was not aware of Legolas being awake. All the others were all asleep as well.

"E…Estel?" The hesitant voice made Estel jump as the quiet was broken.

"Legolas, you are awake." He smiled at the Prince then frowned as he saw how pale he looked in the weak light of dawn. "Are you alright?"

"H… head h…urts b…bad. S… sick." Legolas was practically panting with the pain his eyes squinting, despite his best efforts.

"I will get you something for both. I will be just a minute, hold on. Should I wake some one to sit with you?" Worry laced Estel's voice.

"A… Adar." Even Legolas' voice was full of pain and Estel wasted no time in moving to Thranduil and waking him before making his way to the small temporary herb table that had been set up in the room.

As soon as the tea was ready he made his way back to the pallet and handed the tea to Thranduil. The King helped his son sip the hot tea. He watched as the fine pain lines around the fair beings mouth smoothed out as the pain diminished.

"T… thank y.. you. S… sorry." Legolas would not meet their eyes.

"Why, little Las, why are you sorry?" Thranduil's voice was as gentle as an early summer wind as he used his old nick name for his son.

"W… woke you." Legolas was hesitant and he looked tentatively at his father.

"I would much rather be awake and know that you are alright, than you are in pain while I sleep. You have nothing to be sorry for, Ion-nin, trust me." Thranduil was stroking the pale left hand. The hand very weakly gripped his in acknowledgement.

"D… do tr…trust you."

"Good, try and get some more rest and when you are feeling a little better we may as well see what Calenli decides you will have for your morning meal." Thranduil could not help but tease; he was rewarded with a small very pained smile.

Over the next hour each of the room's inhabitants had woken and prepared them selves for the day to come. They were joined in Elrond's chamber for the morning meal by Glorfindel and the twins. Legolas was pleased to see them all.

They had just started to eat, Legolas playing with his weak porridge somewhat, when the door was opened following the obligatory three knocks. With Erestor stood a very wet Mithrandir.

He was ushered into the room and Estel stood so that he could take his place by the fire. The wizard sat down with a groan after divesting him self of hi sodden cloak.

"Busy night?" Elrond could not hide the twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, very busy. What has been happening here for you to move your location? Comfortable as it is." Mithrandir gratefully accepted the hot tea from Elrohir.

"We had a little bit of excitement our selves." Elrond and the others all filled the Maia in on the happenings of the last few days up to and including their new plan.

As soon as Elrond finished speaking there was silence. Then the four who had not been present started to talk all at once, each trying to give their own opinion as to what they should do.

"P… please be q… quiet." Legolas could not take the high level of noise, his head was still very tender and this was not helping.

"Legolas?" Thranduil's voice was low in deference to his son's discomfort.

"A… alright. T… to n…noisy." Legolas tried to quickly reassure.

"I am sorry, Legolas, we did not think." Glorfindel felt awful, the last thing he wanted was to cause the Prince more pain.

"D… do not w…worry." Legolas closed his eyes for a moment. "N… need to d… do t… this, g… get t… them." Legolas looked at each person; they needed to know how much he wanted this.

"Legolas had agreed to this as you can hear. So I am afraid the time for deciding this passed even before you all got back. Erestor, do you have some plans for me?" Elrond knew the scholar and councillor would have begun putting their plans into action.

"Yes, I have a list of the warriors whom I think should be included, along with Thranduil's men, in the Party that should follow us." He passed the parchment to Elrond who took it with a grateful smile.

The list contained the names of twenty Rivendell Elves as well as those of Thranduil's own guards. Elrond approved of every one. He passed the parchment on to Glorfindell.

Glorfindel took one look and nodded his agreement passing it on to Thranduil.

Erestor continued outlining his plans. "I have arranged for the second carriage to make the trip, it is being cleaned as we speak." It did not really need cleaning; Erestor just wanted every one to see that it was being prepared. "It will be well padded with pillow and cushions. I need to speak to Calenli about food for the trip, I was wondering if you might come with me Elrond? He will take notice of what you say."

"Of course, I need to speak with him in any case." Elrond was not looking forward to this conversation, it was one he had with the cook every decade or so.

"Thank you. One thing I do need to know is when you are looking to do this? I need to know, so that we can arrange the warrior's replacements." Erestor looked to Glorfindel; in fact this was Glorfindel's role although he always helped out when needed.

"Two days time, just after dusk. Thranduil and I will travel with Legolas. Glorfindel I want you to travel with Estel in front of us, Elladan I want you and Elrohir to travel behind us. The guards will be half an hour behind you with the fastest horses we have got. As soon as the alarm whistle is blown by Elrohir they will make their way to us. We will all be armed as it goes with out saying." Elrond was happy with the plans.

"I will be travelling with the carriage." Mithrandir's voice was calm. "I believe that although the Elves concerned with this plot do come from Mirkwood. They are not working on their own. I believe that there is far more going on here than we think."

"What do you think is going on?" Thranduil needed to know.

"It is only a theory and in all probability wrong." Mithrandir turned to Legolas. "Do you recall any odd conversations that you may have over heard?"

Legolas' brow furrowed as he tried to think, his head still throbbing slightly. "N… no, n… nothing."

"It was a guess after all." Mithrandir sighed. "Continue to try and think, Legolas you may know something and not realise it."

The blond Prince gave a very careful, pained nod.

It was noticed by Thranduil. "Is your head still paining you?"

"I a… am w… well." Legolas would not look him in the eye

He did not see the amused glances that all the others in the chamber exchanged. They knew all too well what that meant.

Glorfindel moved towards the herb table and prepared the tea. Legolas took it without hesitation and with quiet thanks. This alone told them the Prince was still not feeling well.

"We need to get Legolas out of his bed tomorrow. Not walking just out of bed. I do not want the first time that he is moved to be that of moving to the carriage. I will also need to sedate you, Legolas."

"N… no." Legolas had his old stubborn stance, even partially lying in bed.

"It will be painful being in the carriage, I do not want to make you suffer more than you already do." Elrond could be just as stubborn if the situation called for it.

"N… need t… to see t… them." Legolas would not give up the fight.

"You can see them later after they have been caught." Neither was Elrond.

"N… no n… need to b… be w… with y… you." Legolas was tiring of this.

"Let him be awake. We can give him herbs for any pain, am I right?" Thranduil could understand the reason Legolas needed to see this through.

"Yes, but even so it could put his recovery back."

"U… understand, n… need to."

"This goes against my better judgment, but I will allow it, especially as I have already agreed to move you. But I want you to tell me when the pain gets too much." It was not a question, but a demand from Elrond.

"P… promise." Legolas looked exhausted.

"I will keep you to that, Penneth. Now you need to get some rest, you look as if you could sleep for a month." That earned him a light scowl from Legolas, but he did not argue when his father helped to settle him down.

"Erestor, please help me down to the kitchen's I need to speak with Calenli. Estel, Thranduil go and get some proper rest that also includes you Haldir. I want us all to be at our best when we begin this." Thranduil looked as if he would argue at this suggestion, no order, but a raise of Elrond's right eye brow trick the trick and left the King feeling as if he was an Elfling once again.

They left the room, Thranduil still muttering under his breath about over bearing Elven Lord's getting too big for their boots.

Legolas closed his eyes with a tired sigh, falling quickly to sleep his eyes once more closed in healing sleep. Elladan began a game of chess with Elrohir. Elladan sat down with a book. The room fell silent as they let Legolas sleep, hoping he would feel better when he woke once more.

The next day passed slowly as plans were built upon. The carriage was ready and full of plump, comfortable pillows and cushions. Calenli had been persuaded to prepare a nourishing easy to manage broth so that Legolas could eat it with no difficulties.

Legolas had two very minor fits during that time. But what had begun to worry Elrond was the growing intensity of the head aches that Legolas was enduring. He examined him but had found no reason for his fears.

At this time, the patrols had also been carrying out their own side of the agreement by every known and then dropping hints a little at a time. These were all picked up and carried back to the Elves in the cave. They also were making their own plans.

Finally the morning dawned and all the arrangements were in place. Elrond had made certain that every one was well rested and ready. Legolas with Estel and Thranduil's help had left his pallet for the first time since coming to Rivendell. It had taken them a while, as they had to be care full.

By the time they had the Elf sitting on the edge of the pallet he was deathly pale and had his eyes tightly squeezed shut.

"Take it slowly, Legolas, take deep breaths the dizziness and sickly feeling will disappear, you must remember you have been flat on your back mostly for the last few weeks." Elrond's voice was calm, ready to reassure both father and son.

He eventually made it to his feet, swaying slightly as the others watched him. After three minutes he was gently returned to the pallet and settled once more.

Tired blue eyes blinked the dizziness away as he lay there and for the first time since agreeing to accompany the others he was having doubts as to whether he should be doing this. Just standing had exhausted him beyond all comprehension. It was also then that Legolas realised his recovery would take some time and not be instant as he had expected, even with his Elven healing abilities.

"Rest, Penneth, we have a few more hours. Sleep until then." Elrond's voice was soft and full of empathy. It did not take Legolas long before he did just that.

He was woken just before dusk and was helped to have a light soup followed by some pain killing herbs that Elrond had had made ready.

Just after darkness began to fall they were all ready, each had his weapons sharpened and ready. Whatever happened they were determined to protect Legolas whatever it took. Thranduil and Glorfindel had been chosen to help Legolas and between the two of them they helped the Prince to stand once more.

They made it down to the waiting carriage, although they had to make quiet a few stops as the dizziness and sickness that still plagued Legolas became too much for him to cope with. But finally he was once more able to lie down. After being settled into place, Thranduil settled himself down beside his son.

The patrol's, made up of those who Erestor thought (and every body else agreed with) would be the best Elf for the job, had been sent out at the time that the patrols usually left so as not to arouse suspicion.

Estel and the twins hurried forward with the horses, ready and raring to go. All was ready apart from Haldir who had yet to make an appearance having disappeared shortly before Legolas had been helped from the room.

They all looked up as he made his way towards them. He carried something long and thin, wrapped in a sheet, without talking to any one he made his way to the carriage. Opening the door he leaned in. "Here you are, Legolas, I sharpened it for you as well."

To Thranduil's shock he pulled the sheet aside and handed Legolas one of his long thin white knives.

"He can't use that! He does not even have the strength to stand!" Thranduil's voice was incredulous but also held a hint of anger.

"I… in c… case, A… Ada." Legolas spoke and using his right arm placed the weapon on some cushions nearby to him. If he was doing this he would be armed. It did not feel right going into danger unarmed.

"Do I have a choice?" The anger turned to acceptance as Thranduil watched his son.

"N… no."

"I did not think so, Ion-nin." He should have expected this after all, Legolas would never let another fight in his stead if he could help it.

Then they were ready to go. Moving out they passed through the main gates and disappeared out into the forest. All were on alert. Elrond watched his patient closely, worried at just how pale and sick Legolas looked. Mithrandir hummed absently to him self. Thranduil was watching their surrounds closely, listening to the chatter of the trees.

They had been travelling an hour when Legolas asked for some of his tea. His features so pallid he would have made a ghost look well. Elrond leaned out of the carriage and asked Andechoriel to stop. He was the only warrior who knew how to drive a carriage having been taught by his own father.

Thranduil helped Legolas take his tea and once he felt as if he could carry on they did. Moving slowly they carried on, every one of them silent and on the alert.

The other Elves were ready and in place they had chosen a fork in the road to attack from. All they had to do was finish this and get back to their families. That was all that was keeping them going. Their families.

They were on alert and heard the horses as soon as they were near enough. All was ready.

The trees alerted Thranduil of the ambush up ahead and he related this news to the others. As they drew nearer the three in the carriage lifted their swords and staff and made them selves ready, the air was tense.

Then just as they reached the fork in the road it began. Arrows filled the air. Luckily they had been prepared for this and had small shields strapped to there sides. It took a second to raise them and use them for protection.

Seeing this the Elves jumped from their hiding places. Not one of them noticed the loud piercing whistle from behind the carriage, then Elladan and Elrohir rushed their horses on to join Estel, Haldir and Glorfindel.

They were already in combat with three of the assailants and they were all well matched. Estel parried a blow from one of the Elves, His arm shaking with the force, sweat beading his forehead.

Elladan took on another of the Elves, joined by Haldir, sword drawn and ready. The Elf in front of them was good but no match for the two who fought him. It was not long before the mistake happened and the Elf let his guard down. He did not live to regret the mistake.

They turned towards Elrohir and Estel to see if they needed help, all was well on the way to being under control there.

It was then that the scream of utter anger was heard from the carriage.

To be continued

Thank you once more to all my reviewers. You are all great.

Replies to reviews:

IcyPanther: Thank you for your kind words. I am glad you find it so realistic, I worked with patients with head injuries for years, so I do at least have a head start. I loved working with them too, so rewarding when they begin to recover. Deanol was just passing when he heard a noise. I see I never mentioned that. DOH!!!

Snow-Glory: A vulnerable Legolas is good isn't it? You will have to wait and see what happens, but we are on the start of a downward spiral. Thank you for lurking and reviewing.

Banana nut muffin: Wow, thank you for the complement. I have never heard of this author, is she good? Watch out for the edge of that seat, Mellon-nin, it can be dangerous!

LishaChan: Thank you, I am feeling better, thank goodness. Mum's a work of art, let me just say that!!! Yep, Legolas is on the move.

Thank you all once more and until next time, take care,

Love,

Shell

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