Why were his eyes closed? They shouldn't be closed; at least he was almost positive they shouldn't be closed. His eyes only closed when he was exhausted or seriously injured and he didn't feel anything to clue him in to that. There was no pain or discomfort from any injuries but he still had yet to move so that could change everything. He heard someone shifting in a chair to his left and he struggled to open his eyes.
He expected to see Aragorn sitting by him but was surprised to see Elrohir…or Elladan. He was having a bit of trouble focusing and deciding which one it actually was. Legolas wondered why he was here, the last thing Legolas remembered was speaking to Aragorn. Where was Aragorn? Did Aragorn heal him? Legolas thought his wound was fatal. The healers said it was; he remembered his father crying before Aragorn arrived.
Legolas decided it was probably better to ask instead of guessing.
"El-Elrohir?"
The dark haired elf jerked around to look at his friend.
"Nay, my friend. It is Elladan; my brother is speaking with my father. How do you feel?"
"Thirsty," Legolas mumbled and tried to swallow.
Elladan filled a glass with water and helped Legolas sit up slightly to drink. Legolas curiously wondered why he didn't fell any pain. When Elladan eased him back down to the bed, Legolas pulled aside the blanket and ran his hand along the clean, white bandages. He thought it strange that he didn't feel any pain. He felt the warmth from the blankets and the coolness of the water but no pain.
"I thought it was deadly."
"Pardon?" Elladan asked and turned back to Legolas.
"The wound, it was deadly. I died a few minutes after Aragorn arrived," he muttered and tried to remember everything that happened.
"My father arrived just in time to heal you. You were lucky," Elladan said, hating having to lie to his friend.
Elladan understood the need to keep the truth from Legolas but he hated lying to his friend. He partially understood what Aragorn did; the act was mentioned in a few healing books but he never heard of it actually being used. His direction were simple, keep Legolas in bed no matter what. Yeah, like that would be easy. Legolas was more stubborn that most and everyone knew it. Maybe that was why Elrond gave him this job; everyone said that Elladan was stubborn. Legolas has finally met his match.
"Well, help me out of bed," Legolas said and pulled aside the blankets.
"I do not think so. You are under direct orders to stay in bed and not get out of bed. Those orders come from Elrond, your father, Elrohir, and myself," Elladan directed while he pointed at the archer.
"I am surprised Aragorn is not here to tell me to stay in bed."
"Aragorn was pulled away for Ranger business. He told me to tell you that if you dare try and get out of bed before you obtain permission then he will come back an severely maim you. You need to recover entirely before getting out of bed."
"I feel perfectly fine now. I have no soreness, no pain, and am perfectly capable of getting out of this bed."
Elladan's eyes narrowed as he glared at the Mirkwood elf. He tried the nice way, knew the simple threat wouldn't work, time to move onto 'Plan C.'
"Okay, but that means Aragorn will win the bet he and I had going," he said off handedly.
It served its purpose when Legolas stopped and looked at the Noldor elf. His curiosity was perked and nothing would sate it except an explanation.
"What bet?"
Elladan smiled to himself. 'Cast out the bait.'
"Aragorn and I placed a bet, just a small one. He bet that you would get out of bed before Ada's permission even if you were not fully healed. I said that you were an intelligent elf who knew when his body needed rest. I mean all warriors know how valuable their body is in top condition and I know you would not purposely put your body in harm's way. But Aragorn said that you are a stubborn, prideful elf that feels the need to prove yourself like a young elf about a hundred years old. Searching for everyone's approval. Are you going to prove him correct?"
Legolas' jaw clenched and a glint in the corner of his eyes confirmed it for Elladan. He had the Mirkwood elf.
'Hook, line, and sinker.'
His words had gone straight to the fellow elf's pride as a warrior and pride as an elf. It was probably bad for him to enjoy tricking Legolas this way but it was so much fun. He could well imagine seeing the smoke pour out of Legolas' ears at his explanation. The Mirkwood elf sat back against the pillows and glared at Elladan.
"That human was intelligent to keep his distance from me. Just wait till I get my hands on him," Legolas growled as the door to the other healing rooms opened.
Elrond stepped through the door and looked quickly from Legolas to Elladan. He had not idea what Legolas knew or remembered from before and didn't know what Elladan may have told him.
"Ada! Legolas and I were just talking about the bet Aragorn and I have going on. You know, I win if Legolas stays in bed till you give him permission and Aragorn wins if Legolas gets out of bed before," Elladan supplied and saw the realization in his father's eyes.
"Yes, I remember. Who is predicted to win?" Elrond questioned as he walked to Legolas' bedside.
"I believe I am," Elladan said and stood from his chair. "When is Estel to be back from his Ranger duties?"
"Ranger duties? Oh…a few days only. It was not an emergency."
Legolas looked between the two in confusion. They were acting very strangely, stranger than normal actually. Elladan quickly left the room just as Thranduil walked in to see his son.
"How are you feeling Legolas?" Thranduil asked and squeezed his son's hand.
"I feel perfectly health. I am energetic and feel strong. I am not sore or achy," he answered honestly as Elrond pushed aside the blanket covering the younger elf's side and abdomen.
"And the wound?"
"I do not feel it at all," Legolas answered as the elf lord nodded.
Elrond expected an answer like that. Aragorn was still pulling all the discomfort and pain to himself. Elrond didn't know how long his human son could keep this bond functioning. Someone trained could devote half of their strength, warmth, and health to a patient. Aragorn had devoted all except a small portion needed to keep himself alive. If the bond became too burdensome for Aragorn then his subconscious would break the bond. Legolas seemed to be healing quickly and Elrond guessed that the bond may fade sometime during the next day. Hopefully, they could keep Legolas in bed till then. The story that Elladan has apparently made up was working as far as Elrond could tell. He would have to talk with his eldest son and discover the small like he had told the Mirkwood archer.
"Your wound is healing quickly. I predict that you may be allowed out of bed some time tomorrow. But not until I give you direct permission," Elrond said pointedly as he rewrapped the wound.
"I understand Lord Elrond."
Elrond left the room to leave Thranduil and his son alone. Thranduil sat on the edge of his son's bed and looked over his son's face. He had come so close to almost losing his only son that he found it almost overwhelming to be sitting next to his son.
"What is wrong, Ada?" Legolas asked, seeing the slight frown upon his father's face.
"Nothing ion nin. I was thinking of how close I came to losing you. I did lose you for a moment. I believe my heart ceased beating at that precise moment," Thranduil murmured and gently brushed away a stray strand of Legolas' hair.
"I am well now, ada. You should not fear for me. When it is my time to go, I will fight it but some battles are not meant to be fought."
"When did you become so wise, my little greenleaf?" Thranduil asked with a smile.
"I always have bee, just did not wan to show you up."
Thranduil cuffed his son over his head as the young up-start laughed. The king knew that his son would become a great king or lord someday. He was fair and just as well as a fierce and thinking warrior. A warrior that was also a thinker was far more dangerous than a plain warrior. Brain will always win over brawn. The best warriors used everything around themselves in a battle and continually thinking to outsmart their opponent. On the battle field, Legolas was one of the most deadly warriors and was one of the most respected. Several people commented that Thranduil and Legolas were almost exact copies of each other at some instances. They both had the same deadly glare that seemed synonymous with a royal family.
"Legolas, I hate to ask you, but what do you remember from the ambush?"
Legolas looked past his father and stared at the wall. He pieced together the scenes that he knew occurred and pulled the majority from his memory.
"I was riding with a group of six other warriors when we were ambushed. The orcs numbered about twenty-seven or eight at my first estimate. Immediately encountering us they seemed to flood towards me and center their attacks towards me. Upon realizing this, the warriors formed a barrier around me and fought with their blades while I used my bow. The orcs broke through the barrier and separated all of us. I was almost over-run by orcs while I fought. They became too many for me and one wounded me. Once falling, the orcs retreated and the few warriors left brought me back to the palace. I assume that is what happened after I fell; during the ride back I was unconscious," Legolas recalled and mourned the loss of the warriors that fell protecting him.
"I sent out three patrols to track the orcs and eradicate them. They will wait and take surveillance before doing anything. I was informed that one of the warriors believed that it was an assassination attempt. What are you views on this?"
Thranduil valued his son's opinion on matters, especially if his son was in the middle of it. Legolas thought for a moment and replayed the incident in its entirety to evaluate every angle.
"It acted like one but I have no solid proof. The orcs did seem to know who I was and was very intent to reach me. I would lean more towards yes, it was an assassination attempt."
The kind nodded in agreement and glanced out the window. He pondered over it all for a moment before standing up.
"Someone will be in soon with your evening meal. I will come by to see you before you go to sleep tonight. Rest, my son."
Thranduil kissed the top of his son's head and left the room. He needed to speak with his advisors and get their input on the matter. Legolas laid back and gazed around the room before seeing a discarded book. Grabbing it, he started reading to pass the time.
The orcs shifted restlessly as the dark elf glared at the group of orcs. The elf was radiating fury and it was directed towards the orcs. The elf's hair was black as night and his scowl was just as dark and bleak. His pale skin contrasted sharply to his dark hair and clothing. The dark eyes glinted dangerously as he slowly stalked towards the orcs.
"Do you want to run that by me again?"
"We stabbed the elf prince."
"Did you see him die?"
"Well, no, but it was a bad one. The wound, I mean."
The dark elf, Bretharso, back handed the orc and snarled at the others.
"Idiots! You should have stayed! The prince survived! I should have known to not send mindless orcs to do a simple job that a human child could succeed in doing."
Bretharso passed a hand over his face and growled angrily. Nothing was going the way he had planned. The elf prince was still alive from the reports he had gotten. That whelp of a human had somehow saved the prince from death. What now?
The plan had simply been to kill the elf prince while he was out with the patrols but the stupid orcs couldn't even do that simple task. Oh yes, they had succeeded in injuring the elfling but it wasn't close to the death that Bretharso wanted. Every time he looked at the prince or his father, a consuming rage ate at Bretharso that only blood could sate.
"What do you want us to do?"
"Nothing. I shall deal with it and finish it."
Night had fallen on Mirkwood and everyone was asleep. Aragorn shifted in the bed and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze wandered tiredly over the ceiling as he tried to remember where he was. Everything was blurry, his vision and memory. He slowly lifted his hand and slowly focused on it. His arm felt like it weighed an unbelievable amount but he could move it and see it. Weakly turning his head, he looked out the window to the bright moon before turning to stare at the ceiling again. Why was he in a healing room at Mirkwood? Did Legolas and he get into more trouble like they were known to do? Wait…something to do with Legolas. Did the elf get himself into trouble again? Probably, but he would find out later when he wasn't so exhausted.
In his exhausted state, he didn't see the dark shadow sneak by his window. The shadow leaped the gap between balconies and landed silently on the next door one. Hearing no movement from inside, the figure silently opened the glass doors and let himself into the room. Pausing by the door, he removed the ornate dagger from its sheath and walked silently towards the sleeping elf on the bed. He could take his revenge finally and be free.
Holding the dagger in both hands, he lifted his arms and readied to plunge the dagger into the prince's chest. Just as his arms descended the door across from his exploded open and a dark blur raced towards the bed. Aragorn launched himself over Legolas' bed and slammed into the assassin. He didn't know how he knew that Legolas was in trouble but he had sensed it. A sudden sense of foreboding had washed over him and knew that it was attached somehow to Legolas. Not caring about his weakened state, Aragorn had leapt out of bed and sprinted towards the healing room that was projecting the foreboding aura. His adrenaline gave him strength as Legolas' attacker and he tumbled to the ground in heap of tangled arms and legs.
Legolas jerked awake and looked quickly to the two figures struggling on the floor. He didn't' know who the two figures were or how they got into his room and at the moment he really wasn't caring. Seeing none of his weapons nearby, he made a quick decision.
"Warriors!" he yelled and pushed back the blankets.
The assassin untangled himself from Aragorn's arms and sprinted towards the glass balcony doors, shattering them as he leapt through the doors and onto the balcony. Aragorn went after him just as the doors leading to the hallway burst open. Legolas gasped in shock upon recognizing Aragorn as he raced after the assassin and onto the balcony. Barreling into the assassin, Aragorn's momentum sent both of them over the banister and out of sight.
"Go after them!" Thranduil yelled as several warriors raced onto the balcony and over the banister after the assassin and human.
Elladan and Elrohir followed but to go after their little brother. They found him sprawled on the grass under the balcony looking slightly dazed with no sight of the assassin.
"Estel! Estel, are you well?" Elrohir asked worriedly as he fell to his knees beside the human.
"I…believe…so," he wheezed, trying to fill his lungs with air.
"Estel, you are one lucky human," Elladan joked weakly and helped his little brother sit up.
"I do not…feel lucky as of…right now."
The twins rolled their eyes and started to help their little brother back into the palace and to the healing rooms.
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Well??????? Please review for me and tell me what you think so far about the story. I just love to read everyone's thoughts and opinions on it. I know the story seems to be moving quickly and I am trying to slow it down but it just does not want to slow. Geez, this story has a mind of its own, I swear it does.
Deana- I hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as the other ones and I will continue to work on this one as well as 'Order of Glaurung.'
Riva van Dyk- Thank you so very much. Aragorn has a very small bit of elvish blood coursing through his veins. He is a very distant relative of Elrond and is a descendant from Elros, Elrond's brother's, blood line. So he has a bit of elvish blood in him. Please do not feel like a retard, it does not matter how many times you read a book. It does not mean a thing unless you see more than just words printed on a page.
Gwyn- I will go more into the transfer bond thing in the next chapter or the one after. I just do not know when I will have Aragorn and Elrond have the talk as of yet. I am working on it, so have no fear. I am trying to slow the pace, really I am.
Roz- Well, I updated 'Order of Glaurung' a few days ago and I am working on it so hopefully you will not have to wait for long for the next chapter.
Got-lotr- Oh, please do not cry *offers a box of extra strength tissues*. I am just an average writer *blushes*. I am not great, just love to write and write what goes through my mind. Enjoy the new chapter.
Tychen- I have never actually seen Oliver Twist but I do know the line. I hope this chapter sates your craving. This chapter ended so-so; no evil cliff-hangers. I thought it ended nicely. A good action sequence in this chapter, but no injuries to our beloved characters.
Arcana- Well, thank you very much for the compliment. I hope you read Chapter 13 to Order or Glaurung. I am working on the story as much as I physically can with school and everything. I am taking it all the way to the end and not giving up on it; it will just take me a little longer than normal to post chapters.
Lady-Eleniell- Mae govannen, mellonin. Hannon lle for the compliment and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Jadesaber- Thank you very much for the compliment. This is a friendship story. Slash does not bother me in the least, I just do not write it.
XxgemxX- Your penname still cracks me up. I just love it. Okay, I am over that. I am so glad that you enjoy this story so much, I try very hard to make it likeable.
Fallenhope- I thank you very much for the compliment.
NaughtyNat- I am pleased that you are enjoying the story so much. It takes a great deal to actually get me angry and most of my friends are not gutsy enough to try and actually get me really angry. Everyone says that it is a sight to behold when I get slightly mad, so if I get pissed off it must be like a huge firecracker show or something. They all say that I send people running for their lives because I give the ultimate 'look.'
Leggylover03- Here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it.
Ringmarciel- The two stories are pulling me in both directions. I have to keep the two plot bunnies separated or they start to mingle and breed and it is just terrible. Legolas with orange hair *stops to think before shuddering* I still see a blond. I can not see him as a brunette.
MelanyeBaggins- That is a good question.
Fire Eagle- A person can do amazing things when it concerns someone he/she loves. They can go a bit farther, last longer, pull harder and all that fun stuff. The emotion took over and unleashed the 'power' (if you wish to call it that). Going with the Thranduil thing: I was picturing the king dealing with it before Aragorn got there and then would mourn in private. He knows the special bond that the two had and knew that it would be hard on Aragorn; he almost puts Aragorn's well-being before his own and comforts Aragorn before turning to himself. That is how I saw it but that is me and my twisted little mind.
Red Tigress- Thank you very much for the compliment. I like to think of myself as an average writer; nothing spectacular, nothing terrible, just in the middle.
Bill the Pony2- LOL, oh I have to say that I love you Bill the Pony2. Your constant support for my stories is always a rainbow on a cloudy day. I am humbled by your compliment and hope to continue to please your movie watching brain.
Legalady- Yes, I am continuing to work on 'Order of Glaurung' and I hope that you have read the most recent chapter, Chapter 13. I am working on both of these stories with time permitting. It just may take me a little bit more time that usual but nothing drastic.
Roccovende- Now I have two problematic plot bunnies. Poppy is telling the new ones all the wrong things to do, like go out with the twins on a drinking binge, hiding when I want to write, you know, all the bad things. Terrible plot bunnies. *turning to see Poppy give Twitch a bottle of vodka* Poppy! NO! No vodka for Twitch, he is underage!
Snow-Glory- Thank you very much for the compliment.
Kikyo- NO! You did not offend me in the least! Please do not think that. I love you! I really do! I have a friend that is putting up her own fanfiction site and she wants to post my stories and if she does then I will embellish the 'flash' thing before I give it to her. I always take my reviewers suggestions to heart.
Aranel of Mirkwood- I just can not see Legolas as having brown hair but that is me. Thank you so much for the compliment.
Chris- Thank you for the encouragement. I will work hard on the next chapter and hope to have it posted soon.
Grumpy- 'Order of Glaurung' has been updated to Chapter 13 so go and check it out if you have not yet. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others.
Keyla- Thank you very much and here is the next chapter.
Cosmic Castaway- *blushing* Oh, you are making my head and ego grow. Thank you for the compliment.
Andunea the Shapeshifter- Writer blocks are evil! Very, very evil and I hate them with a passion. I have been writing since I was…uh…hold on I have to get a calculator…364 divided by 24…3850 multiplied by 20…subtract pie (3.17)…about twelve years I believe. A rough estimate. I love to read so my vocabulary really expanded from that and my studies and I have a very active imagination. No, I have another reason for the orcs trying to kill Legolas and hopefully it is kind of explained in this chapter.
Galadriel evenstar- Thank you so much for the compliment.