Chapter Title: Chapter Twelve - Revenge 12/15
For disclaimer, summary, etc: please refer to chapter one.

A/N:

::Promptly falls upon computer desk and dies:: Sorry for taking so long to update! I'm in the process of moving ... and I swear that blasted couch weighs a ton! Ah well ... I did take extra measures (Aka - "Dad, really, if you don't get me the long phonecord for my computer, I will have to do you bodily harm ...") to make sure I got online tonight! And on the random side - my new room is upstairs! Wow. I've never had an upstairs bedroom. (Besides at Rhonda's house but anyway ... ::eg as I shall take over that room::)

Okay so ... enjoy the chapter ... where we see someone getting revenge ...

The ride was hard, although the horses tried to make it as smooth as possible. It was as if they sensed their rider's pain and thoughts, which could have very well been possible.

Elrond grimaced. The pain and blood loss made his vision sway, but he held tight to his burden. Estel's breath gradually grew more shallow with each passing moment, worrying the elf lord greatly.

Elrond looked around, growing even more worried as he did so. Everyone except Erestor was in some state of injury, clinging to their rides. There was much healing to be done this night.

A long hour passed and finally they could see the lights of Rivendell. There was more than one smile of relief as they passed through the gates and into the courtyard.

Erestor quickly jumped down before his horse had even stopped, causing the animal to glare at him. The elf, however, ignored it and continued over to Elrond's side, taking Estel gently in his arms so Elrond could climb down.

"You all," Elrond said to everyone else. "Report to Linden in the healing rooms. I will tend to Estel in his own room. Have two apprentices come up to help me."

"But ada," Elladan began. "You are on the verge of collapsing yourself!"

"Do not argue with me, my son! Now is not the time. I am the only one fully capable of healing Estel!" Then, more softly, he added, "I will be fine."

With a nod to Glorfindel, Elrond motioned for Erestor to follow him up to Estel's room. He figured the boy would be more comfortable in familiar surroundings.

"Place him on the bed." Elrond opened the door and pulled the blankets back. "Have my supplies and water send to me, quickly. Tell one of the apprentices to build a large fire. And at all costs," he paused for breath, "keep Legolas, the twins, and Glorfindel out. They seem to worry too much."

"I wonder where they acquired that trait from ..." Erestor muttered sarcastically as he walked from the room.

Elrond looked down at Estel, brushing a lock of hair from the boy's face. "Just hold on, my little Hope. A little while longer."

Nobody was there to notice the tear that slipped from Elrond's eye and fall silently onto the bed.
Legolas, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, silently walked into the healing room behind Glorfindel.

"You know, Glorfindel, I really am fine. I should just go up to my quarters and rest for a while ..."

"Move from that spot Greenleaf and when you wake up in the morn you shall look like an eight year old girl." Glorfindel paused. "And you may be missing some vital parts of your anatomy as well."

Legolas gulped and wisely decided to endure whatever may come his way in the healing room. After all ... it couldn't be that bad ...

A few tense moments later, Linden entered the room. Legolas blanched. Two bruises were quite visible and ... colorful ... both across the healer's forehead.

Legolas heard one of the twins cough to cover up what suspiciously sounded like a snicker. He would have to kill them later.

Linden turned, noticing Legolas in the room for the first time. His normally olive colored skin turned an interesting shade of red, as his fists clenched by his sides. Then ... he broke into the most awful, evil grin.

Legolas felt that this did not bode well for him. Not well at all.

"Lord Glorfindel," Linden said, not looking away from Legolas. "I will tend to you first, as your wound is the most grievous. One of the apprentices will heal Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas ... I shall attend to you personally, next."

Legolas had thought it impossible, but it seemed that Linden's smile had grown even bigger. He winced.

Linden gently led Glorfindel away as the blond elf turned and gave Legolas the most sympathetic look he could muster. Legolas glared back, wishing he could disappear.

Watching from across the room, Legolas' mind provided many different ways to "innocently" torture some poor defenseless elf (such as himself). Linden continually shot the Mirkwood elf nasty glares as he cleaned and sewed Glorfindel's shoulder. Just as Legolas had come up with death by "accidental" decapitation with a sewing needle, Linden finished up and walked into his direct line of vision.

"Now, now, Greenleaf. Let's see how much damage you've done to your wound, shall we?" Linden began tugging Legolas' tunic off and stripping him of the bandages. Legolas chose to remain silent throughout the ordeal.

"Tsk, tsk. It seems you've ripped two of my lovely stitches out! I will have to re-stitch them and give you some ... tea ... for the pain."

Legolas really didn't like the sound of this "tea".

"You know, Master Linden, I feel no pain at all! Really! There is no need for tea of any kind!" Legolas smiled sweetly, trying to look innocent.

It didn't work.

"No, no, no, Prince Legolas." Linden stressed the word 'prince', "You shall have the best of care from me. There is no way I could let you remain in pain ... suffering ... and have a clear conscience."

Legolas inwardly sighed and wondered what body part he was going to end up losing. Linden, he reflected later, seemed to gloat far too much over this.

An agony of minutes later, Linden was finished. Legolas thought that he was in more pain now than when he walked in. The thought of strangling Linden crossed his mind, but he banished it as quickly as it came. If there was one thing the had learned in his years on this earth, it was never to anger a healer. Then again, Legolas thought, Linden was already angry at him. Still ... best to not make it worse.

"Now then, you sit here while I go get the tea." Legolas could have sworn he heard Linden cackle. But no ... couldn't be ...

Linden returned bearing a mug of what looked to be slimy mud. Legolas figured it wouldn't taste any better than it looked.

"Drink up!" Linden grinned, and this time he didn't even try to hide it.

'Cheeky elf.' Legolas glared, sipping the tea. 'Ugh!' He grimaced. Not only did it feel like drinking cold, gloopy slime, it tasted like unwashed feet. Dwarven feet. Even young Estel's feet never smelled - or tasted, he hoped - this bad.

"That won't do, Legolas. You must drink it all."

'I hate you, I really do.' Legolas thought. He ignored the urge to gag - as well as ignoring the gleeful expression on Linden's face - and managed to down the whole cup. Almost at once everything felt ... heavy. Not sleepy, or drowsy, just ... heavy. There was no other word Legolas could find to describe the odd feeling. He tried to speak and found that his tongue felt like a slab of fat in his mouth. His words mysteriously turned to gibberish.

"Ugh nuff buh huuf!" Legolas glared. Well ... at least he wasn't feeling any pain ...

"Wonderful!" Linden cried, patting Legolas on the shoulder. "You're all done. I want you to actually REST now. And don't worry," Linden snickered, "the effects of the tea will wear off shortly."

"Ugh Mffkater." Legolas felt like bashing his head against something.

"You're quite welcome, young prince." Linden obviously mistook the muttered curse for a thank you. Oh well.

"Now, rest. I'm going to go see what help I can offer Lord Elrond." Linden said, rushing out the door.

Legolas felt as if he had been doused with freezing water. Estel! How could he have even not thought of him for more than a moment?! Looking around, he noticed that the twins and Glorfindel had already left. Curses! Estel could be dead and he was just sitting there!

Snatching up his tunic, Legolas raced for the door. He hoped that he made it to Estel's room in time ... in case anything happened. Legolas would never be able to forgive himself if his fears came to be reality.

Reviews -

Night-Owl123 - Okies then!
Mornflower - Hahahahahaha, okay so no pompoms then. ;) 'One of the best'? Wow, thanks! :)
Helluin-trip - LOL yeah. Thanks for reviewing! :)
Elwen the Insane Elf - LMAO. Fall from his horse? Okay so not in this one but ... I do have others planned ... ::eg:: HEY! Wait, I need him! At least for the last few chapters! Hahahaha! And ... not much is in the last chapters ... just ... lots of angst ... death ... er wait did I say death? Okay, kinda sorta death. ::g::
galadriel evenstar - LMAO! And ... ::stares at Legolas and his bow:: ack! ::hurries to update again:: Evil elf and readers!! ;)
Deana - Well if Legolas wasn't feeling 'icky' before he sure as heck is now. Hehehehehehehe!
elvingirl3737 - LOL yes he is alive but for how long?? ::g:: Glad you like it so much!!! Thanks! :D
Beling2 - You're darn right! I love Elrond! :) And YES how I wish I could get Elrond to serve me some ... tea ... yeah, tea. ::eg::
Catmint - LOL thanks bunches! 'Tying'? Hmmm there's one my spellchecker didn't zap! Thanks! :)
Zammy - Sure! :)
leggylover03 - LMAO yes! Elrond ripping his shirt off, ::ahem:: indeed. Ewww ... I do not think I wish to share the hammock. Really. He can keep it. I do not wish to be in the vicinity of the hammock ... anywhere NEAR hammock ... or think of the hammock or the triangle or the buzz ... I hate you, really ... :P ::whacks:: :D ::Runs off with elf and ranger and the wizard who went wheee splash::
Hiei-Rulez - LMAO in your closet? ::Sighs:: Since I've moved today, I have no closet! Oh well ... I have a cupboard under the stairs ... er ... wait no, that'd run the risk of having the elf shipped off to some wizard school, don't think I shall do that ... LOL. And LMAO! Yes, Aragorn falling off the cliff is rather ... exciting, is it not? ::eg::

TBC ...

Reviews = welcome. :)