Reviewer responses for Chapter Seven:

Mornflower: Still speechless? Hmm...I guess I'm doing something right then! Thanks for reviewing again and I hope you like this chapter too!

Sielge: Thanks for reviewing, glad you are enjoying it!

Star Wars Forever: I think this fic will end once everyone is well again...(will they recover at all I wonder...DUH I can't tell you what happens...)

Rmc: Thanks for the congrats...I am excited about that job! Here is an update...sorry it isn't as fast as usual!!

October Sky: Thanks for reviewing...

Deana and Lyn: Combining your responses...too busy not to...thanks for reviewing and here is the update..

Kelsey: Thanks for the congrats. The paper is a daily in Hudson NY, the Register Star. Yeh, Orcs are rather dumb...I felt like playing on that...but I just couldn't pass up the trip up on Estel's part...LOL...the injuries...yeah I have a thing about doing that. Most of my characters would die if they were REALLY hurt that many times!! Here's the update...enjoy!


Chapter Eight: Continuing Struggle

The palace was quickly in an uproar upon the arrival of the search party. Legolas and Estel were immediately taken to the House of Healing, Thranduil refusing to move from his son's side even for a moment despite the healer's urging.

Since they had lapsed into unconsciousness, neither of the two had awakened, even when they were moved about and their injuries stitched and bandaged.

Celronen, though a warrior, was also adept at healing and also refused to leave the two alone. He insisted on being part of everything, stitching Estel's arrow wound and bandaging the man.

He cringed, seeing the fresh signs of torture on the young human. Glancing toward Legolas, he saw much the same on his Prince and frowned. He hated Orcs just as much as any other Elf, but to see the wounds on his dear Prince fueled that hatred even more.

"We should hunt them all down and kill them," he whispered fiercely as he finished working on Estel's wounds and gently felt the man's forehead. He frowned again. "He's very hot, running a high fever."

The head healer, Bardon, nodded from his position beside Legolas. "Yes, as is the Prince. I believe it is an effect of the poison." Sighing, the Elf pulled a light blanket over Legolas, than turned to the King. "I do not know what kind of poison this is, hir nin. It is nothing I have seen before and I have yet to be able to identify it."

"But you can treat it..." Thranduil said, leaving the end of his sentence hanging, hoping against hope that what he dreaded was not true.

Bardon hung his head. "No, hir nin, I can not. Unless I have either a sample of the toxin or the name of it and its makeup, I can not treat it. I suggest sending for Lord Elrond and also sending a party to search that cave Legolas muttered about. We might find the toxin and I could make an antidote."

Thranduil nodded, glancing toward the door. "Galinel!" Hearing the call of his liege, the guard hurried into the chamber, skidding to a halt in front of Thranduil.

"Yes, hir nin?"

"Take some warriors with you and find that cave where my son and his friend were held. Bring back anything that could possibly be a toxin. Without it, the Prince and Estel may die, so make haste."

Hearing the gravity of the situation in the King's tone, Galinel nodded and hurried from the room without so much as a backward glance.

Prying himself from his son's side, Thranduil looked to Celronen. "Send for me immediately if their conditions change in the slightest way, Cel. I have a message to send to Lord Elrond."

Bowing his head, Celronen nodded. "I will, Sire. They will live, both are strong."

Thranduil let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "I hope you are right, Celronen. I hope you are right."


"Ada? Have you any word from Legolas or Estel? They should have arrived in Mirkwood by now."

Elladan was perched atop a bookcase, one of Legolas' favorite seats, reading a thick, leather-bound book. Below him, lying haphazardly on a sofa couch was his twin. Elrohir, however, was lightly dozing.

Upon hearing his brother's question and the approach of his father, Elrohir's eyes refocused and he sat up. "It isn't like Legolas to not write upon arrival at his home," the twin said, rubbing his eyes a bit. "He knows we worry about him traveling through the forest alone. Though, he isn't really alone this time."

Elrond shook his head, sighing. "I have received no word from either the Prince or Estel. Perhaps they were delayed or perhaps the messenger was. I do not think it is time to worry just yet, give them a few more days."

Elladan and Elrohir nodded, but exchanged meaningful glances. Once out of their father's earshot they would discuss this matter among themselves. Neither believed for a minute that there was a natural or unproblematic reason for the delayed news.

Seeing Elrond take a seat in the library, Elladan leapt from the bookcase and landed lightly beside the couch his brother sat on. Placing the book back on the shelf in its proper position, he discreetly gestured for Elrohir to come with him.

Not missing the look, the younger twin followed, leaving their father alone in the library.

Hurrying down the corridors and then winding through trees, the twins were soon far from the home and far from even Elrond's hearing. Sliding to the ground with his back to a large oak tree, Elladan frowned.

"Surely you don't believe anyone was delayed, do you 'Ro?" he asked, reached down to pick up a stick and proceeding to break it into tiny little pieces.

"No, I do not," Elrohir answered, pacing a few feet away. "It really is unlike Legolas to leave us with no word. He knows how we worry about Orcs...as does Estel...they both know about Naneth."

He stopped speaking, seeing the shadow cross Elladan's features at the mention of their mother. Quickly, he knelt and looked into the older twin's eyes. "Not that I think they were captured by Orcs, there could be a perfectly logical explanation for the delay."

He had said it too quickly. "'Ro, you feel it also, I know you do," Elladan said quietly. "They are in trouble. I don't know how I know, I just do."

Elrohir sighed. "Yes, I feel it also. Should we voice our concerns to father though?"

Standing, Elladan walked a few feet away. It was a moment before he turned back to face his brother, but when he did, there was a new resolve in his eyes. "Yes, we should. And if he refuses to act on the feeling we will go to Mirkwood without his blessings. This feeling is just too familiar and too strong to ignore."

Nodding in agreement, Elrohir followed his twin back toward the house, each lost in thought, thinking of a way to break this to their father.

For his part, Elrond was not unaware of the foreboding in the air. Being the bearer of Vilya and an Elf of considerable foresight, he knew something was not quite right with Legolas and Estel.

When the door to the library flung back open and his sons entered with an air of determination, Elrond already knew what they would say. "Yes," he said. "You may journey to Mirkwood. And I...I will be accompanying you."

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged awestruck looks. Finally, Elrohir burst out laughing despite the gravity of the situation. "And to think, we spent the whole walk back thinking of ways to convince you to let us go, Ada!"

Elrond chuckled, waving the twins off and heading to the Halls of Healing to gather the medicinal herbs he knew he would need.


It was one of the hardest letters for a father to write to another father. Thranduil sighed heavily as he folded the note into an envelope and sealed it with the royal crest of Mirkwood.

Once it was handed off to a messenger, he returned to the House of Healing to stand vigil at his son's bedside. Neither Estel nor Legolas had stirred and it was disheartening to see them so still.

Celronen was bathing Legolas' head and neck with a cold cloth, occasionally looking toward Estel to see if the man's condition had changed. The Elf warrior looked exhausted.

"Cel, why don't you get some rest," Thranduil said, reaching down and laying a hand on Celronen's shoulder. "You look about ready to fall over. I will sit with them for a while."

The Elf looked ready to argue, but Thranduil could see the realization in his eyes. Celronen knew he was too tired to continue this. "Yes, hir nin. I will rest for a while. But..." he hesitated, debating his words. "But will you send for me if there is any change?"

Smiling, Thranduil nodded. "Of course, Cel. Though you are Legolas' elder and his teacher, you are also the older brother he never had. I wouldn't dream of keeping you in the dark if his condition changed."

A small grin crossed Celronen's face and he bowed to his liege, glanced at Legolas and Estel, then left to go find a place to rest.

Thranduil picked up the cloth Celronen had been using, dipped it into the cool water and began to bathe Legolas' chest. He cringed, seeing the jagged knife wounds. Why did I have to be so stubborn, I could have avoided all of this if I had only accepted Estel. Why couldn't I trust my own son's judgment?

He hung his head, tears threatening to fall. But something caught his eye and made him look up. Legolas had moved.

The Prince's hand had gone from lying on the bed to resting on Thranduil's leg. Joy filled the King's heart at the action and he smiled, leaning forward. "Ion nin? Can you hear me, Legolas?"

For a moment, there was no response, than he watched with delight as the Elf's eyes fluttered open. Bright blue, dulled by pain, peeked out at him from beneath hooded eyelids. "Ada?"

Legolas was confused. The last thing he remembered was seeing Estel lose consciousness atop Celronen's horse. "Estel!" he cried, trying to move.

Thranduil put a restraining hand on his son's chest, holding him in place. "Sidh, Legolas, Sidh. Estel is here, in a bed beside you. Do not move you will only tear your stitches." {Peace, Legolas, Peace}

"S'he all righ'?" Legolas mumbled; having difficulty putting together sentences as his senses failed him.

Thranduil nodded. "He is fine, ion nin. Rest now, you two have been through much."

But Legolas saw the turmoil in his father's eyes, despite his own pain and fatigue. "What aren't you saying?" he asked quietly, grimacing as pangs of fire ran through his stomach.

Hanging his head again, the King refused to make eye contact with Legolas. "You both have been poisoned. He has not stirred since the ride back when he lost consciousness. You seem to be doing better then he, Estel's body is not fighting the poison too well."

Legolas' eyes glistened. "He's dying?"

Thranduil nodded. "Yes, ion nin. I am so sorry."

Legolas' head fell to the side and he locked eyes on the pale, unmoving form of his best friend. "Estel?" he whispered; thinking his friend would hear him in his fevered state. "Please, wake up!"

Then the tears fell. Thranduil reached out and gripped his son's hand. "Shh...easy now. He is not dead yet. I have sent for Lord Elrond and have sent Galinel to try to find this toxin. All hope is not lost."

Legolas' tears suddenly stopped. He looked up at his father with hardened eyes. "Why didn't you accept him? And how could you let him go alone to find me?"

Thranduil jerked backward as if hit. He hadn't thought that Legolas would still be angry at him. "I...Legolas...you know my feelings on humans. And it was too dark to track you, but he would not be held back." Leaning forward he said quietly. "It pained me greatly to wait until morning to look for you, but I didn't want to risk going too far in the wrong direction."

But Legolas did not seem to hear his father's logical explanation. "He shouldn't have been alone. He wouldn't be lying there dying if he had been with Elves." Looking away, Legolas closed his eyes. "Please, leave me."

Feeling his heart seize in his chest, Thranduil nodded and stood, moving from the room, tears threatening to fall. He hates me, the King thought painfully.

Legolas let the tears fall again. It is all my fault, Estel. Why did I bring you here? I knew my father's stubborn feelings on humans. I just never thought it would lead to something like this. I am so sorry, mellon nin.

Legolas then fell into a light sleep, his eyes glazed over in the sleep of Elves. His body was successfully fighting the toxin it would seem.

Estel's was not.


A/N: ANOTHER twist! Hehe...I just had to. I figured it would be nice to have Thranduil really regret acting the way he did with Estel...now the chance of losing him...too good to pass up this chance! AND Legolas is angry at him! Poor King Thranduil!!! Please R/R!!! You guys are great!

-Gwenneth