Reviewer responses for Chapter Nine:

Mornflower: Easy, mellon nin! I won't kill poor Estel...you can remove said thumb from your mouth...as for calling me evil...go right ahead...I can be evil! And yep, I saw it was in Spanish...scratches head in confusion I took Spanish in 10th grade...LONG time ago...I speak FRENCH...

InsanePirate624: UBER fan! When I first read that review, you actually made my day with that! I was soooo excited. I am glad you decided to read more of my work, it makes writing it so much better knowing I have fans! Enjoy this, it is probably the longest of my chapters so far.

Sielge: So much for a week...I think this is updating before then. Glad you liked.

Star Wars Forever: Thanks for the review...enter Elrond stage left It would APPEAR your hope came true...I think...and as for Estel...I won't kill him...

Marbienl: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You have given me my toxin! Read ON!!!! Thanks for the review! grins excitedly now that I have a toxin

Pippin: Glad you liked the comedy you read...I do write them from time to time. I think my total is three now. I guess I do the switching from torture/angst to comedy because I write by imagining the situation on a tv screen. I can even write comedy WITHIN a torture angst story...my I'm weird. (It helps to be a writer for a living too...I'm just used to expressing emotions through writing.) THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENTS!! AND do write fanfics! If you have ideas, give'em a try.

Kelsey: Glad you liked...keep reading and you will see what happens! And a quick response to my High Winds story...it was hurricane-force winds...not a hurricane...That's why I named it "High Winds in Rivendell" not "Hurricane in Rivendell" grins I knew I couldn't do a hurricane without an ocean! I just used the hurricane as an inspiration...glad it was funny!

Gozilla: Chose to ignore the hand prob and update. You're not cruel...just anxious to hear more!

Padfoot's Pup: You probably won't read this for a while..until you catch up with chapters...but thanks for reading!


Chapter Ten: Identity of the poison

Thranduil sat quietly beside Estel's bed, keeping a sharp eye out for any change in the man's condition. So far, he had sat there for a good four hours and the human had not so much as twitched.

Sighing and shifting in his chair, he glanced to Legolas for a moment. Somehow, the Elf was recovering, even without an antidote. This pleased the King, but he was quite fearful for Estel and afraid of how Elrond would react to the circumstances that led to Estel's condition.

He was broken from his reveries by a soft groan from the bed in front of him. Swinging around, hair flying, Thranduil refocused his attention on the man. Estel was twisting a little, trying to wake.

His eyes fluttered open and tried to focus on the Elf at his side.

"Legolas?" Came the soft, raspy voice. "Is that you?"

Chuckling lightly, Thranduil shook his head. "No, Estel. Legolas is sleeping not far from you."

For a moment, Estel didn't speak. "King Thranduil?"

Frowning at the hesitation in the man's voice, the Elf nodded. "Yes." He decided to end this here and now. "Before you say anything Estel, I need to apologize for the way I treated you. I know we came to an understanding just before you set off to save Legolas, but that was more of a compromise because I wanted my son back."

The king sighed deeply before going on. "I let my dislike of humans from the Last Alliance all those years ago affect my judgment of you and for that I am truly sorry. I am also sorry that I did not send warriors with you to fetch my son. But most of all, I am sorry for the condition you are in now, knowing it is my own fault."

Estel was silent. He was tired, bone tired, but he knew that Thranduil was being sincere and he knew that he had to acknowledge the apology. "I...I am glad you have realized this, hir nin. And...I do accept your apologies, for all those things. And I remind you that Legolas is at least partially to blame here...for being rash."

Thranduil nodded, hanging his head. "So you say, though I do not know if he knows that. For the way he has spoken to me, it would seem he blames me for this, even if he claims he does not."

The man frowned. "I know him well, Sire. Legolas blames himself...there is no doubt there, but he is still angry at you. It took him a while to trust me, but now we are the best of friends and though he said he was ready to face you with this, I do not think he was."

Estel was getting tired and his head was starting to swim. Blinking, he tried to remain conscious. Seeing the man's difficulty, Thranduil leaned forward. "Estel? Please, try to stay with me!"

But Estel could not.


Legolas was shaken from his sleep by his father's rather desperate voice. He had not heard what the Elf was saying, but he saw him leaning over Estel's bed and his heart leapt into his throat.

"Estel? Adar!"

Thranduil turned quickly, worry in his eyes. Then he realized what Legolas must have woken to. "No, no, ion nin. Estel just lost consciousness, he is still with us. Fear not...for the moment he seems to be a bit more stable."

Legolas sank back down into the bed and swallowed the lump in his throat. He could see his father wished to talk, but he wasn't sure he was able. Estel was right, I was not ready for this. If he asks me to defend this friendship with Estel, what would I tell him?

Legolas knew he owed his life to Estel...a couple times over. But what had prompted him to begin the relationship in the first place. That is something he was certain his father would want to know.

And he didn't know how to answer it.

The king came over, resting a hand on his son's head. The skin was the normal temperature and not clammy. Reaching for a bandage, he pulled it up and smiled lightly, seeing the wound was well on its way to healing.

"I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to sit beside Estel, Legolas. You are healing well."

Smiling in agreement, Legolas began to haul himself up. He found he was dizzy and his limbs lethargic, like he had been paralyzed and had forgotten how to use his legs. Thranduil steadied him and guided him to the chair.

"Thank you, Ada."

Nodding, the King pulled up another chair across from Legolas, on the other side of Estel's bed, and settled into it. He stared off into space, not speaking, nor looking at his son.

Legolas, after a time like this, shifted and grunted. Why wasn't his father speaking? Surely he had a reason for sitting here.

"Ada? Is there anything you want to talk about? I mean, you don't have to sit here, I'm certain there are pressing matters of court to attend to or...something."

Thranduil frowned and shook his head. "I wouldn't think to leave this chamber with your best friend in this condition, Legolas."

He ventured no future information and asked no questions. Legolas was momentarily taken aback. His father's voice had held no disgust or distaste when he spoke of Estel. This is new, the Prince thought. He seems to be treating Estel just as he would any other of my friends, my Elven friends.

Eyes narrowing, Legolas spoke again. "You aren't pretending to like him, are you? To get back on my good side."

Thranduil chuckled, "No Legolas. Would I do that? Do you think me dishonest? I have harbored distaste of the human race for longer then you have graced this world, ion nin. Surely it would take me some time before I accepted one readily into my home as the best friend of my only child. But, perhaps you did not think on that, and I wouldn't fault you for it...after all, you are my son and I should have trusted your judgment."

Legolas pondered these words for a moment. Perhaps he was being a little ridiculous. His father had all the reason in the world to dislike men. And he, Legolas, had thrust one into his life suddenly, and without warning, and expected the King to just accept him. Just like that. I've been stupid.

And suddenly, his grief and blame came crashing down on him and he shook lightly, bowing his head. Thranduil saw a change in the blue depths of his son's eyes and he moved over to stand in front of the young Elf.

"What is it, ion nin?"

Legolas looked up. "I have been so wrong and so brash, Adar. I should never have run like that, it was childish and foolish. And it got my best friend and I nearly killed." He paused, looking to Estel. "He could still die, Ada, and it would be all my fault."

Thranduil shook his head. "He told me you would blame yourself...and I thought you only blamed me." Smiling, Thranduil nodded. "Yes, he woke while you were sleeping. For a time. We spoke a bit, though he was too fatigued for much."

Gripping his son's shoulders, Thranduil spoke quietly and strongly. "Legolas, we are both to blame in this, I believe. Myself, for being judgmental, untrusting and just plain rude; you for being brash and unrelenting. I guess one could say, like father like son, for we are both rather stubborn in our convictions."

Legolas let a small smile grace his features. "We have been rather stupid, haven't we?"

"Yes...I suppose we have."

Sighing, Legolas tentatively reached forward and drew his father into an embrace. "Thank you, Ada. For putting up with me. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, and I am sorry I took so long to apologize and accept apologies."

Pulling away, Thranduil stroked his son's hair back from his face. "Everything is all right now, Legolas. We must, however, remain strong and vigilant...for Estel."

Both blonde Elves looked back toward Estel, watching the rise and fall of his chest. They knew they had reconciled, but things would not be completed healed until Estel was well again.


"Are we there yet?" Elrohir grumbled, glaring at the trees around him as if that would make them turn into the palace gates the three Elves sought.

Sighing in exasperation for the hundredth time that day, Elrond shook his head. "We will be there when we see the gates, Elrohir. So please stop asking me if we are there yet, you have eyes as good, if not a little better, then mine."

Elladan laughed suddenly. "Sheesh, Ro. You sound like an Elfling."

His brother swatted his arm with a light grin and Elrond smiled. If it lightens the mood a bit, I will listen to Elrohir whine all day, the Elf Lord thought.

But he too was eagerly awaiting the gates to the palace of Mirkwood, though he feared what he would find behind them. Any time now he knew they should meet with border guards and he actually found himself scanning the trees for them.

Not that I would see them. Mirkwood Elves know how to conceal themselves in these blasted trees far better then most, he thought wryly. Returning his attention to his sons, he spoke quietly.

"When the border guards stop us, allow me to do all the talking. You must remember that most Mirkwood Elves do not abide humans and since Estel is human, it could create a problem."

Elladan and Elrohir nodded. "Ada? How do we know that Estel is at the palace? I mean, if the Elves of Mirkwood dislike his race so deeply, would Thranduil let him in here?"

Elrond sighed. "I had a vision earlier, El. I saw Estel in a chamber, in a bed, with Legolas sitting beside him. It was the palace...I have seen those chambers in the past."

"A vision? Why didn't you tell us!" Elladan moved closer. "What did you see? Is Estel going to be all right?"

Sighing, Elrond put up his hand. "The vision did not tell me anything more then Estel is with Legolas and he is sick. And...of course...where they are."

But the twins didn't quite believe their father. "There is more to it and you just don't want to tell us."

"Perhaps I do not, but please understand I do not dispense all the information in the visions I have because, like your daernaneth's mirror, this is not the sure future."

Understanding from the tone of their father's voice just how serious he was, neither twin pushed the topic any further. But the lack of knowledge, it would seem, was just as bad as knowing what the vision held.

Sighing yet again, Elrond nudged his horse forward, circling around a thorn bush, not looking where he was going. To his surprise, they heard a light rustling and then an even lighter thud.

"Daro! Who seeks entrance to the realm of King Thranduil?"

A lithe, dark-haired Elf stood in front of them, bow notched and aimed directly at Lord Elrond. But upon seeing the manner of dress of the newcomers, the bow wavered. Eyes narrowing, the Elf continued.

"You are not of Lorien, nor of Mirkwood. Therefore you must be Noldor of Rivendell. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

Elrond drew himself up, casting a warning look at his sons. He didn't want to have an argument here. "I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell and these are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir. We seek an audience with your King and Prince in regards to our son and brother Estel."

To their surprise, the guard immediately lowered his bow and spoke quickly. "You must have traveled quickly! The King only just sent that message to you in Rivendell! You must hurry!"

Turning, the Elf whistled and from seemingly no where, a horse emerged. He whistled again and was answered by another, slightly more distant, whistle. He had told his fellow guards he was returning to the palace.

"The King has had patrols pulled from the borders to try to locate the poison used on Legolas and your son, hir nin. But they have as yet been unsuccessful. Our healers have no idea what this new devilry is, nor how to treat it."

Elrond and the twins followed the Elf at a fast clip. Speaking over the wind from their ride, Elrond asked the Elf more questions. "How fare the Prince and Estel?"

The Elf frowned. "I'll not lie to you, Lord Elrond. The Prince seems to have successfully fought off this poison, how we do not know. But your son is ailing and is quite close to losing his battle, I fear. I have not seen the King this worried in a while."

Elrond caught the hint of skepticism in the Elf's voice. So he knows Estel is human and finds it odd that his King would care about his fate. So do I, for that matter...Thranduil isn't one to care for humans. Unless Legolas talked some sense into him.

Within moments they were at the palace gates. Unfortunately, it was nighttime and there were only two people who could open the gates once they had been sealed for the night.

Shifting on their horses as they waited, the three Rivendell Elves wondered who would come to open the gates. Elladan and Elrohir hoped against hope it wasn't the King. But then again, Legolas was ill and likely would refuse to leave Estel's side.

"Edro!" Came a panicked voice from the other side of the gates. Swinging inward, the gates revealed a disheveled, trembling Legolas.

In a moment, Elrond was off his horse, hurrying to the Prince's side. He caught the blonde Elf just before he toppled over, the exertion of coming to the gates had been too much for the injured Prince.

"Why did you open the gates?" Elrond asked, helped the Prince back in the palace; followed by his for-once silent sons.

Legolas caught his breath and smiled lightly. "Believe it or not, my father fears to face you. I think he purposely made himself indisposed with changing Estel's bandages when the call to open the gates came."

Elrond heard the twins snigger behind him. "That's quite enough!" he warned without turning around. He knew they must have found that immensely funny. And the picture of the great Elvenking Thranduil hiding from him did seem rather funny.

Legolas pointed to a nearby door. "There. He is in there." Turning to the twins with some difficulty, his face a mask of anguish, Legolas whispered. "I am sorry...his condition has only worsened, mellyn nin."

Nodding and gripping his shoulders, the twins assured Legolas they did not blame him for their brother's ills. Opening the door, they saw something they never thought to see.

King Thranduil was nearly finished tending to Estel's wounds. He was carefully wrapping clean clothes around the man's right wrist where the rope chafes still hadn't healed. He was talking to the man, idle chatter it seemed, hoping to wake him from his ill slumber.

Elrond stood transfixed for a moment, both surprise at Thranduil's actions and awe at the condition of Estel. The man was pale, sweaty and his breathing labored. His body was covered in little bleeding wounds and one larger one, which looked like an arrow wound. Yet none had clotted fully and continued to seep blood.

Judging from the blank looks in the healer's eyes, the Elf had no idea what to do for Estel. Elrond hurried forward, coming to a halt beside the King. Thranduil lifted his eyes and looked down again.

Elrond put a hand on his shoulder. "Do not place guilt or blame where it is not due. The ones responsible for Estel's condition are dead."

Thranduil nodded once, than stood back, allowing the Rivendell Elf better access to Estel. The King took charge of his own son, helping him into a seat and checking him over quickly.

After examining Estel, Elrond scratched his head. "Legolas?"

"Yes?" the Prince asked, perking up.

"Do you recall Estel being bitten by a snake?"

"What!" Came the surprised call of five Elves.

Elrond nodded lightly. "These symptoms resemble the bite of a rare, venomous snake. The Arcanon species is a deadly snake, but oddly enough it does not affect all it's victims in the same way. Elves tend to battle it's venom with no needed assistance, perhaps because of their affinity with nature and their healing abilities. Humans, on the other hand, are greatly affected."

Gesturing to Estel, he continued. "They are paralyzed, locked in their own bodies. I expect Estel can probably hear us, but can not react or reply. If I am correct, he has not much time. The clotting will get less and less and his fever will increase. His fever or his bleeding or both will kill him. We must make haste and find this snake or I can not create an antivenom."

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances. "We'll find it, Ada."

Elrond smiled lightly. "I knew you would go."

Thranduil looked from his son, to the Elf Lord, to the man in the bed. "I would like to accompany them." His words brought wide-eyed stares from all those assembled. The healer and a guard in the door were about to argue, but Thranduil raised a hand. "I have lived in these woods for thousands of years. I know them better then most. I can leave these halls you know...it isn't unheard of."

Legolas looked at his father, open awe on his face. "You...you would do that? For Estel?"

Thranduil smiled wanely. "Aye, I would, ion nin. You've taught me a valuable lesson, Legolas. One I would do well not to forget. Estel has also taught me a lesson, one I wish to thank him personally for. To do that, I must help his brothers find this snake. And I think I know where to look too."

Elrond looked up at that. "You do?"

"Yes. When I was younger, I would travel out more often. I remember an area of the wood, not too far from that cave the Orcs inhabited," he paused when the three Rivendell Elves cringed at the word Orcs. They still didn't know what had happened. "We'll worry about that later, mellyn nin, as I was saying...there was a place where we discovered many mysteriously dead animals. Some of the larger beasts were only partially eaten, but we never found the culprit."

He looked to Legolas, whose eyes widened in understanding. Then he continued. "One day we traveled out, Legolas and I, and we discovered a stag, lying on the forest floor. Thought it was dead at first, but it was breathing. It didn't move, just lay there. We never figured what caused that, but it was bleeding and it didn't stop until it had bled out all it's blood."

Elrond finished the story. "The Arcanon."

Thranduil nodded. "It looks like it. I wish we had thought of it before." He frowned. Why didn't I think of it?

Legolas put a hand on his father's shoulder. "None of us had reason to think it was a snake, Adar. Lord Elrond is the best healer in all of Middle-Earth, he has more knowledge in this and that is why you sent for him."

Elrond nodded. "Your son is right, Thranduil. It is not either of your faults. Even if you knew something had done this, you didn't know what. I will describe the snake to you all, you must leave immediately."

After the three were told of the snake and it's markings, Elrond cautioned them to use extreme care when capturing it. "I need it alive," he said. "And I do NOT want to be treating any more Elves for this poison. Legolas is still not out of the woods yet, he needs a dose of this antivenom as much as Estel does."

Legolas looked up at that. So that's why I can barely move... "Is the venom the reason I feel so lethargic and why I can not move well?"

Elrond nodded. "Yes. If you are not given the antivenom it will paralyze you too. Elves just fight it better, I do not think it would be permanent or that it will kill you, but I do not want to find out the hard way."

Thranduil looked to the twins. "Come, we will gather fresh horses and go with haste."

He looked to his son and Elrond. "Elrond...take care of them. I don't want to miss out on seeing what you deal with when my son comes to Rivendell...what with your three sons here...I'm sure it will be exciting."

Elrond laughed. "Yes...let's get these two healed and let you find out just how exciting it can be!"


A/N: My longest chapter, I am pretty sure! I hope you all enjoy it and it garners lots of reviews because it took a while to type with my STUPID hand! frowns

BUT, my hand might feel better enough to write more if it reads many reviews. hint hint (Can hands read??? NOT likely...I guess I'll have to Read it To my hand...) LOL. Please R/R!

-Gwenneth