Reviewer responses for Chapter 11:
Deana: Yeah, poor Legolas…he is just getting worse and worse. But that isn't the half of his problems as the next few chapters will reveal.
SivanShemesh: Yeh, this one shall be funny and angsty again! AND wait til you read the bit between the twins and Thranduil! Thanks for the kind words and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others.
Sielge: LOL. I will tell you now, I do not believe in killing most cannon characters. And Estel and Legolas fall into that category. ENJOY.
Star Wars Forever: You...have…a…good point with that cave notion. shuts up now
Spanishgoddess86: Glad you like the way the twins are acting…I thought it would be a good way to portray them. Yeh, Legolas cares little for himself when Estel is in danger; but the same could be said for Estel when Legolas is in danger…see my response to Sielge if you fear me killing Estel or Legolas.
Coke: More Legolas angst…I will try to oblige…in the next few chapters…
Mornflower: Yeh, it is rather amazing that Legolas got away with that. Just goes to show that Elrond was really not thinking straight with all that's going on. Thanks for wishing me luck and thanks for REVIEWING!
InsanePirate624: Me? A genius? WoW, thanks! I am THRILLED I surpassed the 100 review mark and you DEFINITELY helped!!!
Kelsey: Thanks! Glad you like! Nah, Legolas has much pain to deal with before this is over…you will see some foreshadowing I think. "Will Elladan find the stick -I mean snake- in time?" LMAO…cute!
Shadowfax2931: Hey there…glad you liked. Hmm…who WILL find the venom first? You'll have to wait and see! Enjoy!
A/N: My hand is a bit better, just so you all know. Also, my first week at my new job went well. I enjoyed myself and found that the time went very fast. I can't believe I've been there a week already! Thanks to ALL of my REVIEWERS because you have pushed this story over the 100 review mark. NOW, let's just go ahead and shoot for 200! I love to hear from you all, no matter what you have to say. Please continue to be honest and I hope I can continue to entertain you all!
-Gwenneth
Chapter Twelve: Lamb's Urine?
"Celronen? Are you certain this is the right direction? I was a little…under the weather…when I was rescued, I don't really remember the way to the cave."
Legolas hated to admit he didn't have the slightest idea where they were going. He had been growing weaker and weaker as they traveled, chills racking his body now and then. He didn't mention this new development to Cel; he knew the Elf would only insist they return to the palace.
"Yes, Legolas…I am certain this is the right direction," Celronen answered, swatting at a particularly annoying fly that was hounding him. "For the fifth time…"
He cast a sideways glance at the Prince. To the unawares of the younger Elf, he knew that Legolas was getting sicker. But he also knew that he would have a time trying to deter him from his mission. Better to get there and back again quickly, he thought to himself.
"Wait!" Legolas excitedly pointed toward a small break in the trees. "I think I see something! It looks like rock, it could be the cave!"
Celronen nodded. "I know, Legolas."
Legolas shot the Elf an evil glare, but quickly dropped his gaze. My eyes are better then this; surely I should have seen that earlier. Is this venom affecting my eyesight? What other things will it wreak havoc on?
In no time flat the two Elves had reached what Legolas knew was the entrance to the cave. He looked into the black abyss that was the cavern and cringed. Memories of his and Estel's torture hit him rather suddenly and he swayed.
In his weakened state, vivid memories were enough to make him shiver physically. Celronen noticed immediately. "Try not to think on it, Legolas. The Orcs are all dead, we saw to that, so there is nothing to fear in that cave."
Nodding, but knowing the words were only that; words, Legolas dismounted, wobbling a little as he hit the ground. It took him a moment to regain his equilibrium, but he managed and was soon walking somewhat unsteadily toward the cave.
Celronen fell into step beside him, a comforting hand gripping the Prince's arm as they breached the darkness. Just before they rounded the first bend, Legolas turned around, breathing in the fresh air and imprinting the sight of the sun on his mind.
He did not want to go in there.
But he had to.
"Elladan, where is that jar Adar gave you? Didn't he say it would attract the snakes if we couldn't find them on our own?" Elrohir had pulled his brother up from the ground where the elder twin had been pushing aside leaves in search of a snake.
Nodding, Elladan pulled his pack from the ground at his feet and dug for a moment, soon extracting a glass jar. Inside was a sickly yellow liquid, thick and gooey. Wrinkling his nose as he unscrewed the top, he turned his head to the side.
"Whew…that stuff smells ghastly!"
Thranduil laughed. "Yes, it would. It is week-old lamb urine mixed with some solidifying powder. That is like candy to the snake we seek and though it isn't too appetizing to us, it could attract a snake from a good distance."
Taking the jar from Elladan, who was now holding it at arm's length, Thranduil laughed again. "It won't bite you, Elladan."
"No," the twin muttered, "but the smell will linger and a snake might bite me just for having held it."
Elrohir chuckled. "A snake brother…you sure you don't mean a stick?"
He didn't move in time to avoid the smack directed at his head. They quickly sobered as Thranduil began to sift in the bushes with a branch coated in the substance. Every once in a while he had to pull it back and pry leaves from the mixture.
It took a while, but finally, just as Thranduil was about to give up in defeat, something in the bushes stirred.
"Look," Elladan hissed, pointing. "That is no stick or my name isn't Elladan."
"Right then Elrohir…" Thranduil muttered.
The twins shot him an amused glare. Never had they heard Thranduil joke so much, they had to wonder what was causing it. It dawned on them that perhaps he was using humor to keep his mind off the plight of his son.
They didn't know how right they were.
Thranduil, for his part, acted strong and unmoving on the outside, when in fact his heart was currently residing in his throat. Every second they wasted sifting in the bushes and under dead leaves he worried about Legolas. And Estel. Despite his severe aversion to the man only a short time ago, he had grown attached to the way Estel seemed to show an undying devotion to Legolas.
Devotion and friendship were things he felt strongly about.
He would not let them die. So, to keep the twins from falling into depression, the King pushed aside his suffering and cracked jokes. I'll have to do this more often when all is well, he thought. I could get used to the constant laughter. Mirkwood palace had been silent enough since the death of his wife.
Now, however, was not the time to think about her.
"I think Elladan is right this time, there is something there and it can't be coincidence. The lamb urine must have attracted it." Elrohir edged forward, fully prepared to launch himself into the bushes to grab the snake.
Thranduil held him back with a frown. "That will not work, Elrondion. There are ways to catch snakes and pouncing on them is not one of them."
He motioned for Elrohir to hand him his pack, which the twin quickly did. Then, the Elvenking reached into the sac and pulled a large, very-dead rat from the interior. Elladan and Elrohir gagged in mock disgust, holding in chuckles.
"You rode with that in your bag?" Elrohir laughed lightly, careful not to make too much noise for fear of scaring off their quarry.
"Yes…" Thranduil muttered. "Once the snake eats the rat, he will be lethargic and it will give us the opportunity to grab him. Remember, your father needs the snake alive and well."
The twins said nothing, but watched as Thranduil lowered the rat down near the snack and coaxed it toward the meal. They half expected the creature wouldn't take the bait; it was, after all, dead.
But in no time flat the snake had stretched its mouth wide and began to envelop the rat. Thranduil waited, somewhat impatiently, until the whole of the rat was in the snake's mouth. Then he and Elladan moved behind the yellowish creature and prepared to "attack".
They held the sac open and ready and pounced.
The battle was quick and painless; the snake too full and gorged to move much or put up a fight. It was soon securely fastened inside the sac the dead rat had formerly resided in. Once it was tied to Thranduil's horse, the king turned to the twins with resolve in his eyes.
"Shall we rid Mirkwood of the place our son and brother were tortured in?"
Exchanging glances, Elladan and Elrohir nodded emphatically. "Lets."
"My Lord? Elrond, Sir? Excuse…Lord Elrond!"
Jerking, the Elf Lord smacked his arm into a nearby bowl of cold water, sending it crashing to the ground. He shook his head, dazed, and stared at the rapidly spreading puddle beside his chair.
Then he looked up in confusion. "What happened? Why is the ground wet? Is…" he stopped, eyes snapping to the bed and Estel. Seeing the man's sweat-sheened face he frowned. Still feverish.
Bardon moved forward, towel in hand, also frowning. "My Lord, you really ought to get into Legolas' bed and sleep some. You were just asleep anyway. I can watch Estel for a while, this is doing neither of you any good."
Lord Elrond was about to object, but seeing the genuine concern in the healer's eyes, he stopped himself. I am rather tired, he thought, rubbing his eyes. Reaching forward, he was relieved to find Estel was not much hotter then he had been before.
"All right, Bardon, perhaps for a little bit." Looking toward Legolas' bed, he added. "But you will wake me immediately if there is the slightest change in his condition?"
Nodding, Bardon promised to do just that.
Sighing, Elrond moved to the vacant bed and sank into it's feather softness, his body quickly reminding him that he should not have waited this long to do this. It was only moments before his eyes had glazed in Elvish sleep.
"Finally," muttered Bardon, wiping his forehead. He had been worried that the Elf Lord would work himself to death when there was nothing really to do but wait. Turning to Estel, he frowned. The man's condition was no better then before. But at least it is no worse.
He set about cleaning the spilt water, than hurried from the room to refill the basin. Just as the door snapped shut, silver-grey eyes opened with difficulty.
Estel was freezing, yet he could feel the sweat pouring down his face. Damn fever, the man surmised. He was momentarily surprised that Elrond was not hovering over him. Concerned, he forced his head to the side and suddenly grinned lightly.
The Elf Lord was fast asleep, fully-clothed, atop Legolas' old bed. One leg hung haphazardly off the edge and his arms were flung wide apart; the Elf Lord lying on his stomach, which in itself was odd for Elrond.
He must have been truly exhausted to fall asleep in such a fashion, Estel thought wearily to himself. And I am the cause for his fatigue. The man knew that Elrond had been pushing himself to the limit for want of curing Estel and Legolas.
Legolas. Estel frowned, a momentous effort in his weakened state. Why did you do it, you stubborn Elf? If you die because you tried to save me, I'll kill myself just to come and kill you again. You never think for yourself.
A small voice at the back of his head reminded him of another fact. Neither do you, Estel. No wonder the two of you get along so well; neither of you care one bit for your own safety when the other's life is in danger.
But that didn't stop Estel from worrying. He was lying here safe in bed while Legolas traipsed around Mirkwood, ever weakening, fully at the mercy of more Orcs, spiders, wargs, wolves and countless other Mirkwood creatures.
He would have continued his thoughts, but without warning, his lungs began to seize up and he found he could barely breathe. In seconds, he began to wheeze, his labored sounds growing more and more audible.
Suddenly, Bardon rushed to his side and tried to hold him still, but Estel continued to struggle, desperately trying to draw in precious air. His movements and Bardon's call woke Elrond who was on his feet in a heartbeat.
"Estel!"
The young Human turned panicked eyes on the Elf, his lips turning a sickly shade of blue. With rapid succession, Elrond metered out herbs into the newly filled water bowl, mixing and crushing at high speed.
He quickly lifted Estel's head and force-feed him the mixture, massaging Estel's neck to get him to swallow the nasty liquid. The man didn't react immediately, but gradually his breathing evened out and he settled back into the mattress, unconscious again.
Exchanging glances, Elrond and Bardon each fell into a chair. "That was too close, my Lord," Bardon said irritably.
"I know," Elrond answered. "They must hurry. He is in the final stages of paralysis. I do not think he realized it, but he could not move if he had tried, perhaps a flop of the head, but that would be it. His lungs are now being affected. I will prepare some mixtures that can be inhaled to help with his breathing. But we need that venom!"
He quickly set to work, wondering to himself how Legolas must be fairing. Surely he was beginning to feel the effects of the venom strongly now, since Estel was in such dire health at this point and they had both been subjected to the venom at the same time.
Though perhaps got the brunt of it, he was injured with the dagger first, Legolas said.
Trying not to think on Legolas' plight, nor his son's failing health, Elrond threw himself into his task.
