Reviewer responses for Chapter 16:

Deana: Yeh, he is battling too much...

Spanishgoddess86: Glad you like this. I don't think there is anything TERRIBLE in store for the boys...but anyway..enjoy this chapter.

SivanShemesh: Hey, glad you liked the chapter. Here is the next one and yes Legolas will live. BUT he might not rest...

Sielge: Yup...spiders...Mirkwood's most common creature..I wasn't very original there.

Natasha AKA: Tash: Sorry, this won't be slash...I have not written, nor do I think I ever WILL write slash. But I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

InsanePirate624: Nope...they don't learn. Always in trouble...I like Cel too much to kill him I think. AH...so you say Elizabeth was pregnant BEFORE the marriage...that would take care of the problem!! Keep writing that story!

Star Wars Forever: Yeh..no infallible Legolas in my story. He is not PERFECT!!

Mornflower: looks at review in shockYOU LIKED THE CLIFFIE!!?? Whoa there! Kool! Glad that I gave you something to look forward to. I hope your history teacher doesn't get you...just ask Legolas to pin her to the wall with a few arrows.

Kelsey: No...he isn't dead...or is he...I don't rightly remember. Guess you'll have to read and find out! Yeh...this had to end soon...and it will...it does...but perhaps I can take requests and write another story...I LOVE to hurt Legolas ... and Aragorn...

SirNotAppearingInThisFilm: LOL...Glad you liked. I hope this isn't a letdown this new chapter...but it was just kinda how it came out...

Marbienl: LOL..yeah...silly creatures. That's my insane imagination coming through. Well, as much as I may have WANTED to incapacitate El, Estel and Legolas...I just couldn't...this is dragging on now..

Me: Point taken...I did need to do one of those...

X Prince Legolas X: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you like the story. I hope you like this...I wasn't too happy with it, but it was how it came out in the end. Please lemme know if you like!


Chapter Seventeen: In the end

During a brief lull in the fighting, Legolas was able to make his way to Celronon's side. Stooping down without actually looking at the Elf, Legolas felt for a pulse.

Thankfully, there was one. It seemed that Celronen was relatively uninjured; but that he had been stung by a spider and the venom had incapacitated him.

As grateful as I am that he lives, this was not the time for this! Legolas thought wryly, surging up to block another spider, slicing cleanly into the creature's torso with one of his knives.

Elrohir appeared at his side, seemingly out of thin air. "How do you fare, Legolas?"

Panting lightly, the Elf shook his head. "Can't take much more of this, El. There seems to be a never-ending stream of them. Where are they coming from?"

The dark-haired Elf shook his head. "I have no idea, but wherever it is, I hope it is running out of reinforcements to send. We really could use a little more help." He spared a quick glance at Cel. "Any chance he'll wake?"

Legolas shook his head. "No. He's out cold. We could always hope for a miracle," he said wryly.

And a miracle they got.

A miracle named hope.

Slashing his way into the cave tunnel, Estel took out three spiders in rapid succession, his adrenaline affording him the strength he needed.

He knew his body would scream at him later, but right now he was anxious to see his friends safe and well.

Legolas and Elrohir both looked toward the light at the end of the tunnel and gasped. "You asked for a miracle," Elrohir laughed as he shot off another arrow.

The Elf Prince said nothing. He was contemplating what Estel was doing here and why he was alone. Dratted human must have snuck out. I know there is no way Lord Elrond would have let him come here.

"Legolas, Elrohir, Cel? Are you all right?" The man called out as he fought his way further into the cave tunnel.

"We're all right," Elrohir said. "But Cel was stung by a spider and he is out cold. We are glad you arrived when you did."

Soon, between the three of them, they were able to dispatch the remaining spiders. Legolas collapsed to the ground as soon as he pulled his knife from his last adversary.

Wiping uncharacteristic sweat from his forehead, the Elf frowned. "That did not do me good."

Estel hurried over and knelt in front of his friend. "You do not look well, mellon nin. How long ago did you receive the anti-venom?"

"Not long ago," Elrohir answered for the Elf. Stooping down, he began to check over Celronen nearby.

Legolas looked up at Estel. "You...sit."

Estel looked up, shock in his face. "Wha?"

"Now!"

The man was shocked at the authority in Legolas' voice. He couldn't quite understand why Legolas sounded so...angry. "What is it? Did I do something wrong?" he asked quietly, sitting dutifully.

Legolas waited until the man was seated, then grabbed him by both shoulders and pulled him forward, looking into his eyes with a sharp gaze.

"Never do that again!" He said angrily.

"Do what again?" Estel asked; eyes clouded with confusion.

Legolas looked at him hard. "Risk yourself so blatantly to save me. You silly human, you think yourself immortal or something."

The Elf couldn't keep up the charade. Seeing the look of confusion in the man's eyes, Legolas burst out laughing. "Oh, Estel, you should have seen your face!"

He held his sides as he laughed uncontrollably, quite amused with the way he had led Estel on. When the man realized that Legolas had only been joking, he smacked the Elf on the shoulder.

"Not funny, Legolas. You really had me thinking you were angry at me for saving your royal behind again."

"Again?" Legolas said loudly, looking at Estel. "Oh yes...again." He was still laughing, but slowly losing strength. He was really fatigued from the battle.

But Estel, now that the adrenaline had begun to run down, was also feeling the effects of the fight. Slumping to the ground beside Legolas he sighed.

"So here we are in this horrid cave again. But at least this time there are no Orcs."

Legolas nodded. "Yes, and we can leave as soon as Elrohir picks up Celronen." He looked pointedly at the other Elf.

"All right, all right," Elrohir laughed. Then with a small grunt, he lifted Celronen and began walking toward the light at the end of the tunnel. "I'm not doing this to oblige you, you know. I'm doing this because I do not like caves either."

Legolas and Estel laughed loudly behind him.


"Thranduil? You said this cave was relatively close. I do not see a cave and we have been traveling a few hours already."

Elrond, normally the most patient and methodical of Elves, was actually complaining. It was shocking to Elladan, who rarely saw this side of his father.

The young Elf looked up now, waiting to see how the Elvenking would react. Surprisingly, Thranduil chuckled. "Elrond, you sound like an impatient Elfling. Calm yourself, we are nearly there and I am certain Estel and the others are all right. There are no Orcs in the area, I have made sure that the border guards and patrols have doubled their surveillance."

Elrond huffed lightly, not appreciating being called an elfling, even if it was by another millennia old Elf. At least Elladan hadn't said that. Then he would have had to retaliate.

"I am sorry, mellon nin. I am not being myself. I am simply angered at Estel for his stupid actions. He is not nearly well enough for traipsing around Mirkwood."

Elladan laughed. "Ada, you know Estel. When it comes to Legolas, you will never be able to keep him locked up. He cares far too much for that Elf."

Thranduil nodded. "Your son does seem to have a strong tie to my son. I am finding myself more and more intrigued by this Estel. For someone who did not like, nor tolerate, humans only a short time ago, I find myself liking him."

Elladan smiled again. "He has a way of doing that to people, hir nin. It is difficult to hate our brother. He is endearing. He shall be good for his kind later in his life. But right now we have to keep him alive because he is not very good at doing that himself."

The elder Noldor huffed. "You are right there, ion nin. I think I will tie him and Legolas to their beds so that neither run off again."

"Just so long as you do not let the people of Mirkwood know you have tied their prince to a bed, Elrond. They might not take well to that."

Thranduil laughed when Elrond glared at him. Soon, they heard voices and tensed. Who would be wandering the woods of Mirkwood?

Words began to waft over the air, carried on the slightest of breezes.

"Put me down! I can walk you know. Legolas...can't you order him to put me down or something!"

Thranduil suddenly laughed and sped up. "I'd recognize Celronen's voice anywhere. He sounds rather...outnumbered."

In moments, the two blonde Elves, the younger twin and Estel came into view. Legolas and Estel were using each other to lean on, effectively traveling despite their obvious fatigue, and Elrohir was carrying a protesting Celronen, who looked ready to pass out but determined to walk nonetheless.

"What have we here?" Boomed Thranduil, crossing his arms across his chest. Elrond was a picture of authority standing beside him with hands on hips. Elladan hid behind the two, trying to hide the chuckle and smile that threatened to overwhelm him.

Estel, looking up and seeing the ire in his father's eyes, grimaced. Boy am I in trouble now, he thought to himself.

"Adar! Hir nin! How wonderful to see you!" Elrohir unceremoniously plunked the fidgeting Celronen on the ground, smirking as the Elf grumbled. Rid of his load, he knocked the dust off his tunic and looked over at Estel, cowering beside Legolas.

"Estel? What did I tell you as I went to sleep?"

Elrond was not relenting in the slightest. He was overjoyed to see his son alive and seemingly well, but he would not let the man get away with this so easily. He had seriously risked his life in coming out in this condition.

"Well, I...see...I..."

Estel was at a loss for words.

Thinking Elrond perfectly serious in his anger, Legolas jumped in for Estel. "He saved our lives, Lord Elrond. If Estel had not shown up when he did, Elrohir and I would not have been able to turn the tide of the battle with the spiders."

"Battle?" Thranduil echoed, hurrying over to Celronen, Legolas and Estel. He looked over his son. "Was anyone injured?"

Elrond, the healer in him taking over, also dropped his false bravado of anger. "Celronen looks as though he was bitten."

The elf in question nodded. "I was, but I am all right now. Just a little lethargic but the venom is wearing off. We were able to locate the vial of snake venom in the cave to cure Legolas. It seems as though everyone is on the mend."

Elrond was now examining Estel. The man had taken no injury during the battle, as he had joined in at the end. Legolas, on the other hand, had not faired so well.

Unbeknownst to Celronen, Elrohir and Estel, the Prince had not escaped unscathed. Try as he might, he was unable to hide his hurts from Elrond. "Stop trying to shield it, young Prince. I know it is there."

Thranduil glared at Legolas with a meaningful look. The Prince sighed lightly and lifted his arms to reveal a bloody slash along his right side. Estel gasped, realizing he had been leaning on that side the whole time.

Looking at his own clothing, he found it was stained with his friend's blood. "I'm so sorry, Legolas! I didn't see it...I didn't know...how could I have been so blind."

The Elf smacked the man suddenly and out of the blue. "Stop that. You did not know because I hid it from you."

Thranduil rounded on his son. "And you must learn to not do that. You need not hide injury from anyone, least of all your best friend."

Estel and Legolas looked up. "Then you truly acknowledge that Estel is indeed my best friend?"

The King nodded. "Yes, I do, Legolas. And he is always welcome in our home, from this day forward. I owe him a debt I can never repay...a couple times over. He has saved your life far more then even I have done so."

Estel smiled. "So, Legolas. Looks like you'll be putting up with me for a lot more time then you used to. Now I can bug you in your realm as well!"

Legolas hrumphed at that, but said nothing as Elrond was cleaning and applying salve to his wound. But inside, he was overjoyed that Estel was not going to be shunned by his father.

Up until now, he had not really been sure about his father's feelings on the man. But there was no reason not to believe the King and his words had been sincere. Legolas had seen nor heard any uncertainty in the King's confession.

The world began to look brighter now that he no longer feared for Estel's or his own death from the poison.

"Well," Elrond interjected. "I think you shall get your wish, Thranduil."

The King looked up now, perplexed. "What wish might that be, Elrond?"

The Elf Lord looked at his sons and Legolas. "You are about to find out what I have to deal with when Legolas joins my sons in Rivendell. Prepare yourself for pranks, injuries, accidents, and general mischief, mellon nin."

Frowning, the King muttered, "Perhaps I don't want to witness this..."

Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas and Estel laughed at once. This was going to be a lot of fun.

THE END

A/N: AWW...sniffs...It's over...I am beginning to feel the Friendship Carries Us Through withdrawal already! I liked writing this story and I do hope you all enjoyed reading it. I was HOPING to reach 200 reviews, but I don't really think that will be possible now that I have ended this story. I THANK ALL OF YOUR FOR GETTING ME SO CLOSE TO THAT GOAL! YOU'RE THE GREATEST!!!! There is a SLIGHT chance that I will be doing an epilogue, if people are dying to hear of some of the mischief our "friends" cause. But I'm not sure. My other option is to just see what reviewers want to hear and perhaps do a request story. I'm all ears...if you all want to review and tell me what sort of story you want me to write...you never know...I might just take the plot bunny and run with it...

-Gwenneth