Author's note: Thanks, everyone, for your reviews. Again, Partheon has beta-ed for me – a special thanks again!

Chapter 9

The next three days passed agonisingly slowly. Thranduil and Haldir took turns to sit at Legolas' bed, often with Elrond in attendance as well. Aragorn stayed in the background, but quietly supported wherever he could. He brought food and found more comfortable chairs. He made sure that everyone ate at least semi-regularly and that both Haldir and Thranduil rested at times. Legolas did not wake up. Elrond tried to wake Legolas on several occasions, Legolas needed some liquid to flush out his system, but it was impossible to raise him. He lay still, unmoving with his eyes closed. His skin was still almost translucent and his dark eyelashes stood out starkly against his pale cheeks.

During these long hours, the foundations of a lasting friendship between Haldir and Aragorn were laid. Haldir began to appreciate the remorse and guilt but also great inner resources that Aragorn had to offer. Aragorn, in turn, became even more aware of the fact how deeply Haldir loved Legolas, and how much the younger elf meant to the Lorien warrior. They spent much time together, either in silence or even conversing, trying to get to know each other better. On the evening of the third day, Haldir asked the question that he had wanted to ask all along.

"What do you feel for Arwen, Aragorn? You left Legolas for her but what do you feel for her?"

Aragorn sighed. He had battled with the answer to the very same question over the last two days, once he had admitted to himself that he still cared for Legolas.

"I like her greatly. She is strong, and beautiful, and there is something about her that makes me feel that we belong together, that somehow our fates are intertwined. I do not love her in the same way that I have loved Legolas. I do not know whether one can ever love two people in the same way. I could see Arwen and I being bound, but Elrond objects and I also do not wish to see her losing her immortal life."

"I believe that she loves me deeply and trusts me to an extent that makes me ashamed. I think she knows that I have never really stopped loving Legolas; she knew it before I admitted it even to myself. And yet, she does not object. She told me once that she knew that we would be bound and have a family and that she could wait. I do not know how she can be so certain, but then she is of the Eldar and I am not." Again, there was the small self-depreciating smile that Haldir had come to know as one of the characteristics of the young man.

They had just reached the end of this conversation, when they heard a small moan. Haldir and Aragorn rushed to Legolas bedside. The young elf's eyelids fluttered and finally opened. His eyes slowly focused.

"... Haldir?" Legolas' voice was a hardly audible whisper.

"Yes, I am here." Haldir took Legolas' hand and squeezed it gently. Aragorn quietly slipped out to find Thranduil, who needed to know that his son had woken up.

"Legolas, how do you feel?"

Legolas' eyelids dropped again.

"... it hurts..."

Haldir gently stroked Legolas' face. "It would do. Elrond and Aragorn removed the arrow and stitched the wound. You need to drink – are you thirsty?"

"... yes..."

But Legolas had lost consciousness again.

Haldir looked around in a slight panic. Where had Aragorn gone? Haldir did not want to leave Legolas, so he decided that he would have to try and give Legolas a drink before anyone else turned up. He filled a small glass with some water and very gently lifted Legolas' head.

"Legolas? Wake up again ... please. Try to drink a little bit."

Legolas eyes were firmly shut again. At that moment, Thranduil appeared, with Elrond and Aragorn in tow.

"He has slipped away again. I would like to give him something to drink."

Elrond took the glass from him. "Hold his head up slightly, and call him. I will give him the water."

On hearing Haldir call his name several times, Legolas finally struggled to open his eyes again. Elrond put the glass to his lips, and the injured elf drank instinctively. After a few sips, his eyes closed.

Elrond gently touched the younger elf's forehead. He frowned. "He is developing a fever. This means his body is fighting, but it now depends how much strength he has left and how well his stomach has healed. If the water he just had remains in his stomach, he has a chance."

During the next hours, Legolas fever rose. Beads of sweat stood on his forehead and his pale checks flushed. He moaned and became restless. Thranduil and Haldir did not leave his side. In the early hours of the morning, Aragorn took the pulse and breathing rate yet again. Legolas' pulse was far too fast and thready, his breathing irregular and shallow.

"Father, something is wrong. I can feel it."

Elrond rushed to his son's side. He looked serious. This was the crisis point that he had waited for all this time. "His life force is leaving him, but he is still fighting. We need to help him stay here rather than to leave for the Halls of Mandos."

"Haldir, Thranduil, take his hands and call to him. It does not matter how, just call him and tell him you love him, as a son, as a lover. I will support you." Elrond laid his hand on Legolas forehead and concentrated. Thranduil and Haldir did as Elrond had asked, in their desperation completely unashamed to show their affection for Legolas in public. They remained for this for what seemed to be a long time, until Elrond said: "Aragorn, go and get Galadriel. I cannot do this much longer."

Within minutes, Galadriel returned with the young man and took Elrond's place. The moment the elf-lord lifted his hands; he swayed and would have fallen if Aragorn had not caught him. "You have drained yourself, father." Aragorn led Elrond to a nearby bed and helped him to lie down. "Rest." Elrond did not have to be told, his eyes were closing of their own accord.

After a while, Galadriel moved her hands away from Legolas' forehead. She, too, looked tired. She turned to Aragorn and said: "We have done what we can. We have given him all the support and love we can give him. In the end, he must find his own way."

At that moment, Legolas' eyelids fluttered again. Very slowly his lashes lifted. "Ada? Haldir?" Again his voice was just a small whisper. Galadriel rushed back to his bed and touched his forehead.

The fever had broken.

-o-o-o-

During the night, Legolas woke up on a number of occasions, each time finding either his father or Haldir at his side with Elrond or Aragorn in the background. Slowly consciousness and memory returned. He remembered being shot by Tinarvel, but after that he could not remember much at all. There were fleeting glimpses of being carried by Haldir and later, of people around him calling his name. Especially Haldir. And his father. But there were other faces as well, Elrond, Aragorn's and Galadriel's.

Legolas became slowly aware of an aching pain in his stomach, and the fact that he could not move. Something kept him from moving. Legolas forced his eyes open, and to his surprise found that the sun was shining in through the window. Haldir was sitting next to his bed in a chair, his eyes glazed over in sleep. He looked exhausted. Legolas also saw the sleeping figure of Aragorn on a bed nearby. Legolas' mind and eyes cleared. He realised that he was very thirsty although he had a vague memory of being given something to drink on several occasions. This also made him aware of another need, which was becoming more urgent as he thought about it. He sighed. Haldir looked so tired – but he would need to wake him.

"Haldir...?" Haldir was awake in an instant on hearing Legolas' voice. With joy he saw that Legolas looked much more aware of his surroundings.

"Legolas, you are wake!" He took the younger elf's hands. "Elrond and Aragorn cut an arrow out of your stomach. It was a very difficult procedure and we did not know for several days whether you would live. Elrond asked for restrains to be put on you as you must not move."

"Haldir, I am very thirsty." Legolas' voice still sounded very weak, but much stronger than it had been before.

Gently, Haldir lifted Legolas' head and gave him more water. Legolas looked at him. "Haldir, I also need ... well, I need..."

Aragorn had been woken by the conversation and approached the bed.

"Estel, have you been here all this time?" Unconsciously, Legolas used Aragorn's childhood elven name.

It was Haldir who responded. "Your father and I have taken turns, and Elrond and Aragorn as well. There have always been two of us with you, Legolas. You have been, and still are, very ill."

Legolas absorbed that information and then turned to Aragorn. Their eyes locked for a brief moment. "Thank you, Est...Aragorn. You know what I need, don't you..."

Aragorn nodded, went to a nearby cupboard and returned with an oddly shaped bottle. "Haldir, help him with that. He cannot move his arms enough." He smiled. Legolas' request was a good sign – it meant that the water he had had to drink had gone where it was supposed to go, rather than fill his abdomen.

For a brief moment, Haldir looked in surprise at the item in his hand and then realised what it was for. He nodded and quickly helped Legolas to use it. Legolas looked very relieved and smiled. "Thank you. I hate being so dependant on others."

"You will be for some time to come, so better get used to it. "There was a smile in Haldir's eyes and voice as well. He leant forward and kissed Legolas very gently on the lips.

"Always know that I love you," he whispered into Legolas ear.

"I know. I love you too," was the equally whispered reply.

Aragorn had left quietly to find Elrond.

-o-o-o-

After this day, the worst was over. Legolas recovered slowly but at a steady pace. Elrond told him that it would take several weeks before he would be allowed to leave the Hall of Healing. Legolas groaned at that piece of news, but Elrond simply told him that he was very lucky to be alive, and that no risks could be taken.

He had not had much time by himself. Elrond, Thranduil, Haldir and Aragorn had alternated keeping him company. Other friends had visited. Once he had become more aware of his surroundings, he had noticed with surprise that during the time of his illness Haldir and Aragorn seemed to have become friends. Legolas was pleased about this, he had hoped for this but had not truly believed that it could happen.

Unfortunately, recovery was slow. Elrond had warned Legolas of this, but nevertheless the young elf found the pace of his recovery frustrating. Two weeks after being injured, Legolas had to admit to himself that getting out of bed and especially moving into a sitting position was still uncomfortable. He also knew that he was not yet strong enough to walk by himself, he had tried, but had needed support very quickly.

It was a warm, sunny afternoon, and one of the moments when Legolas did not have company. He yearned to be outside – it was the middle of the summer, the weather was warm and pleasant, a day to sit in the shade of the trees and listen to the whispering of their leaves. Instead he was stuck inside, and worse still, in bed. He was also acutely aware of the fact that he had not been able to bath since his injury. Of course, he had been washed, but that was not the same as having a proper bath. Most of all, he missed being able to wash his hair, it looked stringy and lank, and felt worse. He had asked Haldir to tie it together in a single braid to get it out of the way.

Not for the first time, Legolas thought about what had happened. He felt a deep anger towards Tinarvel – there was no excuse or explanation that Legolas could accept for what Tinarvel had done. So far Tinarvel had not been found. The planned date for the bonding was already almost two weeks past, and if his current rate of recovery was anything to go by, it would have to wait until the autumn. This would mean that Elrond, Aragorn and the twins would miss his bonding – Legolas knew that they could not stay in Lothlorien much longer. Rivendell needed its master, Aragorn and the twins had promised to meet up with the rangers in Bree in early September – this meant a six-week journey at least. Midsummer was past; they would not be able to stay for more than another two weeks. Legolas sighed.

Legolas picked up a book, but soon realized that he was staring at the pages without taking in the content. With a frown, he closed the volume and leaned back against the pillows. Perhaps he could sleep a bit. After a while, he knew that he would not sleep either. So he resigned himself to dozing, feeling very bored.

TBC. Please review

Response to nevermind's review: Normally I would have emailed but your review is not signed, so no email address...

Concerning the repetition: I tried to make an important point and to emphasise it. Sorry you did not like it.

Concerning the arrowhead: Good point – stored away for further reference.

Concerning the 'glaring pot hole': The reason why Elrond chose Aragorn above the elvish healers from Lothlorien is that he knows exactly what Aragorn can and cannot do. He trained him himself, and knows both his capabilities and limitations extremely well. In such a delicate situation, Elrond does not take the risk of working together with someone whom he does not know. In my fiction, the twins trained at warriors, not as healers.