Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR.

Sry 'bout all the grammer and/or spelling mistakes.

Also sry if I missed anything when I went back through, my eyes were all blurry so it was harder to tell.

Review Responses

Star-Stallion - I hope he'll be okay too.... -=grins=- Yeah, go volleyball! : ) Grrr... I hate it how you can't use the faces.... sry.

Enelya Aldarion - Yeah, they pretty much are but some stories to turn out better the other way..... hehe. thx for the luck, btw and it didn't turn out too bad considering they can't coach us yet.

Gozilla - Thx!

galadriel evenstar - That sucks! Takin' it, it's gone? (if that made any sense) I would do some but, ya know, I have no idea how I could. Give me some ideas and I'll think about it.

Four.... -=shrugs=- at least I'm gettin' some. Fourty-one is actually a lot more than I thought I'd ever get. Thx for the reviews; plz keep them coming!

If it's not one thing, it's another

Chapter Nine

Promise

Aragorn almost jumped out of his skin when he felt something squeeze his hand. Wait a minute! He was still holding Legolas' hand!

The ranger, who had been bordering sleep and wakefulness, quickly awoke and looked over to Legolas' face. He frowned seeing that he still wasn't showing signs of waking. Must have been my imagination. Aragorn decided sadly.

Then he felt another weak squeeze; Legolas' eyes were fluttering as well! He must be waking! Estel thought excitedly. He couldn't help but be hopeful, he was Estel after all and the elf was showing signs of waking.

Legolas' eyes slowly opened. He looked around the room seeing no more blackness and felt no more despair; the smell of herbs filling the room, calming him.

Legolas felt a presence nearby and slowly turned to see who it was.

"Legolas?" Aragorn asked when unfocused eyes looked at him.

The blonde elf's mind finally registered whose voice it was and his eyes finally focused; he noticed it was Aragorn next to him. "Estel?" He croaked out.

The voice was barely a whisper and was hoarse but it still woke Elladan from his elven dreams. He immediately looked over to Legolas and saw that his eyes were finally open. "Legolas!" He absentmindedly shouted, causing the ailing elf to wince.

Elrohir woke from his twin's shout and upon seeing Legolas awake he jumped up. "I shall go get ada."

The others had been too excited to get Lord Elrond when they knew that that would be the best thing for him.

"How are you feeling?" Aragorn turned from his brother who was running excitedly to his father's study.

"Better now." And that was true. During his sleep he got no rest. Feeling trapped, all alone with no hope. He was beyond happy to get out of it, though he now had to deal with the pain from the poison. The blonde elf noticed that he had nightclothes on instead of what he was wearing during the incident with the orcs not too long ago.

"We had to get you out of your other clothes to treat your injuries." Elrohir stated after seeing Legolas' confused stare at his new clothes.

Legolas just nodded and held back a wince. He had been unconscious for a long time but had gotten barely, if any rest at all and was exhausted. He started to close his eyes when he was shaken.

"You must stay awake." Aragorn commanded softly, with concern etched in his voice. "Ada has found a possible cure."

The archer's eyes opened wide. Why did you not tell me before? He wanted to ask but felt too tired to do so. He settled for a glare.

No one could say anything else before Elrond burst into the room with Elladan close to his heels.

Elrond, who was carrying the container of antidote, had wasted no time in getting to Legolas. "Before I give this to you, you must know that I do not know how your body will respond to it or how much pain you may have to endure." He really didn't want to waste time asking this type of question, knowing what Legolas' response would be but it was his life after all.

"Iston." The blonde archer replied, completely understanding Elrond's concerns. He trusted the lord's judgement and if he was willing to put Legolas' life in danger then there was a high chance that he would survive, even if it didn't work.

Elrond nodded. He then helped Legolas sit up and helped him slowly drink the possible cure.

It took no time for the antidote to show a sign of doing something, however, whether it was good or bad wasn't quite as clear. Legolas was screaming again. This time his sore throat not stopping him from doing so.

The others could only watch in horror, not being able to help him. It was even worse when Legolas started to struggle with some invisible force.

Fortunately, he finally stopped screaming and went limp. They weren't sure if it was because the antidote had finally worked or if the elf's body could no longer handle the painful movements.

Elrond placed his hand on Legolas' forehead and found that his fever hadn't gone down at all, if anything it went up. He quickly checked the poisoned injury and frowned. It was still swollen and had an even darker tinge to it. I think it just caused him more pain. He felt horrible for causing so much pain to the injured elf. He was in enough pain as it was. "I am sorry." He whispered to Legolas, who was breathing heavily; barely conscious. Elrond was mad at himself for putting Legolas through so much pain and for nothing. I will have to continue searching for the cure.

Lord Elrond left without saying a word to anyone else.

The others knew not to question Elrond by the look on his face. They also knew he was trying to hide it but by him saying nothing told them everything they needed to know: the antidote hadn't worked.

"I will see if I can help ada." Elrohir said wanting to not only help Legolas but make sure his father didn't blame himself for hurting Legolas. Sure, he had given him the drink but he wasn't aware of the reactions that Legolas could have, like he had told everyone, including Legolas himself.

Elladan turned back to Legolas, seeing him still conscious, which was a good thing since they weren't sure if he'd even be able to wake again or if he did how long it would take. It didn't seem like the ailing elf was too aware of his surroundings though.

Aragorn had gone to get some water and a cloth for Legolas. Once he got them he sat down in the chair by Legolas and dipped the cloth in the water; then placed it on his head.

This is all my fault. Aragorn blamed himself. He thought that since he came up with the idea of going on the hunting trip it was all his fault. The ranger also blamed himself because he couldn't get to Legolas in time to help him; he also hadn't been able to warn him on time.

"It is not your fault, Estel." Elladan said upon seeing Aragorn's depressed look. Elladan knew that Aragorn had the tendency to blame himself for things he couldn't prevent, even if he knew he couldn't.

Aragorn didn't respond; just kept wiping Legolas' forehead, hoping everything would turn out alright. Of course it will! He thought determinedly.
Elrohir had just reached his father's study and hesitated. Elrond was sure to argue against him being there. He liked to be alone when he worked, with no distractions. Only a couple times did he allow his sons to help. Even then it was only because Elrond was running out of ideas on how to help and had a lot of people to treat at once. They had also been allowed in when they were younger to learn what to do in certain situations with healing. The teachings had been a long time ago since they had learned almost everything that their father could teach.

Elrohir took a deep breath, preparing to argue with Lord Elrond and then he walked in.

Once inside he didn't say anything seeing that his father was stooping over the counter working. Only when Elrond would talk to him would he say anything. He didn't want to make his father lose his train of thought. He knew that the elder elf was aware of his presence, even though he didn't show it.

With a frustrated sigh Elrond finally turned to face the younger twin. "Did something happen to Legolas?" He asked worried, though he knew that nothing did since Elorhir hadn't rushed in, but patiently waited for him to finish. Only for him to come up empty handed again.

"Nay, I merely came to help you."

"Legolas needs more help than I."

"He shall not recover without an antidote."

Elrond surprised Elrohir when he sighed and said, "Very well, you may help." And turned back to his work.

At first the younger elf just stood there shocked. He couldn't believe his father had given up so easily. This is not good. Elrohir didn't question how long they had left to find the cure because he feared the answer.

Elrohir regained his senses and started to look for the cure beside his father.
Legolas was still on the verge of sleep not wanting to succumb to the urge again since the others told him how long it took for him to wake up last time and that they couldn't do anything to help. Legolas had given the human and elf a questioning look when they shook him when he was about to fall asleep so they told them about their trouble of waking him. They all feared he'd never wake up again. He was so tired though, the unconscious state before giving him no rest.

The blonde archer also didn't want to return to the void he had been stuck in. He was just glad to know that it hadn't been permanent but he didn't know if he would return there again during sleep and have to stay there; he preferred not to risk it.

The soothing motions that Aragorn was making by running the cloth over him was making him all the more tired, it did help him relax his mind though, which was a very good thing. He didn't think about the pain so much when he felt the cool cloth on his hot skin and Aragorn's presence nearby.

Aragorn watched as Legolas' eyes slowly closed but didn't shake him knowing that he did need rest. It worried him though, thinking that they'd never open again, but he held onto hope and knew that they would. The ranger was glad that he was able to give the ailing elf some comfort. He could tell by how the elf was behaving that the cloth had some affect on him. Legolas' breathing was still heavy and shallow but he no longer gasped or sometimes even cried out in pain while the cloth was running over his skin.

Elladan smiled as he watched Aragorn. Everyone cared for the young elf so much; it seemed like Aragorn cared a lot more though. He'd always make sure he could help the blonde elf with anything that he needed, whether it was big or small and Legolas would always do the same for him. They would both always accept each others help. They never turned down an opportunity to do something together, like a hunting trip or even little things anywhere, unless they had to do different things at the same time.

Elladan thought... no, knew that Legolas was in very good hands so he got up and went to the door.

"Where are you going?" Aragorn asked curious.

"I am going to get some food. Both of us need it, especially you. You have been under a lot of stress and have not eaten in days I imagine."

What he said was true, Aragorn had to admit, but he still replied, "I am not hungry."

Instead of sitting back down or arguing Elladan just shrugged and left, still to get some food for both of them. I should bring some to Elorhir and ada as well.

Aragorn turned his attention back to the blonde elf in front of him. "You will get better, I promise." That was a promise he had every intention of keeping.
Well, how was that? Hopefully good. I dunno if I really liked that one as much as the others but.... oh well. I ended up updating this one again, which is a good thing for you peoples but not for the people readin' NAS. I'll have to update that one this weekend... I'll work on it, I promise. -=smiles=- I really don't like it how I can't make the faces anymore. Well... hmmmm... I guess that's it.

Holiday weekend! Yippee! Monday off! Sleepy time! -=shifts eyes=-

Plz review!!!!

Ja ne