Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Okay, okay, so it was that bad, just don't kill me! I honestly didn't think that was such a terrible cliffhanger but I have been proven wrong again. Many many thanks for all of your wonderful reviews! I love you all! Also, many thanks to my lovely beta enb2004 who has a wonderful HP story that you have to read! Hehe, you're in trouble folks. She's coming to visit me this weekend and let's just say she's very inspiring when it comes to cliffhangers. :) Anyway, as promised, here is Chapter Seventeen! Enjoy!

King Thranduil was pacing unrelentlessly in his private sitting room while glaring at the letter that Legolas had sent him about a week ago.

To say that the letter was vague was a large understatement. It didn't tell him anything at all! Glaring, he reread the letter for the millionth time to see if he had missed anything.

Ada,

I have arrived in Imladris and I am happy to report that everything is just fine. Apparently, there was some miscommunication involving Elrond's youngest son's attack. Still be on the watch for Gorothdil but you may rest easy in knowing that everything here is just as it should be and that all of Elrond's sons are fine. I shall see you once the snow melts and the road becomes accessible once more.
Love,
Legolas
"What in the name of the Valar does he mean that everything is fine! How can it be fine!" Thranduil ranted aloud.

"Ada! Relax, I'm sure that Legolas has a perfectly reasonable explanation for his letter. If you are truly that concerned about it, why don't you write back to him?" Fuina, his youngest daughter asked.

He grumbled and reluctantly sat down. "Very well, but he had better have a good explanation."

"Oh, he will Ada or I will take it out on him, personally," Fuina said with an evil grin.

"You iel nin are truly something. I can see why your siblings are afraid of you," Thranduil said with a grin. He knew perfectly well that Fuina had a viscous temper and could take care of herself perfectly well, despite the fact that she was the youngest female and the second youngest child.

All of his children were terrified of her and with good cause. When she was in a bad mood, many a person would suddenly have an overwhelming desire to travel to the Gray Havens. He knew that despite her temper she loved her siblings dearly, particularly Legolas as he was the only one younger than she.

When Legolas had been born, Fuina immediately took on the role of protective big sister and would often team up with Legolas against their older siblings, namely Thilloth and Delelen.

He sighed as his thoughts once again brought him back to Legolas. He would write the letter like his daughter had suggested. Not knowing what was happening in Imladris was driving him up a wall!

Just as he was about to sit down and write that letter, Thilloth and Delelen came running in, looking all the world as though a balrog was chasing after them. Then again, knowing those two, he wouldn't doubt that a balrog would chase them for a second.

Thranduil and Fuina shared a pained look and turned their gazes on Thilloth and Delelen.

"What have you done now boys?" Thranduil asked with a resigned sigh. He swore he didn't know who was worse. Thilloth and Delelen, or Elladan and Elrohir. No, wait, he knew the answer to that already. They were equally as bad, particularly when the got together.

"Ada, we have done nothing," Thilloth said seriously.

"Ada, the sentries have just reported that Iaudril and his patrol are nearing the palace and they appear to have wounded," Delelen said.

Thranduil immediately stopped writing his letter and turned to his two sons with concern. "Is Iaudril all right? Was he one of the wounded?"

"Nay Adar, he was not," Thilloth said quietly with Delelen nodding in silent agreement.

Thranduil looked suspiciously at his two sons who were unusually serious looking. There was something that they were holding back and he wanted to know what it was.

"What are you not telling me my sons?"

The two shared a look and silently argued for a few seconds on who would break the news to their father. Finally, Delelen threw his hands up in disgust and turned to his father.

It wasn't fair that just because he was older he had to tell his father what the sentries had reported. Oh well, there was no getting out of it. Especially with his father looking at him expectantly.

"Ada, from what the sentries reported it would appear that the wounded are not part of the patrol. One was an elfling of Noldor descent they said and the other was..." Delelen started to say but could not bring himself to finish.

"Who was the other Delelen?" Thranduil asked softly, realizing that this was not going to be good at all.

Delelen nervously played with his tunic before looking up at his father with pain filled eyes. "They said that the other injured person appeared to be Legolas."

Thranduil's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "WHAT! He's supposed to be in Imladris! Why isn't he there?!"

"I do not know Ada, but the sentries could be wrong," Delelen said for the first time noticing his little sister was in the room as well as his father.

"Oh come now Delelen, if the sentries believe that is our little brother than they are probably right!" Fuina said, her eyes filling with tears at the thought of her baby brother injured.

"Shh, Legolas is probably just fine Fuina, you know how he is. He probably got knocked on the head a few times by something or another," Thilloth said embracing her in his arms.

"When are they due to arrive?" Thranduil asked, looking like he wanted to do nothing better than run from the room and get to Legolas and see for himself how bad off he truly was.

"Any second now," Thilloth said.

With that response, Thranduil took off from the room and sped toward the healers wing where Himband had already undoubtedly been informed that his most frequent and trying patient was due to arrive any second.

"Delelen, Thilloth, has Aruviel been informed?" Fuina asked.

When he shook their heads no, she sighed for she knew that it would be up to her to inform her older sister what had happened.

"Go down to the healers wing then. Father is undoubtedly there already. I'll inform our sister and meet you down there," she said.

The two brothers nodded and quickly left, heading straight for the healing wing. That was one thing that they admired about their little sister. She was always able to keep a cool head even in the most dire of situations, even when it involved family. Without another thought, they entered the healing wing where they found that all hell had broken loose.

When Himband had been told to expect an injured elfling and Prince Legolas by the King, he had immediately gathered all the bandages and herbs that he could find. One never knew what to expect with the youngest Prince.

Even when he had been an elfling, Legolas had had a propensity towards trouble. As he had gotten older, that propensity had only gotten worse. Particularly, after meeting Lord Elrond's demon twin sons who by themselves caused mayhem everywhere they went. Adding Legolas to that mix had proved to be interesting and disastrous.

Himband was privately convinced that Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas had been placed on Arda by the Valar to torture him. More Legolas than the twins however. For somehow, it was always Legolas that was the worst off of the three, at least within Mirkwood. Whether or not he was the worst injured party in Imladris he did not know nor did he particularly care. That was Lord Elrond's problem, not his. Yes, he was certain that the Valar were punishing him for something by having him deal with those three on a regular basis. In his mind, there was simply no other explanation for it.

Thus, it came as a shock to the poor healer when a frantic Iaudril and Maldil came running in and handed him a very bad off elfling instead of Legolas.

It was not that Legolas wasn't injured, for he was. He just was not as direly injured as the elfling apparently was judging by Iaudril's and Maldil's reactions.

"Himband, you must do something! Estel has a very high fever and we have not been able to lower it at all. He and Legolas were exposed to the elements for a very long time and we found him in an encampment of orcs. We are unsure as to how long he was with them," Iaudril said in one long rush.

Himband blinked in surprise for a second before issuing orders. "Put Legolas down on one of the bed. Angdor, Balthil, take a good look at those cuts. I don't like that they're bleeding so freely. Leave the leg for now, I'll take a look as soon as I'm done with Estel. Everyone else, out. Yes, that includes you your Highnesses. We'll call for you as soon as they have been treated."

"Nay Himband, I am staying right here," Thranduil said stubbornly.

"You may be my King and my friend Thranduil, but this here is my territory and as such, my word is the law. You must leave. I can not treat your son and Estel with you hovering over me," Himband ordered.

Thranduil growled menacingly but did as his long time friend said. He had learned long ago that it was not wise to not listen to Himband. More often than not, the poor unfortunate soul would become intimately familiar with Himband's sleeping potions. Reluctantly he left, dragging his sons and Maldil with him.

Himband sighed with relief when the King, his son, and Maldil left. He turned his full focus upon the elfling whose name was apparently Estel. An odd name to be sure but he didn't think much on it.

He frowned when he checked Estel's fever and found it higher than it had been a mere few minutes ago. It had to be poison. Iaudril had said that the poor child had been found in an encampment of orcs so it was no wonder.

Quickly, he checked the elfling over but he could find no open wounds that would be consistent with orc weapons. While Estel did have various scrapes and bruises, there was no sign of poisoning. If there was no poison in his system, what in the name of the Valar was causing the fever!

Another puzzle was why the child was unconscious. There didn't seem to be any sign of head trauma, but then perhaps the elements and the orcs had something to do with it? Himband sighed and ran a hand through his hair. None of this made any sense.

"Himband!" Angdor cried out suddenly.

He whirled around only to find Angdor and Balthil struggling with a very much awake Legolas.

"Legolas Thranduilion! Just what do you think you are doing?" Himband demanded while forcing Legolas back down on the bed.

"Estel! Is Estel here?" Legolas asked frantically. From his position, he could not see that Estel was on the bed right next to him.

"Yes Legolas, Estel is here. Calm yourself before you do any more damage to your body," Himband said soothing while motioning for Balthil to make a sleeping potion.

"Is he all right? The cold was really getting to him and I think he was falling ill last I saw him," Legolas said, craning his head in order to see Estel.

"Ill?" Himband muttered with confusion. What was Legolas talking about and how did he and Estel come to know one another?

"Legolas, do you know who his Estel's parents and where we can contact them?" Himband asked, feeling it was worth a shot to see if Legolas knew. After all, it appeared that Legolas had come to know Estel very well. Estel's parents really should be present. The fever was very high and he was not sure if Estel would survive it.

"He's Estel Elrondion, adopted son of Lord Elrond. Please, you must tell me how he is," Legolas said desperately.

Himband, Angdor, and Balthil as one blinked in shock. Lord Elrond had adopted a child? When had that occurred?!

Those questions could be answered later though. Estel needed his full attention right now if he was to survive.

"Yes, ill. The cold was affecting him very badly. For a while he was unconscious. When he left me to find help I believe he was already falling sick. Please, how is he?" Legolas asked again, not realizing that he was repeating himself. His injuries were starting to get the best of him.

"How can he be ill Legolas? Yes, he had a high fever and I am concerned that he might have ingested some sort of poison. Do you recall anything about poison?" Himband asked knowing that it was a long shot.

"He is ill if he has a fever! Are his lungs congested? You must check," Legolas said breathlessly. He felt as though he were about to pass out again.

"Why would his lungs be congested?" Himband asked with some concern. If Estel's lungs were congested, that was not a good sign at all. It may mean that one of his lungs had been compromised in some way.

"He's....., he's edain," Legolas said before he passed out again.

Himband, Angdor, and Balthil all blanched and turned to the unconscious form of Estel. Estel was edain. That little fact changed everything.

"Angdor, Balthil, set Legolas's leg and take care of those cuts. I must see to Estel," Himband muttered.

Balthil and Angdor only nodded and went to work on Legolas leaving Himband to the mortal child.

Sighing, Himband mentally reviewed everything he remembered about humans and their reactions. Oh Valar he wished Lord Elrond was here!

Estel was edain, and Lord Elrond's adopted son. He looked so much like an elfling! This changed everything. Elves, he could handle without any problems, but a sick mortal child? Valar help him but he didn't know all that much about human illness. Lord Elrond knew far more than he did, he knew this for certain.

By the Valar, Lord Elrond. He was responsible for healing Lord Elrond's mortal adopted son. If he failed....

No, no, he wouldn't think about that, he couldn't. He would not fail Lord Elrond's son, mortal or not. It seemed that the Valar truly did hate him. Praying to the Valar, Himband started to treat Estel to the best of his ability all the while hoping that it would be enough.

Translations:

Ion nin: My son
Iel nin: My daughter
Tithen pen: Little one
Ada: Dad/daddy
Adar: Father
Arda: Middle Earth
Estel: Hope
Mellon nin: My friend

A/N 2: Hmm, would that be considered a cliffy? Shrugs. See you all in a few days!