Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Yah! The site's back up and running! Okay, I know I have already posted this but I'm not sure if many of you received the notice because I posted about 30 seconds before it went back down. So, now that the site is back up and running, once again, here is Chapter 22. So, if you didn't get the chance to read this the first time it was up, please don't shoot me! I tried to post it so many times but not being able to access document manager made things kind of difficult. Okay, not that that's done, thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! They were all incredible! Many many thanks to my beta enb2004! You rock girl! As promised, here is Chapter 22. Enjoy!

It had been two days since Lord Elrond had arrived and Estel was slowly but surely slipping away from them. None dared to say it aloud, but they all knew that Estel would most likely not make it through the week.

After Legolas had woken up, he explained everything that had happened to him and Estel after they had separated from the twins.

Throughout Legolas's explanation, Elrond had grown more and more horrified as he found out just what Estel and Legolas had gone through. It was a miracle that they had made it to Mirkwood at all.

Currently, Elrond had kicked everyone out of the healing room save for Himband, Thranduil, and Legolas. As it was, the only reason that Legolas was allowed to stay was because of his leg. He had even kicked out Glorfindel, much to the balrog slayers surprise and dismay.

The twins and the rest of Thranduil's children had protested loudly about being removed from the room. Glorfindel had protested fiercely and it had taken Elrond threatening to drag him out by the ear to get him to leave the room. No one was to be allowed in the healing room unless he said so.

"Mellon nin, why did you make them leave the room?" Thranduil asked once the doors had shut behind the disgruntled elves.

Elrond sighed and continued to sponge Estel's forehead with a cool cloth. "I fear that we are losing him Thranduil. If Estel is to die, I do not wish their last memories of him to be ones of him ill and unconscious."

"Surely Estel will make it though, won't he Elrond?" Legolas asked trying desperately to hold out some hope for his young friend.

Elrond shook his head in despair as his eyes clouded over with unshed tears. "I just don't know Legolas, I just don't know. He's been caught in the grips of this fever for so long and the congestion in his lungs isn't making things any easier. I wish I knew Legolas, believe me, I wish I knew."

Seeing Legolas and Elrond's downcast expressions, Thranduil knew he had to say something. "I'm certain that Estel shall recover. From what I've seen, he's a strong lad. He won't give up on life that easily."

Elrond gave Thranduil a small smile and squeezed his arm. "Hannon le mellon nin, hannon le."

Thranduil didn't reply but then, what was there to say? Everyone knew that this was more than likely the end. All he had done was offer false reassurances which meant nothing in the the end.

Still, seeing that his words had sparked a kindle of hope in Elrond's and Legolas's eyes, he knew he had done the right thing.

Looking at the very young boy on the bed, Thranduil turned his eyes heavenward and prayed to the Valar for a miracle.

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Outside of the healing wing Glorfindel and the twins were pacing anxiously with Legolas's brothers and sisters.

"I can't believe that he kicked me out of the room," Glorfindel muttered for the hundredth time.

Elladan rolled his eyes and glanced over at his twin. "Glorfindel, we've been over this. Ada doesn't want us in there for some reason. I am not any happier than you are, believe me, but it doesn't change the fact that we are all stuck out here."

"Glorfindel, if it helps any, our father kicked us out as well," Iaurdil said while glaring at the closed doors.

"What I do not understand is why they kicked us out. Legolas is allowed to stay, why not we?" Fuina asked, her head leaning wearily on Delelen's shoulder.

"A very good point. Why don't we go in and ask?" Elrohir said already heading for the door to do just that.

Glorfindel rolled his eyes and grabbed Elrohir by the sleeve. "Sit. I know that you are all highly frustrated and Valar knows I am as well. Like Elladan said though, Elrond doesn't want us in there for a reason. Now, I have known Elrond far longer than any of you young ones. He always has a reason for doing something, even if it is not apparent right away."

Elrohir grumbled but sat down next to Elladan. "I hate waiting like this though Glor! What if Estel is getting worse and we are not there for him!"

Glorfindel sighed and looked at the closed doors nastily. He hated to admit it, but there was a real probability of Elrohir being right. Elrond had most likely kicked them out in order to protect them from having to see Estel is such a condition. He couldn't say that aloud though. Instead, he got up from his seat and sat next to the twins, clasping both their shoulders in reassurance. "I hate waiting too, as well you know. That is all we can do for now though. Sit, wait, and hope for the best."

Reluctantly, everyone nodded in agreement and went back to chatting about various other things in an attempt to keep their minds of Estel. No matter how hard they tried though, they could not keep their eyes off the door that lead to the healing wing and to Estel.

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It was later that evening and Elladan had finally had enough. "Come on Elrohir. If I have to stare at this bloody door for one more moment I think I might go insane." At Elladan's comment, everyone looked up at him. "And just where do you think you are going? In case it has failed to escape your notice, the door is still closed and we have yet to receive permission to enter," Iaurdil said.

Elladan rolled his eyes. "Of course I know that. I simply can not stand to wait around here without doing anything. I am going to take a walk, whose with me?"

"What if news comes while we are gone?" Aruviel asked.

"Somehow I doubt any will," Elladan said with a glare at the closed doors.

At Elladan's statement, alarm bells started ringing in Glorfindel's brain. He appraised the elder twin carefully. That one had a plan of some sort, he was sure of it.

"Just what are you planning Elladan?" he asked curiously.

"Me? Whatever gave you the impression that I was planning something Glorfindel?" Elladan asked innocently.

Glorfindel snorted. "Oh I don't know Elladan. The calculating look on your face for one. Or perhaps I know you are planning something because I have known you since before you were even born."

Elladan couldn't help but grin. "Ah, you know me far to well Glor. Elrohir, are you in?"

Elrohir looked at Elladan with amusement. "Of course I'm in, you dolt! I think I may even know what it is your are planning."

"Well I'm glad that someone here does! Would the two of you mind filling the rest of us in on what you are talking about?" Iaurdil asked. How Elrond put up with those two on a regular basis was beyond him. Then again, his own father put up with Delelen and Thilloth so he shouldn't be that surprised.

Elladan and Elrohir turned towards the Crown Prince with an all to familiar gleam in their eyes. A gleam that anyone who knew the twins knew meant that they were about to do something incredibly stupid and/or dangerous.

"On second thought, never mind. I suddenly really do not want to know," Iaurdil said backing away from the twins slowly.

"Oh come now brother, where is your sense of adventure?" Delelen asked.

"Indeed. Whatever it is they're planning has got to be better than sitting around here and doing nothing," Thilloth added.

Iaurdil looked to Aruviel and Glorfindel for help but the they only shook their heads. There was no way that they were going to get dragged into this.

Sighing, Iaurdil admitted defeat. "Very well, tell us this so called plan of yours."

"It's quite simple actually. We are going to take a walk around the palace, a very long walk. At least, that's what we'll tell anyone we should happen to encounter. Now, if my memory serves me right, there is another entrance to the healing wing. We are going to go through that entrance and see Estel and Legolas," Elladan said confidently.

Iaurdil looked at Elladan as though he was crazy, a hypothesis that was sounding more and more likely to him.

"Elladan, while it is true that there is another way into the healing room, you are forgetting one simple fact. Our fathers and Himband are in there and would see us for sure!"

"Not necessarily," Elladan said.

"You see, it has come to our attention that there are some rather heavy curtains that separates Estel's bed from the rest of the healing wing. If we can get into the room, we should be able to conceal ourselves behind the curtains and hear, if not see, what is going on," Elrohir said.

"You're insane, both of you. Nonetheless, count me in," Delelen said.

"I as well," Thilloth said while nudging Iaurdil in the ribs.

Iaurdil knew that he would regret this but acquiesced anyhow. "Oh very well. You can count me in as well. You had better pray though that neither are father nor yours catches us. For if they do, I plan to pin the blame entirely on you two."

"Sounds fair to us. Ada would probably blame us anyhow," Elrohir said cheerfully.

"Aruviel, Fuina, what about you?" Thilloth asked.

Aruviel was torn for a moment but at last, came to a decision. "As much as my heart desires to see Estel and Legolas, I think that we should remain here just in case some news does come. It would look bad if someone came to find us only to find us all missing."

"True, very true," Delelen said.

"What of you Glorfindel? You have hardly said one word about this plan," Fuina said.

"You are all foolish. But your hearts are in the right place. I shall stay here with Fuina and Aruviel. Someone has to tell your respective fathers where you have gone. And forgive me Fuina, Aruviel, but neither of you are capable of lying. They would see through you in a second," Glorfindel said.

Elladan and Elrohir eyed each other with surprise. They had thought for sure that Glorfindel would try to stop them or convince them not to go with their plan. It was very surprising that he was helping them. It showed just how worried he truly was for Estel.

"Excellent! When do we leave?" Delelen said, eyes bright with excitement.

"There's no time like the present," Elladan said.

"Very well, off with you then. One thing though before you leave. If you do find out anything of importance about Estel's condition, send someone to get us," Glorfindel said.

Elladan and Iaurdil nodded seriously. They knew they would have Glorfindel promise the same if the positions were reversed.

With one last look at the door, the twins, Iaurdil, Delelen, and Thilloth headed out.

"Valar help them if they are caught," Fuina whispered.

"Indeed. Let us all then hope that they are successful, for if they are caught, then we are going down with them," Aruviel said.

"I know I for one do not wish to face the wrath of not only Elrond, but Thranduil as well. Fear not though, I have lived in the same house as the twins for a very long time. If anyone can pull this off, they can,"Glorfindel said.

"They had better, for their sakes as well as ours," Aruviel muttered under her breathe.

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The plan, amazingly, went off without a hitch and everyone had managed to sneak into the healing room without anyone noticing. Now, they found themselves in much the same predicament as earlier.

"I can't believe this," Elladan growled.

"Aye, who would have thought that we would not gain any new information while hiding behind a curtain," Iaurdil whispered.

"Oh be quiet, both of you," Delelen hissed.

"Keep this up and they are bound to hear us," Elrohir said while peeking out from behind the curtain.

"What did you see?" Delelen asked quietly.

Elrohir scowled. "Not much. Ada is dozing by Estel's chair as is Thranduil. Legolas seems to be asleep as well but Himband is keeping a careful watch.

"How does Estel look?" Elladan asked.

Elrohir sighed. "I couldn't get a very good look without Himband seeing me, but he doesn't look that good."

"He'll get better, he has to," Elladan said with tears in his eyes. Estel had only been his brother for two years but Elladan loved him more than life itself. If Estel died, he didn't know what he would do.

"He'll survive Elladan, I know he will. He's strong. I saw that for myself out in the woods. I don't know many four year olds that could have survived what he has," Iaurdil said.

"Aye," Elladan said sadly.

"So, what do we do now?" Thilloth asked.

Iaurdil sighed and clasped his brother on the shoulder. "We do what we've been doing. Sit, wait, watch and see what happens next.

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It was nearing midnight when Estel's condition suddenly changed. Elrond had been dozing in a chair when Estel started to moan and thrash about a bit on the bed.

Elrond immediately jerked awake only to find Himband was already trying to soothe Estel.

Jumping up, he saw that Estel was starting to tremble violently. With sudden clarity, he knew what was happening. This was it. Either the fever would break after the trembling had stopped or it would increase.

If it increased, that was the end. There was not much more he could do. If the fever broke, Estel would survive and he would have his little boy back.

"Himband! Get the herbs! If we can break the fever here and now, he'll make it!" Elrond yelled. "Hold on tithen pen, hold on," he muttered as he held Estel.

Himband paled and ran for the herbs. He knew what Elrond was implying. If the fever didn't break here and now, this was it.

"Ada?! What's happening? What's wrong?" Elladan suddenly asked, seemingly appearing from out of thin air.

Elrond's eyes widened but he didn't have time to ponder how he had gotten into the healing wing.

"Go run a cool bath. We need to break this fever here and now. Go!" Elrond ordered.

Elladan ran to run the cool bath, his fear lending him extra speed. Elrohir dashed out of the room right behind his twin to go and fetch Glorfindel, Aruviel, and Fuina. They would want to know what was happening and be there for Estel.

Delelen, Thilloth, and Iaurdil sat down heavily next to Legolas and their father who had been awakened by the sudden commotion. They knew that they would be of no help in this situation. It was up to the healers now. All they could do was watch and wait.

Himband grabbed the herbs and handed them to Elrond. Praying to the Valar, Elrond took the herbs and gently held Estel down as he continued to tremble violently. With practiced motions, he administered the herbs.

He didn't wait to see if they had taken any effect. He scooped Estel up and hastened towards where Elladan was running a cool bath. If the bath and the herbs did not lower the fever, than nothing would and all hope would be lost for good.

Translations:

Ion nin: My son

Mellon nin: My friend

Ada: Dad/Daddy