Disclaimer: See Chapter One

A/N: Hey there people! Oh my goodness, I can not believe that there is only one more chapter after this! Eek! Thank you all so much for your reviews, I love you all! Many many thanks to my be fabulous beta enb2004! As proimsed, here is Chapter 23. Enjoy!

Outside of the healing wing, Glorfindel, Aruviel, and Fuina were waiting anxiously for some news. Glorfindel was trying to decide whether no news was good news or if there was just nothing for anyone to report as of yet.

"What is taking them so long?" Aruviel asked, her normal amount of patience disappearing very rapidly.

"I'm sure if anyone had something to report they would have found us," Fuina said uncomfortably. It was normally she who lacked patience and not her eldest sister. To find herself playing the role of the patient one was unsettling.

Glorfindel found himself wishing that he could agree with Fuina. For the past few minutes though, adrenaline and anxiety were surging through his body for some unknown reason.

Looking at the door to the healing wing, he could not help but think that there was something happening behind those closed doors that they did not know about. If one listened very carefully, they could hear raised voices emanating from with the healing wing.

Aruviel and Fuina had apparently heard it too for they came closer to the door. "What's going on in there? Why are they shouting?" Fuina asked fearfully.

"I wish I knew. I think that someone may be coming to get us any second now," Glorfindel said. Suddenly, he wished that no one would come for that would mean that there was nothing wrong.

Unfortunately, Elrohir suddenly came barreling through the doors, almost hitting Aruviel and Fuina with the force they were opened with.

"You must come with me! Estel is getting worse and may, may not make it," Elrohir said with tears running down his face.

Glorfindel quickly grabbed Elrohir and ran into the healing room with Aruviel and Fuina right behind him.

They entered just in time to see Elrond scooping Estel into his arms and running towards where Elladan was running a presumably cold bath.

Glorfindel's eyes widened to the size of saucers when he saw how violently Estel was shaking. He wanted to run up and help Elrond but he knew that he would only get in Himband and Elrond's way.

So, reluctantly, he, Aruviel, and Fuina sat down next to Thranduil and his sons who were watching just as helplessly.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the corner of his eye, Elrond saw that Elrohir had fetched everyone else but didn't let it distract him. He had a job to do.

"Elladan, is the bath cool enough yet?" Elrond asked while holding the still trembling Estel.

"I believe so Ada," Elladan said running a hand through his hair nervously. Normally he wasn't like this when it came to patients. This was his little brother though! If he made a mistake and Estel suffered as a result, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Testing the water to make sure it was cool enough, Elrond gently lowered Estel into the tub. "You three, get those herbs and put them into the water," he said while sponging Estel gently with a soft cloth.

He was relieved that Estel had stopped trembling upon entering the water. Now if they could keep it that way then everything would more than likely be fine. That was what he hoped to be the case anyway.

Himband returned with the herbs and he laced the water with them. The herbs seemed to work and for the first time in many days Estel was able to breathe freely.

Elrond nearly cried in relief when he heard the deep breath. Estel was going to be just fine, although he had a long road to recovery ahead of him.

"Elrohir, you can take him out now. He should be just fine."

At Elrond's pronouncement, everyone in the room heaved a huge sigh of relief. Estel was going to be fine.

Elrohir gently scooped Estel out of the bath and to his relief, felt that Estel's skin, .while still slightly warm, was far cooler than it had been in days. He carefully handed Estel over to his father who dried Estel off and quickly tucked him back into bed.

"He will be okay now, right?" Legolas asked uncertainly despite Elrond's words.

Elrond smiled and patted Legolas on the shoulder. "Estel shall be fine Legolas, we have nothing to fear. He still has a long recovery period ahead of him but all shall be well."

"Thank the Valar," Thranduil murmured, patting Estel's head. He barely knew Estel but he desperately wanted to get to know the child Legolas had befriended so easily. From what he had seen so far, Estel was quite the remarkable child. If Estel lived to see adulthood, Thranduil knew he would make excellent king one day. He intended to make sure that happened.

"Go and get some rest everyone, it has been a long few days," Elrond said sitting down wearily next to Estel's bed.

"Nay Ada! We want to be here with Estel!" Elrohir exclaimed.

Elrond smiled and motioned for Elrohir to sit down. " I did not say you had to leave the room ion nin. I just said to rest. You can all do that in here. I would not ask you to leave your brother now."

"What of you though Adar? You need rest as well," Elladan said.

"Nay, I shall not rest until Estel has awakened," Elrond said.

"Elrond please! You have exhausted yourself in caring for Estel. You will be of no use to him if you collapse from exhaustion!" Aruviel said, unconsciously mimicking her father's body language when he was frustrated with someone.

"My daughter is quite correct. You need to rest mellon nin," Thranduil said gently.

Elrond scowled at them all. "Estel is my son and I shall not take any rest until he awakens, end of story."

"But my Lord, your body needs rest!" Himband protested.

"You should listen to him Elrond. He is a healer as well," Glorfindel said trying to reason with his friend.

"No, not even you Glorfindel can change my mind. I shall remain awake while the rest of you rest," Elrond said.

"Oh very well. At least eat and drink something though!" Himband said coming over with some lembas and wine.

Elrond smiled. "That much I can do mellon nin, so long as you all eat as well."

"Then it is a good thing that the kitchens have provided us with all this food," Iaurdil said suddenly while carrying a large tray of food.

Everyone dug into their food eagerly. It had been some time since they had eaten a proper meal due to their worry over Estel.

Elrond watched everyone eat happily and dug into his own food. "Here Elrond, have some of this wine," Thranduil offered.

Elrond smiled and allowed Thranduil to pour him a glass. He sipped it and leaned back in his chair contentedly. Without realizing it, he closed his eyes and before he realized what was happening, had slipped into a deep sleep.

Elladan and Elrohir watched in amazement as their father slept. They turned to Thranduil, their faces showing their puzzlement.

Thranduil just grinned and turned to Himband. "Himband, did you do what I think you did?"

"Possibly," he admitted with a smile.

Legolas groaned and shook his head. "Himband, you must have a death wish. I can not believe you did that." Iaurdil nodded in agreement with Legolas. "Are you sure you're feeling all right? He will figure out what you did."

"What, what did you do Himband?" Elrohir asked.

"Isn't it apparent? He drugged him," Aruviel said with something akin to respect in her voice.

Elladan and Elrohir's eyes widened and they turned to Himband in surprise. "You drugged our father?! Dear Valar save you! When he realizes what you did, I do not believe even Thranduil can save you from his wrath," Elladan said.

Himband scowled. "He needs to sleep, so I just helped him along. If he happens to dismember me when he awakes, it will have been worth it."

"It is your death wish mellon nin. Do not crawl to me for protection though," Thranduil said half seriously.

Himband looked affronted at the very thought of hiding behind his lord for protection. "Of course not my Lord! I am no coward!"

"Yet. You have never seen Elrond angry apparently. Believe me when I say even the most courageous of men and elves cower in fright and dive for cover when he is angry. You might consider sailing to Valinor," Glorfindel said.

He had only been on the receiving end of Elrond's anger twice and that had been more than enough.

"I shall be fine," Himband said defiantly.

"Tis your decision mellon nin," Delelen said.

"It is and I say I shall be just fine. For now, eat, all of you," Himband said sternly, eyeing the his King and sons is particular.

"Peace mellon nin, we are eating," Thranduil said. "Good, and afterwards, you are all to rest while I keep watch. Do not even bother protesting or I shall drug you all as well. Don't think I won't do it, for I shall," Himband said threateningly. Reluctantly, everyone did as he said. They had no wish to try his patience and be on the receiving end of his wrath as well. Within no time, nearly everyone was drowsing in chairs leaving Himband to watch over his precious charge.

"Elrondions and Thranduilions. The whole lot of you are stubborn ones and your daughters even more so," he muttered before sitting down and monitoring Estel for any change. "Still, I wouldn't have it any other way."

Taking a look at the various sleeping elves and his human charge, he settled down for a long night's watch.

Translations:

Ada: Dad/Daddy

Ion nin: My son

mellon nin: my friend