Elrond and Glorfindel found King Thranduil in his room (still faithfully guarded, as per Elrond's wishes) huddled together in one corner of his bed. He was bent in half, his forehead resting upon his knees. If he had heard the two enter the room, he did not show it. Softly, the two Rivendell elves approached him, wary lest the king was still not himself.
"Thranduil," Elrond called.
Slowly, the Sindar elf raised his head to look at the elder elf. A quick glance at the king's face and eyes told Elrond most of the information that he was seeking. Malice was still written on his face and a fire still burned within his eyes. But his body was relaxed, in a defeated pose. The serum was beginning to work, Elrond quickly realized. The suggestions of Kyno still had hold in his mind, but he was finally coming to realize the implications of his actions. His love was not wholly back with Legolas, but in his mind he was beginning to grasp what he had actually done and perhaps part of him was grieving for his actions. Still, he spoke not a word to either of the two elves in his room.
"Thranduil! Look at me!" Elrond commanded when it became clear that he was going to pay no heed to him. Reluctantly, the king brought his gaze back to Elrond.
"You have no right to be here," Thranduil spoke at last. "This is not your kingdom. Legolas is not your son. Your precious Estel stole my son's loyalty from me and now you steal from me the right to deal with such traitors as is my wish. What do you wish now, the crown and kingship of this land? I tell you now I will not see my power stripped from me by you, half breed elf that you are!"
"Silence! You will not speak to Lord Elrond in such tones again, Orophorian!" Glorfindel roared at the king, using Thranduil's fear of him to his own advantage.
Thranduil shrank back a little at the tone in Glorfindel's voice. Though the elf had spoken with great authority, it had been mostly for show and in seeing the king's reaction to the verbal lashing he had received, he was secretly pleased. He still held power over the proud elven king, which meant that there was still a chance to use that to their advantage in the effort to reclaim Thranduil's normal, pure state of mind.
Thranduil dropped his gaze back down the sheets covering his bed and stared at them as if they had suddenly become the most interesting things in all Middle Earth.
"Thranduil, if ever once you were my friend, remember that now and listen to me. I wish you no harm, nor do I wish anything of you save for your safety and for the safety of your son," Elrond said to Thranduil, speaking in soft tones.
Elrond gave a quick glance to the ewer of water and goblet that he had left for Thranduil on the previous night. The goblet lay on one side, placed without care. The ewer was nearly empty. Elrond smiled to himself. Thranduil must have drunk it during the day, for which he was glad. Now he could attempt to give the king another strong dose of the antidote.
"He still lives then?" Thranduil asked flatly. There was neither malice in his voice nor was there even the slightest hint of concern lacing the question.
"Yes, Legolas lives still," Elrond replied in the same tone of voice.
If the healer was hoping to see a reaction from the king, his wish was not granted. Thranduil sat unmoving, allowing no emotion to play across his face and body. Yet Elrond held him in his gaze for several long minutes, studying him, searching him. After an uneasy silence, he turned on his heel and beckoned Glorfindel to follow. He did not speak again until the door to the king's room shut behind them once they were out of the room.
"The king is starting to come around a little," he said to his long-time friend and the guards who stood on watch. "Keep guard still this night. I do not know how long it shall be before Thranduil regains total mastery of his mind once more. If he asks for news of Legolas, give him no answer but instead send for me. He must not see his son, nor know of his condition until I know that he is well enough to handle it. I am sorry, my friends, to have placed this burden upon you."
"Do not apologize, my lord," replied the dark haired elf who stood to Elrond's right. "We are more than willing to aid you."
"Give this ewer of water to the king as soon as I am gone," he said, turning to where the king's meal had just been placed by one of the servants.
The female elf, knowing that something was wrong with her king (without knowing specifically what), had wished to be spared from entering the royal bedchambers. To this request, Elrond had been kind to her, and Glorfindel instead had been the one to step up to the task. At least that way, Elrond could be sure that the king was, in fact, consuming some of the antidote. Now Elrond drew forth a pouch from his side. It was an old, worn looking leather pouch that he had found on Kyno's workbench in the prison. He poured the contents of it into the water.
"I am going to increase the dosage of the antidote," he said, speaking now to Glofindel only. "He may be regaining himself somewhat but I fear what I read in Kyno's notes. I will not risk the chance of residual serum within his system that was not nullified by the antidote. Be sure that Thranduil drinks! The herbs I had to use may give the water a slightly bitter taste, but Thranduil must consume all of the contents."
"I will stay all night if I must," Glorfindel said.
"Hannon le (thank you)."