Several days passed since the fight within the throne room with little to distinguish one day from another. Every day Aragorn grew stronger, through Elrond had bade him to stay in bed and rest. Elrond had always been overprotective with his children and would not entertain hearing the man's pleas. Legolas still had not awoken from the death-like sleep that shrouded him. Hope began to utterly fail within the hearts of the elf lord, man and dwarf.
There was good new during this time, despite the bleakness of the situation. In the afternoon of the second day since Elrond had increased the antidote intake for Thranduil, the elven king began asking about his son. Glorfindel it was who first alerted the healer to the change in the king's attitude and hope leapt into the hearts of all. Elrond had immediately risen from his seat to see with his own eyes what had occurred and returned with the best news that could have been hoped for. Thranduil had been cleansed of the venom and was once again master of his own mind and will.
Still, Elrond had feared what reaction Thranduil might have upon seeing Legolas, and so had forbidden him access to the prince's chambers. Thranduil was known to make rash decisions (a trait he had inherited from his father) and Elrond greatly feared what the elven king might do. Yet for all of Elrond's fear, neither he nor Glorfindel were able to long withstand Thranduil's strong will and persistence. The next day he was admitted into Legolas' room.
Out of respect, Elrond and Gimli departed from the room, leaving only Aragorn to witness whatever was to occur, for he still did not truly have the strength to abandon his bed. Still, just before the doors closed behind the two, Elrond distinctly heard the sharp intake of breath and the soft sobs coming from the king.
"Legolas!" he cried as he approached the bed where his son lay unmoving. "What have I done to you, my son? I deserve neither forgiveness nor mercy from the Valar for what I have done. How could I raise a weapon against you, the only light in my life? Please do not leave me! Fight Legolas! Fight to come back! For all the rest of my days I shall regret my actions."
Thranduil pleaded with his son, kneeling by the still form. Then he raised up one hand, caressing the pallid cheek of Legolas as he had so often done when the prince was but a child having nightmares in the dark. Then he bent over and kissed the motionless brow of his son. He drew back in surprise. Legolas' skin was cool to the touch, much cooler than what was normal for an elf. The thought that Legolas might still die seized his heart. Thranduil wept openly, not caring that Aragorn was still in the room.
"My lord Thranduil," spoke up the man, after nearly a quarter of an hour had passed. He had searched his heart long before finding the right words to say to the elven king.
Thranduil turned his attention to Aragorn with painstakingly slow movements. "There is nothing you can say, King Elessar, no words to ease my pain."
Aragorn was undaunted by the reaction and pressed forward with what it was that he wanted to say. "I know that there is nothing that I can say to make your burden lighter. Yet I will try nonetheless."
"I do not wish to hear it."
"Yet I must speak it. Long have I traveled with your son, through trials that would make many a heart quail and the strength of many fail. I know Legolas and I know that he is forged of strength and a great love of life. He lives yet and because of that hope remains. My heart tells me that he will yet pull through this and return to you."
"Truly you know Legolas, but knowledge does not equal wisdom. If Legolas survives his wounds and does indeed make a complete recovery, I still shall always carry such great guilt in my heart. How shall I ever look him in the eye again, knowing that I nearly took his life? And if he should depart to the Halls of Mandos, how then shall I live with myself? No father wants to cause his child pain, yet you see what I have done with my own hands."
"But not of your own will," Aragorn interjected.
Thranduil did not right away answer the man, but whether or not he was heeding Aragorn's words could not be told from his stone-like features.
"I was weak," he said at length. "I was weak and because of that I may have taken my son's life. Whether or not it was my own will that heeded Kyno's poisoned words, I should have had strength enough to stay my hand from that bow. I am sorry Legolas, though sorry makes for a poor cure. Please, my son, hold firm to Arda. Fight to come back into the word of light! Shake off the shadow!"
Once again Thranduil bowed his head and wept and Aragorn felt at a loss to be able to comfort the grieving king. In many respects, he was experiencing many of the same emotions, though he knew that his own grief could not rival that of the elf's father. Still, in all but blood, Legolas was his brother and the thought of losing him was unbearable.
"Please, Legolas," he whispered to himself amid the king's sobs.