Author's Note: There's one more chapter after this, so please don't be too upset with the way that this one ends. Happy holidays to all!
LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...LOTR...
Three more days passed since Thranduil first laid eyes upon his son. Still the elf prince had not awoken. In his heart, Elrond feared that all hope was nearly spent for his recovery. And yet, on the second night, hope once more was kindled, unlooked for in the middle of the night.
Elrond and Glorfindel remained together on vigil that night after persuading Thranduil to take some rest in his own chambers. Gimli and Aragorn too had been moved to another room, for the man was healing well and was strong enough to leave his bed, much to Elrond's gladness.
Somewhere before dawn, Elrond, feeling restless, decided to once again check the status of Legolas' wounds. It was then that the lord of Rivendell noticed several things. Immediate danger of infection was slowly fading, as the wounds that the prince bore were beginning to show the faintest signs of healing. And then, Legolas' breathing was coming easier, each breath coming more deeply. The rise and fall of his chest could now distinctly be seen at a glance. Elrond touched the back of his right palm to the prince's forehead and face, feeling for his body temperature. He drew his hand back in surprise. Legolas, though still cool to the touch, was most definitely feeling warmer. Elrond could not be sure in the warm orange glow of the candlelight, but he thought that he could see the young elf's color returning to his face. Scarcely believing what he was seeing, Elrond felt for the prince's pulse, pressing two fingers against Legolas' wrist. It was true! Legolas' pulse was growing steadily stronger.
"What has put you in such a fine mood, my lord?" Glorfindel asked, observing Elrond.
To anyone who did not know the healer well, the remark would have seemed odd. Outwardly, Elrond showed nothing. He was merely a somber healer tending to a gravely ill patient. But to the eyes of Glorfindel, who had known the elven lord for many thousands of years, the unmistakable glint of hope burning within him could not be concealed.
"Glorfindel, he is returning to us," Elrond answered. "Indeed I should think that it will not now be long before he awakens."
The powerful elf warrior smiled as he heard the words. "Well done, my friend."
Elrond shook his head. "Nay, it was not I who has helped Legolas get to this point. All that has occurred has been in the prince's hands. In many respects he is so like his father; he stubbornly holds on to what is his. In this case, we are lucky, for this has steeled his will into maintaining his hold on his life in Arda."
Now the third day came to pass without Legolas showing any signs of being ready to awaken from his troubled sleep. Thranduil was encouraged by Elrond's report in the morning and he renewed his vigil over his son, always accompanied by Aragorn and Gimli. The day slowly wore on until finally the sun began to climb back down the horizon. Then Legolas began to stir until at last he opened his eyes, only to find himself staring into the face of Elrond, who was checking on him.
"Lord Elrond," Legolas began weakly, still trying to focus through the weakness of his body and his blurred vision. "Had I known you were coming to Mirkwood, I would have ordered a celebration," he quipped.
At Legolas' voice, Thranduil snapped suddenly to attention, for he had crossed the room and had been staring out of his son's window into the darkening forest. Now he crossed the room in long quick strides, making his way back to Legolas' bedside.
"Father!" Legolas exclaimed as he caught sight of the king.
"My son! You are awake! Never have I been so glad to see you awake," Thranduil said as he embraced his son. "I do not ask for your forgiveness, for I deserve none," he added as he pulled away once more.
Legolas shook his head. "There is nothing to forgive, father. I know that it was not you who did such actions. Sauron's evil was at work. But I take it that Lord Elrond has healed you?"
Elrond nodded his head. "And I take it that you knew of who Celebloki truly was?"
"Yes, though I did not know until far too late. It was not until Kyno said his name that I made the connection. Up until then, once Aragorn had told me all that he had learned, I thought perhaps Celebloki was merely a Dark Elf come to usurp the throne. But once Kyno said his name, I remembered suddenly the healer's eldest son and the story of his disappearance. The very fact that he was alive after so many years caused me to think that perhaps he had been protected within the walls of Dol Duldur from the orcs and spiders, who surely would have killed such a young elfing."
"We found the mark of Sauron upon his body," Gimli said. "He and Kyno were shot down by the palace guards when they tried to attack your father."
Legolas looked thoughtful and sad. "It is a shame that such a young one had his life taken away. He could have been great within these woods but instead his options were taken away and his mind overthrown by the Enemy. I pity him in a way."
"Well I do not," Thranduil said as he fixed the pillow beneath his son's head. "He nearly cost me my most precious treasure...you."
"And nearly Aragorn and Gimli as well," said Legolas. "I am sorry for the trouble that I have caused for both of you. Aragorn, I do not really know how to thank you for all of you help…and for your attempt to save my life in the throne room."
He glanced at the man sitting across from him, the bandages covering his arrow wound clearly visible. Aragorn laughed.
"Thank me? No, my friend. There is no need for such things between friends. Did you honestly think that I would do less for you?"
Legolas laughed at the man's light ribbing. "I should hope not, after all that I endured just so you could return to Gondor as the king. For your sake I even made friends with a dwarf."
He was joking of course and Aragorn laughed a deep, pure laugh. Gimli chuckled quietly but quickly aimed a retort at his friend, which soon had even Elrond laughing lightly. When the laughter died down, Elrond spoke.
"Legolas, tell me, how is it that you feel? Surly your sense of humor remains unscathed at the very least."
"I feel a bit weak and the arrow wound aches. It is a dull, throbbing pain, but otherwise better than I could have expected."
"Good," Elrond replied. "The salve I have been spreading on the wound is working. I had feared that your wound might be too extensive for it to have much virtue. Indeed, I am amazed at how quickly you seem to be rebounding. Surely I had expected many more days before you began your verbal sparring with my beloved son and master dwarf."
"He has always been strong that way," Thranduil remarked. "Nothing I have ever witnessed has ever kept Legolas down for long."
Legolas nodded. "Indeed I have full intention of returning to my warriors before the week is out."
He was only half serious, that Thranduil knew by the tone in his son's voice. And yet, he knew that given the chance, Legolas would stick by that remark. If he were to be fully healed within a week's time, Legolas would certainly not think twice about rejoining his men and beginning his work cleansing Mirkwood anew. But chances were, and this he could tell that Legolas already knew, that a week would still find the prince recovering from his wounds. True, he would heal faster now that he was awake and not fighting to retain his life, but the wounds that he bore had been extremely damaging and it would be several weeks before he would be healed well enough to return to the hunt.
At the prince's words, Elrond smiled slightly and shook his head. "I am sure that you do have such intentions. It is a shame that you will not be able to stick to them. You will need time to heal properly. Also, the Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel ride hither to destroy Dol Guldur. You should be at their side with your father when that occurs, not off hunting spiders."
Legolas snapped to attention. "The Lord and Lady are on their way?"
Elrond nodded. "That is why I have come."
Quickly, he told the wounded elf all that he wished to know concerning his own travels with Glorfindel. Legolas seemed very interested in the tale and stopped Elrond at several points to ask him questions. To the young elf's curiosity, Elrond smiled to himself in amazement. He had not been joking when he had said that he had expected much more time before Legolas showed signs of being himself completely. But the young prince seemed perfectly healthy and strong for one who had only just awoken from the brink of death. Truly, if the healer had not known of the dire situation that had hung over Legolas' head earlier, he reasoned that he would never have been the wiser.