Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews! :) I was looking so forward to posting this chapter...it's a funny one, lol! ;)

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The sight—or rather, smell—that greeted Legolas when he awoke was not what he expected. Aragorn's face hovering above him wasn't unusual, but what the human held before Legolas' nose was.

Smiling, the elf grabbed the strawberry pastry.

Aragorn chuckled, sliding an arm beneath his friend and pulling him into a seated position in the bed, since Legolas was unable to do it himself with one arm in a sling and his other hand holding the food. "Good morning."

"Mfph," said Legolas, already eating.

Aragorn chuckled again, sitting in a chair beside the bed. "Sleep well?"

Legolas frowned as he chewed, not remembering having gone to bed.

"You fell asleep in the kitchen," said Aragorn, hoping that the elf wouldn't figure out what he had done.

Legolas' eyes widened as he swallowed. "I did?"

Aragorn nodded.

Legolas shook his head, embarrassed at his show of weakness. "I do not recall."

Aragorn shrugged. "No matter, you were very tired. How does your shoulder fare?"

Legolas pulled the sling from his arm and tried to raise it. He only made it to eye level once again.

Aragorn inwardly sighed. Even with a human constitution, Legolas' shoulder shouldn't still pain him so badly.

"This is not normal," said Legolas, reading Aragorn's thoughts in his expression.

Aragorn said nothing, standing from the chair. "I'll get my father."

Legolas nodded, watching as Aragorn left. Sighing, he then got out of bed, changing his clothes as quickly as his injury allowed him. He left his tunic off, knowing that Elrond needed easy access to his shoulder. An unfamiliar chill cooled his skin, and he shivered despite himself.

The door suddenly opened, and Elrond, Thranduil, and Aragorn came in.

Thranduil smiled at the sight of his son sitting on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel today?" he asked, crossing over and sitting beside him.

"I am well," Legolas answered.

"I will let your shoulder answer that question," said Elrond, with a gentle smile. "Raise it for me."

Wishing that Thranduil wasn't there to witness this, Legolas obeyed, attempting to bring it higher this time.

The king frowned at the expression of pained concentration on his son's face, not understanding why Legolas was having such difficulty after five days of healing.

Legolas fought to keep his expression neutral, unaware that he was failing. Growing frustrated, he erroneously reasoned that the pain resulted from unused muscles and he raised his good arm, grabbing his injured one and forcing it higher.

The cry of pain that Legolas gave took them all by surprise, no one knowing that the injured elf would try something so foolish.

Thranduil grabbed his son when Legolas abruptly leaned against him while gripping his injured shoulder, eyes shut tight. "Legolas!"

Aragorn and Elrond both moved closer, each of them wearing an expression of sympathy. They knew that Legolas wasn't used to suffering lingering effects from what would be considered a minor injury to an elf.

"Let me see, penneth," said Elrond, gently touching Legolas' arm.

Legolas said nothing, having not moved from where he leaned against his father. His eyes were still squeezed tightly shut as he suffered through the pain; something that he noticed had been magnified thanks to the vanwacoi. Legolas had suffered dislocated shoulders in the past, and they had never hurt this badly. Is this what it means to be human? Legolas thought. How does Aragorn survive?

"Legolas," said Elrond, as Aragorn gently tried to pry his friend's hand from his injured shoulder.

"Greenleaf," Thranduil anxiously whispered in his son's ear. "Listen to Elrond…he wishes to help you." He felt Legolas move slightly, and loosened his hold on his son as he attempted to sit up.

Everyone sighed at the sight of Legolas' pale face. The elf seemed shaky, and Thranduil kept an arm around his son as Elrond examined him.

"That was not wise," said Elrond, gently. "You need to understand what it is to lack your elven healing ability…"

Legolas sighed.

"You cannot heal at your usual speed," Elrond continued. "No matter how badly you wish too. Your shoulder remained dislocated for six days, and that can cause lasting damage in someone that doesn't have the healing ability of an elf."

Thranduil gently rubbed his son's back, unable to imagine how Legolas felt at hearing such words.

"Your shoulder has only been healing for five days," Elrond continued. "You cannot count the six days previous, as they only served to worsen your injury. I would advise you to not move that shoulder…the damage is deep within, I am unable to feel it."

Legolas sighed again.

"But fear not," said Elrond, his tone changing. "For we soon leave for Imladris."

Legolas' eyebrows shot up, having thought that the healer had changed his mind. "Today?"

Elrond nodded, his heart inwardly breaking at the sight of the prince so eager to regain something that he should never have lost. I cannot believe what this poor elfling has suffered in his life, he thought. "We will leave you to ready yourself," he said, motioning for Thranduil to follow him.

Thranduil would've rather stayed to help his son, but he could see that Elrond wanted to speak to him, so he obeyed.

After the two elves left the room, Aragorn crossed to the closet, taking out a tunic for Legolas to wear. When he turned around, he found Legolas still sitting on the bed, hand clasping his shoulder, staring into space.

"Legolas?"

The elf startled slightly, looking towards the human. Blinking, he smiled slightly. "Forgive me, mellon-nin…I was thinking."

Aragorn smiled back, laying the clothes on the bed. "Understandable, my friend. Come; the sooner you are ready, the sooner we can leave."

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"You wished to speak to me?"

Elrond slowed his pace as they walked down the hall. "Aye…I feel that you do not quite grasp the magnitude of Legolas' situation."

Thranduil felt a knot form in his stomach.

"Though he still has the immortality of an elf," said Elrond. "He has the health of a human." He sighed. "He needs to be watched carefully on this journey, for he is not used to physical limitations. He will attempt to push himself further than he is now able to go."

"You are expecting him to become ill," said Thranduil, nervously.

Elrond nodded. "Aye. He is even now being exposed to sicknesses, and there is no possible way for him to avoid it, for his body has no resistance to illness."

Thranduil stopped walking. "What are you saying? What has he been exposed to?!"

Elrond also stopped, facing him. "Aragorn."

Thranduil frowned. "Aragorn is ill?"

The healer shook his head. "No, but humans can spread illnesses that they carry within their bodies."

The frown remained on the elf-king's face as he learned facts about humans that he never knew…facts that he never needed to know. "So you're saying that when a human is exposed to something, they can spread it to others, even if they themselves do not become ill?"

Elrond nodded. "Exactly. In simpler words, if Aragorn is exposed to an illness that his body fights off—or he has already suffered in the past—then he may not become ill, but another person can still catch it from him."

Thranduil sighed, rubbing his forehead in worry.

"Do not fear," said Elrond. "Your son is still an elf. His immortality still remains."

The king nodded, but sighed. "Aye…but his immortality will be in question if he becomes ill, will it not? As it is when any elf is poisoned or wounded…"

Elrond echoed the sigh. "That is true, but most illnesses do not kill someone who is otherwise strong and healthy."

Would you truly consider Legolas to be 'strong', right now? Thranduil thought. After his body suffered the physical shock of losing it's elven healing ability? Shaking his head, he said nothing, and they continued their walk in silence.

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Breakfast was a hurried affair, though Thranduil and Elrond were astonished at how much Legolas ate.

Aragorn smirked all through the meal, amused at the expressions on the two elves' faces.

Legolas was oblivious to it at first, as he first ate a large bowl of porridge—adding extra honey—and then started on a dish of eggs. Usually he ate one or the other or some fruit, but when he then picked up an apple and set it next to his dish, Thranduil nearly fell off his chair.

Legolas suddenly heard Aragorn snickering, and looked up in mid-chew to find the human and two elves staring at him. "Yes…?"

Aragorn started shaking his head, closing his eyes as he fought to control his laughter.

"Porridge, eggs, and an apple?!" Thranduil exclaimed, shocked at the dramatic increase in his son's appetite.

Let's not forget the pastry that he ate in his room! Aragorn thought.

Legolas blinked as he finished chewing. "Ah…I'm hungry."

"We can see that!" Thranduil said.

Legolas said nothing, and now feeling self-conscious, he put the apple back.

The king suddenly realized what he had done. "Oh, ion-nin, I was not scolding you!" he said. "It is just…so strange to see such a difference in your usual pattern."

Legolas sighed, nodding. "Aye, it is even odder to experience it." He put down his fork, regarding the apple that he'd returned to its bowl. "The even stranger part; I'm not even hungry for the apple, I just…wanted it." He suddenly looked at Aragorn. "Is this why you get into so much trouble? Because humans have no control over themselves?"

"Me?!" said Aragorn, willingly taking the bait. "You're the one who always gets into trouble, and I always end up dragged into it!"

Legolas chuckled at the playful banter as he finished his eggs and stood. "Let us hasten to Imladris; mayhap while there, you can find us some new trouble to get into!"

The thought sent a shiver down Elrond and Thranduil's spines, but they said nothing, knowing that their sons were using the conversation to relieve the stress from their current situation.

"Mayhap we will!" said Aragorn, likewise standing and walking to the door.

Legolas one-handedly pushed in his chair, waiting until everyone was away from the table. When he was sure that no one was looking, he grabbed the apple and stuck it into his pocket.