Looking up into the trees, Aragorn sat motionless beside the fire. The sound of falling rain pattered on the 'roof' of the thicket, and the human looked to where Legolas slept. They'd changed the elf out of his soaked clothes and gently laid him beside the fire, forbidding him to move.
Legolas had gladly obeyed. Elrond's medicine hadn't taken effect yet, and he hoped for sleep, praying that the terrible headache would be gone when he awoke.
Four hours had passed since then, and the rain was still falling. Aragorn was glad that they'd stopped when they did, or they would not have found such excellent shelter.
Movement suddenly caught Aragorn's attention, and he looked to see Legolas' hand slowly come up to cover his eyes. Sighing, he assumed that the elf was still in pain, and he crossed over to him.
"Legolas?" he whispered.
The elf pulled up his hand and squinted one eye at the human.
Aragorn smiled. "Is the pain any better?"
Legolas covered his eye again. "Aye, it is, thankfully."
"I am glad, mellon-nin," Aragorn said, relieved. "Do you feel up to eating?"
"That depends on what you have," the elf answered.
Aragorn chuckled. "I have something that you will enjoy very much."
Legolas' left eye popped out from under his hand again, and he gave a slight smile. "Is it what I think it is?"
Aragorn stood. "Mayhap…" he said, heading towards his horse.
Legolas slowly pushed himself up on his right elbow, watching as his friend came back with a bag.
Aragorn sat, opening it and taking out the much-loved strawberry pastries.
"Ai…" Legolas groaned, smiling. "If I do gain weight, it will be your fault."
Aragorn chuckled. "Enjoy them while you can, we don't have them in Imladris…"
Legolas sighed.
"We have better ones," Aragorn finished.
Legolas smiled, chuckling with his friend.
"That is a very enjoyable sound to hear!" said a sudden voice.
Turning, Legolas saw his father and Elrond walking over from beyond the trees.
"Where were you?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil sat beside him, eyeing the pastry in his son's hand. "We scouted ahead, to see how far we can get before needing to once again take the path. How do you feel?"
"Better," Legolas told him, taking a bite of his pastry.
Elrond sat in front of Legolas, looking deep into his eyes. "How much has your pain lessened?"
Legolas swallowed, using the advantage to think up an answer. He hated to be treated as an invalid, and hated to make his father worry. "It has lessened by half," he said, exaggerating slightly.
Elrond smiled, reaching for the waterskin that contained the medicine. "This herb can be very effective. I am glad that it was able to help."
Legolas took the waterskin, almost fearful of tilting his head back again. Praying that the stabbing throb wouldn't claim him once more, he drank the medicine and slowly lowered his head back down.
Everyone was staring at him, obviously thinking the same thing.
Blinking, Legolas waited a minute, relieved to see that the motion had only increased the pain a little, rather than causing an attack of stabbing throbs. He smiled at everyone, and they seemed to visibly relax. "When do we move on?" he asked.
"I do not see the point in continuing today," Thranduil said. "It is still raining as heavily as it was earlier, and if we leave now, we will not be sheltered by the trees for more than a few hours. Also, ion-nin, I think that you need to rest."
Legolas sighed, having expected his father to say that.
"This type of headache can very easily intensify once more," said Elrond. "The motion of your horse would likely do it."
Legolas knew that they were right, but he was so anxious to get to Rivendell…eager for Elrond to restore him to what he'd been for nearly three thousand years.
Thunder suddenly rumbled, its loudness making Legolas wince.
"Rest," said Aragorn, pushing him to lie down again.
With his father, Elrond, and Aragorn all giving him stern looks, Legolas knew that he had no choice. He inwardly sighed, too upset to sleep.
"We shall resume our journey in the morning," said Elrond. "Be at peace, Legolas, we will reach Imladris soon."
Legolas closed his eyes with another sigh, and Thranduil put a comforting hand on his arm. At the touch, he reopened his eyes, looking at the three people surrounding him.
As much as Legolas hated to be pitied and coddled, the expressions of concern on their faces lifted his spirits, for it showed how much they cared. Their feelings were never in doubt to Legolas, but he was so grateful to have their support in such a difficult time.
When Legolas fell asleep a minute later, he had a smile on his face.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legolas slept peacefully for hours, but awoke in the middle of the night. Opening his eyes, he looked around their campsite, realizing that he didn't hear the sound of rain hitting their tree-shelter any longer.
Hearing a sudden odd sound, Legolas carefully turned his head to find his father sleeping beside him. The elven-king's sleep appeared troubled, and Legolas knew that he was probably dreaming of terrible things happening to his son, in light of the circumstances.
Turning onto his side, Legolas reached out a hand and gently touched his father's arm. Softly, he began to sing an old elvish lullaby that Thranduil had sung to him when he was a child.
Kaim, kaim, ion-edhelhen, kaim…( Sleep, sleep…my elfling, sleep…)
Adareth si, nai car al nor… (Father's here, so do not weep…)
Chebathon le band a nella…(I will keep you safe and sound…)
Si na manke nin meleth na hiren. (Here is where my love is found.)
Thranduil suddenly smiled in his sleep and his expression eased.
Legolas smiled himself, pleased that his tactic had worked. Suddenly seeing something out of the corner of his eye, he turned, wincing when the rapid motion shot pain through his head.
Aragorn stopped walking, seeing that he'd startled his friend. Sighing inwardly, he strode forward as Legolas scooted away from his father and tried to stand.
The elf was hindered by his bad arm and aching head, so he gratefully accepted the human's help.
"Why are you awake?" Aragorn whispered. "Are you all right?"
"Aye," Legolas answered, rubbing his right temple. "I do not know what woke me. Mayhap it was my father; his sleep was troubled."
Aragorn shot a look at the now peacefully-sleeping king, and he and Legolas walked to the other side of the campfire, quietly passing the sleeping Elrond.
Legolas sighed as he sat, giving Aragorn a melancholy look.
"Do you wish to speak of what troubles you, my friend?" Aragorn said.
Legolas sighed, carefully shaking his head. "We both know what it is." He paused, smiling slightly. "I am glad that you are here with me, mellon-nin."
Aragorn smiled and put an arm around the elf's shoulders.
They sat there for a while in silence, before Legolas spoke again.
"I worry for my father."
Aragorn looked at him.
"He blames himself," Legolas whispered. He sighed, looking at Aragorn. "As much as it pains me to know, I cannot fault him for that, for I would blame myself too if I were him…even though it is not his fault."
Aragorn nodded, not sure how to respond.
Legolas sighed again, rubbing his temple once more. He shivered in the chilly air, hoping that his friend wouldn't notice.
His hope was in vain. "Lie down," Aragorn said, gently pushing him flat. Standing, the human crossed to where Legolas had been sleeping and picked up his waterskin and blankets—careful not to disturb Thranduil—and brought them over to his friend.
At the feel of the warm blankets enveloping his body, Legolas inwardly sighed with relief and closed his eyes.
"Drink this, Legolas," Aragorn whispered, holding out the herb-laden waterskin.
Opening his eyes again, Legolas half-sat up and obeyed, handing it back when he was finished.
"Sleep," Aragorn said. "The more rest you get, the better your body will be able to fight illness."
"But can it fight?" Legolas asked, rhetorically. "It has never dealt with mortal illness before. I do not see how it will overcome anything, in these circumstances."
Aragorn gave him an uncertain look. "That may be so, Legolas…I cannot really be sure…"
"Worry not," Legolas said, closing his eyes again. "I have seen you suffer a cold many times. Should it happen, it would not kill me."
Aragorn smirked. "No, but during it, you might wish that it would."
Legolas reopened his eyes to see the humor in his friend's face. "Filthy human!" he shot back, trying to hide a smile.
"Stubborn elf!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next morning, Thranduil awoke, surprised to not see Legolas beside him. Thinking that he'd turned over in his sleep, he rolled the other way but found that space to be empty also.
Bolting upright, he looked around the campsite for his son, spotting him on the other side of the fire. Legolas was thickly wrapped in blankets, still asleep, with Aragorn sitting beside him.
Thranduil frowned, thinking that something was wrong. "What happened to my son?!" he exclaimed, leaping to his feet.
Aragorn stood, shaking his head. "Nothing! He is fine."
Thranduil inwardly sighed with relief as he walked around the fire. "How did he get over there?"
"He woke during the night and came over here to talk," Aragorn told him, smiling slightly at the king's over-protectiveness.
Thranduil nodded in acknowledgement of the human's words, brushing some hair out of Legolas' face so that he could see him properly. He couldn't hold back a sigh at seeing his son's eyes closed in sleep; it was something that he'd never be able to get used to.
Legolas wasn't disturbed by his father's touch and slept on, looking as innocent as a young elfling.
Thranduil smiled, thinking back on many fond memories of the once-tiny Legolas.
"Sleep well?"
Looking up, the king saw Elrond walking towards him. The question made him frown. "I am not sure. I believe that I recall having dark dreams."
Elrond nodded, not surprised. "Understandable."
Thranduil looked at Legolas again. "I cannot believe that he is close to three thousand years old," he suddenly said, sounding wistful. "I remember myself at that age…"
Elrond smiled, sitting before the fire. "So do I. The two of us got into almost as much trouble as our sons."
Aragorn cocked his head at those words. "I would like to hear of these incidents!"
"I've heard of a few that rival our own," they suddenly heard.
Looking down, they saw Legolas' eyes open.
Thranduil smiled at him. "How do you feel, elfling?"
Legolas frowned at the name, sitting up on his elbow. "My headache is nearly gone."
"We are pleased to hear that!" said Elrond, smiling. "How fares your shoulder?"
Aragorn helped Legolas sit up all the way, and the elf carefully lifted his arm. "It finally seems to be improving."
Thranduil grinned, patting his son's hand. He'd woken in fear for his son, but felt better seeing that Legolas appeared to be all right this day.
In less than an hour, they were again riding through the dense woods, making their way back towards the path. When they finally reached it, Legolas smiled at the sight of blue sky between the trees.
Taking a deep breath, the Prince of Mirkwood closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face as it lifted his spirits and warmed his chilly body.
A hand touched his good arm, and he reopened his eyes to see his father smiling at him.
Legolas smiled back, as they rode towards the Misty Mountains and closer to his cure.