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Legolas improved over the next few days and was finally let out of bed. He went immediately to the library, where he and Aragorn helped search Elrond's books for the vanwacoi cure.
It wasn't until that moment that Legolas truly realized just how many books Elrond owned. Looking at the huge pile that the healer and king had already looked through, Legolas saw another big stack on the table, and then the shelves that covered the entire room. "Oh," was all that he could say.
Elrond inwardly winced at the expression on Legolas' face…the younger elf fleetingly displayed despair. Probably doubting that we can find the book that we need. The expression on the younger elf's face melted away immediately—as Legolas was never one to give in to hopelessness—and he sat at the table, picking up one of the books.
"How do you feel, ion-nin?" Thranduil asked him, not able to stop himself.
"I am fine now, Ada," Legolas told him, with a smile.
Thranduil smiled back, and checked another book.
"We are looking for a slip of paper?" Aragorn asked.
Elrond nodded. "Aye, it is likely folded, and contains a list of the antidote ingredients."
They searched books for an hour before a sudden rumbling noise filled the air.
Elrond looked at Aragorn, to find the human chuckling at Legolas.
The elf-prince was blushing.
"Someone is hungry!" Aragorn exclaimed. "I shall go get lunch."
"I'll come," said Legolas, also rising.
For two weeks, the routine was the same. The four of them looked through books from morning to night; without finding the paper, and without Elrond remembering any further details as to which book it was likely in.
One day unexpectedly broke up the monotony.
Legolas walked into the library rather stiffly, to Elrond's notice. Aragorn was behind him, looking concerned.
"Legolas?" he said.
The younger elf looked up at him, putting on a fake smile. "Good morning."
"Good morning, ion-nin!" Thranduil said, not noticing Elrond's concern as he flipped through a book.
Legolas walked towards his chair, and Elrond studied his movements. He watched Legolas pull out his chair, sit down, and pick up a book. Elrond could tell that something was off, but it took him a minute to realize what it was. "Legolas!" he exclaimed. "How has your shoulder been faring?"
Thranduil looked up, his face showing horror to realize that Elrond wasn't the only one to forget about the young elf's problem, with everyone's minds focused on finding the missing paper. Legolas had been very good at hiding his discomfort…until today.
Legolas inwardly winced at the question. "It's fine."
Elrond got up from his chair. Walking around the table, he stood in front of the younger elf. "Raise your arm."
Legolas looked up at him, but instead of obeying, his face turned dark. "I will not!" he said, jumping up from his chair. "Why must everyone treat me as if I were an elfling? I can take care of myself! I do not need everyone else to do it for me!"
Everyone stared in shock, as Legolas suddenly headed for the door.
Aragorn jumped up and took off running, making it there before Legolas and blocking his exit.
Legolas glared at him, breathing heavily, but Aragorn glared right back, not moving. After a few seconds, the ire in Legolas' eyes slowly faded, and he realized what he'd just done.
Aragorn stepped away from the door, wrapping an arm around his friend and leading him back to the table.
Legolas lowered his head, unable to meet Elrond's eyes. "Please forgive me," he pleaded, sorrowfully. "I do not know what came over me."
Elrond smiled, putting a hand under the prince's chin and lifting his head up. "But I do," he said. "You are suffering through a very traumatic ordeal, and having people hover over you does not help. Your body hurts when it ordinarily shouldn't, and you are forced to perform a tedious daily task which is crucial to your life but seems to have no end in sight. You are frustrated, Legolas, and it is normal."
"But not for me!" Legolas exclaimed. "It is not normal for me."
Elrond shook his head. "It is normal for you to grow frustrated…it is normal for everyone. What is not usual for you is outwardly showing it. That is why I propose a break. What say you, Thranduil?"
The king had been quiet up till now, staring in stunned dismay at his son. Guilt had overcome him again, at what Legolas was suffering. "Aye," he said, finding his voice. "I think that is wise."
Elrond looked at Legolas, stepping forward and hugging the younger elf. "We only hover because we care. You know this."
Legolas was surprised at the sudden embrace, but he returned it, immediately feeling better. "Aye, I know, and I thank you for it."
Thranduil moved forward, hugging his son tightly when Elrond moved away. "We will find the cure, ion-nin. Even if I have to tear this library apart with my bare hands."
Elrond frowned at the king's choice of words.
"I know," Legolas said, with a sigh. Lowering his head again, he shook it. "I feel so foolish…"
Aragorn threw his arm around his friend again, chuckling. "No need for that, I have yet to see you make a fool of yourself."
Legolas smiled sheepishly.
"This morning, that is," Aragorn continued, with a smirk. "But the day is still young."
Legolas' mouth opened in a look of mock-shock, and he playfully shoved his friend's arm away with a chuckle.
Thranduil smiled widely, relieved to see his son in better spirits.
"Come," said Elrond. "Let us find something else to do for the time being."
Everyone followed him to the door, but Legolas looked back at all the books that they still had yet to check. It seemed so overwhelming. But how can I doubt? Elrond has saved my life more times than I can count…he'll do it again.
Leaving the library behind, the three elves and a human aimlessly walked down the corridors.
Legolas suddenly sighed, and Aragorn looked askance at him.
"Memories of when you were a child," the elf said. "Chasing you down these halls when I found a snake in my bed…"
Aragorn chuckled.
"Or a fish…"
Aragorn chuckled again.
"Or a—"
"I have many fond memories of racing you up these steps," interrupted Aragorn, gesturing towards the great staircase. "You always let me win."
"And wreaked havoc in the process!" said Elrond, also smiling.
Legolas glanced at Aragorn, with a sly look that the human instantly recognized.
With a laugh, both elf and human darted up the stairs.
Elrond and Thranduil were slightly surprised at the childish display, but smiled as they started to ascend at a more normal pace.
Legolas was in the lead, but he started to slow and ended up behind his friend. Aragorn thought that Legolas was letting him win again, and continued running. He made it to the top and down the hall, dashing around a corner on his way to the next staircase, before realizing that Legolas was no longer behind him.
Stopping, Aragorn quickly backtracked and rounded the corner again. The sight that greeted him made him gasp.
"Legolas!" he exclaimed, rushing to his friend, who was on his hands and knees on the floor, a hand to his chest as he gasped for air.
"A...Ara…" Legolas whispered, trying to say his friend's name.
"Do not speak!" Aragorn exclaimed, grabbing him by the arms. It was obvious to him what was wrong. "ADA!" he shouted.
The sudden sound of two people running up the stairs would've been humorous had the circumstances been different.
"What happened?!" Thranduil exclaimed.
Elrond knelt beside the young elf, immediately recognizing the problem. "Nettle leaves and juniper berries!" he said to Aragorn.
The human nodded and jumped up, dashing down the hall.
"What is wrong with him?!" Thranduil yelled, as Elrond picked Legolas up and quickly ran down the hall to the prince's room.
"Hush!" Elrond shot back. "Witnessing your panic will only make him worse!"
Thranduil followed, scared out of his wits as he listened to his son's troubled breathing.
"Build a fire!" Elrond told Thranduil, as he kicked the door open and rushed to the bed. "Calm yourself, Legolas! Mimic my breathing pattern!" he said, sitting on the bed and leaning Legolas against his chest. "Close your eyes and imagine nature. The gardens of Imladris are beautiful, are they not? Hear the song of the birds as they perch in the trees?"
Anything more that Elrond said was lost on Thranduil as he quickly lit the fire and rushed back to find his son struggling to take in air. The king's own breathing hitched in his lungs at the sight, and he was uncharacteristically startled when the door flew open again.
Aragorn ran to his father, handing him a cup which he poured some oil into, before adding some water to dilute it. The human then rushed over to the fire, holding two pots over the flames to boil the water within.
"Sit on the bed, Thranduil!" Elrond suddenly said.
The king complied, and Elrond placed Legolas within his father's arms. "Keep him upright," he said, quickly opening Legolas' tunic.
Thranduil held onto his son tightly, his heart thudding painfully inside his chest when his son's head lolled limply against his shoulder. It was obvious that Legolas was on the verge of passing out.
Elrond poured the oil into his hand, quickly spreading it over Legolas' chest. A strong aroma filled the air, and Thranduil nervously wondered what it was.
"Breathe, penneth!" Elrond said, spreading more of the oil. He reached over and tapped the elf's face, hoping to bring Legolas back to full awareness. "Breathe!"
The physical contact worked, for Legolas opened his eyes. He heard Elrond's command and tried to take deeper breaths.
Elrond inwardly sighed in relief at the slight ease in Legolas' breathing, but he knew that it wasn't enough. "Estel!"
Aragorn had removed the pots from the fire and was returning. He sat them on the nightstand and dropped leaves into one of them.
Elrond grabbed the other pot, which contained boiled berries. He held it before Legolas' face, pushing some of the young elf's hair behind his ear. "Breathe this in, Legolas. Inhale the steam."
Legolas obeyed, ignoring the steam's heat on his face. He felt his father pull his hair back behind his head, and his senses started to clear with the return of his breath.
Thranduil's heart continued to pound as he listened to his son's wheezy breathing. He sighed as he held his son's hair in one hand, using the other to gently rub Legolas' back.
Aragorn finished with the nettle tea, adding more water to cool it as Elrond held out his hand, taking the tea and holding it to the young elf's lips.
Legolas started to drink it, but choked when his lungs forced him to inhale.
Elrond pulled the cup away. "Slowly, penneth, small sips."
Legolas obeyed; taking a sip, a breath, a sip, a breath…until the tea was finished.
Elrond handed the cup back to Aragorn and smiled at Legolas, who was blinking dazedly as he rested against his father.
"What…was…that?" Legolas whispered.
"Hush," said Elrond. "Do not speak." He sighed, trying to find the right words to explain. "There is a condition that some humans suffer from that affects their lungs. Upon exertion, from emotional upset, or sometimes for no apparent reason, their lungs seem to close up and breathing cannot be maintained. It appears that you now suffer from this malady."
"What?!" Legolas and Thranduil both exclaimed.
"Do not upset yourself, Legolas!" Elrond exclaimed, not wanting him to lose his breath again.
Legolas was in shock over the healer's words. Still breathing heavily, he said nothing.
"What causes this condition?" Thranduil asked, trying to remain calm for his son's sake.
Elrond shook his head. "Its cause is unknown. The humans that suffer it are normal in every other way."
"We have seen it before," said Aragorn. "In children, women, and grown men. It is controllable, mellon-nin, fear not."
Legolas looked at him, giving his friend a slight smile. He tried to take a deeper breath but when he exhaled, it came out with a loud squeak. He started to cough, and Aragorn poured more tea and handed it to him.
Legolas drank it, closing his eyes when his father took the empty cup and handed it back.
Elrond got off the bed and went around to the other side, fluffing up the pillows and pulling down the blanket. "Bring him here, but do not lay him flat."
Thranduil complied, moving from behind his son and pulling him back against the pillows, keeping Legolas in a reclining position.
"Sleep," Elrond told him. "Your body just suffered something traumatic. Rest."
Legolas said nothing, the details of his condition still sinking in.
"You said that his problem can be controlled?" Thranduil asked Aragorn.
Aragorn nodded. "With nettle tea and inhaled steam from juniper berries."
"And juniper oil," said Elrond, gesturing to the substance that he'd spread on Legolas' chest. "In a diluted form."
Thranduil nodded, though he sighed at the same time. "So as long as he keeps a supply of these things on hand, he should be able to combat the effects?"
Aragorn nodded.
Thranduil said nothing for a minute, before opening his mouth to speak again.
"Hush!" Elrond whispered.
Looking towards him, they saw that Legolas had fallen fast asleep.
"My poor son," Thranduil whispered, gently laying a hand on Legolas' forearm, rubbing back and forth. "My poor son…"
Yes, I gave the poor elf asthma! (hides from shocked readers) Hey, if the vanwacoi kills an elf's elven healing ability, doesn't it make sense that the afflicted elf can develop chronic illnesses, since the elven healing ability is not present to prevent it? (hides) ;)