Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post, but things have been hectic lately, including the fact that I started a new job! I got behind on writing, so I have to space out the posts a little wider until I catch up! I finally got this chapter all ready to post, and what a day to do it...my birthday! ROTFL! I'm 27 now! (groan)

Oh by the way, this story, (as well as my others!) are in a contest! If you'd like to vote for me, send an email to mcfanficcontest (at) gmail .com before Dec. 15. (Wow...this website won't allow the 'at' symbol. Weird, lol!) Thanks very much! :)

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The Mirkwood Palace was an extremely welcome sight to Aragorn. They reached it faster than he anticipated and were soon dismounting.

"Aragorn!" came a voice.

Looking up, they saw that it was Heredil, who ran towards them and grabbed at the bundle in Aragorn's arms.

"Ai!" the Captain exclaimed, at the sight of Legolas' snow-white face. "Come!"

The warm air inside the palace hit Aragorn with physical force, as Heredil lead the way to the healing wing. The human accidentally stumbled, hardly aware of his own alarming physical state, and Heredil quickly grabbed his arm.

Healers were already assembled and waiting when they burst into the door, and Legolas was quickly ripped from Aragorn's grasp. The sudden absence of the elf's weight unbalanced him, and he lost his footing on still-numb legs.

Heredil could see that Aragorn wasn't in good shape himself and quickly pulled the human towards a chair by the fire, sitting him down and grabbing blankets off a nearby bed, wrapping them around his frozen body.

Aragorn barely noticed what went on around him as he watched the healers treat Legolas.

Legolas lay motionless on the bed as the healers quickly changed his wet clothes and wrapped him in blankets. Another healer made some kind of tea and quickly brought it over, carefully feeding it to the unconscious elf.

Heredil walked forward and grabbed the pot, asking if the tea was all right for a human to drink before pouring it into a cup and bringing it to him. "Drink this, Aragorn."

The human didn't move, dazedly staring at his friend.

"Aragorn," said Heredil, growing alarmed. "Drink this, it will warm you."

Aragorn blinked and glanced up at him, raising an unsteady hand to take it.

Heredil helped him drink, realizing that the human wasn't far from Legolas' state.

Hearing a strange sound, Heredil looked up to see that the healers were dragging Legolas' bed closer to the fire. They left it as close to the flames as was safe, and one of the healers finally drew his attention away from their sick prince, noticing the shivering human.

Aragorn barely noticed when the two elves put him in the next bed. His senses drifted, and he woke to the motion of his own bed being dragged to the fire. One of the healers was stoking up the flames as much as he could, while another elf shoved a piece of cloth under the door to prevent heat from escaping the room. He was so comfortable in the bed, thickly wrapped in blankets, and the numbness started to leave his body. His eyes started to close by themselves, as he watched Legolas.

"He will be fine," Heredil said, touching Aragorn's shoulder. "Sleep."

"No he won't," Aragorn said, sleepily. "The vanwacoi…"

Heredil's eyes widened. He'd assumed that Elrond had already given their Prince the antidote; it had been nearly three months since they'd gone to Imladris! Shocked, he opened his mouth to ask why Legolas was still afflicted, but the human was fast asleep.

Sighing nervously, Heredil approached Legolas' bed, sitting on the side of it and laying a gentle hand on the younger elf's face—the only part of Legolas that was visible. He thought back to when Legolas had been born, and couldn't help but smile. He remembered how nervous he'd been when Thranduil and his wife had been stranded over the winter in Imladris that year, as the high pass through the mountains had been blocked by very early snow. That winter had come to Mirkwood fast and hard, much as it had this year. He'd realized that when travel was once more possible, Thranduil's wife would be close to her time to give birth, and he feared the possibly dangerous journey with her in such a delicate state. When the king and queen had arrived carrying a tiny bundle, Heredil had been shocked; especially when he found out how early Legolas had been born. It was a miracle that he'd lived; Elrond had saved the tiny elfling's life, and they were very grateful to have been in Imladris when the baby had come.

Heredil had stood beside the queen's horse, and Thranduil had reached up to take the infant from her, handing him to Heredil so that he could help his wife down.

Heredil had stared in awe at the tiny elfling, and Legolas had opened his eyes and sleepily looked up at him. The bright blue orbs had captured the Mirkwood captain's heart, and a bond between them had instantly formed. From that day on, Heredil had been like an uncle to Legolas.

As he looked at him now, Heredil couldn't ignore the anxiety that hastened his heartbeat. Legolas has returned without being cured…he thought. Why? Was Elrond unable to find the paper containing the antidote? He knew that if this was so, that Legolas only had about three months to live, as Raenwe's poison would claim his life. No! he thought, closing his eyes. No! That cannot happen! It must not! He remembered a time long ago when vanwacoi had come closer to him than it was at this moment, and he shuddered at the thought of its effects on Legolas. Another sudden thought entered his mind, and he opened his eyes. Where is Thranduil? Why did Legolas and Aragorn arrive alone, and without horses! His mouth dropped open at the implications, and he wished that he hadn't commanded Aragorn to sleep…

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When Legolas awoke, he woke slowly. Low voices filled his ears, but he was only able to understand occasional words. His head felt like it was filled with cotton, and he barely knew his own name. His chest felt as if someone was sitting it, and it was difficult to breathe. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt glued shut.

What has happened to me? he thought.

"Legolas?" he suddenly heard.

He tried to answer, but nothing came out of his mouth.

A gentle hand slid under his shoulders, and he was lifted up while a cup was pressed to his lips.

Drinking almost greedily, Legolas swallowed the warm tea, delighting in the taste of the cherry bark and miruvor. He took a deep breath as he felt himself being lowered back down, but a wheeze came from his lungs.

Heredil was startled when Legolas suddenly started coughing.

"Sit him back up!" said Aragorn, struggling to get out of his bed.

Heredil obeyed, holding Legolas upright.

One of the healers fetched the heated juniper oil that Aragorn had told them to have ready, and he held it before Legolas' face as the younger elf coughed up everything that had settled in his lungs while he'd lain unconscious.

Aragorn's limbs felt extremely heavy, but he managed to get to Legolas' bed and sit beside his friend, as the healer and Heredil watched Legolas worriedly.

When the elf finally stopped coughing, he breathed heavily for a while, his head lowered and eyes closed.

Heredil pulled him to rest against his shoulder, wondering if Legolas even realized that he was there.

Legolas could sense that it was an elf that held him, and he opened his eyes, trying to see who it was. "Heredil!"

The captain smiled. "Aye, Legolas. You are home."

Legolas smiled, re-closing his eyes. He nearly drifted off to sleep again on Heredil's shoulder, but forced his eyes open once more. "How long have we been here?"

"It is once again morning," said Aragorn. "How do you feel?"

"Warm," Legolas said, smiling slightly. He blinked a few times, trying to force back a yawn but not succeeding. He felt terribly weak after their ordeal, and felt as if he could sleep for a month.

Heredil gently laid Legolas back against the pillows. "Sleep, elfling. You need time to recover."

The word 'time' got Legolas' attention. "No!" he said, trying to sit back up. "Time is what we do not have! We need to leave before my father catches up to us!"

Heredil looked at Aragorn, remembering the human mentioning that Legolas feared a confrontation between Thranduil and Raenwe.

"They need to delay them!" Legolas said.

"Who?" Heredil said.

"The patrols," Legolas said. "They need to delay our fathers until after we've left!"

Aragorn sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think that it can be done, mellon-nin. I do not think us capable of leaving for at least another day or two."

Legolas vehemently shook his head. "No! We leave today!"

Heredil put a gentle hand on the prince's shoulder, trying to calm his agitation. "You are not well, Legolas, and neither is Aragorn. Rest."

At the older elf's words, Legolas looked at his friend with a frown. He studied the human, noting that Aragorn looked tired and worn, but otherwise all right.

Looking at Heredil again, Legolas knew that the other elf had tried to exaggerate Aragorn's condition, to make Legolas change his mind about leaving. "We will have horses, Heredil. Once we leave, we may only be gone for one or two days!" Suddenly he frowned, as if in sudden realization. "You cannot force me to stay!"

Heredil smiled slightly, surprised that it took the younger elf so long to realize that. "I know, Legolas, but I had to try."

Legolas smiled slightly, blinking tiredly. "Who rules in my father's absence?"

"I do," said Heredil. "Or, at least until you returned."

Legolas frowned, feeling foolish to have asked such a dim-witted question. It only proved just how tired he was. He suddenly felt a hand pressing against his good shoulder, and realized that he'd closed his eyes.

Heredil pushed him back down to the pillow. "Sleep, Legolas. Whether you leave today or not, you need more time to rest. I will notify the patrols to alert us if they see your father coming. Will that suffice for now?"

Legolas was already half asleep, so he simply nodded his head, even though his mind didn't fully grasp what the captain had told him. Closing his eyes, he immediately fell asleep.

"That goes for you also, Aragorn," said Heredil, trying to look stern.

The human gave him a lopsided grin. "I did not know that you became a healer, Heredil."

The captain smiled. "One needs to be, when they are close to Legolas!"

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"They must have stopped!" Thranduil said to Elrond. "There is no way that they would pass by the palace after walking so far in this!" he gestured to the blowing snow.

Elrond nodded, from where he stood checking Gwaeren's leg. "I agree. We may arrive to find them securely tucked into warm beds."

Thranduil sighed, pushing hair out of his face. It had gotten much colder as they grew closer to Mirkwood, and even he and Elrond were feeling it. "How do you think my son fares?"

Elrond sighed. "I will not lie to you, Thranduil…the cold would have bothered him greatly, as he has never before felt it as a human does." He didn't voice the fact that it was cold enough to kill when exposed for as long as Legolas—and Aragorn—were. "They had to have reached the palace by now, mellon-nin. I am sure that they are fine."

Thranduil sighed, but nodded. He impatiently looked off in the direction of his home, wishing that they could go faster…wishing that Legolas and Aragorn's injured horses weren't slowing them down...

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Soft humming broke through Legolas' consciousness, and he felt gentle fingers touch the pulse-point on his neck. Opening his eyes, he found Heredil sitting on the bed, looking concerned.

The older elf smiled when he saw Legolas awake. "Good afternoon, elfling."

"And to you," Legolas answered. He stretched under the covers, wincing at scattered aches throughout his body.

Heredil looked concerned again. "How do you feel?"

"Fine," Legolas said. His next action contradicted him when he started coughing. He sat up and grabbed one of the pillows from behind his head, shoving it over his face to muffle the sound, not wanting his still-sleeping friend in the next bed to wake.

Heredil's worry mounted, and he placed a hand on Legolas' back. "Are you all right?"

Legolas nodded as the coughing died away. "It is nothing, I was recently ill."

Heredil sighed. "Aragorn has told me what you've suffered." He shook his head with a sigh, gesturing to the younger elf's arm. "What does that feel like?"

Legolas looked down at his forearm, which still displayed his rash from Elrond's drug. "I do not feel it," he said. "But I wish that it would leave."

Heredil nodded. "I cannot fully imagine what you have gone through."

Legolas frowned slightly at Heredil's odd choice of words. 'Fully' imagine?

"I have something to tell you, Legolas," said the captain. "Something that very few know." He stopped, appearing to think for a minute. "In fact, it was so long ago that the only elf in Middle Earth who still knows is Thranduil…and of course, Raenwe."

Legolas said nothing, staring at the elf who he considered an uncle.

"Millennia ago," said Heredil. "Your father, Raenwe, and I were best friends. Or rather, Raenwe and I were Thranduil's best friends. Raenwe always seemed to have something against me, though I knew not what it was at the time. When you were very young, the captain of your father's armies sailed, and he had to select someone to replace him. He chose his two best warriors, and pondered which of them would best serve the purpose."

Legolas swallowed. "You and Raenwe?"

Heredil nodded. "Aye. Raenwe never doubted that he would be chosen, so when he wasn't, it came as a serious shock to him, and he was very upset. A few days later, I began to notice strange thinks happening to me," he stopped, shaking his head as he remembered. "I woke in the morning with my eyes shut. I thought that mayhap I was simply tired from all the new duties, and when I developed headaches, I thought them also caused by my new occupation. I began to grow tired sooner, and it seemed that my assumption was correct; I needed to adjust to being captain. But then…"

"Then?" said Legolas, in shock at what Heredil was telling him.

"On a patrol to the south, we were attacked," Heredil said. "I was unable to properly see an orc in the distance, and was hit by an arrow in my left arm. It was not poisoned, thankfully, and the wound was not serious…but it would not heal. The healers could not understand what was wrong, and asked me if there was anything that I knew of that could be hindering my elven healing ability. I told them how my body had been betraying me, and that I had not been able to see the orc."

"Vanwacoi," said Legolas, the word nearly a whisper.

Heredil nodded, wrapping an arm around the younger elf. "Aye. The healers recognized it when told of my symptoms." He shook his head. "I was stunned. Every elf knew of it and what it did to our bodies, but I'd never realized the daily effects that the affliction had."

"Raenwe did this to you!" said Legolas, sounding shocked, sad, and enraged at the same time.

"Yes. The healers gave me the antidote and I was soon back to normal. My wound healed, and I never suffered those odd symptoms again."

"How did Thranduil punish Raenwe?" they suddenly heard.

Slightly startled, Legolas turned to see Aragorn sitting up, listening.

"He was banished for a year," said Heredil. "He was made to leave with nothing, and when he returned, he was made to enter with nothing. I do not know where Raenwe spent that time, but during his absence, vanwacoi was banned. Every written mention of the affliction was destroyed—including the papers and ingredients that were found in his dwelling. When Raenwe returned, he would not be able to use it again." He sighed. "I cannot fathom how he has managed to do this!"

"There's only one explanation," said Aragorn. "He must have memorized it and written it down again."

"But to do this to Legolas now?" said Heredil. "Raenwe's son died so long ago…to take revenge after so long seems ridiculous!"

"He must've come across the extinct plant accidentally," said Legolas. "Or mayhap he has been trying to grow it for centuries, and the need for revenge consumed him." He sighed, sadly. "He must truly have never recovered from his son's death."

They sat in silence for a minute, before Legolas' stomach suddenly growled, abruptly breaking the silence and making Heredil laugh.

"Ai!" Legolas exclaimed, blushing. "That happens at the most inopportune times…!"