Sorry an update was so long in coming, but I have been working 60 hours a week, and I am going through a bit of a depression where my writing is concerned, and it took everything I had to make myself write this. Sorry it's short. The ends start to to be tied up in the next chap, I promise.

OOOOO

Legolas quickly ran back into the palace, not stopping for anything as he made his way into the healing rooms. Dimly, he could feel a trickle of warm blood sliding down his arm, and his worry intensified. It was a long ride from the Tur country to Mirkwood, even at full speed, and the fact that the hobbit was still bleeding freely suggested strongly that she would die.

Laying the small being on a bed after bursting into the healing quarters, he turned just in time to see his brother enter the room after him, followed by several guards. "Send for the best healer we have, Kadorin!" He cried desperately as he began to quickly assess Bramblerose's injuries. His brother's footsteps echoed down the hall as he obeyed.

Legolas felt his heart from upon seeing the extent of Bramblerose's hurts. She had a horrible wound on her head that bled freely sown her face and neck, the wound hidden in her thick head of hair. One of her arms lay at an unnatural angle. Upon feeling her chest, he found she had more ribs broken than not, and by the sound of her breathing, her ribs had most likely been punctured. Legolas could not bring himself to look anymore after that, and gave a great sigh that held the promise of tears that he no longer had left in him. "Bramblerose...what has happened to you?" He murmured, but there was no reply.

The door swung open behind him, and he turned to see Elrond striding purposefully into the room. "Your brother thought I might be of more help that your own healers, given my experience with mortal's injuries." He stated quickly, coming to the bedside. Legolas nodded his agreement, feeling like a fool for not having thought Lord Elrond and the older elf's knowledge of healing. Of course he would be the best choice!

"Her name is Bramblerose." Legolas said quietly, his gaze never moving from the hobbit even as he moved aside for Elrond. "She is the one I told you of." Elrond nodded absentmindedly, thought it was clear he was barely listening as he looked over Bramblerose, but Legolas pressed on, needing the answer to the question beating inside his head. "Will she die, Lord Elrond?" He asked, his voice trembling despite himself. Please, Please, do not let her die! Valar, if I should live and she not...I cannot go on with another death on my conscience, I will fade for sure! Valar, please let her live!

Elrond shook his head with a frown. "I do not know. Her wound are many and old. I will not know until I try to save her whether my efforts will do any good." He turned to the elves standing aimlessly in the doorway. "Quickly, bring me herbs, cloth, and hot water!!" He ordered, and the elves scurried to obey, but Legolas hardly noticed.

Vaguely, he became aware of a hand at his shoulder, drawing him away. "Come, Legolas. Come away." He vainly pulled against the grip that had now moved to his bicep. "Nin ion, do not do this to yourself!" Legolas pulled even harder, not desiring pity from anyone, even his father. The tone softened. "The human child is hysterical, and will not be calmed. He needs you. You must come, you can do no good here." Legolas allowed himself to be pulled away, thought he stared at the unmoving hobbit till the door shut behind him.

As he was able to focus again, he became aware of desperate screams and sobs. He turned his gaze to take in Verald, who was being held back by two elvin guards."Release him!" He ordered, and the guards quickly obeyed. Verald ran for the door, but Legolas knelt and caught him, holding him gently so as not to harm him. "Peace, Verald, peace." He murmured gently, stroking the child's hair.

"I must see Bramblerose! She saved my life! Father was angry, he would have killed me...he was screaming, and he wouldn't stop hitting me, and I could not get away, and mother was too scared to help me, but Bramblerose saved me! She would not let him hurt me..." The child sobbed and struggled harder. "I cannot leave he! She asked me not to leave her!!! Please, let me go to her!!" The boy screamed and babbled incoherently, his tears pouring unnoticed down his face. The boy had become undone as soon as he had been separated from Bramblerose, the hobbit who was more family than he had ever known.

"Peace, Verald, all will be well." Legolas grasped the boy by the arms and held him out so he could look at him. "Look at me!" He ordered, and when the child obeyed, he repeated himself. "All will be well. She will be fine, they are helping her, but you shall be in the way and make it harder for them. You can see her as soon as she is well enough." Legolas spoke softer now, closer to the child's face. "She would understand. You are not leaving her. You did the best you could, and now she is being taken care of. You must calm down." Legolas felt Verald go limp, and pulled him into a crushing hug. "All will be well." He said over and over again as he stroked the sobbing child's hair. "Peace. All will be well."

If only he himself could believe those words.