Chapter Fifteen

Kelderas crouched quietly next to Kabain in the underbrush. They'd neared the position of the orcs where Kabain had first fought them off. Sure enough, Kelderas heard, before he saw, the orcs in the distance. He hesitantly grabbed the hilt of his sword a bit tighter, feeling his nerves acting up. He quickly shook them away. Now was not the time. The battle they were about to engage in could easily end in fatalities and Kelderas had made a promise to get back to his family alive. He would do everything in his power to ensure that he kept that promise.

"Stay close to me," Kabain whispered suddenly, making Kelderas look over to him. Kabain didn't turn to look. "It has been a while since you last fought. This may bring up memories…"

"I won't let it affect me," Kelderas broke in, stopping the captain from saying anything more. "I am fine."

"Stay close anyway," Kabain said, turning finally to give him a small smile. "I promised your Adar." The grin on Kabain's face told Kelderas that the older captain was partially toying with him, but mostly telling him that if he got hurt, even a little, he would have to deal with several rather angry elves, including his father. Kelderas just nodded and returned the gentle smile.

In a few minutes more, both elves, along with their patrols, were engaged in a bloody battle. They managed to catch the orcs by surprise, but it wasn't long before the foul creatures knew they were under attack and gathered themselves to form a defense.

Kelderas swung his sword expertly, relishing in the sick crunch it made when it connected with the tough flesh of the orcs. Even though he had assured Kabain that the memories wouldn't effect him, Kelderas couldn't help the thoughts that slowly started to filter into his mind. Orcs had taken away his Naneth. They'd almost ruined his life. As he chopped the head from an orc, Kelderas let out a brutal war yell, swinging his sword into another orc that had charged him. Blood splattered his face and tunic.

The battle was over in a matter of minutes. Kelderas stabbed his sword into the head of a dead orc which lay on the ground and then turned to see if he could find Kabain. He saw the older captain crouched by an injured warrior and Kelderas' thoughts went to his brother who lay injured at home. He hoped that by the time they returned home, Legolas would be awake. Deep down, he wished that he would find Legolas sitting up in bed, with a bandage, laughing at some joke the twins had uttered, and back to the happy, full of life elfling he had once been. But he knew it would be a while before that little elfling rejoined them, if he ever did. Legolas had so many forces working against him.

A hand on his arm made Kelderas jump and he realized that Kabain, who had been stooping beside an injured elf moments before, was now at his side. There was genuine concern in his eyes, but he managed to keep it out of his face. Instead, Kabain smiled and said, "I'm glad you're on our side. You fought like an elf possessed."

Kelderas pulled his sword from the body and started to wipe it off. "Perhaps I was." He paused. "Casualties?"

Kabain shook his head. "One. Paeras." Kelderas nodded. He knew of the young warrior, but didn't know him well. "We'll take his body back to give to his family. Too few of our warriors' families are allowed to bury the bodies anymore." Kabain dipped his head in sudden sadness.

"Should I send scouts?" Kelderas asked.

Kabain shook his head. "No, you are going home. I suspect you have more worrisome things on your mind." Kelderas tried to keep the relief from his face, but suspected he failed when Kabain patted him on the shoulder before turning to issue orders to some warriors.

I'm coming, Legolas, and you better be there when I get back.

Glorfindel looked towards Luthin, who was beginning to stir. It had been a few hours since Thranduil left and Glorfindel was surprised that Luthin had slept this long. Luthin's eyes focused and he looked around the room, taking in the scene before his eyes fell upon Legolas, still asleep on the bed.

"How is he?" He asked, sitting up and a hand over his face. "Anything yet?"

"No," Glorfindel answered quietly. "There's been no change." Glorfindel reached out and took one of Legolas' hands in his own. "You must have been tired," he said to Luthin.

Luthin shrugged and got to his feet, walking around to the other side of Legolas' bed. He sat down and brushed a few stray locks of hair from Legolas' sweaty forehead. "He feels warm." Luthin mentioned out loud, putting a hand on his forehead. "Do you think we should get Elrond? It could be infection…"

"He was just in here, to check up on him," Glorfindel assured him. "He said it was to be expected and not to worry. If it gets worse, we'll get him. But right now, Legolas is just sweating out the fever."

Luthin nodded but didn't look convinced. They sat quietly for a while longer, watching the young elfling sleep on. Luthin silently willed his brother to wake up, to open his eyes. Seeing those eyes closed so tightly made Luthin's gut wrench. Legolas was still so young. He shouldn't be suffering so. None of them should. "I wonder what he's dreaming," Luthin mused.

"I think he is too tired to dream," Glorfindel whispered.

"He has nightmares sometimes," Luthin answered quickly, ignoring Glorfindel's assessment. Glorfindel watched the side of Luthin's face, seeing the pain there. "I try to be there for him when he cries out, but I don't always hear him. I've thought about sleeping in his room, but he'd know something was wrong. I…I don't know how to help him."

Glorfindel didn't say anything. He'd tried to get Legolas to talk about the nightmares, but the elfling would never open up. Glorfindel didn't know what to tell Luthin. Nightmares was something that he himself had problems with. There was no advice Glorfindel could give him on the matter that he felt would work. Nothing had worked for him, except the night when Legolas had slept in his arms.

Legolas stirred suddenly and both of the elves by his side tensed for a moment, Luthin standing to lean over his brother. "Legolas?" He sounded a bit desperate, but ignored it. "Legolas can you hear me? You need to wake up."

A pained look crossed Legolas' face but the young elfling's eyelids started to flutter. Luthin and Glorfindel felt their hearts leap and Luthin held tighter onto Legolas' uninjured hand. "Legolas, that's it. Come on, open your eyes."

"Lu…" Legolas tried to speak, but his voice caught in his scratchy throat. Legolas' eyes were open and wide now. Luthin looked towards Glorfindel, who had gone to the door and yelled for Elrond before coming back.

"How do you feel, Legolas?" Glorfindel asked, smiling warmly at the site of the young elfling awake.

"My leg hurts," Legolas answered after taking a sip of water that had been offered by Luthin.

"Well that's to be expected," Elrond's voice said from the doorway. He barely made it a step inside the room before Thranduil barreled in behind him, having heard Glorfindel's call. His frantic eyes scanned the scene before he forced himself to calm down.

Thranduil crossed the room with two steps before he sat down next to Legolas on the bed and scooped the elfling into his arms. Legolas let out a small gasp, more at the motion that at the pain, but eventually settled into his father's arms. "Ai, Legolas," Thranduil whispered, holding the elfling's head to his shoulder. "Don't scare me like that ever again. Not ever, do you hear me?"

"Sorry, Ada," Legolas whispered. Thranduil stroked his son's head, allowing Elrond to sneak in a quick peak at the wound on Legolas' thigh.

"It's healing nicely," Elrond announced. "He still needs to rest, though," he smiled when Thranduil seemed to realize that he had the elfling still in his arms. He laid Legolas back down on the bed and tucked the covers up on him. Legolas' eyelids started to sag and Thranduil looked to Elrond, worried again, but Elrond smiled back. "He's still exhausted."

Thranduil nodded, knowing that Elrond was telling him it was all right. Thranduil reached out a hand to stroke Legolas' head again. "It's all right, Legolas," he said. "You're safe now and I'll be here when you wake up. Rest now."

Legolas mumbled a quick, "Not tired," before he lost his battle and fell to sleep again.

Glorfindel, who had been watching the scene from a distance, smiled slightly, knowing things were on their way back up.

Sorry it took so long to update! I've had finals, writer's block, a cousin dying, and a friend having appedicitis to deal with. But now I'm back in the swing of things. Hopefully the next chapter won't take so long, but no guarantees because I start summer semester (yes I'm taking summer classes) in two weeks.

Love you all still!

PL