The next day, Legolas was still unconscious. Despite everyone's worry, it was encouraging to know that at least his condition hadn't worsened. There seemed to be a little more color in his face, but it was so slight that it was difficult to be sure.

Aragorn had succumbed to sleep, having been awake for longer than a human could endure. He'd fallen asleep in a chair, and the twins had eventually moved him to the end of Legolas' bed, not wanting the human's muscles to stiffen-up.

Elrond checked Legolas' wounds, carefully hiding his displeasure over their status. The younger elf's body was so weak from the immense blood loss that it was unable to heal at its usual speed.

Elrond sighed as he felt Legolas' forehead. He was relieved that the fever had lowered, but he wished that it would fade completely. This incident is probably the closest that Legolas has ever come to death, he realized.

The door opened as the twins came into the room, having fetched lunch. They brought the trays over to a table and Elladan handed his father a bowl of broth, into which Elrond dropped some herbs.

"How is he?" Elrohir whispered, not wanting to wake Aragorn.

"No worse," Elrond whispered back, pouring some of the herb-laden broth into a cup. "But I wish that his fever would break."

Elladan sighed as he watched his father carefully prop Legolas up in his arm.

Elrond poured the broth into Legolas' mouth slowly, being sure that he swallowed it. He desperately hoped that Legolas would be awake and recovering by the time that Thranduil arrived.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

The sun was setting as Thranduil and his party reached the border to Rivendell.

"It happened here," said Heredil, unconsciously taking out his bow.

Thranduil slowed his horse and his guards followed his lead, looking around cautiously.

Heredil spotted the bloodstain left by Legolas, relieved that some of it had apparently been washed away. He hoped that Thranduil didn't see it.

Just as Thranduil was about to spur his horse into a gallop, they heard a voice call out.

"Turn back! Mirkwood elves are no longer welcome in Rivendell!"

Before the person could even finish his sentence, Heredil had turned to the left and fired an arrow into the trees.

A cry of pain sounded, and a body fell to the ground.

Sudden rustling sounds filled the air, and they tried to spot the people that were now running into the woods.

Some of the guards rode off to follow, while Heredil, Thranduil, and the remaining guards approached the unmoving person.

Heredil dismounted—slightly unsteadily, as the pain in his shoulder had grown from firing the arrow. He approached the body with some of the guards, and Heredil used his sword to push aside the person's hood. "A human!" he exclaimed.

Thranduil frowned. "Does he live?"

"Yes," said one of the guards.

"Tend him, and take him with us," said Thranduil. "We shall need him for information."

His guards obeyed, and they rode on towards Elrond's house.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Ada!" said Elrohir, suddenly rushing into Legolas' room. "Thranduil has arrived!"

Elrond stood, his eyebrows raised. "So soon?"

Elrohir nodded.

"Go meet him," said Aragorn. "I will watch over Legolas."

Elrond nodded, knowing that he'd only be away from the injured elf for a few minutes.

He and Elrohir left the room, quickly making their way to the front door. They saw Thranduil dismounting, speaking to Elladan.

"Elrond!" Thranduil said, as the healer came out the door.

"He lives," Elrond said. "But he is still unconscious."

Thranduil sighed heavily, rushing up the stairs.

Elrond and his sons followed, Elladan noticing Heredil and his injury. He lent the Mirkwood Captain aid, and they quickly reached Legolas' room.

Elrond grabbed Thranduil's arm before he could enter, turning him around and holding his shoulders tightly.

Thranduil struggled for a second, before stopping and giving his friend a puzzled and anxious look.

"Forgive me," said Elrond. "But you must know this before you go in; be careful where you touch him. The arrow that struck his right forearm broke the bone, and he was shot in his left shoulder and right thigh. He was also shot in the left side of his chest, but it miraculously missed his heart and lung."

Thranduil nodded, eyes welling with tears at the seriousness of his son's injuries.

Elrond let go of him, and Thranduil turned and threw open the door.

Aragorn was sitting on the bed, carefully holding Legolas' left hand under the blanket. Thranduil rushed forward and sat on the other side, reaching out to move the blanket and take his son's right hand, but then remembered Elrond's words. Instead, like Aragorn, he slid his hand under the covers and wrapped it around his son's. "Legolas," he whispered, reaching out to smooth the younger elf's hair. His chest constricted when he felt the heat in his son's skin.

"Ada?"

Thranduil's eyes widened at the whispered voice, and Elrond and his sons threw surprised looks at Aragorn.

"He's been trying to wake for the last few minutes," Aragorn said, smiling.

Heredil sank to his knees beside the bed, his emotions as unstable as Thranduil's. "Legolas!" he said, reaching out his good arm and placing his hand over Thranduil's and Legolas', over the blanket. "Legolas," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "Forgive me…I would never have willingly left you…"

"I know," Legolas whispered, not quite able to recall the events.

Elrond and his sons watched intently, wondering at Heredil's words.

"We caught one, Legolas," Heredil said, rubbing back and forth on the injured elf's hand. "We'll find out why they did this to you…"

Elrond grabbed Thranduil's shoulder. "You caught one of the men!"

Thranduil nodded, watching his son, who'd closed his eyes. "Heredil shot him…he's in one of the healing rooms, I assume…"

Elrond turned to leave, but stopped when Legolas gave a soft, pained gasp. He opened his mouth to tell his sons to give him some painkilling herbs, and saw that Elladan was already preparing some. He looked at Heredil. "You should come with me."

Heredil shook his head, still on his knees beside Legolas' bed. "My wound already heals. I am fine, please do not make me leave him!"

Elrond sighed. "I shall tend you when I return."

No one said anything, giving all their attention to Legolas, so Elrond quickly left the room and headed for the healing wing.

When he entered, he found a few of the healers tending to the man, who had an arrow wound to his upper abdomen. He watched, assessing the man's condition for himself. There didn't appear to be any internal damage, as he could tell from the wound's location, but there was always the possibility of infection with a human. Elrond desperately hoped to get information out of the man before he possibly died. "Is he conscious?"

A healer shook his head as he stitched the injury.

Elrond watched for a few minutes more, glad that the man didn't seem in imminent danger of death. "I will be in Legolas' room. If he wakes, inform me immediately."

The healers nodded, and Elrond left.