The rain lasted throughout the day and into the night, still lightly falling the next morning.

The human in the healing rooms was still unconscious, but his fever was lessening. To everyone's relief, it seemed that he would live. They were all anxious to find out what information they could obtain from him, and impatiently awaited it.

Legolas was currently being fed by his father, hating the fact that he couldn't move either of his arms. He felt better this day, though his strength still had yet to return.

Early in the afternoon, one of the human's healers came to fetch Elrond, and he entered the room to find the man awake, watching the elves fearfully. His eyes locked on Elrond, and his distress grew.

Elrond kept his face neutral as he approached the bed, wondering at the man's reaction. "I am Elrond," he said. "Lord of this realm. You will answer my questions or face the consequences."

The man nervously swallowed.

"Why did you attempt to kill that elf?" Elrond said, not revealing Legolas' identity.

The man's eyebrows rose at Elrond's words…words that conveyed the fact that Legolas still lived. He said nothing, seeming unable to find words.

Elrond watched as relief filled the man's eyes, before it was replaced with anxiety. "Sir?"

The man dropped his gaze. "I did not," he said. "I have nothing against elves, and never have."

"Then what is the meaning of this?" Elrond asked. "A group of men hover at my border, lying in wait in order to slay our Mirkwood kin? Why?"

"I would ask in turn, what happened to the men that we sent to you begging for help?" the man countered.

Elrond's eyebrows shot up. "Men? Sent to Rivendell for help? When was this, and what form of help was required?"

The man closed his eyes. "I knew it," he whispered. "I told Tanek, but he would not listen."

"Who is Tanek?" Elrond asked. "In what way was help needed from us?"

The man sighed. "We needed the help of elves—you in particular, sir—to heal those of us that fell ill. We sent a group, to beg help, but they never returned. Tanek…" He showed regret at having revealed the name. "He told us that the elves didn't care to help humans and either had our men captured or killed."

"We would never do such a thing!" said Elrond, shocked and angered at the accusation. "If help was required of us, we would freely give it."

The man nodded. "That is what I told Tanek, but he dismissed my words as being foolish."

"Does this illness still run rampant?" Elrond asked, concerned. "Was it fatal?"

"It was fatal to some of the elderly. No one fell newly ill in the days before we left."

Elrond studied the young man. "What is your name?"

"Radek."

Elrond smiled slightly. "Tanek and Radek. Brothers?"

Radek nodded, reluctantly, suddenly closing his eyes as a stab of pain filled his body.

Elrond moved forward and uncovered the wound, to find it barely beginning to heal. Looking back at Radek's pale face, he reminded himself that he was human, and had not the healing speed of an elf. "You are strong," he remarked, at the realization that weakness hadn't interfered at all with the man's ability to speak.

Radek's pained expressed lessened, and he reopened his eyes. "Aye," he said, though not sounding as strong after the flair-up.

Elrond moved to a table and mixed some herbs, bringing a cup back and helping him drink.

Radek grimaced at the taste, but made no protest whatsoever, slightly surprising Elrond at the trust that he showed.

"You say that you did not fire on that elf," said Elrond, placing the cup down. "But yet you were there. You claim to not be involved, but I was told by the Mirkwood elves that they shot the one who called out the threat."

Radek sighed. "Tanek forced me to go. It is that simple. He knew that I wanted no part of this, and feared that I would rise against him."

Elrond nodded. "Indeed. So he wanted you within sight."

"Exactly," Radek said. "Tanek is the one who called out the threat. I was behind him. He saw the other elf draw his bow, and moved. I was hit instead." His eyes closed drowsily.

Elrond watched the man as he drifted on the edge of sleep, attempting to discern whether or not the human told the truth. "Radek?"

The man half-opened his eyes.

"Please accept our apology," said Elrond. "For your wound. I am relieved that you survived."

Radek gave a slight smile. "Thank you."

With that, he fell asleep.

When Elrond went back to Legolas' room, he found the wounded elf sleeping.

"What did you learn?" Thranduil asked. He and Aragorn were the only ones in the room, as the twins had finally convinced Heredil a few moments earlier to let them show him to a room of his own.

Elrond motioned for them to come away from the bed, and they stood at the end of the room furthest away from Legolas.

"I have learned much," Elrond told them. "The man's name is Radek, and he was not involved in Legolas' injuries."

"What!" Thranduil exclaimed, or started to, rather; Elrond had anticipated his reaction and grabbed the King's head, holding a hand over his mouth to muffle his shout.

Thranduil blinked, in shock at Elrond's words, and his action.

Aragorn tried to hide a smirk.

Elrond let go of his friend, putting a finger to his lips in a 'shush' gesture.

Thranduil turned and looked at Legolas, to see that he was still thankfully asleep. "What do you mean," he whispered, looking at Elrond again. "He was not involved?"

Elrond told them what Radek had said, but Thranduil shook his head.

"You believe this man?" said Thranduil, angrily. "He lied, to avoid punishment for his crimes! I shall kill him myself!"

Elrond sighed and took Thranduil's arm, pulling him towards the door, gesturing for Aragorn to stay with Legolas.

Thranduil submitted to his old friend, but he pulled his arm away after they left the room.

"Wait," said Elrond, preventing him from speaking. "You know me well, Thranduil," he said, walking down the corridor.

Thranduil nodded.

"He speaks the truth. You know that I can sense these things," Elrond told him.

Thranduil looked away, sighing.

"Please, mellon-nin," said Elrond, stopping. "Trust me."

"All right," Thranduil sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "There is no one else that I would trust, this much."

Elrond smiled at the compliment. "Radek is young, and his brother is apparently a tyrant. I am sure that it was Tanek who inflicted most of Legolas' wounds."

Thranduil closed his eyes, rubbing them tiredly. He hadn't gotten much sleep since arriving at Rivendell. "My poor son," he said. "All he does is suffer! I wonder if you and I combined have not suffered as much as he has."

"He is young, but strong, mellon-nin," said Elrond. "His physical recoveries may sometimes be long, but his spirits are ever high."

Thranduil nodded. "Aye, indeed they are. Many times in my life, I would have been lost had it not been for his high spirits. He always knew how to lighten my heart, despite whatever situation we faced."

Elrond nodded. "Mayhap we should return the favor."

Thranduil realized with a start the magnitude of Elrond's words. Legolas' injures were severe enough to drastically limit movement even when the day came that he was allowed up from his bed. Legolas was so eager to raise the spirits of others, but who raised them for him?