Disclaimer: Same as Chapter 1. Wish I did own them, but sadly I only own Sarkáhn, Sarniâ, and Mistad.

Thanks so much if you reviewed and thank you so much for reading my story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

The woods were eerily quiet when Sarkáhn departed. Not a single animal could be heard scrambling over leaves or snapping twigs, and the birds were silent in their trees, not one single chirp could be heard. The elves' horses ceased their incessant whinnying and frantic movements as soon as Sarkáhn disappeared. All elven eyes were transfixed on that one spot, full of wonder and mystification. Elrond tore his eyes away from the scene when he heard the unremitting gasps and coughs from Aragorn.

Aragorn sat against his friend's chest with Legolas's arms wrapped around him for support. He could hardly control his breathing as his lungs begged for the sweet taste of oxygen. The coughs turned quickly into gasps for breath. His breathing was coming in too deep and too fast, causing him to hyperventilate. Although he wanted as much air as possible, the hyperventilation caused his ribs to pain him unmercifully from the heavy gasps. He felt his friend's arm wrap around him protectively and then he heard a distant, yet familiar voice call through his hazy thoughts.

"Easy, Estel," came the soothing voice of his beloved father. "Relax and take a deep breath. You are too tense. Your breathing will not slow unless you allow it to. Calm down, Estel."

"I….cannot stop….I can…not…breath…Ada…help me…," Aragorn forced out in between gasps for air.

Elrond extended his hand and placed it over Aragorn's forehead hoping to send his son some of his calmness and help him to relax. It worked almost immediately as his son began to breathe a bit easier with each passing breath. Soon, Aragorn's breathing was normal…well, as normal as expected in his condition.

He lay exhausted against Legolas's chest. His lungs held a lingering burning sensation and his ribs ached deeply from the constant inhales and exhales. He felt a throb in his shoulder and liquid on his hand, and then realized he ripped the arrow wound open again. His throat burned from dryness. His neck and back were also stiff and sore. "I have new bruises to add to my collection," Aragorn thought sarcastically. He was tired and all he wanted to do was go to sleep. But a constant irritating hand kept shaking his shoulder telling him to stay awake.

"Come on Estel, stay awake for me. I need to check for any serious injuries." It was Elrond who kept prohibiting Aragorn's attempts at slumber.

"Stay awake, mellon nin. I fear Sarkáhn has caused you more pain that I should have prevented," Legolas stated guiltily.

"No, mellon nin," Aragorn began, raising himself into a sitting position. "This was not your doing. If Sarkáhn had not thrown you into that tree…"

"He threw you into a tree!" Elrond exclaimed in complete disbelief.

"No, he more like raised my body and sent my flying through the air. The tree just happened to be in the way," Legolas innocently replied.

"Yeah, and the three trees that I hit just happened to jump out of nowhere," Aragorn said dryly, not realizing the meaning of his words until everyone's eyes were focused on him. By that time, Elladan, Elrohir, and Glorfindel were all by his side offering Elrond their assistance.

"What do you mean 'three trees'! No wonder you look like you were run over by three hundred wargs," Elladan said skeptically.

"I am not surprised, young one. You always had a knack for attracting trouble," Glorfindel jested.

"It is alright. I am fine." Aragorn said this with as much resolution as he could muster, but he could not hide the pain in his voice. Elrond gave him the I-know-you-are-not-fine look that was filled with just as much stubbornness as Aragorn had.

Legolas, who was holding Aragorn against his chest, began to black out as he was overwhelmed with a wave of dizziness and nausea. "I must have hit that tree harder than I thought," Legolas thought to himself. Aragorn felt the arms of his friend slacken and realized that there was something wrong with him. He turned around just in time to see Legolas's eyes roll into the back of his head and slump forward into Aragorn. The weight of his friend put too much strain on his ribs, causing him to grunt in pain. Elrond was immediately helping Aragorn gently lay Legolas on the ground. Beside himself with worry, Aragorn asked, "Is he going to be alright?" After examining him for a few moments, Elrond reassured his son.

"He will be fine. He has a slight concussion. Elven healing or not, he will have a nice headache when he awakens. And you, ion nin, I have yet to examine. I shall do so now without the slightest argument from you and then we will make haste into Rivendell."

"No, ada, we must depart now. I do not feel safe here in this place," Aragorn pleaded.

"As you wish, ion nin, but you must promise me that you will not argue with me at all about anything I say when we do get back."

"Alright, ada, I will not," Aragorn agreed with a small smile.

Aragorn could not talk anymore, for his throat was killing him and his voice was becoming raspier and raspier with every spoken word. With the help of his two brothers, he hobbled over to his father's horse, while Glorfindel helped Legolas to his horse. The elves mounted and made their way back to Rivendell.

After what seemed like long agonizing years to Aragorn, the elves arrived back at Imladris. He desperately wanted to close his eyes and sleep, desiring to enter a world where he did not feel any more pain. He was completely lost in thought until the sudden stop of his father's horse shook him out of his trance.

"Come, ion nin, we are finally home," Elrond soothingly said as he lifted his arms up in order to help Aragorn dismount. Estel winced in pain as his ribs grated against each other, and as his bruised back rebelled against the sudden movements. He was extremely dizzy and his head and throat throbbed unmercifully.

"Ada, I can…walk…on my own," Aragorn forced out in a rasping voice. He wanted to maintain at least some of his pride and dignity. With great reluctance, Elrond allowed his son his request, but not without first making Aragorn promise to listen to his advice about bed rest.

Legolas's head was aching terribly and his vision was out of focus. He could barely see the trees around him or even his own hand. Glorfindel helped the young prince down from the horse, wrapped his arm around his waist, and proceeded to follow behind Aragorn and Elrond. Elladan and Elrohir followed worriedly behind, while the other elves, gathered the horses and took them to the stables.

They all arrived in the House of Healing supporting Aragorn and Legolas, as they moaned and protested. They were each laid down upon a soft bed with fluffy pillows and warm blankets. Aragorn was finally almost asleep when he was rudely interrupted...again. "This is getting monotonous," Aragorn thought to himself.

"I am sorry, Estel, but I must see to your injuries before you can rest," Elrond stated with regret.

He gently lifted Aragorn's tunic over his head and continued to inspect his old injuries and his most recent additions. Elrond gently removed the bandages from around Aragorn's chest, revealing large, ugly bruises. He prodded his ribs lightly, making sure there was no serious damage, and to make sure that the ribs had not been shifted again.

Seeing that there was nothing out of place, he gently rubbed a cream on the bruises to help relieve his son's discomfort. He rewrapped the bandages around his chest and then inspected the old arrow wound. He re-stitched the open injury after removing the old ones. Aragorn tried to hold back a moan at the renewed pain in his shoulder, but to no avail. He tried to twist out of his father's hold in hopes of escaping anymore pain. He had enough.

"Elladan, come here and help me with your brother. Hold him down or he is going to cause himself more pain and he may worsen his injuries. I also do not wish this needle to be inserted in an unnecessary part of his shoulder…or my finger," Elrond instructed.

After a short time and with Elladan's help, Elrond was able to finish with the shoulder wound. He then turned his attention toward the other assorted bruises on his back and throat. Once again, Elrond applied a healing salve to the contusions. Finally, when nothing more was able to be done, he allowed Estel to rest.

"Sleep now, ion nin. It is time to feel the comfort of peaceful slumber," Elrond whispered softly after kissing his son on the head. He lingered for a few moments watching his son as sleep took over and placed him in the land of dreams. Then, he turned and focused his attention on Legolas, who Elrohir was bandaging.

"There is not much damage, ada, except for a slight concussion and his ribs that had just healed are only bruised," Elrohir stated with certainty.

"Was he feeling dizzy, light-headed, nauseous," Elrond asked.

"You both realize that I am sitting right in front of you, awake I might add, and clearly of sane mind? You do not have to speak as if I were not in the room," Legolas sarcastically said.

"We are sorry, Legolas, it has been a rough night for us all," Glorfindel apologized.

After Legolas answered Elrond's questions about his condition and he learned of Estel's condition, he was finally able to let sleep claim him. Elrond told his sons to get rest because he had a feeling that all that was happening was far from over. They reluctantly left their friend and brother for a good night's rest. Elrond and Glorfindel stayed behind to make certain the two young ones were alright, before Glorfindel forced Elrond to get some much needed rest.

"No arguments, mellon nin. You have been awake for far too long, and the stress of this situation is wearing you down," Glorfindel said with concern.

Tired as he was, Elrond complied when he saw the sheer determination and stubbornness in his friend's eyes. He had not the strength to argue and decided that a good night's rest is what he needed if he was going to face Sarkáhn again. So with a mumbled goodnight, he went to his room and slept peacefully and uninterrupted for the first time in days.

AN: Well, that wasn't a cliffhanger! Hope you liked it. Please, review! ; )