Thank you once again for your reviews! I still don't own any of the named characters, or anything else you might recognize.

Quest for a Cure

Legolas waited impatiently in the Houses of Healing, just outside the door to the room Aragorn was in. Surely someone would come out soon and let him know how Aragorn was doing, and if he was even still alive. Legolas let out a breath and started pacing.

He stopped as one of the healers stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. "How is he?" he asked her.

"He still lives," she replied, "though we fear he will not last much longer. We do not know what is wrong, and he is only growing worse."

"Is there nothing that can be done for him?"

"We are doing what we can," the healer said quietly, "and we may be able to lengthen his life. But that is all we can do."

"There has to be more that can be done!" Legolas exclaimed.

"We are doing what we can," she repeated, and stepped back into the room.

Legolas staggered toward the wall and pressed his forehead against it. The coolness felt good against his hot face, but he did not care. He was convinced now that this was all his fault. He had given Aragorn his life back, just to have him die all over again. A life wasted. None of it was fair. None of it! He slammed his fist against the wall and turned around. Surely there was something he could still do. It did not matter what; he was ready to do anything. He had made a sacrifice, and he was not about to stand by and watch as it all went to waste.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to sit down. Getting angry would not solve anything. All he needed to do was think. Aragorn was sick with something unknown, and no one knew what could be done about it. Yet surely there was a cure. There was always a cure. And someone somewhere had to know what it was. He racked his brain, trying to think of who would know. Someone at home might know. Or Lothlorien, or Rivendell. But those places were too far away. He could never make it there and back in time. He needed someplace that was closer. But there was nothing closer. At least nothing that could help. He was left with no choice. Of the three, Lothlorien was closest, so he would just have to go there, and hope Aragorn could live until he returned. If he rode quickly enough, he thought he could make it in less than a week. Perhaps he could even stop by Fangorn Forest on the way, just in case.

He jumped up and ran outside. There was not a moment to lose. The sooner he started, the sooner he would arrive, and the sooner he could get back. He quickly stopped by his room and gathered his weapons, cloak, and what remained of his Lembas, then hurried down to the stables. He stopped just in time to avoid running over Gimli. "I apologize," he said coldly. "I did not see you there." The memory of Gimli's eruption the other day was still fresh in his mind.

"What is the hurry?" Gimli asked.

Legolas barely resisted the urge to lash out at him again. "I had hoped I might be able to save Aragorn," he said in an icy tone. "It still might be possible, if I can actually leave." He moved to step by, but Gimli stopped him.

"You are going nowhere by yourself, laddie," Gimli said. "I will be ready before you are." He started to hurry away.

"Gimli, wait!" Legolas called after Gimli's retreating figure, but it was no use. It seemed he was stuck with him now. He had to admit that he appreciated the idea of not having to travel so far alone, but with Gimli? He shook his head and headed into the stables.

True to his word, just as Legolas led Arod outside, Gimli came running up him, breathing heavily and ready to go. Legolas reluctantly helped him up onto the horse's back, then climbed up in front of him. He missed being able to swing up effortlessly, but he refused to let himself think about that.

"So where will we go?" Gimli asked.

"To Lothlorien, by way of Fangorn Forest," Legolas said shortly. "And before you ask, the journey should take us no more than a week."

Legolas gritted his teeth in anticipation of more questions, but Gimli was quiet. Legolas let out a relieved breath, and led Arod out of the city, where he broke into a full gallop.