A/N- I'm sooo sorry! I hardly had any time to right during that summer course I took and then we went to Hawaii right after and well, it's Hawaii! I couldn't possibly take time out of my clear ocean, white sand, and fun filled hours. Though, if it makes you feel better, I have been thinking about what I'm gonna write and stuff. I've also decided that my next story will be Reteaching the Wise, although I think I'll do my one post Pride and Prejudice story first.

On with the current story!

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Legolas blocked a heavier blow with both of his knives and with practiced precession thrust the scimitar away and drove one of his knives into the orc's filthy neck. Black blood oozed down the handle as he pulled it out of the flesh and Legolas' eye twitched slightly as it dribbled down nearer and nearer towards his sleeve. If it stained… Legolas clenched his jaw. Legolas finished off two more before he determined that it was safe to take a breather, the last few orcs were being cut down even as he wiped the blackened blood before its dangerous decent towards his spotless clothes got any closer to its deadly intent.

Legolas let out a slow breath of air, flicking his sweat dampened hair over his shoulder. He had lived to see another day, without permanent damage or severe injury; the ideal outcome of a soldier. Every warrior knew the risks and willingly took them. It actually wasn't as bad as some thought. Most trained for years and years and were well taken care of during their first battles, though in recent times… Legolas leaned against a tree as he surveyed the immediate area. He knew that he couldn't have chosen differently. This was his life and even when it got hard he knew that it was a lot better, and easier, than talking things through. Legolas shook his head ruefully as he remembered this morning's council meeting.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Legolas yawned behind his hand as he grappled with the lethargy that extreme boredom was causing. Of course being of royal upbringing he had attended thousands of these councils and he had some resilience to its grip and he could outlast many in the battle against it, but even after nearly two hours of the same wizened elf talking about the same things over and over again Legolas could not help the natural reflex to allow his eyes to glaze over and let his mind wander freely, letting all that was being said simply travel through one of his ears and to pass through the other one without making an impression on his brain in the slightest.

Even though the meeting had begun, Brakiss had still not come; although, everyone did assure that he would be there shortly. So, presumably in attempt to stall, they had let one of the council's eldest member explain and give a summary of the situation. Legolas was suppressing the urge to yawn yet again when the so called leader, Brakiss, sat at the end of the table. Legolas couldn't help the shock that came over him. Brakiss was young, even younger than he. Brakiss had a handsome face, his hair was held in a way that it looked like he had been riding for miles and miles and his eyes were earthy brown.

"I apologize for my lateness," he apologized, offering no explanation. "Let's cut this short and precise. You are concerned about the welfare of passing humans and you want us to stop, but in return for leaving them be what can you promise?"

Raize again with his unyielding bluntness said, "Why can you not just leave them alone?"

Brakiss gave a sigh of what sounded like exasperation. "Did you not see what occurred this morning? We cannot leave the humans alone because it is not possible." Suddenly, the good looks and smooth demeanor cracked and they could see the fatigue and weariness in the youth. "Prejudice runs too deep here, you must see it."

Glorfindel saw that none of the other council members stirred at this comment. Brakiss must have specifically chosen them. "You are their leader, control them."

Brakiss shook his head. "I am simply a shadow of their real leader, to which they would eagerly follow. My father Bariss had been fanning the flames for centuries while we still resided at Woodhall, speaking of the evils and treacheries of humans. He became so dissatisfied that he went so far as to sail away. His 'followers' took this as another reason to leave and pressured me to be a figurehead now that my father had gone."

"Then we must somehow force them to return to Woodhall or have them spread throughout the elven nations, where they can be controlled," Glorfindel said.

Rhovan, who had also attended the meeting, raised his eyebrows cynically. "And have them spread the fire, Lord Glorfindel? I thought you wanted to help the humans."

Then, out of nowhere Aragorn's voice pervaded. "How long was it between the last human spotting from the one today?"

This question was so out of place that Brakiss didn't answer immediately. "It was about fourteen months."

"And the one before that?"

"Maybe, seventeen months," Brakiss looked uncertainly at Aragorn, "Why?"

Aragorn looked at his party of fellow delegates. "I believe that those at Dunloreag should remain here."

Both sides sat in a stunned silence.

Aragorn hastened to explain. "Humans hardly come by here at all, unlike Woodhall, which resides in a multitude of roads heavily used by travelers. This means that it's more beneficial if they stay," he turned to Brakiss, "You mentioned that you wouldn't give the humans peace unless we gave something in return, what would we need to do in order for you people to at least give ample warning to passersby?"

"We'll need better trade routes. We have enough raw materials here, but we'll need some ready made tools and resources in order to truly build a town," Brakiss said, having shaken off all of his previous shock. "Do you think this could be arranged?"

Aragorn looked inquiringly at Glorfindel and Legolas.

"We cannot rightly say until we have talked to the other nations, but I am sure that if you go to Rivendell it can all be sorted out," Glorfindel said.

Relieved that this was going to end on good terms Legolas added, "Yes, I am sure my father will be most welcome to having another trading post."

As they started discussing more into the details of the arrangement Aragorn caught Rhovan's eye and he felt elated as Rhovan gave him a rare and deserving smile.

ooooooooooooooooo

This was of course the best of the meeting. When it had come to discussing the humans… Legolas blanched. At first it had been only a small argument. He and the others had suggested that they humans should be given a full chance for explanation, but Brakiss and his supporters insisted that their warriors should be allowed to stay hidden in the trees and give a few warning shots, just to scare the humans off. Then, Aragorn recommended that they should post warnings that Dunloreag should be avoided, much like how Mirkwood was. The others had immediately adopted this idea, but it quickly got out of hand when they believed that creating legends about elf magic and dark sorcerers was a very sound idea. Glorfindel thankfully squashed down this train of thought before it was blown any farther out of proportions, reasoning that creating legends or warnings would probably develop curiosity or strain on the already uneasy relation between the first and second born. Legolas loathed thinking that he may have to be present at this same debate at Rivendell and perhaps at Mirkwood as well.

Legolas returned to the present when urgent yells could be heard. He rushed to where the disturbance was coming from and his heart sunk. Brakiss was being dragged out from under one of the numerous orcs that littered the forest floor. Not seven and a half more hours away from Rivendell and they had been attacked. Legolas couldn't help but feel that there was absolutely no such thing as luck. Legolas could see Aragorn bending over him trying to restrain the convulsions.

Rhovan came up behind him and hissed in his ear. "You do know that if Lord Brakiss dies then you will have no hope of improvement in Dunloreag don't you?"

Legolas did not reply and moved over to crouch by his friend's side. "What's the situation?"

Aragorn's eyes held a slight panic caused by the pressure he was being forced into. "He's been poisoned with something that's been recently created called nightshadow. My father had been working on it before I had left for the Rangers, but he set the research aside when there had been no further sightings of it. We believed that the knowledge had died with the creator."

"Then what hope have we? What can we do? Not only will Brakiss but two other warriors will die," said one of the elves his composure slipping slightly.

"Who are those that are wounded with the poison?" Legolas asked, dreading the answer.

"Gene and another identified as Raize."

Legolas suppressed his emotions with no amount of ease.

Glorfindel looked into Aragorn's eyes with intensity. "What do you remember of you're your father had found Estel?"

Aragorn answered immediately, healer instincts kicking into full throttle. "Nightshadow is a mixture of a common drug and very potent poison. The only way you can make a combined poison is if the two components have similar properties, thus the only way to make an antidote is basically to find the common link between them and find what can counteract that as well as the other major properties within the poison," Aragorn looked up the apprehension filled faces, "Ada only got as far as to identify the drug and some of the factors in the poison."

"Can you identify it?" Glorfindel asked with trepidation.

"Yes, I need a little less than an hour to do the various tests to know what it is for sure. Although, it's doubtful for even if I can determine what it is I may not have the knowledge or supplies to make the antidote, but if by some miracle I am able to get so far as to have everything for the antidote it would take me further analysis to know how to prepare it."

"Is it fast acting?"

"It was reported that those who contracted it died within three to four hours."

Glorfindel put a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "That will have to be enough."

"What do you need mellon-nin?" Legolas tried to put as much reassurance as he could into that one sentence.

"My bag and any herbs that the party may have, including those in the surrounding area. I also need as many samples of the poison that they can find. I'm sure that these orcs must have several quantities of it."

And so everything was gathered and Aragorn set to work. He instructed those who could to do the common identity tests and write down their results so that he could move on to the more advanced ones. Legolas noticed that Aragorn gained more and more respect and awe as he worked; grinding various herbs to then mix it with the poison and then heat it in boiled water, testing the various odors when it came in contact with different plant samples, testing the color of the flame or smoke consistency when variations of the poison was burned. Throughout the procedure Aragorn kept a stony disposition, his brow looked to be permanently furrowed. True to his prediction, Aragorn finished his work just a hair short of an hour.

"The poison is neiphearia, I'm sure of it. The drug, cerasi, and neiphearia are both fungi that are in the same family although they grow in different environments and are prepared differently," Aragorn finished mumbling inaudibly.

"So what's the antidote?" Rhovan demanded.

Aragorn closed his eyes. "I do not know."

Glorfindel gave Rhovan a warning look. "Estel, do you have no knowledge of it or do you not recall?"

"I cannot remember."

Rhovan rounded on him. "Well you better remember soon or else everything we've built here will be for naught and we will lose those who should not be lost."

Aragorn could clearly read the unspoken message in Rhovan's eyes as if it had been written in bold letters upon his forehead. Fail and I will feel no remorse in telling everyone about the lies you have told and the secrets you have kept.

Aragorn rubbed his eyes tiredly. The battle had tired him out and this was draining him past his reserved energies. If only he could sleep, just for a minute, a second even. He knew he couldn't though, too much was at stake. Aragorn drew his knees up, putting his arms on top and leaned his forehead against them. He closed his eyes only wishing for a moment to clear his mind before he focused again on the task at hand. He raised his head, the light from the fire making the shadows dance and cast a flickering quality upon the camp. If it was because of the fire or of his fatigue Aragorn would never know, but when he reopened his eyes he was staring at his resting arms, but the arms were different; small and pale in the night. He blinked and, again, saw the fuzzy outline of Brakiss, his chest rising and falling, ragged breaths being pulled from his weakening body. He looked down in bewilderment and saw that his face was half plastered to an old book that smelt of freshly dug earth.

He scowled for eleventh time that night for dozing off as he tried to refocus on the book's small print that described the many plants depicted in the diagrams that ran across the page. The candle had burned low and its dim light made the words swim before his eyes. He closed the book in defeat, mustering the discipline not to throw it bodily across the room.

"You're up late." A figure had appeared at his side as another, about the same height, looked over his shoulder to examine that large tome that he been using as a pillow moments before.

"Ada said for me to memorize this by tomorrow, but it's too hard. I can't seem to keep them in my brain," he replied miserably.

The other flipped to the page he had been previously studying and scanned it quickly before looking at his with mock seriousness and said, "That's because it's impossible."

"That's right, you're just going to have to cheat," the first one added in the same stern tone.

"Cheat? That's…"

"It's not bad if you're simply making it easier. Listen, this is how all the anxiety will disappear. Repeat after me…"

So Aragorn parted his lips and repeated the not so smooth flow of words that his brothers, so long ago, fed into him.

"If fungus you are dealing with,

Do not believe it is a myth,

To know that it's as easy as one, two, three…

If you follow this simple ditty."

"When you deal with that bad old drug,

That leaves your mind in a fug,

Don't worry. You see,

It is simply cerasi."

"And you can bet that its cousin isn't far,

If when boiled it turns to greenish tar,

And the bubbles look like little plumbs,

But do not fret 'cause you can bet,

That it's cured by Bellaverum."

Legolas glowered at him. "Now is not the time for badly devised poetry Estel." He turned to Glorfindel imploringly when he heard the elf give a bark of laughter.

"No, I recognize that style and format. It's one of the twins' ridiculous study tricks that they'd use to memorize things quicker," Glorfindel explained excitedly.

Legolas looked at him in disgust. "The twins told me that they wrote poetry to elf maidens all the time. How could anyone not wince at that kind of pentameter?"

"No one. That's why they aren't married yet," Aragorn answered.

"Well, why aren't you making the antidote?" Rhovan asked impatiently.

Aragorn winced slightly. "Bellaverum grows on high mountaintops, preferring the difference in the thinner air. I have samples of it here, but," the small bit of hope that filled the air vanished instantly, "I only have the petals, but I will also need the pistal and a bit of the stem."

"Can you not just administer the petals to forestall the effects long enough to get to Rivendell or retrieve this flower?" One of the elves reasoned.

Aragorn shook his head mournfully. "No, that will just stop the minor effects. The pistal is the main thing that will stop the poison and the moisture that secretes from the stem should purge the poison."

Aragorn reached into his bag and pulled out the slightly wilted petals of the bellaverum plant. The petals were a dark purplish black in the center and tips, though a golden yellow and orange covered the rest of the petal's surface, making a wonderful contrast of dark and light. Legolas' memory hitched for a moment. One of his formal wear had a very strong resemblance to that flower. He remembered that before the spring celebrations he had to get a new flower wreath, in the tradition of his woodland kin, to match it and that the ones in charge of gathering the flowers took several weeks to get enough to make a proper circlet. That very formal wear was the one he packed for the council. That would mean…

Legolas dashed to retrieve his pack and digging within the folds of the voluminous robe he withdrew a circlet wreathed with golden flowers. He returned immediately and tossed the desired ingredient into Aragorn's lap. Legolas grinned at Aragorn's wonderment.

Aragorn fingered the precious plant as he was struck with a sudden thought and he groaned at the irony of it all. "The creator of this must have been absolutely mad. No one of sane mind would call a poison nightshadow and have its antidote to be a plant that bore the name of romen."

The surrounding elves laughed, relief lightening their hearts, for romen meant sunshine.

Aragorn quickly mixed the necessary ingredients to make both a liquid and a powder to go on the wounds just in case. At once after the antidote had been given, the victims breath evened out and the worst of the spasms stopped and ceased entirely soon after. Aragorn wasn't given a single congratulation due to the fact that right after he supplied the antidote he had excused himself to get a drink of water and was discovered asleep on top of the hastily dropped packs.

Legolas smiled as he and Glorfindel dragged the human to a fit resting spot. Aragorn was quite a surprising at times; he seemed to be the only person who seemed to struggle in a never ending battle against misfortune and woe. Legolas fervently hoped that Aragorn would never lose it or at least not lose until they reached Rivendell because he knew that things could always get worse.

A/N- Alright so that's the end of my second to last chapter of my fic Of Wishers and Dreamers.I hope that this chapter wasn't too stupid. I mean the resolution of the whole Dunloreag problem was so lame, but that's understandable since it already had an ill devised problem. The whole poison thing was a bit faulty too. I have no idea how poisons work! Anyway, please stick with me to find out the ending to my creation, which I hope to post fairly soon.

Reviewer Response:

viggomaniac: lol, thanks for the most amusing review. As for the socks in the 15th century… (thinks about dinosaurs running around with gigantic socks until one of my history teachers hits me really hard with a ruler). Yes, my punctuation is the bane of my existence, but I'll improve later hopefully. Yup, you're—forgive me for saying—quite a bit more along than I am in life. FINALLY, I thought no one would get the whole Dreamer story and actually comment on it. Yeah, I based it on the whole Daedalus building wings bound together with wax and thread so that he his young son could fly away, but then Icarus fell and he was all "BAH!" and drowned. Anyway I'm really hoping that you didn't forget about me, so please give me a review so that I know that you're still there.

siegle- You think this is well written? Thanks, but I still hope you think that after this chapter. Sorry about updating late. heh

grumpy- Yup, bad elves. They're too perceptive sometimes, except when it comes to dogs it seems.

Silverstreak Wolf- Yeah, I hope the elves can trust Aragorn for who he is too or else he'll be in a real tight corner. Hope you haven't forgotten me yet!