Good news! I had another idea so there will be more! Anyway, heres the next chapter. Ihope you like it.

-Part 13-

Gone

The sun was almost spent and the peaceful valley of Rivendell was bathed in an orange glow, giving its buildings and waters a golden hue.

It had taken Elrond and the twins almost twice as long to get Legolas and Aragorn back because of their wounds. They were all exhausted and they embraced the sight of Rivendell's doors open wide as if the valley itself was welcoming them home.

Aragorn's eyes opened slowly and Elrond felt him stir restlessly.

"Welcome home, ion nin." Elrond whispered softly into his son's ear.

Glorfindel walked out into the courtyard to greet them.

Again Aragorn shifted; this time he pushed against Elrond. The Elf, confused by his actions wrapped his arm tightly around the ranger in an effort to calm him.

"Don't touch me!" Aragorn cried out in pain at the touch.

"Estel, what is wrong?" Elrond asked confused and a little hurt by the young man's words.

Legolas who was sleeping against Elrohir's shoulder was awakened by the commotion. He quickly remembered that Elrond had only slowed the poison and that it had yet to take its toll on Aragorn.

"Lord Elrond, do not touch him, it's the poison doing this." Legolas yelled to the Elf despite his pounding head.

Aragorn clambered off the horse and hit the stone floor of the courtyard hard on his hands and knees causing them to again begin bleeding. His breathing was heavy and labored and tears of pain welled in his eyes.

Elrond, dismounting his horse knelt down next to the ranger, pain clearly written on his face at his inability to hold and comfort his son.

"Elladan, quickly! Go get me some white willow, wormwood and a bowl of boiling water." Elrond went over in his mind again the herbs he would use and confirmed that they were indeed correct.

"Mellon nin, you're not going to treat him out here, are you? It's growing increasingly dark." Glorfindel questioned Elrond, who began to whisper words of comfort to Aragorn.

The ranger remained on the ground still writhing in pain.

"Ada, please help me." Aragorn ground out as he wrapped his hands around his head.

"I'll go get a lamp." Glorfindel stated not needing an answer to his previously posed question.

"I will Estel, I will." Elrond said, his heart breaking at his son's weak plea.

Elrohir, who had helped Legolas down from his horse, ran into the house to help Elladan carry everything outside.

Legolas pulled the stained pack off of Elrond's saddlebag, and the Elf began clumsily going through the sack trying to find the light blue powder that held the key to ridding Aragorn's body of the poison.

"Where is it?" he yelled frustrated after he had emptied the contents on the ground finding just about every color herb and mixture on Middle Earth except for the light colored concoction.

"It's not here!" Legolas cried out in shock.

He ran over to the black horses that Malazack and Kelvar had ridden on and tore through the saddlebags. Nothing. It was gone.

"I have to go back!" Legolas shouted as he awkwardly remounted Elrohir's mare. He spun the horse and spurred it on into the forest before Elrond could stop him.

"Legolas, stop!" He shouted after the prince who disappeared into the inky blackness of the woods.

Moments later Elladan and Elrohir arrived with the herbs and water that Elrond had asked for. Glorfindel also returned, bearing a bright light that illuminated the area quite well.

"Legolas is gone, he went back to find the poison. He is still healing; you must go after him!" Elrond said quickly as he looked over what the twins had brought him.

"Mellon nin, I will go with Elrohir. Elladan will be able to help you here more than I." Glorfindel said as he gracefully mounted Elrond's stallion.

Elrohir mounted his twin's horse and rode off into the forest bearing one of the few lanterns that lit the corners of the courtyard. Glorfindel followed, matching his pace with the younger Elf's horse.

Elrond, who stared at the section of woods where Glorfindel and his son had just disappeared into, was quickly brought back to reality when Aragorn gave a half choked cry.

"We need a pain reliever and sedative that will help him sleep until Glorfindel and your brother return with Legolas and the poison." Elrond spoke to Elladan as the young elf began to prepare a mixture that would serve as an anesthesia for Aragorn and help to reduce his pain. Their only problem was that it would need to be injected directly into the young rangers blood stream. It could not be ingested.

Elrond gave Elladan a nod, and despite Aragorn thrashing about and pleading with them to let him be the elf tightly gripped the human's shoulders in an effort to still his movements. When Elrond drew his dagger Aragorn's feverish eyes visibly filled with fear and his movements became more desperate. The ranger no longer saw his elven father, but Malazack grinning intently as he once again grasped Aragorn's left arm.

"Legolas!" Aragorn screamed his friend's name in agony and fear. The ranger, caught in a conscious nightmare and filled with fear, struck out with his fists, hitting Elladan in the face. The elf's nose began to bleed violently, but he held on to the ranger.

"Please, stop." Aragorn whispered as Elrond, his eyes filled with painful regret, once again cut open a small section of the gash on the rangers arm. He quickly administered the mixture that would put Aragorn into a deep sleep and with that the two elves released the ranger.

Tears slid down Aragorn's cheeks from the amount of stress and pain he had endured, and he curled in on himself, afraid that more pain was soon to follow. Despite his expectations, his eyes soon became heavy, and he drifted off into the first peaceful sleep he was granted since he had left the elven haven.

Elrond sighed in relief as the ranger's breathing became slow and relaxed.

The Elf lord soon turned to his Elven son, who was holding his nose in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Elladan, I believe your little human brother has broken your nose." Elrond said with amusement in an attempt to lighten the mood. He was at ease now that Aragorn was sleeping peacefully and no longer in any pain.

"Ada, I really do not see how this is funny." Elladan said as Elrond prepared to set his nose into his proper position. With a sickening crack Elladan's nose was back into its proper place.

"Remind me to stay clear of Estel's fists next time." Elladan said, winced in pain as he gingerly touched his nose.

"Elladan, for all our sakes, I hope there never is a next time." Elrond said wearily.

"Ada, why don't you go get some rest. I will carry Estel to his room, and then wait for Glorfindel and Elrohir to return with Legolas." Elladan said quietly as he looked at his father, who still wore the stained clothing that was covered in the young humans blood.

"I believe that you are right ion nin. I will go rest, but you must wake me when Legolas is brought back." With that, the exhausted Elf lord slowly walked into the house.

Elladan, with as much care as his father had shone before, picked up Estel and carried him into the house and up the grand staircase.

The Elf finally came to the young humans room. He carefully opened the door and walked over to the bed. The glass doors had been replaced shortly after Aragorn had left and the room was once again dry.

Turning the sheets down with his right arm, he placed his sleeping brother down on the soft mattress. Removing Aragorn's muddy boots, Elladan covered the ranger with a warm comforter. With a final glance, the Elf closed the door and returned outside to clean up and to await the return of his brother and Glorfindel, who would hopefully have Legolas with them.

Thanks to all my reviewers...tell me what you think! Reviews Please!