Hi everyone! Thanks for your great reviews! There's only one more chapter after this one! (sniff) But don't worry, there's many more stories to come, lol :)

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As the day wore on, Legolas showed no indication of regaining consciousness. Aragorn continued to walk, and finally reached the shore of Long Lake, which housed the popular floating city.

There was a town on the shore for people who preferred living on land, and the inhabitants were shocked at the sudden sight of the exhausted human carrying a seemingly half-dead elf. Legolas was instantly recognized by some of them, and they rushed over.

Someone tried to take the elf from Aragorn's grasp, but he protested. "No! Show me where I can lay him; it was not safe to move him!"

Two of the men took his arms and led him to an Inn, where the owner quickly gave them a room and sent for the town healer.

"Inform Master Galen," Aragorn said. "He was expecting us."

The Innkeeper nodded and left the room, as the town healer hurried in.

He and Aragorn examined Legolas for quite a while, relieved to find that the elf's precarious rib was still holding on. The healer didn't know what to make of the vine story, not knowing much about elves. He secretly wondered if the exhausted and also injured Aragorn had hallucinated it.

Legolas remained unconscious, and they heaped blankets over his too-cold body. The elf's condition was serious; for Aragorn didn't know the extent of what the vines had done to him.

The healer stood near the window, watching Aragorn sitting beside the Prince. He'd refused medical aid, and wouldn't lie down himself until after the elf had woken. The healer could see how exhausted Aragorn was, and as he mixed some herbs for the elf at Aragorn's request, he sneakily put some sleeping herbs in a cup of water and sat it on the nightstand beside the bed. "Here," he said. "For when you grow thirsty."

Aragorn nodded his thanks, not suspecting a trick since the healer hadn't demanded that he drink it.

The healer waited, and finally, a half-hour after they'd finished with the elf, Aragorn picked up the cup and drank the whole thing in three big swallows.

That was more than the healer could've ever hoped for, having assumed that Aragorn would take one sip and taste the herbs.

Aragorn nearly dropped the cup when he realized what the other man had done. He was horrified, afraid that Legolas would die while he lay in the next bed sleeping.

"Do not fear for your friend," said the healer. "If anything happens, I will wake you. That herb is not overly powerful."

Aragorn sighed, reluctantly nodding. There was nothing that he could do about it now. He looked at the cup and smiled slightly. "You are as bad as I," he said. "Hiding herbs in people's water."

The healer smiled before motioning for Aragorn to lie on the next bed.

Aragorn stood, feeling the herbs already doing their work—it didn't take much, for his brain was more asleep than awake anyway. He checked Legolas' pulse and felt his forehead, not finding any change in his weak heartbeat, but his skin was starting to feel a little warmer. The human was relieved at the slight improvement, and he turned to walk the few feet to the other bed.

The healer walked beside him, and reached out and grabbed the injured human when he fell asleep on his feet.

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When Aragorn woke, he found himself moving. Confused, he blinked up at the ceiling, finding that it was made out of cloth. Where am I? he wondered. The recent events suddenly flashed through his mind and he gasped, bolting upright. "Legolas!" he exclaimed. He found, however, that something was pinning his arms down.

It was the healer. "Be calm," he said. "The Prince lives."

Aragorn sat up carefully, finding that his ribs felt a little better and he was no longer exhausted. They were riding in a cart, and Legolas lay beside him, wrapped in blankets.

Aragorn reached out to feel his friend's forehead, finding that his body temperature had nearly risen to normal. Relief swept through him so strongly that he felt lightheaded. "Has he woken?"

The healer shook his head. "No."

Aragorn found Legolas' pulse to be stronger, and he knew now that his friend would live. "Where are we going?"

"We cross the bridge to Lake Town," said the man. "When the Master was told what had become of you both, he came to our village to bring you back with him when the Prince was stable enough."

"How long has it been?" Aragorn asked, dreading the answer.

"Two days," said the healer.

Aragorn returned his full attention to his friend, realizing how close the elf had come to death; it had taken two days for his body temperature to recover thanks to the Shadow's vine-inflicted effects. He suddenly wondered if Thranduil's message to Lake Town had survived their near-fatal ordeal.

It didn't take long to cross the bridge and arrive at their destination. When the cart halted, Aragorn reached out to lift his friend, but the healer stopped him.

"I will do it," said the man. "You carried him far enough with your ribs like that."

Before Aragorn had a chance to protest, the healer lifted the elf and carefully left the cart. He followed, wincing at the stiffness that engulfed his body. Aragorn looked up at the Master of Lake Town's home, so glad to have made it through the dangerous Shadow-infested woods without further trouble.

"Aragorn!" he heard.

Turning, he saw Master Galen approaching him from the head of the cart. "Glad to see you awake!" he said, clasping Aragorn's arm in greeting. He watched the healer carry Legolas up the stairs as they followed. "However do you two get involved in so many dangers?"

Aragorn smiled slightly. "I wish that I knew, so I could attempt to avoid it in the future."

Galen laughed at that. "Ah well, at least you are here now, and in one piece." He blinked. "Or a few pieces, anyhow!"

Aragorn couldn't help but chuckle. It nearly turned into a groan when his ribs vehemently protested the action, but he managed to hold it back as Galen grabbed passing servants and commanded that they prepare dinner early.

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The first thing that Legolas heard when he woke was a loud laugh. It startled him and his body jerked, making him gasp from the pain in his ribs.

A hand touched his arm and the laughing stopped. "Legolas?"

The elf opened his eyes to find Aragorn and Master Galen sitting in chairs by his bed. "We made it," he said.

Aragorn nodded, pouring his friend some water. "We did indeed. Galen was just telling me what happened to you the last time that you were here." He smiled as he helped Legolas drink. "Quite an amusing story!"

Galen laughed again. "Forgive me for startling you awake, young elf."

Young elf. Despite the fact that Legolas was close to three thousand years older than Lake Town's Master, the man always called him that. "How long has it been?"

"We spent two days at the Lake Shore Inn, and came here yesterday," Aragorn told him. "How do you feel?"

"Fine," the elf predictably lied. He tried to recall the last thing that he remembered, frowning with thought.

"Your body was weakening because those vines were sapping the strength out of you," Aragorn told him.

Legolas blinked. "What!"

Aragorn nodded, shifting a little stiffly in his chair. "Your life essence drove the Shadow from them, and they accepted it eagerly; it turned them green once more."

Legolas was stunned. He'd never heard of such an occurrence.

"Of course it would happen to you," said Galen, seeming to know the elf's thoughts.

"Legolas," Aragorn said, suddenly remembering what he'd wanted to ask. "Do you still have your father's message? I didn't find it in any of your clothes."

"That is all right," said Legolas, closing his eyes tiredly. "It was not written. I know what he wished to find out."

"And what is that?" asked Galen.

Legolas shook his head, reopening his eyes. "He wants to know when he'll be receiving a new batch of Dorwinion."

Aragorn's mouth nearly dropped to the floor. "Wine?" he exclaimed. "You almost died over wine!"

Galen shook his head, not looking surprised. "Only you, young elf. Only you."

TBC

LOL all this, thanks to Thranny's wine! (runs from screaming readers)