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A/N: Sorry that this chapter is a day late. I've been sick, therefore haven't had a chance to really get on the computer. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, review responses are on my bio page, I will put them up as I get them.

/Flashbacks/

Chapter 6

Elrond woke with the sun. He rolled up his bedroll and took out a small pack that held lembas. He then crossed over to Elladan and Elrohir to rouse them from their sleep.

He wasn't at all surprised to find them already awake. From the looks of it, they had already packed all of their gear on the horses and were ready to depart.

Actually, when he looked around, he noticed that most of the elves had broke camp already, and it seemed like they were just waiting for Elrond to tell them to mount their horses and then they would be off.

He sat down next to Elladan and reached into the pack he had brought with him, producing pieces of lembas. He gave each of his sons one, and ate the remainder himself. Elladan and Elrohir ate quickly and in silence.

Once they were done, they went over to their horses again, to make sure that they had packed all of their gear and hadn't forgotten anything. The chances of them forgetting anything though were very unlikely considering the fact that this was already the fourth time this morning that they had checked it.

Elrond glanced around at his soldiers. It seemed that they all had had something light to eat, so he called, "We break camp now! Let us make haste for Mirkwood!" Immediately they all went to mount their horses. Once again they were on their way to Mirkwood.

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Thranduil sighed. He was exhausted. Legolas had grown only a little worse, though that was still bad. For the past three days he was disoriented and delusional once again. He didn't recognize his father's soothing voice anymore, and when Thranduil had to restrain him so that he couldn't hurt himself further, it just made matters worse.

Thranduil may have been an elf, and elves may not need much rest, but the past days were slowly taking a toll on him. He would not rest until Elrond had arrived, and Legolas was recovering. He had made this vow to himself since the beginning. He would not leave Legolas.

A slight shift on the bed brought his attention back to the thin form on the bed. Legolas had always been thin, but now he was thinner than he had ever been. Since Legolas had been poisoned, they hadn't been able to get any nourishment into his body. The one time when he had been alert enough to drink some broth had been two days ago. He hadn't been able to keep it down for very long either.

Thranduil could remember that day all too vividly.

/Two Days Prior/

Thranduil was seated next to the bed. Fallieor was over at the herb counter, checking to make sure that they had all the herbs they might need in the future.

A soft moan brought her attention to the bed. She noticed that Thranduil had moved to sitting on the edge of the bed, in position for incase Legolas started thrashing around again and he would have to hold him.

They were pleasantly surprised though when Legolas' azure eyes opened. Confusion shown in them as he gazed around the room. When his gaze fell on Thranduil he said hoarsely, "I'm sorry Ada."

Fallieor walked over to the bedside table and poured a glass of water from the pitcher that was kept there. Then she held it to the prince's lips so that he could drink.

Thranduil blinked in surprise. Not only had Legolas woke up, but he seemed not at all disoriented, very different to the sick elf that they had only seen yesterday. He frowned at what his son said, but then he said, "Nay Legolas. Do not apologize. We shall speak of this matter at another time. On to more pressing matters though…are you hungry ion nin?"

Legolas inwardly frowned. Truthfully he wasn't hungry. In fact all he wanted to do right now was go back asleep, but he didn't want to worry his father, so he nodded.

Fallieor spoke quickly and said, "I shall get him some broth to drink hir nin. We should try not to over tax his stomach with anything else yet." With that said she left quickly to the kitchens.

Legolas again closed his eyes. This time though, he was awake. Thranduil desperately wanted to talk with Legolas, tell him how sorry he was, but decided that he should wait until Legolas was feeling better. So they just sat in silence until Fallieor came back with a tray laden with a bowl of broth.

She put the tray down on the counter that held the herbs, then crossed back over to Legolas to feel his forehead and check his fever. She found that he still had one, so put an herb that would lower it into the broth. While she was doing this Thranduil was helping Legolas sit up.

Fallieor handed the bowl over to Thranduil knowing that he would want to be the one to feed it to Legolas. Thranduil gave her a small smile. He then said to Legolas before he could start arguing that he could feed himself, "You are still weak ion nin. I will feed you the broth." Legolas scowled but did not say anything.

He managed to drink a little under half of the broth before he was too full and had become too tired. Thranduil had noticed him starting to fall asleep, so he gave the remainder of the broth to Fallieor. Then helped lower Legolas back down on the bed. Legolas was sound asleep before his head even touched the pillow. Thranduil brushed some stray strands of golden hair off of Legolas' face, and then placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Fallieor smiled softly at the act of affection. Some thought Thranduil to be cold towards his son sometimes because he did not display affection in public. Now however, if they could only see him, they would see he was anything but cold.

Thranduil sat back in the seat that he had occupied before Legolas had woke up. Then he said, "It seems as though he is getting better."

Fallieor nodded and then said, "He must've been stronger than we thought. Especially to be fighting off the venom from two stings. We may have no use of Elrond when he arrives." Thranduil nodded in agreement.

They were both proven wrong however an hour later when Legolas woke once again. This time he groaned, rolled over onto his side, and violently expelled the contents of his stomach.

Thranduil was at his side and holding his hair out of his face while he rubbed his back softly immediately. As soon as he was finished Legolas rolled back onto his back sobbing for breath, Thranduil was talking soothingly to him. He fell once more into a fever induced sleep. When Thranduil felt his forehead he said concerned, "His fever has grown worse Fallieor."

/End flashback/

He and Fallieor had had to wash Legolas, part of the bed, and the floor after that. The worst part however, was the fact that they couldn't get anything to stay down very long in the sick elf's stomach. Water was the only exception, and even then that was only if it was in a limited amount, otherwise it would just see the same fate as the broth.

That had also been the only time that Legolas had been awake and not delirious. Thranduil was finding himself wishing more and more that Elrond would get there soon. Luckily for him though, his wishes would be answered soon.

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About 300 hundred yards away Elrond could see Mirkwood's gates. It had taken them six days to get there, but indeed they had. He only hoped that it wasn't too late.

As they came upon the gate, it opened and an elf came out. The elf ran up to him, bowed hastily and said, "Mae govanne Lord Elrond. Dismount your horse and hurry. Legolas needs you. Do not worry about your soldiers, the stable hands will take care of the horses and then they shall lead them into private quarters for rest. Now we must hurry." With that said he started towards the palace. Elrond, along with Elladan and Elrohir following him.

TBC…

Elvish Translations:

Hir nin: My lord

Ada: Dad/Daddy

Ion nin: my son

Mae govanne: Well met

A/N: As always please review, tell me what you thought, what you wish to read in the next chapter would be good too. See you next Sunday.

Celeste