Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hehe, okay please don't kill me! As you all know I went on vacation, which was a total blast by the way! I'm back now and I am so sorry about the delay in updating. Now that my life is back to its more or less normal routine, the updates should be more often. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! I love you all! As promised, here is Chapter Four! Enjoy!

Thranduil watched the setting sun with a heavy heart. After Estel had collapsed they had pushed their horses hard, wanting to reach a safe spot where they could tend to Estel.

Unfortunately, they did not find a suitable place until an hour or so before he sun started to set, when the feeling of imminent danger had at last passed.

Having watched the sun set, he turned his gaze towards his sons, all of whom were tending to Estel. His lips pursed worriedly when he saw that there was still no change in the young man.

Throughout the day, Estel's condition had not improved or even changed in the slightest. He had remained unconscious and unresponsive the entire time. Thranduil was quite worried although he did not say anything aloud for fear of upsetting his sons. Still, he did not believe this to be normal.

Ever since he had first met Estel, he had learned much about mortals and their reactions to injury and illness. Based on past experiences with Estel, he was nearly certain that Estel's current condition was not normal.

Then again, one could never be certain. He was not a healer by any means. All he knew for certain was that he would feel much better when Estel regained consciousness and when Himband could take a good look at him.

Looking at his sons who were still tending to Estel, he walked over to them and sat down by the young man's side.

"Is there any change?" he asked softly.

Legolas looked up, frustration and worry clearly evident in his face. "I can't really tell Ada. None of us are exactly healers although I think at least one of us should become a healer considering our propensity towards getting into trouble."

"Is that not the truth," Delelen muttered under his breathe.

"Ada, his fever may have risen but I can't say if that's from the fast pace we were holding or from whatever illness it is that grips him," Thilloth said.

Thranduil frowned at this news and felt Estel's smoldering brow. He sighed as he realized his sons were right. What he wouldn't give to have both Himband and Elrond with him right then.

He continued to examine Estel to the best of his ability but paused when he heard fast approaching hoof beats in the distance.

"Adar, a rider approaches. He is aiming straight for us," Delelen said, a hint of anxiety present in his voice.

As the rider got closer, Thranduil and his sons formed a tight protective circle around Estel. In all probability, the rider was harmless but they all remembered the feeling of danger that had only just passed.

As the horse and rider finally came into view, they all let out sighs of relief upon seeing that it was only Elrohir and Elladan. Their anxiety quickly returned however upon seeing that Elladan was unconscious and had blood running down his leg despite the bandage that was wrapped around it.

"By the Valar Elrohir! What happened?" Thranduil asked while helping get Elladan off the horse.

"A group of wargs decided that we would make a nice meal," Elrohir said tiredly. He had ridden long and hard for most of the day with the very hope that he would catch up with Thranduil's group. Elladan had slipped into unconsciousness a couple of hours and had successfully scared his twin out of his wits. Elrohir was quite relieved that he had reached help.

"Come sit by the fire and rest mellon nin. We shall tend to Elladan," Thilloth said.

Elrohir nodded gratefully. He was quite tired, not that he would have admitted that to anyone. He was about to do as Thilloth had suggested when he realized that there was something, or actually, somebody, who was missing.

"Where's Estel?" he asked curiously. Normally when one of them was injured, Estel would constantly mother them to death. That he wasn't all over Elladan by now was more than a little disconcerting.

Legolas winced inwardly and shared a glance with his father and brothers. Elrohir and Elladan were notoriously overprotective of their little brother. Elrohir would not be pleased that both of his brothers were unconscious and injured.

Elrohir did not fail to notice the looks that were shared and he rounded on them. "Where is Estel?" he asked, fear suddenly coursing through his body.

Thranduil sighed heavily. He really did not want to be the one to tell Elrohir about his little brother's condition. Unfortunately for him, he really did not have much of a choice in the matter as Elrohir's gaze fell on him expectantly.

"Elrohir, Estel has fallen ill we believe. He is lying by the fire and is currently unconscious. I shall tell you the details later, but right now we need to tend to your brother," Thranduil said while guiding Elrohir over to the fire.

Before Elrohir could protest, Legolas bodily dragged him over to the fire and to where Estel was.

Upon seeing Estel, Elrohir froze for a moment, only to scramble to his younger brother's side upon seeing him. "I knew that he had left to soon. Fine indeed," Elrohir muttered as he felt Estel's brow and took his pulse.

He immediately noticed the bloodstained bandage that was wrapped around Estel's forehead, which looked to be a few hours old. "Ai! How did this occur mellon nin?" Elrohir asked Legolas.

Legolas sighed and gently smoothed Estel's hair back away from his face. "That happened much earlier today. He fell of his horse and hit the ground quite hard before we had even realized what had happened. Whether he passed out before of after hit the ground, we are unsure of."

Elrohir shook his head defeatedly. "Stubborn human. I knew we should have kept him home for a few more days. Fear not though, if I know Estel at all he probably overexerted himself just like Ada warned him against doing. What does concern me however is his exhaustion."

"Aye I know. I know not what to make of it," Legolas said heavily.

"I'll have to write to Ada once we reach your home. He will want to know of this. Ai! I am glad that I do not have to tell him in person," Elrohir said.

"I quite agree. I promised Elrond I would watch over Estel for him and contact him if anything were to happen," Thranduil said suddenly while placing Elladan's limp form next to Estel.

"How is he?" Elrohir asked worriedly.

"He should be fine but that wound needs to be tended to and the sooner, the better. The faster we all get to Mirkwood, the happier I'll be," Thranduil said.

"Here, here," Delelen said.

"Aye, Estel and Elladan are already injured. Valar only knows what injuries you two will sustain if we don't get home soon," Thilloth said teasingly to Elrohir and Legolas.

"Boys!" Thranduil said in exasperation. Honestly, those two could drive a person to madness. "Come, let us settle down. We have a long night ahead of us."

Looking down at the two unconscious brothers, Legolas could not help but agree. It was going to be a very long night indeed.

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It was still in the early hours of the evening when Estel began to stir. The first sensation that he was aware of, as he regained consciousness, was an immense pain that seemed to be originating from his head.

Estel was unable to hold back a groan as he attempted to open his eyes. What had happened to him? He was unable to recall for some reason. Valar did his head hurt though!

As he slowly fought his way to consciousness, he thought he could hear speaking around him.

"Adar... coming around."

"Mellon... open...."

Fighting against the welcoming blackness, Estel slowly opened his eyes, only to moan aloud and close them quickly as the world spun dizzily around him and his stomach did summer salts.

Elrohir and Legolas exchanged concerned glances. While Legolas was no healer, he had been injured enough times to recognize a concussion when he saw one.

"Come Estel, open your eyes for me once more tithen gwador," Estel heard Elrohir plead with him.

"Ro?" Estel questioned groggily without opening his eyes. When had his brother caught up with them? And why did he sound so worried?

"Yes Estel, your brothers are here. Come, open those eyes of your ion. You don't want us to worry even more about you do you now?" Thranduil said softly in a teasing tone of voice.

"Please open your eyes and talk to us mellon nin," Legolas added while squeezing Estel's hand.

Estel really didn't want to but it seemed that everyone around him wished him too. Groaning inwardly, he opened his eyes again only to his friends and his brother's faces swimming around him dizzily. His stomach lurched and for a moment he thought he was going to lose what little he had eaten that morning.

"Estel?" he heard Thranduil ask him worriedly.

"I don't feel so good," he murmured weakly, eyes still closed.

"I can't say that I'm surprised mellon nin. That was quite the spill you took," Delelen said.

"Give it a few seconds Estel. I'm pretty sure that you have a nasty concussion. Breathe deeply a few times and then try to open your eyes," Elrohir said.

Estel did as he was told and opened his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief when the world stood relatively still and he could make out the faces around him clearly. He went to sit up but several pairs of hands quickly pushed him back down.

"Stay lying down Estel. I'm willing to bet that you have a nasty headache. You don't want to aggravate it," Thilloth said.

As the pain in his head seemed to grow worse just by mentioning it, Estel groaned and allowed himself to be lowered back on the ground without protest.

The elves exchanged another glance of concern. This was not Estel's normal behavior when he was injured by far.

Estel felt their glances and opened his eyes, which he hadn't even been aware of closing. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Sensing their disbelief, he started to get up again only to nearly fall back down.

"Estel! You my brother are anything but fine," Elrohir said while leaning Estel against his chest.

"I thought that it was Elladan's job to mother me, not yours Ro," Estel muttered as he tiredly leaned against his him.

For a moment, no one said anything until Legolas finally snorted and the entire camp broke out into hilarious laughter, including Elrohir.

"Too true tithen gwador, too true," Elrohir said, wiping away tears of mirth from his face.

With weary eyes, Estel looked around the camp when he didn't hear Elladan retort to his comment. Come to think of it, where was Elladan? Estel had yet to see him.

"Ro, where is Elladan?"

For a moment there was dead silence until Elrohir reluctantly began to speak. "Estel, while we were on our way to catch up to you guys, we were intercepted by wargs. Elladan's leg was badly injured and he lost much blood. Currently, he is unconscious, but fear not! He shall be fine."

"What!" Estel yelped, turning his head around to look Elrohir in the eye. The sudden movement proved to be too much for Estel's aching head though and his vision went dark for a few moments.

"That, was quite an unwise move tithen pen," Thranduil said sternly as he helped Elrohir lower Estel back onto the bed roll.

"I'm fine," Estel insisted.

Thranduil sighed and shook his head as he exchanged exasperated glances with his sons and Elrohir. "No you are not. Now, if you wish to see your brother, you will lie still and Elrohir will show you to him."

Sighing in defeat, Estel nodded and laid back down. Truth be told, he really didn't feel that well and was glad that he was lying down.

Seeing that Estel was for once acknowledging what they were saying, Legolas gently raised Estel's head so that it was on his lap and Estel could see Elladan.

"See mellon nin? Elrohir is taking quite good care of him and you as well," Legolas said soothingly.

That wasn't nearly good enough for Estel though. He was a true healer at heart and every healer instinct in his body demanded that he examine his eldest brother for himself.

Much to Legolas's dismay, Estel pulled himself upright and scooted next to Elladan's limp form. Looking at Elladan's injured leg, he could not help but wince in sympathy. Unconsciously, he rubbed his arm where a warg had bitten him not even a month previous.

"That leg is in need of stitches," Estel said quietly. What little strength fear for his brother had given him was quickly receding.

"Aye, we know. that is precisely the reason we leave for Mirkwood come the dawn. We need to get the both of you there as soon as possible," Thranduil said.

"I agree that Elladan needs to get to the palace quickly. I am fine! I am only a bit tired," Estel said.

Delelen snorted, while Thilloth and the others only rolled their eyes. "Mellon nin, you know we love you, but you are the most stubborn creature that I have ever met my entire life, and that is saying something," Delelen said.

"He is right ion. You are not fine. You were unconscious for nearly ten hours, which nearly scared us out our wits, I might add," Thranduil said.

"You still have a fever as well," Legolas said as he put his cool hand on Estel's feverish brow.

"You need to rest little brother. You pushed yourself to hard and to fast. Sleep now," Elrohir said as he pushed Estel back onto his bed roll.

"What of Elladan?" Estel balked.

"We will take care of him Estel. Now sleep," Elrohir commanded.

Reluctantly, Estel did as his brother said and closed his eyes. Within moments, he as fast asleep next to Elladan.

"Come, we should all get some sleep as well. Elrohir, I don't suppose that there is any of convincing you to let someone else stand the first watch?" Thranduil questioned already knowing the answer.

Elrohir smiled despite his worry for both of his brothers. "You're quite correct. I wouldn't waste your energy if I was you."

Thranduil sighed and shook his head. He hadn't thought otherwise but it had still been worth a shot.

"Very well. Wake one of us for the second watch. If I find out that you took the whole night I shall be very displeased. The last thing we need is three people near collapse. Two is bad enough!" Thranduil exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I shall. sleep well," Elrohir said.

Slowly, the camp settled down for the night. Thranduil, Delelen, and Thilloth all climbed a tree and found a perch for the night. Legolas however settled down right next to Estel. If Estel woke during the middle of the night, he would know about it.

Eventually, they all fell asleep, leaving Elrohir to his watch.

Translations:

Ada: Dad/Daddy

Ion nin: My son

Ion: Son

Tithen gwador: Little brother

Mellon nin: My friend

Tithen pen: Little one