Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hey there people! My goodness the weather here has been odd lately. Snowing, here! Who would have thought? Thank you all so much for your reviews! I adore each and every one of them and you as well! Many many thanks to enb2004 who has a fantastic HP story that is a must read. As promised, here is Chapter Six! Enjoy!

Within Mirkwood, Himband, the head healer, was pacing nervously in the healing wing. He didn't care that pacing was unbecoming an elf of his age and that he was making his junior healers anxious.

Today, the King, his sons, and Estel were due back, which was more than enough reason to be nervous and to cause him to pace, in his opinion. An opinion that was shared by all of Lothlorien, Imladris, and Mirkwood.

He had learned a long time ago that when Legolas and Estel traveled together, it always ended disastrously. Himband knew that this trip from Imladris to Mirkwood would be no different.

Idly, he wondered what horrific injuries he would have to deal with this time. It was always an adventure treating those two. One never knew what kinds of injuriesthey would need tending too.

As such, he had gotten together the entirety of the healing staff. With their help, he prepared nearly every kind of herb they had and had gathered nearly every bandage within the whole realm of Mirkwood. Himband wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a single piece of linen left.

Noticing that two of his healers had finished making the sleeping potions, he quickly gave them new tasks. "Belthil, Angdor, prepare those beds over there and get chairs by them."

"Preparing for the worst I see," Iaurdil said suddenly from behind Himband.

Himband turned around and glared at the crown prince. "Iaurdil, your baby brother and Estel are due back today. Of course I'm preparing for the worst!"

"Peace Himband! You're forgetting that they are with my father. He would not let any harm befall them," Iaurdil said, trying to reason with the clearly upset healer.

"Somehow my Prince, I doubt that the Valar themselves could prevent those two from becoming injured in some shape or form," Himband said while getting some athelas.

Iaurdil shook his head and grinned at the poor healer. "Himband, I do believe that you are paranoid."

"No, simply realistic," Himband said without even looking up from his preparations.

"You have no faith mellon nin. Just wait, my father will bring them back safe and sound and in one piece," Iaurdil said confidently.

"Milord! Your brothers have been spotted and are heading this way at a fast pace," a servant said as he hastily entered the healing wing.

"Thank you for the message, you're dismissed. Coming Himband?" Iaurdil asked with a wry smile.

Himband looked affronted. "Of course I am! Goodness knows what they have gotten into and what injuries they will need to have healed."

"Oh yea of little faith. I for one am glad that they are back! Come on, let us go out and meet them," Iaurdil said grinning at Himband's skepticism.

Iaurdil's grin faded though once he and Himband reached the courtyard. There were indeed riders approaching but it was only Delelen and Thilloth, no one else.

Once his younger brothers had reached the courtyard and had dismounted, both he and Himband dragged them into the palace.

"What's wrong? Where are Estel and Legolas?" Iaurdil asked fearfully. Both of his brothers were quite a sight and looked exhausted.

Delelen sighed and sunk into a chair wearily. "They're still with father out in the woods. We were sent ahead to warn you that Elladan and Estel will be needing your assistance as soon as they arrive."

"What of Legolas?" Iaurdil asked, not daring to believe that his youngest brother was not injured when both Estel and Elladan were.

"Amazingly, our brother has not one scratch on him. We're not quite sure how that happened mind you," Thilloth said.

"Aye, Legolas is worried out of his mind though for Estel," Delelen said.

"What are their injuries?" Himband asked when he finally found his voice. It had to be a miracle. Legolas was uninjured and was apparently would be returning home in one piece. It was nearly unheard of!

"Elladan's injury is not that serious although it has caused some difficulties. He was bitten by a wag and his leg was quite mauled by it. He lost a good deal of blood and there is a chance of infection," Thilloth answered Himband.

"It could have been far worse," Iaurdil muttered. The twins were nearly as bad as his brother and Estel when it came to life threatening injuries. "What of Estel though?"

Delelen and Thilloth exchanged quick glances before turning to their eldest brother.

"Estel tis the reason we were sent ahead. We really are not all that sure what is wrong with him," Delelen said softly.

"Aye. What we do know, however, is that he a nasty head wound, he's exhausted, has fever, and when we left, he was barely conscious," Thilloth said.

Both Iaurdil and Himband frowned at this ill piece of news. It didn't sound like any human ailment that Estel had come down with before.

"Has he been ill recently?" Himband asked.

"Aye, about a month ago he came down with a severe illness, right after he had been poisoned," Delelen said.

"Poison!" Iaurdil and Himband exclaimed together.

Delelen winced and looked at Thilloth who looked at him pityingly. It seemed that their father had not enlightened everyone at home as to what had occurred a month ago.

"I take it Ada failed to mention that in the letter?" Delelen said to Iaurdil.

"One could say that. He did not even mention that Estel had been ill let alone poisoned!" Iaurdil said angrily. Oh yes, he and his father would have a nice long... chat when he got back. A chat that would involve his father's overprotective tendencies.

"I would take a guess and say that he was trying to spare you all from worrying. Estel was fine, up until recently that is. He was probably planning to tell you when he got back," Thilloth said with an uneasy glance at Iaurdil. His brother looked about ready to pop a vein.

"So the poisoning and the illness were very close together. That may account for Estel's exhaustion. Tell me, has he been over exerting himself?" Himband asked.

Thilloth and Delelen frowned in thought. "Well, that would depend one what you mean by overexerting oneself. We did travel at a fast pace without many breaks during the day," Delelen said.

Himband nodded thoughtfully. While it was possible for Estel to have relapse of his illness due to his carelessness, it would not cause these kinds of symptoms. Not that he had ever heard of at the very least. "You mentioned a head wound. How did he obtain it?"

"That was the first sign that something was wrong. Estel fell of his horse. Whether he had passed out before he hit the ground or after, we are still unsure of," Thilloth answered.

Himband was even more puzzled that he had been before. It didn't make any sense. Unless the poison was still active in the boy's veins, which he doubted, there was no reason for Estel to be as ill as he was.

"What do you make of all this Himband?" Iaurdil asked, hoping that the healer would understand what was going on with Estel.

"I am afraid that I can not say Iaurdil. That only part I am certain about is that this is not normal. Particularly in Estel, who as well all know, isn't an ordinary human. I'll find out more once I examine him," Himband said.

"Then let us hope that they arrive with all due haste," Delelen murmured.

"Indeed. Come, let us all return to the healing wing. You can all help me prepare for our injured and ill guests," Himband said.

The others nodded and followed Himband into the healing wing.

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As Legolas finally approached the place, he thought he had never been happier to see the palace gates.

As they had journeyed towards the palace, both Estel and Elladan had continued to deteriorate, making everyone all the more nervous. Also, the feeling that they were in danger had returned quite suddenly.

Secretly, Legolas had feared that some evil would find them before they could reach the gates of his home. That they were currently standing in front of the gates was a huge relief to him and his father. The evil could not touch them here, or so he thought.

His father commanded the gates to open and as they walked into the courtyard, they saw this three brothers and Himband waiting for them anxiously. Finally, Estel and Elladan could get the treatment that they desperately needed.

Legolas was very worried about his friends but he could not stop the grin of amusement that came over his face when he caught sight of Himband's expression. When Estel and Elladan eventually regained consciousness, they were sure to regret it.

For once, he would escape Himband's wrath! For some reason, the healer was always quite upset when one of them got injured and he had to patch them back up.

Legolas's grin faded though when Himband turned to him, scowl still firmly in place. "At least you managed to return home uninjured for once," Himband said. "And a good thing to. I'm not sure what I may have done if you had returned injured as well! Thank the Valar though that you are well. These two however need to get inside right away. I don't like how either one of them look."

Nodding in acceptance of the healers words, they all dismounted. Legolas watched as his father carefully got Estel down from the horse while Elrohir did the same for Elladan.

With their precious burdens in hand, the group hastened towards the healing wing.

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It was two hours later and Himband was about ready to tear his hair out with worry and frustration.

Once they had gotten Estel and Elladan into the healing wing, he had had Angdor and Balthil treat Elladan, while he went to work on Estel.

Elladan had proved to be easy enough and Angdor and Balthil had his wound dressed, cleaned, and stitched up in no time. If only the same could be said for Estel.

Shortly after they had been brought in, Estel's fever had spiked dangerously high. So high in fact, Himband had feared for the young man's life for an anxious few minutes. Thankfully, he had been able to lower it, if not break it.

Currently, Estel was still unconscious and looked quite ill. None of the herbs Himband has used seemed to work. He was eerily reminded of the first time he had treated Estel and had had no clue as to how to help the young mortal.

Now though, he knew of human illnesses and how to combat them. This one though, was proving to be very trying. Nothing he did seemed to matter and he was becoming more and more frustrated with every second that passed.

Himband was more than willing to bet that this was not an ordinary illness. He didn't like to admit it, but he had no idea what was plaguing Estel. By the Valar though, he was going to find out, even if he had search to the ends of middle earth for the answers.

For now though, all he could do was treat the symptoms as they presented themselves and hope for the best.

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Gorothdil crept around the Mirkwood palace unnoticed. He had been following Thranduil and the urchin for the better part of the day. When Thranduil had commanded the gates to open, he had snuck in with them.

Now that he was within Mirkwood, all he had to do was wait until the urchin was alone to strike. Oh yes, he would have his revenge. The boy was weak and would not be able to put up much of a fight.

The urchin had grown worse, much to his pleasure. The dormant orc poison was doing it's job perfectly. While it wouldn't kill the brat, unfortunately, it would severely weaken him.

That was all Gorothdil needed though. Once the urchin was alone and without anyone else around, he would strike hard and fast.

He had plans for the urchin. The brat's death would not be a quick one. He would strike out more than once. Everyone needed to pay and pay they would.

Gorothdil knew that by now, mostly everyone would have forgotten about him. That was precisely the reason why he had waited sixteen years before going after the creature again.

They were unwary and did not expect an attack. The timing was perfect and best of all, unexpected.

With a malicious grin, Gorothdil slid back into the darkness of the night with no one the wise to his presence. He had plans to make.

Translations:

Ada: Dad/Daddy

Ion nin: My son

Mellon nin: My friend

Gwador: Brother