Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hey there everyone, sorry for the delay but I had midterms. Fun huh? Yeah right. Anyway, thank you all so much for your reviews and I am proud to say that this story is nearing completion. Yeah! I know it's taken me forever but real life has a funny way of getting in the way. Many many thanks to my wonderful beta enb2004 who has some awesome stories so go and read them after you're done here. Thank you all again and as promised, here is Chapter 28. Enjoy!

Within Mirkwood, Galadriel and Fuina were pacing in the throne room while taking turns glaring at Iaurdil who was looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"They have been gone a week Iaurdil, a week!" Fuina said finally loosing her inner battle to keep patient no matter what.

"Believe me Fuina, I know," Iaurdil said rubbing his temples wearily. This had been going on now for nearly five days and there was still no word from either the rescue party or Elrond. Tensions in the place were high as everyone fretted over Legolas and Estel's safety and everyone was snappish, particularly his siblings. Iaurdil didn't have the luxury of being snappish though, not when he was ruling in the place of his father. However, he was all to close to his breaking point and Fuina's comment was the final straw.

"But what would you have me do little sister? Send out another search party? We already have six people out looking for Estel and Legolas who are now seemingly lost as well. I can not very well sound out another search party when the chances of them being taken are very high indeed!" Iaurdil snapped.

Fuina's eyes softened when she saw Iaurdil's own worry for their brother and Estel in his eyes. "I am sorry Iaurdil, I am just so worried."

"No apologies necessary Fuina," he said wearily. "I understand your feelings of helplessness all to well. What else can we do though but wait?"

"There is nothing more you can do Iaurdil. Under the circumstances, you have done everything possible to bring our respective families home. Like you said, all we can do now is wait and pray that everyone is well," Galadriel said wisely.

"Himband," she said to the elf who had been standing silently in the corridor for some time. "Are you prepared to receive incoming injured?"

Himband snorted. "Milady, I am always prepared for injured, this is Mirkwood after all. However, no one, and I do mean no one, could be fully prepared for three sons of Elrond, a son of Thranduil, Haldir, Glorfindel, and let's not forget Elrond and Thranduil themselves. Both of your families are nothing but trouble," he said pointing to Galadriel and Iaurdil.

"You're probably right," Iaurdil conceded knowing very well how much trouble his family and Elrond's family could cause at times. "Still, you are as prepared as you possibly could be I take it," he said to Himband.

"Of course Iaurdil, how could I not be knowing who I am going to have to deal with?" Himband scoffed.

Iaurdil smiled slightly. "Of course, forgive me."

"Thranduilions and Elrondions," Himband muttered. "They're going to be the death of me."

"So you keep saying but it hasn't proven to be true yet," Fuina said smiling 'sweetly.'

Himband shuddered and turned to Galadriel for help but she was smiling just as 'sweetly' as Fuina. As dangerous as Elrond, Thranduil, the twins, Legolas, and Estel were, the female members of Elrond's family and Thranduil's family were far far more deadly, particularly when they were already at the breaking point. "I do believe that I shall go the courtyard as see if the scouts have picked up any sign of them yet. One can't be to ready after all," he said quickly.

"Oh I don't think so Himband, you are going to remain here with me," Iaurdil said grabbing Himband by the arm before he could make his escape. "I have dealt with these two for the past week, and now, you're going to join me," he whispered fiercely.

"Oh jolly good," Himband muttered under his breathe while glancing at the still enraged females. "Peace milady's, my comment was made just in jest," he said hoping to smooth over some of the tension.

"Humph, we'll see," Fuina said her green blue eyes flashing. "And don't think that I didn't hear you Iaurdil," she said eyeing the Prince.

"Um, whatever you say sister," Iaurdil said wisely having learned from years of experience that it was far better to simply agree with Fuina then prolong an argument already lost.

"Milord!" a servant said as he ran into the room.

"Thank the Valar," Iaurdil muttered. "Yes, what has happened?"

"The scouts have spotted the King and Lord Elrond headed this way with everyone with them, including Lords Estel and Legolas," the servant said in a hurried breath.

"Oh thank the Valar," Iaurdil said again and closing in eyes in brief thanks. "Did the scouts say what condition they were in?"

"Nay milord, they were too far away. but they are headed this direction rather quickly," the servant said.

"Very well. Come, let us all go to the courtyard. I'm sure they could all do with seeing some friendly faces," Galadriel said. "Himband, will you be joining us or will you wait in the healing wing?"

"I may as well come with you so I can prepare myself for what is to come," he said seriously, all animosity between the two women and he forgotten.

Galadriel nodded and followed him out into the courtyard with Fuina right behind her. Iaurdil watched them go with a heavy heart. He knew what Galadriel sensed for he felt it too. Someone was seriously injured and near death's door and they may not be able to be saved. Standing up, he followed the others out into the courtyard and prayed that he was wrong.

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"Hold on Estel, just hold on," Elrond whispered to his unconscious son. In the two days he had been traveling Estel had only gotten worse. His injuries were starting to become infected despite all his attempts to keep them clean and the poison in his system was wrecking havoc with his natural healing ability.

"We're almost there Elrond, I can see the scouts from here," Thranduil said with a scowling Legolas in front of him.

"Ada, please, let me down. I do not want the warriors to see me like this," Legolas protested. It was bad enough that the scouts had already seen him but to have the warriors as well! It was not going to happen.

"I do not think so Legolas. That injury is serious although you protest otherwise. You are lucky to be alive, ion nin. You will just have to let your pride suffer a bit. I promise you that no one will think any less of you because of it."

Legolas scowled but didn't protest any further. Under normal circumstances he would have, but not when Estel was at death's doorstep and every second counted.

"How soon until we reach the courtyard?" Elladan asked desperately.

"Only a few more minutes. Hurry, he doesn't have much time," Elrond shouted as he increased their pace.

Within minutes they had galloped into the courtyard and very nearly into Galadriel, Fuina, Himband, and Iaurdil. There was no time for formalities, however, as everyone quickly dismounted.

"Himband, get to the healing wing and bring out every poison antidote you have," Elrond said while getting Estel off the horse and back into his arms. "Hurry!"

Himband took one glance at Estel's pale and shaking form and ran for the infirmary. It was obvious that this was far more than poisoning. Elrond took after him leaving Thranduil and the others in the courtyard.

"Legolas! Thank the Valar that you are all right at least," Iaurdil said as he helped his father get Legolas off the horse.

Thranduil scowled. "Unfortunately, he is not all right. He has a serious arrow wound to the chest that needs attention. Thankfully, Elladan and Elrohir were able to care for it as well as they could under the circumstances, but I still want Himband to take a look at him after he is through with Estel."

Iaurdil nodded sadly. "That may take a while though Ada. I only saw a glimpse of Estel but he didn't look well."

Thranduil could only nod as he took Legolas and the twins to the healing wing. Whether they wanted to admit it or not, all were in desperate need of attention from a healer.

"That is the largest understatement of the century," Glorfindel said about Iaurdil's remark after Thranduil and the twins were gone and started to lead everyone back into the house.

Iaurdil, Galadriel, Haldir, and Fuina's eyes widened in disbelief at the sarcasm in Glorfindel's voice. The only person Glorfindel was sarcastic with, truly sarcastic anyway, was Erestor and sometimes the twins when they were really annoying him.

"Is it that bad Glorfindel?" Galadriel asked hesitantly. She too had only gotten the briefest glimpse of her grandson. She knew Estel was very badly injured but that had been all she had been able to ascertain.

"Worse, I'm afraid milady. Far worse," Haldir answered for Glorfindel.

"Celeborn?" Galadriel said hoping that her husband would tell her that the young one was exaggerating.

Celeborn shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid he is not exaggerating in the slightest my dear. Estel is near death's door and practically has one foot inside Mandos' Hall as it is."

Fuina gasped and Galadriel closed her eyes in despair. "What did Gorothdil do to him," Fuina said angrily.

"Not here milady," Glorfindel said tiredly. "It is far too long a tale and this is neither the time nor the place."

"I do not like the sound of any of this," Iaurdil said. "When I get hold of Gorothdil I will..." he started to say but Celeborn interrupted him.

"Gorothdil is no more my young Prince. Lord Elrond took care of him so to speak," he said with a grim smile of satisfaction.

"Good," Iaurdil said grimly. "It's no more than he deserves."

"Let us go wait outside the healing wing. Perhaps someone will give us some news soon," Haldir said trying to be optimistic.

"Somehow Haldir, I get the feeling we will not be hearing from anybody for a long time," Iaurdil said as they approached the healing wing where shouting from inside could already be heard. "A long time indeed."

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Iaurdil's words had proven to be all too true as nearly 24 hours went by without any word from the healing wing. At first they had heard a lot of moving around and shouting from various healers but now the only sound was that of an ominous silence.

"I almost wish that they were shouting again," Iaurdil grumbled as he slid down to the floor to join his brothers and sisters.

Fuina frowned at him and smacked him lightly. "Don't say that Iaurdil. You know very well that when healers are shouting orders like they were that someone is close to death. I say that no news is good news."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Haldir mumbled while casting an anxious glance at the door. "Sometimes no news means that the healers are very worried and don't want to get anyone's hopes up."

"Do not be so pessimistic young one," Galadriel scolded lightly. "You must have more faith in Estel. It is not his time nor will it be any time soon. He has many things to do yet in his life and he knows that. He will not give in."

Thranduil's children and Haldir believed what she said but Celeborn and Haldir knew her too well. They could hear the worry in her voice and knew that she was not nearly as positive about Estel's fate as she seemed to be on the surface. Too many times had Estel given them a scare and they had heard the same tone of voice then that she used now.

"Delelen, Thilloth, can you hear anything?" Iaurdil asked as his two trouble making brothers were as close to the door as they could get without going through it.

They scowled and turned to look their big brother. "I can not hear a single thing, which is highly disturbing. There should be some noise, even if it is muted," Thilloth complained.

"There is no noise because they can more than likely hear you," Aruviel said dryly. "If you step away from the door we might just hear something. Or if you stay at the door, we will eventually be amused by watching someone slam right into you as they walk out."

"Ha ha," Delelen muttered but he and his brother did move and as it turned out, not a second too soon.

"I was wondering when the two of you would move," Thranduil said as he walked out exhaustedly.

"Ada, how are they?" Iaurdil demanded.

Thranduil sighed and looked at his assembled children and good friends sadly. "Legolas will be fine and is sleeping now. Estel though..." he said wearily.

"What about Estel," Galadriel said tightly. She knew he had not passed from this world, she would have felt it. That did not mean, however, that he was not close.

"Elrond was only able to stabilize him after many many hours," Thranduil said shakily. "His fever continued to rise and we could not seem to break it. We were only able to lower it just recently, but Elrond fears that we may be to late," he said, his voice choking.

Fuina and Aruviel gasped and grasped onto each other tightly. "No, it can not be. He can not die!" Fuina cried out.

"Thranduil, what do you mean by that Elrond thinks it may be too late?" Galadriel said over the two young maidens.

Thranduil shook his head sadly. "The fever was to high and rose to quickly for us to counteract until recently. Between the poison, the fever, the infection, the stab wounds, and the blood loss, Estel had slipped into a coma. There is a very real possibility he won't ever wake from it."

"No," Galadriel said shaking her head in a rare denial of the events happening around her. "It can not be," she whispered. Her heart was breaking as she slid down to the floor to join Aruviel and Fuina.

Thranduil joined her on the floor along with everyone else as the tears started to come. "Elrond said he may be wrong, that Estel could possibly wake up but there is a high chance of brain damage," he said with tears in his eyes.

"How much time do you think he has Ada?" Iaurdil asked trying to be strong for his younger siblings, but he too had tears in his eyes.

"I don't know ion nin," Thranduil said gently hugging him. "Like Elrond said, he could be wrong."

"When has Elrond ever been wrong Ada?" Aruviel cried out suddenly. "When? Never, that's when," she said breaking down into tears.

"We can't know for sure Aruviel," Glorfindel said blinking back unshed tears. "We must hope for the best."

"Hope, what hope is left Glorfindel?" Fuina said angrily. "If Estel dies, then all hope truly is gone and two more families will be broken apart once more," she said bitterly.

"Enough of this," Galadriel said suddenly having regained her composure with some help from her husband who had remained silent so far. "We must not give up yet. We must give Estel something to fight for. Thranduil, may we go in and see him?"

"That's why I came out here to get you. Just be careful around the twins, they are taking this as hard as we all are and are very likely to lash out if someone seems to be giving up on Estel," he warned.

"Yes, they were like that with their mother as well," Celeborn said softly remembering the time his daughter had left for Valinor and how the twins had tried to deny it up until she walked onto the ship.

Everyone nodded that they understood and followed Thranduil into the healing wing and to where Estel was possibly lying on his death bed at the teder age of 21 years old.

Translations:

Ada: Dad/Daddy

Mellon nin: My friend

Tithen gwador: Little brother

Gwador: Brother

A/N 2: Hehe, don't kill me, please? Pretty please? After all, if you kill me you'll never find out how everything ends and then where would you be? Tata for now!