Story Name: Echo of the Night
Pen Name: ElenaRoan
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them, written purely for enjoyment.
Rating: PG
Warnings: well...Michelle called me evil after she read it...does that count as a warning?
Summary: A year on from the events of Dark of Night, is everything as fine as it appears?
Betas: Geris (Grammar and Spelling), Michelle (Comprehension)
Timeline: III 2991 (Aragorn 60 years old)

Chapter 5: Storm Renewed

Elladan gently pulled the cup from the prince as the elf struggled to keep the small sip of the liquid inside. Elrohir rubbed his back soothingly while murmuring softly in Sindarin.

Elladan replaced the cup on the table and grabbed the basin there, just in case the younger elf lost his battle, then returned to the elves seated on the bed. Thranduil was seated behind Elrohir, despite knowing that Legolas would probably rather he didn't witness it if the archer became ill. He was close but not actually touching his son, allowing the two healers to do what they needed. Elladan sat next to and facing the distressed elf, the basin in his lap for in case it was needed and his hand gently grasping his shoulder. He watched intently, alert to any indications that the basin would actually be needed.

He felt the wood elf begin to tremble long before he saw any visible reaction and knew the elf was losing his fight. Elladan was ready when the blond elf clamped his hand over his mouth, quickly holding the basin out as the younger elf lost his battle. Any hope that it would pass quickly with little impact was dashed as the vomiting rapidly developed into a hyperemesis attack as the archer continued to bring up black vomit.

It seemed like hours for the other elves before the heaves finally died down; Legolas nearly wilting onto the bed as the nausea finally let him out of its gasp and his eyes fluttering closed as he passed out.

The twins braced themselves for a lecture from Thranduil but the king just dipped the cloth, which at some point a healer had brought, in water again and gently wiped his son's forehead.

He glanced up at the two elves, "Do not blame yourselves, if you had known this would be the result would you have allowed him to try?"

"Absolutely not." Elladan replied with some vehemence.

"We were of two minds about trying at all, it was only because he felt he could that we let him." Elrohir added, then continued softer, "We should not have allowed him."

"You thought he may become ill," Thranduil pressed gently, "Did either of you think it would be this bad?"

Elladan shook his head, "No. We thought at worst it would be like last night, but not this."

"Then you have answered your own questions." Thranduil stated.

Elladan shook his head, "When did you become so wise?"

"When I became friends with your adar (father). He rubs off on a person."

---

It was dark around him when Legolas next became slowly aware of being. Even in the dark of the room his head was splitting as he lay curled up on his side. He was barely aware of groaning aloud until a soothing hand grasped his shoulder and soft elvish reached his ears. Frowning slightly he groped with his hand for a bit before finding the arm attached to the one holding his shoulder.

"Legolas? Are you awake?" The voice asked, interrupting its stream of elvish. He hazily placed it as one of the twins.

With a bit of an effort he managed to open his eyes and blinked up at the raven haired elf above him.

Elladan smiled as the prince blinked at him a little blearily but awake and aware. He put the basin he was holding on the table then helped Legolas lie back on the bed.

"How do you feel? And no glossing over details." Elladan asked.

"My head is incredibly painful." Legolas murmured, "Have I slept the entire day away?"

"No." Elladan answered, "It is early afternoon, we closed the curtains when you started to display sensitivity to the light."

"Oh." Legolas said, then took a deep breath and winced. "That was not the brightest idea I have ever had."

"Your stomach muscles will be sore for a while. Want to try sitting up?"

"I believe I can manage that."

Elrohir slipped into the room as Elladan was arranging the prince against the cushions he'd propped against the bed head.

"I see you are back in the realm of the living." Elrohir stated softly, a slight smile on his face.

"I would argue with that."

Elladan chuckled softly, "Death would hurt less."

Legolas just gave him a half smile in reply, then looked up at Elrohir as the younger twin handed him what looked like a glass of water. "What?"

"Sip that slowly."

After glancing at both of them Legolas sipped hesitantly at the drink. It wasn't a tea, but instead tasted like water with a hint of a sweet flavour. It went down easily and seemed to spread serenity throughout his body. As he relaxed and drank some more he saw both of them visibly relax.

"Where is adar (father)?"

"We convinced him to go eat." Elladan answered before looking at Elrohir for the rest of the story as the younger twin had accompanied the kind, neither twin trusting him to actually eat otherwise.

"An urgent message came in from a patrol, he was not happy about it but he needed to go deal with that." Elrohir supplied.

"That has been dealt with now." Thranduil stated softly from the door before entering and closing the door quietly, "How do you feel, ion nín (my son)?"

Legolas gave his father a lopsided smile, "That is everyone's first question today. I no longer feel like my stomach is going to force itself out of its proper place; however I cannot say the same for my brain."

"In other words," Thranduil stated as he sat down on the bed to watch his son, "You have the worst headache of your life."

"Yes." Legolas replied as he continued to sip at the drink.