Story Name: Echo of the Night: What if?
Pen Name: ElenaRoan
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them, written purely for enjoyment.
Rating: M
Warnings: DEATHFIC!
Summary: What if Legolas and Aragorn didn't return to their homes in time during Echo of the Night?
Betas: Geris (Grammar and Spelling), Michelle (Comprehension)
Timeline: III 2991 (Aragorn 60 years old)

Chapter 1: Eventful Watch

"You are exhausted. Allow me to take your watch."

Legolas shook his head at his second. "There are none here who are not. I will not take rest and leave this to others who are just as weary as I."

"Very well." The reply came with a sigh. "You are pale, caun nín (my prince). If I had not fought alongside you myself I would be asking the patrol healer to inspect you for injuries."

Legolas smiled and put his hand on his second's shoulder. "I am no worse off than any of the others, have no fear. Now you should seek your rest; your watch will come soon enough."

The other elf nodded reluctantly and moved to the limb that was to be his resting place that night. Quickly the last of the patrol were walking the paths of elven dreams with the exception of the three stationed around them on watch.

The first hour of Legolas' watch passed normally, then, unexpectedly, he began to feel nauseous and was quickly forced to struggle to keep himself under control. He needed to call on one of the others on watch but couldn't find the strength or breath to do so. He felt the tree shift subtly around him to give him support and gratefully clasped hold of the branch offered.

"Legolas?" It was one of the other elves on watch; the trees had obviously alerted them to there being a problem. "What is the matter?"

"I..." Legolas got out before clamping a hand over his mouth in a further attempt to control the rebellion of his body. He lifted frightened eyes to the other elf, who had quickly scrambled closer when he saw the prince gag.

"I have sent for the healer to be woken," the elf stated soothingly, wrapping a steadying arm around his prince's shoulders. He could feel the blond trembling and was sure that if it wasn't for the actions of the tree itself Legolas would be on the ground, having tumbled from his perch. "Let us get you down and let the healer look at you."

Legolas nodded slightly and shifted towards him, allowing him to not just support the stricken elf but lift him completely into his arms for the quick trip to the forest floor. That, more than anything else, scared the rest of the patrol. They had been awoken either by the trees' murmurings or the dash of the third watchman to wake the healer.

As soon as he was lowered to the ground Legolas leant forward and braced his hands on the ground, still struggling to control his rebelling body even as his breaths came in gasps.

"It is usually better to allow your body to rid itself of what is upsetting it." The healer's soothing voice sounded in his ears even as his braids were pulled back away from his face, allowing blessedly cool air to flow across his heated face.

Legolas swallowed hard, knowing that the advice was right but having a hard time just allowing things to progress.

"Just relax," the healer instructed as he began gently rubbing the blonde's tense back.

Legolas swallowed again, then wrapped an arm around his stomach as it began to insist on the course he had been fighting since it started.

"Easy. Relax, do not fight it." The instruction came even as the fluid invading his throat retreated again.

He panted for air, already feeling dizzy and weak even though the full extent of the illness had not set in. He didn't fight it, he didn't have the strength to, the next time his stomach muscles constricted; sending black vomit onto the forest floor.

He had just enough time, as he was gasping for breath before the next wave, to muse nearly abstractly that if it had been Estel in this state he would have been nearly panicking for he knew what black vomit was likely to be in a human. If an elf threw up blood, however, there were several differences that were quite obviously not present here.

By the time he was done he felt like he had brought up meals from the previous month and he shakily hung his head, noting almost absently that someone had wrapped their arm around his chest to take his weight. Trembling, he sat back, too weak to feel bothered by needing assistance to do even that small thing.

"How do you feel?" the healer asked softly, wiping Legolas' face with a wet cloth while whoever it was behind him supported him gently.

Legolas didn't answer for a moment, then stated softly, "lhaew (sick)..." The nausea hadn't left even though it was no longer at the level to cause him to heave what was left of his stomach from his body.

"Anything else?"

"Weak...trembly...dizzy..."

"Any pain?"

"No..."

"Anything that seems centralised?"

Legolas shook his head, then groaned instantly as the movement caused him to be afflicted with dry heaves.

He mumbled a few choice words as the elf holding him helped him sit back up.

"Indeed," the healer responded dryly as he wiped the hot prince's face again.

"We are ready to move." His second crouched down next to the healer and looked at Legolas worriedly. "The sooner we reach the palace the better."

The healer nodded, "The prince will need to be carried and I should be close by."

"I can walk," Legolas protested weakly; even as the words left his lips he knew that they would never allow it.

"No offence intended, caun nín (my prince), but you can barely sit on your own let alone walk at any speed," his second replied, spearing him with a look. He continued gently, "Command passed to me the moment you became ill, I will not allow you to make yourself worse."

Legolas swallowed, unable to shake the feeling that he'd made his last command decision...ever. "Very well, do what you think best."

The other elf nodded seriously, then gathered his very ill prince into his arms, settling him gently as possible for the trip back to the palace. Moving through the forest at night was always a dangerous proposition but all of the patrol could not shake the sense of impending doom if they didn't get the prince back to the palace.