A/N Since it is a week between postings, I'll try to include the last little bit from the previous chapter to refresh your memories. If you review, please let me know if you like it or find it annoying. nautika
See Chapter 1 for Disclaimer

End of previous chapter:
In one glance, the elder twin took in the sudden change in his father and moved to his side. His mouth near Elrond's ear, he spoke softly, "Ada, all is well. Return to us."

Seeing no change, Elladan placed one hand around his father's waist and the other under his elbow and spoke with an air of authority. "Ada, Elrond, return!"

Elrond's eyes flew wide, then rolled back into his head and with a great gasp, he fell into Elladan's arms.

Chapter 2 Unknown Maladies

The night was a long one for the twins. After Elrond's collapse, they moved him to the room next to Estel's, where their friend Legolas normally stayed when he visited. Elrohir returned to Estel's side, leaving his twin to care for their father. Elladan and Elrohir quickly felt their father's absence as responsibilities of diagnosing and treatment that were normally his shifted to them. They had been well trained by the elf lord, but caring for father and brother separately wearied them more than they liked to admit.

In addition to scratches and bruises, Ro found that Estel had a broken rib, a dislocated shoulder and a sprained wrist, minor injuries for the human. Since he had not developed a cough, which would have indicated a disease of the lungs, and as there was no sign of a head injury, Ro concluded a poison must be affecting his brother. A thorough exam found no indication of even a small puncture wound, so the poison was likely ingested. Following a hasty consultation with Elladan, Ro mixed a potion that would cover the widest range of poisons. After pausing a moment to ask the aid of the Valar, Ro eased into the bed and pulled his still unconscious sibling to his chest. He tilted the human's head back slightly, placed a mug against his lips and poured a small amount of the potion into his mouth, watching carefully to see his brother did not choke. The human swallowed reflexively and Ro released a sigh of relief. He fought the impulse to rush the process, knowing if his brother lost the contents of his stomach, valuable time would be wasted while more potion was made and administered. Had his brother been nearer help when he became ill emptying his stomach of an ingested poison would have been a proper course of action, but by now it was doubtful that would do him any good. When the mug was emptied, Ro sagged with relief and decided to remain where he was. He hoped the human would draw comfort from his presence and he would be better able to monitor his condition. Having made the decision, he looked anxiously toward the room that held his father. Not knowing about his father was almost unbearable. He fervently hoped that knowing was not worse!

xxx

Elladan had no idea what had caused the elf lord's collapse. He sat in a chair by his father's bedside with his head in his hands, having done all he knew to do. The elder elf had not shown any signs of improvement, but his conditions had not worsened. His father had been in excellent health and this should not have happened. For a time Elladan considered the possibility that his human brother's affliction was contagious, but aside from the fact that neither of the twins felt ill, elves simply did not become sick as men did. Ro's final diagnosis regarding their brother confirmed the futility of Dan's train of thought. Poison could not be transmitted through the touch of minds. There were no symptoms. No fever, no sign of injury. After his hand had fallen from Estel's forehead, the healer's breathing had returned to normal. His pulse was strong and regular, his eyes responded as they should to light. Other than being unconscious and his eyes being closed, he appeared to be fine. Sitting thus, only listening to his father breathe, Elladan could almost pretend he was simply sleeping. Hours had past. Morning had turned to afternoon, afternoon to evening and evening to night. Now, with dawn approaching, feelings of fear and uselessness threatened to overwhelm him. Needing to move before he exploded, Elladan jumped to his feet with a dwarvish curse, accidentally tipping his chair. Before the curse had fully left his lips, the chair struck the floor.

"Ion nin?" The voice from the bed was weak but steady. As Elladan whirled around to the bed, Elrohir rushed into the room, already speaking.

"Brother, what is it? I heard something fall. Is he-?"

Ro fell silent in obedience to Elladan's raised hand and followed his brother's gaze to the bed. Their father's eyes were open. Two voices spoke as one. "Ada?"

xxx

"My sons . . . what has happened? . . . Estel!" Elrond struggled to sit up in bed, but Elladan's hands were on his shoulders, forcing him back against the pillows.

"Relax, Ada. Ro has been taking care of Estel."

Elrond looked anxiously to the younger twin, who had seated himself on the edge of the bed, one hand on his father's chest. Elrohir hastened to ease his weary father's mind. "He is improved. We believe he ingested some poison. I have been treating him with a wide-range tonic and although he has not yet awakened, he is responding well to it. His fever is dropping, his lungs are clear; his pulse is strong and steady. He has a sprained wrist and a broken rib; both have been bandaged. His shoulder was dislocated, but has been reset. What of you? How do you feel?"

Elrond's features changed from relief to confusion. He finally took in his surroundings. "I… Why am I in Legolas' bed?"

"You collapsed, Ada, you have been unconscious for several hours." Elladan saw no reason to tell his father exactly how long and frightening a time it had been just yet.

"What happened that such a thing would occur?"

"We do not know, Ada. You…lost yourself in contact with Estel. I had to call you back from it. Did you sense something from Estel that overwhelmed you? Perhaps a danger to him that Ro has not yet discovered?"

The elf lord's brow furrowed with concentration. "I cannot recall it. I must check him again to be sure." Again, Elrond made to move from the bed.

Pushing his father back to his pillow, Elladan's voice was firm. "No, you will not. We still do not know what caused this and I will not risk you again so soon. If you feel he needs the mind touch again, then I will do it. If the same thing happens to me then perhaps you will find the cause where we could not."

As Elrond weighed the risks to his eldest and youngest, his middle son placed a kiss to his forehead, exchanged a nod with Elladan and slipped from the room. Even if Estel was improved he did not want to leave him alone for long.

tbc