Summary: Legolas and the twins struggle to get back to Mirkwood to celebrate Yule with Legolas' father, but are stuck in a snowstorm and forced to find Christmas in the littlest things.

Authors Note: I'm so sorry for the delay. I hope everyone will enjoy this new chapter, and I hope you are all surviving in this chaos and challenging times! As many of you know, I have been struggling with finding enough work and taking care of my son as a single parent. I also have been busy writing on my own worlds and characters in order to make a living, and I have some exciting news to share with you!

I have published a book, "Dangerous Doorways are for Elfling Princes." It is available on amz and b&n for anyone interested, and just as in all stories on this site, all reviews are greatly appreciated! Thank you for all your support, my friends, and for all your encouragement over the years. As we are all forced to be inside even more, I am going to make an extreme effort to finish these stories and others that have been mentioned.

I hope you enjoy! :)

This chapter is dedicated to MistressOfImladris for staunchly keeping up with the story despite the long sabbaticals inbetween! Thank you for reading!

Elladan had his hands full for the next couple of hours as he trudged relentlessly through the snow, keeping a tight hold on the elfling in his arms and ensuring his younger twin maintained a tight grip on his arm. As they passed through a walled ravine, the wind grew stronger and colder, trying to snatch Elrohir away from his arm. The younger twin stumbled and nearly fell, and Elladan was barely able to squeeze his brother's hand and upper arm in between his own arm and side and keep him pulled up by sheer strength alone. "Do we need to stop?" he called out through the howling wind, looking over at his brother through the madly swirling flakes, the top of his hood providing some shelter for his eyes.

Elrohir shook his head stubbornly, his face filled with pain and his lips pressed firmly together. Elladan shifted Legolas in his arms. The elfling had not moved or made a sound, and Elladan was almost afraid to look at him for fear he had already died while they were walking. He would have sensed it though, and knew the younger elf was either sleeping or trying to be still for Elladan's sake. He sighed heavily, lowering his face against the icy snowflakes brushing against his cheeks. He had Legolas completely covered, and the elfling likely could not feel much of the cold or storm, but still he worried. He pulled his twin over to the edge of the ravine under a small overhang and slightly away from the wind.

Elrohir glared at him. "Do not stop on my account," he said in a hoarse voice, and Elladan frowned. His brother was in too much pain and could not keep on much longer.

"We are almost back to the spot where we set up camp," Elladan responded instead, ignoring his brother's glare. "I think we should stop and rest there with a fire. You need rest, brother, and I need to check on Legolas."

Elrohir shook his head adamantly. "I think we should keep on going as long as we can. If we make if further into the trees, we increase the chances of a patrol finding us. We are on borrowed time, Elladan."

"For you as well, muindor," Elladan said sadly. "You cannot keep up this pace."

Elrohir gave him another glare. "I am a warrior, Elladan. It is hardly a new thing for us—to travel injured. I will make it."

Elladan sighed, but conceded the point. They could always stop further into the forest if necessary and he could make a new shelter. It was true that the further they could get before stopping the better it would be.

All the same, as they traveled on through the storm and soon passed by the small shelter, the elder twin could not help but send it a yearning look. Elrohir was beginning to stumble more and more and was holding onto Elladan's arm so tightly that Elladan feared he would never regain feeling in it!

Nevertheless, they continued onward for the better part of what must have been an hour. The raging storm had darkened the forest to such an extent that Elladan could only go by how long it seemed. At least the icy wind and flurries of snow had lessened a little under cover of the trees.

When Legolas began coughing again, Elladan pulled Elrohir over to a large tree with huge, towering branches, settling his brother down against the large trunk and sitting down beside him as he uncovered Legolas' face, rubbing the elfling's back. "Breathe, little one. All is well. Just breathe."

Legolas took in several gasping breaths before squinting his eyes and looking around at their surroundings. "We are in the forest," he said in confusion. "Why have we not seen any patrols?"

Elladan frowned. "Should we have?" he asked carefully, not quite sure if Legolas was old enough to know the routines of Mirkwood's warriors or not, or if this was the ramblings of a severely ill child.

Legolas nodded, laying his head wearily against Elladan's shoulder. "Ada always says, there is not a hundred feet of space in the forest that goes unwatched by one of our warriors at all times, and especially nearer the border."

"Perhaps it is because of the storm," Elladan ventured, his heart sinking. He hoped the Mirkwood warriors had not met with some ill trouble. What if they had? What if orcs or spiders had chosen now to invade, and Elladan was leading them into a trap? He clutched the young elf to his shoulder as Legolas gave a few more weak coughs and closed his eyes, clutching at Elladan's tunic. The elder twin looked over at his brother, his heart sinking further to see Elrohir leaning against the tree, his head lowered and his eyes closed. He had either passed out or had fallen asleep from sheer exhaustion. They could not keep on like this indefinitely. They had to find help. But what if he was leading them into a trap? He could not protect his two brothers and fight off an enemy at the same time.

Elladan rubbed his palm into his eyes as he lowered his own head, feeling a wave of absolute despair wash over him. Was this to be their end? Would they all die here in this accursed land in this accursed storm, just because Elladan was not strong enough to guide them to safety? The elder twin blinked away rapidly gathering moisture in his eyes, taking several deep, steady breaths to calm his emotions. He felt a gloved hand brush against his cheek and jerked his head up in surprise.

"Do not be sad, Elladan," came the small, weak voice of Legolas as worried blue eyes peered through the pile of coverings at the elder twin. "Someone will find us soon. We will all be fine, you will see."

Elladan could not help but smile down at the young elfling. He reached over and tweaked Legolas' nose. "You had best be fine," he threatened with a larger smile. "After all this trouble, I will drag you back from Mando's Halls and kill you myself if you are not fine! Furthermore, I will tell Elrohir about…"

Legolas looked over at the apparently sleeping Elrohir apprehensively as he placed his gloved hand over Elladan's mouth. "I will be fine, I promise," he whispered, his eyes large and round.

Elladan grinned through the small hand, pulling off his glove and placing a hand against the elfling's forehead. It was difficult to tell through the icy temperatures and whirling snowflakes, but he thought Legolas' fever had lowered just ever so slightly. He looked downward to see Legolas holding tightly onto the little tree with his other arm, its branches brushing against Legolas' neck and cheek. He raised an eyebrow, wondering if the little tree's contact was somehow lending the elfling strength. Wood elves! Who could ever figure them out?

The elder elf placed his own forehead against Legolas', trying to lend him more strength. "We must keep going," he said regretfully, pulling back after a moment.

"I can walk for a while," Legolas offered. "The storm is not as bad here in the forest, and you can help Elrohir more…"

Elladan's grin widened. "Nice try, little one, but I assure you that if I were to allow you to walk, we would not get anywhere, for Ro would kill me before I could take one step. In any case, you might feel a little better at the moment, but this is no weather for a sick elfling to travel in."

Legolas heaved a sigh. "I am not an invalid," he grumbled, gathering his tree carefully against his side and throwing his other arm around Elladan's neck in preparation for being lifted.

"Nay," Elladan responded wryly. "You are merely a very ill elfling, with two big brothers who will do their best to keep you safe as long as we are able. Now be still, little brother, for we will soon leave the cover of this kind tree."

Legolas was silent, keeping as still as possible while Elladan moved to Elrohir's side and placed his free hand against his brother's cheek. "Ro…wake up!" he called, frowning when it took several times of calling out before Elrohir blinked his eyes open, confusion showing in them at first before he looked over at Legolas and awareness washed over his haggard features. He stumbled to his feet, shifting his pack more securely on his back.

"What are you waiting for, brother? You are being a sluggard!" and with a sly grin, he pushed off into the darkened forest path once more, forcing Elladan to scramble to his feet and rush after him, grabbing hold of his brother's arm in a tight grip as he glared at him.

"We cannot get separated!" he hissed through the wind.

Elrohir ignored him, looking doggedly to the path as though any lapse of concentration might send him stumbling again.

They managed to muddle their way through the forest for perhaps another part of an hour before Elladan suddenly pulled to a stop, yanking on Elrohir's arm to halt his forward movement. "Did you hear that?" he said in a soft voice.

Elrohir frowned, holding still for a moment before turning to his twin with wide eyes. "It sounds like a scream of pain," he said hesitantly, fear spreading on his face. "Brother…"

Elladan frowned. "We must get closer to see what is happening. If any of the warriors are in trouble, we cannot just flee, Elrohir."

"Nor can we aide them and keep the elfling safe!" Elrohir protested. "Elladan…"

Legolas pulled his head away and glared at both the twins, blinking his damp eyelashes against the wet snow. "I am not an invalid! We have to help if we can!"

Elrohir looked over at Legolas, surprise on his face. "Hello, elfling," he said softly, his eyes lightening. "I am happy to see you awake. Oh, and thank you for saving me…"

Legolas promptly blushed, lowering his gaze. "I did not save you. Elladan did. And we have to see what is happening." He started coughing again, clapping a hand over his mouth in horror as he looked in the direction of where they had heard the scream. He obviously did not wish to alert any evil creatures to their presence, and the twins both exchanged saddened looks at the elfling's instant reaction. No elfling should be that familiar with the darkness and with evil creatures as to react so swiftly.

Elladan pulled Legolas near in a tightened embrace. "We will get close enough to see what is going on and make our decision then," he told them both. "But I will not endanger either of your lives, no matter the cost. Promise me you will not do anything rash."

Legolas nodded through the hand over his mouth as the rumbling coughs still shook the small body, his eyes huge. Elladan turned to Elrohir, who simply raised an eyebrow, causing Elladan to roll his eyes in frustration. He knew he would not gain such a promise from his twin, who would stop at nothing to protect the ill elfling and his elder brother.

"Come then," Elladan whispered, stepping forward more slowly. Another scream resounded through the moaning wind in the forest, sending shivers down the spines of the three elves, and Elladan exchanged a look with Elrohir. They made their way slowly along the path towards the sound, staying at the edge of the tree line and pressed as close to the row of trees as they could get.

There were more yells and cries, then another scream echoed down the path towards them. Up ahead was a sharp curve in the trail, and Elladan stopped at the edge of the curve, pressing all three of them against the large tree and peering his head around the corner. He gasped at sight of a huge, dead spider littering the path right in front of them.

Elladan turned to Elrohir as Legolas peered out of his pile of blankets to look at the dead creature, his eyes so large they looked like shining stars. The elfling pushed against Elladan suddenly, forcing the elder elf to let the gangly-limbed child down on the ground. "You cannot fight if you are holding me," Legolas said firmly, looking up at him with a much-too-mature and serious manner.

Elladan nodded, his instant frustration dying away in the face of the young elf's bravery. He glanced at Elrohir, who was pulling his bow around and notching an arrow.

Elladan gathered his sword in hand. He did not hold hope that they would be able to defeat such creatures with mere shooting, especially in such weather. When another scream sounded from much closer this time, Elladan stepped out on the path, edging carefully around the obviously dead spider as he ensured his two siblings were following closely behind. Elrohir was keeping Legolas sandwiched in between them, and the young elfling had grabbed his own weapons from Elladan's back, notching his smaller bow and keeping it aimed straight ahead as they walked, the little tree somehow tucked beneath his cloak and attached to the elfling's belt to give him the freedom to shoot if necessary. Elladan felt a burst of pride. Legolas' cheeks were red over a too-pale and haggard face, the dark circles under his eyes had grown even darker, and a small bead of sweat was trickling down the elfling's forehead from his still-present fever. Yet he was prepared to battle fearsome enemies to save whoever was hurt up ahead. And Elrohir was pushing aside his pain with every step, wavering shakily but determined to stay alert until whatever end they were to meet.

Elladan turned back around, stepping towards another bend in the trail even as the snowfall grew heavier, obscuring his sight of the path ahead.

Suddenly, a large figure stormed around the curve of the path. It was tall and appeared to be holding a sword. "An orc!" Elladan hissed, and Elrohir immediately loosed an arrow, sending it flying ahead towards the figure, who flung its sword up and sent the arrow clattering into the forest. Elladan's heart sank. What manner of orc was this, to deflect their shot so easily?