A/N Over 100 reviews! I never in my wildest dreams realized I would get that many! This chapter is dedicated to anyone who reviewed this story at any time!

Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 12: The Truth Revealed

"Their over here!" A voice suddenly said shattering the quiet. Seconds later Elrond and the twins appeared.

"Estel, what happened?" his father demanded, his eyes held a glint a panic, though the rest of him spoke of control.

"I don't know." Aragorn truthfully replied. Elrond dropped to his knees, taking in the sight before him. Legolas was pasty white, except for the fever spots. He leant against the human as if he could not take any of his own weight.

"Legolas, look at me." Elrond coaxed. Legolas just groaned softly and pushed his face deeper into the humans shoulder.

"Legolas..!" the man said slightly surprised. Elrond, however, calmly took matters into his own hands, literally. Reaching over the elven lord gently grasped Legolas chin and turned his face towards his. Laying his hand against the prince's cheek, Elrond immediately felt the intense heat. Staring intently into Legolas glazed eyes, the elf reached down and grasped the elf's wrist, taking his pulse.

After a few minutes, Elrond seemed to come to a conclusion and got to his feet.

"Elladan, come with me and help gather some supplies. Elrohir and Estel, help Legolas to his room." Both twins nodded from where they stood hovering anxiously above their friend. Quickly Elrond and the older twin disappeared down the path.

Elrohir reached down and helped Aragorn raise Legolas to his feet. Both supported the elf when his knees buckled and he sagged against them. Much slower than their brother and father the three made their way back.

Several minutes later the struggling trio pushed open the door to Legolas room. The blonde elf was totally exhausted and to a point of clasping. Carefully lowering Legolas to the bed, Elrohir left Aragorn to care for the archer. He meanwhile rushed to help his twin, who was mixing herbs.

The youngest son of Elrond helped Legolas to lie flat. Reaching down the human quickly unlaced Legolas boots and yanked them off. Stripping the elf of his tunic, Aragorn took the blankets and tucked him in.

"Aragorn..." Legolas whispered, removing his hand from under the covers and reaching for the man. Aragorn sat down and took the elf's outstretched hand, holding it gently.

"Yes?" He asked, gazing with unhidden concern down at his friend.

"What..." the prince began

"I don't know," Aragorn whispered, cutting the prince off while clasping Legolas hand tightly with both of his. Elladan suddenly appeared, handing the human a cup of hot tea.

"Have him drink this." Elladan said before rushing back to his father. Aragorn took the offered cup and slid a hand under Legolas neck, supporting the wood elf's head. Once the elf was done, Aragorn gently lay him back down. Taking Legolas's hand again, he began to massage it gently.

Legolas groaned, his hand jerking free of Aragorn's soft hold and flying to his side.

"Here, talk to me..." Aragorn said, recapturing Legolas's hand and resuming his ministrations. Legolas's chest was heaving and his face glittered with sweat, but he gripped the humans hand hard and turned his face towards his voice.

"What happened?" Legolas whispered again. Before the ranger could answer, Elrond stepped into the twos currently small world.

"Go help your brothers, Estel. I will take of the prince." Nodding Aragorn squeezed Legolas's hand again and stood up. Passing the elf's hand to Elrond, the human rushed to his brothers' side.

"Where did Estel go?!" Legolas begged working up the effort to push his body up with his elbows. His eye sight was beginning to blur into a mass of colors and he had known the man by his voice, but now someone else had replaced the human.

"Hush, young elf. I am here with you." Elrond said calmly, patting the princes hand and tucking it under the blankets. Legolas relaxed, falling back down. Elrond's faces creased in worry, a rare sight in itself.

He had guessed the reason for the princes setback. The elf must have excreted himself beyond what his weak body could take, causing the toxic to resurface. Drawing the small white bottle from his inside pocket, he pulled the stopper out. Lifting Legolas like Aragorn had before he helped the prince of Mirkwood sallow some.

Behind them Elladan turned to give his father a different goblet full of potion. The cup slipped from suddenly numb fingers and dropped hard to the ground, spilling the medicine all over. Racing forward he cried,

"STOP!, Ada don't give that too him." He was too late.

Everyone jumped at the older twins cry. Elrond frowned at his son as he held up the bottle. Aragorn and Elrohir also looked up, and the man actually had to grab hold of the table to keep himself dropping form shock.

"What is going on?" Elrond demanded, giving each of his sons a hard look. Legolas tense body abruptly went into convolutions and Aragorn and the twins rushed forward to help hold him down. As soon as the convolutions began though they stopped and Legolas went limp.

"Legolas!" Elrond called, slapping the elf's cheeks lightly. Turning back to his sons and raising his eyebrow in question, his face was dark and serious.

"What is going on." He asked again, his voice deadly.

The three brothers glanced guilty at each other before Elladan stepped hesitantly forward. They could not hide the truth, not with Legolas heath at such a risk.

"That is not whatever you think it is." The shame in his voice was clear and his eyes were intently focused on the floor.

"What do you mean?"

"We switched it with something else." Aragorn said looking up and licking his dry lips.

"What did you switch it with and why?" Elrond's voice was dangerously low, warning his sons that this was not a time to be messing around. This time it was Elrohir who stepped forward and answered the question. All the blood drained from their father's face as Elrohir listed the ingredients

All the brothers glazed with horror at their father. What have we done?! Aragorn thought with a growing terror.

"Ada, I swear, we had no idea that it was part of a healing potion. We―" Aragorn was broken off by his father.

"Try and wake Legolas. We will discuss this later." Quickly leaving the room, Elrond walked towards his herb closet. Legolas needed a new bottle of the old antidote quickly.

Back in Legolas room, the mood was somber and tense. Elrohir was rummaging in the mix of bottles and herbs and, when he found the jar he wanted, tossed it to Aragorn. Catching it deftly, the human unscrewed the lid and wrinkling his nose in disgust as a powerful smell filled the room. If this did not wake Legolas he didn't know what would. Tossing a glance at his brothers, they realized what the human wanted and placed comforting hands on Legolas body. The twins hoped that this would hold Legolas down and quiet any fear the abrupt awakening would cause. Sitting down on the bed Aragorn cupped Legolas cheek, while waving the vile smelling stuff just under the elf's nose.

Legolas stirred feebly his face safe scrunching up as the smell hit his nostrils.

"That's it..." Aragorn encouraged. Letting out a soft moan, Legolas pushed weakly at the bottle. Blinking open his eyes the elf looked around confused.

"The...what?" He slurred, rubbing at his eyes with his wrist.

"Relax." Elladan tried to sooth, but his voice was ruff with shame. Legolas nodded, and soon his eyes were slipping close again.

"No, Legolas." Estel sighed, not wanting to but reaching out and shaking Legolas shoulder. The prince, let out what was dangerously close to a whimper before rolling over and hiding his face in the pillows.

Forgetting for a moment about Legolas wound, Aragorn reached over and placed a hand on Legolas side, planning to shake him awake. As soon as the soft touch came into contact, however, the prince let out a yelp. Instantly jerking his hand back, Aragorn's face fell to one of even more shame.

"Forgive me, mellon-nin." Aragorn whispered, bending low so that his forehead connected with Legolas's.

The door flew open behind them and Elrond rushed in. Aragorn stood quickly and let the elf lord take his place. In his hand, Elrond carried a bottle, full of what appeared the same stuff the sons of Elrond had so carelessly replaced.

"Roll him over." Elrond muttered, uncorking the bottle and pouring a spoonful. Legolas rolled over easily, appearing to almost asleep again. The lord of Rivendell pried open Legolas mouth and stuck the spoon in. Legolas swallowed the medicine without restating and they all shared a worried glance.

"keep him awake for the next ten to five minutes…then I want to talk to you." Elrond spoke quietly, yet his disapproval and disappoint was clear. The next ten minutes flew by quickly, almost to quickly for the sons of Elrond.

Shuffling forward, they stood in front of their father.

"Ion-nins, I am very disappointed. I though you knew better than to mess with healing supplies." Turning around he stared into the fire, hands clasped behind his back. "You know how dangerous changing an herb could be. Any one, not just Legolas, could have been poisoned." Turning to face them again, his heart was filled with sadness. All three of them looked so ashamed and humiliated, but they had to learn.

"I have been giving him that medication, boys, do you know how seriously that could have ended. He might have died. Legolas was lucky you told me in time, and that I knew what to do to reverse the consequences."

"Ada―"Elrohir began, but was cut off as Aragorn raised his hand.

"Elrohir, I think I should tell what happened. It was my fault to began with." Taking a calming breath he began their story.

"We were wrestling around, on that morning after Legolas fever broke. One of us knocked into Legolas bedside table, the bottle was on it and fell, smashing on the ground. I managed to convince Elladan and Elrohir to help me switch what we thought was a cleaning aid into that."

"Wait just a second, Estel. We are as much to blame as you are." Elladan said, clearing his throat as he looked at his twin. Elrohir nodded, it was all their fault. "We never dreamed that it had anything to do with healing."

"Do you really think we would do that?" Aragorn said his voice low.

"No, ion-nin," Elrond's voice was also soft, yet relived. "I was very surprised when I heard what you did for that very reason. Now I realize that I am partly to blame. I left the bottle there." Walking forward he wrapped his arms around as many sons as he could. "But don't think you won't get out of trouble for it."

"I think we already are" Elladan said, wrapping his arms around his father. After a moment Elrond pulled away.

"We will need to watch Legolas carefully tonight, just in case." He said.

TBC…

Man, those three will feel awful if anything else happens! I love you guys forever for reviewing :) and feel free to tell me about any mistakes.

Review Responses:

StarShadow Sword: You right, that always happens! They are never going to get a break. Thanks so much ;)

Firecracker27: I know…I know, but who knows, maybe in the next chapter you will like me again!

Kindered Spirit: 100th reviewer 8D Yup, again.

imaginariamente: 99 is an awesome number to be the reviewer for! Hannon Le!

The Phandtom Dragon: Elrond didn't get that mad ;0 I could have though that's for sure! *sighes* no we cannot….we need him for the next torturing ― story! ― hehehe

LeoLuin: hehehe, yes, we's are evil…very evil! Thanks

Black Hawk: Thanks! But now that Elrond knows what is going one, he should end up in one piece…right?

robinsmum: *sinkers evilly* oh, yes we are! And people tend to think that I am nice person….XD! Thanks!

ShadowHawq35: Thanks! I hope you liked this one as much.

Nearing Midnight: hehehe, I am evil, aren't I!

csiwannabe99: Wait for it….it will come!