Author's Note: I borrowed Master Healer Pengillen from Linuvial Greenleaf's stories; with her permission of course. So, I thought I would just throw that out there. Reviewers' responses will be sent out via email if I have the email. Hope everyone enjoys the chapter!

I am so sorry for taking so long with this chapter. Life has just been going non-stop and I would hit a brick wall every time I would start working on this story. But it is moving again so I should have the next chapter up soon; much sooner than this chapter.

(I)(I)(I)

Thranduil called over one of the healers as he gently lowered Aragorn onto the bed. He helped the healer undress the human until his back was bare to them and the severity was revealed. Warg claws were notoriously dirty and injuries sustained from the claws were prone to infection. The wounds were deep and embedded with debris from the courtyard. Hissing softly, the healers collected a bowel of water and a cloth to gently clean the wound. He worked slowly and meticulously as the water slowly turned a darker red with each wring of the cloth. Thranduil collected another bowl and filled both with water to help the healer with Aragorn. The elf king occasionally glanced into the other room where they were working frantically on his son. Dropping his cloth into the bowl Thranduil wiped his hands dry on a towel and walked into the other room.

Pengillen, the master healer, came over to his king as Thranduil offered the healer the towel.

"How is he, Pengillen?"

"In short…a mess." The master healer sighed before continuing. "A high fever is raging through his body. The thigh wound is badly infected and we had to lance it deeply. He had three clearly broken ribs and five fractured ones. His forearm is badly broken but it is set correctly and will heal well. He has an assortment of scrapes and he is just one massive bruise."

"Should I send for Lord Elrond?"

"It probably would not hurt, my king."

Thranduil nodded and departed from the healing wing to search out the bird master. He wrote a short letter to his friend, explaining everything that had occurred in the past few hours. Within a short time the hawk was out of sight and on its way to Rivendell. Thranduil found himself once again in the healing wing to look in on his son. All the wounds were dressed and a thick blanket was gently tucked around the prince. The king leaned against the wall with his arms crossed across his broad chest while watching his still son. The warrior found him there several hours later when he silently approached the king.

"Yes, Faiga?" Thranduil asked softly when he turned to look at the warrior.

Faiga's name meant "small bird" and the elf looked like it. He was shorter than most elves but the small body was stout and very well built. The warrior was powerfully built and was also one of Thranduil's very good friends.

"Pardon the intrusion, my king, but I am bringing news from the patrols."

"What do they report?"

"There is a group of humans testing our boundaries and looking for something for someone."

Faiga let he comment hang and knew the king was thinking along the same thread as he was. Both elves looked to the prince and his human companion on the beds next to each other.

"Do you think that Legolas' and Aragorn's arrival is somehow related to the humans' movements?" Thranduil asked as his eyes narrowed.

"My king, I would be amazed if it did not somehow relate."

"Alright, Faiga, inform the patrols to closely watch the humans and report anything suspicious or hostile towards Mirkwood. When Estel or Legolas awakens, I will see what they remember," Thranduil said and the warrior bowed before leaving.

Thranduil thoughtfully rubbed his chin in silence before walking into the room and pulling up a chair. Aragorn was on the next bed and Thranduil sat between the two friends and waited for one to awaken.

(I)(I)(I)

Aragorn groaned and slowly turned his head towards the sound of someone humming. The humming stopped as he tried to open his eyes and focus on whoever was humming. A blurry blond figure was leaning over him and his vision slowly cleared until he could recognize King Thranduil.

"Here is some water, Estel," he said and gently lifted Aragorn's head to drink some water.

"Thank you, my king. How is Legolas?" he asked once settling back against the pillows.

"In the words of Master Pengillen, he is an overall mess. Can you recall everything that happened? We all thought he had passed and then you came galloping up with Legolas in your arms."

Aragorn looked over to his friend and slowly organized his thoughts before speaking. He told Thranduil of finding the trail and following it to the town to find Legolas. Thranduil remained silent as Aragorn described everything up to when he brought his friend up to the healing wing. Once he finished, Thranduil told him of Legolas' injuries and the reports from Faiga. Aragorn nodded as he wrapped his arm around his abdomen as he thought about what Thranduil said.

"And you have written my father already?"

"Yes, the hawk left about four hours ago. If Elrond and his other sons departed immediately and rode quickly, they should be here on the third evening," Thranduil confirmed and Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"You can be certain that they will ride with haste. What are your plans with the men at the border?"

"They are being observed but until they step into my land, I can do nothing."

"I am not sure what Gorgias will do. His actions are difficult to anticipate and predict. The last I dealt with him was about four or five years ago when he was stealing money from a town. I do not think he knew that Legolas is my friend. I believe he was captured by slave hunters and Gorgias bought him just because he is an elf," Aragorn said quietly and Thranduil nodded.

"The border patrol will bring reports back to me every other day so we can stay informed of their movements," Thranduil said and leaned back in his chair.

"Does Master Pengillen have an estimate of when Legolas may awaken?"

"Nay, he has a bad infection that has not broken yet. Once his fever comes down he may awaken then, we hope." Thranduil said and stood. "Rest, Estel. I hope to have more information when you awaken again."

Aragorn nodded and relaxed back into the bed, listening to Legolas' breathing.

(I)(I)(I)

"They seem to be setting up camp just outside of our boarders. There have been no hostile actions on their part but I think that they do not even know we are watching them," the elf said and handed the written report to his king.

"And they shall not be made aware of the warriors' presence. Have they increased their numbers any?" Thranduil questioned as he flipped through the parchments.

"Nay, my king, they have not." The elf shifted slightly before speaking again. "If I may inquire, my king, how is the Prince and Lord Estel?"

Thranduil glanced up at the warrior before standing from the chair behind his desk. Rounding the desk, he stood in front of the warrior and offered a comforting smile.

"Lord Estel is doing well and moving around. The Prince has not yet woken but the healers have assured me that he will make a full recovery."

A few minutes after the warrior departed from his office, Thranduil left to visit the healing ward and check on his son. The healers did assure him that Legolas would make a full recovery in time, but Thranduil saw something else in Pengillen's eyes. The Master Healer had yet to elaborate but today he vowed to corner the healer and question him. Poor Pengillen, he snickered.

He found Estel sitting in a chair by Legolas' bed, slowly twirling a cane in a hand. Estel looked up as Thranduil stood at his shoulder.

"Anything new?" Thranduil asked and moved to sit on the corner of his son's bed.

"He is closer to waking. He has shifted several times and there is rapid eye movement occasionally," Aragorn replied as Thranduil looked down at his son. "Anything new?"

"Gorgias, as you call him, has stationed himself just outside our borders and set up camp. There has been no increase of manpower and I assume no decrease but I have not thoroughly read the report."

Aragorn stared at the handle of the cane in thought. Thranduil waited as the human mulled over his comments. Despite their rocky first meetings, the Ranger and King came to respect the other's abilities. In front of any other audience, they would clash head on but in private they worked well together. They both had a shrewd and calculating mind and they always said that great minds think alike.

"He is not following his habits that I knew. I could usually predict what he would do but I did not predict this," Aragorn murmured and moved to prop the cane against the bedside table.

"So you do not know what he may be planning?"

"No, my king; I do not know what he is planning. Gorgias sometimes seems to be unbalanced mentally but I highly doubt he is unstable. He is very intelligent; more so than most people," Aragorn explained and looked from Thranduil to Legolas.

He quickly stood and moved to Legolas' beside. Thranduil turned and saw his son's head slowly roll side to side.

"Legolas? Open your eyes, my son," Thranduil said softly and brushed his fingertips over his son's pale forehead.

Legolas groaned and his eyes fluttered before slowly opening. He looked between Thranduil and Aragorn several times before settling his gaze on Thranduil. Confusion covered his face for several moments as he struggled to place the face.

"Father?"

Thranduil smiled and moved to get some water for his son. Aragorn rubbed his friend's shoulder and spoke a few words before leaving the healing ward. He could see that father and son needed time together. Aragorn after all had brought the king's son back from a believed death. He wandered outside and towards the forge where the blacksmiths were working. Once they realized that the prince's weapons had been destroyed, they had quickly started to forge new ones. They sound of steel striking steel reached his ears before he entered the building. It was hotter inside from the burning fires and lack of air circulation but it was comforting. Two elves worked alone in the forge and they were pounding on a blade to flatten the blade's edges. Lying on a workbench was one knife already completed and he gently picked it up. The weight and balance felt perfect as he swung the knife around his body.

"Magnificent artwork," he murmured before slipping the knife back into its sheath.

He bowed to the elven artisans before leaving the forge. The sky was overcast as he titled his head back to look at the sky and a gust of wind swept around him. His fingers danced with the breeze as if to feel the wind and several stray leaves swirled around him. A black crow suddenly flew over his head and headed towards a small corpse of trees. It landed on a large dirt mound where Aragorn's mount was buried and stared at the human. It cawed three times before flying away and leaving Aragorn alone in the silent courtyard. His eyes narrowed as he glanced back to the darkening sky. A distant rumble foretold of an approaching storm and he started back to the palace. He felt something uncomfortable settle in the pit of his stomach and he wrapped an arm around his abdomen. Stopping on the steps, he glanced back before passing through the doors to let them close behind him.

(I)(I)(I)

"We have done enough for today, Legolas. You are exhausting yourself," Aragorn said as his friend slammed his fist onto the bed.

"I am so close, Estel."

Aragorn sighed and looked at his friend who sat curled on the bed. Legolas had been struggled to regain his memories and full control of his mind to stop the nightmares that plagued him nightly. Occasionally, something would trigger a reaction in Legolas and he would think that Aragorn was a ghost or Bretharso's ghost haunted him. Aragorn figured that Legolas needed to battle Bretharso in his mind but he was unsure how his friend would do it. They would wait until Elrond arrived and assessed the situation. Elrond and the twins would be arriving later that day and then they would decide.

"Is your father getting in today?" Legolas asked as he relaxed against the thick pillows.

"Yes, they should be here in a few hours," he replied just as a horn sounded from outside the room.

Aragorn's eyebrows furrowed as he stood and hurried to the window. Leaving against the railing, he looked towards the main gates and what caused the horn blow. Seeing it, he spun and ran towards the door.

"Stay here!" he yelled at Legolas before running from the room and down the corridor.

He flew through the corridors and eventually entered the courtyard. A horse was just galloping into the courtyard and Aragorn threw up his arms to stop the horse. White was showing in the horse's eyes as Aragorn grabbed for the reins. A limp figure hung from the mane and slowly slid to the side when the horse stood still. Aragorn caught the figure's upper body and gently pulled the figure all the way off the horse and knelt on the cobblestones. He brushed aside a bloody strand of hair and gasped in shock when he recognized the figure.

"Simanali!"

"Do you know him, Estel?" Thranduil asked as he knelt by the human.

"Yes; this is Simanali. He is a private warrior to my father. He is usually with the escort detail," Aragorn said and watched as several elves carried Simanali away towards the healing wing.

"Estel."

Thranduil held out a blood stained parchment to Aragon and waited silently as the parchment was unfolded and read.

"I have someone you want, Strider. Or I should say several."

Folded in the parchment were several ebony strands of hair with dried blood. Some of the color drained from Aragorn's face as he stared at the hairs. Thranduil and the other elves were silent as Aragorn climbed to his feet.

"Once I check on Simanali and attain any information, I will follow the horse's trail back to where it came. I need to borrow a mount, my king."

Thranduil nodded and motioned a servant nearby. "Find Athernon and have him choose four of his best warriors and be ready to depart within the hour."

Thranduil dismissed the servant and turned to Aragorn. "If whoever did this was able to take out Elrond's private guard, plus him, plus his sons, and plus Glorfindel I am assuming then you will need all the help you can get."

Aragorn bowed before both walked into the palace and towards the healing ward. Rounding a corner, they saw a warrior running towards them with a parchment clutches in his hand. Not breaking his stride, Thranduil took the report and quickly scanned the contents.

"Gorgias and his men disappeared last night. My warriors heard nothing and did not realize until this morning. We can safely assume that Gorgias is responsible for the attack on your father and his escort. The warriors' first task would be to collect your family and anything else will fall to second place. I would assume that Gorgias will be your prey?" he questioned as they stopped outside the healing rooms.

"If you please, my king."

Thranduil nodded and turned to look at an apprentice healer as she approached. Her hands were bloody which she tried to clean on her apron before speaking. "Master Pengillen says that he is badly injured and will probably not awaken for several hours. When he does awaken he will be very weak so do not hope to gain any information."

She bowed before turning to help the other healers again. Without a word, Aragorn and Thranduil also turned and walked towards Aragorn's guest room to collect his weapons. He quickly circled the room and strapped the weapons onto his person. Sword at his left hip, arrows and bow at his back, knife at his right hip and a dagger in each boot; he was ready for anything now. Thranduil waited at the door and Aragorn saw another blond-colored head appear behind the king.

"You are not coming, Legolas. You are still ill," Aragorn said as Thranduil turned to look at his son.

"I am coming, Estel," Legolas replied as he rested his hands on the top of his bow.

"Estel is correct, ion nin. You are still ill and weak from the infection."

"I am fine, Ada, and I am going to help."

"No, you will not," Thranduil ordered and turned to face Athernon when the elf reached the king's shoulder.

"My men and I are ready to leave if you are, Lord Estel." Aragorn nodded as Athernon turned to Thranduil. "With your leave, my lord, we shall leave."

"Go Athernon and may the Valar guide you."