Here's the next chapter.

"Legolas?"

"What?"

"I think your blasted stallion is jealous of me."

Legolas looked down. And, sure it was, his mount couldn't stop glaring at Keldarion—if such a feat were possible for a horse, that is.

With a chuckle, Legolas patted the stallion's neck. "Easy, Black Storm. My brother knows you love his mare. He won't steal her heart from you, trust me. In fact, when we get back home, we will organize a wedding for you and your white lady."

As the two horses nickered—as if in agreement—Keldarion rolled his eyes. "Seriously, Legolas. Wedding for horses? Where did you get such absurd idea?"

"I don't know." Legolas shrugged, frowning a little when he realized he was slightly shivering. "The idea just popped into my head. Silly, isn't it? But it's possible. Just imagine the magnificent foals these two would produce."

Keldarion snorted. "These two don't need a wedding for that. After what they have been doing yesterday, the lady here might be pregnant already!"

As the brothers rode on, the sun slowly climbed up the sky above their heads. It was already late morning when they woke up earlier in the day, groaning and cursing from all the still swelling bumps and bruises they acquired the night before. They broke camp after sharing Keldarion's rations, and had been riding for over an hour now.

A soft breeze flew through the woods, and Legolas shivered again. Tugging his cloak closer to his body, he blinked and shook himself. He had started to feel lightheaded the moment they were on the move, but he said nothing to his brother, thinking that it was nothing serious. The deep cuts on his leg were healing nicely, with no sign of infection. Even the bruises on his face had stopped their incessant throbbing.

So why am I feeling as if I'm running a fever?

Oblivious to his brother's discomfort, Keldarion led the way through a narrow trail between two hills, causing them to ride single-file. The thick canopy of trees was like an umbrella above them, shielding the brothers from the hot afternoon sun. Colorful butterflies fluttered among the tall wildflowers that covered the ground, while a couple of hares were at play, leaping all about. Little birds chirped cheerfully around them, soaring to and fro as if they had no care in the world.

Unfortunately, Legolas barely noticed the beauty of his surroundings. He was too busy forcing down a sudden nausea that clawed up his throat. His head was swimming, and cold sweat began to dot his forehead and neck.

Keldarion turned on his seat when he heard his brother gagged behind him. "Legolas? Is something wrong?"

The younger prince managed a weak grin. "About time you ask me that."

With a frown, Keldarion reined in his mount and stared hard at his brother's face. "You look ill. Is your leg bothering you again?"

"No, it's not my leg." Legolas shook his head, and instantly wished he hadn't. His face turning green, he clamped a hand over his mouth and quickly scrambled off the stallion's back. As Keldarion gaped in bewilderment, Legolas awkwardly headed straight for a clump of bushes and went violently sick, scaring away the playful hares and butterflies.

It went on for quite a while. Legolas retched and retched until what was left were dry heaves. By then, his innards were screaming from the strain and his head was heavily pounding. Moaning miserably, he sat back on his heels and turned his face away from the mess.

"Here."

A water skin suddenly appeared in his blurry vision. He reached for it with somewhat trembling hand and took a swig, rinsing his mouth. When he finished, his brother wrapped a comforting arm around him and helped him up. He didn't protest when he was steered towards a big pine tree.

"Sit down," Keldarion told Legolas, staring worriedly at his brother's white sweaty face.

Legolas gratefully did so, sliding to the ground with a sigh. "Sorry, Kel. I guess I am a nuisance."

"So you said." Keldarion smiled as he peered into Legolas' slightly glazed eyes. "Now, let's figure out what is really wrong with you."

After much prodding and poking a while later, Keldarion announced, "You've been poisoned."

Legolas blinked dazedly back at his brother, and shrugged. "I've thought as much. Go on. Say it."

"Say what?" Keldarion was quite taken aback.

"Just say, 'I told you so'."

Keldarion grinned. "I told you so."

"I should have taken that potion you made."

"Yes, you should have." The elder prince nodded. "The althelas takes care of the cuts in your leg, but the venom from the snare has already spread too far into your system for it to do much good."

"And that was why you wanted me to drink the herbendea tonic."

"Exactly."

"I am stupid, am I?"

Legolas' expression looked so pitiful that Keldarion laughed out loud. "Oh, there's still hope for you though, brother. I'll prepare another batch of the antidote. And this time, I want you to finish it. And no punching allowed."

Legolas rolled his eyes at that. He leaned back and watched silently as Keldarion went to look for the plant.

When the elder prince returned, Legolas' head was lolled sideways against the tree, his eyes closed. Alarmed, Keldarion quickly reached over and touched his brother's neck, looking for a pulse. Legolas instantly bolted upright with a yelp, his eyes flying open.

"Easy, easy." Keldarion gazed warily at Legolas' upraised fists. "You are not going to punch me again, are you?"

Legolas relaxed and lowered his arms. "Sorry. I was just….having…a silly dream…that's all."

Keldarion frowned when he heard his brother's labored breathing. Legolas' condition was worse than he had thought. Like what he did last night, Keldarion took off his dagger and used the hilt to crush the weeds in a water-filled bowl, his eyes always straying to Legolas' drawn face all the while.

"Now, drink this," told Keldarion when he finished, placing the bowl near his brother's lips. Legolas made a face at the heavy smell coming from the potion, but he didn't complain. Pinching his nose, he reluctantly gulped it down.

"Gah!" Legolas instantly gasped for air after he emptied the bowl. "That's the worst drink I've ever tasted! If the poison won't kill me, then I guess this potion will!"

Keldarion shook his head with a smile as he put the bowl away. "It will work. Trust me. It just takes time, that's all."

"And how long will that be?" Legolas asked, barely able to keep his eyes open. He started to grow nauseated once again.

"Several hours." Keldarion wet a cloth and wiped the sweat off his brother's face. "But I need to warn you that there will be harsh side effects when the poison reacts to the potion."

"Side effects? Like what?" Legolas asked, but suddenly his face turned green. He quickly dived to one side, just in time before he could throw up all over his brother.

"Like that," Keldarion feebly answered, watching sympathetically as Legolas continued to retch. With gentle hands, he brushed Legolas' hair away from his face and comfortingly rubbed down his back. Then he washed his brother's mouth and told him to drink a bit of water so he won't get dehydrated. Legolas cringed at the mention of swallowing anything but had not the strength to refuse.

Frowning slightly, Keldarion was deep in thought for quite a long time afterwards that Legolas began to wonder. "What's on your mind, Kel? Do you start to think that I'm a burden after all?"

Keldarion snapped his gaze back to his younger brother. "What? No, never that."

He unclasped his cloak and wrapped it around Legolas' trembling form. "I was thinking that you really need a warm and comfortable place to mend as the potion takes effect."

Legolas blinked. "What do you mean? This place is warm and comfortable."

The elder prince glanced meaningfully at the sky. "It might rain later in the day. The temperature has dropped."

"Oh." Legolas also looked up and saw through the trees that the sun was now hidden behind dark, big clouds. "Well, that would be uncomfortable."

"Come. I know a place nearby where you can lie down." Keldarion assisted his brother to rise. "Can you sit on your mount?"

"No, but I can slump over," Legolas replied with a silly grin.

With an answering smile, Keldarion whistled for the horses. As the stallion stood patiently for his master to mount, Keldarion said, "I had better ride with you, in case you fall off. Do you want to ride at the front or behind me?"

"How about underneath the horse?" the other prince responded, eyeing his powerful stallion in dismay as if it were a hundred feet tall. He felt too weak to even stand, let alone to mount.

Keldarion had to laugh at that. Without any difficulties, he hoisted Legolas atop the stallion. After securing his supplies to his mare and gathering her reins, Keldarion mounted behind his brother.

"The place isn't far, only about two leagues away. Just hold on, brat. I'll get you there before it rains."

As the stallion broke into a trot at Keldarion's kick, Legolas choose the moment to speak, "Wait a minute. We have been through this before, haven't we?"

Keldarion looked down at his brother's golden head resting against his shoulder, and realized that it was indeed a familiar sight. He couldn't stop himself from chuckling, "Yes. About a hundred times, I would say."

Legolas sighed heavily, so disappointed with himself. "I have a bad feeling that it's going to be a hundred times more after this. By the Valar. I am a nuisance."

"Hush, now," Keldarion chided and tightened his arms around his brother. "Stop speaking that way and start getting some rest. And don't hesitate to tell me if you suddenly feel like throwing up again."

Legolas did throw up again afterwards. Twice.

He crouched where he dismounted—or rather, toppled over—and went so horribly sick that Keldarion could do nothing else but hold him steady. And when he got sick the second time, both of them were appalled to see that he also vomited quite an amount of blood.

"Um…Kel." Legolas gazed back in fear at his brother. "Am I supposed…to do that?"

White faced himself, Keldarion stared in increasing dismay at the pool of blood on the ground.

"Well, I…uh…I think so, but…" He then shook himself, trying not to lose his composure. "Are you feeling well enough to continue? We need to hurry. It's starting to rain."

They were on the move once more, this time at a fast gallop with Keldarion's masterful hands clenching tight at the stallion's reins. The white mare followed just a pace behind, strong enough to keep up with the other horse's mad dash. Clinging to his brother for dear life, Legolas squinted against the rain but couldn't see where they were heading because it was such a heavy downpour that his vision was cut to only ten feet. Keldarion meanwhile seemed very familiar with the land. He skillfully swerved around trees and rocks, leaping over ditches and holes, until they trail broke into an opened meadow.

Still, Keldarion didn't stop. He rushed straight for a wooden cabin situated in the middle of the meadow, near to a stream. To Legolas, the cabin just popped out of nowhere. He never expected that anyone would build a home so far out in this place, so secluded without a single neighbor nearby.

"Whose place is this?" Legolas asked as he let Keldarion help him dismount right in front of the door. But Keldarion chose not to answer. Holding his brother upright in one arm, he raised his other arm to knock.

Almost a minute later, the door opened an inch. A pair of brown eyes appeared through the crack to peer at the two elves cautiously.

"Keldarion!" came a surprise cry as the door flew wide open, revealing a petite yet beautiful young woman standing in the doorway.

Keldarion nodded at her. "Aislinn."

Legolas stared at his brother. "You…you know this woman?"

Ignoring him, Keldarion focused his attention on Aislinn who was still gaping at their appearance.

"May we come in? We need shelter from the rain, and my brother here is quite ill."

Aislinn turned to stare at Legolas, finally noticing that the golden-haired elf was shivering and looking so deathly pale. "Oh! Of course! Forgive me. Please, do come in."

The woman stepped aside and let the brothers enter. She then rushed ahead to a small room on the left, pushing the door open. "Here. Lay your brother on my bed. He looks dead on his feet."

"I feel dead," Legolas said, smiling at her. "Thank you for the shelter."

"You're welcome, my lord," Aislinn responded with a sweet smile and went to a chest at the foot of the bed. She took out a pair of towels and handed them to Keldarion. "You must be freezing, so I'll leave you both to change and get dry."

She then frowned to see the bruises on their faces. "What exactly happened to you two?"

Legolas weakly grinned, so charmed he was by this kind and lovely young woman. "Well, you know how brothers are."

Aislinn's frown grew. "Actually, I don't. Really."

"Aislinn doesn't have any brothers. Or sisters," Keldarion interrupted as he peeled the damp cloaks of Legolas.

Legolas turned to his brother. "How do you know?"

When she saw that Keldarion started to undress his brother, Aislinn quickly turned around.

"I'll prepare some hot soup and tea," she mumbled before she vanished out the door.

Legolas watched his brother's impassive face silently, wondering what it was that the elder prince was not telling him. "Kel? Who is that woman? How do you know her?"

Keldarion straightened and looked anywhere but at his brother. He took a deep breath before answering, "She was that little girl who helped me escape the Corsairs five years ago."

Legolas heard rather than felt his jaw drop, so astonished he was. Before he could utter another word, his brother was wrapping him in a dry towel and pushing him to lie on the bed.

"Try to get some rest," Keldarion instructed. "I'll go outside to get the rest of our gear before I check on your condition."

With that, the elder prince rushed out of the room, leaving Legolas to ponder on this new discovery.

It was like having a hangover.

At least, that was what Legolas felt the next day when he woke up. With a low moan, he raised a hand to shield his eyes against the bright sunlight that came streaming through the opened window, which gave the small, barely furnished room a cheery look—not that there was anything cheery about the situation from the way his brain was pounding like mad inside his skull.

"Is it too bright? Do you want me to draw the curtains?"

Legolas froze. Aislinn, his young host, was sitting on the chair right beside the bed. The same chair where Keldarion had sat the entire night, watching over him.

"Uh…" Legolas cleared his throat. "Yes, please. If you don't mind."

With a consoling smile, Aislinn stood and pulled the curtains. Murmuring his thanks, Legolas pushed himself to a sitting position. Aislinn instantly rushed to the bed at his actions.

"What do you think you're doing?" she reprimanded as she helped him rise, propping a pillow behind his back. "You should be resting."

Legolas closed his eyes, waiting for the room to stop spinning. Gulping repeatedly as he willed himself not to get sick, again, he cursed himself inwardly for being so ill.

I should have listened to Kel, he thought for the umpteenth time.

"Legolas?"

Aislinn was frowning in concern when he opened his eyes. He had to smile reassuringly back at her. "I'm fine, Aislinn."

Still unconvinced, she placed the back of her hand against his forehead.

"Hmm. Still warm," she murmured. "You were burning hot last night. Your brother even thought of carrying you to the stream to cool you off. Luckily, the bath I gave you brought down the fever."

Legolas instantly turned red. Without looking, he knew he wore not a stitch under the sheet. "You…you bathed me?"

Aislinn nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I did, with a damp cloth. Your brother had to hold you down as you were so delirious you were thrashing about. You were so hot to the touch you nearly went into seizures. Thank goodness it didn't come to that! I was so worried. Even Keldarion look scared when you couldn't stop vomiting. And all that blood. It completely freaked me out! You are indeed very lucky. I thought you were a goner. Why, you could have died!"

Legolas cringed as Aislinn went on and on, eagerly giving him the entire gory details of last night's fiasco. He could remember nothing much after collapsing onto the bed yesterday, except for how miserable he had feel during the repeated bout of violent nausea. He also remembered feeling extremely hot and sweaty, with painful needles stabbing at his every joint.

Now that it was all over, he couldn't wait to get back on his two feet to reassure himself that he could still walk. And run, far way from this little slip of a woman. He was too embarrassed to face her after the way she had seen him at his weakest and most vulnerable moment.

This woman bathed me? Legolas was still horrified as Aislinn kept on talking, completely oblivious to his discomfort. Ai! If Nara finds out about this, she will skin me alive!

Legolas stared at Aislinn's animated face as she described the color of the blood that he had vomited last night.

That is, if this woman didn't kill me with her chattering first. And, boy, can she talk!

"So!" Aislinn beamed as she finished her story. "Would you like to have some tea?"

Groaning, the elf turned to bury his face into the pillow. "Please, nothing for my throat right now. Thank you."

She giggled. "Oh, it won't be as bad as last night. Keldarion said so. In fact, he insisted that I gave you some soup to fill your empty stomach."

Legolas curiously looked around. "Exactly where is my brother?"

"Outside. Chopping some woods."

Legolas blinked.

Keldarion, chopping woods? Now, who would have thought of that? Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? I used to chop woods too. But that was when I was a slave to the Easterlings. So what prompted Kel to chop woods for this woman? Hmm. Something fishy is going on here.

"Err…" Legolas turned even redder as Aislinn looked at him expectantly. He clutched the sheet higher to his chin. "Would you mind if you…uh…I mean, I need to get dress."

Instead of blushing as most elven ladies were wont to do, Aislinn merely declared, "Oh, right! Your clothes! They are very dirty and I just washed them this morning. I hang them outside to dry."

She went to a small dresser and took out a shirt and a pair of trousers. "I think you can wear these. They belong to my father. He was not as tall or as lean as you, but I think these will do. Besides, I believe you are not going anywhere for the time being. You need at least a couple more days to recover."

Nodding his thanks, Legolas took the clothes and waited.

Aislinn stood there with a smile, her hands folded at the front, looking so nice and prim in a yellow cotton frock. It looked to be like an old dress, almost threadbare from many washing. But the simple dress only emphasized how lovely she was, with her long golden hair plaited into a long braid that fell over one shoulder.

"Aislinn?"

"Yes?"

"I don't mean to be rude, but…um…I need to change." Legolas tried hard to get her to catch his meaning.

Luckily, she understood.

"Oh, how silly of me!" she exclaimed with a chuckle. "I'll step outside and give you some privacy. I also need to see if the soup is ready."

When the door closed behind her, Legolas heaved a sigh of relief. Then he softly laughed.

By Elbereth! That woman is one interesting creature.

When he was fully clothed, Legolas slumped on the bed from exhaustion. Even that simple chore robbed him most of his strength. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, he listened to the rhythmic sound of axe hitting woods coming from outside.

It seems that Keldarion is still at it.

Then he took in his surroundings. The room was small, only big enough to accommodate the narrow bed, the low dresser and a chest. The curtains were made of cheap floral fabric, and only a simple rug covered the wooden floor. But the room was tidy and clean. A quaint, feminine room, with an old teapot filled with fresh wildflowers placed on the dresser. Even the thin mattress and lone pillow felt comfortable, with the sheets smelt nicely of sunshine.

And this woman lives here all by herself, Legolas thought as he noticed no sign of any male effects, except for her father's clothes that he wore.

The sound of wood-chopping from outside finally ceased. A while later, Keldarion walked into the room. He smiled to see his younger brother already awakened. "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Legolas replied with a shrug.

Walking closer to the bed, Keldarion frowned critically. "Whose clothes are you wearing?"

Legolas looked down at himself, tugging at the loose-fitting cotton shirt he wore. "Oh. Aislinn gave this to me. She said it belongs to his father."

Keldarion's face suddenly darkened. His blue eyes glinted with unfathomable fury. "Take it off," he curtly said after a long moment of tense silence.

Legolas' mouth dropped open. "Excuse me?"

"I said, take it off. Take it off, now."

"But, why?"

"Just do it!"

"Kel, be reasonable. What's wrong with my wearing this? My clothes are still hanging to dry outside. Besides, this shirt is clean enough—"

"You will take it off or I will tear it from you!"

"Not before you tell me the reason why!" Legolas shouted in return. He didn't understand his brother's sudden anger.

His mouth tightening, Keldarion bent over and ripped open his brother's shirt. Buttons popped and flew everywhere as Legolas' gasped in disbelief. He tried to knock Keldarion's hands away.

"Stop it, Kel! What the heck are you doing?"

Ignoring his brother's yelling and cursing, Keldarion yanked roughly at the shirt. Then he swiped the covers and glared at Legolas' trousers. When he reached for it, Legolas shoved him off.

"Don't you even dare!" Legolas snapped and started tugging down his pants. "I'll do it myself."

His eyes still glinting hard, Keldarion went to his pack lying on the floor beside the bed and took out a fresh pair of tunic and leggings. He handed the garments to Legolas. "Wear mine."

Saying nothing, Legolas snatched at the offered clothes and turned away, preparing to dress for the second time that day.

For a long moment, Keldarion gazed at his brother who refused to look back at him. Gathering Aislinn' father's shirt and trousers, Keldarion whirled around and stopped abruptly in his tracks.

Aislinn was standing so still in the doorway, her face pale. She had heard and seen everything.

The two stared at one another. Once more, the room grew silent, tense and heavy. No one spoke. No one moved.

Then, taking a deep breath, Keldarion walked to her and shoved the clothes into her hands.

"I appreciate your hospitality, Aislinn, but don't you ever soil my brother with your father's belongings," he brusquely said before brushing past her. The outer door slammed shut behind him as Keldarion stalked out of the cabin.

Legolas and Aislinn exchanged looks, feeling greatly uncomfortable with what had just happened.

Clearing his throat, Legolas finally braved himself to speak. "I'm sorry, Aislinn. I don't know what had gotten into him."

"Well, I do," She gave him a brittle smile. Looking down at the clothes clutched in her hands, she shrugged. "I should have burnt these, you know. Your brother hates anything that reminds him of his terrible past."

Leaning his back against the pillow, Legolas stared at her face, noticing the slight glistening of tears in her eyes. "My brother told me you helped him escape the Corsairs. I have not thank you for it."

She sat on the bed after throwing the shirt and trousers into a hamper behind the door. "You don't need to thank me, Legolas. I only did what I had to do. I couldn't stand to see him suffer at the hands of those men."

"Keldarion is determined to kill the last remaining man that had wronged him. He said the man is called—"

"Morat. Yes, I know. I also knew what those men did to Keldarion." She bit her lips when she saw Legolas' startled expression. "They thought a silly child like me knew nothing of the horrid evil things that there were doing to your brother."

"How…how did you come to be here, living in this cabin all by yourself?" he asked, curious. "Did you also run from the camp? Did the men know it was you who released my brother?"

Smiling sadly, Aislinn gazed at the curtains dancing in the afternoon breeze that streamed into the room.

"After the War of The Ring, our camp had become desolate. Many of our men had perished in the battles, and many more had been wounded. Some even fled to unknown parts of Arda. Our ships were destroyed. With our warriors decreasing in numbers day by day, the camp was no longer a good place to live as many of us were plagued with hunger and sickness. Then, one day, Keldarion returned and took me away."

Legolas' eyes widened. "He brought you here?"

Turning back to him, she nodded. "He helped build this cabin for me. Once in a while, he would come with supplies of fabrics or staples or any other things that I might need. I guess it's his way to pay me for what I did for him before."

Still amazed, Legolas slowly shook his head. "He let you live here, all alone?"

"It's not that bad. I like my sanctuary. And I like to be an independent woman. As long as I'm far from that camp, I'll be happy," she said. "Actually, I was not always alone. Sometimes, my father came to visit me. And his visits always left me shaking with dread, knowing how Keldarion was searching for him to kill him."

"Your father?" Legolas was even more astonished.

Her father is still alive when Keldarion stole her away?!

Aislinn looked straight into Legolas' confusion-filled eyes. "Didn't your brother tell you?"

Legolas blinked. "Tell me what?"

"I am Morat's daughter."

TBC…