A/N Hannon Le to everyone who has reviewed/favorited/followed! You guys are seriously like my favorite people ever!

Declaimer: not mine

Chapter Five

Stars glittered in the sky, casting a diamond pattern on the wooden floor. Aragorn crept slowly down the corridor, wrapping a robe around him as he went. He needed to check on his friend. Pushing the door silently open, the man sighed with relief as he found as he found everything the way it was suppose to be.

Legolas was sleeping peacefully, the moonlight casting a shadow across his face while his golden hair fanned out around his head. Slipping into a chair, Aragorn took one of Legolas's hands, which was resting on the covers. Noticing someone had changed Legolas into night cloths causing the human to smile slightly.

Ada's been here. The man thought, knowing that he was not the only one worried about the elven prince. Aragorn sat there for a few more minutes, assuring himself that everything was alright while watching the steady rise and fall of Legolas's chest. When he was pacified, the man got up, slipping out of the room just as quietly as he had entered, a little disturbed that Legolas hadn't even stirred at his light touch.

BYYOURSIDE

Legolas slept peacefully into the early morning, very early. At that point, however, the elf's sleep became troubled. Moaning restlessly, the prince tossed and turned feverously, his breathing becoming labored as his heart rate shot up dramatically. Legolas face paled and his hands began to clench and unclench. Finally awaking with a start, he sat bolt upright, gasping for breath.

Looking widely around, Legolas leant forward his hand touching his heart. It was pounding so hard that it hurt. Shaking uncontrollably and covered in sweat, the prince squeezed his eyes shut before swallowing back sudden nausea. His stomach lurched and the archer groaned aloud.

Not again! Not again! He desperately thought before flinging the blankets off his legs and staggering forward towards a basin. Gripping the edges of the bedside table unto his knuckles were white, Legolas fought with his stomach. However, it was just like the other time, and once again the elf lost the battle. Legolas's stomach heaved and he vomited into the basin, only to have another bought attack him immedtially.

Everything faded, all he knew was the burning taste of vomit and the painful pounding of his heart. In a brief moment of relief, the elf reopened his eyes, staring with disgust at his own vomit. He suddenly started, terrified to find it mixed with bright red blood. As he watched, a few more drops of crimson landed there. Confused, Legolas reached up running his hand across his face. Blood was dripping from his nose yet again.

Before the elf could do anything to slow the bleeding, another bout of sickness over came him. Once again his world shrank, until he was only slightly aware. He did not even notice when strong arms wrapped around his middle, supporting him when his legs threatened to give out.

His vision tunneled as he gasped unevenly for breath and then darkness over came him yet again.

BYYOURSIDE

Elrond had found himself increasingly worried about Legolas and his condition. He needed to get to the bottom of this mystery before something terrible happened. Elves just did not get sick. The healer had a sneaking suspicion of what it was, but he was desperately hoping it wasn't what he thought it was. They were in Imladris. It was almost in possible for someone to harm the prince in his home…almost. Finally, the elf lord could stand it no longer and rose from his desk where he was puzzling over the mystery.

Quickly and quietly, Elrond made his way down the hallway and towards Legolas's guest chambers. Elrond's footsteps suddenly quickened and he broke into a run, his excellent elvish hearing warning him that the prince was in trouble.

Twisting the door knob, he burst in just in time to see Legolas being violently ill. Elrond froze, wondering briefly if Legolas need some privacy but changed his mind when he caught sight of the prince.

Legolas was sheet white, though blood was smeared all over his face and continued to gush from both nostrils. The elf's knees buckled dangerously and Elrond leapt forward, catching the elf and holding him up right.

"Hush, Legolas, everything will be alright." The lord soothed, brushing a strand of hair out of the way. The prince would need to wash his hair after this was all done. The archer gave the elf lord no acknowledgement and Elrond frowned.

"Legolas…Legolas, nod if you can hear me." the elf made no move to do so, just bringing up another mouthful of the rancid stuff. The prince suddenly went limp in Elrond arms, scaring him half to death. Both elves went down ungracefully as Elrond failed to Legolas's dead weight up right.

"Legolas!" Elrond called, pulling the elf into his lap and smacking him hard in-between the shoulder blades, forcing remain chunks of vomit out of the prince's throat. "Wake up for me…"he called again.

"Oh, he will." a snide voice sneered. Elrond frowned, looking up slowly, he had been concentrating so hard on Legolas that he hadn't even heard someone else approach. A man stood next to the window, a dark cloak covering his features and hiding who he was.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Elrond demanded, bending protectively over his charge.

"I'm just here to give you some friendly advice. And no, I never reveal my features, makes it much easier to sneak up on people if they don't know what you look like" The man said his voice uncaring.

"I'll call my guards if you don't get out now!" Elrond snarled, brow furrowing as Legolas stirred feebly in his arms.

"That's a lie and you know it!" the man drawled, drawing a knife from his belt. "You don't have any posted nearby, only your sons. And if you dare to call them, they will find a knife in their hearts."Elrond froze, his heart speeding up at the thought.

"I will not call them. Leave." He said stiffly, pulling Legolas up against his chest as the prince moaned, his breathing hitching slightly. If Legolas hadn't needed his care, the man would find himself with an admirable foe.

"Oh, well if you really want it that way." The human said with mock sadness. "I will just leave you…this!" the man suddenly took a step forward, chucking his knife at the at two on the floor

Elrond ducked, spreading his body over Legolas's, protecting him. The knife flew dangerously close, just missing the two. It struck the wall, embedding itself deeply in the wood. It came so close, that it nicked the elf lords shoulder, just scratching it.

By the time that Elrond lifted his face from Legolas's chest, the man was gone. The curtains were blowing restlessly, indicating where the man had left.

How, in the name of the Valar, did he manage to get into Imladris! Elrond thought, frowning hard as he glanced around at the knife. Yanking the dagger free the elf found a tied scroll on the end. Before he had a chance to read it however, a moan from the wood-elf in his lap brought his attention immediately the prince as the stuffed the note into his robe pocket.

"Legolas…" he called, brushing back the long blonde hair. Legolas stirred, fighting to open his eyes. Blood continued to gush from his nose and Elrond pinched it, calling to the prince to open his eyes.

Suddenly a soft knock sounded, starling the lord.

"Come in." Elrond called. The door opened and a servant pocked his head in.

"I heard a commotion…" he explained, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight before him. "What should I do?"

"Get me my sons." His lord ordered, trying to comfort Legolas who was twisting agitatedly. The servant fled, quickly gathering Elrond's sons.

Aragorn threw his clothes on, heart pounding. All that he knew was that his father had requested that he come to Legolas's room and that could only mean that was something was very, very, wrong.

Still buttoning his shirt, Aragorn rushed to his friend's room, throwing the door wide, gagging slightly as the stench of vomit filled his nose. What he saw surprised him. Elrond knelt on the floor cradling Legolas to his chest, pressing the sleeves of his robe against Legolas nose. What little that could be seen of the elf's face was dreadfully white and the blood all across his face did not help matters.

Dropping to his knees, the human glanced worriedly at his friend before turning to face his father.

"Ada, what happened?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry. Before the lord could answer, however, something ice-cold touched the human's fingers, causing him to jerk them back. Looking down, he found to his shook that it was Legolas's fingers touching his. "Oh, Legolas…" Aragorn gasped, quickly grabbing his friend's hand and rubbing it in-between his own, frowning hard at the temperature of the skin.

"Estel…" Legolas mumbled weakly, not even opening his eyes.

"Yes, mellon-nin, it is I." he assured, clenching the elf's hands tightly.

"Aragorn, please go get someone to fill a hot bath." His father asked gently, his eyes telling his son that he would explain later. Aragorn nodded hesitantly, his hand tightening around his friends.

"I'll be right back Legolas." He murmured, touching the elf's face lightly in reassurance.

By the time that Aragorn returned, a servant trialing him, the twins had joined the picture. They sat on either side of Legolas, who sat on the floor leaning against the bed. His legs were stretched out in front of him and his fingers were clasped together in his lap in an attempt to stop the trembling. His father, or perhaps one of his brothers had cleaned Legolas's face off for him and he didn't look quite as pale to Aragorn's relief.

" Legolas," Aragorn whispered, sliding down was that he was sitting cross legged in front of his friend and once again taking Legolas's hands in his own. The elf was shivering violently, but looked up wearily at Aragorn's words.

"Elladan told me you'd be back," he slurred, before closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wood, obviously exhausted.

"Well, he was right, for once. How is he?" Aragorn asked, turning the conversation towards his brothers.

"He's no longer feeling sick," Elrohir started,

"But as you can feel, he is freezing," Elladan continued, allowing his hand to brush Legolas's arm. Just than the servant announced that the bath was ready and Elrond walked over from where he was mixing herbs.

"Come here, young prince." He said compassionately, effortlessly pulling the elf to his feet. "Aragorn?" was all he had to say before the human jumped to his feet and helped his friend forward.

"You smell awful, mellon-nin," Aragorn teased softly as they entered the bathing chamber. "A hot bath will do you good." He stated, ignoring the elf's pointed glare.

"Estel, you will be the death of me yet…" Legolas tiredly said, sinking down to sit on a bench and beginning to unlace his sleeping top.

"Well, you are terrifying me! I think my hair is turning gray!" the ranger joked lightly, sitting down across from the elf. Legolas hand stilled their movements, falling into his lap.

"Aragorn, what is wrong with me?" he asked, twisting his hands together. He had finally accepted the truth that his body was going through more than just overuse. He just didn't know what and the possibilities frightened him.

"I don't know, Legolas, I just don't know." Aragorn replied, gently taking the elf's freezing hands in his yet again. The man did nothing to hide how worried and scared he was for his friend.

"It's not normal…and I bring you and the rest of your family down with me. Don't lie and say that I haven't been a burden ever since I disappeared after we fought." The elf's voice was low and strangled as he tried to speak around the lump in his throat. Leaning back against the wall, he covered his face with a trembling hand. He was so exhausted and his emotions fought to get the better of him.

"Hey, don't talk like that!" Aragorn insisted, reaching out and bracketing the prince's face, forcing him to look at him. "We'll figure out what's going on and then fix it." Aragorn soothed, subconsciously pushing the hair hanging in his friends face behind a pointed ear "and you are not a burden. Do not say such words again, alright."

Legolas slowly nodded, feeling completely drained. The human offered another encouraging smile before standing up.

"You'll feel better once you get some sleep and take a hot bath, but don't do both at once." Legolas smiled briefly at his words.

"Get out of there then." He said, pointing to the door.

"Fine," Aragorn said in a hurt tone, before turning serious again. "Call of us if you feel sick, or are in need of anything. And don't go to sleep, I don't want to have my best friend drown right under my nose." With that, he left the bathing chamber.

Outside, he found his father and brothers were waiting for him. In one hand, Elrond held a piece of parchment, looking very serious.

"Now that Estel is finally here, would you please tell us what is going on!"Elrohir pleaded.

"Shh…not so loud. I don't want to break the new to Legolas this way." Elrond said urgently.

"What news?" Elladan asked, speaking for all his brothers. Elrond took a deep breath, before telling them all about what had happened, about the cloaked man.

"…he left after throwing his knife, tied to the handle was this." He finished, holding up the piece of paper. Taking the note, Elladan held it where everyone could see.

Elrond's human son,

Your friend is paying the price of death for you. You see, he was poisoned, and will not see the end of the month …unless you choose to give yourself up. I will come to you, don't look for me. I have the antidote….your choice. His life is in your hands. Elrond, if you want to see your son alive, prepare yourself to tell who Isildur's heir is.

TBC…

Well, they know what they are dealing with, thank goodness. Legolas should be able to get some help now!

Crystal di Angelo: That is awesome! It is so addictingly fun to torture them! Thanks!

World-classgeek: lol! That is so true! You just very accurately described their lives!

The Phantom Dragon: haha, we definitely would do that! And yes, lotr is defiantly one of the best out there! I agree with that, he'll kept screaming and we will kept laughing!

AmazingWriter123: Thank you very much! I was sick recently, so that was my inspiration!...ugh :( not a good one!

LILEVILONE96: Elrond had better hurry indeed, he only has so much time!

ShadowHawq35: Thanks! I will do my best then!

sarathestarkidranger: lol, that is awesome! We are defiantly very evil…and proud of it. And yes, that angst defiantly will be getting in the way!

robinsmm: I love it as well, but I think you are right, Elrond needs to do something more to them… Thanks!