A/N: Hi guys! Here is a new chapter for you :D I hope you like it, it wasn't beta-read because it's still a present. For those who also read my other stories: I'm so sorry you have to wait so long for another update but I'm really busy with school right now so please forgive me and hopefully I'll be able to update soon.

Thanks to everyone who liked, favorited and followed my story, this really means much to me.

Enjoy the chapter!

Elladan ran as fast as he could to the rooms of his father and mother. Elrohir was running next to him and looked just as concerned for the health of his father as he was.

They ran into their mother as they were near the chambers of their parents. She carried a cup of healing tea, which was fed to the ill and wounded, for it was a strong potion against pain and it also strengthens the own healing energy. Worried, Ellandan asked his mother:
"Do you know which illness plagues father? I see you bring healing tea to him, has Curien new information about father's illness?"

-"Curien examines your father right now but he is in great pain so I fetched a pain killing tea. I don't know which illness plagues Elrond but I hope from the depths of my heart, that he can be healed. Let's go to your father now, I don't want him to feel more pain because I delayed."

The went to the rooms in which Elrond laid and saw him moaning in agony. Curien stood in front of a table and crashed some herbs, Glorfindel was in the bathroom and prepared a cold bath for Elrond. Celebrian ran to Elrond ans fed him the healing tea. Elrohir began to stroke his father's hair. Ellandan felt completely useless. He stood in the door and did nothing else than to listen to his fathers soft whispers of delirium.

Curien called Elladan to help him with the herbs and medicine, after he saw the younger of the twins just standing in the middle of the room and staring at his father.

Elladan walked to Curien after he heard his request.

"What ails father?",

he asked in a low voice.

"I don't know for sure, but I think, your father has been poisoned."

"Poisoned? Who would poison father?"

"I don't know Elladan, how could I? I'll try to heal him but I can't promise you I'll succeed."

Celebrian looked shocked at Curien, she had overheard everything, and asked:

"Will he die?"

Curien bit his lower lip before he answered:

"I don't know, my lady. I can promise you, that I try my best but I can't promise you he'll live. The poison seems to be a strong one. Our only option is to try to draw the poison out of his system and to find an antidote. Otherwise he is lost to us."

Glorfindel appeared in the room and said.

"The bath is ready. I put some Athelas in, I hope that was right."

Curien nodded and said:

"That was very thoughtful of you Glorfindel, thank you very much. Could you please help me carrying Elrond in the bathroom?"

As they lifted Elrond, Glorfindel hissed:

"He is so hot, we have to get him in that bath quickly."

Curien just nodded and they laid Elrond in the cold bath. He moaned in pain as his skin touched the cold water and tried to get out of the pool but Glorfindel and Curien wouldn't let him. After a short time, Elrond ceased his struggle. Celebrian came in and lifted her husband's head to see in his eyes.

They were open and Elrond seemed to be conscious. She stroke his cheek and asked:

"Elrond, can you hear me?"

He nodded and tried to speak but they just heard a soft hoarse whisper:
"I can hear you."

After that he coughed hard. Celebrian fed him another cup of healing tea. Elrond asked after he finished the tea:

"What is it that ails me? I feel it's something serious but I don't know what. Curien, do you know what it is?"

Curien laid a reassuring hand on Elrond's shoulder before he said:

"I'm not sure, but I think it's poison my lord. I tried to figure out which one it is, but I didn't come to a conclusion, so I need a sample of the poison, that means I need some of your blood."

Elrond nodded and said:

"Go ahead, take some but hurry, I don't know how long I still have to live if it is really a poison."

Elladan bit his lower lip and came into the room. His father was still in the bath and seemed conscious this time. He had wanted to ask his father if Nuriel could really stay in Imladris but he wasn't sure any more if it was such a good idea now because his dad was in a very bad condition. But maybe this was the last time he could ask him if Nuriel could stay.

"Adar, I know it's not the best time to ask but I really want to know if Nuriel, the girl I saved yesterday, could stay. She has no home and lived her whole life long in the forest alone. I offered her to stay her but I would like to ask you if she is allowed to."

Elrond smiled tiredly and reached out for Elladan:

"My son, if this girl is important for you she may stay. I just want you to be happy and I see that you would be more happy if she stays."

Elladan beamed and went to his father to kiss his brow:

"Thank you father"

He said and ran to Nuriel to tell her to good news.

As he came in Nuriel's room, he saw her reading a book from their library. Nuriel looked up as she saw Elladan coming in the room.

"How are you?",

asked Elladan and sat next to Nuriel's bed on a chair.

She smiled and answered:
"I'm fine, what is with your father, is he alright, or...?",

She trailed of not wanting to hurt Elladan by saying something wrong. Elladan swallowed the lump of emotion forming in his throat:
"Our healer, Curien, thinks my father was poisoned. We don't know yet if he'll live, it depends on how fast we find an antidote."

"I'm sorry.",said Nuriel. Elladan nodded and looked on his fingers. Nuriel began talking about her family to Elladan and he listened to her story about her parents. Elladan learnt that Nuriel was an only child, which was not uncommon under Elves.

"What happened to your parents?",

asked Elladan.

"They were killed in an attack long ago. Our village traded with men, we exchanged food for clear water, but one day, we hadn't got enough water to trade with the men, the water was even not enough for us. We had enough food, so we didn't need to trade. But the leader of the humans got angry and swore to kill everyone of us and everyone who helps us. Nearly everyone got killed that day I managed to escape but they chased me. I hid in the forest you found me in. The time you found me, I had lived there for 300 years. I fear they will find me and harm someone who has helped me or me."

Elladan gasped:

"How can they know you are here? And that is 300 years ago. Every men would be dead by now. Nuriel, I want you to know, that I'll protect you, even if it will cause my own death. I won't let anyone hurt you, do you understand me?"

Nuriel look at him with tears in her eyes:

"I don't fear for my live, Elladan. I fear for yours. You helped me after I was wounded. It doesn't matter, if the men who swore to kill us are dead. Their sons will find me and kill me and you!"

Tears formed in her eyes:

"I don't want you to be hurt, Elladan. I care for you!"

Elladan came near Nuriel, embraced her and talked to her in a soothing voice:

"Nuriel, don't fear. I care about you too. I care about you a lot. I think I even feel more than just concern for you. I think I love you."

Tbc