Chapter 2 – Promises and Rules

Thranduil was instantly at their side helping Elrohir to carefully lower his injured brother to the ground. Without hesitating he started shouting off orders calling for a healer and a litter.

"Where is he injured?" Thranduil asked kneeling beside Elrohir.

"His chest, that is where I felt a sudden sharp pain," Elrohir replied. Hands shaking, he started to unbutton his bother's tunic. Thranduil's steady hands offered assistance.

Thranduil's brow furrowed when he saw Elladan's chest. It was swollen and bruised. Three angry looking gashes cut across his muscular frame, angrily marking the pale skin. Elladan's previous bought of coughing had torn the healing tissue. The deepest of the three wounds began bleeding anew.

"He has at least one broken rib," Thranduil stated. He was no healer but having lived in Mirkwood for the past three thousand and some years he had both seen and experienced a fair share of battle wounds. Thranduil could easily identify and treat them.

"I-I did not know he was injured otherwise-" Elrohir stammered.

"It is alright, I will send my best healer to care for him," Thranduil interrupted softly. Assuring Elrohir that his twin would get the best possible care Mirkwood could provide.

"Are you injured?" the Elvenking asked turning his attention over to Elrohir, carefully eyeing him up and down.

The twin let out a shaky breath as he shook his head, "No, I am fine."

Legolas sat there, eyes wide and in shock. He had never before witnessed an open injury. He had only ever seen injured elves when they were lying in bed healing, not after they had obtained the injury. The cuts across the elf's chest frightened him. Not only that but the two identical elves seemed to feel each other's pain. Were they magic?

He sat behind the marble pillar trembling as he saw two healers lift the injured elf onto a litter and carry him away, followed closely by his identical companion. Legolas sat silently hunched in his hiding spot until the room was empty of everyone except his father.

"Legolas what have I told you about hiding in here?" Thranduil questioned breaking the silence.

Legolas startled at the sudden noise. He felt foolish thinking father had not noticed his presence. Slowly he crawled out from behind the pillar. He hung his head in shame as he approached the King who had reclaimed his position on the throne. Legolas stood before him ashamed and refusing to make eye contact.

"Legolas I am very disappointed. You know better than to come in here uninvited," The King chastised.

Legolas flinched at his father's tone. Thranduil would never shout or raise his voice towards his elfling but his tone was not that soft fatherly tone he usually had when speaking with his son.

"Legolas look at me," Thranduil demanded.

Slowly Legolas raised his eyes up to meet his fathers. He trembled at the intensity of his father's gaze. The look alone told him he was in trouble.

"I need you to understand that you are not permitted to enter here unless you are invited. As punishment you are not allowed to go outside for the rest of today and all of tomorrow."

The elfling's eyes widened at this. Not allowed to go outside? That means he would not be able to practice his tracking skills on the squirrels or play tag with the fox he had befriended two mornings ago.

"I am sorry Ada. Are you very mad at me?" Legolas asked in a small voice. His bottom lip trembled as he twirled his prized emerald pendant between his fingers.

"I am disappointed that you disobeyed my rules. I have them in place for a reason," Thranduil answered placing his hand atop his son's, stilling the elfling's movements. Legolas' bright blue eyes filled with tears. He did not wish to be a disappointment to his father.

Once Thranduil was sure his message hand sunk in he reached his arms out towards Legolas, lifting his child onto his lap. Now that the discipline was done with it was time for comfort. Legolas was a very sensitive elfling. Thranduil hoped that he did not take the discipline too far. His rules were meant to protect his son not hurt him. Legolas' small arms reached around his father as he buried his face into his shoulder. Thranduil wrapped his arms around his child holding him close.

Thranduil was well aware of what Legolas had just witnessed and how Elladan's injury had affected the elfling. That was one of the very reasons why he would not permit Legolas entrance into the receiving room while it was in concession. Elflings grow up fast. After the events surrounding the Queen, Thranduil wanted to protect his elfling's innocence from the dangers and worries of the world for as long as he could. He poured all of his love into his son.

"Ada will he be alright?" Legolas suddenly asked referring to Elladan.

"He will heal," Thranduil simply stated.

"I hope so, it was scary," Legolas said hugging his father tighter.

"Ion nin," Thranduil replied gently stroking his son's soft hair. "Though his injuries may look scary they are not fatal. They are not so serious that Rudiel cannot heal them."

Legolas quickly agreed with his father. Legolas trusted Rudiel and thought him to be the best healer in all of Arda. Many times Mirkwood's Master Healer had cleaned and cared for his accidental cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Rudiel was always kind and gentle. The Master Healer would often spend time with Legolas, allowing the elfling to join him on his walks searching for medicinal herbs. It was an activity Legolas rather enjoyed and something Rudiel was proud to do. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of medicinal plants with the elfling. Thranduil also approved. Knowledge of the healing arts was just as important as mastery of a weapon in Mirkwood. He thought it wise and encouraged his son to learn of the medicinal properties of plants found it he forest. Knowledge of the plants could one day be the very difference between life and death for his son.

"How was the Elf injured?" Legolas meekly asked.

"I plan to find that out later. I think perhaps right now its best to let them rest," Thranduil answered.

"Ada, why do those two elves look the same?"

Thranduil not knowing how to explain the concept of twins in a way his son would understand suggested, "Perhaps that is a question you could ask them when you meet them later."

"I will get to meet them?" Legolas asked excited.

"Yes, they are sons of an important friend of mine. Now Tithen Las look at me," Thranduil said.

He waited for his son to lift his head and make eye contact once again before continuing, "I need you to understand; you are not permitted to disturb them. You are also not permitted entry into their rooms unless invited. Can I trust you?" Thranduil knew how curious his elfling was. He constantly needed to set precautions limiting his son's inquisitive actions.

Legolas vigorously nodded, "You can trust me, I promise Ada."

"That's my boy," Thranduil chuckled. "Now why don't you tell me how you managed to sneak past my highly trained guards?" he asked changing the subject.

Legolas relayed his story about how he silently crawled past the guards keeping close to the bottom of the wall. Thranduil wasn't too sure how to take this information. He was proud that his son's stealth skills were greatly improving but disappointed that his guards failed to notice the presence of a tiny elfling. Is my son's skill so great that it surpassed the watchful eyes of my guards or are my guards not as attentive as their training calls for? Thranduil pondered.

Thranduil's thoughts were broken when Galion came into the room, notifying the King that his advisors had been waiting for some time for his counsel. The King let out a long sigh, he always lost track of time when in the company of Legolas. Thranduil would have loved to sit there all afternoon talking quietly with his son but duty calls and the Peredhils' appearance and run in with orcs had to be discussed.

"Las, I heard Laelle was searching for you," Thranduil said. "Why don't you run along and see if you can find her? Remember though, you are not allowed to go outside."

"Yes Ada," Legolas said sliding off his father's lap.

Thranduil bent forward to kiss his son's forehead, " I have council all afternoon, but I shall see you at the evening meal."

Legolas smiled brightly at his father, warming Thranduil's heart, before running out of the room to find his nursemaid.

Elrohir watched as the King's healers tended to his unconscious brother. He had offered to help but they kindly refused. In his current state, any aid Elrohir could lend would not be effective and only hinder their actions.

Elrohir stood off to the side of the room, unmoving, staring helplessly at his brother's pale lifeless face. He berated himself, how could he not have noticed that Elladan was injured. He had failed his brother. Lost in his own dark thoughts Elrohir had not noticed that the healers had finished their ministrations and had emptied the room, that be all except for one.

The healer's eyes were caring, his touch was gentle as he softly grasped Elrohir's forearm and silently lead him across the room, guiding him into chair set at his brother's bedside. Elrohir was unfazed as he felt himself being pushed into the cushioned chair, not taking his eyes off Elladan's face. The two sat there silently for some time.

It was the healer who spoke first, breaking the silence, "His wounds are not infected. They will heal smoothly. Three of his ribs are broken. Had they been left untreated for any longer his right lung would have been punctured."

Elrohir swallowed, not trusting himself to speak.

The healer continued, " I have given him some herbs to stop the bleeding. They appear to be effective. We have reset and bound his ribs. The healing process will be painful for him, limiting his upper body movement. He is currently in a deep healing sleep. He should awaken sometime today or tomorrow at the latest."

Elrohir let out a sigh of relief. Elladan would awaken. Elladan would be fine. Elladan would heal.

"He just needs rest. As do you," the healer said eyeing Elrohir.

"I am fine," Elrohir replied. He was unwilling to leave his brother's bedside, at least not until Elladan had woken up.

"I expected as much," the healer said thoughtfully. "I will have one of the servants bring you a hot meal. You should at least try to eat something. I will also prepare a tea for your brother to drink once he awakens."

Now that the healer had mentioned it, Elrohir found he was feeling quite hungry. A proper meal was not a luxury they could afford while hunting orcs.

"Thank you," Elrohir said, bowing his head slightly in a show of respect.

"It is my pleasure. Now I have other patients to tend to, so I will leave you be. I shall come back in a couple hours to check on both of you."

Once he was alone in the room Elrohir reached for his brother's hand, clasping it tightly. Elladan seemed to shut him out more and more each day. Everyday he had to concentrate a little harder to feel their bond. Elrohir knew their mother's fate affected Elladan more then he let on. Elrohir wanted nothing more then to help his brother, but how could you help someone who would not admit they are hurting?

Elladan always tried to appear strong and unmoving as if he were stone. But stone can still crack, Elrohir thought. Elrohir knew his brother was dangerously close to the beginnings of fading. His father's last words to him before he and Elladan set out were to watch over his brother, to help him, lend aid to his healing. Elrohir knew if he did not do something soon he would fail both of them. Elrohir could not do anything though, not if Elladan would not let him in.

Elrohir gently placed a hand over his brother's chest, the other on top of his forehead. He closed his eyes in concentration as he channeled healing energy towards his brother. Elrohir did this every night when Elladan was asleep, hoping the warm glow would comfort his brother in his dreams. Elrohir usually felt exhausted afterwards but seeing the small smile that would creep its way on to his brother's face made it worth it. Elrohir felt guilty, the past few nights they spent in Mirkwood, he was unable to do this for his brother and as a result had not discovered his injury.

This time Elrohir channeled more energy towards his brother than usual. He and his brother had inherited this skill from their father. The blood of the Maia, Melian, ran through their veins. Though Elrohir's skill was not as powerful as his father's or his brother's he still had been taught to control it. Elrohir concentrated, channeling powerful amounts of energy towards Elladan's lungs and ribs, willing them to heal. Elrohir was soon overcome with a feeling of lightheadedness. He berated himself for his lack of skill, as he slumped foreword unconsciously half on, half off the bed beside his brother.

That was how Rudiel found him hours later when came back to check on them. Rudiel's gentle hands probed Elrohir's neck, checking his pulse. His heart was beating slower than it should be. He frowned when he felt how ice cold to the touch Elrohir's skin was.

Rudiel gently lifted the elf and placed him on bed next to his brother. He discretely checked Elrohir over for injuries. He was relieved to discover the elf had been telling the truth he was uninjured. Rudiel walked over to the wardrobe to fetch a thick quilt, which he wrapped tightly around the cold twin.

Satisfied Rudiel went over to check on Elladan. He was shocked but pleased to see color had returned to his complexion. Carefully he unwound his bandages and saw the bruising was brought down to a minimum, the three cuts that previously marred his flesh were no more than mere fading lines across his torso. Rudiel carefully put more healing salve on the elf before bandaging his injuries.

Rudiel put two and two together. Elrohir must posses his father's rare skill of healing, he thought. Rudiel was old friends with Elrond and had seen Elrond overexert himself many times before while using his skill of healing. He gently brushed a few strands of hair away Elrohir's face then went to fetch another quilt, draping over the twins, before exiting the room to let them sleep undisturbed.

TBC

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! This will NOT be a bathtub story where an elf is injured laying in bed, and every possible character makes an apperance sitting around their bed mourning the injured elf for like 10 chapters. I cannot stand reading stories like that and will never write one. So you may find that Elladan will heal fast.. the point of this story isn't his physical injury but the emotional ones the twins have. I also wrote this ff like a story, where you have an introduction - rising action - climax -then falling action/conclusion.

I also really like writing elfling Legolas, so be prepared to read cute elfling Legolas moments.

I have this whole story outlined and a nice chunk of it already written. There will be roughy 15-20 chapters.

Thank you everyone who has reviewed, favourited, alerted/followed this story! Comments and constructive criticism are also greatly appreciated! Thank you everyone for your support!