Just want to say thanks for the lovely reviews and messages. It's much appreciated and helps feed the muse nicely. :)

Oh, yes and ilovevolleyball - its no good hiding, I know its you, I'd recognise your wonderful, crazy reviews anywhere!. (Guest indeed. pah!) I hope you're feeling better and it wasn't meningitis and I'm glad if I managed to cheer you up a little.

Anyhoo, on we go. This is a longer chapter but I just couldn't find the right place to split it so I hope you don't mind.

Please feel free to let me know what you think, not that I'm begging or anything. :)

Chapter 18

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Darkness, all around is darkness. I remember this. I welcome its friendly touch, like a silken sheet wrapped around my body. I feel myself sinking into its glorious embrace and all my pains and fears retreat. I float. Free. Relishing the silence, soothed by the absence of sensation. This is where I belong, in the darkness. I have come home.

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Sunlight filters through the window its golden fingers gently playing upon the pallid features of the inert figure lying beneath crisp, white sheets. With a sense of deja vu the lord of Imladris walks to the bed and places a long, elegant hand gently onto his adopted sons shoulder.

"You should get some rest Estel," he knows the words will go unheeded but feels he has to try.

"Why does he not wake Ada?" The young man raises eyes glistening with unshed tears. "His wounds heal. Why does he not wake?"

"The wounds to his body are healing well yes, ion nin, my son, we must just be patient, the wounds of the mind take time." Elrond affectionately squeezes the young mans shoulder. "It has only been two days since your return and it would appear he had been resoundingly abused before you brought him back."

He turns his gaze upon that of his eldest son who is seated on the opposite side of the invalids bed, raises an eyebrow, then nods to the door in an almost imperceptible signal. Picking up the sign Elladan raises himself from his chair, sighs and stretches languidly.

"I'll just go and see about getting you some food sent in Estel, you need to eat whether or not you sleep."

Without waiting for a reply he walks to the door and exit's the room, his younger brother never even noticing he has left. Elrond audibly sighs and with one last pat of his hand also turns to leave, there are things that must be discussed with the twins and they are best done without Estels presence.

"Have you sent word to Mirkwood yet?" The question has left the younger twins lips even before his father and brother enter fully into Elronds study. " How long do you think it will take to get there, what will Thranduil do?" Anguished concern heightens the pitch of his speech as he gabbles out the last sentence in haste and Elladan swiftly crosses to his side to wrap a comforting arm around his waist. Both stand looking to their father expectantly wearing matching pained expressions upon their worried faces.

"Thranduil should have news within a week, Valar permitting" Elrond lowers himself into the high backed chair behind his desk as he speaks and raises the fingers of his right hand to caress his brow. "As to what he will do," he pauses, deep in thought, "I know not." The last words escape his mouth in an exhausted sigh.

The twins share a glance filled with compassion, then move to stand either side of their father and place loving hands upon his world weary shoulders, sharing the grief and pain they all feel over the tragic events.

"And what of Estel, ada, father?" Elrohirs voice is soft and underlain with great sorrow, "what do we say to Estel?"

"What can we say to Estel?" the younger twin visibly flinches at the rough edges to his siblings words. "There is no easy way to tell it 'Roh, he must know the truth."

With this two pairs of deep brown eyes lock in combat, each battling for the other to give way. This is obviously the continuation of a previous conversation that has not gone to the liking of either.

"Enough!"

Both twins eyes turn to their father in startled surprise as he rises with this sharp retort to stand between them, hands placed palms down on the desk and stares from one to the other with a fierce glare they know all too well.

"Sorry ada, father." two contrite voices speak as one and Elronds face softens once more.

"Nay, it is I who should be sorry ionnath nin, my sons, I allowed worry to cloud my mind." He sighs and regains his seat. "But you are right 'dan, we must tell Estel before too much longer." The pained expression on his face fills his sons with concern. " It needs to be done before an envoy from Mirkwood arrives." His eyes appear to hold the cares of the world within their depths as he gazes at some distant scene only he can see. " I will speak with him this afternoon."

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Light? Why is there a light? I have never been aware of light here before. It feels wrong. What is happening? This change disturbs me and I find myself suddenly buffeted and tossed as if caught in some eddy yet I feel no air around me. Panic begins to rise in my chest as the soft feeling of comfort begins to metamophose into one of cloying suffocation.

I am being swirled around and around, rushed towards the menacing light. Nooooo, leave me here in the dark. I want to scream but have no voice. I strike out but there is nothing to fight. Contentment and security have fled, I am trying to hold on to them but as the light grows them seem to diminish further and further.

Without warning pain erupts within my heart, as if it is impaled upon some sharp instrument, then explodes through my body and I see stars. For a few, short, wonderful moments I think the darkness has returned, then I am swamped, as light envelops the whole of my body, and I feel myself burn.

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"Legolas, Legolas saes, please, wake."

The young man is frantically trying to rouse the unconscious elf as he thrashes in the bed, tangling himself within the cotton sheets.

" Saes, Legolas, 'tis me, Est…" his soothing words are abruptly cut off when a flailing hand connects with the side of his head and for a moment the world lurches and stars shimmer before his eyes then, with a shake of his head, he gathers his wits and throws himself over the writhing elfs body, effectively pinning him to the bed. " ADA!"

As he calls out he feels the body beneath him suddenly go limp but relief at the cessation of the elfs struggles swiftly turn to anguish once more as his friends back arches almost impossibly high off the bed, thrusting him into the air and thence to the floor, before falling to the bed once more to lay, rigid, muscles trembling with effort, mouth stretched wide open as if in a silent scream.

"ADA! Saes, HELP!" Scrambling to his feet Estel rushes to the door and flings it open to shout into the corridor beyond then returns to the contorted figure on the bed. With a tentative hand he reaches out to brush a strand of wayward flyaway hair away from eyes clenched shut tight in apparent agony, he can not bear to see his friend like this yet does not know what he can do to help, he feels so lost and insignificant. Unsure if the young prince can hear him or not he begins to sing an elven lullaby he remembers his adopted father used to sing to him whenever he was upset or ill as a child, and as he sings he combs gentle fingers through tangled golden locks willing his friend to relax under his touch.

Seated alone at his desk Elrond contemplates the best way to approach his youngest son to impart the information he wishes he need not divulge but knows he must. His heart quails at the thought of what the young mans reaction will be yet he knows that it cannot be put off forever and the longer it is left the harder the task will become. Not for the first time in his long lived life does he wish for his wifes soothing, calm presence at his side, she always made dealing with lifes difficulties a little easier for him to bear, she was his rock, his anchor, the other half of his fea and sometimes, as it is now, his heart breaks all over again as the longing for her becomes painful in its intensity.

He smiles wistfully as a picture of her enters his mind, she is standing before him, her beautiful face, framed by the luxurious long, dark curls he loved to twine his fingers through, tilted up to his, one dainty, pale hand stretched out to caress his face as if to smooth away the worry lines he knows are all too apparent, radiating love and comfort to help ease his aching heart. The vision is so real that for an instant he leans forward for a kiss only to have the moment broken by an anguished cry for help that cuts through to his soul.

"Estel." He whispers the name as he turns to the door, dreams of his beloved Celebrian dissipating like morning mist, then, regardless of appearance, finds himself running through the corridors toward the source of the unnerving call.

The soothing sound of Estels singing seem to have had some effect upon the slender form he is trying to calm, although muscles still twitch as they are held taut within the rigid body he notices that the mouth, once stretched so wide he feared the jaw would break, has closed and the tension around the eyes seems to have relaxed somewhat. Without breaking the song he gently takes hold of the elfs, stiff, pale hand and as his thumb slowly describes circles upon its back he feels that too begin to relax under his touch and his own body begins to release tension he was unaware it held until now.

His song abruptly stops as the sight of his adoptive parent actually running into the room startles him into silence. He has not seen the lord of Imladris break into a run within these walls since he was a child and one of his brothers was brought back so gravely injured after a battle with orcs that he almost died.

"Ada."

" Estel?"

The words are uttered almost simultaneously, one in relief, the other in concern as father and son look first to each other then down at the figure on the bed. Elrond takes in the tangled mess of sheets and tense body and the rapid rise and fall of the archers chest before raising questioning eyes once more to Estel.

"What happened ion nin, my son? I heard you call and feared the worst."

"Legolas, he, he just." The young man feels his knees give way beneath him and he sinks onto the edge of the bed, hand still clutching that of his friend as if afraid to let go. " I, I don't know ada, he started to thrash about and I, I thought it was a bad dream so I, tried to wake him and he" Estels voice quivers with emotion and he stops to lick dry lips before continuing, "he suddenly. Oh ada, he looked like he was in so much pain, and he tried to scream, I'm sure he did, but, there was no sound, and his mouth was so wide and he trembled and shook then went so still and stiff and I didn't know what to do and" the garbled flow of words ceases and tears begin to flow unchecked from pools of deepest grey, his voice hitches " I'm so glad you're here."

"Hush now," reaching out to gather his son into a fond embrace Elrond murmers quiet soothing words as he gently runs his hand over the back of Estels head, breathing in his unique scent whilst holding him close and marvelling in the fact that this young mortal can hold his heart as dearly as his true born offspring.

"Ada, we heard, Estels call, what has happened?"

Breathless, the twins rush into the room, speaking alternately as if two have become one, to make one full sentence between them as is often the case, especially when under extreme emotional stress. They stand, gazing at the tableau before them, fearing the worst as they take in the tear tracked face of their youngest sibling clasped within their fathers loving embrace then let their eyes fall soulfully to the bed, expecting to see a still figure, cold with death. Relief is almost palpable in the air as they realise their fears are unfounded and with matching sighs of exhaled breath they were unaware they held they once again train their eyes upon their father rife with confusion.

"All is well ionath nin, my sons" the lord infuses his words with calm and love, " Legolas had a type of seizure it seems, but it has passed now, your brother did well in calming him" he releases his hold on the young man and looks into his eyes as he speaks "you did very well pen neth, young one" he smiles " very well indeed."

Estel manages a weak smile of his own at his fathers words then looks sheepishly towards his brothers.

"I'm sorry. I panicked. I should not have shouted out so. I did not mean to worry you unnecessarily." His eyes lower as he gazes intently at a small spot on the floor, a red tinge creeping onto his face. " I didn't know what to do." He feels like a child again, caught out in some act of stupidity and wishes his cheeks did not burn so. Knowing his brothers, they will never let him live this down.

"Ai, Estel," Elladans voice is full of compassion as he takes a step towards the young man. " There is no dishonour in asking for help when you need it."

" No, of course not." Elrohir is quick to back his brother up, " far better to ask for aid in uncertainty than to allow pride to stop you and then suffer dire consequences for lack of it"

Both twins nod in tandem at these words and as Estel raises his eyes to meet theirs he feels their love and sincerity and for once finds no hint of the teasing he feels sure is his due.

A faint moan from the bed then arrests the attention of all four family members and as their interest is drawn to the pale young being lying there his eyes flutter open, blinking in the light, and another faint noise escapes from his lips.

"Lhosson?" The name is whispered so softly it is almost a sigh and his head turns as if seeking something, or someone. "Lhosson?" The name is repeated as an agitated question and Estel rushes to the bed to take hold of his friends hand. "Estel?" blue eyes stare up in confusion at the young man and for a moment he is unsure if the elf sees him or somebody else.

"I'm here, mellon nin, my friend, I'm here" squeezing the slim fingers gently he watches as the elfs gaze appears to clear and a look of relief passes through the saphire eyes. " You're safe now. Lhosson's gone, he will hurt you no more, you're safe."

The young man is not sure whether he utters the words for his friends comfort or his own as he bends to touch his forehead to the archers but cares not. All that matters is that Legolas is alive and awake once more and for this he would gladly embarrass himself in front of an army if need be.

"How?" the question is left hanging as the young archers mind struggles to comprehend the situation, then tries again. "Where?" a grimace of frustration flashes across his face as he realises he is not making sense. "Lhosson?" He sighs and blue eyes briefly close as he tries to pull his thoughts together to form a coherent string.

"Relex pen neth, drink this" Legolas' eyes open at the sound of Elronds voice and he automatically clenches his lips tight against the cup being held to his mouth, "it is only water Legolas, I promise you."

The lord emits a low chuckle as he sees the sceptical look levelled at him when he offers the cup again. He knows that the young prince is remembering the many times he has been given infusions to make him sleep when he has not wished to and although knowing it has always been done with his best interests at heart remains suspicious of any drink put in front of him whilst under the elders treatment. Eventually giving in to his thirst, Legolas takes a tentative sip and, after realising that yes, it is just water, greedily gulps down the remainder as Elrond holds his head as he drinks then lowers it gently back to the pillow again.

"Better now?"

Legolas nods his head in reply and smiles at the lord then turns his head to take in the other occupants of the room

."How, how am I here?" his voice sounds small and lost. " You found me." His eyes pass from one brother to the next with a wondering gaze.

"Of course we found you." A wide smile spreads over the young mans face. "You should know by now that you can not escape us for long mellon nin."

"However often you try." The youngest twin interjects with a smirk.

A small chuckle escapes from the princes smiling mouth at this and he attempts to push himself up into a sitting position only to meet resistance in the form of a firm hand upon his chest. Half lying and half sitting he turns a glowering look on the owner of the obstruction.

" I am fine Estel, let me rise." His eyes hold the promise of future violence if the request is not granted. "Tell him Elrond, I am fine."

Frosty blue eyes turn towards the elder with an imperial look so obviously inherited from the king of Mirkwood and Elrond concedes with an almost imperceptible raise of an eyebrow and tilt of the head before nodding to his youngest to accede to the archers wish.

"You may sit up pen neth." The elder fixes Legolas with one of his most intimidating stares. "But you will stay in bed until I give you leave to rise." The stare becomes more steely than ever. "Is that understood?"

Legolas visibly wilts under the force of Elronds will.

"Aye, my Lord," he nods deferentially, " I understand."

He shrugs off the young mans hand and pushes himself into a sitting position, wriggling to comfortably lean back against the pillows that have been heaped against the bed head, with barely a flinch.

"Told you I was fine." A smile flits briefly across his face as he looks towards his best friend, "why do you never believe me, distrustful human?"

" Because you never tell the truth, stubborn elf!" The grin accompanying the young mans words belies the fact that he can tell the young archer is still in pain although he knows it would take wild horses to drag this fact from the elf. " Do you remember what happened?"

Estels eyes are fixed upon the figure in the bed so he misses the slight stiffening of his fathers body and accompanying worried glance that passes between the three family members as he speaks.

A frown collects on the princes brow whilst he contemplates Estels question.

" I " there is a long pause as sapphire blue eyes lose focus to stare into the past, " I, was tied up, I" the frown deepens " I, was left, alone, I," eyes widen slightly at the recollection. " Lhosson? It was Lhosson, I, we," Legolas' breathing starts to quicken as the memories return. " We, he, he made me fight, I, I didn't want to, I, please, I didn't want to, he just kept on, kept cutting, kept on coming, so tired, I was so tired, I," his voice tails off to a whisper " I, tripped, I."

Suddenly he sits bolt upright, what colour has returned to his face now drains once more until he resembles a ghost and his sky blue eyes widen in horror.

" No" a sibilant hiss, " No, no" his head shakes trying to negate the truth of what his memory sees. "No, no, no, noooo!"

Four figures make a frantic bid to reach the young elf as his cry escalates in speed and volume and he attempts to leap from the bed.

" Noooooooooooo!" with one last cry he suddenly stops as if frozen in place.

He does not feel strong arms gather him into their fond embrace nor hear the gentle sounds of soothing words murmured as the lord of Imladris holds him close, a look of intense pain upon his usually stern face.

" Kinslayer" one last whispered word leaves the princes palid lips, then he crumples, insensate into Elronds waiting clasp.

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