A/N The last chapter is always bitter-sweet. I have loved writing this story and hearing what you guys thought about it! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: not mine.

Chapter Fifteen

"The sun is finally out again it appears to be a beautiful day!" Aragorn exclaimed as he barged his way into Legolas' room.

"So you say. I wouldn't know, would I?" came the elf's disgruntled reply as he rolled over, giving the man a pointed glare. "It's not like I'm confined to bed rest or anything." He sighed, changing positions with a wince. His voice was nowhere near its normal tone, but it was at least recognizable as his now. He was on the mend; it was just taking him longer than they had all hoped.

Aragorn crossed to the windows, throwing back the curtains with what Legolas deemed as far too much vigor.

"You do released that even if we revoked the 'ban' that you wouldn't be able to get out of bed for sake of weakness," the man reminded, raising an eyebrow. Legolas glowered, rolling over. Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Come, Legolas. This kind of weakness is not…well, a weakness. You are recovering from a deadly venom. Anyone save maybe the Valar would be still be in your condition, probably worse. You are stronger currently than many would be. You are alive."

Legolas remained with this back to the human for a few minutes, before rolling back over. "I am grateful to be alive," he said thoughtfully. Aragorn sat down, giving him his full attention. "I remember, vaguely, telling you that I thought I was going to die—"

"Don't remind me." Aragorn shook his head, shrugging as if to shake something off.

"Yes, well, I am very grateful to your father, and you, of course. I don't mean to come across as childish, but it is just that I can't stand this infernal weakness!" His last words were bitter and Aragorn winced.

"You are getting stronger."

"Slowly. I am use to being able to run without breathing hard, not having to catch my breath when all I am doing is lying down. I could go days without sleep before, now hardly hours. Yesterday I had hardly any energy."

"Well, we worked you hard the day before. You are feeling better then yesterday, though?" Aragorn asked. Legolas nodded once. "You look to be. Come, eat a little and you will feel better." The last part was said sternly and with "the look" that Legolas couldn't help the groan.

"But…" he tried to protest. Aragorn was already shaking his head firmly.

"No buts. You got off the hook yesterday, but your strength isn't going to grow by itself." Legolas had been protesting food, insisting that it made him feel worse rather than better, but Aragorn and Elrond were done with that game. He needed food if he was going to get better.

Legolas winced, a green tinge entering his pallid face as he leaned back further into the pillows.

"All my food was this overwhelming taste of blood to it," he complained as Aragorn stood. "It is disgusting." He looked at the man, trying to gain his pity, but there was only a look of steel. Resigning himself to the fact that he was going to have to eat, the prince began to ease himself upright. His weak arms trembled lightly and Aragorn swiftly caught his elbow. Legolas shook him off, throwing another glare his way.

"I'm fine, Aragorn," he said pointedly as he finished sitting up.

After having a tray of food sat on his lap, Legolas stared at if for a few minutes before digging his spoon half-heartedly into a bowel of broth. Aragorn watched him with raised eyebrows.

"Legolas," he finally said, "I'll make you a deal. I was going to wait until later to give this too you, but I'll bribe you now." He grinned lightly at the look Legolas shot him. "We received a letter from Thranduil—" The human raised his voice over most unprince like excited yelp, "but you can only have it if you eat to my approval." He grinned, unable to help himself as a smile appeared on Legolas' face that would have had an orc smiling.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?! Where is it? Can I have it?" the prince held out his hands, pleading. His food was completely forgotten, and Aragorn made a noise, pointing at the plate.

"Did you not hear a word of what I just said?" he asked indigently. "Food first."

"Estel! Please…"

"Eat, you stubborn elf. And then, and only then, can you see it."

The elf flopped back into the pillows, staring with disbelief at the man. "You can be so cruel, you do know that, right?" he asked, this time actually scooping a spoonful of broth instead of merely picking a it.

"A man has got to do what a man's got to do when faced with a bullheaded elf," Aragorn said easily. Legolas ate in silence, but the small plate of food began to disappear and Aragorn watched with a victorious smirk, even as Legolas shot repeated glares in his direction. They weren't very threatening, especially considering the man had seen the elf's true glare. Now that was something to be frightened of, but this was almost a toothy grin in comparison.

The glares slowly began to change, becoming a grimace and then a wince. The slow movements became almost lethargic and the time between each bite was lengthy. Taking pity on the prince, whose eyelids were dropping lower, Aragorn tugged the plate away. His smirk widened as Legolas automatically jerked forward at the sudden movement.

"I'm just moving the plate before you get food all over everything," he explained as Legolas blinked himself out of a daze.

"Right," the elf said almost instantly, though it clearly took a few seconds for the message to process. Rubbing at his eyes with the heel of his hand, he winced.

"Go ahead and sleep, Legolas," Aragorn commanded softly, his eyes voicing his silent concern. While he wouldn't say that Legolas slept the day away, it wasn't uncommon for the prince take several cat naps throughout the day.

"Oh, no. Not until I see that letter," Legolas replied, looking more alert. He sat up straighter, his eyes losing the glazed quality of before. "You promised after all."

"Of course," the human soothed, giving his friend a slightly hurt look. Reaching into his pocket with a grin, he pulled out a crisp roll of parchment with Legolas' name printed on the front and the Mirkwood seal sealing it closed. Legolas took it eagerly, his fingers almost shaking from excitement. Ripping it open, the prince began to read, his eyes flicking back and forth with such speed that the human across from him found it slightly dizzying.

It was a lengthy letter, but as time ticked past Aragorn saw a change come over the elf. A burden appeared to be lifting from his shoulders, his back straightening almost unknowingly. A light entered his war-hardened eyes and they reverted back to their naturally happy state that wasn't seen enough. Aragorn didn't realize it, but just watching the elf relax was lifting a burden from his own soul.

"So," he asked as Legolas lowered the parchment, a happy smile on his face.

"They are getting better, Estel," he sighed, his breathing picking up in excitement. He reached out, clasping Aragorn's forearm. "The cure is working, more and more warriors are on their feet every day." Aragorn grinned from ear to ear. Legolas' happiness was contagious, it usually was, and his heart soared. "We truly did it! Those days of pain and suffering was all worth it." Legolas couldn't keep the laughter from his voice. Energy was flowing from him, and he shifted restlessly.

"I want to do something!" he exclaimed after a moment of nervous energy, only to have Aragorn snort lightly.

"I would also have you do something, but your health must be considered," he reminded gently. Legolas waved it away. He opened his mouth, but Aragorn cut him off. "No, no! You almost died, Ada was forced to infuse you with his own strength not once, but twice. We spent hours, days, by your side nursing you back to health. You will take your health seriously, even if I have to sit on you to make it happen."

Legolas frowned.

"I just want to walk around, not go kill orcs. It won't make a difference." He began to push himself into a fully sitting position. Wrapping an arm around his chest, he caught his breath and held it until the flare up died. When he opened his eyes, Aragorn was staring at him with disbelief, an eyebrow cocked.

"No, I do not believe you. It won't make a difference, my foot." Aragorn shook his head, snoring. "Only until you have a relapse, or until you can't breath again and start coughing blood. Or—"

"Estel," Legolas cut off loudly, stopping the tirade as he held up a hand. "Just to the couch or balcony. That will apparently have to suffice for now less, Valar forbid, I stub a toe which in turn might cause my spleen to rupture." Aragorn glared at the elf, crossing his arms.

"Point taken. Maybe I was being a little excessive."

"You think?"

"Oh, be quiet. Do you want to go to the couch or not?" He moved to stand next to the bed as Legolas just shook his head. Pulling the blankets back, he noticed the trembling of his hand, before looking pointedly away.

Allowing the human to take hold his arm, he scooted to the edge of the bed. On the count of three, Aragorn heaved Legolas onto unsteady feet. The elf wobbled, his face paling dramatically, but the human didn't let him fall. He quickly ducked under the elf's arm, taking most of his weight before shifting him a little to the left again him.

"I'm alright," Legolas said breathlessly, a hand coming to clutch at his chest despite his words. A soft, but deep and tearing cough shook his body and Aragorn arched an eyebrow, worry descending back into his grey eyes as he wrapped an arm around his waist.

"As long as you don't pass out on me, I'll just pretend those words are true," Aragorn said drily, taking a slow step forward. Legolas' leg trembled and buckled, but before Aragorn could fully catch him, he stumbled back upright.

"I'm alright, I'm fine," Legolas repeated, sucking in air as he forced his legs to carry his weight and continued to move forward. Aragorn kept moving, worry clear in the frequent glanced he sent toward the elf, but much to his relief they reached the couch without mishap.

Easing the elf down, he knelt in front of the panting elf. Legolas was clearly out of breath and Aragorn helped him relax back.

"Just breath slowly and steady, and you hopefully won't start coughing," he instructed, fixing the elf to lie flat his head pillowed on the arm of the ouch. He grabbed one of the several blankets that were scrunched at the end and tossed it over his friend. As Legolas had gotten better, he had begun to spend his days on the couch rather than the bed.

"You don't need to fuss," Legolas mumbled, fixing the pillow the way he liked it, before yawning. He shifted deeper into the couch, his energy from before draining rapidly. The happy grin was still on his face, however.

They talked for a while about everything and nothing, but during one of their longer stretched of silence, Legolas drifted off. Aragorn let him sleep, content to simply sit and watch the elf breath. His eyes were still mostly shut, but that was to be expected.

Moving to sit on the floor with his back against the couch, he simply rested in the calm. Legolas awoke not long after, but as quickly as he had awoken, he was asleep again.

A while later, the door opened and Elrond slipped in.

"How has he been?" he asked as he stopped behind the couch and gazed down at both of them.

"The letter cheered him greatly, and he almost made it here under his own power," Aragorn relayed softly. Elrond nodded slowly, moving around to sit on one of the nearby chairs.

"Glorfindel and the others were asking about him as well as Mirkwood. I think Glorfindel has finally dropped the idea of taking a group of elves to Greenwood." Elrond smiled, putting his fingertips together. The old warrior had wanted to set out immediately to help protect the forest and their kin, but Elrond had forbid not. There were dangers there that Mirkwood knew better than any how to face and besides by time they had got there, Mirkwood's practiced warriors would already be back up on its feet.

"I still think it wasn't a half bad plan," Aragorn said with a shrug. Mirkwood had been hit hard, and he didn't think that the image of the sick elves would leave him anytime soon. The thought that a handful of Imladris warriors would be there had been comforting, but he knew why his father had denied the request. Rivendell needed to be thought of as well, and Mirkwood's stubbornness and pride were infamous.

"What plan?" Legolas' slow, slightly slurred voice came from behind him, and Aragorn twisted, glancing over his shoulder. The elf shifted carefully, bringing an arm up to pillow his head on as he blinked owlishly at them.

"Glorfindel wanted to bring elves to Mirkwood," Aragorn explained, and to his surprise Legolas snorted.

"Bad idea. Ada wouldn't have it. Asking for healing help was hard enough, never mind warriors. You think I am prideful? Stubborn?" he trailed off, his meaning clear.

"How are you feeling?" Elrond's abrupt change of topics caught Legolas off guard for only a moment and he easily answer the question in his typical fashion.

"I am fine. I am at least not coughing up any more blood." Elrond and Aragorn frowned, making Legolas sight. "Trust me. I really am doing alright."

"Good," Elrond said lightly. He knew that he would be able to detect and counter any lie given. "Anything I can get you before I leave?"

Legolas smiled charmingly, "Permission to be free? Maybe a bit of fresh air?" He was only half joking, but Elrond shook his head firmly.

"We can open a window, if that is satisfying enough."

Legolas nodded in agreement, the small frown back on his face. Aragorn heaved himself to his feet, heading towards the large, glass, balcony doors. But his father's soft voice stopped him mid-step.

"I think that if Legolas wants the window open, then he should do it himself."

Aragorn swirled around, his eyes wide with surprise. Legolas' head came flying up, his face glowing in surprise.

"Do-Do you mean?" Legolas asked breathlessly, his eyes lightening up almost as much as when he had read the letter. Aragorn was frowning, but his father looked at him and gestured for him to come back.

"Go ahead, Legolas," the healer stated, sweeping an arm out. Legolas slowly began to leverage himself upright, still throwing Elrond a suspicious look. The lord kept his eyes fastened on the prince, but leaned over towards Aragorn. "Don't let him fall, but I am interested to see how far he can get by himself." The man nodded once, and moved to stand beside his friend.

Legolas glanced over at him, but had bigger problems to worry about. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the arm of the couch in a white knuckled grip and stood. The world swirled around him and the floor tilted dangerously around him, just as it had every other time he had tried standing. Shaking his head, he waited for it to pass.

"Give yourself a moment," Aragorn instructed needlessly somewhere to his right. After his vision had cleared, the elf took a breath and took a step. Immediately he staggered into a nearby his chair, his legs protesting. He crashed painfully against the wood, but before he could hit the floor, clamped down on the arms of the chair. Staying upright with the force of his will alone, he heard a worried voice behind him, and quickly repeated that he was fine, there was no need to fuss.

Glancing back around, he found the man hovering a few feet back, clearly agitated. He, himself, was laying awkwardly against the chair. Pushing himself back up, slowly this time, Legolas wavered for a moment, trying to find his balance. He sense the man moving closer, just in case, and with confidence took a step forward and away from support. His betraying legs buckled, but before they could become a full traitors, he took a step, and then another, and another.

It was far from graceful, and more than once Legolas seriously thought he was going to end up on the floor but Aragorn was only forced to come the rescues once, and even then the elf was shrugging out of his grip almost instantly. Each step gained confidence and as he come to a stop next to the window, it was hard to believe that he had almost died just a few weeks ago.

As his fingers touched the glass, a grin began to grow across his face. From behind him, Aragorn laughed and then enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. The grin on his face became a full blown smile, and he laughed as well. Looking over the human's shoulder, he could see Elrond moving to stand beside them, a wide smile of his own on his face.

Legolas knew that he was still had a long ways to go before he was 100%. But it is all just one step at a time, he reminded himself as he gripped the man back. It had been a while since he had been able to walk that far without keeling over and he knew that he had a handful of people to thank that he could.

The man hugged him back all the harder, relief flowing though the action, and Legolas knew without a doubt that it had been Aragorn who had pulled him through, who had kept his spirits up and would not let him die. Without Aragorn, the elf would have died along with a crippling number of his people for Elrond would not have gotten to them in time to come up with a cure. And that was not to mention everything else he had done...

The human would never believe this truth, but Legolas knew it.

The hands that were gripping him so tightly had not been crafted to deal out destruction and death, though they certainly could, but to heal. They were the hands of a king who would eventually heal his nation, his people, and all of mankind.

...and Legolas wasn't going to miss it for the world.

THE END

Well...that's it folks! Thanks once again for all your support and reviews (or just for reading it)!

IF are interested, I do have another story (Now and For Always) planned that will be posted in the next couple of weeks... :)

Review Replies:

Lord Illyren: Dude, I am sure he was... Thranduil is Thranduil after all. :) Yes, the cure was found and all was well! I do love happy endings...No, I offended and angry when character's don't get happy endings. Thanks so much!