Part Thirty-Four

"Where is Elladan?"

"I do not know, Father. He said he was going for a walk! He was bored."

"You should have insisted that he stay here. The King and I told the four of you to guard Haldir."

"Elrohir did insist. But Elladan is very difficult to persuade."

"Just like yourself, eh, Elrond?"

"Thranduil--"

"Never mind, then. The matter at hand, if you please."

The first thing Haldir of Lórien heard was an argument, but eventually it was dropped and the conversation turned to his own condition. Guard him? Why did he need to be guarded? What had befallen him?

"Is he coming around?"

"His eyes appear to be open, but they are dilated. Haldir? Haldir, can you hear me?"

"Are you certain this is safe, Lord Elrond?"

"We must make the attempt in order to find out if he has any knowledge of what happened to Legolas."

Haldir felt a wrenching pain in his belly. He wanted to vomit, but he could not move. His mouth was dry but tasted of a vile acid. His head was throbbing and he was having trouble discerning one voice from the next. What were they doing to him? And, what did they mean, what had happened to Legolas?

He fought to bring himself into awareness, but he knew his body wanted to sleep. Sleep would heal him, would take away the awful sickness. It was only hearing Legolas' name spoken with such urgency that made him willing to bear the pain, to force himself awake.

"We need you to awaken, Haldir. It is urgent."

Haldir opened his mouth and drew in a long, shuddering breath. At last his eyes began to focus and he could see that a number of elves were standing around him. His brothers, one of the twins, Lord Elrond and King Thranduil. But where was Legolas? Where was he? Ah yes, still in Legolas' bed. The two of them had retired after dinner, and…

After that, nothing. Blank.

"Give him more of the antidote, Elrond," said Thranduil.

"It is highly experimental," Elrond insisted. "I do not wish to make him more ill."

"Haldir, lad. You must come around," Thranduil said. "We need your help."

Haldir tried to speak, but he was too dry. He let out a small, strangled sound. Orophin stepped forward, nearly elbowing Elrond as he brought a cup of water to Haldir's lips. Haldir was imminently grateful. The water rushed into his throat like a cool, soothing river. He swallowed it eagerly. Orophin took the cup back.

"Oro," Haldir gasped. "Please. More water."

A murmur went up among them. Oro lifted the cup to Haldir's lips again and he drained it. Rúmil dropped to his knees beside the bed and squeezed his hand.

"I thought we were going to lose you, my brother," he whispered.

"What happened?" Haldir forced out. It was hard to focus. He didn't think he could move. His stomach was roiling.

"You were poisoned," said Lord Elrond. "I have reason to believe it was the venom of a spider. It was apparently put in your wine. We have taken drastic measures to wake you up sooner than it would have worn off on its own, else you would have lain in a death-like coma for days."

"I wish you had let me rest," Haldir mumbled, closing his eyes.

"I am disappointed," said the King. Haldir opened his eyes again and found Thranduil's blue eyes boring into him, blue eyes that were identical to those of Haldir's lover.

"Where is Legolas?"

"We were hoping you might be able to tell us," said Thranduil sharply.

"What do you mean?"

"Legolas is missing," Elrond said more gently.

Haldir struggled to sit up. The fear and worry that shot through him was enough to spur him forward. If anything happened to Legolas, anything-- But he was too weak. He fell back gasping against the bed, his head spinning, the taste of bile in his throat.

"Give me more of the antidote," he demanded.

"It could be dangerous."

"I will take the risk. Let me up. I must find him."

"Haldir!" Elrond snapped. "Lie back down. I will give you a few more drops, but you must not try to get up too quickly. We woke you so you could tell us what you remember of last night."

Haldir felt angry and frustrated as well as violently ill. His hands clenched into a fist. He searched his memory. "We were drinking wine. It was from Imladris."

"Imladris!" said Thranduil. He turned to glare at Elrond, who glared right back at him.

"Yes, the bottle was marked with the stamp of Rivendell," Haldir recalled. "We both noticed that the flavor was… wrong… but it was too late."

"Where is the bottle?" asked Elrond. "We found only your empty cups."

"I dropped it."

Elrohir went down on his knees and peered under Legolas' large bed. He reached beneath it and pulled out the empty bottle, which was passed around. When it came to Thranduil, he stared at it for a moment, then hurled it at the stone wall in a rage. It shattered, glass flying everywhere.

"One of your people has taken my son!" Thranduil raged at Elrond.

"Thranduil, calm down. I cannot imagine that any elf of Rivendell would commit such a crime. Besides, there are very few of us here -- myself, my sons, and Glorfindel and Erestor," Elrond said. He reached out a hand to Thranduil's shoulder but the Elvenking shrugged it off.

"Was it you, Elrond? Do you mean to spirit Legolas away without my permission so he might marry your daughter?"

The King's words were like a physical blow to Haldir. He looked at Lord Elrond, who was beginning to turn red. He no longer looked calm, but was glaring back just as fiercely at Thranduil.

"I thought you did not wish to reveal the wedding plans so soon," he said stiffly.

"Legolas is going to marry Arwen?" Elrohir said, his mouth open.

Haldir felt the eyes of his brothers upon him. He set his face into a stiff expression. He would not let the others know how much this hurt him. To lose Legolas so soon… He had known their affair could not last, but he had never expected to discover that Legolas was betrothed to the Evenstar.

"Elrond-- where is my son?"

"Thranduil-- I do not know! And I cannot believe you would dare make such accusations…" Elrond sighed. "You are just upset. We will find the boy. I am sure he will be fine."

But Haldir knew Elrond was lying. He had no idea where Legolas was and if he were fine at all. He closed his eyes and wished they had not wakened him after all. Before he could will himself into unconsciousness, the door to the chamber burst open and Saelbeth flew in. Great, just who he wanted to see…

"My lord!" Saelbeth said, ignoring everyone else and bowing to Thranduil. "I have found your son. He has been taken prisoner by Elladan -- the son of Elrond!"