Thank you to fateclaws, joellamariah, siso_sissan, crystalily2003, nathalieAlice, Tiemna, and lordThrandui for commenting and voting on the previous chapter! I love you guys. 

Thank you to 223Zaid, SapnaKour,  cristemax,  MekaileyMekay,  KeithAguirre4,  NosiphoMabuyakhulu,  CYDNEYMATAGA,  MicciaSibiya,  profandy01, JulietDennis,  ppm1111111,  and fundz10for adding this story to their reading lists! I am continuously amazed at how much this story is spreading. 

Celeborn found Elladan and Elrohir in a warm room. Arwen slept on a low bed in one corner while her brothers sat on the floor.

Elladan looked up in sudden confusion. "Why are you back?"

Celeborn sat on his knees between them, keeping his voice low as Elrohir shuffled the cards in his hands. "I know we both remember many instances when I have spanked you. Yes?"

Elrohir dealt the cards between him and Elladan. "You know it is a yes."

"Well, I am sorry. And I give my word I will not add more memories of spanking to your minds in the future."

The twins stopped playing to look at him. "Why?"

"I stayed at an Inn during the recent blizzard. I met two people who showed me that being gentle with children does work and it is a much healthier path then spanking. I realized I had made a mistake in hitting you to teach you; I realized I could have used any number of peaceful ways. And I want to say I am sorry for making a bad decision."

Elladan looked at his twin, throwing down his cards. Celeborn realized the brothers were playing poker over . . . chocolate bars?

"We forgive you," Elrohir said, collecting up the cards and shuffling them again. "Thank you for coming. Play with us?"

"One hand. Then I must find my daughter. I do not think she will forgive as easily as you have for I have spanked her a hundred times as much as you."

"Celebrian is not like that. She has already forgiven you."

OoOoO

Thranduil met Vandril at his throne with an annoyed gleam in his eyes.

"My lord, I trust my son is ready to come with me now?" Vandril questioned as he bowed.

"No, he is not. Right now what Landion or you want does not matter. Landion is missing and has been since this morning. My scouts are combing the forest and the palace for him at this moment."

Vandril started to speak then checked himself. "I see. I trust this is not a ruse to keep my son from me."

"You can trust not. Right now I want Landion to be where I know he is safe, not lost or wandering in the dark. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to oversee the search. I will call you when Landion is found."

Landion groaned with pain. He could hear footsteps and people running. The screams of the orcs dying around him as the shower of elven arrows from the trees cut them down sounded around him.

Landion could not move. It hurt too much. The arrow inside him felt like it wanted to stab deeper under his ribs. He lay on his back and whimpered like an animal in pain, the trees above him blurry. A face swam into his vision and Landion relaxed; even through the red pain of his haze, he saw it was not an orc but an elf. He screamed as the arrow moved and fell into blackness as the elf picked him up.

OoOoO

"My lord," Hyrondal said with a bow. "Talion found Landion. He was shot by orcs."

Thranduil staggered. "Valar, no! Is he dead?"

"He is with Healer Jailil in the healing ward, my lord, and the healer requests you come at once."

Thranduil thanked the Captain and hurried in the direction of the healing wing. An apprentice healer showed him into Landion's appointed chamber and closed the door behind him. Thranduil rushed to the bedside to find Landion lying pale on the sheets, his eyes closed. He touched the elfling's forehead before swinging around to face Healer Jailil.

The elf held an arrow shaft in one hand and his lips were pinched together.

"What happened?" Thranduil asked. "Was it poisoned?"

"No," Healer Jailil said. He held up the arrow and Thranduil noticed the head was missing. "I am afraid this arrow was so poorly made, the moment I pulled it loose, the head slipped off the shaft."

"You mean . . . ?"

The elf healer sighed. "I mean to say the filthy arrowhead is still inside Landion, lodged under his rib. I am sorry, my lord. I should have been more careful. I never expected it to break."

Healer Jailil flung aside the shaft of black wood and paced. "I am fearful to try and dig the arrow out; one wrong move and the head will slip the wrong way and pierce Landion's lung. It could kill him."

"You cannot leave it inside him!" Thranduil hissed. "Are you mad? Valar knows what filth it is covered in from the orcs!"

"Thranduil, I do not want to kill your brother," Healer Jailil said.

"You must try," Thranduil urged. "Saes."

Healer Jailil looked at Landion's unconscious form before he nodded. "I will. Send in Pine after you leave; I need quiet to work. Wait in my office; I will give you the report when I am done."

Thranduil leaned down to kiss Landion's forehead before he left, sending Healer Jailil Pine as he found the elf in the hall. He retired to Healer Jailil's office and waited, chewing on his nails with anxiety.

An hour later Healer Jailil stepped into the room, wiping his hands off on a cloth. He sat down at the chair behind his desk and took a moment to rest his face on his hands and rub his temples.

"It is in too deep," Healer Jailil admitted. "I cannot get it out."

Thranduil bit his lip. "Will he—will he be able to live with an arrowhead inside him?"

Healer Jailil rose to his feet and paced around the office. "Hypothetically, yes. He will feel some pain when he breathes to deep or engages in strenuous exercise and it is possible the arrowhead will move inside him and possibly puncture his lung. If he lives life like an invalid, he will live."

Thranduil's eyes fill with pain as he thought of Landion's wish to learn to master a sword. His days in the training fields would be over.

"But you have to realize, my lord, that is assuming he does not get an infection from the possible filth on the arrowhead. And I think it highly possible Landion will be infected."

"Will—will he die?"

"It is possible. It depends on the level of the infection and how his body responds. I have done my best to clean the wound but I cannot reach the arrowhead."

Thranduil buried his face in his hands, redoubling his wish for ada to be here. What would he do? What could he do?

"There is nothing we can do, my lord, but wait," Healer Jailil said, coming to put a hand on Thranduil's shoulder. "Since we cannot reach the arrowhead, it would be futile to keep poking in his body in vain. We will let Landion rest and measure his recovery."

"We are essentially doing nothing," Thranduil snapped. "He could be dying!"

"I know this is not easy for you to bear. It is not easy for me to bear, standing by, being unable to do anything to help your brother with hands that have saved thousands of lives. I am as hurt as you."

Thranduil heaved himself to his feet. "There is one person in Middle Earth whose healing skills are above yours. Excuse me while I speak to Elrond."

Elladan and Elrohir looked up from their places beside Arwen, their hands full of carved toys as Thranduil entered the room. Elladan climbed to his feet.

"We heard about Landion. Is he alright?"

"He will be," Thranduil answered. He beckoned to Elrond. "I would like a moment with you alone."

Elrond left the sofa from beside his wife, guessing Landion would not as fine as Thranduil's tone suggested. He could see the pain in the elf king's eyes. And Legolas saw it too.

Alone in the hallway, Thranduil turned to Elrond. "Landion is not fine. The arrowhead came off the shaft when Healer Jailil pulled it free and it is lodged under his rib, near his lung. Healer Jailil tried to get it out but he cannot reach it and he fears one wrong move will send the arrowhead into Landion's lung and possibly kill him."

Legolas poked his head into the hallway. "Ada—"

"Legolas, back to the living room. Now."

The elfling sensed Thranduil's patience was at an end and retreated without a word.

Thranduil turned back to Elrond. "I know not everything you have experienced here was . . . pleasant and I am sorry for any wrong you felt you suffered. I will do anything to make up for it; anything. But please help Landion. My brother may be dying and you are the lone person who can help him now. Please, please help him."

Elrond's brow furrowed. "Thranduil, you do not have to beg—"

"I will beg for my brother," Thranduil said. "I am not afraid to lay aside my pride when my brother's life is at stake. In the whole of Middle Earth, you are the only person who is better with his healing skills then Healer Jailil. You are the only person who can get the arrowhead out. Please help him."

Elrond could see in Thranduil's eyes the elf king meant every word and would drop to his knees if he had to. He held up a hand. "Thranduil, it is true I . . . did not enjoy every moment I spent here but you do not need to apologize because I understand. I do. And I know without you and Harune, Elladan and Elrohir would not come to climb into bed with Celebrian and me at night. I know without you Elladan and Elrohir would not let me kiss and cuddle them. You opened my eyes when I was too blind to see and I am grateful—"

Elrond broke off as he saw the desperation in Thranduil's eyes. He realized the elf king appreciated the speech but also that this was not the time to express his feelings when Landion lay bleeding.

"Now take me to Landion," Elrond finished.

Relief washed across Thranduil's face. "Hannon le, hannon le. Come quickly."

Thranduil held Landion's hand as Elrond set to work. Healer Jailil provided him with the tools and remained in the room to offer his assistance. Thranduil concentrated on Landion's pale face instead of the metal tools poking into his brother's body.

Elrond worked in silence, his brow puckered and his eyes squinting in concentration. Landion remained still, his unconsciousness induced by the strong tea Healer Jailil had poured down his throat to keep him from pain. Half an hour later Elrond put down his tools with a sigh and rinsed his hands in a bowl of water, the liquid swirling red.

"I am sorry," Elrond said with a shake of his head as Healer Jailil swiftly bound up the wound with clean clothes. "I do believe Healer Jailil's skills are equal to mine in this matter. I cannot grasp the arrowhead to pull it free and one wrong nudge . . ."

He made a gesture to indicate Landion would die. "I cleaned it the best I could to prevent infection but I can do no more."

Thranduil closed his eyes and nodded. He looked up. "Thank you for trying. I am grateful for your help."

Elrond moved around the bed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry I cannot do more."

Landion's eyes fluttered and cracked open. He turned his head and his green eyes fastened on Thranduil. He reached for his brother's hand. "Muindor? Why is there so much pain?"

Thranduil squeezed his hand. "You were shot by an orc arrow. The head is still inside you."

Landion whimpered. "It does not feel good. I cannot breath without feeling sharp pain. Will it come out?"

Thranduil looked down and shook his head. "We do not know, penneth muindor. The arrowhead is stuck inside you deep and one wrong slip could send it into your lung, killing you. We are doing everything we can to make it comes out."

Landion coughed and struggled to move. Thranduil helped him roll over onto his uninjured side and brushed his hair off his forehead.

"I am sorry I ran away. This is my fault," Landion said.

"I understand why you left," Thranduil said.

"I do not want Vandril to take me," Landion said.

"While I am here, Vandril will not take you," Thranduil promised. "I give you my word. And now I must insist you rest and drink this tea; you have lost a lot of blood."

OoOoO

Celebrian licked her fingers as she finished putting the pastries into the oven. She turned around and bumped into Celeborn. "Oh! Ada, what has happened? Was there an attack?"

Celeborn held up a hand to still the worry in her eyes. He embraced her, sticky apron, flour, and all and held on tight. Celebrian choked on a gasp of surprise.

Celeborn spoke in rapid elvish. "I am sorry, yelde. I cannot take the way I chose the discipline you in your childhood but I wish I could. If I could have been gentle and kind at heart instead of following blindly the way of my family, I would be content at heart. Forgive me please for every blow I ever struck on you."

"I forgave you years ago, when I found the twins' journal. All resentment I let go of, ada. I was worried only that it was you who would not forgive me for opening my eyes and refusing to follow blindly into the bramble patch you entered into. Will you . . . tell me what changed your mind?"

Celeborn told her of his time at Spirit Inn. He ended by saying, "I almost wish I could have another child. I want to try so badly not to spank, if only to prove to myself I can do it."

Celebrian patted his arm. "I am sorry, ada, but I cannot loan you my sons to try on. Nana does not agree, does she?"

Celeborn looked away. "No. She would not come back with me."

Celebrian pursed her lips. She looked up as Arwen barreled off the stairs, pursued by Elladan and Elrohir, her hands and mouth covered in melted chocolate. She grabbed onto Celebrian's skirt and grinned at her brothers.

"She stole our chocolate," Elladan complained.

Celebrian picked Arwen up. "You can have some pastries when they come out of the oven. Now help me clean this one up."

"I must leave tomorrow," Celeborn said. "I have to return to Lorien."

"I am glad you came back," Celebrian said. "I am glad you found it in your heart to accept my choice and to change yours. I hope you find a way to prove to yourself not spanking a child works; I hope something will find you to give you the opportunity to find out."

"I will come to Rivendell to see you as soon as I am able," Celeborn promised. "Thank you for accepting my apologies; I feel lighter already."

Celebrian watched her father go, an unconscious smile on her lips. She ruffled Elladan's hair, leaned down to kiss Elrohir on the cheek, and carried Arwen to the sink. As suddenly as he had come, Celeborn left the next day, his mission accomplished and his heart singing in his chest.

Thranduil's heart is aching. Vandril is driving the knife deeper. Celeborn has made a warm choice. If Elrond cannot help Landion, who can?

Thank you all for reading; I love hearing from you!

A million apologies for this chapter coming a day late! On the up side, it means you will get the next chapter one day quicker! 

Next Chapter: Thranduil's heart breaks.