Thank you to Tiemna, crystalily2003, MOStar598, and nathalieAlice for commenting and voting on the previous chapter! 

Thank you to Jyotichisim and MOStar598, for adding this story to their reading lists! 

"Healer Jailil, what are we to do?" Pine gasped, fighting to hold Landion down as the elfling howled and arched off the bed. "He will hurt himself; perhaps even drive the arrowhead in deeper!"

"Ada!" Landion screamed, struggling to throw off Pine. "Ada!"

Pine grunted as his fellow winced with the impact of Landion's foot in the side of his face. "We cannot hold him down much longer, ad—Healer Jailil."

Healer Jailil's calm voice sounded trained and for once he did not have the energy to scold his son for almost calling him 'ada' while on duty.

"The mixture is almost ready."

"How long will it last?" Pine asked, his words drowned out by Landion's next unearthly shriek as he howled for an elf a forest away.

Healer Jailil hurried to the bedside with the glass in his hand. He leaned over the elfling, murmuring to calm him but Landion hissed, his eyes rolling his head.

"Ad—ack," Landion coughed on the liquid Healer Jailil tipped down his throat and tried to spit it up but the hand clamped over his mouth prevented it. His teeth snapped into the Healer's hand as he choked down the bitter mix.

Healer Jailil removed his hand with a pained expression and a murmured an apology, his face sympathetic. Landion's screamed pleas softened before his arching body went limp and he fell flat into a restless sleep.

Pine wiped his forehead and shook the tangled blankets out over the elfling. "He will wake up, Healer Jailil. And this mix does not last as long as we would like."

Healer Jailil nodded. "I will assign Syro and Tir to look after Landion. It is the middle of the night, my apprentices. Go rest."

Pine gestured to his fellow and left the room, hearing Landion's restless whispers in his sleep for his father. Healer Jailil walked in circles, his hand on his chin, and resumed pacing even after Syro and Tir arrived. Both elves were rumpled from their hasty rush from bed but Healer Jailil said nothing.

Two long hours later Syro and Tir, dozing in their chairs after a long day mixing herbs, were awakened to the sound of the most horrible screaming either of them had lived to hear. Hearts fluttering in rising panic, the elves hastened to hold Landion down as he shrieked half-asleep.

Healer Jailil arrived a moment later with Thranduil beside him. The elf king sat down beside Landion's thrashing body and took the elfling in his arms, wincing as a grasping hand raked through his hair. He held Landion to his chest, rocking him.

Landion's howls turned to gentle sobs as his eyelids fluttered. "Ada . . . ada—ada—ada . . . ada."

Thranduil said nothing but he pulled Landion closer and rubbed his back.

Healer Jailil moved away from his meeting with Elrond at the door. "It is a rare form of nightmaritis, my lord. It does not occur often, usually after a deeply traumatic experience. Landion is caught in an endless nightmare. He cannot wake up."

"Surely it can be cured?" Thranduil gasped, as if freeing Landion would be sobbing in his arms forever.

"It is difficult to bring a person out of a dream," Healer Jailil said. "Landion's spirit will need a lot of love and assurance before he can break free of his nightmare and come to realize his life is nothing to fear."

Thranduil bit his lip. "He needs Harune."

Both Elrond and Healer Jailil ducked their heads. "You will be able to do so much for him. The least you can do is keep him from screaming."

Thranduil stroked Landion's hair. "I will stay with him until Harune returns home. Please send Galion to me with ink and a parchment."

Harune's apprentice appeared in answer to the summons moments later. He bowed to his king.

"Galion," Thranduil said. "How much of your training have you covered?"

"I have familiarized myself with every field Harune covers, my lord," Galion said. "I am not an expert in any fields yet."

Thranduil took the parchment and pen Galion held and leaned over Landion to write. "I, King Thranduil Oropherion, hereby appoint you, Galion Heronion, interim King of Mirkwood until such time when I am able to resume my duties. Galion, you will find my mantle and crown in my chambers. If you are in need of any assistance, Hyrondal will be at your disposal. Glorfindel has agreed to offer advice on any matters you are unsure about."

Harune's apprentice blinked, fighting to hold his undisturbed composure as he took the paper with a blank face and rolled it tight between his hands. "Of course, my lord."

He left the room with a slightly dazed expression.

"Are you certain putting such a great burden on his shoulders is wise?" Elrond asked. "He is young."

"He is also Harune's apprentice. I know he serves time with all the Craftsmasters in Mirkwood to develop a wide array of skills and I am certain there would have come a time when Harune would have asked if he could assist me. Galion will be fine."

Healer Jailil cleared his throat as Landion sniffled in his sleep. "Thranduil, with all due respect, I do not think being shot with an orc arrow would result in the kind of trauma bringing about nightmaritis."

"You think it is Vandril?"

"I do. I think Vandril's presence causes Landion to fear for his future. He does not want to be ripped away from his father."

Thranduil felt the quaking boy in his arms and realized, for the sake of his little brother's life, he may have to make a choice he did not wish to face.

OoOoO

"Where is King Thranduil?" Vandril demanded.

Galion let out a quiet breath. "He is occupied. I am interim King of Mirkwood until he is able to resume his duties. How may I help you?"

"I come to see my son."

"Landion is not well. He is deep in the throes of a severe case of nightmaritis and undisturbed peace is what he needs."

"I would like to see him," Vandril insisted.

"There is not anything to see," Galion answered. "If you care about Landion, you will let him rest."

"Respectfully, my lord, I request a few minutes with Healer Jailil."

Galion have a quick nod of his head.

OoOoO

Vandril entered the Head Healer's office and inclined his head as Healer Jailil looked up. The elf put down the papers in his hand and rose to his feet, an indecipherable emotions flickering in his dark eyes.

"How is my son?" Vandril requested.

"As you know, Landion is not well. Nightmaritis can be hard to cure without the right person to help the victim out of the nightmare. I do not think you can be of much use to Landion now; your presence seems to upset him."

"When Landion is healed, with all due respect, his home will be with me."

Healer Jailil tilted his head back. "And with all due respect, Vandril, as a father you know children need to be where they are loved and cared for. I ask you to please consider Landion's happiness before you make a decision. It may be Landion's home is not with you, no matter how badly you wish it to be so."

OoOoO

Ariel held up the plate of cookies as an elfling opened the door. "I brought these for your mother, Josefil. May I come in?"

The boy held open the door and nodded. "Please do. Nana is in the family room with Natoya."

Ariel glanced at the boy as she passed. She knew the way to the family room. Josefil trailed behind with obvious intentions of pinching a cookie as soon as she put the plate down. In the doorway, she paused.

Natoya was sitting on the floor, waving a letter opener from a low table in her hands. Ricel and her husband, Wyn, were bent over a letter and did not notice her. The edge of the letter opener looked sharp to Ariel and she stepped forward to take it from Natoya before she hurt herself.

"I Josef!" Natoya proclaimed happily. "See me, nana!"

Ricel glanced up to humor her and gave a sharp gasp. She sprang to her feet. "Put it down, Natoya, now!"

"I Josef!" Natoya insisted, waving the dagger-like instrument.

"Natoya!" Ricel said sharply. "Put it down."

Ariel bit her lip as Ricel spanked the girl on the bottom and picked up the letter opener as Natoya dropped it and burst into tears. She frowned as Ricel put the opener back on the low table and picked Natoya up.

"Give the cookies to your mother with my best wishes," Ariel said, handing the plate to Josefil. "Thank you for seeing me in."

Josefil reached for a cookie and shrugged and Ariel strode purposefully out of the house as if the floor burned and took the hill up to her own front door. She picked up Nightwing as he met her at the door and marched into the living room to find her husband. She smiled as she saw Erestor buried under a heap of cushions.

"I made a fort," Nightwing said happily.

Ariel put him down and teased her husband with a smile. "Come then, ion nin, let us attack the enemy."

Vandril must accept or deny his truth and in doing so either condemn or free Landion from his suffering. All speed to Harune!

Thank you all for reading. I love hearing from you and your thoughts always brighten my day.

Next Chapter: Thranduil takes desperate measures . . .