A/N:Hi everyone!This is my first fanfiction and I've never had any experience in writing fanfictions so don't expect so much from me :D And I should add I'm not so familiar with this website so please forgive me if I make some mistakes,AND my native language is not English so sorry for the bad English. Reviews are welcome :)
Chapter 1: News from the south
It was a quiet warm summer afternoon .Legolas was resting in his room while leaning back on a comfortable sofa. And sipping on his white tonic hung loosely around his slender yet muscular was singing softly to himself when he heard someone knocking on the door. "Come in." a servant came into the room and bowed. "My prince,the king has asked for your presence." "Thank you!I shall be there soon." The servant smiled brightly at his prince then bowed again and took his sighed and started changing into a formal checking his reflection in the mirror and left his had no idea why his father had sent for him,Though he knew that a patrol has returned from the south. 'Perhaps Ada wants to talk about the news the patrol has brought?' He thought to himself.'What if they've brought ill news?' He shook his head as if it would shake the bad thoughts finally arrived at his father's noticed his father's bodyguard standing beside the door of his father's room.
"Good afternoon my prince." He said in a deep voice.
"Good afternoon Calanon" said Legolas with a big had known Calanon since he was an was also Thranduil's good friend and was like an uncle to Legolas.
"Is Ada in his room?" "Yes my prince,He's waiting for you." He said and opened the door for Legolas and grinned and entered his father's room with quiet steps. "Ada?" "Come in ion nin." Legolas stepped further into the room and saw his father sitting at his large expensive wooden desk surrounded by lots of papers and books. his face looked weary and nervous although he was trying to hide it behind an emotionless expression. he's put his mighty crown aside and let his long blonde hair hang loosely around his face. he wore a fancy green robe which made him look more tired. He raised his head from the document he was reading and met his son's gaze with his icy blue eyes which were so much like his son's eyes,though Thranduil's eyes didn't have the warmth that were in Legolas' eyes. he gestured to his son to sit down. Legolas took out a chair and sat down in front of Thranduil's desk and looked at him calmly. Thranduil was staring at his son as if he was analyzing him. Legolas looked so calm and patient…like always. he has always been the one to calm Thranduil's temper in stormy situations'Just like his mother' He reminded himself. How he missed his wife and queen though Legolas has never let him feel lonely at all. he was the one that Thranduil has put his love and trust in. he was his everything…He meant the world to him but he couldn't tell his son how he felt. as if he was afraid of exposing his emotions towards his son…It hurt him to know that his behaviors would make Legolas feel lonely but it was better for him…for both of them. Sometimes he thought if his wife hadn't gone to undying lands their life would be much happier…Legolas would be happier.
"Ada?"
Legolas melodious voice tore into his thoughts.
"I'm sorry,for a moment I was lost in my thoughts" He said with a forced smile. Thranduil knew that the things he was going to say would ruin Legolas' good mood. "How was your day?How are the novices doing?I've heard you're training them well." Legolas laughed. 'What a sweet sound' Thranduil thought to himself. "Yes!I train them very hard because in these woods there are lots of dangers that they have to face on their own.I can't always be around to help them out."
"Well said!though these words sound so familiar to my ears…"
Legolas could fell the hidden smirk in his father's voice. He could remember the old days when he returned from training fields completely drained with lots of bruises and complaining about it all. at that time his father had told him the same words: I'm not always around to protect you. there are dangers in these woods that you have to face on your own. That's why you're being trained so hard.
"There's a reason for summoning you here,ion nin." Said Thranduil and his face went colder. Legolas sat straight on his chair. his heart was pounding in his chest. from the grim expression on his father's face he was sure that his fears were going to be confirmed soon.
"A patrol has just returned from the south."
Legolas held his breathe…
"They've brought ill news…"
"I knew it…" Legolas whispered.
Thranduil lowered his head and ran his hand through his hair. "I asked Glandur who was in charge of the patrol to gather some information from the villages in the south."
"What kind of information?!"asked Legolas. He was confused. why was his father interested the information that the villagers could offer?
"Listen Legolas" Said Thranduil in a calm voice."I have to tell you something there had been problems in these past few months"
"What problems?I've been in all of the meetings and councils recently and no one mentioned these 'problems'."
"I regret to tell you that I asked my advisors and others not to." Thranduil finally raised his head and looked at Legolas apologetically.
"what?What do you mean Ada?" Legolas asked in an annoyed voice. Thranduil could see that he was slightly irritated.
"Calm down Legolas,I'm not finished yet"
"I am listening" Legolas growled. Thranduil leaned back against his chair.
"six months ago rumors reached palace. These rumors were about people,mostly villagers who lived in the southern part of the Mirkwood, were disappearing"
"disappearing?"
"Yes,at first these rumors didn't seem so serious so we didn't pay much attention to them, but as the time passed rumors spread more and more among the villages in the south"
"Then why me or any of my friends didn't hear any of these rumors?"
"As I said before these rumors were mostly among the villages in the south and as you know, I have ears everywhere" " last month Eruadan one of my spies returned to palace with urgent news. He came to me and reported 3 elves were missing since 5 months ago and no trace of them has been found"
Legolas was eying his father with a blank expression Thranduil held his son's gaze. He could feel worry and anger radiating from his eyes.
"2 weeks later when you and Tauriel were on patrol a messenger arrived here on the behalf of the human villagers who lived near the borders of Mirkwood. it was past midnight and I was resting but he kept insisting that he had to see me right away. Finally he could persuade Calanon. So he came to me with the messenger and you know what news they've brought?"
"I can guess…"
"Humans were missing from his village and other villages as well. he had come to me for help" Thranduil trailed off for a second to let his son speak but Legolas kept silent so Thranduil went on talking.
"5 people were missing from the villages near our borders. as soon as the rumors were confirmed I sent a patrol to the south to gather some information about these 'missings' "
"What information did they bring?"
"They brought some information about the victims 2 of these victims were elflings and one of them was an adult one of the elflings is a girl and 3 of the missing human are children and two of them were adults.2 of the lost children were girls."
A heavy silence fell upon the the room. only the sound of the birds broke the tense silence.
"Why you didn't tell me any of these?" asked Legolas in an angry voice.
"I didn't want to worry you unless,I'm sure of it"
"I'm the PRINCE of this realm!What do you mean Ada?Why should I be the last one to know ?"
Legolas was panting with sudden burst of anger.
"Don't raise your voice on me Legolas!I'm not only your father but your king as well!Don't you dare to forget that!"
"I didn't forget neither about my position nor yours!I just want to know that don't you trust me enough?"
Thranduil could see hurt and anger in Legolas' eyes,It broke his heart to see him like that…He sighed.
"Legolas it's not about trust it's about-"
Suddenly the door burst open with a loud bang. Legolas and Thranduil jumped out of their seats. Thranduil was furious.
"HOW DARE YOU-"
"My Lord!"
It was Glandur.
"Glandur?What do you think you're doing?"
"My Lord…Listen to me…"
Glandur was panting as if he's ran a long distance. Legolas rushed to his side.
"No need to hurry Glandur,Just calm down and tell us what happened"
Glandur Leant against the wall and stared at Legolas with fear in his eyes.
"Two of my soldiers…"
Then he took his eyes from Legolas and focused on the king.
"Two of the soldiers from my patrol are missing!"
*End of chapter 1*
