Thranduil looked emotionlessly at the silver haired elf in front of him. Anger radiated from him when he thought about what had happened. This was the captain of the patrol who had just come back with the report that orcs had infiltrated father into the forest of Mirkwood.

"We tried to hold them back my lord, but there were too many of them to fight off with so few numbers. I need more men if I am to hold back the orcs." His voice wavered with exhaustion he had been on patrol constantly the last months.

"Perhaps it is rather because you are a too insufficient leader, Legolas. Maybe I should let another patrol handle the area that you are charged with if you can't handle this. I will not let Mirkwood fall to these beasts." Thranduil said roughly.

The blood immediately left Legolas' face leaving him paler than he had been from the start. Sending patrols out there would only endanger other patrols. These were people his duty was to protect with him being the crown prince of Mirkwood.

"I will not let it fall my lord." Legolas said emotionlessly to his father as his legs started shaking with strain. His body was exhausted; he had had no time to recover before the king had sent for him to make a report. "Please don't send another patrol it is too dangerous in that area, my men are already used to it."

"You will only get one more chance. Do not disgrace me again." Thranduil hissed.

Deep down he knew that it was foolish to send the patrol out to that place again, he knew deep down that Mirkwood was falling but he refused to believe it. He forest had become more and more dangerous and Legolas' patrol had responsibility of the most dangerous part close to Dol Guldur. It was the best patrol he had and he was aware that he was slowly running them to the ground, but there was no way around it. If he pulled them back and sent another patrol in then more men would be lost.

"My men are exhausted my lord. I beg you to give them a few days of rest before we are sent out again." Legolas pleaded.

Thranduil had already noticed his son's masked exhaustion. Even though he was sure Legolas was doing everything he could not show it, it was pouring off him.

"Mirkwood is in need of you and you ask for days of rest? Are you sure it is your men who need it and not yourself?" Thranduil asked accusingly. "Do you want to watch all other men fight while you're having time to do nothing?"

Legolas flinched at these comments, "My lord if would go out right now, but my men haven't had any days off the last month. They're running themselves to the ground." Legolas answered without mentioning that he hadn't had a day off in several months.

"We cannot afford for you to use that time." Thranduil snared his patience running thin.

"But my lord-"

"ENOUGH! You and your men are leaving at midday tomorrow." Thranduil roared leaving no discussion.

Legolas bowed his head slightly, "If that is what our king demands." He said weakly.

"The prince of Mirkwood taking a day off when other citizens are out there fighting for him. I'm ashamed you would even suggest something like this. Leave my sight!"

"I'm sorry Ada…" Legolas whispered brokenly. He didn't know if it was a good thing that he wasn't crying because that meant that he was getting used to this kind of treatment.

"I said leave!" Thranduil shouted madly.

Legolas bowed and left the room staggering. As Thranduil watched his back he saw how weighed down it was. He also noticed with distress that blood was showing multiple places on Legolas' clothes and he seemed ready to collapse.

When the door shut behind him Thranduil was left alone in the room, his anger seemed to disperse and he now greatly regretted what he had said as he always did after having a meeting with Legolas, they always ended this way. He didn't show this attitude to anyone else than Legolas and maybe it was because he was family, that that was the place where he vented. All the stress from ruling Mirkwood ultimately fell down on Legolas like always.

It pained Thranduil's heart to have watched the brilliant smile disappear from his sons face, but when it came to situations like this one he was always unable to stop himself from saying what he did. Legolas' burden was too much and as Mirkwood fell more and more it only became greater.

Thranduil leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. I'm so sorry Legolas, he thought silently knowing that it had been years since he had last said that he loved his son. He was also aware that Legolas hadn't had a day off in more than a month, maybe even several…

S

Legolas staggered out the door and a little down the hallway before leaning against a wall and slowly sliding down it. His legs couldn't carry the weight anymore. He hadn't slept for almost a week they had been fighting orcs constantly and then they had hurried back to Mirkwood when another patrol had come to replace them for a couple of days. He had been together with his men when the king had called for him all of them were worn out. Even though he had tried not to show they had probably noticed that he was even more worn out than they were.

They had at first complained loudly when Legolas had been summoned saying that he should get some rest first. But Legolas knew his father and there would be some kind of punishment for him if he ignored an order, for it was very much and order. He would be punished even if it were because he was practically ready to collapse. The men had offered to wait for him or go with him, but he had sent them to their beds thanking for the offer. He loved those men and he wanted to protect them from getting run down. That was the only reason he had asked his father for a day off.

Every single piece of his body ached; he was a lot of wounds that he had kept secret from his father. He didn't want him to know how bad his condition really was. The pain was just something he had to deal with as he had learned to do over the years. His eyes slowly slid shut as exhaustion ruled his body. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept with his eyes open like elves normally. That said something about the seriousness of his condition and he knew that there would be consequences for ruining his body like this, but his people needed him to be strong so he would be.

He was almost on his into the black oblivion when someone knelt down in front of him and started shaking him and calling his name. He could hear that the voice was worried, but he couldn't quite determine whom it belonged to. It sounded so distant from him, like he was hearing it in a dream. It was first when the voice slapped him across the cheek that he found the strength to open his eyes first a little and them more.

He looked right into the worried face of his friend Thonor. Legolas had to blink a couple of times to sharpen his vision. He could blearily see Thonor's mouth moving as if he was saying something but he didn't quite understand what he was saying, or rather couldn't hear it.

"What…?" Legolas asked blurrily.

Suddenly his sense of hearing returned and he could hear several noises in the palace.

"You really aren't good Legolas." Thonor observed worriedly. Then he took hold of Legolas' arm and pulled his off the ground. When Legolas staggered and made to fall to the ground again Thonor pulled his arm over his shoulders and half carried him down the hall to Legolas' room.

When he came inside he lowered Legolas onto the bed and began taking his shirt off him. Legolas didn't make any reaction to what he was doing, it seemed as though he was only half awake.

Thonor gasped when he saw all the more of less healed wounds on his friends chest and arms. Some of them were weeks old and others could be days. He gently began cleaning them and dressing them in bandages. It was almost like a ritual to them, whenever Legolas came home from another patrol Thonor would be there to help him without any others noticing. He had watched Legolas weaken over time and the condition in which he came home also became more and more serious.

He looked up at Legolas again and saw that he was now sleeping or he thought he was. He never quite knew any longer since Legolas had first started sleeping with is eyes closed. At first he panicked when Legolas' eyes were closed, but now it was, sadly, normal.

Thonor finished tending to all of Legolas' wounds and dressed him in one of his nightshirts. He took off Legolas' boot and gently pulled his legs onto the bed as well. He then threw a blanket over Legolas and sat down in a chair that he pulled over beside the bed.

If there was anything he could do to stop Legolas from being run down then he would have done it a long time ago, but the king was too harsh on his only son. It seemed more like they were king and captain instead of father and son. He had watched from the sidelines as Legolas had endured what his father asked of him while losing his smile and his laugh on the way. It had pained him beyond words. Now the only thing he could do was to wait for Legolas to come home from patrol, then he would take care of him and dress his wounds. But it was almost never more than that. Legolas was almost never home for more than a day, and if he was then it was because he had other tasks to do, like meetings and strategy.

Thonor sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands almost crying from the cruelty of it all. Mirkwood needed Legolas… It wouldn't be standing right know if it wasn't for Legolas and his patrol, they had done so much. But there was almost only them to carry the load, they would end up being destroyed by it.

S

Someone touched his cheek sending Thonor out of his elven sleep. He eyes lost their glazed look and were now staring into Legolas' dulled exhausted blue eyes. He didn't think anyone noticed how bad off their prince was, it was only because he had known Legolas for such a long time that he could see the deep pain and exhaustion in Legolas' blue depths.

"Thonor." Legolas smiled slightly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Thonor said darkly, "Legolas your body can't handle this you have to rest. You'll end up dying if you keep going on like you are."

Legolas wearily pressed his palms over his face, "I know Thonor…" He muttered, "My men are getting exhausted as well. Right now we are the only ones keeping the orcs from storming Mirkwood. I tried to ask for time to rest this time, but it wasn't possible." There was so much pain in Legolas' voice that Thonor was stunned.

"What did he say to you Legolas?" Thonor asked quietly, he could already feel his anger levels rising. What had Thranduil said to cause Legolas so much pain?

"That I was a disgrace and that he was ashamed…" Legolas whispered, "He said I was selfish to ask for rest, that I just wanted to watch while my people were out there fighting…"

"How dare he!" Thonor shouted and furiously began hitting his own leg. Legolas looked up at the sound and grabbed Thonor's hand in his own to stop him.

"He is the king Thonor and I will follow his rule if it means keeping Mirkwood safe and free of dangers."

"He is your father, Legolas." Thonor choked, "How could he…"

"His first duty is to the people of Mirkwood and that means that being king comes before being a father. Right now only my patrol and me can resistant against the force at Dol Guldur so to keep the people safe we need to be there to protect our border." Legolas said emotionlessly.

"But you and your men are also his people, he should be taking at least a little care of you as well."

"What do you suppose he does? It's dangerous for us to be away from that border for too long at a time and if the orcs come into Mirkwood then more people will die…"

"I don't know…" Thonor said despairingly, "I just don't know…"

Legolas leaned over and hugged his friend who now had tears streaming down his cheeks. I pained him to see Thonor so distressed, but there was nothing he could do to stop it…

Emptiness hit Legolas like a wall when he looked out the window and saw that there was little more than a couple of hours before Thranduil had told them that they had o move out again. He was used to going out in worse and worse conditions as the time went by. It wasn't as hard as it had been the first times, now his room was just a place he slept in twice a month and his bags were almost never unpacked, only for laundry. He was living constantly on the battlefield.

Thonor waited in the room while Legolas showered and dressed himself then they went to get some food. Arriving at the hall they saw that the only ones sitting at the table were the ones from Legolas' patrol, they looked up when Legolas and Thonor came in. Legolas noted that he hadn't told them when they were leaving again.

"We are leaving again in a couple of hours." Legolas said while he took a seat around the table.

"What…?" One of the elves asked disheartened, "We've only just arrived and all of us are exhausted."

"I'm sorry…" Legolas said guiltily, "I tried to at least get you one day, but it could not be. I will not force any of you to go if you are unable."

But all the elves knew that Legolas was by far more wearied than them. They had had days of in shifts sometimes, but he never had any days. None of them could remember the last time their leader had gotten and time off. For a whole month Legolas had been sleeping with his eyes closed, at first they hadn't said anything and had begun taking his nightshifts so he could sleep, but Legolas had caught them. It was rare for them to see any form of despair or exhaustion in Legolas' expression, he stayed strong for them and that was what willed them to follow him and help him as much as possible. They would never abandon him, so every one of them turned down Legolas' offer.

They ate quickly and them went to their own places to pack their belongings for everything between two weeks and a month. Legolas spent the time talking with Thonor since he had already packed; from him he heard how things were in the palace. It was on so rare occasions that Legolas was home so he didn't quite know how things were holding up.

Then the time came for them to set out again. They could almost still feel the sweat on their horses from the night before and now they were forced to take them riding back to the front lines.

"Take care of yourself Legolas." Thonor said and hugged Legolas tightly before letting him go.

"You as well my friend. Keep an eye on things while I'm gone." Legolas smiled, but then his gaze pulled to something behind Thonor.

He looked behind himself and watched as King Thranduil made his way towards the company. All of them bowed as he stopped in front of them.

Thranduil did not embrace Legolas, he did not wish him a safe trip or anything a father would say to his son instead he said without looking at Legolas, "I can see your exhaustion and I cannot express my gratitude for you keeping Mirkwood safe from enemies. This time I will allow you to take shifts in having a couple of days off."

The elves thanked him though their eyes went straightaway to their captain, who was now smiling with relief over Thranduil allowing his men to rest. All of them could see that the agreement had not involved Legolas.

"My king, what about Legolas?" Thonor asked before Legolas could stop him.

"That is not of your concern." Thranduil answered indifferently.

"Yes it is because Legolas is my friend and I cannot keep watching as you run him to the ground!" Thonor said angrily.

Thranduil's rage grew after he heard this he took a step towards Thonor. "Legolas follows my orders, he is the prince of Mirkwood and that bears certain responsibilities!"

"Like what? Getting run down to the point of collapsing?" Thonor's voice darkened as he said this. "You have been destroying Legolas!"

"Thonor stop it." Legolas said urgently when he saw the fury on Thranduil's face.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Thranduil roared and walked up to Thonor with his hand raised so as to hit him.

Legolas saw what he was about to do and pushed Thonor away so he was hit instead. The blow sounded through the courtyard and a shocked silence followed. Legolas staggered from the force but quickly righted himself again.

Thranduil was also shocked at what he had just done, but anger quickly followed, "Are you too tired to carry out you duty as the prince of Mirkwood?" He asked roughly.

"No."

"Are you so weak that you cannot defend the borders of your own home? Do you want me to use more inexperienced captains for your team while you are home counting bodies?"

"I would never want that, my lord." Legolas said emotionlessly though his eyes had darkened when his father had said it.

"Then I shall hear no more of this!" The king roared to Legolas and shook him by the shoulder.

"You will not, my King." Legolas said and bowed. He then turned away from he king and walked over to his horse. The elves could know see the full extent of the punch, Legolas had a steadily forming bruise on his cheek and there was blood on the corner of his mouth. He raised a slightly shaking hand to wipe the blood away and then he mounted his horse.

When the king had gone back inside Thonor came over, "I'm sorry Legolas…" He choked shakily.

Legolas only shook his head, "Don't be, but next time Thonor do not let your rage get the better of you." Legolas smiled at him.

"How can you expect me not to when you're begin treated like this? You haven't had day off in almost half a year. Your body can't keep handling this Legolas." Thonor said worriedly.

I know Thonor, but this is between the king and me. Don't get yourself punished for my sake, it will only make it worse." Legolas then looked at his patrolmen who were looking protectively at him. There was still anger in their eyes from what Thranduil had said to their captain. He smiled and said to them, "Let's head out."

Grudgingly they nodded and turned their horses down the path. Legolas said his last goodbye to his friend and then he followed them. They soon vanished into the dark forest.