Legolas glanced down at their prisoner. He was beginning to get worried. The half orc had yet to wake, only drifting in and out of consciousness throughout the entire ride. Legolas had already treated and bound his wounds; taking care not to jostle them during the trip. The creature had amassed quite a collection of injuries. He seemed to be as breakable as men, and not as hardy as orcs or elves. The fall broke ribs and a leg, and left him with enough bruises and scratches to almost completely cover his beautiful skin. It had been three days and the scratches had just now begun to heal; the bruises just now beginning to fade. He healed at the rate of men too then.

Legolas heaved a sigh of relief when the gates of Mirkwood rose in the horizon. He would be able to get a healer to look at the hybrid there. He had said he lived with the orcs, but Legolas couldn't help but feel there was more to that story. He would get the answers he sought soon. He leaned down to speak to the creature.

"Worry not little half orc. We are almost to my kingdom." A mumble startled Legolas. It was the first the being had spoken in days.

"I apologize but I did not catch what you said." The creature's voice was weak and scratchy from misuse, but Legolas could just make out what he said.

"Elion…"

"Elion? That is your name?" But the creature had already slumped forward again, drifting. So his name was Elion. Legolas spurred his horse on faster towards his home.

Elion didn't know why he told the elf his name. He could blame his lapse in judgment on his blasted condition, but he knew it was a lie. For some reason, he felt he could trust the beautiful one. Legolas, he had heard someone address him as Legolas. It was the perfect name for him. His Sindarin was rusty but he thought it meant leaf, green leaf. His thoughts wandered aimlessly.

He could barely grasp his mind around a thought. Everything was muddled and unclear, like a dirty lake. He could not even feel the fear of what was to come when they arrived to Mirkwood. It floated just out of reach. The sound of a guard calling out to the party of elves pierced the air, and Elion's body, thankfully, chose that moment to sink back into the darkness.

"Peace Olithir. We have returned early and bring urgent business." Olithir sent the word to open the gates and stepped back out of sight. A moment later, the great gates parted, allowing the band to enter. The rode up to the steps, dismounting and handing off their horses.

Legolas clutched Elion to him tightly, adjusting his cloak he had laid on him so that it covered him more. Now that they were at the castle, he was reluctant to give him up. He knew they would throw him in the dungeons, as he was their enemy.

"Ion-nin. You have returned sooner than expected. Has something happened?" His father's words cut through Legolas' worrying. He looked up and found Thranduil looking at him curiously.

"Yes Ada. We were ambushed by Orcs at the edge of the forest. We killed them swiftly with no casualties on our side and rushed back here to bring their leader. He was injured in the battle, but not fatally so." Legolas reluctantly gestured to the half orc in his arms. Thranduil leaned close and examined Elion.

"He does not look like an orc. He cannot be one of them."

"He said he was half orc. If I had to guess, I would venture to say the other half is elven. He has very fine features, not like that of man or any other but the elves. His name is Elion." His father studied the hybrid again before looking up at his son.

"Take him to the dungeons. We will ask him what their plans are when he awakens."

"Ada," he started hesitantly. "He is injured. Must he stay in the dungeons?"

"Yes. But I will allow a healer to go tend to his wounds. He is to be chained and watched at all times. Notify me immediately when he wakes." King Thranduil waved his hand to dismiss his son. Legolas made his way to the stairs, descending them to the dungeons.

He grimaced. The dungeons were cold and dark, no place to encourage healing. He entered the first cell and laid Elion gently on the floor. There was nothing here to keep the chill away so Legolas left his cloak wrapped around him. He grabbed the shackles and placed them around the dainty wrists, taking care not to pinch the delicate skin between the harsh metal. Once he secured the chains to the wall, he stepped back to the door. He reluctantly closed the door behind him and nodded to the guard outside the cell, making his way to the healing chambers to notify the healer of the task he needed to do.