"Lord Elrond, you must believe me!" Legolas seemed very distressed, "Bilbo Baggins is in trouble! We must send a patrol out to collect him from the Shire and bring him here where it's safe," the panicked voice was quaking, like it was going to break at any second. His blue eyes glittered with unshed tears and he was squeezing Elrond's shoulders very tightly.

"Legolas," Elrond took the vice like hands from his shoulders and cradled them gently as he spoke, "Bilbo is absolutely fine. He left the Shire weeks ago and doesn't plan on returning. He's within our care and protection. I don't where you've got this idea from but no harm can come to him anymore."

Young eyes gazed into another world, looking for a reasonable explanation, but he found none, "My Lord? May I do some research in your library?"

"You've been riding hard for three days, are you not tired?"

"No – I won't find sleep even if I tried."

"Ok penneth, just make sure you get some rest soon though alright?" the Prince nodded and headed for the library.

A cold, damp cloth was pressed against his head whilst a soft hand caressed his face, "Arwen..." the ranger whispered. A kiss was placed on his forehead and then on his lips, "How are you feeling my love?"

"Sleepy, those herbs Legolas gave me at camp were strong – how am I home? That ride would have taken five days, maybe more!"

"Three days if you ride without stopping."

"Legolas did that? I guess he's sleeping now then, right?"

Elrond walked in, "Actually, he's in the library. He said he isn't tired."

He found the page he was looking for:

'Visions don't show what will definitely happen, they usually only show what the outcome could possibly be. However, there is no way of telling if the vision is of the past, present or future. If a vision ever occurs, the first thing you should find out is when this is going to or has already taken place.

If it has already occurred, there is nothing you can do.'

Legolas remembered the creature Gollum, his father had promised Gandalf to keep him prisoner for him. So the vision must have been of the future – musn't it?

He had to be sure of his theory, which meant going to Mirkwood... immediately.

"He isn't tired you say" Aragorn retorted, "I don't believe him, sometimes he is just too proud to admit things. It will be his downfall one day."

"Actually, he seemed distressed, concerned for Bilbo. But when I told him he was fine, he went to read. Maybe he's just calming down," the elven Lord guessed, though deep down he was concerned for the young Prince.

The Prince still hadn't been to see his best friend towards the end of the night, which wasn't normal, but Aragorn and the rest of his family still had a good day, making jokes and recalling past times.

The twins started wrestling on the floor which made everybody laugh. They continued to roll on the floor when a maid came in, "My Lord, Prince Legolas said he was simply taking his horse for a ride as he paid the horse-master but a note was found in the bag of gold saying that he needed to go back to Mirkwood and that he'd be back as soon as possible."

The room was silent as Elrond contemplated the situation, "When did you say he left?"

"This morning sir."

"And you've only found the note just now?"

"Yes sir, my husband's only just finished his shift – he said that at the speed Legolas was riding at, you won't reach him when he's got ahead start."

The healer sighed. There was nothing he could do to stop him now. All he could do was write to Thranduil to make sure he arrived safely.

The King of Mirkwood frowned at the letter. Elrond was correct about Legolas not acting himself and this behaviour was putting him in danger.

He quickly wrote a letter of thanks and attached it to the eagle. The soaring bird had taken two days to reach him – meaning Legolas should have been home in two weeks time.

Surprisingly, he was home in just over a week. His horse was walking very slowly now, exhausted and its rider was barely awake either.

Thranduil rode out to meet his son, ridding the tired animal of its burden and carrying his half asleep son home.

"Adar..." his dry voice whispered, "Gollum...where's Gollum."

"There was an ambush Legolas, Gollum was taken by the enemy."

"No," the Prince tried to jump out of his father's arms, "Need to... Shire" exhausted eyes started to flutter shut, "Shire... Baggins."