AUTHOR NOTE: My apologies for the late posting of this chapter. The father of a very dear friend of mine passed away and time got away from me.

My thanks again to all of you who are still reading, with an extra special thank you going out once more to Silver-crowned Valkyrie for your review. It makes my day so much brighter reading your lovely comments, so I am certainly more than happy to dedicate this chapter to you. :)

Part 4 – Of Evil, Fear & Pain

His feet treading soundlessly upon the uneven ground the Elvenking made his way warily to the vacant space where once had been a great wall of solid rock. Cautiously reaching out, Thranduil lightly touched one of the rock's jagged edges – only to recoil instantly as though burned when his elven senses felt a murky power lingering within the blackened stone.

What fell being entered this place? And who would seek to conceal their presence with the vilest dark magic?

Resolved to discover the answer to his unspoken questions, Thranduil firmly grasped his staff and laying a hand upon the hilt of his sword stepped through the hole and into the dim cavern beyond.

With no torch to aid him in the oppressive darkness, Thranduil stepped lightly upon the ground, his way guided only by the luminous starlight that shone from his hair and the shimmering light that fell about his feet like the white glow of the rising moon.

All was eerily silent inside the cave; the unnatural stillness continuing to surround the Elvenking as he walked ever deeper into the menacing shadows – the pitch blackness of the cave's interior making it difficult to determine its depth.

His senses alert for any sign of danger, Thranduil paused the instant he heard a sudden, faint scuttering approaching him from in front. Reacting without hesitation, he raised his right hand and with a single gesture brought forth a burning light that dispelled the insidious gloom. But in the brightness of those same shining rays was revealed a swarming host of giant spiders hurrying towards him!

'The beasts of Nan Dungortheb!'

Hissing and clicking their fearsome sharp beaks, the spawn of Ungoliant moved swiftly; their hairy black legs, which were monstrous in size, carrying them quickly along the wide stone passage from their hidden lairs that lay down in the darkest crevices. Clusters of eyes brimming with malicious hate glinted with evil intent as the most treacherous and foulest of creatures bore down upon the lone figure of the Elvenking. Such was the greed of the spiders for Elf-flesh that they fast forgot the pain so recently inflicted by the burst of pure light and moved with horrible speed; their fat bellies swelling with anticipation of the delicious feast before them.

A towering, fiery red flame blazing into life behind him at a single small wave of his hand, Thranduil retreated hastily, knowing he would soon be overwhelmed on all sides if he remained. The fire rapidly spread across the path behind him and the cavernous space was soon filled with terrible rasping screams as the spiders felt the scorching heat burn their putrid flesh.

Racing towards the gaping hole in the rock wall through which he could see the dim outline of the outer entrance, Thranduil leapt through the opening – only to feel agonising lances of pain suddenly erupt across his back and shoulders as a heavy weight descended upon him.

One spider, nimbler and faster than the others, had braved the torment of the elven fire and sprung upon the tasty morsel that smelt of the juiciest meat; the sharp claws on the ends of its legs cutting into tender flesh as its long sting quickly pierced Thranduil's side.

Feeling the foul toxin from the creature begin to flow into his blood, Thranduil drew his dagger from its concealed sheath and stabbed at the spider's hard tail where its stinger was still embedded in his flesh. With a squealing hiss of agony the spider convulsed violently as the elven blade repeatedly found its mark.

'FATHER!'

Drawn by the increasingly dreadful noises filling the cave, Legolas' startled cry of horror as he suddenly ran through the outer entrance was swiftly followed by a fleeting whisper of sound and another piercing scream from the spider. The abrupt stillness of the creature followed by its body crashing to the ground confirmed that Legolas' arrow had penetrated one of its eyes with deadly accuracy.

Leaning heavily upon his staff as the spider's poison coursed through his veins, Thranduil stumbled forward, the dagger falling from his hand to clatter against the rocks beneath his feet.

His face unnaturally pale in fear, Legolas raced forward and caught the Elvenking's body as it began to collapse.

'Father!' The frantic cry echoed down to the darkest recesses of the cave. 'Father!'

'Legolas.' The low, pained whisper of his son's name was Thranduil's only response before his voice fell silent and a terrifying stillness came over his body.

Hearing the horrible screeches from the dying spiders behind them where the red flames continued to burn, Legolas clutched his father's limp form to his side and hurriedly made for the outer entrance. Having passed through the opening he immediately set up such a desperate cry that all the Elves scattered throughout the area responded instantly.

Their hearts perturbed by the fear in his voice, the Elves ran with the swiftest of speed towards the southern garden. There they came upon Legolas kneeling beside their king, who lay outstretched and frighteningly still on the barren ground.

His grey eyes filled with concern, Gildoron was the first to reach them, and, sparing a brief comforting touch to Legolas' shoulder, he asked without ceremony, 'what harm has befallen him?'

The answer when it came startled the Elves and filled their minds with dread.

'A poison from the spawn of Ungoliant's accurst brood.' Paying slight heed to the gasps of dismay his response elicited, Legolas shifted to remove the cloak from around Thranduil's shoulders. 'My father discovered a colony of them nested within the pits of that foul cave. Flame and light has hopefully destroyed all the rest of their number, but one I slew as it attacked him.' As he spoke, Legolas tossed aside the bloodstained cloak to reveal where the spider's clawed legs had torn through his father's raiment to inflict grievous wounds upon his body.

'Set a watch upon that entrance and should any surviving spiders attempt to come out show them no mercy,' Gildoron commanded, his position as a trusted friend and advisor to the king ensuring his authority went unchallenged. 'And, as that land lies nearest, send a winged messenger with all haste to King Amroth in Lórien where Master Elrond and his Lady are visiting her kin. Let them inform Master Elrond that we require his urgent assistance, for these injuries reek of a poisonous fume that are beyond the abilities of all but the most skilled of healers.'

His concentration focused solely upon his father, Legolas did not even glance up as the Elves rushed to obey Gildoron's orders. Instead, he gently lifted his father's long strands of golden hair from where they lay across his back and moved them to the side. Then, using the holes in his father's tunic and shirt where the spider's claws had cut through, he tore the fabric asunder until the bleeding wounds were fully exposed. 'We shall need fresh hot water to cleanse them before any form of healing can be done,' he said urgently.

'There is a small stream that flows within half a league of here,' Gildoron replied. 'I shall have some brought to you.'

'Nay,' Legolas refused. 'Rather would I have my father removed from this vile place where the tainted air may yet cause further harm to him. Therefore, summon forth a group to have him moved as near to the stream as possible. Let the fires also be lit and a poultice prepared ere the first stars of evening appear in the sky.'

Acknowledging the wisdom in Legolas' words, Gildoron swiftly had the orders given and within moments the two Elves formed the head of the procession that carried the Elvenking's unconscious body away into the forest.

O * O

The Greenwood lay blanketed in a tense silence. Word of Thranduil's uncertain fate had soon spread, and there was not even the hushed whisper of a field mouse scurrying along the ground to be heard as all the forest awaited further news from the small clearing near Amon Lanc where the Elves watched over their king.

Placed upon a bed of soft green grass under a canopy of trees, the Elvenking lay in a deathlike stillness. His face was a shade of white like that of bones bleached by the sun and all breath seemed captured inside his body. Had it not been for the faint glimmer of light that still shone about him all would have believed his spirit and body to be sundered from each other. Upon the pale bare flesh of his back and shoulders the dreadful damage inflicted by the spider radiated a black aura; the darkness mingling with the deep red of spilt blood that continued to seep from his wounds.

Beside Thranduil's body Legolas knelt alone, having refused to permit any other to aid him in washing his proud father's injuries. None save myself should perform so personal a task for him, who is both my father, and my king, he had informed Gildoron firmly when the Elf had tried to protest.

Quietly singing a slow song in his own elven-tongue as he gazed down upon his father and bathed the deep cuts, Legolas fought against the cold despair that was seeking to enter into his heart. Throughout all his life his father had been a figure of indomitable force, always reassuring in his strength and majestic in his bearing; and now, seeing him as defenceless as a newborn fawn, the prince of Eryn Galen had the frightening realisation that, just like all the Firstborn of Ilúvatar's children, his father could still suffer physical injury and be parted from him.

Cleaning the last of the Elvenking's wounds, Legolas laid aside the bowl of water he held, and gently brushing away a stray golden hair from the pale face below him, murmured softly, 'should I lose you then no joy shall I find in this world again. No song would our people ever hear issue forth from me, e'en should a thousand ages pass, for no words could express the depths of the sorrow that would overwhelm my spirit. Father, you are the one whom I hold most dear, so please, I beseech you, leave me not here alone. Awaken from this strange slumber, and once again let me hear your beloved voice say my name.'

But all his pleas were in vain and fell unheard by the Elvenking who remained as cold and still as any statue.

Over by the flickering shadows cast by the crackling red fires many of the other Elves stood in silence, their merry countenances now turned solemn and stern as they kept vigil over their king.

By one fire Gildoron sat singing in hushed tones whilst leaning over a small bowl, and from the shiny vessel there arose a sweet fragrance. The scent, clear and pure, brought a measure of hope to the minds of those who watched as Gildoron arose and carried the bowl with extreme care to Legolas.

His eyes fixed intently upon Thranduil's body, it was as he scrutinised the cuts more closely that Legolas beheld a darker hue near the end of one that ran down to his father's right side. Reaching out with cautious fingers he carefully felt the surrounding area about the wound, and as he searched his expression grew increasingly uneasy.

'Gildoron! There is a small hole that lies close to where the spider tore into his flesh,' he exclaimed worriedly; 'and a strange object is embedded there.'

His face exceedingly grave, the older Elf knelt upon the ground and examined the marred skin. 'In Beleriand there were stories that told of the foul beasts that dwelt within the dark shadows of Ered Gorgoroth,' he said grimly. 'The tales spoke of the evil webs of Ungoliant and her foul offspring where they captured and fed off those unwary enough to wander near those lands. It was believed the unfortunate ones were paralysed and then bound in thick layers of spun silken cords, such as is done by the much smaller breed of spiders to their prey. It is possible that the object you have found is the method by which they quell the resistance of their victims.'

'We shall have to remove it,' Legolas stated.

'Yes, but have a care,' Gildoron warned, 'there may still be lingering traces of poison upon it.'

Extracting a sharp knife from his belt, Legolas bent over and peered closely at the wound. 'I can see the tip,' he said, and placing the blade against his father's skin he made a small incision before moving to pull out the broken tail of the spider's stinger. The black thin fragment exuded a terrible odour and Legolas hastily dropped it into the bowl of water beside him.

Summoning one of the Elves standing nearby, Gildoron ordered, 'take the abominable thing away, but do not destroy it. Master Elrond may be able to determine what manner of poison it contained.'

As the Elf hurried away, another approached carrying a full bowl of more hot water that was swiftly handed to Legolas, who immediately began to slowly pour it over the small hole in Thranduil's side whilst singing the same slow chant as when he had bathed the other wounds.

Returning his attention to the young prince beside him, Gildoron instructed, 'once you have cleansed that area, the poultice must be applied firmly. When the mixture becomes fully dry and the scent grows stale, remove it carefully and wash the remains away. A fresh dressing should then be applied. Continue the cycle throughout the night until the first light of dawn shines across the sky. Then shall we have to start moving towards the edge of the forest's border to meet Master Elrond as he journeys from Lórien. I shall go now to have a litter made ready to bear King Thranduil, and to discover if any word has been received from King Amroth. If you have need of me, I shall not be far.'

Nodding his thanks, Legolas did not halt his slow singing as he continued to pour the clean water over his father's side. When he had finished he exchanged the empty bowl for the one containing the poultice, and then, with gentle hands, began to apply the mixture that was made from a careful selection of forest plants to the wounds that tainted the Elvenking's fair skin.

'I know not if their healing power is strong enough to fight the poison of those fell creatures,' Legolas informed his unresponsive father, 'but it may yet help to alleviate its effects until such time as Elrond arrives. Also, you need not be concerned for your staff of carven oak. I have it quite safe here beside me, and there it shall remain until you are restored to me again to claim its rightful return.'

The brave, hopeful words were belied by the shimmering tears that escaped Legolas' eyes and slowly trickled down his cheeks, to then fall like delicate drops of rain upon his father's flesh, their clear brilliance glistening like precious jewels in the evening light – until time erased them.

A/N: Don't hate me too much for hurting Thranduil!

REFERENCES

Ungoliant & her spawn

Having lived in Doriath, Beleriand, Thranduil would have known about and most likely have seen a few of the spawn of Ungoliant that dwelt in Ered Gorgoroth, especially after Doriath fell and the spiders would have been free to enter the once protected realm.

"There [in Cirith Ungol] agelong she had dwelt, an evil thing in spider-form, even such as once of old had lived in the Land of the Elves in the West that is now under the Sea [Beleriand], such as Beren fought in the Mountains of Terror in Doriath, and so came to Lúthien upon the green sward amid the hemlocks in the moonlight long ago. How Shelob came there, flying from ruin, no tale tells, for out of the Dark Years few tales have come. But still she was there, who was there before Sauron, and before the first stone of Barad-dûr; and she served none but herself, drinking the blood of Elves and Men, bloated and grown fat with endless brooding on her feasts, weaving webs of shadow; for all living things were her food, and her vomit darkness. Far and wide her lesser broods, bastards of the miserable mates, her own offspring, that she slew, spread from glen to glen, from the Ephel Dúath to the eastern hills, to Dol Guldur and the fastnesses of Mirkwood. But none could rival her, Shelob the Great, last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world." LOTR, The Two Towers, Book 4, Chapter 9 – Shelob's Lair

"With their whips of flame they smote asunder the webs of Ungoliant, and she quailed, and turned to flight…and fleeing from the north she went down into Beleriand, and dwelt beneath Ered Gorgoroth, in that dark valley that was after called Nan Dungortheb, the Valley of Dreadful Death, because of the horror that she bred there. For other foul creatures of spider form had dwelt there since the days of the delving of Angband, and she mated with them, and devoured them; and even after Ungoliant herself departed…her offspring abode there and wove their hideous webs." The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 9 - Of the Flight of the Noldor

"…her beak drabbling a spittle of venom, and a green ooze trickling from below her wounded eye. There she crouched, her shuddering belly splayed upon the ground, the great bows of her legs quivering, as she gathered herself for another spring – this time to crush and sting to death: no little bite of poison to still the struggling of her meat; this time to slay and then to rend." LOTR, The Two Towers, Book 4, Chapter 10 – The Choices of Master Samwise

Amroth of Lórien

The following quote comes from Unfinished Tales, Part 2: The Second Age, IV The History of Galadriel & Celeborn:

"Amroth was King of Lórien, after his father Amdir was slain in the Battle of Dagorlad. His land had peace for many years after the defeat of Sauron. Though Sindarin in descent he lived after the manner of the Silvan Elves…this he did because of his love for Nimrodel."

From Amon Lanc to Lórien

"Beyond the river the land appeared flat and empty, formless and vague, until far away it rose again like a wall, dark and drear. The sun that lay on Lothlórien had not power to enlighten the shadow of that distant height. 'There lies the fastness of Southern Mirkwood,' said Haldir. 'It is clad in a forest of dark fir, where the trees strive one against another … In the midst upon a stony height stands Dol Guldur … A black cloud lies often over it of late. In this high place you may see the two powers that are opposed one to another….'" LOTR, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 6 – Lothlórien

According to the second enlarged map in The Lord of the Rings it would be that as the birds fly Lothlórien is only about 100 miles from Dol Guldur (admittedly if you're walking there is a bit of forest and the Anduin running between them as well). Using the same calculation as before (that Elves should be able to cover a distance of 4.25 miles every hour) and also making allowance for rough terrain that would be an estimate of about 26 hours for an Elf to get from where Thranduil was hurt to the Elves in Lothlórien, and vice versa. Of course, a bird may deliver a message much more quickly not having to deal with navigating around forests and wide rivers! :)

Celeborn and Galadriel visiting Amroth and then Thranduil's Realm

Although the following quote implies that Galadriel and Celeborn did not arrive in Lórien until a bit after "the shadow" descended upon Thranduil's realm I took a bit of licence and had them visiting Amroth during the events of this story (and given Tolkien himself sometimes wrote contradicting passages in his different writings I feel I can get away with it!). :)

"But during the Third Age Galadriel became filled with foreboding, and with Celeborn she journeyed to Lórien and stayed there long with Amroth, being especially concerned to learn all news and rumours of the growing shadow in Mirkwood and the dark stronghold in Dol Guldur….Therefore after long journeys of enquiry in Rhovanion, from Gondor and the borders of Mordor to Thranduil in the north, Celeborn and Galadriel passed over the mountain to Imladris." Excerpt from Unfinished Tales, Part 2: The Second Age, IV The History of Galadriel & Celeborn.