We Can Make It If We Run

by ScribeofArda

A series of oneshots, as a sequel to In a Field of Blood and Stone (an elven PoV of the Battle of the Five Armies, canonic to the book). What happened to the Elves of Mirkwood after the events at Erebor? How did they go on, after everything that they had seen and done? Featuring elves, a few men and an old wizard who pops up when there's trouble. Resuming in few weeks (1/06/2017).

10. Chapter 9

We Can Make It If We Run

Chapter Eight?

Wow, it's been a while. Thanks to those people who have been kind enough to check up on me, as it were- I promise I'm fine, but life has been rather hectic as I've settled in at university. I haven't actually managed to write anything for about three weeks now, I'm so busy, but now that everything is beginning to settle I have a bit more free time. Apologies for the long wait, and thank you so much to anyone who has stuck with this story.

I do have plans for plenty of stories, and I really want them to get written (I have this sequel to finish off, which might take a while because there's still quite a few stories to go, and then a oneshot of Legolas and Belhadron from an outside PoV that I have in my head, and then the next long story, which is the first time Elladan and Elrohir come to Mirkwood). Anyway, here's the next part of the story- this is just a oneshot, and honestly I can't remember what chapter this is now, and how I've structured things- on my laptop the word document is titled 'Chapter 2.5' because I started writing it after the second and third story, so I honestly don't know anymore.

I've had this idea in my head for a while now, so I hope you enjoy it. As always, reviews are very welcome. Hope everyone is having a good time.

0-o-0-o-0

"Legolas."

The sound of the quill scratching on parchment paused briefly, and then started up again.

"Legolas."

This time the sound stopped. Legolas dropped the quill and shot a glare at Belhadron. "Don't you have work to do?" he asked.

"I've been off duty for an hour," Belhadron replied smartly. "As have you."

Legolas huffed, and picked up the quill again. "There's no such thing as off duty anymore, and you know that," he murmured. "Not since things started picking up again."

Belhadron almost choked on a laugh. "That's the understatement of the decade," he muttered. There had been a lull in the past few weeks, the weight lessening on their shoulders. The two weeks that Belhadron and Rhavaniel had spent back at Rhavaniel's family home had been quieter, and for a moment it had looked like the worst had passed. Of course, they had been wrong.

Spiders were being driven north by the cold weather in search of food and new territories. Leaderless bands of orcs, that had been roaming the forest since the White Council had driven the Necromancer from Dol Guldur, were now encroaching on their borders. There were not enough of them to easily cope, and they were beginning to be stretched thin once more.

Belhadron sighed, and dropped into a chair next to Legolas.

"Please, just go and eat a proper meal," he said, leaning forwards to try and catch Legolas' gaze. "And sleep for the entire night. It's not that much to ask. The realm can cope without you for a night."

"Can it?" Legolas asked, though there was more weariness than ire in his voice. "Are you sure, Belhadron? Because from everything I've seen, everything we've both seen, those quiet few weeks are over and we're back to standing on the edge once again." He shook his head, scratching down a few more lines on the parchment in front of him.

"What happens if something goes wrong and I'm not here?" he asked.

Belhadron scoffed, shoving his chair back. "Then someone else deals with it," he snapped back at him. "You're not in charge of absolutely everything, and you're not responsible for it either. You may be our Prince, Legolas, but you're also just one elf. You cannot take all of this onto your shoulders."

Legolas shot him a look. "You know that I'm not," he said. "Everyone else is working just as hard as I am." His gaze softened slightly as it met Belhadron's. "I'm fine," he said. "I really am."

Belhadron snorted. "You're not, but I'm not even going to try and argue that one," he replied. "Just, please stop for a moment. Get some rest."

Legolas shook his head. "Give me two hours," he said. "And then I'll come off duty."

"Fine," Belhadron murmured. He could recognise the stubborn tone in Legolas' voice, and whilst he certainly hadn't given up on this, for now he would leave it alone, and try again later. He stood from his chair. "I'll have the kitchens send something up for you, so please actually eat it before you leave this room. I'll be…" He trailed off with a sigh. "I don't know where I'll be, but I won't be in my rooms. I'll go… I don't know, I might spend some time on the training fields. See who I can terrorize down there."

"Hypocrite," Legolas murmured, but it was with a fleeting smile, and Belhadron huffed a laugh. He dropped a hand onto Legolas' shoulder, squeezing it briefly, before he left.

The door swung shut behind him. There was quiet for a moment, broken only by the sound of the fire murmuring in the hearth. Legolas shook his head, and then picked up his quill. The sound of scratching against parchment picked up once again against the crackle of logs in the hearth.

0-o-0-o-0

Rhavaniel glanced at Belhadron as she entered the room. "Aren't you off duty?" she asked.

"Technically, yes," Belhadron replied with a sigh. He was sat at the table, writing something out on a piece of parchment. There was a stack of sealed scrolls to one side, each bearing the seal of the realm. He glanced up at Rhavaniel as she took a seat at the table. "Legolas went off duty an hour ago," he explained. "So I'm just finishing some things up before I go."

Rhavaniel shook her head, sinking down in one of the chairs and stretching out her hand. "He's not off duty," she said. "He's down on the training fields."

Belhadron jolted. "What?" he asked. "He told me he'd be another two hours and then go off duty. It's been nearly four hours since then, and when I looked, he wasn't in here or on the archery field below. I'd assumed he'd gone to sleep, or was with the King."

"He's been on one of the far training fields for the past hour or so, from what it looks like," Rhavaniel said. "I could see him from the window in the healing wards." There was a slight bitterness in her voice as she spoke of them, but it was nothing new to Belhadron. She spent hours each day with the healers, working on her hand and arm, and she disliked every minute of it.

Rhavaniel glanced at Belhadron, seeing the expression on his face. She smiled wryly. "He was probably all the way out there to avoid you."

Belhadron sighed, and dropped his head into his hands. "I can't stop him," he murmured.

Rhavaniel perched on the edge of the table opposite him, stretching out her hand and methodically flexing and bending each finger in turn. It was one of the many exercises the healers had her doing to try and strengthen the muscles of her hand and arm. "Have you really tried?" she asked.

Belhadron shot her a glare, and she shrugged. "You can't ever hold a grudge against Legolas," she said. "Usually that is a good thing, but in times like this, it makes it nearly impossible for you to stay angry at him, really angry, long enough to actually change his mind. At least not when you are in front of him."

Belhadron heaved another sigh. "I know," he muttered. "But he's going to work himself into the ground if he doesn't stop. I know it's getting bad again, and I know when we were away he took a fair amount of the weight from our absence, but he doesn't seem to realise that he's not the only one trying to keep the realm together here."

"Then tell him," Rhavaniel replied.

"It's not exactly that easy," Belhadron shot back. Rhavaniel sighed softly, and a smile curved the corners of her lips.

"You and I both know that in a few moments, you are going to get up and go down to him on the training fields," she said. "It's not even a choice for you. We both know your loyalty lies with him above anything else." Belhadron made to protest, but she levelled him with a look, and he sunk back into his chair.

"You won't fix everything tonight," she said. "You won't fix much at all tonight, and won't until the weight on our backs is lighter than it is now, until things are quieter once again. But you can try, at least, and you can help him."

Belhadron paused, and then dropped his head down onto the table. "Why are you always right?" he murmured, voice muffled by the wood. "Doesn't it get annoying after a while?"

Rhavaniel huffed a wry laugh. "Go and get our Prince," she said. "And if he's being too stubborn to listen to you, then I'm sure that there is someone else he might listen too."

Belhadron laughed weakly. "He'll ground me for a month if I do that," he said. "So I will try to not do that if I have to." He shook his head, and then pushed back his chair with a squeal. "Wish me luck."

Rhavaniel offered him a smile. "I have every faith in you," she said. "Well, almost."

0-o-0-o-0

The training fields sprawled out to the north and west of the stronghold, acres and acres of fields split up with copses of trees and long, low sheds. These were filled with weapons and more equipment besides, archery targets and bags of clay balls that rang with a soft chime when tossed up, mats for hand sparring and the essential healing supplies for when something went wrong.

Further away from the stronghold, there were a few fields that were hidden from the view of most by thick copses of trees and undergrowth. These were the fields that belonged almost exclusively to the elite, to the small companies each beholden to a captain. Rhavaniel had her own field, even further out, to prevent her spies from being watched when training.

It was on one of these fields that Belhadron found Legolas. He was working through drills with some of the elves who were part of their elite companies, his tunic clinging to his back with sweat. The elves looked haggard, pushing themselves too hard for too long to fight back against threats to their realm. All of them were as fierce in their devotion to the realm and its people as Legolas and Belhadron were; it was why they were out here, in the dusk, training once more.

Belhadron cleared his throat, and levelled Legolas with a glare as he stepped onto the field. "Two hours," he said. "That's what you told me. Four hours ago."

The elves on the field exchanged wary glances at the heat in Belhadron's voice, and sheathed their weapons. Legolas looked over at them. "You're dismissed," he said, and Belhadron could hear the weariness in his voice. The elves quickly left, not wanting to get stuck between the two of them.

"Four hours ago," Belhadron said through gritted teeth. "What are you still doing here?"

"What does it look like?" Legolas asked, and he just sounded weary. "I thought you weren't on duty."

"I thought you weren't either," Belhadron shot back.

"I forgot," Legolas said, sheathing his long hunting knife in his belt. "I know, I'm sorry, but I forgot. Give me half an hour and then I'll come in."

"No, you'll come in now," Belhadron said. "Because I know you, and half an hour will become one hour, which will become two, and then at some point you will collapse somewhere because you become too exhausted to put one foot in front of the other." Legolas made to say something, and Belhadron fixed him with a look. "Don't tell me it's not true," he said. "We both know it is."

"Give me half an hour," Legolas said again, turning away. "I've got a few more things to finish up."

Belhadron threw his hands up in the air. "You know what?" he asked. "I'm fed up of this. I'm done. Get yourself inside, right now."

"You do realise that you don't have any authority over me, right?" Legolas asked. "You are my second in command. If I give you an order, then you have to follow it. That is not in question."

"Don't try to question my loyalty," Belhadron snapped. "And that's not the point. You are exhausted, and you need to stop." He grabbed Legolas' shoulder to stop him from turning away. "Please, come inside with me."

"I'm fine," Legolas murmured, shrugging off Belhadron's grip. "I really am. I'm tired, but then we all are, and none of our problems are going to get solved if we stop every time we get a little weary."

"None of our problems are going to be solved if you collapse out of sheer exhaustion because you're too stubborn to listen to reason," Belhadron shot back. "You do not have to take the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"Do you honestly think I am trying to do that?" Legolas asked. "I'm just doing what I can to keep our home safe. It's what all of us are doing. And I'm not going to stop doing that."

Belhadron felt like it would be easier to repeatedly run into a brick wall than try and win this argument. "I'm not asking you to," he said through gritted teeth. "All I'm asking is that you come inside, go to your rooms, and sleep until dawn. It's not that difficult a thing."

"Give me half an hour," Legolas repeated, and Belhadron threw his hands up into the air.

"I swear, it's impossible with you sometimes," he snapped. "And I'm not going to stand here and repeat the same damn thing over and over again in the hope that it will somehow get through your stubbornness and you will actually listen." He levelled Legolas with a glare. "I'm going inside," he said. "If you are not inside in twenty minutes, then I will personally hunt you down, knock you out, and tie you to your bed." He turned and stalked back towards the stronghold, and Legolas watched, hand on the hilt of his long knife, until he disappeared from view amongst the trees.

0-o-0-o-0

Thranduil looked up as the sound of footsteps reached his ears. He was in his study, as he usually was in the evenings, and looking over some of the reports from the past few days. The footsteps did not sound hurried, as if something bad had occurred, but they were quick enough that he put down the report.

There was a sharp knock on the door, and then a guard stepped in. "Captain Belhadron is here to speak with you," she said, looking slightly alarmed. Thranduil waved one hand, and the guard had barely stepped aside when Belhadron pushed the door open.

He bowed low, but Thranduil could see the clenched fists by his sides, and the muscle jumping in his jaw. He had thought that Belhadron was more rested after his two weeks away, for the captain had looked more at ease upon coming back two weeks ago, but perhaps he had not been paying close enough attention. He made a note in his mind to check on Rhavaniel, and see if she knew how tightly the soldiers of his realm were wound, if their captain was this tense.

"What is it, Belhadron?" Thranduil asked once the door had shut. Belhadron gritted his teeth.

"Permission to speak freely?" he asked.

"Granted, of course," Thranduil replied. Belhadron nodded, pausing for a second and ducking his head. Thranduil arched a brow.

"Your son is going to kill himself if he keeps this up," Belhadron said suddenly, raising his head and meeting Thranduil's gaze. "He is exhausting himself for this realm, and I can't get him to stop."

"I highly doubt that," Thranduil replied. His voice was even, but it was difficult for him to keep it so when he could see the undisguised worry in Belhadron's face. "Legolas listens to you beyond almost anyone, Belhadron."

"He won't right now," Belhadron said. His gaze remained steady, but the heat in it slowly petered out. "I'm worried," he confessed. "When Rhavaniel and I came back, we thought that we had made the right decision to take those two weeks, but now I'm really not that sure. And I'm worried about him."

Thranduil studied him for a moment, and then made up his mind. "Sit down," he said, his voice softening slightly. Belhadron sank into the seat opposite Thranduil, and sighed slightly.

"The quiet period, whenever that was, is now finished," he said. "We are inundated with problems now. All of them would be nothing unusual, normally, but our ranks are so depleted that we are struggling to find enough people to cover the patrols, whilst training up whoever we can find to take the places of the dead." Belhadron shook his head. "And what Legolas is trying to do is nearly impossible for any elf, let alone one that hasn't managed to step away ever since we returned home."

Thranduil regarded Belhadron, and found himself wondering yet again just how this elf had ended up so invaluable to him. He'd seen Belhadron take hits again and again, and shake them off because he'd taken them for Legolas and wouldn't have done anything else. The two of them, the loyalty between them, it was infamous amongst the soldiers of the realm. They were held up as examples to the soldiers, of what they could become. Thranduil wondered how many of them would ever realise that the two of them were just tired.

Thranduil studied Belhadron for a moment longer. "I don't know if I need to remind you of this again," he said. "But you are my son's second in command, and you don't have to be more. You aren't responsible for him."

"Aren't I?" asked Belhadron. "After all we've been through, all we've done, am I not responsible for him in some way? Besides, my Lord," he said. "You know where my loyalty lies, and I do not regret that. But my influence only goes so far, especially when confronted with Legolas in a stubborn mood."

Thranduil laughed softly. "Even my influence does not reach too far when Legolas is feeling particularly stubborn," he said. "So I would not worry there. I'll call him in here and see what I can do." Belhadron ducked his head in a nod, and Thranduil studied him for a long moment once again.

"How much work is there to do tonight?" he asked.

Belhadron thought for a second. "We have to draw up the patrols for the day after tomorrow, and the training rotas for the new recruits, along with the usual problems of running the army. And then two of Rhavaniel's people are due in during the night, so we will have to deal with whatever they bring in."

Thranduil nodded. "Nothing that would necessarily require Legolas' attention," he said, not asking it as a question. "That's good enough. Send word with one of the guards that I want to see Legolas, and when Rhavaniel's people come in I would like to hear what they have to say."

Belhadron nodded. "Of course, my Lord," he said. "I'll send them your way as soon as they arrive."

"Aren't you off duty?" Thranduil asked. Belhadron huffed a weary laugh.

"I am," he said with a tired smile. "But it doesn't matter. I was going to wait up for Rhavaniel's spies anyway, to see what they had to say. I can catch some sleep on one of the divans in the common room."

"You'll regret it in the morning," Thranduil warned. "Those things are terrible for your back."

"I know," Belhadron said with a wry smile. "But I don't mind. I've slept in far worse conditions. And it'll make Legolas feel a little easier as well, knowing that I'm there in case anything happens." He nodded to Thranduil, rising from his chair. "Thank you," he said. "My Lord."

"Of course," Thranduil said. He nodded to Belhadron, who bowed to him and then left. Thranduil smiled slightly. He sometimes forgot, or overlooked, just how much the realm could rely on Belhadron at times, and how much he had given in service. He owed Belhadron an awful lot, both as a King and a father. Of course, he rarely said anything of it, and Belhadron would take little in rewards for his service, but Thranduil sometimes caught himself wondering just what would have happened, both to the realm and to his son, if Belhadron had died a long time ago.

0-o-0-o-0

Legolas leant forwards quickly and caught the slip of parchment before it fell off the desk. "Did he say what he wanted?" he asked, stacking the parchment in front of him into a loose pile and not bothering to look up.

The elf standing just inside the door shook his head. "No, my Lord," he said. "The King only asked that you see him in his main study at your earliest convenience."

Legolas huffed a laugh. If his father had asked for him at his earliest convenience, then Legolas didn't doubt he was already late. He grabbed a few of the reports off the table, and stood. "Thank you," he said, brushing past the messenger. "I'll head to him now."

The messenger bowed, a jerk of his head as Legolas passed him. He seemed nervous, and as Legolas briefly glanced at him and took in the new leathers and armour, polished to an extreme, he realised that the elf had only completed his training perhaps a few weeks ago. Legolas tried not to get too irritated at the slightly wide-eyed look that he received from the elf. It wasn't his fault that he was new, or that those elves, his friends, who had been serving for centuries couldn't help but be bitter, on some level, about those elves who joined up in the name of honour and glory and doing the right thing.

He strode down the corridors of the stronghold, his home, and once again pushed down the weariness that clung to his bones. He didn't have time for it, even though part of him knew that Belhadron was actually right. If he stopped now, he didn't know if he could regain the momentum that was one of the few things keeping him on his feet.

He knocked on his father's study door, poking his head around the door with a tired smile. "You wanted to see me?" he asked.

Thranduil looked up. "Of course, come in," he replied. "Have you read the report from Alassien?"

"I did," Legolas replied. He came into the room and slumped down into one of the chairs across the desk from Thranduil. "I honestly think she was being a bit optimistic about the numbers, but then she has a different view than I do. She lost far fewer from her company outside Erebor."

Thranduil nodded. "It is consistent with other information that has come across my table, if slightly optimistic," he said. "I am waiting on Rhavaniel's estimates, and then we will see where we are."

"Of course," Legolas said. "Her spies are coming back in tonight. I was going to-"

"Belhadron is waiting up for them," Thranduil interjected.

Legolas blinked. "He's off duty."

A slow smile curled Thranduil's lips. "Aren't you?" he asked.

There was a pause, and then Legolas scowled. It almost amused Thranduil to see that expression on his face. It reminded him far too much of Legolas when he was a child and Thranduil refused him something, only now the expression looked far more dangerous. "I suppose that was Belhadron's doing," he said with a sigh. "I told him I was fine."

"You're exhausted," Thranduil said swiftly. "When was the last time you slept?"

Legolas blinked, and paused for a moment, thinking. Thranduil shook his head. "That's as good as an answer," he said. "I shouldn't have to tell you that it's dangerous to push yourself this far, that it's a risk to everyone else as well as yourself."

Legolas looked affronted. "I'm not going to risk anything," he said, heat rising in his voice. "I know perfectly well what my limits are."

Thranduil just levelled him with a look. It was silent for long enough that Legolas looked away, running a hand through his hair with a sigh. "What if something happens?" he asked, his voice suddenly small in the room.

Thranduil sat back in his chair. "It is unlikely, and you know that," he said. "But given what our situation is, not an unfounded thought." He sighed. "I've been kept awake for far too many nights by the same thoughts."

"If something happens and I am not there, then it becomes my fault," Legolas said. "If someone dies and I am in my rooms, asleep, then I am to blame. Because if I am awake, then there might be something I can do, but if I am asleep, I can do nothing."

Thranduil nodded slowly. "A compromise," he suggested. "You come off duty and rest, but you sleep on the divan in here. That way, if anything does happen, you will be one of the first to know." He would undoubtedly hear any news as soon as it reached the stronghold, if it was important.

Legolas recognised defeat when he saw it. "Fine," he said, throwing his hands up into the air. "I'll sleep on the divan in here." He paused. "Where is Belhadron, if he's waiting up for the spies?"

"He's apparently dozing on one of the couches in the common room," Thranduil replied. He shook his head slightly, a small smile on his face. "Sometimes I don't think that I thank him enough."

"I can tell you right now that he doesn't want a lordship," Legolas said with a wry smile. "You can offer him one, but I don't think he will accept." He shrugged at Thranduil's raised brow. "He thinks it will make more trouble for him with the various advisors and council members who dislike a Silvan elf being so close to the Sindarin Prince."

Thranduil huffed. "I thought that problem had been solved?" he asked. Legolas just looked at him.

"I don't want to speak ill of the council members," he said. "But it's not ever going to be solved, not completely. Of course, they're a lot more accepting of the Silvan presence in our army's command than they were when Belhadron first became my second, but for a few people it will always be at the back of their minds." He yawned, his jaw cracking, and Thranduil laughed softly.

"There's a spare blanket in one of the cupboards somewhere," he said. "If you want a better pillow, just take one off of my bed."

"I've slept in far worse conditions," Legolas said with a wry smile. "I'm sure I'll cope."

"Belhadron said the same," Thranduil said. He huffed a brief laugh, remembering some of the places he had been forced to rest in, in his days as Prince and the early days of wearing his crown, when they were still working ceaselessly to keep the realm together and he did not have the supposed luxury of remaining behind whilst others patrolled and hunted and killed to make sure they survived. "There are definitely worse places to sleep."

0-o-0-o-0

Belhadron dragged himself off the divan, already missing the warmth of the blanket now pooled on the couch. "What do you have?" he asked in a sleep-roughened voice, running one hand over his face.

"Are you sure you're awake enough to hear it?" one of the spies asked with a smile. The two of them were standing at one end of the table, unloading some of the weapons. There was already a substantial pile on the table, with many weapons that Belhadron didn't care to recognise. He glared at them, forgoing his sword belt to just sheath his knife in the small of his back.

"What do you have?" he asked again. "And do I need to find Rhavaniel, wherever she's disappeared to."

"Nothing certain," one of the spies replied. "But a lot that could be, if you looked at it in the right light. And you might want to send someone to find Rhavaniel, yes, because she will probably be interested in what we have to say."

"I'll send a messenger, but the King wants to speak with you as well," Belhadron said. "Are you done disposing of your less favourable weapons, or do you need a minute?"

Both of the spies laughed. It was fairly well known amongst the captains and the spies that Belhadron wasn't much of a fan of some of the weapons that the spies used, having taken up Legolas' stance on them fairly quickly. Rhavaniel needled him over it constantly, in lighter times, and many of her spies were all too ready to do the same when prompted.

For now, though, they were tired enough to let it pass. "We're ready enough," one of them said, and they shed their grey cloaks to place them over their pile of weapons. "I'm assuming these doors won't be opened until we get back? I'm rather fond of that particular knife there."

"I'll lock the doors," Belhadron replied. "Only the captains have the key, so your precious weapons will remain undisturbed." He huffed a weary laugh, and shut and locked the door behind the two spies as they left.

The halls were quieter, this late at night, though they were not silent. There were still elves working throughout the night, but they were experienced. Many of them had been in service of the realm for a long time now, and knew not to ask questions when the second in command of the Prince of the realm was seen with two other elves who were mud-stained and weary, heading into the King's private quarters.

Rhavaniel found them in the hallway, falling into step beside Belhadron without so much of a glance at him. Her right arm was in a sling, held close to her chest, and she had a hunting knife tucked in her belt. Belhadron guessed that she had been training, and that it hadn't gone too well, if her arm was hurting enough for her to use the sling. But he said nothing, and all Rhavaniel offered him was a small smile before she dropped back to talk to her spies.

They barely even glanced at the guards that stood at the doors, striding straight past them and through into the private quarters. There were various doors off to both side, all unmarked and the same. Belhadron was fairly certain that it had been done on purpose, but whether it was another layer of security for Thranduil and Legolas, or just done to irritate people, he didn't know.

But he'd spent long enough in these halls to know which door was which, and knocked on the door to Thranduil's study. There was a murmured command to enter. Rhavaniel hung back, talking in hushed tones with her spies as she debriefed them.

Thranduil was seated at his desk still, writing something down. Belhadron glanced to the side, and a small smile curled his lips as he saw Legolas, fast asleep under a blanket on the divan that was pushed up against the wall.

"He's been like that for four hours," Thranduil said softly, and Belhadron glanced up to meet his gaze.

"Rhavaniel's two elves just returned," he said. "They're outside, if you want to speak with them. Rhavaniel is talking with them now." He glanced at Legolas again. "I can wake him up, if you want me to."

"He'll only be cross with me if you don't," Thranduil said. "But whatever it is that the spies have, it can wait until morning, at least for the two of you. You seem fairly calm, so I take that it isn't urgent?"

"They would have said if it was," Belhadron replied. "And the two of them seem tired, but not run into the ground." He paused, all of Thranduil's words catching up to him. "Wait, for the two of us?"

A smile tugged at the corners of Thranduil's lips. "I haven't forgotten that you are also not on duty, Belhadron," he reminded him. "Wake up my son, get him to sleep in his own bed and then go to sleep yourself. I need both of you to be well rested and ready for whatever is coming next, not half asleep on your feet because you've been pushing yourself too far. Sleep in your rooms, in Legolas' rooms; I don't particularly care. Just get some rest."

"Of course," Belhadron said. He crouched down beside Legolas on the divan and reached out. "Legolas," he said softly, shaking his shoulder. "Legolas, wake up."

Legolas groaned softly, and his face scrunched up before he finally opened his eyes. "What is it?" he asked, pushing himself up to a sitting position, the blanket pooling in his lap.

Belhadron huffed a soft laugh. "Don't worry, nothing has happened," he said, tugging the blanket off the divan and folding it up. "But your father is about to kick both of us out of here unless we leave now, so let's get you to an actual bed."

Legolas pushed his hair back from his face, and glanced at where Thranduil was watching them, sitting at his desk. "Rhavaniel's spies are back, aren't they?" he asked.

Belhadron paused, and Thranduil merely nodded. "It's not urgent," he said. "If it was, they wouldn't be waiting outside. Rhavaniel has it covered. Go to bed."

Legolas held his gaze for a moment longer, and then looked longingly at the folded blanket at the end of the divan. He sighed. "Fine," he murmured. "I know my limits." More accurately, he knew when he had been out manoeuvred by his best friend and his father, but he wasn't going to say that.

There was another door to Thranduil's study, other than the one leading to the hallway. At Thranduil's nod, Belhadron gently steered Legolas towards it with one hand on his shoulder. Legolas was awake, but only just, and he nearly walked into the door before he thought to try and open it. The living room of Thranduil's quarters was beyond the door, and Belhadron tried not to look at anything as they threaded through the room to yet another door. No matter how many times he did this, it always felt like he was intruding on some terrible level. He was still King, after all, and moments like this, where Thranduil was more father than King in front of him, were rare enough.

They made it to Legolas' rooms without Legolas or Belhadron falling over their feet or walking into a doorframe, though it was a close thing. Belhadron found the past few days catching up with him and his jaw cracked as he yawned. Legolas huffed a laugh.

"Hypocrite," he murmured with a tired smile. "You need to be well rested as well. The realm depends on you as much as it does on me."

"If you really believed that, then you would have taken two weeks off at some point," Belhadron replied, but he did so with a smile. "And I know. Your father already told me as such."

Legolas tugged off his shirt, searching through one of his closets for another to sleep in. Belhadron nudged him aside, pulling out one of his own shirts. He'd been keeping a few changes of clothes in Legolas' rooms for a while now, for when they ended up working until they were exhausted and he was too tired to go back to his own room, or for when he was recuperating from a bad injury and Legolas insisted he stay in these rooms until he was better.

He yawned again, which made Legolas yawn, and both of them huffed weary laughs. "You really should take some time off at some point," Belhadron murmured.

Legolas shrugged. "I will, when things are quieter," he replied. "I'm sure Elladan and Elrohir will make their way over the mountains soon enough, once they hear the news, and they won't hesitate to drag me out for hunting trips." He sighed softly, and glanced over at Belhadron. "I know I was being difficult today, and I'm sorry," he said. "I know you were just worried. Even if you really didn't have to involve my father."

"I really did," Belhadron replied with a wry grin. "It worked, didn't it? Anyway, I accept the apology, and will remind you of all this the next time you decide to test your limits and not sleep for several days." He toed off his boots and slumped on one edge of the bed, beginning to undo the braid in his hair.

Legolas shrugged. "Fair enough," he said. He yawned again, and then all but fell onto the other side of the bed. Belhadron snorted in amusement.

"Your braids will get tangled if you sleep with them in," he said.

"Don't care," Legolas muttered through a pillow, rolling over and pulling a blanket over him. "Go to sleep."

"Yes, captain," Belhadron said with a grin. "Right away, captain." He lay down and tugged at the blanket until he had pulled enough away from Legolas. "Please make sure there isn't a knife under your pillow," he muttered. "I really don't want you waking up in the middle of the night and trying to stab me."

Legolas murmured something unintelligible, and then fell silent, his eyes unfocusing as he slipped into sleep. Belhadron huffed a soft laugh, but all too quickly he felt sleep tugging at him, pulling him down. He didn't fight it, and within moments the room was quiet and still.

0-o-0-o-0

In the heavy darkness, it took him a few moments to work out what had woken him. A candle flame flickered into view, bright against the soft darkness of the early morning hours, and Legolas winced. He shifted and sat up, taking a few seconds to place the heavy weight on the other side of the bed as Belhadron, who was still fast asleep.

Legolas pushed himself up onto his elbows. "What is it?" he asked, his voice roughened by sleep and a mere whisper.

Thranduil shook his head. "I didn't mean to wake you, but I suppose it was inevitable," he replied softly. Legolas knew perfectly well that his father just wanted to check on him, that sometimes the day wore at him until he could not rest without knowing his son was safe. Legolas merely smiled, sitting up on the bed.

"What did Rhavaniel's people say?" he asked. "Is it important?"

"It always is," Thranduil replied with a shrug. "But it can wait until the morning. We will not affect whatever outcome there is if we start working in a few hours, instead of now." Legolas arched a brow, and Thranduil smiled slightly. "Well, we will not have any great effect on the outcome. Don't worry about it."

"You do realise that saying that is completely ineffective?" Legolas asked with a grin. "Just telling me to not worry does not instantly stop me from worrying. It doesn't work like that."

"Sometimes I think my life would be easier if I hadn't insisted on so much tutoring for you as a child," Thranduil replied. He huffed a soft laugh. "It's still a few hours from dawn. Go back to sleep. I should go before Belhadron wakes up as well." He brushed a hand through Legolas' hair, pushing it back from his face. "If you leave your braids in they will get tangled."

Legolas' jaw cracked as he yawned. "I don't really care," murmured, already lying back down and pulling the covers up. Belhadron hadn't moved, still buried under the covers and various pillows and fast asleep.

Thranduil laughed softly, and blew out the candle in his hand. "Go to sleep," he said again. And so Legolas did.

finis

Hope you enjoyed it. The next story is going to be a few chapters, and is Elladan and Elrohir coming to Mirkwood once they receive the news about Erebor. That story isn't actually finished, though, so it might be a little while before it's published. Again, a huge thank you to everyone who has stuck with me, even though I've been a bit of a neglectful author. There will be more.