Thank you to all readers and/or reviewers!
Thanks to Calenlass Greenleaf for beta reading this chapter for me!
Legolas awoke slowly. His head hurt. His throat burned. Even his very bones ached. He moaned and pulled himself into a sitting position as he tried to fight the waves of nausea that racked his body. It took him a few moments to realize that he was in his own bed. He looked over and saw that his father and brother were both asleep in chairs beside his bed. His heart dropped when he saw the mirror and sack of powder on the nightstand next to the bed. 'They know,' he thought as panic set in. Then he frantically looked across the room and saw the wardrobe was undisturbed. Silently he pulled on his boots and took all the money from the bottom drawer of the bureau in his room. Lastly he soundlessly opened the wardrobe and took the last bag of powder, pocketed it, and then he slipped out of the palace.
An hour later Thranduil awoke. He jumped up when he realized the bed was empty.
"Legolas?" the king called as he quickly scanned the room and the adjoining bathing room.
Camthalion heard his father and stirred from his deep sleep.
"What is wrong?" Camthalion yawned.
"Legolas is not here," Thranduil replied as he took his search to the corridor. He went directly to the guards at the great doors. The guards bowed to him. "Has Lord Legolas left the palace?" he inquired anxiously.
"Yes, my lord," one guard answered, "He left nearly an hour ago. He went toward the forest."
Thranduil and Camthalion looked at each other with horrified expressions.
"I thought Legolas would be too ill to even move this morning," Camthalion said.
"Yes," Thranduil agreed, "We need to find him quickly. I am worried."
They hurried to the stables and quickly mounted their horses. Then they swiftly rode off into the forest.
"I will check all the usual places he goes with Valen and Sellion,' Camthalion said, "I am sure that he will turn up there."
"Good," Thranduil replied, "I will stay on the Elf Path."
Thranduil watched Camthalion ride off before searching deeper into the forest. Soon the morning came and went. The hot summer sun beat down mercilessly overhead. The day had become quite hot and humid. Thranduil wiped his brow. He had not been able to locate his youngest son. He decided to go back to the palace to see if he turned up. He found Camthalion handing his horse to the stable hand.
"I did not find him, Adar," Camthalion admitted when he saw his father.
"I think we should see if he came back home before we go out again," Thranduil said, "And remember Camthalion I do not want our family problems aired. We will find Legolas on our own. His problem need not be the subject of local gossip."
"Yes, Adar," Camthalion replied, thinking that with Legolas's recent behavior how could he not be the main topic of conversation.
He walked into the palace with Thranduil and began to search the private area of the palace before spreading out to the public areas.
"My lord!" an advisor called, "I have been searching for you everywhere! This petition requires your signature!"
Thranduil dismissed him with a wave of his hand and continued his search. The advisor looked baffled. An hour later they were no closer to finding Legolas than they had been that morning.
"We will go back to the forest," Thranduil said. His handsome face looked deeply troubled.
"I will look to the south and to the west," Camthalion said.
"Good," Thranduil replied, "The longer he is missing the more frightened I feel. We need to find him as quickly as possible."
"He will be found soon," Camthalion said so determinedly that Thranduil almost believed him.
They retrieved their horses and then set off in different directions. Twenty minutes into the forest Thranduil stopped. He listened to the trees for any indication that Legolas had been there. But they merrily sang their summer song, indicating that nothing was amiss. The afternoon wore on without as much as a sign of Legolas. Thranduil felt panic rise in his heart. He slowed his horse to a trot and began to mentally recount each place that they had searched. Then a sudden thought hit him. He knew a place that had not yet been searched. Thranduil had not been to that part of the forest in thirty years; it was too painful. But he tried to push those feelings aside as urged his horse forward.
He slowly approached that dreadful part of the forest. When he arrived he felt fresh grief, feelings that he had managed to bury, hit him with full force. He fought back tears as his breath came in short pants. He looked around at the beautiful forest, the last thing that Faelwen had seen before she died. Then he noticed a slender figure propped up against the trunk of a tree. Relief flooded Thranduil heart as he made his way over to Legolas. As soon as he approached his son he knew that Legolas had taken the powder. His eyes were glassy and his head rolled drunkenly to the side. Thranduil sat next to his son. Legolas slowly turned his head toward him. He smiled at Thranduil as though it was an ordinary day and he had not a care in the world.
"Hello, Adar," he chirped.
"Hello, Legolas," Thranduil replied with a sad smile, remembering how he used to get such enthusiastic greetings from his sons when they were small. "How to do you feel?" he asked.
"I am great!" Legolas slurred, "Where have you been all day?"
"Camthalion and I have been looking for you. I was very worried," Thranduil replied.
"Why would you worry?" Legolas said slowly, "I have been here all day."
"Legolas, we need to discuss what we are going to do about your…your problem," Thranduil replied, carefully choosing his words.
"What problem?" Legolas asked.
"Your problem with that," Thranduil answered as he pointed to the sack of powder on the ground beside Legolas.
"Are you mad?" Legolas inquired, "I do not have a problem."
Thranduil forced himself not to argue. 'He is not in his right mind,' he reasoned to himself, 'we will address it later.'
"Come, Legolas, let's go home," Thranduil said as he placed his arm around his son.
Legolas staggered as he attempted to stand up. Thranduil helped him to his feet and guided him toward the horse. Legolas was so far under the influence of the powder that he could not mount the horse without Thranduil's help. Thranduil swung himself up on the mare's back behind Legolas and began their way back home. Legolas could not control himself and lolled over to the side.
"Lean back on me," Thranduil told him as he pulled Legolas to his chest. "We will be home soon," he said, "Then you can rest."
They made good time and were back at the palace stables within twenty minutes. Thranduil helped pull Legolas from his horse and quickly steered him into the palace before the stable hands could see what was going on.
"My lord!" a servant gasped when they walked into the palace, "Is Lord Legolas well?"
"He will be fine," Thranduil replied, "He has just had too much sun. Send a healer to his room immediately."
"Right away, my lord," the servant said with a quick bow.
Thranduil helped Legolas the rest of the way to his bedchambers. Legolas could hardly put one foot in front of the other. He laughed happily as if he were on a stroll through the gardens. Thranduil lowered him onto his bed.
"I want you to rest, Legolas," Thranduil said seriously, "I do not want you to leave this room until we have this entire situation sorted out. So you understand me?"
"Understand what, Adar?" Legolas asked with a smile.
"He will not remember what you are saying, my lord," Aranhil appeared in the doorway, "He is heavily under the powder's influence."
Aranhil closed the door behind him and walked into the room. He walked over to Legolas and peered at him.
"How do you feel, my lord?" he asked carefully.
"I feel…good," Legolas gushed.
'He certainly does look happy,' Aranhil mused as he checked Legolas's pulse. Aranhil straightened up and walked over to Thranduil.
"We cannot do anything until the powder wears off," Aranhil said in a lowered voice that only Thranduil could hear, "He will be quite happy until then. To get him off his dependence of the powder is not going to be easy. He is going to be very ill for a few days. Even after that he may go back to taking the powder. We will just have to wait."
"Of course," Thranduil said as his eyes swept over Legolas who laying on the bed laughing at something known only to him.
"He is going to need you to be here with him, my lord," Aranhil said, "Being surrounded by those he loves will help a great deal."
"How long until he is ill?" Thranduil asked.
"Since he has been taking powder all day," Aranhil answered, "I would speculate that he will begin feeling ill in a couple of hours, depending on when he last inhaled some. But I must warn you, my lord. When he begins to need some of the powder he may become violent and things may get tense."
"I understand," Thranduil said.
Thranduil sat next to Legolas for the next hour. It was hard to engage in any verbal interaction for Legolas found everything hilariously funny. He lounged on the bed and laughed at nearly everything Thranduil said or would try to sing and laugh at himself. He had calmed down greatly when Camthalion entered the room some time later looking tired.
"Amoniel told me that you had found him," Camthalion said, looking greatly relieved. He leaned down and tried to hug Legolas but he pushed him off, obviously still angry with him. "What is wrong, little brother?" Camthalion asked, "I was so worried about you."
"Get out of my chambers!" Legolas all but shouted, "I do not want you here!"
"Legolas, calm down," Thranduil warned, "There is no need to be so rude."
"I do not want him here!" Legolas said, "He meddles in things that are none of his affair!"
"It is fine, Adar," Camthalion said, "I will leave." Then he turned to Legolas, "I hope that you feel better, Legolas." he said kindly.
"I will as soon as you get out of here," Legolas retorted snidely.
Thranduil stepped out into the corridor to talk to Camthalion. Legolas took this opportunity to get some hidden powder from the bathing chamber. He had snorted a little powder when he heard his father enter the room.
"Legolas!" Thranduil shouted in shock.
Legolas looked up at his father, looking as though Thranduil had no reason to look at him that way.
"Give that to me," Thranduil said as he took a step closer.
Legolas took a step back and clutched the bag of powder as though his life depended on it. Thranduil's heart broke at the look on Legolas's face. He looked frightened, like a caged animal. It made him sick to see his son so broken. It was obvious that Legolas had entirely lost himself to the wicked powder. Thranduil took another step closer to his son. Legolas looked as though he were about to flee. Thranduil quickly placed a firm hand on Legolas's shoulder and tried to take the powder with the other.
"No, Adar," Legolas said sharply as he jerked from his father's grasp. Thranduil quickly grabbed hold of him in an attempt to get the powder. Legolas struggled in his arms. Then Thranduil was sharply elbowed in the stomach, knocking him to the floor and taking his breath. Reflexively he released Legolas as he let out a painful wheeze. He put aside his discomfort, lunged forward, and grabbed Legolas before he could escape. He greatly struggled to keep hold him.
"Let me go!" Legolas screeched as he nearly slipped from Thranduil. He called his father every vulgar name he could think of. Thranduil received several kicks and blows but he held fast to Legolas.
"Legolas!" Thranduil had to shout be heard over his son, "Legolas stop fighting me!"
For several minutes they continued to struggle.
"Legolas listen to me!" Thranduil shook him like a rag doll.
Astonishingly Legolas obeyed.
"Look at what you are doing to yourself, to our family!" Thranduil cried.
"What are you talking about?" Legolas answered angrily, "I am doing nothing wrong!"
"What do you call using the powder?" Thranduil asked.
"That is nothing," Legolas brushed it off.
"If it is nothing then why will you not stop using it?" Thranduil said, "Look at your hands! You are shaking! Someone who is in control of himself does not shake like that!"
Legolas looked down at his trembling hands and willed them to stop. But he could not.
"I…I…I," he stuttered, not knowing what to say or do. His face was filled with misery.
"I know that you are unhappy and do not want to continue using it," Thranduil said gently, "You do not want to use the powder do you, Legolas?"
"I…I cannot stop," Legolas began to cry, "I've tried to…"
Thranduil quickly reached over and grabbed Legolas. He eased both of them to the floor as Legolas continued to sob.
"I am so sorry," he wept.
"Shhh," Thranduil crooned as he wrapped his arms protectively around his son. The entire situation was wearing on Thranduil. The scene that had just unfolded upset him greatly. Legolas's desperate sobs tore his heart in two. Unable to control his emotions any longer Thranduil allowed his own tears to flow freely. He nestled his chin on the top of Legolas's head. "We will get through this, Legolas," he wept, "I promise that we will."
For over an hour they remained on the chamber floor and shed all the tears they had. Finally Legolas looked up at his father. Guilt bored through him as he looked at his father's tear stained face.
"I am so sorry, Adar," Legolas said, "I know that I have brought shame on the family and I am sorry."
"Shhh, do not worry about that now. We are just going to focus on getting you well," Thranduil's voice quavered a bit, "I know you do not want to use the powder."
"I want to be free of it," Legolas said, determination was unmistakable in his blue eyes.
Thranduil smiled approvingly at him. "Then I will help you. It will be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, Legolas. But I will stay with you every step of the way."
Legolas hugged his father.
"I know it is going to be hard, Adar," Legolas said, "But I want to start living again."
Fresh tears sprang to Thranduil's eyes. His son was coming back to him.