With the Isen's Flow

Disclaimer: I only borrow the characters. I don't own them.

AN: More drama! :3

Chapter 10

Rushed footsteps echoed off the walls as the owner took great long strides, trudging forward, determined to cross the corridors before his breath left him. When he passed by the others, he did not even bother about the worried glances he received. For that was the least of his concerns at the very moment.

The elf took a sharp turn and clenched his teeth. The action made the wound in his leg throb. His steps faltered slightly but still he did not stop. He brushed off the limp as he had done the whole time and sped ahead.

There was grave news.

The door to his hall flew open startling Oropher and his advisors. The king still had not gotten over the shock of this audacious entry when his surprise intensified when he took upon the condition of the intruder.

It was one of his home guards. His hair was dishevelled, his eyes frantic, ankle bloody and the way he was limping and stumbling towards his throne, it was more of a reason for Oropher to feel a sudden sense of foreboding in his heart.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked rising from his throne, feeling his voice chocking at the horrors he could already see before his eyes. After all, such a sight could only be attributed to one thing.

The elf swallowed thickly, trying to suppress his pain. Bringing it under control he said confirming Oropher's worst fears, "My King, we have been attacked."

"Attacked!" The king whispered under his breath, his eyes widening as if he could now see the horrors in his head more vividly. "By whom?"

The guard frowned. His eyes began glowing with hatred as he struggled to bring the names to his mouth as if just by mentioning it would make him sick.

Finally he answered, "Dwarves, Sire".

At that Oropher stilled completely and along with him a silence engulfed the vast throne room.

"Dwarves?"

"Yes. Four. They pillaged talans and destroyed our posts. There are no casualties yet but they are barbaric. They ambushed us. And I fear there are more to come."

Murmurs started behind him. Hushed words of panic and worry soon started drifting in the large hall as the impact of the guards' words sunk in the advisors' mind. Soon their worry deceased as the very tone of their voices changed. Now the whispers were no longer bewildered. They became stronger, firmer and more determined as the elves used their wisdom to protect themselves and strategize.

Oropher's face hardened. His eyes flickered as mentally, he began stringing the facts and the events which had happened over the past few days. With each passing moment, the entire picture became clearer to him and as it did his face grew paler and harder as the flame in his eyes intensified.

Just then, another realization rolled over him causing the elf king to pause in his next course of action.

Thranduil.

His heart suddenly froze with fear.

If word had reached him, then surely it would reach his son. And if it did...

He took in a shuddering breath, oblivious to the concerned gazes being directed at him. His heart leapt in his throat, leaving a void in its place which ached all the more as Oropher tried to calm himself.

He turned on his heels and flew down the stairs, ignoring the calls from his advisors. Hs son was his priority. Thranduil would not be the source of his worry at other times but he was smitten. He was rebelling and in that spirit if he did something foolish then he would certainly be killed by the hands of his ownkind.

A cold chill ran down Oropher's spine as he clenched his teeth, wilfully trying to discard the trail of thought.

No. He couldn't have Thranduil leave. He couldn't have his people killed for the sake of one dwarf. He couldn't have his son killed for the sake of that dwarf.

"Prepare the defences. Keep close. Dwarves will use their brute strength. Take care of them before they reach too close." He called out over his shoulders to the elf guard who was expected to rally his troops. He was about to leave the room entirely but before he could do so, he commanded one more thing which surprised the other occupants, "No one should enter. And no one should leave."

Thranduil frowned as few elves hurried past him. Their whole body language told of something urgent but as he approached anyone to ask, he found none having the time to stop and just answer. Not even to their prince.

At first he shrugged off thinking it nothing but the drills which Oropher subjected them to. He too had been part of it once— overseeing the drills and initiating it. Once he was the one guiding them. Now it was the other way around.

Just then another group of elves ran past him. This time, they were more in number and much too heavily armed for it to be just drills.

Worry ate his heart as Thranduil tried guessing what it could be to arouse such reactions from the others.

Wild animals?

No, that could not be right. Greenwood had animals, true but none were too dangerous for the elves to hunt them. Then what could it be?

His eyes widened with fear when the sound of a horn came floating in. At the very implication of it, Thranduil tried exhaling but all of a sudden, he found it to be too difficult as if a great weight was sitting over his chest— a great block of ice— chilling him from within and depriving his lungs which now soared for air.

His vision blurred and legs wobbled, the weight of his body becoming too great to bear. He took unstable steps back all the while he tried to wrap his head around what was happening. Thranduil gasped when his back touched the wall and he jerked forward, flinching even more when something grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back, dragging him away.

His sight clearing, he looked up incredulously and the fear in him worsened all the more when his eyes landed upon the being which was now pulling him towards his own chamber.

"Adar! Are we under—"

He was cut off when Oropher opened the door to his chamber and swung Thranduil in, making the younger elf stumble a few steps while he found his balance. By the time he could stable himself, Oropher was already storming off towards the door.

"Adar, please! Tell me what is happening!" Thranduil pleaded, quickly taking off after his father. His heart was suddenly thrumming wildly as his mind drifted towards the centre of the forest and in a hut till it landed on a very familiar face. The image flashed in his mind for just a blink of an eye before his eyes were met with the site of his father turning and the door closing.

"Adar!" Thranduil screamed, stilling for one moment when he heard something heavy being put on the door. Shock filled him and his heart was again gripped by pure horror as he realized what was truly going on around him.

He banged on the door; screamed, begged, pleaded to be let out but Oropher seemed to pay no heed. The sound outside the door stopped and so did Thranduil's scream.

He kept his ears to the thick wooden panel trying to hear any other sound which would follow. His father was still there for his ears could not pick up the sound of receding footsteps. His father was still standing just opposite to him. He was still there. He had not left yet.

"Adar," Thranduil called out softly bringing his hand up once more to bang on the door. But he soon brought it down when his father's words entered his ears.

"Stay."

It was more an advice than a command. Oropher's tone had firmness to it but beneath it all, Thranduil could detect one more thing.

Fear.

The same which took hold of him immediately as his mind flashed over to his young son.

Legolas!

Thranduil had been such a fool! His son was outside. He was still outside, he was alone! And if they were attacked, then he needed to stay with his son!

Oropher perhaps had detected his son's mental state for he quickly added, "Legolas is safe. He is not here."

Quickly, relief washed over Thranduil. He sighed as he recalled that his son had left for the Golden Woods just the day before. He was safe and out of harm's way for now.

But Thorin wasn't.

Just as the very name came to his mind, Thranduil's heart wrenched painfully. He knew well enough why this all was happening. Thorin's words reverberated in his ears. Thorin had been called a heretic. He was hiding. He was taking refuge so that he could escape the others.

Dwarves.

They were certainly looking for Thorin and they would not stop till they had caught him.

He was again brought to attention when some more heavy sounds followed. Oropher was unlocking his door. However, he heard his father speaking to someone else. No, not speaking. Ordering. His father was ordering—probably to the guards—which deepened Thranduil's frown.

Oropher knew his son extremely well and was telling the guards to escort Thranduil should they need to evacuate; not let him go anywhere alone. His father was making sure he couldn't leave where he truly wanted to.

Thranduil straightened up and closed his eyes. His entire focus was on the outside, his keen ears picking up any and every sound which followed.

His heart steadied, determination burned in him and suddenly he found a sudden strength which would help him disobey his father.

And Thranduil knew that he would not regret it.

So far there was no news of further attack. The dwarves were holding off, screaming and demanding for 'the traitor' to be handed over. The elves were perplexed and demanded to be clarified. The dwarves refused.

Oropher kept his steely gaze upon the leader of the small brute band, assessing him and trying to find out anything which would reveal their true intentions. At the mention of a traitor, the father in him grew extremely anxious, afraid that they were talking about Thranduil. However, the diplomat in him told otherwise. Thranduil had not stepped outside Greenwood for years. And his dwarf...they couldn't be one of these lot. That meant that these barbarians were truly searching for the one over whom his son was so smitten. And that meant that he was in Greenwood and nearby!

Worry crashed against him and he kept his piercing gaze still despite the storm which was building up in his chest.

Soon, the elves would figure out that there truly was a dwarf in refuge. And they would figure out who brought him here...and why.

His best option was to stall as long as possible and make it seem like the dwarf in question was a criminal of some other sin.

His gaze flickered when he noticed a new dwarf running towards his companions and whispering something to the other with excitement. No sooner had he done so, the others quickly fell back and disappeared into the forest, running at full speed and with a new found vigour.

Oropher stood confused as did the elves.

Did they give up? Would giving up make them so energetic? Or did they finally find him?

The indication brought immense amount of relief to the king. If they did, then Thranduil's secret would not be revealed and his son would be spared! He still ordered his army to hold their ground unsure if the dwarves had any unfair surprise planned for them.

However, their heavy steps were disappearing deep into the forest. They were moving and were not crouching for an attack.

Glad, Oropher sighed out and asked his army to keep an eye out.

They truly did find the dwarf.

He was about to turn and head towards the throne room when he was stopped by another elf which practically stopped short of colliding with his king.

Oropher frowned. He knew the elf. He had seen him not four hours ago outside his son's room.

"Why are you not in your place?" He admonished, narrowing his gaze at the other. But the elf's very appearance was proving that he was not shirking his duty.

The Silvan's eyes were wide with panic and his face was so pale that it betrayed the whiteness of snow.

"Your Majesty," he began, struggling to force his voice out of his throat, "The prince. He did not stop."

"What?" Oropher felt the ground sliding beneath his feet as he looked scandalously at the elf guard. "He ran out?" He hissed, feeling the desperation seeping into his cold mask.

The guard lowered his gaze at which the anger in Oropher rose, followed soon by an utter sense of terror as his whole body numbed.

He quickly shoved the other and ran towards the stable, hoping to catch his son before he did something more foolish.

As he left, he missed the dubious stares he was receiving from other elves of whom, some broke flank and followed their king. They caught wind of something which concerned the king's son and Thranduil's behaviour over the last few days only fuelled their suspicion.

And by the time they mounted their steeds, they did more than just assume.

AN: We are almost there! Almooost! Please review~