Chapter 11 : Patience

"Treacherous beguiling snake!" It roared as he paced indignantly among the trees, biting at his claws. He turned to look past the canopies and over at the elven fortress, eyeing it with an excessive scowl before turning back to his groaning and complaining, "I will have him again, and when I do I will not have fun. No…this time I'll suck him dry! And then his son will be next." his lips curled into an insane like smirk as he fantasized about the king sprawled on the ground cold and pale with not a drop of blood left in him and the prince beside him horrifically waiting for his turn. It gave out a deep chuckle and a gasp from excitement. He turned back towards the fortress and stood thinking of how he could sneak in this time. He was sure that his lucky opening the day he kidnapped the king was most likely heavily guarded now "A way in… I need a way in!" he screeched and clawed at the bark of the tree he stood on causing it to groan and shake. "Quiet you" he hissed at the tree and dug his claws into its bark deeper "Once I have our king back in my care this little scratch wont even be a third of what will really happen to you and the rest of the wood" he smirked wider and jumped off the trees branch and began to move fast knowing that the trees will try to send a message to their king and prince to warn them of his whereabouts.

Deeper he went but still staid within seeing range of the fortress not wanting to take his eyes off it. After a long while of watching the guards and looking at the fortress from all sides he finally found a way in. It wasn't going to be easy and the chances of success were not very high but still, with the right timing he would be able to do it. He smirked triumphantly and wanted to scream in excitement from having found an opening. It looked away fast so not to be tempted to lunge for it now, and clawed at his face to forcefully keep himself from turning. He laughed and twirled keeping his gaze upwards as if looking to the sky was a way to occupy his mind from temptation. euphoria from his fantasizing that he didn't even notice "Soon! Soon! Ah I can taste it! I can taste him!" It screeched out a monstrous scream of ecstasy, before going limp. His arms fell down to his sides and he closed his eyes, head still tilted upwards while smirking, and his grayed lips parted as if in a silent scream. "King Thranduil you truly are a snake, slithering away from my grasp and making me come for you again… look at what you turned me into…you and your treacherous father. It's his fault... and yours that I'm like this… Not that I'm complaining now" it shook in a silent fit of chuckles as it walked away towards the heart of the wood in search for anything or anyone to feed on while he waits.

It was a late morning for the prince as he began to wake from his slumber. For a very short moment he forgot everything that had happened the past few days and thought he was still traveling on his previous journey. He lightly smiled at the nostalgic scent of leaves, wood, and…calming herbs? He cracked his eyes open and groaned lightly remembering everything silently wishing it wasn't true. He then looked out the window and frowned when he saw the sun had already been up for hours making him shoot up and out of bed "Why did no one wake me?!" he spoke in annoyance not even knowing or caring if someone was around to hear him. He stumbled out of bed still in a light daze ftom sleep and went over to his father's bedside to check on him. He was still in the same position he left him at and wasn't sure if he should feel relief or more worry because of it. Legolas reached out to hold his adar's hand and gasped lightly from how cold it was sending shivers up his spine in fear. He hesitantly checked for a pulse with mixed feelings about what he may find or more specifically what he may not find. As his fingers probed his king's neck for the pulse he sighed heavily and dropped to his knees in relief. His own body shook in fear and he had to take a moment to calm himself before he stood up again and frowned "Why is his body so cold…and his fever has returned as well…" he pulled the covers up more and added one more blanket over Thranduil's body before looked around for cool water and clean cloths to dampen his fathers forehead with.

Just as he returned to his fathers side he heard the wooden doors open as someone walked in "Las when did you wake? You should have called for someone" the blond elf looked up at his guardian with an un-amused expression "Galion why hadn't anyone awaken me for my shift last night? And ada's fever has returned. Why is there no one watching over him?" he growled the last part as he then gave his attention to the sick elder. He heard a sigh from behind him but didn't turn, as he was now busy with trying to cool Thranduil's fever. "Las you hadn't had a good nights sleep in a while and you needed it. The three of us managed to take care of your father last night and Tathar had just left to come and get me to take his place on watching Thranduil while he deals with the guards and other matters. I was about to wake you since Tathar hadn't the heart to do so himself, yet it seems I did not need to" he chuckled lightly and shook his head "we can't help but still think of you as an elfling Las…" Legolas shot an annoyed glance at the advisor making him chuckle more "Like father like son…" was all he said before turning to the herb table. Legolas rolled his eyes and cracked a smile. He really couldn't stay mad at his friends for long. He looked down at his adar's face with sad eyes. Why could he not have forgiven his father that easily? His own flesh and blood who not only played the role of his king but also a father and a mother. Then again there really wasn't anything to forgive. He was just being stubborn and selfish and if anyone needed to be forgiven it was him. He leant in and kissed his father's forehead before whispering quiet enough for just him and hopefully his father to hear "Ada…forgive me…"

A few hours passed with no change as Legolas and Galion sat together watching the king and talking about the events that have happened in the past two years that Las had been gone. "I see you have been through many hardships in the past two years and gained quite a few interesting comrades. We have had our fare share of hardships with the forest and intruders. As for the king, other than the constant worry for you and lack of self-care, Thranduil has been somewhat the same as he usually is. Stubborn and demanding" Galion smiled sadly at his sleeping friend and pat his still shoulder "He may not wake soon, but his body needs the rest. He had been in a weak state before he was ever even kidnapped. The fact that he was kidnapped is proof enough. It is not easy to win a fight against Thranduil. He still holds the highest record in both archery and his two sword style, and your father is quite a lancer as well though I beat him in that" Galion puffed his chest out triumphantly for holding the best record in mastering the lance. Legolas was very surprised at this. He always thought that he was the best at archery, until realization hit him. His adar always did tell him he was the best and he had competed against everyone even Galion and Tathar, yet he never thought of challenging his ada "Adar always told me I was the best archer. He never did mention to me that he could even use a bow or lance" Galion snorted and rolled his eyes "You two are so alike at times I start to wonder if you two are actually twins instead of father and son" Galion smirked lightly at Legolas "Your father would never tell you that you aren't the best even if it were the truth. There are also many things you don't know about him simply because you do not think to ask and he does not think to share. You seem to forget that the king was not always a king. He was like you once wanting to go on adventures, travel to other lands but he too as a prince had to follow his duties and unlike him your dearadar was an extremely serious headstrong elf. Thranduil was never allowed to do even half the things he allows you to. Do you not wonder why he forgives you easily or lets you do things you shouldn't? He wants you to live the life he couldn't before you are bound to the title and responsibilities of a king"

Galion was right about him always being forgiven easily and he took it for granted. He remembers listening in on Thranduil and Galion or sometimes Tathar as they lectured his father on having to be more stern with him and his adas replies to them would always be 'he is young, allow him to enjoy his youth' but the truth was he couldn't be young forever and yet he was still allowed to be given that excuse especially when he is now a little over two millennia. He smiled softly at his foolishness and his father's excuses for his foolish acts. He heard Galion speak again and looked up to find him brushing a few tangles out of Thranduil's hair "Ever since he found out you left on the quest he had not been able to sleep through one whole night. He would either constantly wake up in a sweat or not return to his chambers at all. In the end he would always go to your garden and sit there till the rising of Anar. He never spoke of what he saw in his dreams but Tathar and I are sure they were of you…" Galion moved away from his king and threw a new piece of wood into the hearth where he had started a fire to keep Thranduil warm.

Legolas sighed softly as he replaced the warm towel on his father's forehead with a fresh cool one. He needed to hear his father's voice, to see his eyes wide and awake, and to see the smile that would assure him that everything would be all right. He needed to know that he would be all right. He closed his eyes and focused on their bond and decided to speak to Thranduil through it in hopes that it would do something…anything.

Thranduils fea was slightly larger but not big enough to feel at ease. Legolas surrounded it with his own energy and feelings to strengthen him as he began to speak. Quiet and slow, he began to tell Thranduil about the quest of the one ring. The people he met and the places he had passed through along with the friends he made. There was no response from his father but just feeling the warm glow of his fea kept him at ease and he continued. He didn't stop until something or someone who was shaking his shoulder interrupted him. He groaned annoyed as he broke the bond and opened his eyes to see the raven-haired healer looking down at him "Hello Legolas. My apologies for disrupting what you were doing but I need to check on your father without you aiding his recovery" He raised his eyebrow like he usually did and removed Legolas' hand from Thranduils before starting to examine him. Legolas looked at Galion who stood aside watching. "Galion does Lord Elrond hold the highest record for brow raising?" He smirked teasingly and heard a husky laugh come from behind the door and then another from Galion. He looked at the entrance and watched Tathar walk in laughing "Ahaha Yes Las Elrond over here has won many of these challenges, even Thranduil can't refuse Elrond when gives him the arch" the elf lord glared at Tathar making him roar in more laughter and Galion leant against Tathars shoulder laughing hard with him. Legolas couldn't help but laugh as well, raising his hands up innocently when Elrond turned to glare at him for starting it "You brought this upon yourself my Lord. First you do not wake me for the night shift then you make me wait for you to examine ada" Elrond rolled his eyes trying to ignore the snickers from the two ellon "Hush you two and act your ages. The last time I checked I only had one overgrown elfling to take care of" Tathar and Galion looked at Las and laughed quietly to themselves. Legolas glared back at the elder elf who couldn't help but snicker himself when he saw Legolas expression in the mirror in front of them. "Come now Las you do act like an elfling at times…most of the time" They all laughed as Legolas swatted at Tathar who shielded himself with Galion as he continued to make fun, making everyone in the room laugh and for a moment Elrond almost thought he saw Thranduil's lips twitch into a smile but it was gone too fast to be completely sure.

After a few more minutes of harmless bickering with each other they all sat down to take a moment to breath and calm them selves. Legolas smiled, happy to be home and wishing his father were well to share these moments with him. He remembered what they had discussed the night before and looked up at the three eldar sitting around his adars bed "Lord Elrond…you still have not told me the last reason to my fathers most recent fading incident before now…" Elrond was quiet for a moment looking at Thranduil for what seemed like ages as if he were mentally talking to the sleeping king "The king has heard the call of the sea…"