Disclaimer: Not mine. Any quotes used from the movies belong to Peter Jackson and the people who created the Hobbit movies.

AN: I am so sorry that I have been so bad at my regular posts so to make up for it I will try and do two chapters in one day. Also in this chapter Thranduil's interaction with Thorin's party will be very different from the book.

WARNING: Contains spoilers for the second Hobbit film.

Chapter 14

Golradir and Ireth smiled at the spark they saw in Thranduil's eyes. The eldest Mirkwood prince had just told his father that he and his wife were expecting their second child. The joy of the moment was dampened by the fact that Legolas was not there. He remained shut up in his room. Elrohir was with him and the three concerned elves hoped that he would be able to bring him back to them.

Just then they heard footsteps so soft that a human wouldn't have heard them but their keen elven ears picked up the sound. They turned and saw Elrohir coming towards them. The desperate look on his face caused their hearts to sink.

"What is the matter?" Thranduil asked fearing what the answer would be.

Elrohir opened his mouth but all that came out was a chocked sob. His law-father came forward and gripped his shoulders tightly.

"What has happened to Legolas?" the Mirkwood king asked.

The raven haired elf took a deep breath and tried to compose himself.

"Legolas is fading," he said his voice little more than a whisper.

Upon hearing this all those present paled and felt fear stir in their hearts. Thranduil and Golradir fled down the corridor towards Elrohir and Legolas' chambers.

...

On their arrival they opened the door cautiously and looked into the room. They entered the living room area and headed to the bedroom. Fighting the urge to fling the door opened Thranduil instead opened it as quietly as he could. He and his son approached the bed and what they saw made their hearts stop.

Legolas was almost deathly pale and there were dark shadows under his eyes. His was breathing but barely. Thranduil and Golradir each took one of his hands and spoke to him gently.

"Please ion nin, do not do this," Legolas' father pleaded, "do not take yourself away from us. We can't lose another."

"Brother please," Golradir whispered.

Legolas did not respond to words of either his father or his elder brother.

"Melleth nin please," a new voice said.

Elrohir had entered the room. The two elves beside the bed stepped back and let him take their place. The half elf sat down on the bed and took both Legolas' hands in his.

"Do not let yourself fade away," he begged his voice breaking, "for I will surely die if you do."

Those words seemed to break through the mourning prince's shell. With a pained cry he sat up and flung his arms around his husband. He cried long and hard into Elrohir's shoulder while the dark haired elf stroked his back and murmured words of love and comfort into his ear.

Eventually Legolas quietened down and pulled back. He turned sorrowful eyes towards his father and brother and addressed them as well as Elrohir.

"Forgive me," he said softly, "I did not mean to cause you all so much pain."

Golradir came forward and hugged his brother and Thranduil kissed him on the forehead.

"There is nothing to forgive ion nin," Thranduil assured his youngest son, "you are back with us. No as a family we can begin to mend."

...

And mend they did. There were still days that Thranduil would grieve for his wife and Legolas and Golradir would grieve for their mother. However they knew that Silmarwen would have wanted them to carry on and support each other.

Besides this there was still the problem of Dol Guldur. The evil that came from that place was now very strong and the Mirkwood warriors continued to fight of Orc and spider attacks.

With Legolas finally healing from his mother's death he could resume command of his patrol.

...

One day while he was heading patrol he became aware of the sounds many pairs of feet approaching. He signalled his warriors to make themselves hidden and they faded into the surrounding forest.

As they watched they saw a party of thirteen dwarves and a Halfling making their way through the forest.

Legolas eyes narrowed as he recognised the dwarf that led the party. It was Thorin Oakenshield son of Thrain. He wondered what would bring the dwarves and the Halfling into Mirkwood. He knew that they had been driven out their kingdom, Erebor, by the dragon Smaug many months ago. He didn't know why a Halfling would be travelling with them. Deciding that it was time to take action he signalled his patrol and they leapt from the trees, surrounded the dwarves and drew their bows.

"Do not think I won't kill you dwarf," Legolas snarled at Thorin.

Thorin levelled at stare at Legolas which the woodland prince returned in kind.

"Relieve them of their weapons," he ordered his warriors.

Just then Elrohir appeared. He saw the Mirkwood elves removing the weapons from a party of fourteen. He could remember his father telling him about Thorin Oakenshield's quest and approached his husband.

"Wait," he said, "I know what they're doing here."

Legolas listened as his husband told him the tale. He thought for a moment. So these dwarves were attempting to reclaim their homeland.

"And they brought the Halfling along as burglar?" he asked Elrohir his lip twitching in amusement.

Elrohir nodded barely suppressing his own smile.

"Very well," Legolas turned to Thorin, "I will take you to my father and he will decided whether or not to let you pass through these lands."

...

The trip back to the palace didn't take very long and soon they reached the throne room.

Legolas explained to his father what the dwarves and the Halflings were doing. Thranduil regarded the party silently for a moment.

"You may pass through these lands," he told them, "so long as you don't cause any trouble with my people. You may also take rest in Laketown. We have a trade agreement with the people there so don't cause problems during your stay."

Thorin merely grunted his assent and the party left the woodland kings halls.

When they had left Legolas turned to his father.

"Ada, what if Smaug awakens and chooses to leave the mountain. He could destroy Laketown," he said.

"If Laketown is attacked we will take up arms and go to their aid. And pray to the Valar that this time we can vanquish the beast."