Fourteenth chapter: Protecting the north
For five years the elves of Eryn Lasgalen made a barrier for the lasting evil creatures to venture from the south to the northern stronghold of Gundabad. The elves managed to block the way for the evil travelers, making it almost impossible for them to reach the stronghold. Many orcs, men and other evil creatures travelled from Mordor, the Misty mountains and Rhûn to Gundabad. But the elves of Eryn Lasgalen prevented most of them to reach the stronghold.
Legolas and his team had in those five years played an essential in protecting the north, being almost constantly on patrol duty, either to the south, west or even east, always where there was the highest need for them, and therefore the places where it was most dangerous.
"What are you thinking about?" came Tristan's soft voice from beside Legolas.
The blond haired elf gave Legolas a warm smile, kind green eyes meeting icy blue.
"We're a long way from home" Legolas just said quietly, gazing over the green plains before him, bathed in the light of the rising moon.
"We're been a long way from home the last three months" Tristan said softly, "and you have been awful quit these last days. Something troubles you, captain?".
"I'm not sure" Legolas said before looking over the plains again.
"Not sure, or just not want to share it?" Tristan asked a bit skeptical.
Legolas chuckled and gave him a warm smile, "I'm actually not sure" he insured,
"It still hurt, doesn't it?".
"Every single day" Legolas breathed, his hand going up to hold the rings around his neck. Whenever Legolas went on patrol or to battle, he joined his weddingring with Arin's engagement ring he kept in a chain around his neck.
"You do know we're all here for you, right" Tristan said, his voice still soft, "even when you don't think you need us".
"Thank you" Legolas turned and bowed his head.
"The elfling is right" it came from Anglond where he other was supposed to be sleeping, but now all were awake.
"Stop calling me that!" Tristan exclaimed.
"But you're the youngest of us" Anglond teased.
Tristan groan and walked to slap Anglond on the back of his head, just making Anglond grip his leg and pull him to the ground.
"Do not mess with the big boys, elfling" he laughed, but nevertheless helped Tristan up again.
Legolas walked back towards the others, shaking his head in amusement of the antics. He took his water skin from his bag, and took a sip of the water.
"Were you not supposed to be asleep?" Legolas looked towards the others, gaining their attention.
"Your bad mood woke us up" Anglond said mock offended.
"Bad mood?" Legolas asked surprised, "when am I ever in a bad mood?".
"Well somethings up with you, that's why we sent Tristan" Anglond explained.
"Really?" Legolas asked mock surprised.
"Yes" Anglond said, "to find out what was going on".
"Honestly, as I told Tristan already, I'm not sure there is something going on…" Legolas trailed of, turning to look towards the east. He did not react to the others questions, Rozarko slowly walking up beside him, all afraid he was having another attack, even though it was half a year since his last one.
"Legolas?" Rozarko softly asked, seeing Legolas breathing was calm.
"Something are approaching from the east" Legolas said calmly, turning to see Rozarko looking worried at him.
"What?" Legolas asked, realizing the reason for his minder's worry, "sorry".
"What is approaching" Girion asked from the other side of the camp, also looking east.
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't feel evil" Legolas replied, "but I think we should be prepared, just in case".
They all cleared camp and went for the trees. Not long after, twenty riders rode into the small clearing in the small wood where Legolas' team had camped. Legolas recognizing the one in the front.
"Daro" Legolas exclaimed in Sindar before jumping from the tree and landing in front of the rider's white horse. [Halt]
"Brother" Lucien exclaimed surprised.
"Surprised?" Legolas asked skeptical.
"You're too far south" Lucien remarked.
"No" Legolas replied deadly calm, "I'm actually not far enough sough jet".
"You have been away for three months, and not at your destination jet?" Lucien asked with a smirk.
"Who says this is my only destination?" Legolas bit back, raising an eyebrow.
Lucien sighed resignedly, Legolas' team starting to jump soundlessly off the trees. Legolas and Lucien had barely seen each other in fifty years.
"I guess your team camp here?" Lucien asked, Legolas nodding, "beating us then".
"There are space enough for all of us" Legolas said calmly.
Lucien sighed relived, all in his team including Lucien looked weary.
Soon the two teams had made camp, and had set watch out. Lucien walked to where Legolas was sitting at his bedroll, flanked by his two bodyguards who both shot him a warningly look.
"Can I talk to you?" Lucien asked Legolas uncertain, but Legolas just nodded at rose, fallowing Lucien a short distance from the camp.
"I truly am sorry for your loss, Legolas" Lucien said sincere.
Legolas looked his brother in his eyes for a moment before answering. As Legolas was the only one of the three brothers who had inherited his father's look, both Lucien and Gilmarkar looked more like their mother, with her lighter blonde hair, and streel gray eyes, not as silvery white as Legolas' and Thranduil's hair. Both younger brothers a bit shorter than Legolas, and Legolas a bit thinner.
"Thank you" Legolas exhaled.
"Your family was remarkable" Lucien said softly.
"They were" Legolas answered with a smile, "I do miss them dearly".
"Understandably. Know that I am here for you, even if you do not want or wish it, I'm always there for you, my brother".
With that said, Lucien turned and walked back to the camp, leaving Legolas alone, looking sadly after him.
"I know you there" he then said calmly, Rozarko jumping down from the tree above him.
"You knew?" Rozarko asked mock surprised.
"You're always there" Legolas remarked with a warm smile.
"Oh yeah, your right, I am" Rozarko said with a light tease to his voice.
They fell into a comfortable silence, looking out of the grass plain, covered in moonlight.
"Are you accepting your brother's apology?" Rozarko then asked.
"No" Legolas said calmly, giving him a small smile, "but I think is time to move on, leaving it behind us".
"I see".
"I will never forget what Lucien did, nor will I forgive it. But he is my brother, and I still love him".
"I know you do" Rozarko said quietly.
The next morning the two elven teams parted ways, Lucien's team going home to Eryn Lasgalen, and Legolas' team continuing south. It took three months further before Legolas came home, having stopped several patrols of both orcs, men and trolls to reach Gundabad.
Legolas was exhausted when he walked through the palace from the courtyard, past the patrols quarters and towards the royal wing. His green and brown tunic covered in dirt from the long journey home. When Legolas neared the doors to his father's office, he saw Belstram, his father's bodyguard open the doors for him. Legolas silently slipped into the room, his father busy with documents, and did not look up right away, not before Legolas with a sigh sat in the chair before the desk.
"Legolas!" Thranduil exclaimed and rose from his own chair.
"Yes" Legolas answered tiredly, meeting his father's eyes.
Thranduil walked around the desk and knelled before Legolas.
"You're alright?" he asked concerned.
"I'm in one piece" Legolas grinned tiredly, "just tired".
"Well you look tired" Thranduil remarked, "just make the report short, and give me the full written one when you have rested".
"I'm not sure if I can make it short" Legolas grimaced, "we have been far around".
"I heard".
"We encountered fourteen patrols of both orcs, men and some trolls as well, which was wired, considering we are far from the mountains. All patrols we manage to wipe out, some more difficult than others. More or less all of us getting injured more than once on the way, but we have all recovered, just extremely tired now. So all in all, we are all home on one piece".
"Good" Thranduil smiled, "now get a bath and some sleep" he ordered.
Legolas slowly walked back to his own quarters, not registering the people he walked past. He tiredly pushed the door open and walked to the bathroom, only to find the pool already filled with warm water. Legolas smiled gratefully, turning when he heard someone behind him, and frowned when he saw Lucien.
"Rozarko told me you properly wound appreciate a warm bath" he told and placed some towels on the bench next the door, "I hope you don't mind I did it for you, thinking I could offer a little help".
Legolas closed his eyes and smiled warmly, "it's greatly appreciated, thank you".
"You're most welcome" Lucien smiled.
Legolas opened his eyes once more, pain clearly in them, starting to open op for the brother he had once loved dearly.
"I'm sorry I pushed you away" Legolas said silently.
"You don't have to apologize" Lucien said, "what you did do not need an apology".
Legolas looked hurtful at his younger brother, a single tear falling down his cheek.
"Oh Legolas" Lucien gasped and ran to enfold Legolas in a warm and loving hug, "it's allright".
Legolas hugged Lucien back, resting his forehead on his brother's shoulder.
"How about we get you cleaned up and them to bed so you can sleep? Hm" Lucien suggested.
Legolas tiredly nodded and broke the embrace, turning to remove his clothes. Lucien took the dirty clothes from Legolas, and placed them in the laundry basket near the door. Legolas walked slowly to the pool, emerging his sore body in the sensation of the hot water. Lucien flinched when he saw the old scars on Legolas' body. They should have healed by now, but Legolas being in the state he has been in since his first child died, was not able to heal the scars properly. Wounds he still healed fast, but the scars were harder to heal, and many of them too deep.
Legolas washed himself off with soap, washing his hair and rinse the soap off by dipping under water. When he was clean Lucien handed him a soft towel, and Legolas tied it around his waist. He took another towel and dried his hair and body. In the bedroom Lucien had already laid out a soft pair of sleeping pants and a sleeping shirt. Legolas dressed himself before he turned and looked at Lucien, who were about to leave.
"Thank you" Legolas said sincere, "for your help, I really appreciate it".
"Your most welcome" Lucien said, giving him a soft smile before walking out of the bedroom.
The army was assembling in the courtyard and before the palace. An army from Gundabad were approaching the forest, fast. Legolas stood in his room, a gray, silver tunic on along with deep gray leggings and a black cape. His twin knifes on his back, along with his bow and quiver, another knife in his belt, along with two small knifes un his forearms, and in his booths. Legolas was ready for battle.
His white horse ready in the courtyard, and Legolas emerged from the palace along with his father, who were riding out with them.
After half a day riding through the forest, the elven army stopped and positioned themselves along the trees. Archers in the trees before them, and behind the swords and spears. The artillery further behind, along with Legolas, his team and Thranduil along with Belstram.
Then it broke lose. Legolas barked orders to the teams and army, arrows flying towards the enemy, and the deadly spears of the elves ready in front. The enemy soon smashed into the elven army, being cut down from the spears and swords.
"Artillery ready" Legolas ordered.
The artillery got into position, Legolas and his team in the middle. Then Girion blew a long signal in the horn, informing the army that the artillery attacked. Legolas horse flew over the forest ground, smashing down enemies, Legolas' one twin knife in hand. Rozarko and Girion both flanked him.
The orcs formed a firm wall before the elves, spears ready. The artillery managed to shoot the wall down with arrows. One orc raised his spear as Legolas rode by, and smashed inside his horse's front. Legolas' horses stumbled to the ground, taking Legolas with it in the fall. Legolas jumped of its back, rolled to the ground and rose with both twin knife in hand, attacking the nearest enemies.
It seemed the elves was outnumbered, the enemy forcing the elves back. Soon Legolas felt a familiar presence behind him, and turned to see his father fighting of orcs right behind him. Soon father and son stood back to back, fighting of orcs in a deadly, almost beautiful precisely dance. Every movement matching one another, as they knew what the other were doing or thinking.
Legolas cut down two orcs before him when he felt stabbing pain to the right thigh. When he looked down he saw and arrow.
"You're allright?" Thranduil asked from behind him, having felt Legolas stumble.
"Yes" Legolas hissed and pulled the arrow out, using it stab an orc in the eye.
Not long after, Legolas heard the sound of a sword meeting flesh, and the second after he felt his father stumbled into his back. Legolas turned just in time to see his father fall to the ground, a gaping wound to his throat, the blood already flowing heavily and soaking the king's garments. Legolas froze, chocked.
"No" he breathed.
The distraction of the prince gave the orcs a chance, and Legolas felt a sword slicing across his back. He groaned in pain before he turned and threw one of the small knifes from his forearm into the orcs throat. The orcs were closing in on the prince. Legolas heard Rozarko yell nearby, his bodyguard aware of the dire situation before him. Legolas turned to block the strike of an orc blade, just to be hit in the chest by and arrow. Legolas stumbled and the orc who's stroke he had just blocked, jacked his sword into Legolas' stomach.
Legolas' scream of pain sounded throughout the battlefield. Rozarko froze, he had tried to come to Legolas' aid, but were cut off by the orcs. Hearing Legolas' scream made his blood freeze, never had he heard Legolas sound like that. He furiously smashed through his enemies, and soon found himself kneeling down next to Legolas.
"No!" he cried, "please no, no, no".
Legolas was fighting for air, blood flowing heavily from his wounds and mouth.
"Ada?" Legolas managed to rasp, struggling for air thereafter.
Rozarko felt his heart clench, and looked to the body next to Legolas. The king laid lifeless beside his son, a grim looking gash to the throat. He was not breathing, and Rozarko knew he could not have survived this.
"I'm sorry" he whispered.
"No" Legolas cried and almost got choked as blood flowed out of his mouth.
"Easy, Legolas" Rozarko soothed, and started to look to the wounds on his prince, and laid compress on both the one on the chest and stomach.
"Where the hell is Girion?" Rozarko cursed, looking down at the dying prince.
Rozarko looked around, and his eyes met Tristan and Mirthral. The two elf warriors sprinted to Rozarko when they saw him, choked to see the state of Legolas and the king. Mirthral, the one in the team with the highest knowledge of healing, took a close look to Legolas' wounds. Elves were surrounding them, having seen what happened, and thereby protecting the prince and king.
"We need to get him back to the healers at the camp" Mirthral said, his voice grave and urgent.
Girion came running through the orcs and elves, almost crying out when he saw Legolas and Thranduil.
"No" he stammered.
"Legolas lives" Rozarko insured, "and we have to get him back, now!".
Girion nodded, and blew the alarming on the horn, informing the army they drew back with a wounded prince. Rozarko lifted Legolas, and Tristan lifted the dead king. Soon they were surrounded by the team, and moving fast through the battlefield towards the horses.
Belenor and Belenir stood ready at the camp, having heard the elite team had retreated with a wounded Legolas. The sight that met him when they rode past the tents towards them choked him. Legolas was covered in blood, barely breathing, and the king was lifeless being taken from Tristan's horse and brought towards the tent where they laid the dead.
Legolas was laid on a table in the middle of the tent, Belenor and Belenir immediately started working, assisted by Rozarko and Mirthral, both with valued healing training. The rest of the team returned to the fight.
But the fight for Legolas life seemed fruitless, the blood flowing heavily, and the wound to the stomach cutting through intestines, the one in the chest into his left lung. Belenor looked sadly at Legolas' fair face, sighing. He felt the life of the prince fading right through his fingers.
Legolas tried to stay conscious, feeling his body failing him. Rozarko was close to his head, taking soothingly to him, anchoring him to the living world. Pain shoot through Legolas as Belenor and Belenir worked on the wound in his stomach. They tried to short out the mess of blood and damaged intestines. Like they had done once before, a small metal tube had been yanked into Legolas side, and draining his lungs of blood, making it a little easier to breathe. But he felt himself slip away. Shivers ran up and down his body, Rozarko had a firm hold to his hand.
Soon Legolas stopped to breathe, making the four in the room look up from what they were doing.
"No" Rozarko cried, caressing Legolas' cheek, tears streaming down his face.
"We did what we could" Belenor said.
"I know" Rozarko cried.
"Maybe I can be of help" Lucien said, walking into the tent with tears in his eyes, "I can transfer my lifeforce to Legolas".
"But then you will die" Belenor remarked, choked by the younger prince's suggestion.
"I hurt Legolas in the worst possible way" Lucien stated, "I want to do this for him. The forest needs him more than me. Let me fallow my father".
Before anyone could answer, Lucien placed his left hand on Legolas' forehead, the right on his heart. A forest green light shone from his palms and into Legolas. The room were deadly silent when they head Legolas take a deep breath, and the wounds to his chest and stomach healed some.
Lucien collapsed on the floor, being gripped by Belenir before he hit the floor. He was not breathing, all of his lifeforce being spent to revive and heal his older brother.
Elrond took the letter Erestor handed him, he looked at the sealing, and recognized it at prince Gilmarkar. Glorfindel saw his frown, and looked at the sealing herself.
"That is the seal of Prince Gilmarkar" she breathed.
"That it is" Elrond remarked, gained the attention of his daughter, son-in-law and their son and daughter who were visiting.
Lord Elrond of Imladris
Two days ago Eryn Lasgalen was attacked by an army from Gundabad, and even though we were victorious, it wasn't without casualties.
I'm sorry to inform you that King Thranduil Oropherion died in the battle, alongside with his son, prince Lucien Thranduilion, who died saving his brother, crownprince Legolas Thranduilion, who are by now fighting for his life in the infirmary.
Sincerely regards
Prince Gilmarkar of Eryn Lasgalen, acting regent.
"We better get to the Woodland realm" Elrond breathed choked, Aragorn taking the letter from Elrond and read it.
"We are" he breathed.
Legolas awoke in the royal wing of the infirmary. Someone was setting next to him, stroking his arm softly. Even though Legolas were in pain, tired and dizzy, the soft caress of his skin tickled, making him yank his arm away from the fingers.
"Sorry" Rozarko's voice sounded, "I forgot you were tickles".
Legolas slowly opened his eyes and looked straight into the kind ones of Rozarko, who were now stroking his hair instead, calming him.
"How?" Legolas asked, making Rozarko look questioning at him, "I was pierced with an arrow inside my chest and a sword through my stomach, I felt my lifeforce leaving me. How did I survive this?".
"I'm sorry" Rozarko breathed, his facial expression making Legolas' stomach clench, "Lucien gave his lifeforce to you".
"No" Legolas breathed, a tear slipping down his cheek.
"I'm sorry. He saved you".
"I know" Legolas said, taking a deep breath.
"Where is he?" Elrond asked a bit urgently to Girion, who were meeting them in the meeting hall.
"In his rooms" Girion calmly replied, making Elrond breathed relieved.
"How is he?" asked Aragorn.
"Devastated" Girion replied, "but his wounds have healed".
Elrond turned to his family, "maybe you should let me see him first". He others nodded in confirmation.
Legolas sat in the window frame, looking out at the setting sun. Not reacting when he heard the door open and someone nearing him slowly. A soft hand stroked his back.
"Penneth?" Elrond soft voice sounded.
Legolas did not answer, and Elrond enfolded the prince in a fatherly hug. Legolas leaned into the embrace, letting the tears fall.