A/N: I do realize that it has been a long time since I posted a chapter and I think you deserve an explanation. Early last month I fell ill and it took my doctors about two weeks to figure out that I had pneumonia, mononucleosis, and something which my Danish-English dictionary says is called whooping cough (extremely hilarious name by the way) all at the same time (something which they hadn't even thought was possible, but what can I say? I never do anything halfway). So I've been what my doctor likes to describe as 'really sick' and therefore haven't been able to write. Yes very sad, but now on to the main reason every one of you are here: enjoy the new chapter! :)
Chapter twenty-five – The final training
Legolas slowly blinked open his cerulean blue eyes, already completely alert as if he hadn't been asleep. His father's slow breathing sounded throughout darkness in the large tent but outside it was mostly quiet. He brushed aside the covers and sat up on the bedroll, pulling his boots on. He then combed his fingers through his loose silvery-white hair as he slowly got to his feet.
He glanced over at his father's figure as he moved over to his pack. The king was lying peacefully on the cot in the other end of the tent, covered with a blanket and a fur. With a small smile Legolas turned back to his pack and pulled out a tunic. He quickly pulled it on, followed by his leather jerkin and his cloak. Then he picked up his twin blades and walked towards the exit.
"Again?" Thranduil's voice sounded loudly through the silence even though it had been said in a whisper.
Legolas turned his head and looked at his father, who had sat up on the cot, his blue eyes gazing into his son's. "I still haven't quite gotten to grips with it." Legolas responded softly.
"You've been out for the past two nights since we left Mirkwood." Thranduil said, "You won't be of much help if you're completely exhausted when we arrive."
"That's why I'm doing all the work now so that I have time to rest when we reach more dangerous areas. It will soon become impossible for me to safely sneak off during the night." Legolas answered, "Don't worry. I'll be back to get some hours of sleep before we leave. Rest, Ada."
"Take Glorfindel with you Legolas." Thranduil sighed, "At least I'll now that you have someone keep watch while you train."
Legolas smiled to his father, "I'm training with him today, but don't worry. We can keep our guards up while we train."
"Like I can avoid being worried." Legolas heard his father mumble as he stepped out of the tent and into the night.
The camp stretched far and wide through the trees. Three other tents had been raised in the center of the camp and here Galadriel, Gandalf, and Elrond had their resting places. The three leaders of the elven realms and Gandalf had been gathered in the center so they would be most protected if an attack were to occur. Around them the thousands of warriors were placed and more than a few patrols constantly guarded the camp, keeping watch and guarding the perimeter.
Legolas walked through the tent and over towards Elrond's. Elrohir was as always sleeping with his father inside the tent but Legolas kneeled beside the elf on the bedroll just outside of it.
Glorfindel's eyes immediately sharpened and one of his hands snapped to his sword hilt before he had even had the chance to see whom it was. Once they locked eyes the warrior relaxed once more and smiled sheepishly.
"Let's go." Glorfindel said and threw the covers aside so he could sit up before getting to his feet. Legolas did the same and the two of them leisurely walked through the camp, nodding at the guards.
"Did you get some sleep?" Glorfindel asked softly as they walked, steadily nearing the outskirts after passing hundreds of sleeping elves.
"A couple of hours." Legolas replied and then chuckled, "My father is displeased with the amount of sleep I've been getting."
"Who wouldn't be?" Glorfindel snorted, "I've been out with you so I've seen how much strength doing this takes. I would say that you need at least a day's worth of sleep to make up for the energy you use while being in the connection."
"I'll be fine." Legolas said, "Don't worry. The quicker I get used to it the quicker I can rest and begin storing up energy once more. Soon there will be no safe place for these nightly trainings."
"You know the areas very well." Glorfindel commented. At this moment they stepped out of the camp and into the dark forest.
"Of course I do." Legolas answered smiling, "I've spent more than a thousand years in them, both alone and with patrols so I know more than two thirds of it by hand, the other areas are closed up because of Dol Guldur. I've been there but not enough to know my way around them quite so leisurely as I'm doing now."
"My lords!" One of the guards from the perimeter cried and hurried up to them. Glorfindel and Legolas turned around to face the youth.
"Laínor." Legolas greeted softly, gazing into the young elf's large and expressive blue eyes. Laínor had just recently been placed under Urion's wing at the ford after finishing his training. Legolas had by chance been there sometimes when he was trained and it would always strike him hard to see the innocent and trusting look inside his eyes.
"My lords I cannot allow you to enter the forest without an escort." Laínor said seriously.
Legolas opened his mouth to answer but another voice beat him to it. "I'll go with them young one and make sure that no harm comes to them. Thank you for doing your duty."
Legolas look up and locked eyes with his second-in-command. Húron was already looking like he was mentally getting ready for an argument but you could only see that if you knew him well. On the outside Húron was just gazing gently at the youth while dismissing him.
Húron's brown eyes then lifted themselves to Legolas' cerulean. "I have let you go all of the other nights without interfering, but it is becoming too dangerous for you to be out there on your own and you're too valuable to lose." he said.
"We cannot allow anyone to come with us Húron." Glorfindel said, "What we're doing isn't anyone's concern but our own."
Húron barely reacted to Glorfindel's voice and instead kept his gaze locked onto Legolas'. He then said, "Secrecy and loyalty."
The Crown Prince's eyes immediately softened at this and he nodded before turning and walking on. Húron followed without comment but Glorfindel used a few flustered moments gaping.
When Glorfindel finally came up beside him, Legolas said calmly, "I trust Húron, he won't say anything to anyone. The secret is just as safe with him as it is with any other, if not more."
"Even if he is loyal to you it does not mean that he will keep Elrond's secret." Glorfindel hissed so it was only Legolas who could hear it.
"Do you really think I would entrust him with this if I had the slightest hint of doubt that he wouldn't be able to keep his promise?" Legolas responded, gazing upon Glorfindel with fierce eyes. "No matter what he sees there will be no questions asked, his interest lies in ensuring our safety not figuring out what we're doing solely because he is curious. Trust me."
Glorfindel ground his teeth together but nodded nevertheless and kept walking. Húron also followed them, his eyes moving from one side to the other completely alert. Where Húron's body showed tension, Legolas' was completely calm. Despite his appearance though the Crown Prince on his guard and his cerulean blue eyes were sharp and attentive.
They walked for a while, Legolas in the lead, until they reached a small clearing with a small stream running through it. Here he stopped and turned around to gaze at Glorfindel. Húron had already placed himself at the edge of the clearing, barely visible halfway behind a tree.
"This should be far enough away from camp." Legolas said and then took a deep breath before continuing, "You don't have to be my test person."
"Better to test everything now instead of getting shocked when you stand against Sauron." Glorfindel stressed the name Sauron purposefully and Legolas glanced at Húron only to see his second-in-command stiffen slightly. "Even if I am a much weaker opponent."
Legolas gazed at Glorfindel for a while before averting his eyes, forcibly shutting out his thoughts and instead leaning against the nearest tree. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. After the last few trainings it had become apparent that in the moment he opened his mind completely to allow himself to connect with the three rings, he would be overloaded with impressions from all around him. In the span of a second he would gain complete access to every emotion of every tree and somewhere in between this there would be Faneth emotions, his father's emotions, his daughter's emotions, everyone he had a bond with.
Through this overwhelming amount of information it was nearly impossible to locate the cries of the three rings especially because they weren't close to him. Therefore it took a longer time to connect with the rings out there than it had in the cavern. This meant that the time in which he was completely unprotected from attacks from Dol Guldur was doubled.
Hence it was necessary for him to, to the best of his abilities, ignore all the impressions he got and focus on locating the songs of the three rings as quickly as possible to such an extent that even though he for a minute had the chance of connecting with his wife, he couldn't. Not even when he felt her desperately reaching out to him. It wasn't a risk that he could take because if Dol Guldur sensed him and attacked in the moment where his guard was down, all the information he had would be unprotected and there was a large possibility that he would die.
This meant that once again it was necessary to do the very thing that cut his heart to pieces.
Legolas pulled air deeply into his lungs and as he exhaled he let the shields around his mind drop. Instantly it felt as though he was being pulled into a powerful maelstrom of impressions, thoughts, and feelings. His almost non-existent glow burst forward in an array of light so fierce that Glorfindel and Húron were forced to avert their eyes.
It was almost impossible for Legolas to control the amount of information flooding into him. The cries and memories of the trees and other life-forms in the forest, the overpowering darkness to the south, the presences of Glorfindel and Húron who were closest to him, the frantic emotions and desperation from his wife, the thoughts of his daughter and his father, everything…
Legolas clenched his teeth together and forced himself to ignore all this even as he felt the darkness to the south beginning to stir and reach out towards him. He focused on his bond with nature and, through this, the spirits of Nenya, Narya, and Vilya, for their power existed through nature, through water, fire, and air.
He could feel them pulsing eagerly as soon as they felt his energy and reaching out towards him just as he was reaching out towards them. In the back of his mind he tracked the darkness as it drew ever nearer to him, sensing his presence. The second his energy and the rings' made contact they latched onto each other, forming a bond so deep that he could feel it deep in his soul.
In an exhalation, he threw his protection out so it covered Glorfindel and Húron as well, hiding them from the darkness that had closed in around them, only a hairs breadth from finding him before he had managed to establish the connection.
Immediately, he felt the darkness stop moving. Sensed it as it prodded around them without being able to sense their presences because the power of the rings hid it just like they made it impossible for Sauron to find Lothlorien and Rivendell. Then slowly it drew away, removing itself from his senses and slithering back to Dol Guldur.
What he was doing every evening seemed to balance on the edge of a knife. Every night Sauron would be quicker to react when he lowered his barriers, and every night he found him faster until tonight where it had been too close for comfort. He could make no more attempts at this… tonight would have to be the last night of practice.
He could feel the barrier of air, fire, and water swirling around his mind and allowing none to penetrate except for the rings themselves and through them their bearers. A strange silence once more came over his mind but underneath it he could feel the drum of energy from nature.
O
Glorfindel opened his eyes once more as the light filling the clearing suddenly faded, but the weight of power on his shoulders only seemed to enlarge. Barely had he felt this before a wave of this power suddenly swept over him, so intense that he was forced to his knees.
A glance told him that the same happened to Húron but before he could question Legolas, who still hadn't opened his eyes or stepped away from the tree, another presence suddenly made his body tense. His blue eyes flicked from one side to the other and it seemed that just outside the shimmering outline of Legolas' protection the darkness had become heavier.
His hand traveled to the hilt of his sword and the familiar grip managed to slow his heartbeat slightly. Even through the reassuring presence of Legolas' energy mixed with the rings', Glorfindel could still feel the darkness weigh heavily upon his shoulders and mind. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face and he barely dared to breathe for fear that it would call attention to them.
Then slowly, reluctantly, the darkness retreated, flowing back to wherever it had come from. Instantly it was as though a great weight was lifted from his shoulders and he drew air deep into his lungs, his cramp-like grip on his sword loosening slightly.
Glorfindel moved his eyes from the forest around them and looked first over to Húron. Legolas' second-in-command was slowly getting to his feet once more, a cautious and alert look in his eyes. Then he turned his eyes toward Legolas and found that the Prince had opened his eyes and was looking intently out through his barrier and into the forest.
Legolas' normally icy blue eyes had changed, a ring of fire now circled his pupils and the blueness seemed to have become even more vast, almost like it was a calm pool of water. Beyond this there was another kind of aura around Legolas' form, it wasn't overwhelmingly bright but held such an enormous amount of power that Glorfindel could almost feel it weigh him down.
"What was that?" Glorfindel asked slowly as he got to his feet.
"Sauron." Legolas answered without taking his eyes from their surroundings. He had not yet pulled his protection back and Glorfindel knew that it was because Legolas' senses were sharper than his. Clearly Legolas could still feel the dark presence. "He senses my presence when I release the barriers around my mind. By doing so I leave myself vulnerable to an attack and it is therefore crucial that I connect with the rings before he finds me. Tonight he came closer than any of us are comfortable with."
Legolas first now moved his eyes from the surroundings to him. Glorfindel's first reaction was to tense as the weight of Legolas' gaze bored through him, but just as soon as the sensation came it was gone again because Legolas' eyes flickered over to check on Húron as well.
"Has this happened the other nights as well?" Glorfindel asked.
Once more Legolas' eyes found his and he forced himself to meet them fully. "It has, but at the time Sauron was much slower to react and to reach us. His reaction time has lessened and his speed increased while we are moving closer to his lair. This is the last time I will attempt to form the connection before the final fight."
"How will you make the connection then?" Glorfindel asked.
Legolas seemed to think on it as his eyes once more turned to the forest. At length he said, "I will have to make the connection while being next to the three rings and then keep it as I move towards Dol Guldur."
"The will increase the amount of time you have to stay connected with them…" Glorfindel said softly, his eyes narrowed with worry. "You now that they give as much as they take. The moment where you lose the connection with them they will drain you of energy."
Glorfindel could almost see pain flickering in the deep vastness of Legolas' blue eyes. "It is too late to back down now…" The Prince muttered and then pushed himself away from the tree he had been leaning against. His body seemed almost weightless as he strode into the middle of the clearing, almost like he was barely touching the grass.
"You still don't have to do this." Legolas said as he flicked his knives into his hands with an effortless and practiced movement. His aura enveloped the blades and the mithril responded by lighting up slightly when it felt his energy. Legolas' eyes moved to his once more, piercing.
"I figure that if you could heal Thranduil after your …mishap while training with him, you'll be able to do the same with me should such a thing occur." Glorfindel answered while drawing his sword. "Are you not going to pull down the barrier?"
"Might as well learn how to multitask," Legolas shrugged. "I'll most likely both be on offense and defense in my fight against him."
There was no small amount of reluctance in Legolas' movement as he slowly raised his knives, because of this Glorfindel knew that he would have to attack first. He had seen what Legolas could do the other few nights they had trained, had seen him expertly manipulate the power of the three rings and use it in attacks so powerful that Glorfindel knew he stood no chance against him.
This was something different though, this was a test to see if he could keep the connection through any kind of distraction and uphold the barrier at the same time.
Glorfindel raised his sword slightly and charged, deciding against attacking Legolas carefully at first to gauge how much control he had. He felt that he needed to jump into it to settle his nerves.
A sharp clang sounded through the clearing as Legolas' knives moved up to meet his sword. A sharp tingle raced through his arms from the point where he held his sword, a wave of power just barely controlled by Legolas.
A grin spread out over Glorfindel's lips. Though slightly uncomfortable, the power had not harmed him or thrown him back just like Legolas told him had happened when Thranduil had been his opponent. Legolas' face was set in an expression of deep concentration but Glorfindel didn't go easy on him because of this.
He sprung back slightly and then swung his sword once more, directing it towards Legolas' side only to have the blow parried once more. Immediately, he began a series of attacks, testing Legolas' defense, which seemed just about airtight. They danced together across the clearing, staying inside the barrier Legolas had created and was upholding throughout the fight.
Slowly, as he got more used to it, the concentrated expression faded from Legolas' face. Glorfindel was by no means inadequate with a sword, he was and had always been a great warrior, both in his current life and the one before that. Still, he knew himself that he was no match for Legolas and especially not when the Prince had so much power on his side. The clues were slight, but he could see faint signs that Legolas was holding back. Nonetheless, the Prince seemed to be enjoying the fight.
Legolas' knives flashed through the air, moving so quickly that he only had a spare moment to throw up his sword and catch one on the blade. Legolas stopped the other before it could hit him and danced away before attacking once more, giving Glorfindel a moment to get his defense up.
The Silmëstil, Legolas' twin knives, seemed to carry the light of the moon and seemed only to be the weight of a feather as they swept towards him. Despite their appearance though Glorfindel knew that Legolas kept them sharp and that in his hands they were deadly, which is why he had to have complete trust in the Prince.
He threw himself backwards just before the knives were going to strike him, knowing that his sword weighed too much to move as quickly as the knives. As he fell he momentarily cursed himself for letting Legolas come close enough to reach him with the knives. As he hit the ground he immediately rolled away and jumped back to his feet outside of Legolas' range once more.
As long as they stayed at the distance they were in at that moment he would be able to attack Legolas with his sword, while the only thing Legolas could do was to defend against it. The problem was that Legolas knew this as well and with speed and agility on his side he was easily able to do what he had spent a lifetime doing, which was dancing into range and attacking, leaving him with the upper hand because a sword was too cumbersome to move around quickly in a small space.
Immediately after popping to his feet, Glorfindel swung the sword once more. A small shock travelling up his arms as it collided with Legolas' left knife. Legolas slipped into range in this moment where their weapons were locked and punched him lightly in his stomach with the hilt of his other knife before spinning around him. Glorfindel spun around as well and blocked a high attack from Legolas before jumping back slightly.
Blood thumped in his ears and sweat was beginning to bead on his forehead, but Glorfindel didn't lose his smirk. He charged at Legolas once more. Left. Right. Downwards. Right. Parry. Footwork.
As he swung his sword once more though he noticed a slight shift in Legolas' stance and the way he held his weapons. Before he could figure out what this meant that sword had reached the Prince. Glorfindel's eyes widened but there was nothing he could do to stop the swords momentum. He watched as it arched perfectly and Legolas followed it with his eyes before moving away slightly, but not enough. The blade sliced through the soft fabric of his sleeve and drew a line of blood through Legolas' alabaster skin.
In that instant the barrier surrounding them wavered slightly, but just when he thought it would fail, the barrier became steady once more. Legolas' eyes were once more set in concentration.
"You're a bastard, I hope you know that." Glorfindel growled as he slammed his sword into its scabbard and moved towards Legolas. He pulled the ends of torn fabric apart so he would be able to see the wound in Legolas' upper left arm. It was a gash, not too deep for panic but not shallow enough to be taken lightly either.
"Forgive me." Legolas said softly, his eyes refocusing and moving to Glorfindel's. He could see inside the vast blueness that he meant every word. For a second it seemed to Glorfindel that time stood still and the flames and the water in Legolas' eyes swallowed him whole. This image was ruined when Legolas continued to speak. "I only wanted to know if the connection would waver in response to pain. You know that such a reaction would prove fatal in a battle situation where there is little doubt I will feel pain."
Glorfindel ground his teeth together but didn't answer. He knew that Legolas was right and couldn't truly hold anything against him, but it still angered him that Legolas had let him hurt him. That Legolas had forced him to hurt his friend and brother…
He tore the bottom rim off of his tunic and bound it tightly around the gash in Legolas' arm, hoping that it would prevent him from losing too much blood.
"We should go back to camp. Elrond will want to place stitches in that wound." Glorfindel said.
"No, wait." Legolas responded and reached out to take Glorfindel's arm, as he was about to turn aside. "I can already feel my body begin to heal this wound, Vilya's power flows through my veins Glorfindel. If you really wish to aid me then continue to fight me as you did before because that is what will truly help me in the fight to come."
"You will risk tearing the wound further." Glorfindel answered, shaking his head. "We will do this again another time."
"Do you not remember what I said?" Legolas asked, "I told you that this is the last time I dare to form the connection before the fight. This is the last practice I will ever get before I stand in front of him. I know that you are worried about this right now, but I am more worried about what to come and I know that I will need every last bit of training I can possibly get." The intensity of Legolas' gaze burned through him. "Will you help me?" The Prince asked; his voice lowered to a plea.
Glorfindel sighed deeply and gazed away, staring unseeingly at the forest floor. "As if you need ask Gwador." He whispered and then turned away, walking a few steps away before turning and drawing his sword once more. [Sworn brother]
O
Legolas gazed at the water in the small stream from where he was kneeling beside it. He could see the dull glow of the thin line of fire around his pupils reflected in the surface of the still water; hear nature call out to him, especially through the power of Nenya, the ring of water.
Hesitantly he reached out, placing his fingers upon the surface of the water and slowly submerging his hand halfway. It seemed almost instinctive what he did next, as if some knowledge of how to use the power of the ring had passed from Galadriel to him the moment they had connected through the ring.
"Amortanen…" He whispered softly. [Rise up water]
Slowly water began tickling up the surface of his palm in small rivulets, passing over his skin and climbing up his sleeve. The song of the life force inside the river sung out gleefully and energetically as it travelled up his arm and Legolas watched with wonder. As the water ran over the injury to his upper arm he felt the lasting pain fade away to nothing.
He drew his hand out of the stream and felt as the water began to slide down his arm once more until it ended in the palm of his hand. His gaze seemed drawn to this as the water slowly rose from the surface of his skin, hovering an inch over his palm in the form of a bubble. No matter what he did he was unable to force his gaze away even as images began to show inside it.
The images were no more than snippets and went by so fast he could hardly absorb the information they gave him. Orcs ran through the great trees. The forest burning. A city bathed in flame. Thousands of orcs marching across a plain. His father shouting orders. A dwarf screaming. Then all images faded and were replaced with a great eyes wreathed in flame, gazing straight into him and through him.
Legolas cried out and staggered to his feet. Immediately, the image vanished and the water fell back into the stream with a splash.
"Legolas?" Glorfindel called out worried; jumping to his feet from where he had been resting against the same tree Húron was standing beside, a worried frown upon his face.
Legolas drew a ragged gasp of air, still affected by what he had seen. At that second though he became aware of something else, his heightened senses allowing him to feel presences coming their way even from a distance.
"Someone is coming." Legolas whispered hurriedly, using the distraction to forcibly draw away from the horror the images had unleashed. Instantly knowing that whomever it was they could not be allowed to witness him while he was in the connection, Legolas took a deep breath and focused his own power deep inside himself. The rings were by now so deeply latched onto his spirit that it as painful to rip them away but he did so anyway, cutting off the connection and blocking the rings from reinstating it by barricading his mind as tightly as it had been before.
Immediately, it seemed as though all the strength was sucked from his body and he collapsed to his knees, the shield around the clearing crumbling as well. A pained groan forced its way past his lips and he clenched his eyes shut, letting his head fall forward and thereby allowing his long strands of hair to hide his expression. Small tremors ran through his body as a fierce headache settled just behind his forehead.
"Legolas?!" Glorfindel exclaimed and Legolas felt the ground vibrate lightly as the warrior hurried towards him. Soon Glorfindel's hand was on his shoulder and he was kneeling beside him. "What happened? An attack?" His friend asked frantically.
Legolas waited for himself to get accustomed to the headache before he even attempted to move and therefore didn't answer Glorfindel, no doubt feeding the warriors belief that there had been an attack on the barrier. A bone-deep weariness had settled deep inside him and he knew that even the five hours he had held the connection were enough to exhaust him thoroughly.
Even the small breezes that waved through the trees seemed cruel as they chilled his already cold body, especially his moist forehead. He felt the seconds roll by without his headache getting any better nor any easier to bear and knew that he couldn't waste any more time.
Slowly, he raised his head, wincing as the moment caused a clash of pain to be sent through his skull. Glorfindel's eyes immediately widened when they landed upon his and Legolas knew that the warrior finally understood that it hadn't been an attack on the barrier. The rings of fire in his eyes were gone and they had returned to normal, except for the color of sapphire that now dominated his irises.
Glorfindel opened his mouth to say something but Legolas didn't allow it. "We need to move." He muttered and pushed himself to his feet. In a split second he feared he would fall to the ground once more as his legs refused to carry his weight, but Glorfindel reached out and grabbed him before he could collapse once more, holding him until he was steadier.
"Where are they coming from?"
Legolas turned his head and found Húron standing a few steps away with his back towards them and his sword ready in his hand. His whole posture spoke of complete vigilance and readiness.
"From the southwest." Legolas whispered, his voice weak.
"Get into a tree and keep out of sight. I'll see who it is." Húron spoke softly, turning slightly to adjust his focus to Legolas' directions. He glanced back at his Prince with eyes brimming with concern and waited for Legolas to nod before striding towards the nearest tree. He scaled it soundlessly and then he was gone, moving from tree to tree with the same ease with which he walked over the ground.
"Do you think it is safe for him to go alone?" Glorfindel asked.
"…You are not used …to walking through the trees. They will hear you… if you go." Legolas whispered. His eyes had dropped halfway closed because he was unable to keep them open. "I do not trust myself not to stumble… It is safer this way."
"Legolas?" Glorfindel questioned worriedly while shaking him slightly, briefly making his headache flair up and causing a moan to pass his lips.
"We need to get out of sight…" Legolas muttered. He let his eyes close entirely. Shivers ran consistently through his body as the cold continued to affect him and the pain continued with the same intensity.
Before he knew what was happening, Glorfindel bent and then effortlessly threw him over one of his shoulders. The pain that raced through his head was so powerful that he didn't even have thought to protest as Glorfindel bore him across the clearing and up into one of the trees. Only when they were a good ways up and Glorfindel placed him on a branch, leaning against the trunk, did Legolas glare at the elf while swallowing down his nausea.
Glorfindel's attention was not on him though, it was on the ground bellow them and the surrounding forest. He kept a hand on Legolas' chest so that he could press him against the trunk of the tree if he felt him start to slide off the branch.
Confident in Glorfindel's alertness, Legolas let his own body rest, closing his eyes and focusing on breathing through the pain and the exhaustion. He knew that this was probably only a taste of what he would feel after fighting with Sauron. The power of all three rings at once was too much for only a single person to bear. The rings gave power, but they took it as well.
It was almost twenty minutes before they heard sounds of horses galloping towards the clearing. Legolas felt Glorfindel tense beside him and opened his eyes in response. Slowly, he reached up and drew one of his twin blades from his back, knowing that he could force his body to fight if absolutely necessary.
The two of them waited in tense silence but the moment riders crashed into the clearing, both of them relaxed and let out deep breaths.
"Elladan…" Glorfindel murmured and bowed his head, relinquishing the tight grip he had on his sword. The twin glanced up when he heard his name and smiled to his friend and mentor. Legolas allowed his eyes to wander over the rest of the gathering and spotted Húron sitting behind Tharbadon on his horse and the warriors and wood elves gathered behind them. Sadness filled him when he saw that one of the horses instead of a rider carried two dead bodies covered with cloaks and the amount of wood elves there only accounted for half of the settlement's population.
Knowing that it was important he appeared strong, Legolas began steeling himself for the next hour. It was something he had done so many times before that it was almost instinctual. So many times warriors were forced out upon the battlefield unprepared and with injuries but when that happened you could do nothing except endure the pain and fight on.
Legolas caught Glorfindel's eyes and watched as understanding and worry blossomed inside them. His friend didn't protest though, he only stood up on the branch and pulled him up with him. On the way down Glorfindel kept close to Legolas, making sure that he would be able to steady him if he wavered. Legolas was glad for his silent support but managed to descend from the tree without incident.
Once on the ground he allowed himself a moment to take a deep breath but then turned to the gathering and walked up to Tharbadon.
"What happened?" Legolas asked softly but the authority in his voice was not to be denied.
"We reached the settlement with only a few skirmishes and no injuries, my Prince." Tharbadon answered somberly, "The settlement was too far south, the orcs reached it before we did. I believe that they managed to leak past the patrol at the bite at some point because their armor and weapons hailed from Dol Guldur. We fought against the orcs for some time but there were too many of them so eventually we were forced to retreat and save those we could. Ten warriors were lost and many of the wood elves. Lîr and Tieben died of their wounds on the way back." Tharbadon nodded his head towards the horse carrying the two dead bodies.
Legolas was silent for a moment, staring unseeingly at the two bodies. He had known both of them and had been in the same patrol as them more times than he could count. When he managed to force his mind away from his memories he gazed at the wood elves, taking in their expressions of grief and anger.
"We will avenge this." He said shortly, but with enough emotion to it that the wood elves raised their heads, their eyes becoming almost steely. One by one the wood elves hit their fists against their chests before opened their palms and sweeping them outwards. Legolas repeated the gesture with a nod. It was a promise.
"Let us ride to the camp."
O
The moment they reached camp a runner was sent to inform Thranduil, Galadriel, and Elrond while they dismounted their horses and sent the wounded to the healers. Afterwards, Legolas led the group through the camp until they arrived at its center where his father and the others were waiting.
As the King took control of the situation and everyone was distracted by a more detailed account of everything that had happened, Legolas saw his chance to slip away. He had barely been able to keep up his pretense throughout the ride and the walk through camp and now found himself barely avoiding tripping over his own feet as he retreated into the tent he shared with his father.
The second the tent flap fell closed behind him, his strength finally waned and he only just managed to stumble over to his father's cot before he collapsed, sitting down heavily and wrapping his arms around his chest. His head fell forwards as he lost the strength to hold it up and his breathing sounded heavily. Shivers coursed up and down his form all the while sweat rolled down his forehead. The headache had worsened…
"Damn…" Legolas breathed.
As he attempted to control his breathing he allowed his mind to roam freely and unsurprisingly his thoughts immediately turned to Faneth and for a moment he almost felt as though she was beside him, gently running her fingers through his hair and scolding him in a soft voice for straining himself because she knew that his headache would only get worse if she shouted.
Her lips would then travel up to press a lingering kiss upon his forehead, moving down to place kisses on both of his cheeks before capturing his lips with hers. Her sweet taste filling him while her hands gently helped him to lie down on the cot and spread the blanket and the fur over him.
Sleep my love.
O
Once the wood elves and the warriors had been seen to, Thranduil hastened over to his tent. He had only caught glimpses of his son while he had spoken to the arrivals but what he had seen had sent worry into his heart, which had been festering ever since.
When he entered the tent he found the object of his worry lying on his cot completely swathed in his blanket and fur but nevertheless trembling ceaselessly. He hurried over to the cot and kneeled beside it so he could gaze at his son. Legolas was pale and his eyes were closed as he slept, only the top of his head showing from beneath the covers. Thranduil reached under the blanket and fur and placed his finger upon Legolas' neck, measuring his pulse.
Disheartened by the slow thumps he detected, he rose to his feet once more and hurried out of the tent. Once outside he came to an abrupt stop to avoid bumping into Glorfindel, who had been on his way into the tent. Seeing the look on his face, Glorfindel hurried past him and into the tent. Thranduil ignored him, continuing his trek towards Elrond's tent.
Once there, he swept the tent flap aside and walked inside, interrupting the moment of reunion between the three Peredhil. Thranduil could do nothing to suppress the anger that rose up inside him at the thought that Elrond was doing nothing while his son was suffering under the weight that the half-elf had partially forced him to carry.
All three of the elves looked up as he entered, the twins looked confused but Elrond got to his feet solemnly and walked over to Thranduil.
"Ada?" Elrohir questioned.
Elrond turned to the younger twin, "I'll be right back." He then picked up his herb pouch and followed Thranduil out of the tent. There was silence between them as they walked over to Thranduil's tent.
Húron, it seemed, had placed himself next to the tent's opening while Thranduil had fetched Elrond. There was no doubt in the King's mind that Húron was worried about Legolas and that he wouldn't let anything disturb his rest so he nodded to him as he swept the flap aside and walked inside with Elrond.
Glorfindel had taken off Legolas' boots, cloak, jerkin, and the twin knives, which had apparently still been strapped to his back. In addition to this he had covered Legolas with another blanket and turned him so he laid on his back with his head on the pillow, despite this though, Legolas was still shivering.
Elrond walked over to the cot and sat down beside Legolas. He reached out and placed his hand on the young elf's forehead, closing his eyes and using the power of Vilya to judge Legolas' condition.
"What happened?" Thranduil asked Glorfindel sternly while Elrond worked.
"He held the connection for five hours, my King." Glorfindel answered softly, "I sparred with him for the first hour but after that he practiced on wielding the powers of the rings as he has been doing until now."
"He held on to the connection for a long time." Elrond said, coming out of the trance. "It has weakened him a lot, especially since so much of his energy is already being used to guard his mind and to uphold the barrier around the Halls. Forming and utilizing a connection with one ring is straining at best but having to do the same with all three of them while controlling his own power is almost too much for his body and mind to bear. I will make some tea for him to strengthen and reduce the pain of the headache."
"You should never have made him do this." Thranduil hissed, as Elrond was about to walk outside.
The healer stopped. "…I never wanted this…" He whispered guiltily after a while and then he walked out.
Thranduil was silent as he took Elrond's place beside Legolas, ignoring Glorfindel's presence. He reached out and brushed a sweaty lock of hair away from his son's forehead before reaching under the covers to grasp Legolas' hand and slowly rub some warmth into it. As he did this he closed his eyes and focused on the power within himself. He knew that it wasn't at all near the power of his son but he hoped that it would strengthen him even if it was only a little as he slowly transferred some of it to him.
Immediately, Legolas' breathing became deeper and steadier and he no longer trembled quite so violently. Thranduil sighed in relief and pressed a kiss against Legolas' forehead.
After a while the tent flap opened and Elrond stepped in, holding a mug of steaming tea in his hands. His eyes went to Legolas' form immediately and when he saw the improvement turned them to Thranduil, who wasn't looking at him.
"Will you wake him?" Elrond asked quietly.
Thranduil nodded without a word and reached out to brush his fingers over Legolas' cheek. "Wake up Legolas." He spoke softly, before shaking Legolas' shoulder gently. "I need you to open your eyes my son."
Legolas' lips moved sluggishly and Thranduil felt despair well up inside his chest when he understood what his son was saying. "…Faneth…" He knew that in this moment so close to sleep, Legolas was more vulnerable than ever.
"Legolas, wake up." Thranduil called a little louder, his voice hoarse with emotions. Despite every reassurance Legolas could give him, he felt like he was allowing his son to die. He should have locked him into a cell and not let him leave before everything was over. He should have protected him…
Legolas' brows furrowed and a wince of pain spread over his features before slowly he cracked his eyes open. Despite the energy Thranduil had given him, he could see that his son's eyes were still a dark color of blue beneath the dark eyelashes.
"Ada…" Legolas whispered, forcing his eyes halfway up.
"I'm here." Thranduil responded gently. He forced down his own anger and fear as he focused on his son and what he needed. "I need you to drink something for me Greenleaf and then you can go back to sleep."
The King stood up and gently lifted Legolas' upper body before sitting down behind him and letting him lean against his chest. He then held his hand out towards Elrond for the mug without moving his eyes from his son. When his hand tightened around the mug he brought it to Legolas' lips and slowly started tipping the liquid into his mouth.
The mug was no more than halfway drained when Legolas fell asleep once more, his head resting against his chest. Thranduil had felt as Legolas' shivers had gradually died down with the help of both the tea and the warmth he got from being in his arms so he didn't lay him down once more, only gave the mug back to Elrond and shifted into a slightly more comfortable position.
"We will break camp in two hours." Thranduil said without looking at Elrond and Glorfindel.
There was silence for a moment until Elrond broke it. "Thranduil… I-"
"Just go."