Hello my dear readers - for those of you who have read the teaser at the end of my last book, this will look very familiar :) I hope you all continue to enjoy!

For silverarrow: I am so happy that you did like it (and hate it at the same time!)... I was half worried I would be killed in my sleep ;) Hopefully this will answer some of your questions but not many! You know me - I gotta keep you on your toes :)

And a thank you as always to my beta elvenmaia for keeping me motivated!

In Times of Trouble

Scribbles-on-Parchment

April 3, 2021

Chapter 3 – Invisible Sacrifices

Kélion looked up as he heard rapid footfall in the hallway directly outside of his private quarters. A moment later muffled voices began to reach his ears causing his brow to crease. The prince rose gracefully to his feet and was about to venture out to find what was going on when the elegant door to his room was suddenly flung open. The wooden structure slammed into the wall behind it with such force that it rattled the inkwell that was sitting on Kélion's desk.

"What…" the Sinda started to say as he turned his frustrated and confused look to the ellon who stood in the doorway.

"You need to go and talk with that brother of yours or so help me I will drag him to Thranduil myself and let him have his way with Legolas."

Êmand's face was a storm of rage as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared angrily at the crown prince. The emotions behind the Silvan's brown eyes were veiled and unreadable to Kélion however the dried smear of blood on the side of his cheek was not giving him any good ideas of what had just taken place.

"And what is it that has caused such a strong surge of anger in you? And towards your charge, my brother, no less?" Kélion spoke in a calm tone even as he fought to keep his rising panic from taking hold of him, "What did you do to him?"

"It is not what I did to him but rather what he did to me."

"And what is that exactly?"

The prince watched as Êmand's body stiffened and his gaze hardened.

"It matters not for what has happened in the past is already done and I feel that Legolas is already dealing with the consequences of his actions. The cause of my anger is rather a result of his foolish behavior and uncharacteristic temper."

Êmand paused for a moment as if trying to find the right words to say,

"He is not himself and I fear that if we do not do something soon then he will fall away from us entirely."

Kélion's azure eyes never left Êmand's face as he asked,

"And what precisely do you wish for me to do?"

"I want you to go and save your brother before he destroys himself completely."

Kélion knocked softly on the door that led into his younger brother's room. In the almost five years since the young Sinda's disappearance and subsequent return many things were now different; yet at the same time some things remained unchanged.

Every day Legolas seemed to become more and more withdrawn and distant from the world around him. Êmand would tell the eldar Sinda of all his worries about the young prince however, when he confronted his brother about them the elfling said little. Kélion was painfully aware of the dark circles under the elfling's blue eyes and the lack of his usual liveliness and the laughter.

It was as though part of the Sinda had died after his return from the Noldor and the crown prince was growing increasingly desperate to get it back. Life was not the same as it once had been and he did not like it. All he wanted to do help Legolas be happy again and to tell him everything that he was feeling as he had once done.

Êmand's words rang in his ears like a warning bell. I want you to go and save your brother before he destroys himself completely.

The eldar let out a long sigh and knocked again on the intricately carved wooden door. If the elfling did not answer soon then he swore that he would scream in frustration. What in Eru's name was wrong with his brother? How was it that he could push everyone away and then act as though nothing were wrong?

And his adar…

His adar did not seem to care about anything anymore save wine. The once great king had never seemed to regain any of his former strength. As a consequence, in the several years that had passed, most of the responsibilities had come to rest on his head. If something did not change soon Kélion feared that he would not be able to handle the pressure that was being piled upon him.

"Muindor, if you do not come and answer the door right now then I shall open it myself and the Valar save you from my temper if it has to come to that."

There was only silence; no sound nor call could be heard within the room.

Kélion's complexion darkened considerably. This reminded him so vividly of the time he had found the elfling missing from his room after the Sinda had run away. Why could nothing with his family ever be simple? Why did there always seem to be something going wrong every time he turned around?

"Fine, I am coming in and then you are going to explain yourself Legolas, for my patience with you is growing dangerously thin," As he spoke the crown prince began to push the door open, grateful that it was not locked, "I will not allow you to sit here in your room and deal out self-pity upon yourself. You know why Êmand got upset at you and I think that you bloody well deserved it because you have been…"

Kélion's next words died in his mouth as he stepped through the door to see light streaming into the youngest prince's chambers lighting up the disaster that was within.

The room was all but destroyed. The bedding was torn apart and laying in a great heap on the floor, the curtains on the window had been ripped off, and the ornate wardrobe was laying on its side one a large dent in its front.

In the rays of sun that streamed in the ellon caught sight of something flashing on the floor. He took a step farther into the bedchamber and saw that the mirror that had been beside the wardrobe had been smashed and now lay in glinting pieces on the floor. Several flecks of bright red blood stood out on the shards where Legolas had obviously cut his hand in the process of punching the mirror.

"What in Eru's name…"

Kélion did not know what emotion to focus on as he tried to take in the mess that had been caused by his brother's erratic temper. He felt worried about the elfling, yet also angered and extremely frustrated.

"Legolas!" The prince spun around and began to search the room in search of the young Sinda, his temper having won the war over his heart, "Where in all of bloody arda are you? You have gone too far this time and you will explain your actions not only to me but also to Êmand and our adar."

The crown prince did not hear a response but instead caught sight of golden blond hair shining the midday light and ground his teeth. There was his insufferable brother. Kélion marched across the room so that he could see the elfling who had lain hidden from his sight on the other side of the large bed. However, as he caught sight of the eldar he came to a sudden halt.

Legolas lay as deathly still on the lavish rug that covered much of the floor of his room. The eldar's golden hair lay spread out around his ghastly pale face like a halo. Yet what concerned the ellon the most were the normally bright azure eyes staring sightlessly up at the ceiling.

With a cry Kélion ran to his younger brother's fallen body and threw himself down next to the elfling. What in Eru's name was this?

The elf frantically called out to Legolas as he saw the Sinda's chest moving slowly, the only sign of life that still lingered in him.

The prince put a hand to his brother's face and felt the cold skin under his fingers and felt his heart break as he saw that all of the light in Legolas's eyes had vanished. Had it not been for the faint breath and heartbeat that he felt then Kélion would have thought the elfling already dead.

"Muindor! What is wrong? Tell me!"

But there was no movement from the elfling, no sign that he had heard the call. It was as though part of the young Sinda was no longer there having already fled his slowly failing body.

Legolas's inner light was gone…

Meldir had watched a furious Êmand march his way angrily into the royal wing. His call of greeting had gone seemingly unheard by the Silvan who seemed to be too lost in his own troubles to acknowledge him. Since then the commander's mind had been flooded with dark thoughts about what had happened to cause the normally mild tempered Êmand to express such anger in his movements.

Meldir had quickly excused himself from the conversation he had been having with several of the royal guards before hurrying up the hall to find Êmand.

It did not take him long.

The Silvan commander stopped short as he saw the door to Kélion's private chambers flung wide open and no guards stationed outside of it. The ellon's brow furrowed in sudden concern for the prince's well-being.

However, even as Meldir began to make his way towards the open door, he was suddenly forced to step quickly to the side as Kélion himself brushed past him without even a second glance.

What was this? Had he suddenly turned invisible to everyone?

The ellon watched Kélion silently as the prince hurried away down the hall towards Legolas's room. Of course, this would have something to do with the princeling. It seemed as though everything found either its start or end with Legolas. Meldir shook his head as his friend disappeared around a corner.

"What is it?"

Meldir did not need to turn around to know who had just addressed him.

"I was hoping you could tell me that Êmand, for it seems as though something very upsetting has just occurred. Or perhaps I simply read your expression wrong."

"It is Legolas."

Meldir turned to face Êmand,

"I had already assumed as much for no one else could have created such a rise in emotion in you. What has he done now?"

The mentor's face darkened.

"I do not think it wise to speak of such things. I feel that it is better for Legolas himself to tell what has happened, for perhaps then I too will be able to better understand the situation and avoid causing unnecessary fear."

"You intrigue me now mellon. And I assume that whatever story the princeling will tell will include a reason for the blood on your face?"

Meldir watched the Silvan's face closely as he said this and noted the dark look that Êmand sent his way.

"Perhaps."

"And I assume also that this has something to do with Legolas sneaking out of his room and the commotion I heard not long ago in the garden."

Meldir tilted his head slightly as the ellon remained silent,

"He hit you did he not?"

Êmand's eyes widened slightly.

"How did you know?"

"I took an educated guess. Besides, I too sometimes feel the same urge when I am around you."

A soft smirk flitted across Meldir's lips.

"But you mellon nín have never tried to push me out of a tree."

The smile immediately vanished from Meldir's face at these solemn words.

"Legolas tried to kill me."

"What?" Meldir sent a harsh look at Êmand, "What do you mean he tried to kill you? That is not possible."

A strange look appeared in the Silvan mentor's eyes; it was almost one of fear. Êmand opened his mouth to respond, but whatever words he was about to say never came. Instead a heartbreaking wail tore through the hall, causing both ellyn to spin around, hands on their swords. That cry had come from the direction of Legolas's room.

Elvish Translations:

adar – father

muindor – brother (Sindarin)

mellon – friend

mellon nín – my friend