Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien created.

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Mirkwood's Plague

A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. I really appreciate it. Here's chapter three for you.

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Chapter 3 – Comings and Goings

It was over two hours before Legolas returned from the training fields, feeling a little better now that he had vented a bit of his frustration but still full of concern for his older brother. He rounded the corner and approached Rumil's bedroom. The Crown Prince had been moved somewhere more comfortable than the healing rooms he had always hated so much. Ever since his mother had died giving birth to Legolas, Rumil had stayed as far away from those rooms as possible. This usually resulted in him keeping any medical problems, which often occurred during his adventures, to himself. Legolas smiled when he thought of the proud warrior Rumil being afraid of a simple room.

When Legolas saw Thranduil standing in the hallway his smile faded. The usually proud king was stood leaning against the wall. He had his face buried in his hands and looked more tired than Legolas ever remembered seeing him. He approached slowly, concern written all over his face. Thranduil apparently didn't hear his son approaching, or didn't care. The King didn't even look up.

"Ada?" Legolas asked quietly. Thranduil looked up and Legolas was surprised to see fresh tears on his father's pale face. He had never seen his father lose control of his emotions and it terrified him.

"Rumil?" he questioned, fearing he already knew the answer.

Thranduil looked towards Rumil's room with sad, tear-filled eyes. Legolas knew then that his brother was dead. He didn't need Thranduil to voice the truth. He took a step towards the door; he had to see his brother. However, a strong, firm hand on his arm held him back.

"Legolas, please, don't," Thranduil's voice was pleading rather than demanding.

Legolas ignored him, brushing off his father's hand and pushed the door open. He stepped inside cautiously. He had been in that room numerous times but never before had it felt so dark and oppressive. The shutters were firmly closed, blocking out any sunlight. The darkness was broken only by a few candles placed by Rumil's bedside. Rumil himself was laid out on the bed, obviously done by either the healers that had tended to him or by Thranduil himself. From where Legolas stood it looked like his brother was just sleeping and if he hadn't known better he would have said that Rumil could be woken simply by shaking him. Legolas wished so much that this was true.

Legolas walked slowly up to the bed, with a sense of foreboding that he hadn't noticed before, which was almost stifling in the dim, enclosed room. He didn't want to see Rumil in that condition and yet something inside him told him that he had to see his brother for what may be the last ever time; if nothing else than to check that what his father said was true, although he knew deep down that it was pointless to think otherwise.

When Legolas looked down he noticed that Rumil had been cleaned up since his arrival at the palace, presumably by the healers. However, what the healers couldn't clean off the pale and drawn face were the lines of pain that were etched into his brother's handsome features. When Legolas looked closer he saw deep purple bruises that he hadn't seen before; they almost covered his face and what little of his body was showing beneath the blankets. Legolas looked closer and noticed the blood in his brother's mouth and the small specks of blood that remained on the white pillows and sheets. As far as he remembered Rumil hadn't shown any signs of bleeding when he had arrived in the palace a few hours ago. Legolas pulled back the sheets to expose his brother's body fully and what he saw shocked and horrified him. Rumil's body was covered in the same deep bruises that were on his face only they were surrounded by thin purple lines that seemed to stretch away from the marks, just like Legolas would have expected to see from a poisoned wound. And yet there were no other signs of poison or an open wound of any kind and poison couldn't have killed an entire town and all the guards that were with the prince. Legolas sighed and pulled the sheet back over Rumil's body as he didn't want people seeing his brother in such an exposed state.

Legolas knelt down next to his brother's bed and bowed his head in silent prayer. He looked up when he sensed someone behind him. He looked around to find Thranduil also bowing his head, joining his son in his prayers to the Valar.

Legolas looked up at his father after a while and their eyes met.

"I shouldn't have let him go. I knew something was wrong with that town. I knew it wasn't safe but I still let him go. I shouldn't have let him go."

"Ada, this wasn't your fault. Rumil begged you to let him join the scouts. I heard him myself. If you hadn't of said yes he would probably have found a way to get out anyway," Legolas said quietly, not wanting to disturb the respectful atmosphere that had descended over the room.

"Hannon le, ion nin," Thranduil smiled at Legolas although it was a smile marred with the painful sorrow of losing his son and heir.

"What happened to the guard that came home with Rumil? Did he survive?" Legolas asked.

"He died only an hour after he arrived. The same way as…The same way. Legolas, something is very wrong here. The girl with Rumil – Leanna – she was already dead when she arrived and yet Rumil didn't seem to notice he carried a corpse in his arms. I know he's not a trained healer but it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. She died in exactly the same way as Rumil. Why would he bring her here if he knew there was danger to himself and his people? Of course he would want to help the girl but at the risk of Mirkwood? Rumil wasn't an idiot; he would put his people before anything else. He wouldn't do anything to harm Mirkwood."

"Unless he didn't know what it was."

"Indeed."

"What do the healers say? Do they know what did this?" Legolas asked softly, hoping his father would explain everything as usually happened whenever anything went wrong in Mirkwood.

"No, some of the best healers in Middle Earth and not one of them recognises this illness. I have them working on an answer but so far they've come up with nothing."

"Ada, we need to know what's happening. If someone or something is attacking Mirkwood we must stop it. Mirkwood needs to be protected," Legolas insisted.

"I know that but I will not risk any more people getting hurt."

"Rumil would want…"

"Rumil would want his people to remain safe. I will not be challenged on this, Legolas. I have made my decision and you will abide by it," Thranduil demanded.

After that an uneasy silence filled the room. Legolas stood watching his father who simply stared numbly at Rumil as if willing his dead son to move. Legolas hated seeing his father like that but there was nothing he could say or do. He knew how stubborn the King could be once his mind was made up.

"I'm sorry," Thranduil whispered after a while. "I'm so sorry." The king once more covered his face with his hands to hide his tears.

"Ada." Legolas moved tentatively forwards and hugged his crying father. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm sure you know best. I will follow your orders."

Thranduil leaned further against his son, hiding his face in Legolas' shoulder. Legolas was utterly astounded; he couldn't believe this was happening. Throughout his long life he had seen his father angry, happy and disappointed but never this upset.

A gentle knocking at the door brought Legolas from his thoughts.

"Not now," he shouted impatiently. He felt his father pull away and he obediently released his grip on him.

"No, it's alright. What is it?" the King asked wearily but he still held an air of authority about him that Legolas and most of Mirkwood were used to.

"Forgive me for interrupting Your Majesties but Lord Aragorn, Gimli; Gandalf and the Hobbits have just arrived in Mirkwood. I informed them that this was a bad time but King Elessar insisted that he speak with Prince Legolas at once. They are waiting for the Prince in the hall," the servant said quickly. He was obviously unnerved by the state of his King.

"Go back to them and give them my sincere apologies but I cannot join them right now," Legolas ordered.

"Ion nin, they are your friends you should go and greet them. It would seem impolite if you didn't. You could use a break from this anyway. Go and be with your friends," Thranduil said, placing a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.

"Your Highness, Lord Elrond is also here. He wishes to speak with you," the servant continued.

Thranduil sighed heavily, rubbing at his tired, teary eyes; he should have known Elrond would be with the group. He had a knack for showing up at inconvenient yet very appropriate times.

"Very well. Send the Fellowship to my study so my son may speak with them in private and show Lord Elrond to the library. Inform him that I shall be with him shortly. And do not mention anything about Rumil just yet." Thranduil glanced back at the body of his eldest.

"Yes, sir," the servant acknowledged. He bowed briefly before going to follow his Lord's orders.

"Go on, Legolas. Be with your friends. There is nothing you can do here. I will let you know if there are any developments, I promise." Thranduil smiled reassuringly at his son although Legolas knew it was false. Even so he nodded and, after one more glance at his brother, he left the room silently.

TBC…

Translations:

Ada – Dad

Hannon le, ion nin – Thank you, my son

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