King Bard of Dale really hated his job. Several weeks ago riders from Greenwood had come to Dale looking for information on the whereabouts of Price Legolas who had been expected home, and had not arrived. Thranduil had clearly hoped that his only child had taken a detour to visit Tauriel in Erebor. However no one in Dale or Erebor had seen the golden prince. This morning he had gotten a message that a group of merchants had entered Dale with an injured elf in their company, one who claimed to be from Rivendel. And he was now on his way to a healers home to meet with him. He entered and nodded at the healer who bowed. "The elf?"

"In the first room on the left, my lord."

"Thank you." Bard knocked on the door before entering. The Elf on the bed truly was a pity to look upon. He was pale and skinny. And the natural glow elves seemed to possess was dulled. "Master Elf. I am King Bard. I was told you have a tale to tell me."

"Hail, king Dale." the Elf made a motion with his arm, still too weak to sit up. "I am Captain Varne of Rivendel. I am… afraid that I do not come bearing good news."

"Peace friend. Tell me what happened." he took the captains hand, pained by the look of shame and pain in his eyes.

"Me and my company were tasked with seeing the Prince of Greenwood home, on the fifth day of our journey we noticed a band of orcs following us. There were far more of them from us and we…" his voice broke. "They had followed us since we left rivendel… I sent the prince ahead alone…" the grip on his hand tightened. "We found his bow.. I sent the prince off to die alone… we couldn't distract them, they wanted him!" Varnes voice was breaking with anguish over his choice.

"Shhh, rest captain, It was not your fault… there was nothing you could have done. Do not despair, I… will bring the news to Thranduil. You just rest.. Do you have the bow.. I would like to return it." Bard squeezed his hand back assuringly. His heart breaking for the Elves. They had lost their Queen to orcs and now they had lost their beloved prince. He had heard that sorrow could kill Elves, if this was true, he was almost certain the news would kill the king he had come to admire.

"Yes... " Varne motioned to a bundle on the small table next to them.

Bard nodded, releasing his hand and standing up. "Thank you. Rest brother. I will send word to Elrond after I return from Greenwood." He left, taking the precious bundle with him. He held it carefully as though it were a child. It might as well have been the last piece of proof that Legolas had lived and died. As he stepped outside his gaze fell upon the mountain. Within its walls lived an elf maid who would surely be devastated by the news as well. He would have to inform Thorin once he returned. He did not have to wait long for his guards to be ready to go. And they met with some of the riders of greenwood who were to return. They must have known something was wrong when he told them he had news that he had to tell Thranduil himself. They rode in silence, their escorts solemn and speaking only in hush tones, as though they already knew what laid in the bundle carried by the king of men.

Thrandruil sat upon his throne as Bard was shown in, his eyes however seemed to be far away lost in thought and worry. Bard found it hard to force himself to approach and stood still closing his eyes to gather himself. "King Thranduil." he began stepping forward and bowing. He swallowed as Thranduil finally turned to acknowledge his presence. He was surprised to see the Elvenkings eyes widen at the sight of the bundle he held so carefully.

"What is that?" Thrandruil shifted on the throne looking nervous and full of dread.

"...I was given this by an injured Elven captain that was brought to Dale.. I…" Thranduil cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"Show me what he has given you first." He demanded gripping the arms of his throne tightly.

Bard nodded and bowed his head before carefully unwrapping the shattered bow. "The bow of Prince Legolas, discovered several miles ahead of where the Escort was attacked by orcs. They sent him ahead hoping to distract the pack, but were unsuccessful." He kept it brief, he did not have many more details anyways.

"... was that all they found?"

Bard Frowned at the question. Thranduil seemed almost relieved, perhaps trying to convince himself that if there was no body his son could still be alive. "A butured horse and the remnants of an orc camp were found, nothing else."

Thranduil closed his eyes briefly then rose from his throne and down its steps. Without another word he vanished down a hall.

There was a councilman present who took control of the situation, giving orders to the guards before turning to Bard.

"Thank you King Bard, We must prepare for the mourning, however a group will accompany you back to Dale, I ask that you inform Lady Tauriel of this great tragedy." A guard who had left behind the king came back with a package. "She will want these."

Bard accepted it, frowning hard. "Will Thranduil be alright?" He winced at the sympathetic looks he received in response.

"If he survives this, I expect him to sail within the next few years…. Bard dragonslayer… there is no hope for what you want from him." The elf was blunt about it, but not malicious. Only sympathetic to his hearts ache. "Thank you again." He bowed and turned away.

Bard felt his heart break all over again, he wanted to go to his fellow king, offer comfort and compassion. More than anything he yearned to share his love. What he did however was nod and take his leave, his duty as a bearer of misfortune was not over. Five elves joined them all dressed in black now, all silent, their grief hung in the air around them moving even his own guards to silent tears. Despite their insistence on bringing the news to Princess Tauriel, Bard had convinced them to spend the night in Dale.

The moon had hit its peak when the sound of chanting, singing woke Bard from a shallow sleep. He blinked up at the ceiling of his room before getting up with a groan. He carefully followed the music to the throne room where the elves had decided to stay. He was surprised to see them standing side by side dressed in their black robes. The words were strange, he did not know them. Despite the circumstances their voices were firm and almost hopeful. It seemed like a hymn, one perhaps to the Valar that they were so firm in belief of. Part of their mourning ritual he assumed and stepped back into the hall, he did not want to intrude on something that felt so sacred.

"King Bard!" one called out causing him to pause and turn back.

"Yes, master elf? I apologise for…"

"No, please. Come rest your soul with us, these songs are for the soothing of our hearts."

Bard thought for a moment before entering the room and bowing to them. "Thank you.. I am afraid I do not know the words. Nor any similar songs myself."

"You do not need to join with your voice. Eru will accept a song of heart just as well." The elf who had invited him smiled warmly, it made Bard stare in wonder for a moment. He sat down on the floor and closed his eyes trying to muster up a song in his heart as they had said. As they started singing again his focus shifted more to their words, the tune and chanting. It brought a sense of peace and safety to his mind. Somewhere along the line he had joined in their song, unknowingly barely able to comprehend the words he sang, For Legolas, for his beloved Elvenking, and for a God he was not even sure existed.

He must have fallen asleep or lost consciousness at some point, as the next morning he woke up in a pile of elves. It was amusing and he could barely contain his soft chuckles as he carefully pried himself loose. Elves sleep like piles of kittens when sad apparently. That thought dampened his mood, they would make for Erebor today. Bringing with them heartache, and dampening hope for the future. He knew that Thorin had hoped Legolas would take his fathers throne sooner rather than later, there would never be good blood between the dwarves and woodland elves while Thranduil ruled, as much as he wished that was not true. He sighed running his hand through his hair and gently shook the shoulder of an elf. "Master elf it is morning, we must set out for Erebor soon," He said softly as the elf stired and blinked up at him before moving to wake his companions. Bard went to his own room, readying himself for the trip to Erebor. He would wear his crown this time. As much as he disliked it, Thorin would give him a hard time over it otherwise. The elves had arranged themself back into their mourning company again by the time he joined them. He noticed their horses were dark in color as well. As though they had forsaken all color in their grief. Odd considering their songs of hope from the previous night, but in honesty what did he know about elven rituals. He mounted his horse bringing the parcel meant for Tauriel with him. He suspected it was similar dark clothing for her to wear. He sighed and gave the signal to move forward and headed through the streets towards Erebor. They arrived shortly before noon, the elves did not want to rush and neither did Bard. He was greeted at the gate by Dwalin who was giving the elves suspicious looks.

"King Bard, what brings you and a company of elves to Erebor." He demanded.

"...Nothing good I will admit. We have news for Tauriel that they must give her themselves. They carry no weapons but I am sure they will let you search them if you so choose."

Dwalin looked at the elves intensely taking in their dress and subdued demeanor. "...Right this way, Tauriel should be in the throne room." He nodded at the guards and the massive gates were pulled open for them. The elves dismounted letting the dwarves take their horses and formed two lines behind the leader of their company and Bard. They bore the banners of Greenwood, also done in black silk with their symbol in silver. Bard led them forward and into the throne room. Bowing to Thorin and his consort the hobbit bilbo, feeling glad that the elves followed suit.

"King Bard." Thorin said not looking at him but the elves.

"King Thorin, I have brought a company from Greenwood." He looked in Tauriels direction and saw her frowning.

"Did Thranduil's heart give out." she finally asked. Her voice was hopeful, she knew of course that Legolas was missing, so he could not blame her for hoping it was their king they were mourning. The leader of the elven group stood and extended his hand. Taurial hesitated but rose from her seat and walked forward as Thorin narrowed his eyes slightly. She grasped the elfs hand and spoke again. "What new have you brought me, Orben?" She asked her voice quiet and pained.

The leader now identified as Orben did not respond, and one of the other elves came forward with the bundle containing the shattered bow. No words were spoken as the bundle was unwrapped revealing its contents. The shattered fragments of white wood and twisted gold were enough to tell the story. A cry escaped the redheaded elf as she sank to the floor with the aid of Orben. She released his hand covering her face as she began to sob.

Thorin, King under the mountain, watched the scene before him silently. It took all his will power to not throw these elves out wishing them to take this heartache with them. Kili rushed to the side of his wife dropping to his knees as he embraced her. She let out another sob laying in his arms. She called out for her Muindor, he knew by now that the word meant brother. That is what the fallen prince had been to her. He was about to get up as the elves moved to circle Tauriel and Kili but a gentle grip on his arm stopped him."

"They aren't going to hurt them, I think they are… trying to give her privacy to mourn." Bilbo, his beloved and admittedly wise concort reached up to touch Thorins now long beard. "They have ways to mourn too."

He was right of course. And turned his attention to King Bard instead. "I take it that you delivered this news to the elves?"

"I did, a survivor of the escort the prince was traveling with was brought to Dale." Bard was struggling to hide his pain and Thorin almost snorted. Why anyone would get themselves worked up over Thranduil of all people was beyond him. Though he would ask that his people pay their respects for the fallen prince. He had liked the young elf himself, and saw in him a hope for the political future of their kingdoms. But now that hope seemed lost completely.

"I would like to inform you that.. Elves can not mourn alone, they must stay with Tauriel for now." Bard added after handing another bundle to one of the elves.

"We will host them, do not fret.." Thorin disliked the idea, his thoughts bitterly turning to their lack of aid a century before. But he was not unsympathetic, particularly not for Tauriel. He had accepted her into his family, not just as Kili's wife but as a princess of Erebor. He looked to the side as his sister rose from her own feet to usher her son, daughter in law and the elves into a more private setting and nodded at her.

"... If it is agreeable with you, I will take my leave." Bard said bowing to Thorin and Bilbo. Leaving once he had been dismissed.

"Send word throughout Erebor, Ori." Thorin said. "We will mourn the elven prince tonight. He was a friend to us when his father was not." The royal scribe nodded and bowed, hurrying away while trying to hide his own tears at the news.

Tauriel dressed in the clothes brought for her from mirkwood. A long black dress of satin and lace. And a silk cloak also black to wear over it, obscuring her face and tears. Dis had helped her dress as she had been in far too much anguish to do it completely on her own. Her hair had been pinned back out of her face with only her braids hanging loose. The elves that had come were old friends. They had been under her and legolas and had served with them, she was grateful that they had come to mourn with her. Grief was difficult for an elf to navigate alone, they did better with other elves to sing with, to touch. Now they sat together in front of a shrine to Eru in remembrance of their fallen prince. She had arranged the broken bow on the small alter in front of them. The mouning would take almost a month to complete. The first two weeks were full of songs and prayers not only to ask Eru to bring peace to their souls but to aid Legolas on his solo journey to the undying night the dwarves had mourned with them, though they had mourned a potential future that was now lost. Kili stayed by her side having acquired black clothing himself. She was ever grateful to have her husband, the other half of her soul at her side. Her thoughts drifted to Greenwood as she listened to the song her friends sang. She wondered how Thranduil was fairing, if he would soon follow behind his son, in death, or by the sea. As angry and disillusioned as she was with her former king, she did not wish this pain upon him. When her fellow elves left she would send the bow with them. She would fix it, she decided. With gold, and silver. It was something she had observed the dwarves doing with broken pottery and even their broken monuments as they had rebuilt. She supposed it was just because they had plenty of it lying around, but it had felt almost symbolic to her. As the night wore on she tired and laid against her husbands chest. "Do not mind them, we will sleep together tonight, it brings us comfort." She explained when Kili gave the elves dubious looks as they laid down with them.

"You elves are weird." Kili replied with no real heat behind the comment.

"Yes my love." she kissed him gently and curled up feeling safe from her anguish in his arms. "...oh Legolas.." she breathed out softly getting a kiss on her forehead in response from Kili. And his soft voice lulled her to sleep where she dreamed of Legolas sleeping peacefully under the trees of Greenwood.