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Keldarion tried to fasten the silver chain on the royal messenger eagle but the animal shied away, crying out in terror and pain. So were the other eagles and falcons. For some reason, they were terrified of the manyan stone.

The crown prince turned to his father and Gandalf in disappointment. "They refused to take it."

Gandalf nodded. "I've thought so. If we can feel the heat, no doubt the eagles will feel it too."

It was very early in the morning the next day. Legolas' condition had worsened during the night. He lay so still in his bed, deep in coma. The longer the stone was near him, the bigger amount of his energy that it took from him. Thranduil had suggested they used a messenger eagle to carry the stone to the sea.

Unfortunately, the eagles were not cooperating, so powerful the stone was to other living beings. Only Keldarion seemed unaffected by it. It was no surprise considering that he had his mother's blood in his veins. Lady Marwana was also a manyan and had passed her gift to her youngest child the day she died giving birth to him.

Keldarion gazed steadily at the king and the wizard. "We have no other choice except for one," he said. "I'll take the stone to the sea."

Thranduil turned grim. He didn't want his eldest child far away from him at a time like this. "You don't have to go, Kel. I'll give orders to our warriors to set to sea this afternoon."

Keldarion shook his head. "No, father. Even Gandalf cannot get near the stone longer than a minute. How can our warriors fare any better? The stone does not harm me in any way, so I shall go."

Thranduil glanced at Gandalf in despair before he sighed. "Very well. But you are to take a whole squadron of our warriors. I don't want anything to trouble your long journey. I want you to return home safely."

"I will return. I promise."

As soon as they had gathered all the supplies needed for the three weeks journey to and back, Prince Keldarion and thirty Mirkwood warriors set out on horseback to the River of Anduin. From there, at the Mirkwood dock, they would board several large boats and headed downriver towards the sea. They would have to make several stops along the way for rest and rations.

Before he left, Keldarion went to see his brother. Legolas was still deep in oblivion. His chest rose up and down steadily but weakly. His skin was paler than the last time Keldarion saw him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Keldarion brought one of Legolas' limp hands to his lips.

"Stay alive, brother. Just hold on a little bit longer. The stone will not bother you anymore."

Legolas was oblivious to his brother's words. He wasn't even aware when Keldarion kissed his cool forehead.

Keldarion paused at the door on his way out, gazing back at his brother, a little uneasy when he thought that it might be the last time he saw his brother still breathing. Taking a deep breath, the elder prince used all the willpower he had to walk away.

Legolas will not get better if you linger here! he told himself.

Ai Elbereth! Please let him still be alive when I return.

The days went by, way too fast but much too slow. Every inch of Mirkwood was grieving. Their beloved prince lay dying, without any sign of getting better. Thranduil was practically crazy with worry. He rarely left Legolas' bedside, afraid that his child would leave for Mandos during his absence.

Gandalf stayed to lend his support. There was nothing much that he could do now…except joined Thranduil's desperate prayers.

After a week of sailing, Keldarion's small fleet was finally at sea, about a hundred leagues from the shore. They had dropped anchor and the warriors were waiting for their prince to cast the manyan stone into the ocean.

The prince looked down at the mystical stone on his palm, still red in color but the glow was clearly fading.

"Goodbye, dear stone. I thank you for all the powers of healing you have given us through Legolas. But we cannot keep you anymore, as you will be the death of him."

Keldarion fastened the silver chain around an arrow before he nicked the arrow to his bow. Aiming it high to the sky, he held that position for several moments, then he let go.

As they all stared at the arrow as it flew to the air before heading straight downwards, Keldarion whispered, "From water you came, to water you return."

Then the arrow—and the stone of Manya—disappeared from sight.

"Father?"

Thranduil snapped awake when he heard that soft voice. He straightened up in the big couch and turned to look at Legolas, lying in the bed. His son had awakened!

"Legolas! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

Legolas smiled weakly. "Not really good…but I'll survive."

So overwhelmed with relief and happiness, Thranduil grabbed his son into his arms. "Thank the Valar! You can't imagine how worried I've been!"

As they pulled away, Legolas asked, "How long…have I been like this?"

"Over a week now, my son."

"A week?" Legolas exclaimed in astonishment. "You're kidding, right?"

Brushing the wayward strands of Legolas' hair and tucking them behind his ear, Thranduil said, "We thought we'd lost you. You never responded. You never stirred. You were so still it terrifies me!"

The king leaned down and repeatedly kissed Legolas' brows, before crushing his son in his arms once more.

The prince laughed weakly. "Father, ease up, will you? Please…I need to breathe…"

The king let go but still held on to Legolas' hands. "I don't know what to do with you. You are always in trouble!"

"Hey, it's not my fault this time. It's the stone," Legolas protested. He looked around him but saw no sign of his brother. "Where's Kel?"

Thranduil sobered. "Your brother has gone to the sea…to throw away the stone. It's the only way to destroy it."

Legolas was not very happy to hear this. "Why him? Why can't the others do it? Why didn't you use the eagles?"

The king started to tell Legolas about their failed attempt to use the messenger eagles, and how no one else except Keldarion could touch the stone unharmed. "We have no other choice. You were fading too fast. But don't you worry about him. He promised to return safely. Don't forget, your brother is a great warrior. He can take care of himself very well."

"But to the sea, father? That was too far from here…all because of me." Legolas turned away so his father would not see the guilt in his eyes.

"He's doing this willingly, Legolas, for he cares and loves you very much. You don't have to feel bad about it," Thranduil coaxed. "Come now, do not trouble yourself. Before he left last night, Gandalf told me that you need to gather your strength as soon as you wake up. This means, you must eat some food and drink some herbs."

"Herbs? Do I really need it?"

"Indeed you do. You have not eaten anything since a week ago, but we managed to pour several drops of herbal tea into you. You must be famished."

"Not anymore." Legolas wrinkled his nose as his father pushed a cup of dark liquid to his lips. "Yrk! It smells too strong for me!"

"Just quit complaining and drink it, or I'll force it down your throat," Thranduil threatened.

Legolas reluctantly complied. When he finished, he laid his head back on the pillow and sighed. "You're so mean."

He drifted off to sleep instantly.

Thranduil chuckled. "Looks like the food have to wait for now."

He stood up and went outside to the balcony. Inhaling the fresh evening air, he then stared at the direction of the sea.

A child of mine has returned, now I'm waiting for the other one to come home…

TBC…