Chapter Seven
Legolas' father woke the next morning from a nightmarish sleep. He sighed before standing to freshen himself up. After bathing and changing he stepped out into the hall. He owed his son one last visit to bid him farewell. Although it would be terribly difficult, this would be the last time he would lay eyes on his son.
Slowly, he made his way down the hall, trying as hard as he could to retain his composure. Inside, he knew this was the hardest thing he would have to take as a father, maybe even as a king.
He paused at the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.
Sunlight streamed in the partially open balcony doors. A single ray silhouetted the sleeping figure on the bed. The onlooker swallowed hard and crept towards the elf on the bed, taking a seat in the chair by his head.
"My son. . ." he croaked, placing his hand on his.
An irregular breath was taken in as the prince opened his eyes. Thranduil gasped as he stood and stepped back from his chair, knocking it over. "Legolas!"
Legolas groaned and lifted his arm, only to quickly lower it and squeeze his eyes shut.
"You-y-you're alive!" his father stuttered.
Legolas slowly turned his head to the side and opened his eyes. "Father?" he asked weakly.
Thranduil quickly returned to his seat and clasped his son's hand in his. "Welcome back."
He slowly rolled his head to face the ceiling once again. It seemed to pain him to move. "Kama . . . have you found her?"
"No. . . I am sorry, Legolas."
He closed his eyes tightly as the pain ate at his insides. That news stung even more than the physical pains.
"We searched long and hard," his father continued. "but the orcs were not to be found. By now, they'd have reached Mordor with her or . . . she's lying dead somewhere in their path."
Legolas painfully turned onto his side and coughed up blood, sending tears streaming down his cheeks. His tightly closed eyelids hid the pain.
"The orcs may have yet to arrive," he croaked. "They are not as fast travelers as elves."
"If they are not in Mordor, then they are tucked safely away."
"They could still be on their way---"
"My son, I am sorry. But the orcs do not travel that slowly, for they do not even stop to rest."
"It takes days to travel to Mordor."
"And they have had that time and more." Legolas was silent and opened his blue eyes to better understand. "You have been unconscious for weeks on end."
"Weeks?"
"You were feared dead."
He shut his eyes tightly and showed the strain as he adjusted back on his back.
"What pains you? The healers brought you back to mint health. You cough up blood. Never before have I seen such a thing."
"Everything . . . everything. . ."
Thranduil stared into the blood that covered the sheets. "Let me get someone to change your sheets for you. Is there anything else I can bring you? Food? Drink?"
"Yes . . . please."
His father nodded and stood. It hurt him to see his son hurt in such a way. He knew not what it was like, to hurt mentally and physically simultaneously. What frightened him the most was the thought that his mind may have caused his body to be in pain. Could his love have affected him this much?
Exiting the room, he quickly found a main to change the sheets and fetch a healer then continued down to the kitchens. The maids seemed to think he was crazy; for sure this was post-death trauma for the king. They looked at him sympathetically and carried out his wishes.
He headed back upstairs with the tray of food when the maid hurriedly rushed out.
Staggering, she attempted to bow and stuttered, "Heruamin (My Lord), h-he l- l-lives!"
"Alas," he said with a smile, "He does," and continued into the room, leaving the maid dumbstruck.
"See if this helps," he said as he set down the tray beside the bed. He helped Legolas sit up partially and handed him a glass.
While Legolas struggled to drink, a healer stepped in and paused at seeing the prince awake. Thranduil motioned him forward.
"He pains everywhere. Could the wound be infected?"
"Possibly. It may also be from malnutrition or lack of movement. Or a combination of any of the three. I see you are eating, which is a good sign."
"Attempting to," Legolas corrected softly, slowing sipping the water.
The healer checked the wound despite Legolas' constant flinches. "All looks well, but if the pain continues after eating and stretching, I will get you some herbs."
"Thank you." Thranduil said as the healer left.
~~~
Dusk had arrived hours ago. Legolas was left alone in the room when his father had left for other matters.
Never caring to be bed ridden, he carefully slipped out of bed only to collapse on the floor. The throbbing caused the room to spin and his vision to darken for a moment. But he shook his head and struggled to his feet.
Carefully, he placed one foot before the other, having to keep his hands in fists to master the pain. It took him over an hour to reach the gardens outside his window. Luckily, the halls had been empty and no one sent him back to his room.
The wind brushed against his face as he headed into the woods. A mist was visible from the clearing and engulfed the lower ten feet of the trees. At seeing this, he debated in his mind whether what he was doing was a good idea. In the end, it didn't matter, really, because good idea or not he was going to find her.
Upon entering the fog, he realized how dense it was. He could at most see a foot around his face, preventing the ground from visibility. Going out in this would be insane. The orcs with Kama could be beside him and he would never know.
He turned to walk back, deciding it would be best to wait a little while for the mist to clear. Minutes later, the city did not meet him. 'Where is it?' he thought, not even thinking he might have turned in the wrong direction. He walked, his head throbbing and he constantly turned to find his way. He was lost. Somehow his tracking skills would not surface to be used. 'Ah, Valar!' Let me find her and be on my way.
The throbbing continued and took over his mind. With each step, his legs shook under him and his quad muscles pained viciously. His stomach churned. His hunched over, putting his hands on his knees and before he knew it, he had vomited. 'That can't be good,' he thought as he collapsed to the ground. A cold chill rushed over him. 'I am becoming a mortal!' he thought, shocked with the idea as he fell into an unconscious state.
~~~
The king had a hot meal prepared for Legolas and carried it down the hall as the dawn was breaking. It was wonderful for him to be alive and Thranduil vowed to spend more time with his son. For the first time in what seemed like centuries, he actually wore a smile on his face.
But something worried him. Yesterday how he coughed up blood, which was not something he had seen in all his days. He didn't want Legolas to see his concern for it so he met with the healer privately when he told Legolas to rest.
The healer wasn't sure what the problem could be and said he'd think of the causes and visit him in the morning, which should be within the hour.
He entered the room and almost dropped the plate of food. The bed was unmade and the inhabitant missing. Standing there shocked for a moment, he slid the platter on the bureau beside the door and swiftly turned to see where he had wandered off to.
The mistresses didn't believe him missing; the guards told him they had seen no one exit the palace since he'd checked last with them before dusk. Everyone in the palace was frantically searching. Thranduil knew he could have not gone far in his state, but he was no where to be found.
He exited and wandered the gardens, part of him searching, the other part thinking. Where would he have gone? Why?
To this very day the father did not understand his son. Why did he seek solitude? Why did he--- the question answered another. 'He doesn't comprehend he has been out for weeks and he is searching for her. Either that or he has gone into the forest to try to clear his head.' Both ideas were insane considering his condition. Hurriedly, he grabbed two off-duty guards and ordered, "The ground surrounding the gates. Search them thoroughly. "Then headed off to search himself.
~~~
Visions flashed before his eyes. A cruel laugh, a terrified scream. Kama's face appeared, black, blue, and swollen, blood covering her cheeks. Orcs tortured her.
He let out a stifled cry as he jerked awake. The pain was unbearable. He lifted his tunic and looked at the wound, wincing at the site. It was green; not the color green the herbs caused wounds to look, but green.
'I hate to find her. If I am indeed a mortal, that doesn't leave me much time. She needs me.'
It took three tries to get to his feet and when he did he had to grasp onto a tree to keep from falling again. 'I should have gotten a horse.' He thought as he struggled to walk. 'It is going to take the rest of my life at this rate.'
A cold chill shook him. His tunic was covered with sweat from his nightmares. Although he shivered, his hands felt as tough on fire. He stared blankly at them, for the first time grasping what heat and chill were, for he had never experienced their doings.
"Valar, why is this happening to me?" he screamed into the trees, letting his knees bend and kneeling on the grass covered floor. Emotions washed through him. Nothing made sense. He felt pain, fear . . . he let loose the tears. His head spun trying to organize and name the emotions, but he could not. He angrily let a loud yell escape him as he fell face first into the moist grass.
~~~
A yell echoed through the underbrush. Thranduil stopped, tense. He should have brought a weapon. He didn't know if he could still use a bow or a sword for that matter properly, but possessing she would be better than not.
The sound surrounded him, preventing him to tell where its' source was located.
"Ah, Elebreth, is it Legolas?" he whispered to the peaceful wind. Questions burned in his mind, 'is he being attacked? Where is he? Can I get to him in time? Orcs, are the orcs back? Has he found her? Is he dead?' He broke back into a run, swiftly dodging the trees and jumping obstacles. He had never felt so driven in hi life. 'I will find him to the death of me,' he vowed.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. Yes, this is quite a twist from the previous chapters. It's becoming quite angsty . . . well, let me know what you think. Do you like where this is heading? Or did you like where the happy, fluffy story was heading? If I get enough people saying they enjoyed the more happy, fluffy story then I will most likely write an additional fanfic changing these chapters and making them more happy and fluffy. Comprehend? Hope so. I'd love to hear what you think. I am expecting more and more criticism as it goes on and I'm welcome to it. Please review. I want to know what you think. :)
Legolas' father woke the next morning from a nightmarish sleep. He sighed before standing to freshen himself up. After bathing and changing he stepped out into the hall. He owed his son one last visit to bid him farewell. Although it would be terribly difficult, this would be the last time he would lay eyes on his son.
Slowly, he made his way down the hall, trying as hard as he could to retain his composure. Inside, he knew this was the hardest thing he would have to take as a father, maybe even as a king.
He paused at the door, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.
Sunlight streamed in the partially open balcony doors. A single ray silhouetted the sleeping figure on the bed. The onlooker swallowed hard and crept towards the elf on the bed, taking a seat in the chair by his head.
"My son. . ." he croaked, placing his hand on his.
An irregular breath was taken in as the prince opened his eyes. Thranduil gasped as he stood and stepped back from his chair, knocking it over. "Legolas!"
Legolas groaned and lifted his arm, only to quickly lower it and squeeze his eyes shut.
"You-y-you're alive!" his father stuttered.
Legolas slowly turned his head to the side and opened his eyes. "Father?" he asked weakly.
Thranduil quickly returned to his seat and clasped his son's hand in his. "Welcome back."
He slowly rolled his head to face the ceiling once again. It seemed to pain him to move. "Kama . . . have you found her?"
"No. . . I am sorry, Legolas."
He closed his eyes tightly as the pain ate at his insides. That news stung even more than the physical pains.
"We searched long and hard," his father continued. "but the orcs were not to be found. By now, they'd have reached Mordor with her or . . . she's lying dead somewhere in their path."
Legolas painfully turned onto his side and coughed up blood, sending tears streaming down his cheeks. His tightly closed eyelids hid the pain.
"The orcs may have yet to arrive," he croaked. "They are not as fast travelers as elves."
"If they are not in Mordor, then they are tucked safely away."
"They could still be on their way---"
"My son, I am sorry. But the orcs do not travel that slowly, for they do not even stop to rest."
"It takes days to travel to Mordor."
"And they have had that time and more." Legolas was silent and opened his blue eyes to better understand. "You have been unconscious for weeks on end."
"Weeks?"
"You were feared dead."
He shut his eyes tightly and showed the strain as he adjusted back on his back.
"What pains you? The healers brought you back to mint health. You cough up blood. Never before have I seen such a thing."
"Everything . . . everything. . ."
Thranduil stared into the blood that covered the sheets. "Let me get someone to change your sheets for you. Is there anything else I can bring you? Food? Drink?"
"Yes . . . please."
His father nodded and stood. It hurt him to see his son hurt in such a way. He knew not what it was like, to hurt mentally and physically simultaneously. What frightened him the most was the thought that his mind may have caused his body to be in pain. Could his love have affected him this much?
Exiting the room, he quickly found a main to change the sheets and fetch a healer then continued down to the kitchens. The maids seemed to think he was crazy; for sure this was post-death trauma for the king. They looked at him sympathetically and carried out his wishes.
He headed back upstairs with the tray of food when the maid hurriedly rushed out.
Staggering, she attempted to bow and stuttered, "Heruamin (My Lord), h-he l- l-lives!"
"Alas," he said with a smile, "He does," and continued into the room, leaving the maid dumbstruck.
"See if this helps," he said as he set down the tray beside the bed. He helped Legolas sit up partially and handed him a glass.
While Legolas struggled to drink, a healer stepped in and paused at seeing the prince awake. Thranduil motioned him forward.
"He pains everywhere. Could the wound be infected?"
"Possibly. It may also be from malnutrition or lack of movement. Or a combination of any of the three. I see you are eating, which is a good sign."
"Attempting to," Legolas corrected softly, slowing sipping the water.
The healer checked the wound despite Legolas' constant flinches. "All looks well, but if the pain continues after eating and stretching, I will get you some herbs."
"Thank you." Thranduil said as the healer left.
~~~
Dusk had arrived hours ago. Legolas was left alone in the room when his father had left for other matters.
Never caring to be bed ridden, he carefully slipped out of bed only to collapse on the floor. The throbbing caused the room to spin and his vision to darken for a moment. But he shook his head and struggled to his feet.
Carefully, he placed one foot before the other, having to keep his hands in fists to master the pain. It took him over an hour to reach the gardens outside his window. Luckily, the halls had been empty and no one sent him back to his room.
The wind brushed against his face as he headed into the woods. A mist was visible from the clearing and engulfed the lower ten feet of the trees. At seeing this, he debated in his mind whether what he was doing was a good idea. In the end, it didn't matter, really, because good idea or not he was going to find her.
Upon entering the fog, he realized how dense it was. He could at most see a foot around his face, preventing the ground from visibility. Going out in this would be insane. The orcs with Kama could be beside him and he would never know.
He turned to walk back, deciding it would be best to wait a little while for the mist to clear. Minutes later, the city did not meet him. 'Where is it?' he thought, not even thinking he might have turned in the wrong direction. He walked, his head throbbing and he constantly turned to find his way. He was lost. Somehow his tracking skills would not surface to be used. 'Ah, Valar!' Let me find her and be on my way.
The throbbing continued and took over his mind. With each step, his legs shook under him and his quad muscles pained viciously. His stomach churned. His hunched over, putting his hands on his knees and before he knew it, he had vomited. 'That can't be good,' he thought as he collapsed to the ground. A cold chill rushed over him. 'I am becoming a mortal!' he thought, shocked with the idea as he fell into an unconscious state.
~~~
The king had a hot meal prepared for Legolas and carried it down the hall as the dawn was breaking. It was wonderful for him to be alive and Thranduil vowed to spend more time with his son. For the first time in what seemed like centuries, he actually wore a smile on his face.
But something worried him. Yesterday how he coughed up blood, which was not something he had seen in all his days. He didn't want Legolas to see his concern for it so he met with the healer privately when he told Legolas to rest.
The healer wasn't sure what the problem could be and said he'd think of the causes and visit him in the morning, which should be within the hour.
He entered the room and almost dropped the plate of food. The bed was unmade and the inhabitant missing. Standing there shocked for a moment, he slid the platter on the bureau beside the door and swiftly turned to see where he had wandered off to.
The mistresses didn't believe him missing; the guards told him they had seen no one exit the palace since he'd checked last with them before dusk. Everyone in the palace was frantically searching. Thranduil knew he could have not gone far in his state, but he was no where to be found.
He exited and wandered the gardens, part of him searching, the other part thinking. Where would he have gone? Why?
To this very day the father did not understand his son. Why did he seek solitude? Why did he--- the question answered another. 'He doesn't comprehend he has been out for weeks and he is searching for her. Either that or he has gone into the forest to try to clear his head.' Both ideas were insane considering his condition. Hurriedly, he grabbed two off-duty guards and ordered, "The ground surrounding the gates. Search them thoroughly. "Then headed off to search himself.
~~~
Visions flashed before his eyes. A cruel laugh, a terrified scream. Kama's face appeared, black, blue, and swollen, blood covering her cheeks. Orcs tortured her.
He let out a stifled cry as he jerked awake. The pain was unbearable. He lifted his tunic and looked at the wound, wincing at the site. It was green; not the color green the herbs caused wounds to look, but green.
'I hate to find her. If I am indeed a mortal, that doesn't leave me much time. She needs me.'
It took three tries to get to his feet and when he did he had to grasp onto a tree to keep from falling again. 'I should have gotten a horse.' He thought as he struggled to walk. 'It is going to take the rest of my life at this rate.'
A cold chill shook him. His tunic was covered with sweat from his nightmares. Although he shivered, his hands felt as tough on fire. He stared blankly at them, for the first time grasping what heat and chill were, for he had never experienced their doings.
"Valar, why is this happening to me?" he screamed into the trees, letting his knees bend and kneeling on the grass covered floor. Emotions washed through him. Nothing made sense. He felt pain, fear . . . he let loose the tears. His head spun trying to organize and name the emotions, but he could not. He angrily let a loud yell escape him as he fell face first into the moist grass.
~~~
A yell echoed through the underbrush. Thranduil stopped, tense. He should have brought a weapon. He didn't know if he could still use a bow or a sword for that matter properly, but possessing she would be better than not.
The sound surrounded him, preventing him to tell where its' source was located.
"Ah, Elebreth, is it Legolas?" he whispered to the peaceful wind. Questions burned in his mind, 'is he being attacked? Where is he? Can I get to him in time? Orcs, are the orcs back? Has he found her? Is he dead?' He broke back into a run, swiftly dodging the trees and jumping obstacles. He had never felt so driven in hi life. 'I will find him to the death of me,' he vowed.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. Yes, this is quite a twist from the previous chapters. It's becoming quite angsty . . . well, let me know what you think. Do you like where this is heading? Or did you like where the happy, fluffy story was heading? If I get enough people saying they enjoyed the more happy, fluffy story then I will most likely write an additional fanfic changing these chapters and making them more happy and fluffy. Comprehend? Hope so. I'd love to hear what you think. I am expecting more and more criticism as it goes on and I'm welcome to it. Please review. I want to know what you think. :)