********************** Chapter 26 ***********************

NeuroticSquirrel : Hope you're feeling better now...

FoolsOfTheRoad : Well, I need things between Halirien and Elladan to have a closure so....

To all my reviewers, thank you again... you guys kept the story going. Thanks a million!

On to the story...

*********************************************************

Chapter 26

"What do you mean mourning? Who do you mourn for? It's not Legolas is it?" Elladan asked impatiently while the others were shocked to hear such news. He just had to know if anything was wrong with Legolas.

"What is your name?" Elrond asked the elf that spoke to them previously.

"Laenos, my lord," the elf said as he bowed in respect to the Lord of Rivendell.

"Laenos. Tell me Laenos. What happened to Legolas? Assuming it is Legolas you were talking about?" Elrond asked grimly.

Laenos nodded and answered sadly," His condition is very grave, my Lord. That is all I know."

"YOU MEAN HE IS NOT DEAD?! THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU SAY YOU WERE MOURNING?! Elladan yelled at Laenos.

"I am sorry, my Lord, if I gave you the wrong impression. Perhaps 'mourning' is the not the best word to be used," Laenos said quickly.

"You think? You nearly gave us a heart attack," Haldir said.

"Take us to your king, Laenos," Elrond said.

Laenos nodded and led them towards Mirkwood.

Perhaps 'mourning' is the word to describe what the wood-elves had been doing. The mood around the realm was grim and sad. No one laughed and no one even smiled at them.

They were attending to their business and some were sitting in a group, as if keeping vigil for their dear prince. A soft and faint lament was heard from afar.

'He's not even dead and their singing a lament for him?' Elladan thought to himself. 'Maybe they knew that he was beyond help. No one can save him now. Not even you,' his inner voice said.

Elladan quickly shook his head and said softly to himself," I can save him. I must."

Then suddenly, Laenos stopped in front of them. They stopped their horses too and mounted from their horses.

Some elves helped them took their horses to the stables. Led by Elrond, they began to make way to the palace.

"You are not to say anything, understand?" Elrond whispered to them. "And Elladan, do not say anything about your relationship with Legolas until I say so."

All the younger elves nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, the main door to the castle flew opened and an older looking elf rushed forward to meet them.

"Elrond, old friend. You have come," the elf said.

"Yes, Thranduil. How do you fare, my friend?" Elrond asked as they embraced.

"I am as fine as a father can be," King Thranduil answered with a grim smile.

Elrond nodded while Thranduil continue to explain," The one thing that we're most afraid of had happened. And I had absolutely no way to help him. What do we do, Elrond? What can we do?" There were unshed tears in Thranduil's eyes as he spoke.

"I'm sorry," Elrond choked out the words.

Thranduil only looked at him with his grim expression before he smiled sadly and said," What a terrible host I am being. Come in, come in. These are your children, I presume."

"Yes, this is Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen. This is their friend, Haldir," Elrond introduced them as they each bowed in greetings to the king.

Elladan had wanted to asked whether he could see Legolas but his father had told him not to say anything.

Thranduil led them to the library where Haifirion, Naramin and Kaimion was waiting.

Introductions was once again made between the younger elves.

"How is Legolas?" Elrond asked as he took a seat.

"For now, he is stable. But he was always tired and he has chest pains," Haifirion explained on his father's behalf.

Kaimion shook his head and said sadly," And he looked... terrible." He couldn't find another word.

Suddenly the door opened and Romion entered.

"Greetings Lord Elrond," Romion greeted Elrond and was soon introduced to the others.

"Where is Taelas?" Haifirion asked when he saw that his elder brother was not with Romion.

"Taelas is still with Legolas. Kai, please help me send some food to your brother and some broth for Las in case he wakes up," Romion told his brother. Kaimion nodded and left the room in order to take some food to Taelas.

Thranduil looked at his son for a moment before he spoke," How is he, Romion?"

"He was trashing in his sleep and he mumbled something about the pain. Taelas is looking after him now," Romion explained.

When Thranduil didn't respond, Romion contiued but hesitantly.

"It was so frightening, Adar, to see him like that. He looked so frail and fragile. It hurts me so to see him like that. Are you sure there isn't anything that we could do to help him?" Romion pleaded with his father.

Thranduil stood up and hugged his son. Romion did not cry but he was near to crying. He knew he must put up a brave front for his family. His father is breaking and his younger brothers needed him now more than ever to be brave for them. And Legolas needed his strength too.

Thranduil knew each one of his son is suffering for Legolas' fate. But he knew Romion took it the hardest. Being the eldest, Romion played the role of a protector to his younger brothers. And he had loved Legolas the most. Had spent the most time with him while his father was busy with his work and the younger siblings was busy with patrolling. Thranduil knew Romion had showered Legolas with love like a father would have.

"You know as well as I do that there is nothing that we can do but hope," Thranduil sooth his eldest son.

"But hope has abandon us, Adar. What hope can we give Legolas now?" Romion asked in a soft voice but still loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

Thranduil choked back a sob and was silent for he had no answer to Romion's question.

"You didn't see him just now, Adar. When he was trashing in his sleep, he called for help and I called out to him, trying to sooth him. I even sang to him, Adar. But he couldn't hear me..." he paused for a while, maybe to collect himself.

Then he continued," He wouldn't stop yelling. And I couldn't help him. I have never felt so helpless before, Adar. Never before now," Romion said as he choked back his tears and his voice reduced to soft tone.

He continued again," He was calling for us, you know. I tried to tell him that we were there, beside him. But he kept calling. It was dark, he says. And very painful. He asked, no begged, us not to leave him. We tried to convinced him that we were not leaving him but then he cried. I have never heard anyone crying like that before, Adar. It was so pitiful that it broke my heart just listening to it."

"What happened after that?" Haifirion asked softly.

"After a while, I guessed he got tired. And when I left his room, he was sleeping peacefully with Taelas by his side," Romion explained softly.

"I want my brother back, Adar. Tell Valar to give him back to us. I'll do anything, anything to have my baby brother back with me again. Please, Adar?" Romion pleaded as he clutch his father's robes like an elfling. Thranduil had to blink away his tears at his son's request. He did not know how to comfort his son.

Before Thranduil could say anything, Romion continued, this time rather softly as if he was talking to himself," I want him smiling again, not crying. Laughing again, not screaming in fear, in pain..." he paused then continued," I wish it was me on that bed, Adar. Why couldn't it be me?"

Thranduil hugged his son tighter and finally cry at his son's last sentence. Father and son stood in embrace for a moment.

Suddenly feeling rather stupid with his request, Romion calmed down and got himself together. He broke the hug and smiled sadly at his father.

"I'm sorry, Adar. I just lost it for a moment there," Romion tried to explained.

But Thranduil waved his hand and said affectionately," Think nothing of it, my son. I know you're hurting and it's not wrong to let go once a while even if you are the eldest," Thranduil said as he kissed Romion's forehead.

No one said anything. All had tears in their eyes. They knew Legolas was suffering but none could do anything to help.

Suddenly a sob could heard in the room. They all looked around and saw Naramin was trying unsuccessfully to hold back his tears.

Suddenly he stood up and said in an unstable voice," Please excuse me. I think I'll go and help Taelas in case he needs them," Naramin excused himself. Before King Thranduil could say anything, he had left the room.

Romion sighed and took the seat that Naramin was seating on previously. Thranduil sat in his seat.

"Tell me Thranduil, how did you know it was because of the curse?" Elrond asked after he cleared his throat. He was glad that Legolas was stable now. It will give him some time to break the news to the royal family that Legolas had loved Elladan. He knew that this matter must be handled carefully.

Thranduil looked at Romion as if waiting for him to explain. Romion nodded.

"We found him unconscious one night after dinner..." Romion started to explain.

TBC...



I was in a rather sad mood when I wrote this...

Review, please?