Father and Son Father and Son Chapter 6, a lord of the rings fanfic

Disclaimer: Please see chapter 1. Basically it says I own nothing! ;)

Beta: Not betaed by Akedhi yet, but revised by myself. Yes, after re-reading the beta-version of chapter 5 I've been able to figure some mistakes out by myself! ;)

Additional A/N: We will have two more OCs in here. It was really hard for me to create names for them but I hope they're not completely foolish. Férlaes is meant to mean "oak leaf" and Hador simply means "Warrior". I think, Tolkien used this name as well, but this is a completely different Hador, mind you. Hope you like this chappie! Even though to be honest, I think it's not so good to say the least (*mumbles under her breath "crap" mumbles on*…) - Way too less Legolas-action in here! Anyway, on with the story!

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Father and Son - Chapter 6

Lord Elrond and Gandalf sat in silence, both leafing through some ancient books. Neither of them could find the inner peace to really read something though. Elrond suddenly felt a slight trace of foreshadowing pulling on his mind and looked over to Gandalf. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Strangely enough it felt exactly like the anticipation he always had had when one of his children had been in some sort of trouble or hurt.

"Mithrandir…" He started, but did not get any further for all of a sudden the door to the library flew open and his attention was immediately drawn to the heavily panting, crying elfling in the doorframe.

"Ada… ada… please… help…" Legolas somehow managed to wail out in between frantic sobs.

The two adults were on their feet immediately. They jogged down the hall, letting Legolas lead the way. The elfling ran as fast as his short legs would let him. They reached Thranduil's study in no time, and the wide open door already indicated that something was amiss. Neither Thranduil nor Legolas would ever leave a door open just like that under normal circumstances, for both shared a strong conception of tidiness. Elrond and Mithrandir entered the room and found Thranduil sitting on the couch at the window, his face hidden in his hands. Legolas froze in the doorframe.

He did not dare to go into his Ada's study. His Ada had told him to go away and he did not want to make him even angrier than he already was. But he just could not leave either. He was scared and he really wanted to know what was wrong with his Ada. He sank down on his knees and crawled into the darkest corner of the room. From here he could overlook everything without being seen by his Ada. He watched Lord Elrond slowly approaching his father and Gandalf stopping some feet behind the healer from Imladris.

Thranduil did not look up. He knew there was someone else in the room, but he did not want anyone to see his tear strained face. However, he did not have the strength to send whoever had entered the room away, either.

Elrond approached him cautiously and slightly touched his shoulder with his right hand.

"Thranduil, mellon nin. Are you well?" He asked gently. Considering Legolas' panic-stricken attitude he honestly had expected to find the king sprawled all over the floor, bleeding half way to death or something like that. But in all truth Thranduil did not look as if something was wrong with him – except maybe for his slightly slouched shoulders and the fact that he covered his face with his hands.

"What have I done?" Thranduil murmured into his palms so low Elrond almost could not hear it even though he was only inches away from the king. Elrond crouched down before him and squeezed his shoulder, pushing him to talk. Had he beaten Legolas? Had he done it even though both he and Mithrandir had been so sure he would not do it. It could not be!

Thranduil finally dropped his hands and looked at him. Elrond almost gasped in shock. Thranduil's eyes were red from crying, his face deathly pale, silver trails of tears on both his cheeks. Elrond had known the other elf for almost his entire life but he had never seen him cry once. Even not when his wife had been killed.

"My friend, what has happened? Please do not tell us you have beaten Legolas…" Elrond asked hoarsely, fearing the answer could tell him otherwise.

"No, I could not…" Thranduil whispered staring at the floor. Elrond let out a breath he did not know he had held. He turned around to Gandalf and in the wizard's eyes he saw the question he had just asked Thranduil. He shook his head slightly and Gandalf also sighed in relief. He stepped forward to be able to see and hear the king because Elrond somewhat blocked his line of view and the king's voice was so low he had understand not one single word that had been said.

"We knew you would not do it." Gandalf interjected and patted Thranduil's shoulder affectionately.

"But I hurt him…" Thranduil confessed, turning his haunted eyes on the wizard.

"I shook him. I grabbed him by the arms. Oh so tightly. He was so scared of me. I cannot believe I did this to him! I cannot believe I almost beat him! What was I thinking? And he said… he said… I cannot believe I made him think that way… What have I done? What have I done?" Thranduil rambled on, shaking his head in disbelief for his own behaviour, his croaky voice faltering all the way.

He turned his head to look at Elrond but suddenly a stabbing pain pierced through his left upper arm. He clutched his arm and gritted his teeth in pain.

Elrond and Gandalf quickly traded worried looks.

"Thranduil!" Elrond cried, in alarm. Then the king fell forward, going limp in the other elf's embrace.

Gandalf grabbed the king's shoulders to steady him as he threatened to fell on his obviously hurting arm. Together they gently lowered Thranduil to the floor and rolled him on his right side. Elrond searched the other elf's neck for a pulse – he found it irregular and weak beating way too fast beneath his fingers. And yet it was stronger than he had feared.

"Stay with him, I go get my healing packs!" Elrond exclaimed and hastily left the room.

Gandalf did the only thing he could do at the moment: he pulled a woollen blanket he had found lying folded over one side of the couch over Thranduil and gently petted the unconscious elf's back. He looked around the room, not knowing what exactly he was searching for until he caught sight of a small bundle huddled up in the farthest corner of the room: Legolas. The small elfling stared at him wide-eyed.

"Legolas, little heart…" He called, but did not know what to say to the scared elfling.

"I-Is Ada d-dead?" He heard Legolas' small voice whisper anxiously as the boy cautiously crawled a few feet forward.

"No, my elfling. Do not be afraid. Your ada will be alright. He is sleeping only. He is a little bit ill, though, but he will be alright, do not worry." Gandalf said and tried to smile as reassuringly as possible.

Then Elrond returned to the room, with Míriel right on his heels. Her mother instincts had suddenly led her to go check in on Legolas after breakfast and fortunately she had met Elrond on her way to the prince's room.

"Legolas, sweetie, come to me," she said, kneeling down before the prince with arms extended ready to catch the elfling. Legolas got up, stumbled forward and threw himself into her open arms. He cried silently on her shoulder as she lifted him up and started to leave the room.

"Do not worry, your Ada will be alright, sweetie. Now, let us go to your room. We can wait for him there." She said in a soothing voice and kissed the child's wet hot cheek. She did not want Legolas to see all this. From the frightened look in his eyes he was already scared to death anyway. There was no need to let him witness anything further that might happen here.

"My Lords, I will bring Legolas to his room. There is no need for him to see -… this. Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want me to send you one of the king's healers?" She asked standing in the doorframe, gently rubbing small comforting circles on Legolas' back.

"Yes, please. We also need some help to move the king to his chambers." Lord Elrond replied gratefully while he rummaged through his healing pack.

"Yes, my Lord." She curtsied and left.

"I cannot understand this, Mithrandir. He is an elf, he is not supposed to get a heart attack. And yet all symptoms indicate to it." Elrond murmured, looking at various vials.

"I do not understand this, either, to be honest. Let us hope his heart will heal – in one way and another." Gandalf replied and pinched the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. He hated to admit it, but all this was tiring him and made his head ache.

"Ah, here it is." Elrond said as he finally found the vial he was looking for. "Help me let him sit up. He must drink this. It will help his heart to regain a steady, regular rhythm. It will also numb the pain in his chest and arm."

The two of them turned Thranduil on his back and lifted his still limp form into a sitting position. Elrond poured some of the clear liquid in the king's mouth. Thranduil swallowed it instinctively. They lowered him back down, turned him on his right side again and waited.

After what seemed an eternity to them one of the king's healers finally entered the room, accompanied by two other elves who apparently were his assistants. Together they lifted Thranduil up and carefully carried him to his bedroom. As they lowered him on his bed he stirred and his eyes slowly fluttered open. He blinked, looked around, clearly confused as to what had happened and why he suddenly found himself lying in his bed with Elrond, Gandalf and his healer hovering over him, with worried looks on their faces.

"What…" He started, his voice failing him, and Elrond gently brushed a finger against his lips.

"Easy, mellon nin. Do not speak. Save your strength and rest." Elrond said and smiled reassuringly down on him.

Thranduil felt too weak to protest, closed his eyes again and fell into a deep restful sleep.

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Legolas had not been asleep but he certainly needed rest as much as his father needed it, so Míriel had put him in his bed and drawn the curtain in his room to shut out the sunshine that fell through the large window. Reluctantly she had left him alone to go and get the healer for her king. She hurried up to get back to him. Cautiously she opened the door to his room and slipped into the semi-dark chamber, hoping the prince had fallen asleep during her absence. She tiptoed to the bed and froze. Legolas was not there. The bed was empty.

"Legolas?" She called but got no answer. She quickly whirled around and drew back the curtains. She was temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight, but soon her eyes adjusted to it.

"Legolas!?" She looked around the room. He was not here. She ran to the small bathroom attached to his chamber. But he was not in there, either.

Once more she looked around, even checking the space under Legolas' bed. Then she noticed that his toy bow and his toy quiver were missing, too. So he has gone to the archery training ground again, I see, she thought. It wasn't an unusual thing for Legolas to do even in a situation like that. Actually he always did that when he felt distressed. It helped him ease his mind. And clearly the poor elfling needed some distraction right now.

However, to be sure on this, she went down to the great gate and asked the guards on duty if Legolas had been there and if he had left with some of their fellow warriors. They confirmed, and she led out a relieved breath.

She went back to the palace where she met Gandalf on his way from Legolas' room to the main entrance.

"Have you seen the little one, my dear?" The wizard asked as soon as he saw her turning around a corner.

"No, my Lord, but the guards say he went to the archery field with some of the warriors. He must have slipped out when I left him alone to get the healer." Míriel answered and came to a halt right in front of him.

"Oh?" The wizard seemed surprised and concern shone in his blue-grey eyes.

"There is no need to worry, my Lord! He always does that when something distresses him. It helps him ease his mind." She explained, smiling slightly.

"That, of course, is good to know." Gandalf said but did not look any less concerned.

"May I ask how the king fares?" Míriel asked cautiously after a moment of awkward silence.

"Oh, he will be alright. He needs rest more than anything else now." Gandalf put a calming hand on her shoulder.

Míriel bit her lower lip and nodded. She so much wanted to ask what had happened but of course she was in no position to ask any more questions. After all she was just another of King Thranduil's servants and it was not of her business what had happened. From what Elrond had told her on their way to the study, the king had had a serious talk with Legolas about an incident that had happened the day before and apparently had collapsed during the argument.

"My Lord, is there anything else I can do for you?" She asked politely.

"No, my dear. For now all has been done. Of course it would be good to know you are available when Legolas returns."

"Of course, my Lord. You can find me in the kitchen. I will see to it that Legolas gets his favourite meal today. That is the least I can think of at the moment to cheer the sweetheart up a little. I will stay in the garden outside the kitchen afterwards so you can find me at any time should you need me. Would that be alright?" She asked.

Gandalf smiled and nodded, squeezed her shoulder and turned around to go back to the king's chamber. Míriel curtsied and started her way to the kitchen.

In her restlessness she had not noticed that Legolas' favourite picture book, his cuddle cloth, wax crayons, sketch pad and the small bag he used to carry those things around with when he went to see a friend in the village and stayed there overnight were missing, too.

Legolas sat in the shadow of a large oak tree near the archery training field, waiting and watching. He felt hungry, tired and his head ached badly but he knew he could not go back to his Ada and tell him about it and let him make it go away. With a painful sigh he took his favourite picture book out of his small bag, rolled onto his stomach and started leafing through the sites. Occasionally he looked up to see if Sel had finished his training yet. But the warrior had just arrived and started his training a few minutes ago so it could take hours until he would finish his exercises. Legolas sighed once more and returned his attention to the picture book in front of him. After a while he fell asleep, his little head resting on the gloriously colourful picture of a peacock.

It was afternoon when Sel finally finished his archery training. He packed up his stuff and slung his bag over his shoulder laughing about the friendly bantering going on between his two comrades Férlaes and Hador. These two had been his friends since he could not remember when but they never ceased to amuse him with their mock arguments about each other's archery skills.

The three of them were the last group of warriors to leave the training area today, and together they casually made their way back to the main path that would either lead them back to the palace or deeper into the forest and at long last to the several settlements where the families of some warriors' lived. And one of those settlements was exactly where Sel would head to this day, for his first holiday since months! He was really looking forward to see his wife and son again.

Originally he had planned to start his homeward trip earlier this day because the settlement where his family lived was almost a day's journey away from the palace area but various things had kept him from beginning his travel – most of all the extra training he had been ordered to do before leaving as a penalty for arriving late at a meeting this morning. His captain did not care that Sel had helped a young groom with an especially wild-tempered colt that somehow had managed to get caught in thorny undergrowth. But Sel would never argue with his captain about orders and accepted the penalty without any protest.

However he did not appreciate the fact that, because of this, he would have to either walk through the night or make camp somewhere today. But rather than walking back to the quarters at the palace and arriving home in the late afternoon the following day, he started his journey today to arrive at home early before lunchtime the next day at least. He missed his son and his wife a lot and did not want to waste precious time.

The three warriors stood at the 'entrance' of the training area – a large gap between two oaks at the edge of the clearing that was used as training field – making some last jokes before parting as Hador caught sight of a grey-silver bundle in the high grass near an large tree. The bundle looked amazingly like a small elfling and the golden hair that shone through the grass even made it look amazingly like a certain small elfling called Legolas.

"Sel, is that not your little friend Prince Legolas over there?" He asked, pointing out to where Legolas was lying.

"What?" Sel said in disbelief and turned around, his gaze following the direction his friend's finger pointed to. Then he saw the bundle, too.

He quickly walked over to the elfling and kneeled down next to him. He nodded at his two friends who had stayed at the entrance of the training area, confirming it was indeed Legolas lying there. He gently shook Legolas' shoulder, but the elfling only moaned lowly in his sleep, turned over on his side and curled himself into a small ball.

"Mhm, well, that is a rather tired elfling we have here, is it not?" Sel murmured to himself and smiled softly down on the prince. He picked up the picture book, closed it and stuffed it back into Legolas' bag. He then slung the small bag, the toy quiver and toy bow over his free shoulder, gently grabbed Legolas under the pits of his arms and lifted the sleeping elfling up on his arms.

Legolas automatically slung his short legs around Sel's waist and his tiny right arm around his neck, leaning his head against the warrior's strong shoulder. Unconsciously he lifted his left hand to his face and started sucking his thumb, his index finger resting on his sweet tiny nose.

Sel made his way over to his two friends and smiled, gently stroking down a loose strand of Legolas' blond hair with his free hand.

"He sleeps like a log!" He whispered to his two mates and winked. Both smiled in return.

"Hador, take him, please." He asked his friend, who immediately reached out his hands to take over the elfling. But Legolas was holding onto Sel's tunic so tightly he practically had to rip him off. Doing that he unintentionally moved Legolas' left arm and the elfling snapped out of his deep slumber as his thumb was violently pulled out of his mouth. He blinked and looked around utterly surprised.

"Good morning, my little Prince!" Sel laughed and affectionately pinched the elfling's cheek.

Legolas squirmed on Hador's arm and the warrior sat him down on the ground. Sel crouched down and gave Legolas his small bag, toy bow and quiver, helping the elfling to put the quiver on.

"What are you still doing here, little one, if I may ask?" Sel wanted to know.

"I'm waiting for you." Legolas replied, his voice still very sleepy.

"I am sorry, but I am not going back to the palace today. But Hador and Férlaes will take you home with them, alright?" Sel smiled up at his two friends who nodded approvingly as Legolas turned his head to look at the two strange elves.

"But I want to go with you." Legolas looked at Sel anxiously and shook his head, tiredly rubbing his right eye with his tiny fist.

"Oh, sweetie, I am really sorry, but I cannot take you with me today. I am going home to see my wife and my son. Please believe me, my two friends here are very strong warriors, they will protect you with their lives and take you back to the palace as safely as I." He squeezed Legolas' shoulder reassuringly.

"But I don't want to go back to the palace. Can't I go with you, Sel, please?" Legolas asked, his face lightning up a bit at the mere thought.

"No, I am really sorry, that is impossible. Just think what your Ada would say if I would take you with me."

"Ada doesn't want to see me anymore. I can go with you." Legolas informed, stepped forward and smilingly took Sel's right hand in his small hand. Sel stood up, distancing himself from the elfling to make clear that he would not change his mind.

"My Prince, please do not make this harder for you and me than it is. I honestly cannot take you with me no matter how much I would like to. You must go home with my friends. And I am certain your Ada wants you back home soon to take you in his arms and tickle you all over." He tickled Legolas under the chin a bit and made him giggle, hoping it would ease the elfling's mind. It worked - for impressive two seconds.

"Please take me with you, Sel." Legolas begged again, but Sel shook his head, sighing sadly. The warrior looked at his friends sending them a pleading look to help him.

"My Prince, if I may…?" Férlaes said light-heartedly, bowed and lifted Legolas up on his arms.

The elfling did not protest and buried his face in Férlaes' tunic. He did not want to start crying in front of the warrior he admired so much. If Ada did not like to see him cry then Sel surely did not like it, either. But even though he managed to fight back the tears he was in despair. He did not know what to do now. He did not want to go back to his Ada's palace. He simply could not. His Ada did not want him there. But if Sel would not take him with him, what could he do now? He sighed unhappily.

"Safe journey, mellon nin, and give your devil brat of a son a kiss for me." Férlaes told Sel, winked and turned around on his heels.

"For me, too, please, oh and of course one for your lovely wife as well. I still cannot believe she chose you over me!" Hador teased, turned around, too and waved his parting friend good-bye without looking back.

"Thank you so much, Hador! Namaarie, mellyn nin. And please take good care of the prince. I would not have the king have your hides if you do not bring his son back home safely." Sel teased in return and grinned. His two friends both looked back over their shoulders and rolled their eyes.

"We will try our very best, oh mighty warrior of Mirkwood! But you cannot expect too much of us, of course. I mean, just look at us, we are merely two simple-minded wood-elves after all." Hador shot back sarcastically and laughed. He managed to duck the small branch that came flying into his direction for an answer.

"Namaarie, mellyn nin." Sel cried once more and hurried up. He had already been wasting too much time with those two crazy elves who claimed to be his friends.

"See you soon, Sel!" Both yelled back and started their walk back to the palace.

They had been walking for a little more than an hour now and the closer to the palace the company of the two warriors and the little elfling got the greater Legolas' despair grew. He knew he was not allowed to walk the woods alone and he did not want to make his Ada even angrier by breaking this rule once again. On the other hand he wanted to go with Sel and meet his family and maybe even live with them. He surely could live with them. He would never see his Ada again and so his Ada would never know he had walked into the forest alone and so he could not get angry, either. Or could he? Oh, this all was so confusing! Legolas really did not know what to do. He only knew he could not go back to the palace. Sel could not be so far away now, could he? He could run as fast as possible and surely he would catch up with him soon. But how could he convince the two strange warriors to let him go if he even could not convince Sel to take him along?

He looked up at the two as he walked between them. They were talking over his head - sometimes seriously discussing things like orcs and wargs and spiders and then again laughing about what a friend of them had said or done, making jokes Legolas did not understand. They did not really pay much attention to him. Legolas nervously fumbled with his bag, contemplating his options and next actions.

Fate played into the elfling's hands as Férlaes stopped to follow the call of nature.

Hador stood with Legolas, waiting, while the other warrior took off into the undergrowth nearby. This was Legolas' chance.

"Can we play hide and seek?" He asked, looking up at the tall warrior in front of him, smiling.

"Mhm, so we hide and Férlaes has to seek us when he comes back?" Hador asked back and grinned at the thought of playing a little prank on his friend. That was not exactly what Legolas had thought of, but for some reason this sounded even better to him. He nodded eagerly, grinning, too.

"Alright, but you must be very quiet or he will find us, can you do that? Mayhap we should split up so he cannot find us too easily." Hador smiled down on the prince conspiringly, already dragging him by the hand to the other site of the path.

"Yes. I can climb up a tree, he can't find me then." Legolas offered, nodding again.

"Agreed. But do not go too far away. And if anything comes close to you that does NOT look like Férlaes or me or a squirrel, scream! Understood?" Hador fixed him with a stern gaze to make sure the elfling understood that he was serious about this. Legolas nodded once more, biting his lower lip. Then the two of them parted to hide somewhere in the surrounding forest.

After a few minutes Férlaes came walking back to the path, looking down along his upper body, adjusting his tunic and belt, talking to thin air without noticing it. Hador waited, crouched down behind a large bush, and could hardly suppress a snigger when he saw the dumbstruck expression on his friend's face as he looked up and saw that no one was there.

"Hador?" Férlaes called, turning to all directions, searching for his friend. Then realization dawned on him and he smiled. "Alright, alright, got me! Where are you two?" He asked, laughing slightly to himself.

Hador watched his friend with growing amusement. Occasionally he let his gaze wander over the surrounding trees but he could not see Legolas anywhere. The boy certainly has some talents, he thought and returned his attention to Férlaes only to find his friend was not there anymore! Stealthily he moved a bit to the right to get a better view on the path and let out a startled cry as out of nothing a large hand grabbed him by the collar and pulled him out of his hiding place.

"Hador, Hador! An orc could have heard you let alone an elf!" Férlaes teased him and shook his had in mock admonishment.

"Haha. Very funny." Hador straightened his shoulders and grinned back. "You should have seen that face of yours when you find we were gone! Priceless!" He laughed and clapped his friends' shoulder.

"Yes, alright, alright." The other elf laughed back. "Well, now, where is the prince?" He asked, looking around.

"Hiding somewhere in a tree!" Hador replied and smiled, looking around, too.

They started to search for the elfling. After a while they realized their chances to find Legolas would improve if they would split up.

After quite some time of unsuccessful searching they both returned to the point where they had parted.

"Where in Mordor is he?" Hador asked, catching his breath.

"I do not know. You were the one playing the trick on me, remember?" Férlaes replied. The two friends traded worried glances.

"That is enough, game over!" Hador said seriously and started calling for Legolas.

His friend did not hesitate to join him and soon both of them were frantically running back and forth, here and there, searching and calling for the prince. Never did they expect that Legolas had long been gone, taking his way through the trees right to where they had come from, desperately trying to catch up with Sel.

…to be continued…