Disclaimer: Don't own any of Tolkien's works. Any characters you don't recognize are mine.

Thank-you first chapter reviewers: Deana, Rei, farflung, PokethePenguin, Young Storyteller, James, Philrya, Sirithiliel, PsYcHO-Me, dragon empress, Aranel of Mirkwood, Immortal-grace, Kika1, Sadie Elf, Saxaphonebaby, Dun En Thurin Naur, nessie6, Tears in a Bottle, Nefcariel, kiannalatariel, and Arwennicole

You encouragement is greatly appreciated!

Summary: When tragedy strikes the Royal Mirkwood Family, how will the members handle it? Will they come together and stand as a family? Or will they let their grief slowly drive them apart?

Chapter 2: Troubled

oooooooooo

Telperion walked down the dimly lit stone hallway of the Mirkwood kingdom, his silver head bent

and hands clasped behind his back. Silver-blue eyes stared down at the velvet green slippers he wore, clouded in deep thought. His mouth was pulled in a thin line, his smooth brow furrowed.

The elf was troubled.

And as the king's chief advisor and friend, he had every right to be.

Lindon, Lord Elrond's hawk, had flown in tonight with a troubling message: The Queen and her party had never arrived to Rivendell.

Elrond had let a day pass, knowing that when traveling there were sometimes delays. But the next day when he had not seen or heard from them, Elrond then took action.

The Half-elven sent out his best scouts in search of them but they had returned empty-handed, reporting they had not found a trace of their presence ever being there.

The news had made Telperion uneasy.

It was no secret Mirkwood was battling with orc groups coming through and spiders increasing in its forest. Though patrols were sent out to scour and purge the evil creatures of their land, not all were killed.

That was especially why he and his king had tried to dissuade Queen Laurelin from traveling to Imladris. Thranduil had yelled and roared until he was nearly blue in the face. His wife would not back down from her decision. Unfortunately there were times Laurelin could be stubborn and when her mind was made up that was that.

Telperion pressed his fingertips to his temple and sighed. He only hoped this trait hadn't possibly cost her her life. He raised beseeching eyes to the stone ceiling, whispering, "Elbereth, please watch over her wherever she may-oof!" he suddenly grunted, bumping into something.

Telperion looked down and was surprised to see it was the king's youngest child, Legolas. Lost in his troubling thoughts, he hadn't realized he'd walked himself into the section where the royals slept. He opened his mouth to ask the prince what he was doing up at this hour, when an onslaught of punches were released into his abdomen.

"Gwanno ereb nin, you stupid orc!" Legolas screamed. "Leave me alone!"

"Legolas please," the advisor wheezed, trying to grab the tiny fists that continued to pummel him. "It's only Tel-"

Legolas's frantic cries drowned out his words. "No, go away!" When Telperion managed to capture Legolas's wrists, the yelling only grew worse. "Let me go!" The young prince began to struggle, kicking furiously at his 'enemy.' "Nana! Nana, where are you! Nana, help me!" the young prince screamed, his eyes squeezed shut in fear.

"Legolas? Legolas!" the elfling screamed again, shaking his head. Telperion knelt down before him and gave him a hard shake. "Legolas, its Telperion!"

The child was in mid-scream when his mind seemed to finally register the words. His eyes flew open and widened at the sight of his father's advisor. "Peri?" he gasped.

Though the advisor absolutely loathed being called that name Legolas's older brothers had so "lovingly" dubbed him, he decided to let it go.

"Yes, it's Peri."

Legolas stared at Telperion for a moment, before his face crumbled. He flung himself against the silver haired elf, crying and trembling. The advisor started in surprise, but quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around the distraught prince. "Shh, hên, you are safe, shh," he soothed, rubbing his back.

The young prince spoke words, but because of his sobs Telperion could not make them out. The only words he'd managed to distinguish from the tearful gibberish were "Nana" and "orcs." The very thought of that connection sent a chill down his spine.

The sounds of a door opening reached his ears and a moment later, a rather groggy looking elf with tangled dark brown hair, trudged into the advisor's view. The elf squinted at him. "Peri?" he ventured, his voice thick with sleep.

Telperion gritted his teeth, but refrained from sharply scolding the eldest child of Thranduil, due to the upset elfling he held. "Yes Aldarion, it is me."

Aldarion frowned and blinked a few times as if trying to clear his vision. "Wha's the matter with Greenleaf?"

Telperion's expression changed from annoyance to a faint look of amusement as he took in the disheveled sight of the sleepy Crowned prince. "Do not worry about it, Dar." He stood up with Legolas in his arms. The young prince clung to him, burying his face into his shoulder. "I will take care of him. Just go back to sleep," he instructed.

Aldarion nodded, mumbled something unintelligible, and then stumbled back into his room, shutting the door behind him.

Telperion shook his head, chuckling to himself. He knew from the older prince's half-asleep state that Aldarion wouldn't remember their brief conversation in the morning. A quiet sob brought the elf's attention back to Legolas. "Come, little one." he whispered gently. "Let's get you back to bed."

oooooooooooo

A faint orange light washed over the darkness of the study, revealing a broad shouldered figure seated behind the desk. Embroidered golden leaves danced across the back and front of the rumpled green robes the form wore. A crown of Mirkwood berries sat crookedly atop the tousled blonde head.

A white hand rested on the glossy surface of the mahogany desk, long fingers drumming against a wrinkled parchment.

An emerald signet ring shone brightly with the movement.

Pale gray eyes stared grimly into the fireplace, watching the flames lick hungrily upwards. The soft crackle of burning wood was the only sound that echoed in the oppressing silence.

A tired groan escaped the fair being and he dropped his proud head against his fist.

Why this? Why now?

Thranduil played the grave words of Elrond over in his mind, not bothering to look at the missive. He had every sentence, every word memorized. A heavy sigh sounded in his chest, his strong shoulders slumping as he exhaled.

Why had she not listened to the wisdom in his words?

"Stubborn elleth," he growled under his breath, but the worry in his eyes took the sting out of the comment.

He looked up at the portrait of a golden haired woman that hung over the mantelpiece.

Elrond's parting words in the missive rang in his head and he could almost the urgency in them. "Call on me for aide and you shall have it, Thranduil."

The elf-king gave a snort of disdain, letting his fingers curled around the paper and gripped it against the palm of his hand. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. Call help from the half-Noldo? He hadn't spoken to him in years and wanted to keep it that way.

Laurelin's beautiful face flashed before him, softening his set expression. But what if in the end he did need Elrond?

Thranduil stood up and slowly walked around his desk, his long robes whispering softly across the floor. The wreath slipped off his head, unheeded. He stopped before the now fading fire.

Should he call for the half-elf?

He would have to cast all pride aside for the sake of his wife and turn to the one he disliked the most.

The elf-king fingered the missive, biting at his bottom lip. His handsome face displayed the indecision and fear he truly felt.

"Or will it be too late?" His mind voiced the one thing he hadn't wanted to think about.

His winter gray eyes hardened in resolve and with a swift flick of his wrist, the paper flew into the dying flames.

TBC….

And that is the repost of chapter two. Hoped you all enjoyed getting a peek of Thranduil.

I can't promise when I'll get the next chapter up, but hopefully it'll be soon.

Names:

Thranduil, "Never Given"

Laurelin, "Golden Tree of Valinor"

Aldarion, "Son of Trees"

Legolas, "Greenleaf"

Telperion, "Silver"

Words/Phrases:

Elleth: female elf

Nana: Mom/Mommy

Gwanno ereb nin: Leave me alone

Hên: child