Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Thank you all so much for your reviews and for waiting patiently for this next chapter. It's short compared to the last one, but I'll make up for it with the next one. Many thanks to my beta enb2004 and here is Chapter 12.
Thranduil was becoming increasingly anxious. He and his two sons were quickly approaching Imladris, and yet there had been no sign that Legolas had passed that way.
They had seen no sign of anyone traveling the path they had taken, and they were all becoming worried.
Of course, there could be several logical explanations as to why they had seen no sign of Legolas's travels. His son may have taken an alternative route, in order to reach Imladris more quickly. The one they traveled wasn't the only one, it was however the safest, and thus, the most commonly used.
Had Legolas taken one of the other alternative routes, he was much more likely to have run into danger, which Legolas seemed to have an affinity for attracting.
"Father, I am sure that Legolas and Estel are just fine and are more than likely goofing off in Imladris," Delelen said reassuringly with Thilloth nodding his agreement.
"I hold out hope that you are right ion nin. I probably am worrying over naught. They are sure to be causing havoc within Imladris by this time," Thranduil said with an insincere smile. In his heart, he knew that the the two young beings had run into something foul, though he would admit it to himself, let alone his sons.
"Ada, look, we approach Imladris," Thilioth said with anxiousness and excitement. He longed to see his baby brother, Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel. "Hopefully, all safe and sound," he thought to himself while crossing the bridge with his Ada and older brother.
Lord Elrond was in his study trying to get some work done, although he knew that it was an impossible task for him at the moment.
Once again he caught himself looking out the window hoping to see sight of the twins and Estel, and possibly Legolas.
He had rather hoped that the twins would be back by now with Estel in tow. It was imperative that Estel received treatment for the poison, and soon. If the poison stayed in Estel's bloodstream for too long, the ramifications were too horrible to even think about.
Sighing, Elrond once again turned back to his book on toxins and their antidotes when he head the clomping of horses in the courtyard.
Jumping up, Elrond ran for the courtyard, all the while thinking that it must have been his son's arriving at long last. While running to the courtyard, Elrond ran a mental checklist through his head of all the herbs he had waiting in the healing room for Estel and any injuries Elladan and Elrohir may have obtained while retrieving their brother.
Such was Elrond's distraction, when he reached the courtyard, he did not even realize that the riders were not his sons.
"It is good to see you mellon nin," a very familiar but unexpected voice said, startling Elrond out of his thought.
"Thranduil?" Elrond questioned, not even remembering formalities, such was the muddled state of his brain. "What was his old friend doing here?" he thought silently.
Thranduil could not help but laugh at the confused look on Elrond's face. It was rare that one took Elrond by surprise.
"I take it that you were not expecting us mellon nin. But then, I didn't exactly send a warning that we were coming did I?" Thranduil said good naturedly.
Elrond shook his head clear of confusion. "Begging your pardon Thranduil, my mind has been elsewhere as of late. Tell me, what brings you to Imladris?" Elrond said as Thranduil and his two middle sons dismounted.
"We came here to see Legolas and Estel actually, to make sure that they were all right. I did receive your letter, which is why I came here in such a hurry," Thranduil said.
Elrond's face paled at the mention of Legolas.
"Mellon nin, do you mean to tell me that Legolas is not home in Mirkwood?" Elrond said,
dreading the response.
At Elrond's question, Thranduil, Delelen, and Thilloth all paled. Both Estel's and Legolas's nightmares seemed to be coming true.
"Then Legolas has not arrived yet," Delelen said worriedly.
"Nay, I am afraid not. When did he leave Mirkwood?" Elrond asked, now concerned for Legolas as well.
"Perhaps Estel was right to go after Legolas despite his injuries. I will have to look into Estel's gift of foresight and see if it is more powerful than I had previously thought," he thought to himself.
"He left some days ago after having a nightmare about Estel being in dire peril," Thranduil said tiredly.
"What? Legolas had a nightmare of Estel while Estel had a nightmare of Legolas?" Elrond asked incredulously.
"So it would seem Elrond. I do believe those two are trying to send us sailing at an early age," Thranduil said dryly.
Elrond nodded in agreement and started pacing around the room.
"There may be more of a reason behind these dreams that we can see now," Elrond said.
"You do not know this, and I myself only realized it a few days ago, but Estel is poisoned. If Estel finds and helps Legolas get out of whatever situation he has gotten himself into, than Legolas may be able to help Estel," Elrond said.
"Wait a moment, back up. Estel is not here?! Where is he?!" Thilloth exclaimed.
"I do not know. We we had turned our backs on him for a moment in order to get herbs to help Estel with his injuries. Somehow, he climbed out his window in order to search for Legolas, the nightmare he had was clearly behind his reasoning," Elrond said frustratedly. How Estel had even managed to stand up was beyond him.
"I can not believe that they are both out there, one possibly poisoned, and one possibly injured, and both saving the other. Ai! Our youngest sons Elrond, attract danger like honey attracts bees," Thranduil said disbelievingly.
"I know and it worries me a great deal how much trouble those two attract. I did send out Elladan and Elrohir to find them. In fact, when I heard you arrive in the courtyard, I though that you were they," Elrond said grimly.
"We shall search for them as well!" both Delelen and Thilloth said together.
"Nay!" Elrond and Thranduil said together.
"I will not have any more people missing than there already are. While more people have a greater chance of finding them, I will still not risk it. Elladan and Elrohir are perfectly capable warriors as well as trained healers. They will find both Estel and your little brother and bring them back here," Elrond said with more confidence than he actually felt.
"And I am not willing to risk anymore of my sons. One missing son is enough, I do not need to add two more to that list. Your siblings would never forgive me," Thranduil said seriously.
Delelen and Thilloth pouted but both agreed reluctantly.
"They shall arrive back here soon, just wait and see," Thranduil said, sounding confident.
Delelen and Thilloth seemed to be reassured by their father's words, and went up to the guest rooms that had been hastily set up for them.
Once Delelen and Thilloth were gone however, both Elrond and Thranduil looked at one another with concern.
Their sons were somewhere out there in the wild, and one was already poisoned, and another possibly injured. Who knew what they were enduring and what was yet to come before they reached Imladris safely.
Sighing, Elrond went to stand by the window yet again, only this time, he had Thranduil standing next to him, with the same concerned expression on his face.
"Hurry home you four. Both Thranduil and I are waiting. I do not know how much more of this waiting we can take," Elrond thought silently.
As the two elves stared out the window, each waiting for their sons to return, the sun had set, turning the sky a brilliant blood red.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Ion nin: My son
Mellon nin: My friend