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Chapter Two

Two weeks had passed since that wonderful afternoon spent by the Thranduillion clan. Two weeks in which the growing darkness in the forest around them had been tempered by the change in weather.

Gone were the heat and blue skies. The sun seemed to have headed South along with the Bird's that had been present that day. Even the squirrels seemed to have disappeared.

In the throne room of the Palace of Mirkwood, Thranduil was spending a very frustrating morning with his advisors. Why would they not listen to common sense? For that matter why did they not listen to the trees around them and believe the danger of which they warned? Were they really Wood Elves or just pretending to be?

"But your Majesty, the patrols have reported a few more Spider insurgencies near to Gul Dugor, but nothing more. What leads you to believe that the evil is rising once more?" The dark Elf somehow managed to keep incredulity from his voice. Three spider attacks and Thranduil was already in a state of panic. Elbereth help them!

"Calentha, It was not just a 'few' spiders. Have you not been listening to your men?" This was meant to be his Captain, the Captain of his army. If he could not rely on him who could he rely on? "The last attack had twelve spiders and three of those were pregnant. We lost three Elves fighting them. Can you imagine if just one of those females had survived? I want to know that there are no more. We have already lived through this once; do you want this to happen again?"

Calentha sighed. "No, My Lord, but that was years ago. Since the Last Alliance there has been peace…"

"You call Orcs and Warg attacks peace? It grows ever more dangerous to walk in the woods. Would you let your own Elfling's wander without a care? With no armed Elf with them? Would you let them near a Spider?"

Calentha could not look at his King, could not look into his eyes, because of course, No he would not let his son or his daughters walk in the forest alone and he certainly would not let them anywhere near a Spider.

"I can see your answer clearly, Calentha. When you can answer me truthfully and really have the well being of this realm in your mind I suggest you try your arguments again. As it is I want the patrols widened, I want their size increased and I wan the palace guards doubled. It may be in your best interests also, to warn the outer cottages that Spiders are one again hunting our forests."

"You're Majesty! That will only cause panic…." The sound of running feet in the hallway out side and raised panicked voices out paid to Calentha's arguments.

Thranduil rose from his throne and began to make his way to the wide double doors. He never even made it half way before the doors burst open. Two dark haired Elves were holding up another, his hair was in complete disarray and he was covered in blood and mud. It was raining? When had it started raining?

"What is going on? Why have you disturbed my council?" It was not until he got nearer to the Elves that he realised who it was the guards held in their arms.

"Talianos?" He moved faster to get to their side. Eru, it was. "Talianos, where is the Queen?" Talianos was one of Laurelin's personnel guards. She never left the Palace without her guards.

"Orcs! Attacked by Orcs! Never stood a chance. At least sixty…" He coughed, bright red blood splattered Thranduil's robe. "The Queen…"

"Why are you here? Why did you leave her?" Thranduil was frantic. Orcs had Laurelin?

"Had to warn you…. Told to come… Tried to bring her, she would not leave the Prince…" More blood stained Thranduil's robe as he heard the arrival of the healers.

"The Prince?" His breath hitched in his throat. "Which Prince? Why would she not leave him? Tell me!!"

Talianos looked his Liege in the eyes even as his own were beginning to fail. "Lego…" Pressure was building in his throat, he coughed to clear it.

Thranduil could only watch in horror as the Elf began to say "Lego…" only to cough. Bright red blood flooded from his mouth. Too much blood. Thranduil could only watch as his wife's guard died in front of him. For one full minute he could not move, could not breathe…

Then he burst into action.

"Get a patrol mounted, as many armed Elves as you can gather. Be ready in five minutes. I will meet you on the palace steps." He turned to make his way from the room only to be stopped by Calentha.

"You can not go, my Lord. If there are Orcs." He never got a chance to finish.

"My Wife, your Queen and my youngest son have just been attacked. Do you really think I would stay here? If you do you are a bigger fool than I already think. I do not have time for this, but I promise you once they are home and safe, we will be having words. Trust me on this." He brushed past the Captain making his way from the crowded room.

No one got in his way until he reached the doors that lead to the Royal Families chambers. He was about to growl and push who ever it was aside when he realised who it was. Alcarnor and Nolvo. Both were pale and had tears in their eyes.

"Ada, is it true? We heard Naneth and Legolas…" Nolvo could not finish.

"Yes, Ion Nin's, it appears to be true. I am going to see what is happening."

Alcarnor made to move away. "I am coming, let me get my bow…"

"No! I want you to stay here." The panic in Thranduil's voice would at any other time have stopped all in their tracks.

"But, Ada!" Twin voices spoke in anger and fear.

"No. It is bad enough that your Naneth and Legolas are out there. I need you to find Drowlin, get him from his lessons and take him to your room. Say nothing to him. I do not want him scared before we know how bad this is. Do you understand? Will you do this for me?" He smiled at their reluctant nods. "Thank you, it gives me one less worry. As soon as I have news I will send for you. Do not leave your rooms!" With that Thranduil entered his own chambers topping to smell his wife's perfume as it hung in the air. She had to be safe, please, she had to be safe. And Legolas, his little Leaf, his baby….

Five minutes later a group of well armed Elves left the Palace. All were grim faced, all more than ready to face the Orcs that had dared to harm their Queen and little Prince. Every one of them vowed that no matter what the Orcs would pay…

In the lead was Thranduil fear sending ice cold shivers down his spine. He did not even notice the drenching rain and moan of the trees as they made their way through the forest.

As the group made their way further into the forest, the gloom deepened. Darkness seemed to be spreading… The wind was picking up; tree limbs seemed to have a life of their own as they whipped back and forth as if in terror. Their groaning could know be heard by all. It sounded as if the entire forest was in mourning.

Thranduil only became more desperate. He tried to feel for the link he had with both Laurelin and Legolas. What he felt almost broke his heart. He could not feel his wife at all and Legolas…. It was so faint, so weak. He hurried his horse once more, driving it to make it go faster….

He burst through the trees to a sight straight out of a nightmare. Orcs were piled up, arrows evident in all of the carcasses. They were all contained in one area… Then he saw the Elves and all coherent thought fled him. Not one of the Elves was uninjured that he could see. Oh, Elbereth. He searched frantically going from body to body, gesturing for the Elves behind him to help with those whose fea still somehow managed to cling to their bodies. He looked for the two who numbered amongst those he loved in all Arda, pleading with the Gods for them to be safe. Fearing that they were not.

His fears were realised. He found Laurelin under what had to be on of the biggest Orcs he had ever. Ever seen. Her hair was full of mud and blood. A long cut snaked its way across her forehead. Her eyes were closed. Thranduil felt his heart constrict at the sight. Tears fell from unaware eyes; all he could focus on was Laurelin. Blood trickled from both her nose and her mouth…

"No, Laurelin, do not leave me. Please, think of the Elfling's. Do not do this, I need you, Melleth" He was actively sobbing. Hugging his wife's lifeless body to his. As he stood there he could feel his entire world crumbling around him.

A shuddering breath took him by surprise; a dead body did not take breath! "Laurelin? Darling? Can you here me?" Glazed blue eyes slowly opened. "I need a healer here!" His left hand cradled the loved face. "I am here. No harm will come to you. We will get you back to the Palace; the healers will soon have you well." He could not take his eyes from hers.

The voice was a weak whisper. "Legolas? He is safe?" She saw his widened eyes, he had forgotten his son! "He is near, Melleth; they will bring him to you soon." He had to stop her from worrying.

"Promise me he is safe? Promise me you will look after him for me?"

"Why will I need to look after him? He will have you to spoil him. You will have the time…"

"No. Dieing." The voice was rapidly weakening; more blood fell from her lips.

"No! You can not die. You have to stay!" He was frantic, where were the healers?

"Sorry. Please tell Legolas I love him, will always love him. Cradle him for me, love him, and teach him what I can not…"

"No, Laurelin. I can not, only you…." Tears were torrents now as he realised what he could not stop from happening.

"I love you, thank you for my happiness, my…." Blue eyes glazed forever as Laurelin gave one final small sigh and her fea fled her body.

Thranduil could only moan in pain, his heart shattering into a thousand pieces. Hands were grabbing Laurelin from him and in his grief he tried to stop them taking her from him. To find it was one of the healers, his name fled him at this moment.

"Let me see, my lord. If I may?" He felt as Laurelin was gently but firmly pulled from his arms. To his surprise he felt himself falling, only stopping when strong arms caught him. He looked into brown eyes that resembled his own.

"Ada? Naneth?" Lomion looked at the healer who cold only bow his head and shake it slowly; there was nothing he could do. Lomion could not speak, when he heard of the attack he had practically flown here. But to find his Naneth dead in his Ada's arms….

"My Lord! Prince Lomion! We need you here! Get a healer, hurry!" The panicked voice was joined by the louder moaning of trees in pain.

Lomion some how made it over to the soldier's two of whom were huddled on the ground. He pushed his way through, to come to a stop in shock.

A small body lay on the ground, dull, bloodied hair splayed around the head in abandonment. Lomion could only groan. "Legolas, no!"

He reached shaking hands for the small Elfling.

"He is alive, Prince Lomion, but his wounds are great."

Legolas had an arrow in his upper right chest, the obscene black shaft identifying it as of Orcish make. His left arm had a large ragged wound that was deep. He even had a slice across his stomach. But his left leg, that lay at completely the wrong angle, the bad break obvious to all.

The little Elfling was cold and limp as he lay in his brother's arms, arms that were shaking in shock. A shaking hand reached for the pale face. "Little Leaf? Can you hear me?"

The only answer he received was the deep moan of pain from his Ada as he saw what Lomion cradled so gently in his arms.

"Legolas? No. No… Not you too, little one." Thranduil could take no more and for the first time in his long, long immortal life, he fainted.

To Be Continued….

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