AN: Hello, Hello! I got lots of reviews for the last chapter, thank you!

Anyway,

Mornflower: It deserves more! Wow thank you!

Elven Kitten: It almost made you cry, I am trying not to be pleased, tis a compliment to me.

Astalder27: No, I won't let the evil soldier hurt him either…maybe

Mrs. Bloom: So do I…

Angie: I update whenever I get chance to, the whole story is complete when I post chapter 1.

Chapter 9

Thranduil leant against the cell wall holding Legolas close to him not wishing to release him to a world were he could be harmed. The younger prince had not said a word since being released from his chains, and Thranduil was secretly glad of it, he did not know how he could face his son after what he had done. He stroked his sons golden hair, trying to comfort the prince.

"Adar?" Legolas' voice interrupted his thoughts; the young prince looked up at his Father

"Yes Legolas"

"I'm Sorry"

Thranduil was confused "Whatever for?" he asked, "It is I who should be apologising"

Legolas shook his head "No I shouldn't have asked you to do that."

Thranduil pulled Legolas closer to him and kissed him temple. "No, Legolas, I knew what that man would have done to you, I couldn't let that happen, not again. I wish there had been another way, but there wasn't. I'm sorry Legolas."

Legolas looked into his Father's eyes, he saw the pain there. What he had been forced to do had stolen away some of the will to fight, so afraid he was of the incident being repeated. "Adar, I do not love you any less, nor do I blame you for what he forced you to do. You saved me from a worse fate. For that I thank you"

Thranduil held his son closer" "I would do anything to save you from that fate. No one should suffer what you did, no one" he whispered

Legolas smiled softly "No," he whispered "and no one should be forced do what you had to do"

Thranduil closed his eyes briefly, "Legolas, so many times I've had you return to me in such a state, sometimes I've witnessed your pain, but never have I willingly, or knowingly caused you pain. I have said things that have hurt you, but I did not know how much so. Now I have been forced to do what I have killed people for. I hurt you Legolas. I don't know how you can easily forgive me"

Legolas sat up, his face one of shock and horror. "How can you say that?" he said "How can you say you don't know how I can forgive you. Do you not know I love you as you love me? If I was forced to do the same to you would you not forgive me?"

Thranduil broke contact with Legolas, pulling away. "Of course I would forgive you, Legolas. You are my son. I meant to say I do not know how you can forgive me when I cannot forgive myself."

Legolas moved towards his Father, "Adar, Do not blame yourself, you could not have done anything to stop him. He would have forced you to do it one way or another. I have forgiven you, Elbereth will have forgiven you, and you must forgive yourself."

Thranduil looked down at his son and enclosed him in his arms, "Then I will try." He rose to his feet and helped Legolas up, "But first we should try to escape this place."

Legolas smiled, "This is the Father I know, always determined to succeed, and as stubborn as a mule!"

Thranduil laughed "Just like you, Legolas" he said, together they made their way over to the door.

They had just reached it when it swung open and the Southron from earlier stalked in, once again obviously drunk. He strode forward. "Tryin t'escape, pretty elf?" he slurred

Legolas backed up, standing behind his Father, "Adar…" he whispered clearly afraid.

Thranduil clutched his son's hand "I will not let him harm you" he said, squeezing Legolas' hand in reassurance, he released his son and stood in front of the man "Get out of our way" he ordered

The man laughed and struck out at Thranduil, The force of his blow knocking the unexpecting elf king to the ground. He strode over him and walked to stand before Legolas, who began to back away, eyes wide with terror, knowing in his weakened state there was little he could do to fight of the advances of this man. "Adar!" he said panicked.

The man chuckled and grabbed Legolas' wrist "Don't be frightened, Love" he said his breath stinking of alcohol. Legolas jerked away and staggered backwards, his bare foot sliding on a rock causing him to fall. He tried to rise, but collapsed back onto the ground, with a cry. He crawled away from the man, terror in his eyes. But the man pursued blundering over the rocks behind Legolas.

Thranduil climbed to his feet clutching a loose rock on the ground. Without warning he threw it at the man. It struck him in the back of the head, attracting his attention, the man turned around, "what d'ya do tha' for?" he asked furiously "Stupid Elf!" he headed towards Thranduil, reaching for a knife in his belt, but Thranduil was faster, he darted forward and grabbed the knife before the drunk could, then falling into a roll. He turned as the man struggled to his feet.

The man turned on Thranduil angrily "Give me tha' back!" he called

Thranduil made no sudden moves, realising that the man could easily reach Legolas before he could. He took a step towards the man, the blade in his hand. "Why should I?" he asked coldly "I don't think I will, you tried to harm my son. No one does that and lives."

The man at this point realised his life was over. He staggered backwards as Thranduil ran at him, trying to block the blows. But the elven king was too fast; he jammed the knife into the man's throat and threw him to the floor.

The elf king kicked the man's dying body; "You can have it back now" he informed him dropping the dagger beside the man. He then walked over to Legolas who was sat on the ground a little way off. "Are you alright?" he asked offering a hand to him

Legolas took it and smiled at his Father "I'm as well as can be" he said shakily, still nervous after his recent fright.

Thranduil wrapped his only child in his warm embrace "Everything is alright now, he's dead" he assured him.

Legolas pulled away, wincing as he put weight on his right leg. "Adar…if you hadn't been here"

Thranduil stopped "don't dwell on it" he said, glancing over at the open door "Come on, let's get out of here and go home" and taking the lead he walked out of the cell with Legolas limping behind him.

Elrohir continued down the paths of Mirkwood muttering to himself, few of his words could be discerned by the mortal who rode by his side, but Estel did not really care. All that worried him was the fact that Legolas had been missing for nearly five days now, and now the king was missing. Estel understood that darkness had descended upon the elves around him. They were worried, but that was understandable. Mirkwood was becoming darker with every day that passed, and without a ruler, the elves wondered what would become of them. The suggestion that they had been taken by the Necromancer in Dol Guldur hung in the air, none dared voice it, but Estel could feel it pressing on his mind, he turned to Elrohir, and noting the look on his face, deduced that Elrohir felt the same. He placed a hand on his shoulder, Elrohir turned to him and smiled briefly, but it did not reach to his eyes. Estel squeezed his shoulder "Legolas will be fine, and so will the king" he assured him.

Elrohir shook his head "Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I…Elbereth! What made Thranduil go off alone like that?"

Estel shook his head; Elrohir was prone to blame others when he was worried or upset. The mortal looked at him sympathetically. "You would do the same if Elladan was in trouble. He didn't think about his actions, like you do not sometimes. We will find them Elrohir. We will find them"

Elrohir nodded, Apart from his brothers Legolas was his closest friend, and the elf did not know how he would be able to live for eternity without Legolas. After all Legolas had been there for him for many years, and with Elladan he had got Legolas out of numerous scrapes. The younger twin knew that to loose Legolas would be nowhere near as painful as it would be to loose Elladan he had experienced that once and never wished to experience it again. The pain there had been consuming and the relief when Elladan had returned overwhelming. The twins had thought Legolas dead many a time; they were always mentally prepared for finding their friend dead. But the sight of seeing one you love dead can never be prepared for. And the aftermath is always painful, no matter how prepared you are. Elrohir knew to loose Elladan would be to loose part of his soul. He knew he could not live without his brother. To loose Legolas, could not be as painful, but it would still cripple the brothers. Legolas was important to him, and Elrohir did not know if he would ever get over loosing such a close friend. He looked up to the skies that he could see between the trees of Mirkwood, already stars were appearing in the sky, he picked out Earandil, "Please let them be safe" he whispered to quiet for anyone to hear.

TBC…