Hey everyone! Thanks so much for your awesome reviews! Here's chapter 2! ;)

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"Anything?"

"No, Your Highness."

Thranduil stood from his throne and began to pace. "I do not understand this! How could my son vanish without a trace? How could his captor not leave any sign!"

The captain of Thranduil's army sighed. "Forgive me, sire, but it appears that whoever took Legolas made sure to leave no sign."

Thranduil stopped pacing, sighing loudly. Today was the fourth day since Legolas' disappearance, and the king knew that Elrond would most likely not get his message until the next day. "Ready my horse, Heredil. I shall join you."

Heredil frowned. "King Thranduil," he said. "It is not safe for you to venture beyond the palace. Whoever took Legolas may be lying in wait for you!"

Thranduil looked at his captain, giving him the hardest look that he could muster. "I want my son back!" he exclaimed, emphasizing each word.

Heredil gave a slight bow, understanding his king's emotion. "I will ready your horse immediately."

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"I do not understand," Legolas said to his captor. "What 'message' do you speak of? What did you put in the water?"

The elf smiled. "You will find out soon enough."

Legolas sighed inwardly, watching as the elf walked over to him and undid the chains. "Who are you?" he asked. "How do you know my father?"

"I knew him for the first half of my life," the elf answered, backing up. "I knew you when you were barely old enough to speak. Stand; it is time for you to leave."

Legolas stared at him for a minute, before pulling himself to his feet. It was the first time in four days that he'd been able to stand, and his legs wobbled unsteadily.

The other elf grabbed his arm, giving him a mock-concerned look.

Legolas pulled his arm back with a glare, stiffly walking out of the cell when his captor opened it. "What town is this? In which direction do I travel to reach my father's palace?"

"You are not as far from home as you think," said the elf. "Ride south."

Legolas said nothing, walking a step behind his enemy, in case he suddenly needed to defend himself. "Shall I assume that what I drank was harmful?"

"You can assume whatever you'd like," said the other elf, suddenly grabbing the Mirkwood prince's left arm and propelling him into the wall.

A bright light flashed before Legolas' eyes when his forehead struck the wall, and he gasped, berating himself for having not expected an attack to be so sudden and fast. He unwillingly let out a cry of pain when he felt his shoulder dislocate.

The other elf quickly stepped in with a foot, wrapping it around one of the younger elf's legs so that he couldn't move enough to retaliate. "Ai!" he exclaimed, sarcastically. "Did I hurt the son of Thranduil? I must say, that was much easier than I would've expected before our meeting!"

The sinister meaning behind those words was lost on Legolas, who was trying to prevent himself from outwardly showing his pain. He was pushed up against the wall, left arm still clutched by his abductor, who had his other hand squeezing the back of Legolas' neck to prevent movement.

"You wonder about my message to your father," said the still-unnamed elf, joying in the pain he knew that Legolas felt, as he twisted his dislocated arm. "It is wordless, my prince. This message is wordless."

With that, the elf pulled back his leg, yanking Legolas to fall hard onto his back.

Legolas gasped when the impact sent unbearable pain through his shoulder, and he hadn't a chance to move out of the way before his enemy viciously kicked him in the ribs.

"Some warrior!" said the elf, mockingly. "Can't defend yourself against one elf?"

Another kick impacted his midsection, and Legolas felt his consciousness wavering. He was astonished at the level of pain that flared throughout his body, which seemed to be more than it should be.

The other elf knew this, and smiled. Pulling a hidden knife from behind his back, he crouched beside the gasping elf, quickly kneeling on Legolas' good arm.

Legolas suddenly felt the blade touch his neck and he opened his eyes, unaware that he'd closed them.

The other elf gave him a maniacal smile, sending a chill down Legolas' spine.

He means to kill me, as revenge on my father…but for what?

A hand suddenly clamped down on his throat, and Legolas inwardly shuddered as the elf brought the knife to his wounded arm.

"If you move you will only make this worse for yourself," said the elf, humor lacing his tone. Lowering the knife, he delicately cut a slash in the golden-haired elf's skin, as if he were creating art.

Legolas' heart was racing as he watched. "Who are you?!" he exclaimed. "What did my father supposedly do to you?!"

The other elf's eyes flashed. "Supposedly?!" he said, cutting a deeper gash in the younger elf's skin. His expression suddenly changed as he looked at the cut, seeming almost contrite.

Legolas frowned, puzzled when his enemy looked closely at the bleeding gash, looking almost worried.

After a minute, the elf looked at Legolas, the concern gone and his expression enraged once more. "I shall leave him to tell you, elfling!"

Suddenly standing, the elf pulled Legolas to his feet, holding onto him tightly when Legolas' legs buckled.

His thoughts growing muddled, Legolas stumbled blindly, the pain of his injuries overwhelming him. His vision was turning black around the edges, and he wondered how long he'd be able to stay conscious on the journey home.

A horse's whinny brought some awareness back to Legolas, and he looked up to see his faithful mare fighting to free herself from a post that she'd been tied to. The sight made Legolas suddenly realize that they were outside, and he tried to get a look at his surroundings.

"Do not waste your time," said the other elf. "You will never again see this place."

Before Legolas even had a chance to blink, a sudden pain exploded in his face, and he knew no more.

Allowing Legolas to fall to the ground, the other elf walked over to the mare, speaking soft elvish in order to manipulate her.

The horse was enraged at the treatment that she'd seen dealt to her master, and kicked out a hoof at him.

Taking out his knife, the elf cut the rope that bound her, watching as she ran to Legolas. "I will help you get him home," said the elf, soothingly, walking slowly to her and gently petting her side. "I will help you."

The horse ignored him, neighing softly as she nosed her master's hair.

Still whispering softly, the elf slowly bent down and gently took Legolas' good arm, aware of the horse's faithfulness to her master.

The horse watched, ready to attack if the stranger's moves proved threatening.

Carefully lifting Legolas, the elf laid the injured prince on the horse, draping an arm on each side of her neck so that he wouldn't fall.

The mare was confused as to why this elf would first hurt her master but then help him, and grunted at the stranger before quickly trotting off.

As he watched the horse take Legolas back towards his home, the elf gave a maniacal laugh.

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Riding north, Thranduil scanned the woods as far as his eyes could see, desperately praying. Please let us find him…or at least, a sign that we are going in the right direction!

Nothing presented itself, and a nagging voice in the back of Thranduil's mind kept trying to tell him that his son was forever lost; dead and gone from this world.

No! Thranduil thought, his hands shaking as he gripped his horse's mane. Not Legolas…please, never Legolas…

A strange sense suddenly filled the King's senses, and he opened his eyes, realizing that he'd closed them in his grief. His horse suddenly whinnied, and it was answered by another…by a horse that was not traveling with them.

"Legolas!" Thranduil shouted, recognizing the high-pitched, agitated sound that his son's mare had made.

Everyone kicked their horses into a faster gallop, racing forward to meet the horse that suddenly plunged out of the woods before them.

Thranduil was off his steed before it even stopped, rushing to the limp figure of his son. "Legolas! Legolas?"

The other elves crowded around their king as he carefully pulled his son down, cradling him on his lap as he checked for a pulse.

"He's alive!" he said, voice cracking with emotion. "Legolas! Please wake!"

Legolas made no sound, eyes closed in unconsciousness.

Heredil knelt beside the king, looking for the prince's injuries. "His shoulder is dislocated," he said, touching it gently. "It is very swollen…we need to put it back immediately."

Thranduil winced. For the joint to have swelled…there was no telling how long his son had been in this condition.

If only the king had known the true reason…

Heredil tried to take Legolas from his father's grasp, intending to lay him flat on the ground.

Thranduil automatically tightened his grip, not wanting to let go, but he came back to himself and allowed his captain to care for his son—Thranduil could never do this himself, knowing the immense pain that it was going to cause.

Heredil looked at his king, grasping Legolas' arm.

Thranduil knew what he was saying…hold Legolas down in case the pain wakes him. Sighing, he pressed his hand to Legolas' chest and laid his other hand on his son's forehead, careful not to touch the ugly bruise that was rapidly forming on the pale skin.

Heredil twisted Legolas' arm, grateful that he had done this in the past. However, he didn't hear the 'pop' that should've sounded, and frowned.

"What?" asked Thranduil, nervously.

"It did not work," said Heredil. Sighing, he tried again, using more force.

Despite his unconscious state, Legolas cried out at the pain this time, and Thranduil hushed him, gently caressing his son's bruised forehead.

Heredil shook his head, looking upset. "I cannot do it; the swelling is too great. We must get him home quickly!"

The two of them quickly scanned the prince's other injuries, finding cracked ribs and an assortment of cuts and bruises.

Closing his eyes, Thranduil was thankful that his son's injuries were not life threatening, and he sighed with relief as he kicked his horse into a walk, holding his unconscious son in front of him.

Legolas' rider-less horse gave a whinny that sounded almost frustrated, and Thranduil reached out to touch her.

"Do not fear," he said, speaking to himself as much as the horse. "He will be fine. Legolas will be fine…"