Legolas was very tired, his little feet could only go so far and he and Haldir had been walking for what seemed like ages! But Legolas would not complain, he was doing this for one reason: help ada. His father always helped him and now he was here to save his father, he knew his father would be very proud.
"Legolas, your getting tired." Haldir had noticed the child had stumbled a few steps and was not paying full attention. Legolas sighed and nodded.
"Sit down, I will go just a bit further without you." Haldir got the elfling to sit on a log and he went deeper into the trees without his little companion.
At first Legolas remained amused, playing with a worm. But then in boredom, Legolas got up and wandered in a different direction than he had been with Haldir. He heard something. A moan. He looked around, fearing the worst. Legolas screamed when he saw a hand. The handjust lay there, sticking out of a bush. Approaching the hand, he found out it was attached to an arm, which was attached to a body hidden by the bush. But what Legolas noticed that was most important was the hand's rings, the hand's many, many rings.
Only one elf had Legolas ever known to wear so many rings on one hand…
His ada.
Thranduil loved rings. Thranduil could afford the finest rings, and from the lovely way the rings shone Legolas knew this was his father's hand. He went behind the bush and screamed in joy.
"Ada!" Legolas shrieked, making Thranduil wake up from his slumber. Thranduil saw at once the little elfling looking perfectly fine and beamed.
"Legolas! Oh thank valar! Your not hurt!" Thranduil was glad to have Legolas squeeze him in an embrace, though he was not sure yet how to tell Legolas that he could not walk.
"Ada, you have to come with me. Haldir is looking for you!" Legolas said, kissing his father on his cheek.
"Legolas, I am hurt. I cannot walk. You have to go back to the palace and get help, and you have to be careful-
"Ada, Haldir is with me!"
"Then go find Haldir, tell him where I am. Go quickly ion-nin, and do not injure yourself!" Thranduil said softly as Legolas ran away to get Haldir. In mere moments Haldir and Legolas where running back. Haldir was very careful to lift the injured king and he planned on carrying him back to the palace on his own.
"Thank you. Legolas, I was worried. Were where you?" Thranduil asked as Haldir carried him.
"With Haldir. I followed him to Lorien." Legolas said with pride.
"You could not possibly have followed the march-warden all the way back to his home…" Thranduil said, but Haldir spoke up.
"He did, my lord, all the way to the borders where my brothers spotted him. I would have came back sooner but I could not rush him, he is only a mere elfling and he needed to rest." Haldir said. Thranduil was shocked but decided not to punish Legolas, he was far too glad to be safe in Haldir's arms and have his child home.
"Illiendal look! There is Haldir and Legolas I cannot believe it! And… And Haldir is carrying your father! They are safe!" Elladan said, pointed out the window. Illiendal looked to where he pointed and grabbed Elladan to kiss him all over his face.
"They are safe! Elladan thank you!" Illiendal said, Elladan much to glad to have been rewarded with kisses to care what she said.
Illiendal ran down the stairs and grabbed Legolas into an embrace.
"Legolas! Oh your safe!" Illiendal spun around with her little brother, Legolas giggling merrily.
"I'm good!" Legolas shrieked, as he got dizzy. Haldir smiled and brought the king to his bed before calling the healers. Healers fixed the king's leg, which was not fractured badly, and then the king had many visitors: All his children and Elrond's sons.
"Should you two not have returned home by now?" Thranduil asked, looking at the twins questionably. They shrugged.
"Your children needed us here for support, my lord." Elladan said.
"You mean you wanted to spend time with Illiendal." Thranduil corrected the half-elf, who blushed and nodded his head.
"Your duty is hard, father. I am so tired and my hands have blisters from writing all that your advisors told me to." Tonus said, showing his blister-covered hands.
"Yes, my hands looked like that after the first month of my kingship, if not worse." Thranduil said. Cield came forwards.
"I never made it to Rivendell ada. I'm sorry."
"Why not?" Thranduil asked, frowning at his son.
"I wanted to come with him, I ordered him to bring me with him. It was distracting and he was not paying attention to where he was going. He hit his head and got a concussion." Firelien spoke for Cield, holding his hand. Cield nodded and with his empty hand pointed to the bandaging wound around his head at the top, covering his brow.
"I was afraid we would never see you or Legolas again. Elladan did comfort me, though." Illiendal said, still gripping Elladan's hand tightly though she had her eyes on the march-warden.
"I was worried I would not make it back to the palace ever, and that you three would not be able to cope with the lose of Legolas and myself." Thranduil told his children. They nodded.
"We would not have." The three said, Legolas oblivious to what they spoke of.
"I was worried sick about it, and my legs hurt too much to do anything." Thranduil said as he tried to sit up. With help from Elladan and Elrohir, he was in a sitting position.
"Sir, I have to leave. I might be able to spend one day resting here, but then I must return to my home. If I do not, I will surly loose my position." Haldir admitted.
"I understand, march-warden. You may take the same guest chamber as you did the last visit, and you may rest and eat whatever you'd like. I cannot thank you enough for returning Legolas safely. I can promise you a lovely reward. Tomorrow before you leave I will get you some gold for all your help." Thranduil said. Haldir bowed.
"My lord, I cannot accept your money. I brought Legolas back because he needs to be back with you, I did not do it to be rewarded with your riches." Haldir said, but Thranduil shook his head.
"I order you to take it. I have plenty of money, more than I can spend. You do not have as much as I do, I can guarantee that. Please take the gold, it is all I can offer in thanks." Thranduil said. Haldir nodded.
"Alright sir, I will take it with as much displeasure as I can take money with." Haldir said, Thranduil smiling.
"I am certain you will be able to make use of it." Thranduil said.
To be continued…All right, next chapter is the last chapter, and is short... But it comes with a preview of what is coming! The last chapter will be posted on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28. The sequel will be posted as early as next friday but there are NO guarantees.