Disclaimer: We still own nothing to do with these characters.
A little word of warning from Shell. I have been told by Mei that this chapter needs a two hankie warning as it is sad in places. Forgive me? Please?
Chapter three
Legolas sat and did nothing until his father had left the chamber. But the minute he was alone he pulled his knees up against his chin and closed his eyes. Some where deep inside there was pain, a pain so deep it made him feel as if his heart was bleeding.
If he had been able to he would be crying, but he did not even have that release. The hurt was too deep and too old.
How many times had he been promised something would happen to be forgotten? So many times he could no longer number them and so alone. How could he be so alone surrounded by love? He needed to be away from here.
His decision made he stood, moving over to his wardrobe he pulled out a cloak. Fastening it he opened the chamber door, looking both ways he gave a sigh of relief the hallway was empty. He quietly closed the door behind him and made his way down to the great staircase.
He met no one on his way to the back door of which he was pleased. He needed to speak to the only friend he had and to do that he had to be outside.
Soon he was in the walled garden and he made straight for the old tree. He stopped at the bottom. "May I climb you?"
Of course you can, Little One. So polite you are, asking permission. You need never ask again.
"Thank you." Within minutes he was seated on one of the upper arms.
You are sad again.
"Yes, no one has time for me again. Father has to work and Elardion has patients. He was going to take me riding." Legolas could not stop the bitterness from showing.
There is always tomorrow.
"Nay, they will have another excuse. I may as well just accept that I am not wanted here." His voice sounded strange even to him, sort of choked.
You would be missed.
"I do not think so; they would not even know I had gone." This time one single lone tear trickled its way down the pale cheek.
How could they not, a lovely kind Elfling like yourself.
"They would not know, trust me. I sometimes wish I was far away from here. I would go and join Nana. If only I knew where to find her. I miss her so much it hurts."
I would miss you.
"Thank you, Mellon-nin. You do know you are my only friend, do you not? I am glad you are here." There he had said it all of it, just what he always thought. If only he could remember what his Nana looked like, smelt like and even sounded like.
Sometimes if he thought long and hard he could recall a flash of long blond hair accompanied by tinkling laughter. Oh, he could see her picture that was in his father's study, but that was all. He could not really understand where she was or why she could not come back. Maybe he should go and try to find her.
I am sure you have lots of friends. The tree tried to hide its amusement, the Elfling really was upset today.
"May be one, but he is in Imladris, a long way away." He did miss Estel sometimes. Well all the time, it was fun when he was here, but it made being alone again all that much harder.
You must have friend's here.
"No, not one, I am not allowed out to where they gather to play. Ada says that it is not safe for me."
That seems unfair.
"I am used to it, I guess. Can I stay with you for a while? I have no one else to speak to." He looked up with hope in his eyes as he lay against the bark.
You may.
Neither of them noticed that the afternoon drew to a close, so engrossed where they in their conversation and when the Elfling fell asleep against the great trees willing arms it did not have the heart to wake him.
Thranduil tried as he was being pulled by his son, to find out what had happened. He got no where nearer to finding out as he was pulled through the door to the Healing wing. What he saw almost stopped his heart.
Alcarnor was sobbing in Lomion's arm, sobbing enough to make it seem certain that his heart was breaking. He was also covered in the silver red of Elven blood. Elardion brushed past him making his way into the healing chamber.
Thranduil felt his heart thumping all the more. "Alcarnor what has happened?" He rushed to his son's side and taking him in his arms hugged him close, oblivious to the state of the twin's clothes.
"We were riding, Ada, we stayed to the path I promise. They came out of nowhere; they got Nolvo with one of their blades. Oh, Ada he is in such pain, please help him. It hurts so much."
"It will be alright, Ion-nin I will find out how he is. Stay here with Lomion. I will be back." He smiled reassuringly at his sons before he entered the healing chamber.
It was in a state of organised chaos that usually surrounds a badly injured patient. The five healers including Elardion moved with a sense of quiet urgency. There was no panic, no sense of dismay. It was rather like looking at a dance in progress as the five seemed to dance around each other with the ease of old practice. It made him feel a little better.
Then he got his first look at Alcarnor and his heart almost stopped once more.
His son seemed to be covered in blood. His face was paler than the pillow that his head rested upon. But it was the wound that made it all the worse.
His right shoulder had a deep, deep wound. So deep you could see the muscles and with a sudden fit of nausea Thranduil realised he could see the white hint of bone.
"Elardion how is he?" His voice quavered and he took a deep breath.
"Ada, you should not be here. Go I will call you when he is stable." Elardion barely gave his father a glance, too involved with stopping the blood that was pouring from the wound.
"No, I will stay. How could I leave him like this?" The King had moved to the bed.
Elardion sighed; he knew that Thranduil would not leave know that he was in the room. "Very well, I do not have the time to argue with you. You may stay but please Adar stay out of the way?"
He got no reply, not that he expected one. But his father did move so that the healers could do what ever they needed to do.
He watched as slowly the horrendous wound was cleaned repeatedly until the blood changed from the black blood, caused by the poison that the Orcs loved to coat their blades in; to the healthy pink and then red of normal Elven blood.
It was not lost on the King that every one of the healers gave a heart felt a sigh of relief. Elardion gave his father a brief nod and smile. He then began the task of suturing the wound.
Thranduil could not stop watching as slowly the wound closed; it took thirty six sutures in all. The wound was then covered with a mix of Athelas and then bandaged.
Once his task was finished he crossed to his father's side. "He will be fine, Ada, he will hurt for a while and he will not be able to use his arm until he is given permission, but he will live."
Thranduil closed his eyes once more, but this time it was with relief.
"The poison was deep, but we have cleaned that out, tonight will be a long one for him, some poison will be in his system. He will heal."
"Thank you, Ion-nin I had feared the worst. Alcarnor is suffering too; he was almost hysterical before I came in." Thranduil could not hide his relief.
"Let us go and tell the others the news." Elardion led the way back out of the chamber.
Once there he noticed that his father had not been far off from the truth about Alcarnor, he was still sobbing in Lomion's arms, Lomion in turn was trying to calm him helped by Drowlin, but they were having no success. Not one of them missed the Elfling who was not present.
Lomion looked up as his father and brother joined them. He too had been crying it was hard to see his brother like this. "Ada?"
"Nolvo will be alright. His wound has been tended too. How are you Alcarnor? Is any of that blood yours?" No that his fear had abated Thranduil could see that Alcarnor was covered in blood.
"N-No." He gave a little hick up as he answered.
"Good, I want you to go and clean up, and then when you get back you can see Nolvo." Thranduil hugged his son once more.
"I… I thought he was going to die." Fresh tears ran down his face. "I thought he would go and join Nana. I was so afraid, Ada I am sorry." By this time he was crying as hard as he had before.
"I know Alcarnor and you have nothing to be sorry for." Thranduil looked over the dark head towards Drowlin. "Drowlin, would you please go to Alcarnor's room and get him some fresh clothes to wear? A sleeping robe would be better."
"Yes, Ada, I will not be long." Drowlin ran down the corridor in the direction of the family chambers.
"Come Alcarnor let us go and see Nolvo now." Thranduil gently led his son into the chamber. One of the other healers had arranged for a chair to be set beside the bed. Alcarnor was still crying and with out a word Elardion moved to the large herb table that was set beside one of the long bright walls.
Every single bottle of herbs or the herbs themselves had been set out in alphabetical order. This had been one of his first tasks when he had returned to Mirkwood after his mother's death. In his work the Prince was almost fanatical. But it was at times like this that he thanked the Valar that he was so organised. He could put his hand right on the herbs he needed.
It did not take long to mix the herbs with the hot water that was always kept on hand in case of emergency.
Neither he nor Thranduil thought that Alcarnor knew what he was drinking, he would not take his eyes off of his twin, and it was almost as if he expected his brother to disappear in front of him.
Thranduil was there as he gave into the herbs qualities and he fell asleep, just as Drowlin came into the chamber a sleeping robe in his hands.
Elardion with his fathers help changed the older twin into hid night clothes and gently carried him to the bed next to his brother. Soon both were asleep, both drugged. Thranduil moved the chair so that he could sit between the pair. Neither Lomion nor Elardion tried to move him in this circumstance it was a useless suggestion. Their father was in here for the long run or at least until Nolvo regained consciousness again.
The others settled down too, to keep their father company in his vigil.
Nolvo woke up just as dusk was falling, in pain and concerned about Alcarnor, he was running a temperature and was more than a little grouchy. With help he took a little of the broth that the cook regularly made for the occupants of the healing chambers, he was then helped to drink some medicated tea that would help with both the pain and the fever. Soon he was asleep again.
They were all reluctant to leave when the bell rang to signal the evening meal. But Alcarnor in his guise of head healer made them go and have sometime away from the healing chambers. He made one of his best healers sit with the twins, so that he could eat as well.
It was a weary family that made its way to the dining hall. All were grateful that Nolvo would be alright.
They all sat down and had begun to eat before they realised that one member of the family was missing who should not be, Legolas.
Thranduil somehow held back on the groan of frustration that he felt. The last thing they needed now was for Legolas to play up.
Lomion stood. "I will go and fetch him, Ada."
"No, Lomion I will do, I think I need to have a word with him." Thranduil waved his eldest away and left the chamber.
He made his way to Legolas' chamber. He knew the Elfling was upset at not being able to ride with Alcarnor that afternoon, but this was ridiculous.
He knocked on the door and waited rather impatiently for an answer. None was forthcoming.
The King knocked again, a frown marring his forehead. Still no answer was heard so he pushed the door open. He would not tolerate this behaviour; it was unbecoming in a Prince no matter what their age.
He stopped in the middle of the chamber. The toys that Legolas had been playing with had not been moved, they were in exactly the same positions as when he had left earlier that afternoon. The door to the wardrobe was open, but there was no sign of the Elfling that he had left here to play.
"Legolas, are you here?" There was no answer. He looked around the room looking for any signs of where his son was. His son's beloved bear and other soft toys that he had gathered in the last two years still sat in their places. His bow and quiver were in the corner as usual.
Thranduil moved to check the bathing chamber but that too was empty. A horrible feeling began in his stomach. A sick feeling as he thought back to how forlorn Legolas had looked earlier. Then he thought back to the essay that his youngest son had written; and suddenly, so suddenly he needed to find his youngest.
He tried to feel for the bond that all Elven parents had for their children. It was there, faint as if Legolas was at a great distance, but he could feel it.
He moved over to the wardrobe and looked inside. Nothing was missing apart from his young son's cloak. He needed no further conformation and he left the bedchamber to return to the dining hall. They all looked up as he entered and seeing their father's grim face they all stopped talking.
Thranduil said nothing to them he just moved to Ellarin who was as usual to be found serving the table.
"Have you seen Legolas this afternoon?"
"No, my Lord I saw him at the morning meal but not here." She looked at him quizzically.
Thranduil turned to the others then. "Legolas is missing, I left him in his chamber playing, but he is not there now. Do you think he would go riding without one of you with him?"
"No, Ada Legolas knows he is not to go out without one of us with him. Why?" Lomion had answered for all the rest.
"I promised to take him riding." Elardion's voice was low as he realised he had let his younger brother down yet again. "Was he very upset, Ada?"
"Yes, but I talked with him. I do think we all need to spend a little more time with him, he seems to be very low." Thranduil voiced his worries, worries that had risen when he had read the essay earlier that day.
"We need to find him." Lomion was on his feet and within minutes they all had areas to check.
Lomion checked the stables, the most logical place in his mind. But Patch was safely in his stall and Legolas no where in sight.
Elardion checked their mother's room; Lomion had all told them that Legolas sometimes went there to speak to their mother. The room was empty.
Thranduil searched up to the edge of the forest, he liked to think that Legolas was too intelligent to go alone into the forest, but you could never be absolutely sure. He received no answer to his calls.
Drowlin made a very half hearted search of the garden before returning to the palace to wait for the others.
They all came back empty handed.
Thranduil was seriously worried now. Where could Legolas be?
They gathered more of the patrols to help look and all of them took lit torches so that they could see in the dark. Again and again they came back empty handed.
Thranduil had to admit that with every patrol that came back without Legolas the more he felt he had lost control of the situation. None of them wanted to leave the palace just in case Legolas should return.
It was fully dark now and Lomion was beside himself. Where could their Little Leaf be? And why go off without telling someone?
"Ada we need to retrace our tracks. Go over where we have been. Drowlin go and look in the stables again. You never know."
"Good idea, I will check the forest again." Thranduil turned to Drowlin. "Come we can walk together." They left through the front door.
Lomion watched them go with a sigh before heading towards the door that led to his mother's garden. They all loved it here, it held fond memories for all of them and it was always here that Legolas ran if he needed time alone.
He walked around the garden looking into all the perfect Elfling sized hiding places, all were empty.
He was just about to walk back into the palace when he saw it. A lump or bump on one of the bows of the big tree.
Why he had not thought to look here previously he could not say. But in hindsight this should have been the most logical place to look. He crossed over to the tree and before climbing asked for the trees permission.
You are his brother?
Lomion almost jumped with shock, like all Wood Elves he could talk to all trees, but not like Legolas and not as clearly as this. "Yes I am."
You break your promises to him.
Lomion raised his eyes at that. "Sometimes, I try not to."
He misses his mother.
"We all do."
He feels he has no one he can turn to.
"He can always come to me." There was a lump in his throat at the thought of Legolas feeling he had no one he could go to for comfort.
Can he? You were the first to believe he had let the rabbit out.
"I know and I was wrong. I did apologise to him." He could not believe this he was getting lectured by a tree!
A little bit late for that I think. He tells me he has no friends here.
"No, it is difficult with the darkness that is growing. Adar wants him to be safe, as do we all. The thought of him not being here frightens me. You should see how panicked Ada was when he could not find him earlier." It seemed as if Legolas had found a confidant and he found he was pleased, even if it was a tree.
He was sure that no one would notice he was gone.
"What!" Lomion could not believe that he had just heard that.
He did not think any one would notice if he left. He feels that he is not wanted here.
"But he is we love him."
Then maybe you should all show him that. He misses his mother more than you realise, I do not think he really understands why she is not here with him.
"No he was so young and he nearly died as well. I need to get him inside. Thank you for being so frank." His eyes glittered in the dark, full of tears as he thought of how lonely Legolas must be if his only friend was a tree.
He is my friend, he is kind and polite. Sometimes it takes another to realise that there is a problem.
"You are wise indeed, Mellon-nin."
I should be I am older than your father and knew him when he used to play with me.
"I will tell him what you say." Lomion was smiling now.
"Do so, but you need to take My Prince home.
"Your Prince?" Lomion had heard this before. "Why do you call him that?"
He is blessed with abilities others have not. His link to nature is deeper and more complete. His love for trees will grow as will his love of all animals. This is the first time that we have ever had someone as precious as this to look out for us. But be warned we will not allow any to harm him. If he is harmed the one who does this deed will answer to us.
All the leaves in the surrounding area shook their limbs in a cacophony of noise, obviously agreeing with the tree in front of him. There was no wind to cause the limbs to move.
"I understand." And to his surprise he did understand.
Good. Take my Prince home he is cold.
"As you wish." Lomion quickly climbed the tree and moved to Legolas' side. He gently took him in his arms, smiling as the Elfling cuddled into him.
"Nana?" He did not even open his eyes and his voice was full of sleep.
"No, Little One it is Lomion." He kept his voice soft and low.
"Want Nana."
"I know, Little One, so do I."
"Want to go with Nana."
For one very, very long minute Lomion thought that his heart would stop beating. Did Legolas really feel like that?
"We need you here, Little One, believe me we need you here. Come hold onto me while I climb down."
The pale thin limbs clung to him, around his neck as they made their way down the tree. Legolas said no more as he made his way back into the palace.
Inside he looked down at his precious bundle. Legolas was sat with his legs wrapped tightly around his waist. His head rested against his shoulder and his rather grubby thumb was in his mouth. He looked adorable. Then Lomion noticed the tear tracks down the pale features and he felt his heart almost tear in half again.
"We need to get you to Ada, Little One."
"Want to go with Nana, where is she? When will she be coming home?"
"I think we need to talk to Ada about that, Leafie. You must be hungry."
"No, I have got a headache and my tummy hurts."
"It does? We shall have Elardion take a look at it for you."
They were almost to the front door and he could hear the raised voices as the others reported their findings. It was Drowlin who noticed them first.
"Ada, Lomion has Legolas!"
Thranduil gave a cry and turned around to face them. "Legolas! Oh, my Leaf I thought I had lost you."
He took the Elfling from the Crown Prince's arms. Hugging him tightly to him. The Elfling grumbled sleepily before settling into an almost identical position with his father as he had with his brother.
"Where was he?" Thranduil gently and tenderly brushed the hair from the pale thin face.
"He was in the Birch tree in the garden. The tree asked me to say hello." He gave his father a tiny smile.
"We need to get him warm. Can you thank the patrols for me? Join us after that?" Thranduil could not take his eyes off of the Elfling that was safe in his arms.
"Of course, Ada we need to talk." The seriousness in Lomion's voice made him look up and he nodded before moving away to go to the privacy of the family room. Drowlin followed him, his own hand on the thin leg of his brother as if making sure that Legolas would not disappear again.
Thranduil sat as near to the fire as he could, Legolas was fast asleep and even with the dirty cheeks he looked nothing less than an angel. Thranduil sighed breathing in the distinctive smell of his youngest son. He knew he had question's that needed answering, not least just how he could not have know his son was missing. What kind of father was he?
He looked up as the door opened and Lomion entered with Elardion.
"Nolvo and Alcarnor?" There was a question in his voice; he had not expected Elardion to have left his brother's.
"Still sleeping, Nolvo has a mild temperature but nothing that I am worried about. Hanlin is sitting with them. Lomion has asked me to look at Legolas." He smiled at his father before looking at Legolas.
"Oh? And why was that?" He had to smile at the sight of Lomion squirming in front of him in an echo of the Elfling he had once been.
"Legolas told me he had both a headache and stomach-ache, I just thought it best that Elardion looks at him." Lomion could not meet his father's eye.
"You did the right thing, Twilight. It is how I would want it."
"Hannon lle, Ada." There was a pink tinge to the delicate ears at his father's praise.
They both went quiet as they heard Elardion speak to Legolas.
"Hello, my Little Leaf. You have given us quite the run around tonight. Lomion tells me that your head and tummy aches, may I look."
Legolas muttered something so low under his breath that not one of them could hear what he said.
"I'm sorry, Leafie what did you say."
"Tired, go 'way." He tried to push further into his father's shoulder.
They all laughed at that. Trust Legolas.
"I will once I have checked you over." Two red rimmed blue eyes looked back at him and Elardion found him self loosing the breath from his lungs. They were so full of sadness, so unhappy. He promised him self there and then he would do all he could to wipe that look away.
"Promise?"
"Yes, I promise, my Leaf."
That earned him an almost smile. The emotion never made it into the blue eyes.
"Now, where does it hurt?" Legolas pointed in the general direction of his stomach. "Let me see."
He managed to do a thorough examination of the blonde's stomach. "You can sleep now, Little One." He looked up to find that the Elfling was already asleep, sucking his thumb. He wanted so much to smile at the scene, but his heart was breaking too.
"Well?" He looked up into his father's dark eyes.
"I am hoping I am wrong here." His father cut in there.
"About what?" There was an undercurrent of fear in the King's voice.
"Well, I think he is in the first stages of grief."
"What!!!" Lomion could not stop the shout, what ever he expected it was not this.
"Fading?" Thranduil's voice sounded weak.
"I think so, but it is the very first stages. We should be able to halt it before it gets too far." Elardion tried to reassure but it sounded false even to his own ears.
"How do we help?" Lomion was certain of one thing; he would not let Legolas go without fighting for him.
"We need to find the cause of this." Elardion reached to brush some stray hair from his brother's face.
"He told me he wanted to be with Nana." How he stopped him self from shedding the tears that were inside of him he did not know. All he knew was that Legolas needed him and crying would achieve nothing.
"What? When?" Thranduil sounded shocked.
"When I was carrying him in." He quickly told them what had happened and what the Birch tree had told him.
It was a stunned family that sat in silence some time later. They all knew that they had neglected Legolas somewhat, but not one of them had expected this.
"What do we do know? Does he need to be in the healing wing?" Thranduil shivered at the thought that this bright, wonderful spirit may just fade and leave them. He would not let that happen.
"Not really, but it may be wise. At least we will be able to look after the twins as well."
"We will do that then. I do not want him out of my sight. How could I have missed this? There have been signs, but I just did not take heed of them." Thranduil ran his hands through his hair.
"We are all too blame, Ada we could all have taken notice. When he called for Nana…" Lomion broke off choked.
"We will save him, he has all his brothers and me to look out for him."
Thranduil slowly stood and made his way to the door.
"I will go and get him a clean night tunic, Ada. I will meet you there."
"Thank you, Lomion." They parted ways.
When he walked into the healing chamber a little later it was to find Legolas clean of all dirt, still asleep in his father's arms. Thranduil had to smile, because along with the night clothes Lomion had brought Growly.
They all watched a he gave the Bear to Legolas, tucking him into his brother's tiny arms. Legolas almost immediately and with out batting an eyelid, murmured under his breath before replacing his thumb with one well loved ear.
They all smiled at this as they sat to begin their wait. Elardion checked the twins and finding nothing out of place. Joined the others in his family. Now the fight would begin. They would have to make Legolas realise that he was loved here, that they did not want him to go.
It would be hard but they would do it.
To be continued
We would like to thank all our faithful reviewers, you are all wonderful.
Replies to reviews:
SaphireCat: Thank you! Forget about the slash thing, we understand.
Butterfly-elf: We hope you like this as it answers your question.
Pointy-eared-elfs: Thank you. It was wired about the name, we could not decide on the foal's name. We both went to bed and think it over I (Shell) thought of Patch and Mei came up with Patchy. It is eerie that our minds think so alike. Mei is glad you like the essay.
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Thank you, patchy loves it too!!! I know, when I wrote the second chapter of Once Mei was begging me not to kill her, even though it was her idea! Poor Leafie.
Bradleigh: As you know cliffies are my speciality, although this one was down to Mei!
Dark Borg drone: We will, Mellon-nin, here you are.
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Well this is it for now, Meisalliam's turn next. Lots of fluff to go with all my angst that just seemed to write itself!
Take care,
Love,
Mei, Shell and the gang.