A/N:

Happy Authoress walks out
/Looks out at almost empty theater/
Authoress: Oops! Sorry bout that life caught up again.
/Cricket chirps/
Authoress: (Sweat drop) well, guess I waited too long. /More crickets/ Um, is anyone out there?

Sorry for the wait, but things have been nuts around here. My head is still spinning from everything, but I can happily say that everything is finally starting to fall in line where it belongs. Hopefully, it will stay this way. (Not a chance)

Thanks to all who helped me with this story. Beginning 'n' End for your ideas to help with my writers block. Eleniel Ithil thanks for your bateing and I hope things are going well on your end. Last, but never least, viggomaniac for your help with fixing my mistakes that were missed. Special thanks to you three who have really helped me. You all deserve a cookie.

Review Replies: (You guys get a cookie too. I could never forget my fans.)

Deana: (Blush) Glad U like. Sorry for the loooooooooooong delay. Thanks much for the review hope you like this one too.

Elven Kitten: Thanks much for the review, glad you like. Yeah poor Thranduil (devious grin) and it only gets worse. (Insert mischievous laugh) Well hope you like, and sorry 'bout the wait.

Ronda-Chan: Hope your exams went well, mine are finally done. Now it's time to relax (reclines back) (Legolas clone whispers in Authoress ear)Ack! What summer school. (Pouts) Well there's still a small vacation. Thanks for your review and sorry 'bout the wait I promise there are several good reasons. I just can't think of any right now. Hope you like this chapter to.

viggomaniac: Thanks for all your help in pointing things out. Keep up the criteics they help me decide what needs work and what needs to be left alone for a while.

Deep Sorrow: (Blush) Wow, thanks for the compliments, glad u liked. Sorry for the wait, hope you liked this one too.

Anastasia Who: Glad you like, sorry for the delay. Real life snuck up and bit me. As for the confusing parts I promise it will all make since later. If not and you're still confused by the end let me know and I'll explain everything. If I say anything now it'll ruin the story for you, and what fun is that?

Chapter 4: Who Done It?

"We found him." was all the second born son of Elrond needed to say for all tension to be released and allowed the mighty king of Mirkwood to breathe fresh air as hope swelled within.

The next day Lord Elrond woke with an uneasy feeling slowly growing within him as he watched the path beyond the gates for a sign of his sons and Legolas. He had been sitting up for the forth night in a row alternating between watching out the window for the others and looking over a very exhausted Elrohir. Sometime between the very late hours of the night and the now rising dawn he had nodded off.

He looked over at his second born, sleeping nearby. Elrond brushed his fingers through the tangled locks of his son's hair. He smiled fondly at the sleeping form that would occasionally twitch in his sleep. Elrond remembered how Elrohir had come home to deliver his message, only to turn around, heading back out into the wilderness, but Elrond would not allow it. He had a hard time convincing the youngest twin to stay behind with him and wait for his brothers and friend's return.

It was early morning, just a few hours after the sun rose, when he finally saw Elladan riding back. With Estel riding in front, looking unconscious from what he could see and Legolas in front of one of the guards, there was little time for emotion as he ran out to great his son.

Elrohir woke at the sudden feeling of being alone and cleared his eyes in time to see his father leave the room.

Elrond took Estel from Elladan's grasp his father's heart weeping over the unresponsive form of a once headstrong and happy boy. But he himself did not have time to cry instead the healer in him took charge.

Without a word to those around him he quickly turned and headed towards the healing word. The others would follow, they always do, a part of him welcomed the comfort of those who shared his pain and the help they will readily give, but the other part wished to keep them away. He didn't want them to witness the injuries to their brother or hear the pain filled cries if Estel woke at the wrong moment, but most of all he did not want them to see him fall. To see him fail in saving their little Estel; to bare witness to the humans untimely demise. As he ran he could feel his adopted son's life drain away with every step he took. He could feel his son's very life slip through his fingers like water down a river. Estel wouldn't last much longer without help. Elrond could finally see the healing room doors ahead and never had the sight made him so happy. He only wished to make it there before the others so he could lock them out; there were plenty of other healers on standby waiting for him to arrive. But then again if he locked them out at such a critical point they may very well breakdown the door. In the end he could keep none of them out, but then again he didn't really try.

Thranduil sat in his study his thoughts lost in the troubling information he had just received from one of his best patrol group. Curudae had delivered the message himself in the early hours of morning, not long before dawn. He had said that in rushing to Elladan's aid they had found countless spider nests not too far ahead on Elladan and Legolas route home. Not that that was out of the ordinary, after all Mirkwood is full of spiders and nests are a common find, especially along the well used paths.

However when they went to destroy the nest so the boys would have no other foe's to defeat and hinder their time, and possibly themselves, they discovered the recently charred bodies of what was left. Curudae had said there were no reports about spiders being there, this being normally his path to check for the eight legged killers, he would know about any nests and if they were destroyed or not. Not that they weren't grateful for what had happened it was just the manner it had been done that bothered the Elven king. The spiders were reported burned to a crisp, and others cut open, but there wasn't a sign on the landscaping that suggested something had happened. No scuff marks in the dirt, suggesting a fight taking place, no footprints in the mud that told of anyone passing through, the grass wasn't even burned from where the spiders had been fried. Not even blood was left behind from the ones that had been destroyed and cut open. It was almost like someone had put the bodies there for them to find. Perhaps in a warning of some sort, or maybe to let them know they had help hidden in the shadows.

Thranduil shook his head to clear his mind. He had other things to think about: Legolas's health for one thing. Elladan had come not long after Curudae, and unfortunately he was distracted when Legolas was taken away to the healing halls. Now he would have to wait for Elrond to give his diagnosis on the health of both Estel and Legolas. Needless to say the Mighty Elven King Thranduil was anxious to hear of his son's health.

A knock sounded at his door.

"Enter." said Thranduil

Elrond opened the wood door and walked inside, his expression unreadable.

-------Elsewhere--------

Curudae walked through the halls at a quick pace his mind still working to figure out what had happened to the spiders. Soon he deemed the situation for now unsolvable, later he would work it out when things calmed down a bit.

Elrohir after looking his friend over instructed the warrior to put Legolas in his room so he would be more comfortable. Curudae had agreed and left the Prince in his chambers while the healers worked to put him back together, but that in itself was confusing. It was like nothing was wrong with their fair prince; it was like he was sleeping almost. From what he could see Legolas was a little scratched up and bruised, but otherwise he was fine.

As he walked away he spotted King Thranduil's top advisor, Thespar, coming his way. Curudae resisted the urge to groan. He really disliked the advisor with a passion, no matter the reason why, he never even knew. They never agreed on anything and were locked in a constant battle over how things should be done. Most of the time they avoided each other and tried to be polite when they were forced together. Of course everything they said was through gritted teeth and their words would pierce one another.

Curudae kept his wits about him as the blond advisor passed him by without a word. A subconscious clash and crackling of the air around them told clearly of the strong rivalry between them. But neither said a thing and continued on their way. Curudae tilted his head to the side ever-so slightly and watched him out of the corner of his eye. He really didn't trust the advisor even though his king did. That alone was probably the only thing they kept them from killing each other.

Continuing on his way he spotted one of the maids coming around the corner. She gave him a warm smile as she passed him by.

Thranduil impatiently looked up to see who had entered his study. He didn't need more problems to worry about. This person would have to wait regardless of what the matter is and who it concerned. He was about to send the Elf away, but bit his tongue when he saw who now stood before him. It was Elrond. Thranduil gulped down the lump that slowly formed in his throat. Worry began to make itself known again.

"I was surprised that I didn't see you hovering over him."

"Something important came up; it involved the monsters surrounding my home. It is the strangest dealing with the spiders that we have ever had."

Silence hung in the air before Thranduil asked the important question that had been teasing his mind for days.

"What of Legolas." the King asked fearfully.

Elrond's brow knitted in concentration as he searched for the words to best describe the young elf's situation. "Legolas's condition, in all honesty, has me perplexed."

"What do you mean? Is he alright?"

"The actual wounds that I see are of no real concern Thranduil. By all rights he should be almost fully healed and up and about at this moment, but he is not. He just won't wake up. I don't know why, there has been no trauma to the head, nor should the wounds pain him enough to keep him out this long. What disturbs me is that he is not the only one like this."

"Who else? Strider?"

"Aye, he was the first one I tended to. When Elladan brought Estel back his injuries were most grave, but still he responded. I clean and stitched the wound all the while listening to him begging, pleading with me to stop and leave him be." Elrond faltered as he paused to regain him composer. Clearly he was remembering the torture he and his sons had gone though in that time frame. Thranduil patiently, yet anxiously, waited for Elrond to pull himself together. But one question remained in his mind and he would have it answered as soon as the Noldor Elf was ready.

Finally Elrond had packed away his emotions and collected himself. "I am sorry Thranduil. It's just…"

"I know." Thranduil cut in. He had felt those emotions more than once in his life it was wise to take the time to collect oneself instead of breaking down where you stand. "But tell me something, did you not sedate Estel before you put him back together? It is unlike you to neglect those details with patients especially your own family."

Elrond nodded sadly, "I admit I had decided not to take the risk. Estel was at a delicate point at the time the slightest nudge in either direction would have killed him or saved him. I did not want to risk loosing him because I chose to keep him knocked out at the time."

Thranduil nodded in understanding. He was about to say more when an impatient knock sounded at his door.

"King Thranduil come quickly there's been an incident!" said Thespar barging into the room.

Thranduil stared at him for a few seconds to allow the information to sink in and the shock to wear off. Without question the elf came to his feet and followed Thespar in a hurried pace. No one ever barged in on the elven king unless it was of the utmost importance.

Elrond trailed after them not far behind. No one spoke though the burning question was on the tip of their tongues. What had happened? Asking would be a waist of the very breath they needed as they ducked down winding hallways and upstairs. Realization dawned in the back of Elrond's mind they were nearing the palace sleeping quarters. Another turn brought them closer to the living area where all the royals' slept and important guests stayed. Worry set into both elf lords this was where their children were currently sleeping. If anything had happened here it was bound to involve at least one of them. Elrond would normally start ticking off all the things his wild boys could do, but the urgency in the elf's voice suggested that this had been none of the twin's usual pranks and mischief.

Thranduil couldn't help but feel panicked a little as they neared his son's room. Grotesque thoughts kept spinning through his mind. He hadn't seen Legolas since he returned. Elrond had told all he needed to hear. Legolas was safe and unharmed - to an extent, of course, so he had assumed that his son had been tended to. Then he remembered the dreams he had been having the past nights. What if something had happened? What if something was wrong and the healers had been too hurried to see? What if, Thranduil came to realize, were truly horrible little words that could have many meanings, and brought fear to all who dared to ask.

They rounded the final corner where Thespar had seen the problem.

A figure dressed in a long white servant gown was laying belly down in the middle of the empty hallway. All three elves skidded to a stop and slowly approached the motionless figure.

"I found her like this my lord."

Thranduil felt relieved for half an instant that it had not been Legolas that was hurt. Elrond felt the same as he knelt down to examine the maiden. He didn't need to search long judging by the sharp twist of the neck he concluded that it had been broken. Her eyes were trapped gazing into the darkness brought on by the end if life.

"She is dead." he said solemnly. Passing a hand over her face Elrond gently closed the maiden's eyes.

A/N: Well what do ya think? Anyone want to take a guess at who did it.

Love? Hate? General outrage? Let me know review pwease. (Pout; Big sad puppy eyes) My muse gets lazy without reviews and my clones get bored and annoy plot bunnies. Reviews make them happy and keep a small form of peace in my house.

(loud crash)

Elrohir Clone: Aaaa, 'Dan! You broke Kat's favorite statue!

Elladan Clone: Ooops.

(Authoress sweat drops)

Muse: Shoot! Who let all these plot bunnies loose?

El and El clones: Legolas did it.

Legolas clone: No, it wasn't me! The gremlins did it.

(LOUD crash)

All: The kitchen!

Authoress: Please review so I can put them to work.

(Explosion)

Elrohir Clone: (pops head in) Um, Kat. The, uh, bunnies escaped and, uh, ate all the groceries you bought yesterday.

Authoress: Anything else?

Elrohir Clone: Yeah, Nameless (Elven muse) is strangling Legolas and Elladan blew up the mailbox. You sent the bills out yesterday, right?

(Power goes out)

Clones & Muse: Hey!
Who turned out the lights?
What's going on?

Authoress: (sweat drops) Good thing my computer has battery backup. Please review me.