Are you all curious enough? Let me tell you, it's not what you (probably?) have in mind.

Disclaimer: I do not own a beep thing

R&R

A Brother's Safety

Chapter Seven: Surprise?

If stopping the intruder was necessary, which it wasn't.

Thranduil smiled fondly at his son and just stood there for a while, staring. His oldest son and as far he knew, still his only son. The heir to the throne of a kingdom he wouldn't be able to rule without the family he loved so much. He would 'eagerly' give his life to protect that. He remembered the letter Elrond had sent him.

llllFlashbackllll

"My lord," the Noldor messenger had started, "I have a message for you from lord Elrond." He quickly handed the letter and waited patiently for Mirkwood's king to react.

Thranduil nodded and reluctantly started reading the letter knowing it would be bad news.

'What have you gotten into this time,' he thought.

The letter was short but more than clear:

Mellon-nin,

I regret deeply to be the bearer of bad news again, but I'm afraid I have to. Legolas was brought here badly injured. He's strong and I believe he will be fine eventually. I do not intend to make you worry even more but I feel that I, as your friend, have to tell you everything I know, which isn't much, I still don't know exactly what happened and I have no idea where Elarinya or any of the other warriors you sent with you wife and son, are at this time. I fear the worst. I'm sorry, for I would've rather told you in person.

Your friend,

Elrond

The shock had been so bad that Thranduil had almost collapsed if the Noldor elf, who was still waiting patiently, hadn't caught the king.

llllEnd flashbackllll

He had managed to regain himself only a little, enough to put Arthion in charge, jump on a horse and head to Imladris. Arthion was Arphenion's brother and Arandur's uncle. Arandur felt it was his duty to join the king on his 'trip', he was after all one of Legolas' best friends and he worried for his father's life. Thranduil trusted every single member of Arandur's family with his life and he knew he could trust Arthion to take over the kingdom until he returned.

Thranduil seated himself in the chair next to his son's bed and sighed. He wouldn't be able to rest until he could speak with his son. He watched Legolas closely and didn't like the fact his son's eyes were closed, a hint of the seriousness of Legolas' injury but he trusted Elrond and knew everything would be all right.

Arandur had offered to inform Elrond of their arrival. The guards at the gate had immediately recognised the king and let him enter Rivendell, he hadn't been able to wait any longer to see his son.

He took Legolas' hand and waited patiently in silence for Elrond to come in and tell him the latest news.

lllllllllllllllllll

Arandur thought he would find Elrond in his study, but he didn't have to go that far. He quickly bowed when he saw the older elf.

"Arandur?" Elrond asked, flabbergasted.

"Lord Thranduil and I arrived here a few minutes ago, the king went to seek his son and I offered to inform you, my lord."

"It is good to have you here, but who's ruling Mirkwood now?"

"My uncle, Arthion."

Elrond smiled slightly. "I'm sure Mirkwood is in good hands then." He patted Arandur's shoulder. "Come, I think you'd like to know how Legolas is doing too."

"Of course my lord."

lllllllllllllll

Legolas didn't sleep very long, he woke with a startled gasp, much too loud for his likings. The nightmare that had woken him had frightened him. His mother had died a horrible dead in his dream, at the hands of the orcs he had been able to escape from.

"Legolas, ion-nin, are you awake?"

It was only then Legolas noticed he still had his eyes shut and quickly opened them to find his father hovering over him.

"Adar? Is that you?" He asked groggily.

"Yes Legolas, I came as soon as I received Elrond's message."

"You know?"

Thranduil didn't reply, he sighed in relief when Elrond came in and interrupted the rather inconvenient silence:

"Thranduil, mellon-nin, how do you fare?"

He might've laughed if it concerned something else. "How do I feel? Of all possible questions you ask me how I feel."

It took Thranduil a few moments before he could find the words to continue, "I wish to know what happened…even if it's…horrible."

Elrond threw a glance at Legolas and doubted the timing.

Legolas seemed to understand the message hidden in Elrond's eyes. "I'm ready, I shall tell my father."

Elrond clearly had his own thoughts but gave in, thinking it would be better if they talked and got through the ordeal together. "Very well," he said, "but I want you to drink this first." He quickly fetched a small cup and helped Legolas drink the content.

"I will leave then, call me if anything at all is amiss."

Father and son nodded simultaneously and waited for the elven lord and Arandur to leave.

Arandur briefly turned around and said: "I'm happy you're still with us."

"I will speak with you later, mellon-nin," he added for once forgetting the formalities.

Legolas smiled in reply and watched as his friend left the room.

He locked eyes with his father but didn't know how to start. After another inconvenient silence he found something very important to begin with: "Adar, did you notice the cradle over there?"

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Yay, I fooled you, didn't I? But I suppose you can say ThraNDuiL helped me a little. I'll try and update faster, but I can't promise anything yet. So er... stay tuned?

Translations:

Adar: father

Imladris: Rivendell

Mellon-nin: my friend

Ion-nin: my son

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Lol

wolenczak2004: a little devil? I think I'll take that as a compliment

KerowynGreenleaf: Yay, I suppose it's better my reviewers stay in the land of the living. (for my sake)

Rebell: How I love confusing other people