Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Just borrowin'!!

A/N: OMG!!! I am SOOOOOO sorry!!! I had a major writers' block and I couldn't think of anything to write, even with all the ideas you guys gave me. I hope you guys haven't thought me dead. I really didn't mean not write for so long. I truly am really sorry. I'll even let you guys' flame me and I won't care. I promise!!! Once again, so sorry.

And on with the story

Chapter 7

The Mirkwood guards rode into the Palace Gates at a full gallop and swiftly dismounted. Lumlier and Falacas handed their horses over to two of the remaining eighteen guards and made their way to the King's throne room to deposit the weapons they had found and voice their opinion of what course of action should be taken. Both of the Sindar Elves hoped their King was in an extremely good mood for they knew his temper would flare very high when they told him what they found. Unfortunately, their wishes were denied.

Lumlier and Falacas found Thranduil angrily pacing the length of the throne room. Once closer, the guards could see he kept looking at a piece of parchment in his hand. Lumlier reached for Legolas' weapons on his back, but Falacas caught his hand and shook his head no. This was not exactly the time to make their King livid with rage.

"My Lord?" Lumlier asked, speaking softly in case Thranduil decided to explode. "May I inquire as to what has made you so – infuriated?

The King stopped pacing, his back to the two Elves. "King Elessar has betrayed me, has betrayed Legolas!" Thranduil slowly faced his soldiers and raised his eyes from the parchment. "My son is to die at the hands of the Haradrim Prince Damean and Elessar in five days time if I do not agree to their terms. Even if we tried to save Legolas, we would never make it in time.

Lumlier and Falacas each felt there heart break. Even though they couldn't feel the pain Thranduil was going through, they loved Legolas: as their friend, as their Prince, and as their Captain. Falacas was first to break the silence that had settled over the three. "Who supplied you with this information, My Lord?"

"The Evenstar. Elbereth bless her! She sent one of her Elven servants to me from Harad before Elessar cut her off from all life outside Damean's palace. The Elf made it here just hours before you two arrived. I'm surprised you didn't see him." After that Thranduil fell silent. He walked to his throne and sat with his head in his hands.

Finally, after not being able to stand the heavy silence no longer, Lumlier burst out, "My King! Do not tell me that you are going to sit and do nothing! We can still save Legolas! Just command us and we could be ready before the sun sets!"

"I wish I could but only if you knew" the Elf trailed off.

"Your Majesty?" asked Falacas quietly, "what were the terms for the safe return of Legolas.

"King Quasir and Prince Damean want me to abdicate my rule over Mirkwood and become a servant to the Harad royal family," the King whispered with venom and fire laced with every word he said. "If I do, Legolas will be Damean's consort. If I don't Legolas is dead. Either way, he's damned to hell."

A knock suddenly sounded on the side door. Thranduil lifted his head quickly and brushed back stray pieces of hair back before setting his crown on his head. Lumlier opened the door to admit Falacas' wife, Fallandra, into the room. Falacas immediately assumed a worried face. "Is everything okay? Is the baby alright?"

Fallandra smiled. "She's fine. I just came to deliver these letters to His Majesty." She walked to the throne and curtsied before handing to envelopes to him. One had the Gondor royal stamp and the other had the Harad royal stamp.

Fallandra curtsied again before walking over to her husband and let him fold his arms around her slim shoulders. He rested his head on top of hers and waited for Thranduil to open the letters.

Thranduil sighed with relief when he saw the one from Gondor contained the monthly crop and trade report from the Steward. He set the letter aside and was about to open the other when he looked at the soldiers and asked," Did you find anything out there where Legolas' horse led you?"

Lumlier nodded and slowly lifted the quiver and bow from his back and laid them at Thranduil's feet. He gulped and turned his attention back to the letter. He broke the seal with shaking hands and pulled the parchment from the envelope. As he unfolded it, a piece of cloth fell into his lap. He picked it up only to be brought more dread: it was the Mirkwood Royal insignia that Legolas wore on his tunic. He choked back a sob when he realized the usual hunter green cloth was stained red-brown with blood.

"What does the letter say, Your Majesty?" asked Falacas.

"Prince Damean is reminding me of his terms and letting me know he is decreasing the time to three days instead of five." Thranduil felt tears form in his eyes. He closed them and willed the tears to stop flooding his eyes.

He faintly heard Lumlier yelling, "Let us go, My Lord! We have time! Please!" Fallandra's quiet sobbing mixed with Lumlier's voice. When Thranduil opened his eyes, lightning shot through them with pure hatred running deep for Damean and Aragorn.

"Falacas, Lumlier, assemble the Mirkwood army. We are going to war."

Aragorn met an impatiently waiting Damean in the same hall he had found the King in. Damean started to talk about the plans for Legolas and the letter he had sent to Mirkwood. Aragorn listened with only half of his attention for the rest was back with the captive Elf prince.

A sudden sharp pain in Aragorn's stomach sent him to his knees. He wrapped an arm around his midsection as the pain intensified. He started to gasp for air for he couldn't find enough strength to draw breath. Damean knelt beside the King and pushed back the hair from his sweaty forehead. Aragorn's eyes rolled back in his head and he fell forward into Damean, unconscious. Two guards rushed forward to help their Prince. "Get him to my Father! Quick!"

The Humans hurried to Qausir's study and set Aragorn in an empty chair. The Haradrim King stood quickly and hurried to the side of the son of Arathorn. "What happened?!" he demanded.

"I don't know, Father. One minute we were walking here and he seemed perfectly fine, but then he just fell and wrapped his arm around his stomach and lost consciousness. I brought him here because I didn't know what to do," explained Damean in a rush.

Quasir smiled gently. "It's alright, my son. Don't worry. You did nothing wrong. The potion that I had the village witch make must've wore off. She said he would feel pain and then would faint. I just have to get him to drink some more of the potion and he'll be fine."

"Oh. Why didn't you tell me? I thought that cursed Elf wounded him!" Damean exclaimed.

"For now, we can do nothing. He will be unconscious until after the sunrises. Just have him set in his bed and post guards at the door to make sure he doesn't do anything rash. I will see you tomorrow morning. Bring King Aragorn with you."

Damean bowed his head and ordered the soldiers to carry the King back to his room. The Prince followed them just in case another mishap occurred with Legolas. The men gently deposited Aragorn on the soft silk sheets and went to go stand at their posts right outside the door. Damean stood looking at Aragorn for a moment before turning to Legolas. To his surprise, a young maid was leaning on the Elf, her head on his shoulder, fast asleep. Legolas head was resting against the pole, his eyes open, but glazed over, as is the sleep of the Elves.

Damean walked over and slapped Legolas across the face. The Mirkwood Prince jumped and came back into reality; the maid opened her eyes slowly and gasped as she saw Damean. "What do you think you are doing, my love?" he asked sweetly.

The maid looked at him with fearful eyes and answered, "King Aragorn told me to stay here. He came back but did not notice me. Then he left after tying Prince Legolas to the pole."

"And you thought you would just snuggle up to the Elf and no one would notice, did you?" the Haradrim asked in the same sweet voice.

"Leave her alone, snake," Legolas growled." She fell asleep because I was singing."

"Singing!?" Damean repeated, not sure if he heard right. "You were weaker than I thought, Prince Legolas. Have a nice night," he said with a smirk before walking out and slamming the door behind him.

A/N: UmI'm not gonna reply to reviews this time cause I don't really have the time at the moment but I promise I will next. OK? I also need help with naming my chapters and stuff. So if any of you guys have suggestions, I'd appreciate it!! I know I didn't explain the potion thingy, but I will next chapter. I promise! And I know Aragorn, Thranduil, and Legolas are completely OOC but I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. Thanks to everyone! Hope y'all enjoyed!! *hands out a cookie to everyone who read this*

~*~*~Andmetwen~*~*~