Thranduil resumed stroking his son's fair hair. A slight smile broke through his tears as he remembered his son coming to him when he was very little, asking for help to braid his unruly mane.

" melethon le, tithen pen nin," he whispered softly.

Legolas did not stir.

" Your Highness!"

Thranduil jumped, his hand jerking away from his son's head. He whirled to face the doorway.

The head healer stood there, his arms crossed. " Your highness, what are you doing here? The prince should not be disturbed."

Thranduil stood slowly. " Does it look like I am disturbing him?"

" Sire, he needs rest. He won't get that while he has someone hovering over him like a mother h."

Thranduil cut the irate healer off with a wave of his hand. One of the advantages of being a king. " I am not leaving him, master healer." He sat on the edge of his son's bed, his eyes riveted on the still face.

The elf knew he had lost, but had to try. " But why, highness? He cannot hear you."

Thranduil did not answer. With a sigh, the healer left, shutting the door behind him.

Thranduil slowly released his air into the stillness of the room. " I am not leaving," he said softly to himself. His hands slowly began to stroke Legolas' hair once more.

" He doesn't like to be alone."

-----------------------------Flashback

Thranduil awoke. He sat up in his bed, wondering why he had suddenly been jerked to wakefulness at this late hour.

It was a sound. Something that should not be.

Frustrated, he flung back his covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He froze. There! There was the sound again!

The Elvenking threw a robe over his sleeping clothes and moved soundlessly into the hall. His keen ears detected the sound again, coming from the young prince's bedchamber.

Throwing caution to the winds, the Elvenking sprinted to his son's room. He flung the door open. "Legolas!"

The elven prince was curled up tightly in his bed, his golden head buried in his arms. Soft sobs were muffled by the pillows, yet Thranduil could easily identify the sound that had woken him.

The elfling raised his head at the sound of his father's voice. " Ada!"

Thranduil quickly pulled the small child into his arms and held him close. " Ion nin, what troubles you?"

Blue eyes filled with tears looked at the king beseechingly. " Gwilileth is gone, and I do not want to be alone."

The king nodded wisely, remembering the death of his son's pet dog. " You do not have to be alone, tithen pen. Tonight, you may stay in my chamber, and tomorrow, we will find you another pet."

Thranduil lifted the elfling easily and carried him back to his own room. Legolas had fallen asleep by the time he had reached the large bed, and the Elvenking carefully laid him down. Yawning, he climbed in beside his small son and pulled the covers over them both.

Legolas stirred, moving gently. Afraid he would wake, Thranduil reached out and stroked the golden strands of hair back from his son's small forehead.

At the touch the young prince instinctively rolled over and cuddled against his father's bulk. Thranduil froze.

'Amazing,' he thought to himself as he looked down at the perfect, tiny features, so calm in sleep. 'One small move is enough to bring all my certainty crashing down around my ears. But then,'

A soft smile spread across his face as his hand resumed stroking his son's fair hair.

'it is also enough to fill me with incredible joy.'

-------------------------------Flashback ends

Two healers watched the unmoving figure of their king out of the corners of their eyes as they performed their duties.

" How long has he been there?" one whispered as he labeled a bottle.

" Three days." The other elf tried to keep his attention on the bundle of herbs he was sorting, but could not keep his eyes from straying toward the other end of the room. " He hasn't left the prince's bedside for three days."

The first set his bottle on a shelf. He cast a surreptitious look at his Lord, then lowered his voice a little more. " How bad is the prince?"

" Master Helith cannot cure him. And the King has sent a message to Lord Elrond."

The healer paled at his friend's words. " That bad?"

The elf nodded grimly. " Aye."

------------------------------------

Thranduil swayed woozily in his sitting position. Three days and nights without sleep were starting to catch up to him. He stood and stretched, trying to wake himself.

A healer appeared at his elbow, holding a tray of food and a beaker of water. " Won't you eat something today, my lord?"

At the very mention of food, Thranduil felt his stomach threaten to revolt. " No. No thank you."

The healer sighed. " My lord, you cannot help your son if you make yourself ill."

Without a word, the king stared at him.

The healer quailed under the power of the haunted gaze. " At least a drink of water..?" he fumbled.

To his surprise, Thranduil heaved a sigh and took the beaker from the tray. " Fine. If it will make the healers happy."

The elf watched his king sip at the water and nodded, satisfied. He stepped out into the corridor and was immediately accosted by the Master Healer, Helith.

" Did he drink the water?"

The younger healer grinned at his superior. " Aye."

Helith sighed in relief. " Thank the Valar." He returned the young elf's grin. " Well done, Ares."

Ares glanced back at the door. " How much of the sleeping potion did you put in the water?"

" Enough," Helith replied grimly. " He has to sleep, or I will be tending him by the time Lord Elrond arrives."

-----------------------------------

Thranduil yawned widely. He looked suspiciously at the cup he had received from Ares and set it down on a small table, resolving to drink no more.

Of course, by that time it was too late.

The Elvenking swayed where he stood and cursed himself silently. He should have seen through this rather obvious deception.

Someone had moved a chair next to Legolas' bedside for the king, but he had never used it until now. Sinking down, he struggled to remain conscious.

His breathing started to deepen, and slow. The world was fading quickly. With a last effort, the king reached out and grasped his son's left hand, hoping it would be enough to wake him should the prince move.

Even sleep could not calm the Elvenking, for his dreams haunted him…

0-0-0-0

Melethon le, tithen pen nin.-I love you, my little one.

Ada-Father(daddy)

0-0-0-0