"Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Legolas blinked sleepily, his open eyes focusing at the bright surrounding. He blinked again and again, getting his world into focus, but his sleepiness made him snuggle deep into his pillow again. "I'm still sleepy, Meiou… wake me up later, will you?"
"I'm not Meiou! Father, it's me! Edhelwen!"
Legolas turned to look behind him and looked sleepily at his daughter, who was glaring at him from Meiou's side of their bed. He smiled at her, "Why are you awake this early, girl? And what valid reason do you have for waking me up at such an hour?"
Edhelwen huffed impatiently as she crawled over to her father to shake him, "Father, get up! Mother and Ranthoron are missing!"
"WHAT!"
Legolas stood up abruptly from the bed, pulling the sheet with him, and making Edhelwen fall on her bottom to the carpeted floor. He looked down at his daughter as she sat wincing and rubbing her sore rear end. He jumped from their bed and dragged her daughter up. "What do you mean they're gone!"
"Ranfeä woke me up and told me that she saw Mother and Brother leave before dawn…"
Legolas looked a bit shocked at her words that the only thing he could ask her was, "Why…?"
Edhelwen saw the shock in his eyes, and her own earthen eyes saddened as she shook her head. "I do not know either, Father…"
Legolas felt the world crumble around him as his knees buckled under him. Edhelwen sat beside her father, waiting for him to speak.
Finally, he stood up and looked at her daughter. "Stand up and wear your travelling clothes. We're going to find your mother…"
Edhelwen looked incredulously at her father as she stood up and gathered her skirts into her hands, following her father's footsteps as he strode purposely down their home. "But Father, do you even have an idea where to find her?"
Legolas smiled at her daughter, but the smile never quite reached his eyes. "I know someone who does."