Actually, this is a stand alone story.


" 'You are alive because of me! Because of what I did to save you!' Vlad shouted in a charred, outraged voice. Mirena calmly walked up to her husband, hating seeing him like this, and bravely put her hand on his chest. He just stared at her. Then the bloody gleam left his eyes and he hung his head.

'This is not who you are.' Mirena said tearfully. Vlad soberly looked at those around him, and he saw their fear. Then his eyes fell on Ingeras hiding behind the water wheel.'"

Ingeras lay on his side in Legolas's bed, weeping. "Papa...Papa..." He whimpered in the pillow.

"Wake up, little one." A soft voice spoke to him and gently shook his shoulder. Ingeras buried his face deeper into the pillow, hiding from whoever was trying to wake him. "Hey, you're having a bad dream. You need to wake up." Came the voice again. Ingeras peeked his head out and opened his eyes, but he would not look up at his audience. He kept his vision downcast on the floor. "Good, you're awake." Malfortion smiled and rubbed the boy's wrist. Ingeras didn't notice Thranduil, Legolas, Tauriel, and Feren standing there. "How do you feel?"

"Awful." Ingeras mumbled, trying to wipe away his tears.

"It's all right." Malfortion assured him. "Do you feel sick to your stomach?"

"No. It just hurts." Ingeras sniffled. I can't let them see me cry!

"I see. Do your legs ache?"

"Mmm-hmm. And my head." Ingeras spoke barely audible."

"How about a nice, cool glass of water?" The healer offered kindly. Ingeras shook his head. Tauriel stepped forward to the side of the bed and gently took his hand.

"You must drink, penneth. You won't get better if you don't." She said encouragingly. "You want to get better, don't you?" Ingeras slowly looked up at her. Her touch was so gentle, so motherly that it increased his stomachache, making him miss Mirena.

"I...don't know." He looked away. All of the adults frowned with concern and shared worried glances.

"He is definitely going through some kind of bereavement!" Legolas whispered to Feren. They had seen their kin fade away because of broken hearts, and the little human displayed the same symptoms. Legolas stepped forward and smiled. "You remember me, don't you?" He asked in a friendly voice. Ingeras glanced up at him nervously.

"Y-yes." He nodded.

"Do you remember my name?"

"Leg-Legolas." Ingeras stated lowly. Malfortion rose from the bed and backed up to give the prince some space.

"Very good." Legolas praised. "This is Tauriel. She is our captain of the guard. She would like to help you." Ingeras stiffened.

Captain of the guard? What is she doing here? He thought frightfully. They all noticed his petrified look.

"I think he's a bit overwhelmed by such a large audience." Tauriel suggested to Legolas in their native Elvish tongue. Legolas walked back to his father, the healer, and Feren. He spoke to them in Elvish and they all left, but not without Thranduil firmly giving his son an order in Elvish. Legolas returned to stand beside the bed. Ingeras curled up into a ball under the covers. Tauriel sat down beside him.

"You don't have to be afraid, little one. We don't want to hurt you. We only want to help you get back to your people." She said sweetly.

"I...have no people." Ingeras said.

"Do you miss your mother and father?" Legolas asked softly. Ingeras's eyes glistened but he set his jaw, choking down the tears he refused to spill out.

"My mother's dead." He said flatly. Legolas and Tauriel glanced at each other sympathetically then looked back down at Ingeras.

"I'm sorry." Legolas said quietly, rubbing his shoulder.

"She was killed." Ingeras uttered.

"That's horrible." Tauriel said, reaching out to caress his flushed face but he drew back from her. She didn't try again, but only smiled and gripped his hand. "What was her name?" Ingeras pursed his lips tightly. He didn't know these elves. He didn't know who they were, or even what creatures they were! Some of them seemed very kind, but after being held hostage by Mehmed and listening to his condescending 'consolation' during his kidnapping, Ingeras didn't know that these elves wouldn't do the same thing. He had to be brave. They couldn't know where he was from or who his family was!

"It's okay, little one. You do not have to talk about it." Legolas said. "But we really do want to help you. Can you at least tell us your name?" Ingeras stared up at the wooden ceiling. If he told them his name, that didn't mean he had to tell them who he really was.

"Ingeras." He finally answered.

"Your name is Ingeras?" Tauriel asked. Ingeras nodded.

"Good. Can you tell us where you are from?" Legolas inquired. Ingeras bit his lip and shook his head. "Can you tell us who your father is?" The boy would not answer. Tauriel finally tilted her head at Legolas, indicating that the boy was still sick and needed a break from all this interrogation. "It's okay. You can tell us when you are ready." Legolas said. "Right now you still need rest." He felt Ingeras's forehead with his palm. Taking a cool rag from the nightstand, he dipped it in the basin then slowly dabbed Ingeras's face with it. Ingeras stared straight ahead. If these elves knew who Vlad was and what he had just done, they would most likely fear him and hunt him down then kill him! Ingeras couldn't let that happen! "Get some sleep, Ingeras. We'll talk more later." Legolas patted his head. Ingeras didn't respond. "Tauriel." Legolas nodded. Tauriel scooted closer to Ingeras and this time he let her stroke his sweaty hair, but he would not look at her.


Legolas entered his father's study where Feren and Malfortion had joined Thranduil. "How is he, Legolas?" Thranduil asked.

"Still sick. And scared." Legolas sighed. "Tauriel is with him."

"Did you find out anything?"

"A little this time. His name is Ingeras. I tried to ask him who his family was and where he is from, but he just clammed up." Legolas explained. "The only thing he shared is that he has no people, and his mother was killed."

"Poor little fellow." Feren said.

"When he is dreaming, he keeps calling out to his parents." Malfortion said. "But it is always grief-stricken. And he sounds terrified when he cries his father's name."

"You don't suppose that his father killed his mother?" Feren offered glumly.

"It is difficult to say." Legolas shook his head. "He is still afraid to open up to us. Tauriel is being very gentle with him, but he is rejecting even her offers of reassurance. He looked as if he was about to cry when we mentioned his mother, but then he held back. It's as if he is afraid to show emotion in front of us when he knows we're watching."

"The poor soul must have been put through some great emotional trauma against his will." The healer stated.

"What would you suggest we do, mellon-nin?" Thranduil asked the healer. Malfortion stood up.

"My lord, as you all know, grief takes time. From what I have seen, this child is no spy but a lost soul with a freshly broken heart that he does not know how to deal with." Malfortion spoke seriously. "If only Mithrandir was here! I'm sure he could shed some light on our little wanderer. We must be patient with the child, my lord. We must first earn his trust.

'But, this Wood is sick right now, and no place for a child. Especially a lost child! Might I suggest that we write to consult Lord Elrond about this, and ask for his advice. If we cannot earn the boy's trust, perhaps he might sent to Rivendell. It is far less dangerous than here, and we all know of the wondrous work that Lord Elrond has accomplished in healing tortured souls.'"

"He is right, Father." Legolas agreed.

"You speak wisely, my friend." Thranduil said to the healer. "We shall give it a few more days, and by then, if there is no improvement, I shall write to Lord Elrond to discuss the matter of our troubled guest."

"Oh!" Legolas gasped. "I forgot to return his trinket to him. Perhaps that will help him feel less insecure."

Legolas hurried back into his room. Tauriel was still there, stroking Ingeras's hair. Ingeras just lay there, blankly staring. "Ingeras?" Legolas spoke quietly as he approached the bed. "I believe this belongs to you." He opened his palm to reveal the cross necklace. Ingeras's eyes slightly widened. He didn't speak but reached forward and snatched the necklace and clutched it to his bosom. "I would've returned it before now, but we've all been so worried about you that I forgot. I apologize." Ingeras closed his eyes tightly shut and his shoulders trembled, as if he was crying inside his body.

Tauriel rubbed his back. "Sleep, Ingeras." She shushed gently and sang an Elvish lullaby. Ingeras did not cry though he looked as if his heart was begging him to. He curled harder into a fetal position, holding the necklace to himself closer than ever.


For the next few days, they kept a close eye on Ingeras and kept offering him comfort and reassurance that they wanted to help him. His fever lingered and he remained listless and withdrawn. He did not speak, but only nodded or shook his head when questioned. His stomach hurt from missing Vlad and Mirena so much. He wondered where Gandalf was, and why his friend had just dropped him in this strange world and left him there! He didn't eat or drink, which increased his fever. He didn't want to get better, not if all the people he loved and who knew him were just going to keep leaving to fend for himself alone in this world! If they were all just going to abandon him, then he saw no point in trying to live. If only Gandalf was here! At least then, he wouldn't feel quite as lonely.

The elves, especially Legolas and Tauriel tried to comfort him and make him feel secure, but their efforts seemed to fall to the floor with their hopes of helping the boy. Ingeras would not let go of the necklace for any reason. He always kept it in his hand.

Malfortion was expressing his concerns to Thranduil, Legolas, and Feren. "My lord, I feel it is time to write Lord Elrond." He urged them. "Ingeras is only fading more and more every day. He makes no effort to help himself get better. He has not eaten or drank anything since his first day here. He has lost much weight, and he is plagued with nightmares every night! I have tried everything I can to help him, but I fear that he will continue to deteriorate."

"He does not speak." Legolas added. "He just lays there, clutching that necklace. I have gently tried to ask him easy questions but he acts as if he doesn't hear. The only time he shows any emotion is when we mention his parents, and even then he holds it all in!"

"I will write to Elrond immediately." Thranduil agreed.


It was nearly dawn. Malfortion had unwillingly fallen asleep from exhaustion, sitting at Ingeras's side. Ingeras shuddered when he saw that the elf's eyes were still open! It frightened him badly. "I have to leave. I must...find Gandalf." Ingeras mumbled to himself. Putting the necklace around his neck, he tried to sit up but his head swam. "I have to...be brave...for Papa." He told himself and forced himself up on wobbly legs. He staggered to the window. It was already open. Glancing back at the healer who was still sleeping, Ingeras clumsily climbed out the window. Thankfully, outside there was a balcony. Ingeras peeked over it but the long way down made him nauseous. He slowly clambered over the railing, climbing into the tree, its dead branches spread out like arms. Ingeras slipped down the trunk till his bare feet hit the ground. He collapsed, dizzy and queasy. His head hurt and he felt very cold. He shivered in the misty air.

"I have to find Gandalf! And make him take me back to Papa!" Ingeras promised himself. He forced himself onto his unsteady feet. Swaying and feeling miserable, he bounded away from the palace as far as he could.


The sun was just peeking through the inlets of the palace when Legolas marched up to his chambers. He quietly opened the door and stepped in. He gaped in horror when he saw the empty bed and the sleeping healer. "Malfortion! Wake up!" Legolas demanded, striding over to him.

"M-my lord?" Malfortion started.

"Where is Ingeras?!" Legolas asked fiercely.


Ingeras was not sure how long he'd been gone, but to him it felt like hours. His whole body ached and trembled as he wandered toward the river. He could barely move. His head felt so heavy. Just when he was about to collapse, he heard a blood-curdling scream that tingled his spine in pure terror. He stumbled backwards onto the ground, weary and scared. He looked around to see what had uttered such an unearthly call. His blood froze and he panicked when he saw large, hideous, coal-colored monsters: Orcs!