All wrong?

"Hîr Elrond instructed me to let you drink something." Hérion whispered as he put a goblet full of wine against the king's lips. Hérion's eyes were as black as night and a sleek smile was plastered on his face. "Poor Legolas, I hope he will return, before the wolves get him." He mocked. Thranduil's dull eyes tried to focus on Hérion's face, alas, they would not.

"Legolas has not returned yet?" He asked when Hérion removed the goblet from his lips allowing him to speak.

"Alas, my troops do all, but it seemed Legolas made it quite far, and the new snow does not help."

"Where is Elrond?" Thranduil asked while he weakly tried to push himself up.

"He asked me to keep you company. He wished to spend the night with his wife. I fear that they both were quite upset." Hérion softly said, like he regretted it too. "Elladan and Elrohir are missing too." He told him at the puzzled look on Thranduil's face.

"What about Cervus?" Thranduil tried.

"Drink some more." Hérion said as he ignored the question and pressed the goblet against his lips again. Thranduil coughed as he inhaled some wine when he wanted to speak again.

"Saes." He managed to say between his coughs. Hérion did nothing as he simply watched his king. When Thranduil had finished couching, Hérion helped him drink the remaining wine before he sat back and slowly the hazel colored eyes came back.

"Good evening." Feren announced himself after a soft knock.

"Suilad, Feren." Hérion greeted and looked outside for a moment and noticed to his astonishment that it was already deep into the night.

"Is aran Thranduil asleep?" Feren asked as he watched over the almost waxen face of their king.

"Nay." Thranduil's soft voice sounded thick with sleep. Feren quickly knelt next to the king.

"How are you feeling?" Feren gently asked.

"Great." Thranduil said while a weary grin spread across his features. Feren let out a soft chuckle before he features turned grim.

"Cervus sent me for your tea." Feren got up and filled a clean goblet with a little bit of tea. He propped Thranduil up, so it would be easier for him to drink. Feren helped Thranduil sip the tea, occasionally removing the goblet, giving Thranduil all the time he needed.

"I would like to think Elladan and Elrohir went with Legolas." Thranduil whispered after he had finished the tea, before his eyes closed tightly and fell into an herb induced sleep. Feren shared a look with Hérion. It was now more than a day ago that they discovered that the elflings were gone. In the time the weather had turned from quite nice to almost a snow storm.

.

Feren mused a little while on what he needed to do. He had heard Cervus and hîr Elrond speak, and nothing real positive had been said. After a few moments Feren walked to Thranduil's study where he picked up a small piece of parchement and began writing.

Dear Radagast the Brown,

I fear evil has found his way into Mirkwood again, and is poisoning our king. The healers have tried many things without success and I fear that you might be our only hope.

Please come and aid us as quickly as you are allowed,

Your faithful servant,

Feren

Feren waited till the ink had dried before he made his way to the courtyard. He watched the small falcon fly away with his note attached to one of his legs. He hoped the falcon could brace the weather and deliver the message.

.

All three elflings sat huddled on a low branch while beneath them a dozen wolves snarled and howled as they circled the tree.

"I want ada." Elladan whimpered.

"Glorfy will save us." Elrohir managed to say while he shivered uncontrollably now. Legolas only sniffled while the tears ran over his cheeks. He wanted his Elky and to hear nana's song.

"So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain

Wave goodbye, to cares of the day

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain

Sail far away from Lullaby Bay…"

Legolas softly whispered to himself while he wrapped his arms around himself. Running away maybe was not such a good idea. Legolas wiped his tears with his sleeve while he watched the wolves walk around. He sincerely hoped wolves could not climb.

.

"Legolas is gone?" Thranduil whispered barely audible.

"I fear so." Elrond said and thickly swallowed. "We have searched everywhere."

"This cannot be." Thranduil shook his head. "Legolas would never do such things..." Elrond clasped Thranduil's hand and gently squeezed it.

"Iston, mellon-nin." Elrond softly said. As gently as he could he sat up Thranduil, before he drew the elf in a seated hug. Thranduil did not object, he even drew his own arms around Elrond's back. Elrond buried his nose in the pale blond hair that like always seemed to smell like pine. "We will find them. They could not have gone far." Elrond continued to whisper words of comfort in Thranduil's ear. He needed it at much as himself. They needed to find them quickly, for elflings were not that resistant to cold as adults would be. The risk of losing them in the cold was very real. "They will find them, I know so." Elrond slowly rubbed Thranduil's back , hoping he would not grow cold in his condition.

"I should not have snapped." Thranduil whispered after a while.

"You should not have indeed." Elrond softly said. He had been sure Thranduil was asleep. "The only thing that you can do now is to ask Legolas' forgiveness."

"Iston." Thranduil drew in a slow an deep breath before he raised his arms again, hugging Elrond.

It was much later when Cervus came in, and found them both in that position, a seated hug.

"Hîr Elrond?" He softly asked he touched Elrond's shoulder.

"Cervus?" Elrond whispered as he lifted his head. "What can I do for you?" He asked, not moving from his spot.

"I was just wondering what was going on."

"I think we just were in a need of comfort."

"He is not getting better is he?" Cervus asked when they had eased Thranduil back on his bed.

"If I had to believe he is even worse." Elrond softly said. Elrond stood and walked over to the window. He pushed the curtain away, to see that it was still snowing.

"I do not know what to do." Cervus said after a while with a sigh when he slumped down in a chair and buried his head in his hands. Everything he had tried did not work, neither that what Elrond suggested had any effect on him. "I- I fear he will slip from our fingers into Mandos if we cannot do anything soon." he muttered.

"Do not despair yet." Elrond gently said while he walked back to Cervus and placed his hand on Cervus' shoulder. "I think there is indeed little for us left to do than watch over him. See to him that he eats a little and further make sure to keep his suffering to a minimum." He softly said fearing that was Cervus said a moment ago, would become reality really soon enough if they were not cautious. They had to find Legolas soon.

"I will go and see to Celebrían, if you do not mind."

"Go to her. You supposed to be with her in such situation." Cervus urged Elrond from the room.

"Hannon-le, mellon-nin." Elrond said before he hurried away. "Celebrían?" Elrond softly asked when he entered their guestroom.

"Elrond!" Celebrían turned and gave Erestor a little smile before she hugged Elrond.

"I will go and see how Tegalad is doing." Erestor quickly excused himself. He had kept Celebrían company when Elrond had been away. He found himself too awkward to correctly offer her the comfort she needed without overstepping boundaries.

"How are you, meleth-nin?" Elrond asked as he brushed away a stray lock.

"Frightened. The snow only seems to get worse."

"I am sure Glorfindel will find them." Elrond whispered as he drew her in another tight hug.

"Are you not frightened?"

"I am. I fear that they are hurt either by the cold or some fool creatures. I fear that they will not return." Elrond softly said. "Alas, it is to no use for us all to simply run out and search for them." Elrond took Celebrían to their bed. "I think it is best if we at least try to rest."

"I will try." Celebrían nodded and both dressed for bed. Celebrían took a last look at a sleeping Arwen before she joined Elrond. Elrond drew her close, and Celebrían snuggled up his chest, melting in the warm and strong embrace.

.

"This is all wrong. All wrong." Radagast kept muttering to himself while he paced the length of the room. He had received Feren's message deep into the night and had immediately left to come to aid. Feren stood next to Tegalad and watched the wizard. Only moments ago, had the wizard seen Thranduil and declared that there was indeed something evil going on. "Gather the elves that have been in contact with the king often." He ordered after a while. Feren and Tegalad looked at each other before they nodded and Tegalad went to gather them. Several of the guards entered as well as all the councilors. Even Cervus and Elrond were dragged away from Thranduil to join them.

"I think I have gathered everyone." Tegalad said as he closed the door of Thranduil's study behind him.

"Very well." Radagast said. "Form a circle around me and stay exactly where you are till I say otherwise." He instructed, and everyone formed a circle around him. Radagast took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He muttered something that sounded like an enchantment or a prayer while he waved around with his staff in a circular motion. Hérion stood there like several others as confused as he looked. Most of the Mirkwood elves had heard or maybe even seen Radagast once or twice but had never witnessed any form of real wizard magic. Out of the blue, Radagast poked Hérion in the chest with the blue bulb in his staff rather forcefully. Hérion took a step so he would not fall over.

"Hey!" Hérion was about to protest when Radagast poked him again, increasing his chanting while the bulb in first emitted a weak shine, and started to shine brighter, more and more.

"You!" Radagast shouted between his prayers. The others gasped as Hérion's eyes darkened and a big grin spread over his face.

"Now you think you have defeated me, stupid wizard?" Hérion's voice sounded strange as it laughed. "You are too late!"

"There still is some hope." Radagast shot back.

"Surely you do not think he can overcome this? All who loved him left him! He has nothing to fight for. Legolas has gone away. The wolves will eat him before the moon rises again, and when the snow is gone again, this land will be mine!" The strange voice laughed.

"Hold your tongue." Radagast roared as he removed his staff from Hérion's breast and pointed it directly into his face. Blood ran from Hérion's nose as he started to make choking noises.

"You will never win." Hérion choked out.

"Be gone!" Radagast roared and the bulb flashed so bright that everyone on the room had to shield their eyes. If they had been able to see what happened, they saw a grey mist come from Hérion's mouth and nose, to be absorbed by the bulb. Only a moment later the bulb stopped glowing and Radagast removed the staff from Hérion's bloodied face. Hérion collapsed as Radagast staggered back. Feren and Tegalad caught Radagast before he had a chance to fall while Cervus hurried over to the captain's side. Elrond firstly made sure that Radagast was well before he went over to Hérion.

"Well?" He softly asked.

"Out black."

"Let's move him to the Halls of Healing where we can examine him." Elrond decided. "Everyone! Saes, do not mention anything of this until we can be sure what really happened. Everything that happened here will stay here. If you need to speak with anyone about this, feel free to do so. But do it where you are sure no other ears will be listening with you." Most of them had yet to comprehend what just happened and they slowly awakened from their stupor. Elrond and Cervus carried Hérion out of the king's study to the Halls of Healing, where they placed him in one of the few private rooms the halls held. With a cloth and some hand warm water they cleaned Hérion's face.

"It seems like Radagast broke his nose." Cervus said with a frown when he had removed all the blood.

"He'll survive." Elrond said and started to inspect Hérion.

"Nothing seems wrong with him." Cervus said after they spent over an hour checking the captain.

"Do you recall the moment this might have caused this?"

"I checked Hérion the last time when he had returned from his patrol." Cervus said. "When they went to Dol Guldur…" Cervus eyes grew big. "Hérion had disappeared and they found him a day later unconscious."

"Then something would have happened on the trip." Elrond mused, not liking what he heard.

"he had wandered into Dol Guldur alone if I am right, against Thranduil's order. He claimed that it was empty, but what if he encountered something he could not see?"

"We shall have to wait till he wakens, but I guess he will know little more than we do now."

Dictionary:

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Ada/Adar - Father

Nana/Naneth - Mother

Mellon-nin - My friend

Suilad - Informal greeting

Nana/Naneth - Mother

Iston - I know

Hannon-le - Thank you

Hîr - Lord

Saes - Please

Suilad - Informal greeting

Aran - King

Meleth-nin - My love