September 10 TA 1636

Thranduil paced uneasily in his office. He was waiting for Faroth to meet him. He had received a letter from Amandil, and he could not wait any longer to hear what it had to say. He hadn't rested since the group had left, and neither had his son. Any news was welcome compared to the silence they had both endured.

The door swung open, and Thranduil turned eagerly toward Faroth. "They are safe, everyone is in position and they will approach the camp tonight as planned."

Thranduil relaxed and leaned against his desk. He put his head in his hands and his desperate gaze found Faroth. "I cannot do this."

"She will be fine. Have faith."

Thranduil nodded, and Faroth knew his words had no effect on the King. They were the same words everyone had been saying to him, and he would not be convinced until she was back safe in his arms.

"I found Erron's father's closest companion. He has agreed to take him in and raise him until he is ready to take on his father's legacy as Lord of their village."

Thranduil nodded, "that is good news. When the group returns we shall help him return to his people."

Erron hadn't seen the king in a few days. He knew what was happening, and he knew his father was responsible for all of the pain that was spreading through Mirkwood like wildfire. Legolas had kept him distracted from his loss and he would be grateful to him for that for eternity. Without him- he did not know what would have happened to him.

He and his father had been close, closer than perhaps most fathers and sons. He shared his life with him, and now he was alone.

There was a knock, and Erron stood, "enter."

The door opened enough to let the King slip in, and he shut it quietly behind him. He was dressed simply. His robes were dark cranberry with silver toggles and a silver brooch at his neck. He had a simple silver circlet on his head, and his white blonde hair lay free on his shoulders aside from a few small braids that held it away from his face. His cool blue eyes were calm despite the chaos going on in his Kingdom, and he was eerily still. He acknowledged Erron with a slight nod.

"Have you been well?" he asked.

"Better each day, thanks to you, Aran nin."

A small smile appeared on Thranduil's face before it disappeared again, "Lord Faroth has found your Father's friend, Josi. Do you know of him?"

"Yes, he and my father were close."

"He has offered you a home with him, but that is your choice. If you do not feel it would be in your best interest, you may of course stay here," Erron stared at him a moment, but his sharp gaze made him turn away. He loved the elves. They were beautiful, wise. Who would give up such an opportunity to learn under such creatures? "You can of course take your time deciding. I do not wish for you to make a rash decision."

"I will go to my people, with Josi. It is less than a year before I reach adulthood and inherit my position. It would be wiser to go, would it not?" he asked softly.

"Indeed it would be," Thranduil responded. "It is wise of you to choose your own, although I feel your heart lingers with us."

"I would love to stay and learn under you and your great people. But it would be foolish, for I am not an elf."

"Regardless, you are always welcome here and you may seek help or guidance with us whenever you so desire."

"Thank you, Aran nin."

It was finally dark, the only light the stars above them. Earien and Amandil made the directions clear again to the group, and she and Amandil rode ahead of a dozen or so of the royal guard. They made their approach clear, not bothering to hide their steps. This was it, and she let her nervousness turn to numb sense of responsibility. They were depending on her and her signals to know what to do.

There were six or seven large tents in a small clearing, and Amandil nodded to the second group, who separated from the group and jogged silently into the forest. They were members of the sentinel patrol. Silent, quick, and deadly. A tall elf exited one of the tents, bow in hand.

He had long black hair and skin white as snow. His eyes were bright green, and smiled at the sight of her. In his other hand he held Huldion by a handful of hair, and dragged him with him. He struggled to keep up, and the elf pulled him into a standing position. Earien quickly evaluated the situation. She could see the other part of the guard in the distance, and everything was in place so far. Huldion was dangerously close to death. His eyes were open but unseeing. His hair was dark with blood, as was his entire front. She couldn't make out any specific injury under the thick coat of blood, and was concerned for the others.

"It is nice to finally meet you, your majesty. I cannot pretend I am not delighted to see you in person after the lovely things I have heard about you and your husband from your loyal warriors here." He said with a deep bow. She shook her head slightly at Amandil. Liar.

"How could I not meet you in person after such a challenge-"

"Beinion," he smiled.

"Beinion," she said quietly. She looked beyond him, and could see the sentinel coming up from behind the camp as they discreetly wiped out his followers. "I do not have time to chat with you, so I will make this quick. Why do you hold hostages against the kingdom? Of which a member of the royal family."

An elvish woman exited the tent, a dagger to Luin's neck. She hid her emotions, a mix of horror and relief that he was alive, and in much better condition than Huldion. He saw Earien, and the same mix of horror and relief flashed across his face, "This one?" she said with a smirk, and blood dripped from his neck.

"What is it you want?" Amandil snapped. "You are vastly outnumbered, in the end you shall lose." Beinion glanced behind him, and instead of his followers there stood two dozen of the sentinel patrol, swords drawn.

"Will I? What if my goal was to kill the King's family and friends killed one by one, starting with his brother in law and best captain? You may kill me, captain, but not before I damage them both beyond saving."

"What is it you want?" Amandil asked again, a lump in his throat. The queen was calculating, watching what was happening closely for a window of opportunity.

"For you to return to the stronghold and leave us be. To waste the failure Lorn and his son. They are no longer needed here."

"I will not leave without the return of my team members," Amandil responded.

"Oh really?" the elleth said, and slowly carved a line down Luin's shoulder blade. He cringed and struggled, but she stilled him. "I will give you the captain, and you will leave with him. If not I shall kill this one, and you shall return with only your brother's head!" she roared. Earien and Amandil glanced at one another and they both had the same concern. They were clearly insane, and were now desperate.

"Do not do it, take me instead, let Luin go," Huldion said.

"I would, you see, for I have had such fun with you, but you are of no value to the King. What use would you be to keep around?" Beinion laughed.

"It is a bargain," Earien said, "give him to me."

Beinion smiled and slammed Huldion to the ground. He tried to roll away, but not before Beinion kicked him in the ribs. Once he got close enough, the guards quickly pulled him to his feet and handed him back and away from the action. "Now go, and I will keep your brother alive for a monthly reparation. You can find us in Pell, under better guidance than it was under that fool, Lorn."

The elleth grabbed the hair of Minador and pulled him toward her violently. He cried out, and she let go of Luin. He fell to the ground with a grunt, and she raised her sword, "You have said nothing of this one. Let him be a reminder of the day two elves bested Greenwood the Great," she said, and placed her sword on Minador's neck.

Earien's head inclined slightly, a clear signal to those who waited anxiously for that exact signal, and a volley of arrows loosened on the pair from the trees.

Erodolliel slumped against Luin, several arrows through her back. Beinion caught three to the shoulder, and fell to the ground. Almost all of the archers had aimed for Erodolliel, although Earien's strict instruction had been five to each. Luin cried out, and Beinion stared at his wife's dead body, his eyes wide.

He rose, and dashed from the scene.

"After him," Earien said, and the sentinel ran after him into the forest. She dropped to her knees next to Luin and pulled him into her arms. The rest of the guard swept the camp for survivors, and Amandil and Adanion guarded the Queen carefully. She cut Luin's hands free and he threw his arms around her. Tears filled her eyes, and she relaxed for the first time since he had left home.

"You are a fool," he sobbed, "you could have been killed. Why did Thranduil allow you to come?"

She looked him over, her hands on either side of his face, "are you hurt?"

"No, no I am fine," he cried, and her thumbs rubbed his cheekbones gently.

"You are never leaving my sight again," she said tearily.

"No, never," he laughed and his tears ran over her fingers.

She embraced him again, before Amandil helped him to a horse and she examined Minador. He was missing three fingers and had several broken ribs. His head was bloody from where they kept picking him up by his hair, and he could not see. She was confused by the blindness. There was no damage to his face or head. "Open your eyes," she said quietly, and he opened his eyes. Tears abruptly spilt from them, and she wiped them away with her thumbs. "I think they may have given you some sort of potion or poison; spread it over your eyes to take away your eyesight. Most likely to keep you from running."

"What does that mean?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"That means you will see again," she said quietly.

Tears formed in his eyes, and she smiled. "Be happy, mellon nin, you get to see your baby again."

She wrapped his hand and wiped out his eyes with water, before the guard set him on a horse. She was nervous about Huldion, and she approached where he lay. The guard had laid him down on one of their capes, and she knelt down next to him. He had a deep cut on his arm, and his clothes were damp from the previous night's rain. She touched his arm gently, and he flinched weakly.

"It is me," she said quietly, and he sighed.

"Why are you here?" He asked quietly.

"Amandil did not trust himself, and I wanted to."

"I have betrayed your trust," he whispered and coughed, blood appeared on his lips.

"How?"

"I told you I would protect him. I failed."

"He is unharmed, you have done nothing wrong," she said, and poured water over his hand where he too was missing fingers. He cried out, and she wrapped a clean bandage around his hand. Her hands lay softly on either side of his face, and she cleared her throat, "open your eyes for me," he did, and one of his eyes was bloodied, but unharmed. "You know, you are very lucky. You're going to be fine."

"I am blind," he said quietly.

"Not for long. Whatever they used to blind you did not do permanent damage, it will wear off."

Huldion sagged, and took a ragged breath, "thank the valar."

She felt his bruised cheek, "open your mouth for me."

He complied, but barely opened it, "It does not go further without terrible pain."

She looked in his bloodied mouth, and he was missing two of his front bottom teeth, "because your jaw is broken," she said sadly, "do you want anything for pain?"

"No. I deserve my pain," he said quietly.

"Nothing here was your doing, you did everything the way you were expected. Do not beat yourself up. Everything is going to be alright, you shall see."

"Adar?"

Thranduil glanced up from his paperwork, and Legolas stood in the doorway. He was in his night clothes, and his hair was loose and hung in front of his face. He looked blushingly at his father, and his gaze fell to the floor. Thranduil sat at his desk in his quarters, as too many people kept coming to his office to ask him of the mission. He needed privacy, "Yes?"

"I cannot sleep," He said quietly, and Thranduil motioned for him to enter. He walked soundlessly toward the desk, and sat in the chair in front of it.

"Why do you think that is?" Thranduil asked.

"I am worried about Nana."

Thranduil leaned back, and cleared his mind of his own emotions. "Everyone is worried about your Nana, Legolas. Especially me."

"You are?"

"Yes. People always worry when loved ones are away, but do you know what helps me feel better?"

"What?"

"Thinking about how your Naneth is with a big group of soldiers, and captain Amandil, and Adanion. What do you think the chances of her getting even a scratch are? She is perfectly safe, my love, do not worry," he said softly, and Legolas smiled.

"Have you heard anything more from them?"

"Not yet, but the southern Patrol crosses their path tomorrow afternoon. Salias has promised to send me an update."

Legolas returned to his room, and Thranduil was not surprised to see him again late in the night. He could not sleep himself, he simply lay in the dark and tried to rest. But he heard Legolas' footsteps and felt his presence before Legolas thought he could, and he rolled over to face the door. His face was red, and tears were in his eyes. Thranduil beckoned him over, and he crawled into the bed and into his father's arms. Thranduil held him tight against him, his hand rubbed Legolas' back silently. There had always been a comfort between them that went without words. They were closer than that.

Legolas sniffled quietly against his father's chest and listened to his heartbeat.

"I am trying not to be, but I am afraid. What if she does not come back?"

"She will come back. Do you truly think anything would keep her away from you?"

"I cannot feel her presence any more. It is like she has disappeared, and I cannot pretend it does not scare me," he whimpered as the tears started again.

"I cannot feel her presence either. It is because she is far away, not because something happened. No matter how far away she is, you would know if something was wrong. If you reach deep inside yourself, do you think anything is wrong?"

"I do not know!" he cried and hid his face in Thranduil's neck.

"Shhh. Calm down," he said gently and ran his hand over his son's hair. "I know she is alright, because if I stop, and focus for a moment, I know she is safe."

"I cannot I am too afraid," he wept.

"It is ok. There is nothing to be afraid of. We're a family, forever, and nothing will ever change that. Your Nana loves you too much to leave you."

"And you?"

"Me? I shall never leave you. We shall be together until the end of days."

Legolas curled up against him, and Thranduil draped the blankets over his shoulders, "Gi melin, Ada."

"Gi melin, ion nin," he said quietly, "try to rest."

September 11 TA 1636

"We lost Beinion, your majesty." An approaching guard said fearfully.

"You lost him!" she cried angrily and stood.

"We-"

"Do not tell me you did all you could! How could you possibly lose him? He is injured!"

"I am sorry-"

She turned away and hid her face in her hands. How could they possibly allow him to get away? "it is alright it is not your fault. Get Captain Huldion on a horse, we are leaving."

"Yes your majesty."

They left in a hurry, the sentinel group was still out looking for Beinion. Erodolliel was promptly tossed in a shallow grave and the dead hostages such as Dinoth were laid on a handmade stretcher and pulled by the horse furthest to the back of the group.

Luin rode behind Earien, and Huldion behind Amandil. They rode for close to ten hours, and had only stopped two times for a moment to rest. Huldion was taking it hard, and was reduced to leaning all of his weight on Amandil's back. They had planned on meeting the Southern Patrol, but abandoned the idea and rode on through the night. They were out of healing supplies, and with Beinion out they did not want to risk him trying to take revenge on the Queen. Luin was on his sister like when he was a child just after the sacking of Doriath. He followed her around on their short breaks, and held onto her as if his life depended on it while they were riding. It was a race against the clock for Huldion, and potentially herself. If she read Beinion correctly, he would not let this go unavenged. He had some obsession with ruining the King's life, and she was a sure ticket to both. He could avenge his wife's death and ruin the King at the same time. She glanced nervously at Amandil, and projected the thought to him. His eyes widened, and he nodded,

"I will get you back safe."

September 12 TA 1636

The latest the letter would have arrived, would have been three hours ago. The southern patrol was supposed to meet up with the group for the night and return to the stronghold with them. It was nearly sundown, and he still had no message from Salias.

The only thought that went through Thranduil's mind, was that something terrible had occurred and Salias didn't have the heart to tell him.

Faroth waited patiently with him, and was sharpening his dagger. Thranduil watched him, the sound distracted him ever so slightly from his worry, which was slowly mounting to panic.

"They may have missed one another," Faroth said and looked up to meet his eyes.

"They may all be dead," he spat quietly, and Faroth rolled his eyes.

"You're like your father. Do not start jumping to conclusions."

It was Thranduil's turn to roll his eyes. He had sent Legolas from the room to go spend time with his cousin, just in case. Thranduil always needed a short period of time to panic before he put on a brave face for everyone.

Suddenly the door opened, and a messenger came in. Thranduil sat up, and the messenger bowed his head.

"Your majesty, the report from the scout has arrived."

"Please read it," he said quietly.

"Upon arriving at the site of the last location of the southern patrol-"

The door slammed open, and Legolas ran in, tears streaming down his face. He was hysterical, and ran into Thranduil's arms.

"What is it?" he asked, his eyes wide.

Legolas sobbed, "Adar!"

"Legolas what is it!"

"Calis, he is screaming and crying and-"

Another person ran in, "my lord Thranduil Lady Alonnen has collapsed."

"What happened to the southern patrol?" Thranduil roared, Legolas sobbing in his arms. "WHAT HAPPENED?"

"The entire patrol was slaughtered, my Lord. Every single person. Including Master Salias."

"WHERE IS THE SEARCH AND RESCUE?"

"There is no trace of-"

"Where is my wife!?"

As usual, thank you for reading and please review. bettsam0731, I added some, but I plan on much more Legolas hurt/comfort in the future! The next chapter will be pretty much all feelings, but I hope this is good for now! Thanks for the review.