Chapter 7: A Father's Greatest Worry

Lord Elrond looked impatiently at the clock. The trio had not come back and he was getting worried.

Celebrian shot him a look that was shaken and full of fear but all Elrond could return at her was an equally worried look. Although Arwen was slowly eating her fruit salad normally, even she knew something was wrong as there was tension in the air. Suddenly, she looked around.

"Ada, Nana, where are Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas?"

"I do not know, my little Undomiel," whispered Elrond. "I told them they could go into a small hunting trip before breakfast...to calm Legolas down but they are not here yet."

"It was unwise for you to do so Elrond," said Celebrian sternly. "Who knows where they are? Maybe we should send search troops to search for them."

"No Celebrian," he said raising a hand. "Elladan and Elrohir have been training for years and as joke-loving they are, they are still formidable warriors. I doubt they would get in trouble whilst fighting. And besides, there isn't anybody as qualified as a warrior from Mirkwood to help them."

"But what if they're lost?" asked Arwen concerned. "Maybe Nana is right, Ada...you even told me once: we can never be too sure of anything."

Elrond sighed and looked at both women. "We must have faith Arwen. And you as well, Celebrian. The Valar are taking care of them but yes...perhaps we should warn the scouts to look around. Just in case."

Legolas was running out of arrows. He was surprised on how quick everything could pass. Merely half an hour ago, they had heard a noise and a few seconds later, Legolas' thoughts had been confirmed as another band of orcs came out.

He guessed there were about sixty orcs and that would have been an easy load to fight because of the elves' superior skills...yet they were only three of them. They were slightly outnumbered. They were all dealing with the horde incredibly well, although it was very time-consuming. Sensing a presence behind him, he quickly turned around and shot the arrow straight through the orc's head.

He snorted. That orc wanted to ambush him from behind? He had to know better.

Legolas made every arrow count, even shooting through two skulls at one time! Yet he guessed there were about thirty more orcs and he only had what, six arrows left? He was thankful for Elladan and Elrohir's presence, for they might have been jokesters but they were pretty mighty warriors. Elrohir stabbed through an orc and slid his blade clean through a head with his sword very quickly while Elladan covered his back, slashing through the orcs like a tornado.

Legolas shot the ones who were surrounding the twins, although he had some problems of his own too. These orcs were pretty good warriors compared to the previous eight they had fought and Legolas often found himself slamming against the tree or with an orc strangling him from above.

Legolas shot a few more arrows and then joined the twins in hand-to-hand combat with his knives. He had a rash above his knee and a trickle of blood near his forehead. His nose was slightly cracked and a thin line of dry blood hung near his nose. This brought a bit of fury to him since NOBODY made Legolas Thranduilion nosebleed.

However, soon they had about ten left. The three of them were not tired but they were indeed sweaty. They quickly wiped their sweat off and resumed fighting. Legolas stabbed through an orc and slash at another, killing them both. He ducked one orc and Elladan slashed through his chest. Three less, seven to go!

Elrohir slashed heads open and stabbed through two more, covering Elladan's back while Elladan went on and stabbed through three more. Legolas ended the battle by slashing his knives sideways straight through the two orcs' eyes.

"Does it seem so easy now, Elrohir Elrondion?" grinned Legolas at him and met Elrohir's tired glare.

"Ha ha, Legolas. Who knew you had some humor inside you?" he said rolling his eyes and sighed. "Well...I'm famished. Really, I'm just glad this is all over with. I've been day-dreaming about ham all morning."

Elladan laughed. "Ham? Well, how rude Elrohir! You'd be eating your other brother!"

Elrohir glared at Elladan and they engaged into another of their silly friendly battles. They walked sluggishly towards Imladris, which was not so far away. They walked through the white path back home and they found themselves ambushed by an angry looking Erestor.

"Where have you BEEN?" he asked. "You are late for breakfast!"

Legolas raised his eyebrow at Erestor while the twins laughed. Elrohir grinned at him. "Really Erestor? We come from fighting orcs and you tell us we're late for breakfast?"

Erestor frowned, arms crossed. "Well, young elves...despite fighting orcs you are not going to be eating breakfast soon. Not looking that way or smelling like that either, you smell disgusting."

"Thank you Erestor, we had no idea-" started Elladan sarcastically when suddenly, Legolas interrupted him.

"If that is what you insist, Lord Erestor...I suppose I will take a bath," said Legolas already walking off. "But I dare not delay Lord Elrond's family in breakfast, so could you please tell them we will be late?"

Erestor smiled at him. "Don't worry Legolas...they understand."

Legolas nodded and headed into the beautiful towers of Imladris to get the bath when Erestor turned back to look at the twins, "If you two were just as obedient as that elfling over there, then we would be having centuries and millenniums of peace and tranquility here in Imladris."

Elrohir smirked. "But oh, Erestor...peace and tranquility are so very boring."

"Besides, Legolas is such a goody-two-shoes," said Elladan. "And as long as he stays here, we intend to change all of that."

"Oh, dear Valar no," said Erestor. "That elfling is a perfectly obedient, respectful being and I suggest that instead of corrupting him with your pranking, that you actually follow his attitude."

Then he wrinkled his nose. "Now, please go take a bath."

"But-"

"Now," said Erestor swatting them off. "Please, I wasn't kidding about the smell."

"So...I believe you're regretting sending Legolas to the Spring Festival?"

These days had been particularly bad for the wood-elves. The patrol that had gone to ambush the orcs were able to evacuate the elves and kill all the orcs, but only six of the original company remained. Thranduil had decided to kill all the spiders before moving on with the orcs but the spiders proved to be very skilled...getting bolder. They found some bodies missing and elves were slowly feeling hopeless again with the impending darkness on him.

Thranduil glared at Thalos. "I never regret anything I do, Thalos. Because every choice a ruler makes is for the better and once they do it, they know what the effect will be. That is what a wise ruler does."

"So tell me Adar, since I am apparently not wise enough," said Thalos. He had heard that quote thousands of times. "What are the positive things of Legolas not being here?"

"Quiet, Thalos," Thranduil snapped. "Keep writing...why do you constantly forget? When you're talking, it doesn't mean you have stop writing."

"Sorry Adar," he said scribbling into the parchment and then continued. "But are you going to answer my question?"

"Of course I am," snapped Thranduil annoyed. "I'm just thinking, can't you see?"

"Oh, all right...I'll just let you think about it," said Thalos innocently, yet Thranduil could feel the slight tinge of mockery and disbelief in his voice, causing him to use one of his glares on his son, who immediately quieted down and continued scanning laws as well as approving or disapproving them.

In truth, Thalos was right, although Thranduil was too stubborn to admit it. He would never admit he was wrong to his children. He was the parent, the king, the warrior and he was never wrong, despite if he really was. They had gained pretty much nothing since Legolas left and a realization had come to Thranduil: Legolas' role had been an important one in Mirkwood.

Of course he knew his son was important but he didn't know how much heactually helped around the kingdom. For the past few days, Thranduil had found himself noticing that there weren't many decent patrol leaders around. The rest who weren't decent were either too young, new (therefore inexperienced), too old or just not good enough. Without Legolas in Mirkwood, it was harder to find good patrols that actually had victories. Besides...he had also found out that the morale of the people had gradually decreased, as his son had left. As if the young prince had been the source of their slight hope and happiness.

And there was something else. There was an emptiness in the air wherever he want. He wasn't sure if it was Legolas but Mirkwood felt...different. Yes, the shadows, darkness, spiders and orcs remained along with the usual kingdom issues but it was as if something was missing.

But he had to think of an excuse about it...he couldn't let Thalos think he was sentimental or something. There were rumors about how strict, stern and tough Thranduil was and as exaggerated as some might've been...he wanted to keep his profile like that. "While Legolas is there in Imladris, he might learn things about the elven kingdoms and connect us better with them as allies. He might also help us in politics, to become our messenger and representative for example. Our voice."

"Adar..." said Thalos slowly. "Are you saying that you're using Legolas as a spy to gain information from our allies?"

"I trust Elrond like a brother would to another," Thranduil said slowly. "I have faith in him. Yet we have not talked for long...much can happen. And the elves from Lothlorien worry me. I am not sure if they are to be trusted. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel have not been known to be easy to read, especially Lady Galadriel... And due to the brief distance they are from us, it is important to keep the alliance with them as well."

Thalos nodded and went back to his work. "I see," he whispered.

"Tell me Thalos," said Thranduil looked at him. "What do you want right now?"

Thalos frowned at him, looking up from a piece of parchment. "Adar...I'm not quite sure of what you mean."

"Let me rephrase it," said Thranduil, obviously slightly annoyed. "What would you rather do right now?"

Thalos looked down and kept his mouth close, silent. The king-like Thranduil congratulated himself, for he had taught his son well to keep his mouth close in crucial moments. Some things were better off not said. Yet the father in Thranduil told himself to frown, because it was rare that a son would not talk of things with his father. As a child himself, he'd been pretty open to Oropher.

"And be honest," added Thranduil sternly.

"Well, if you want for me to be honest, Adar," whispered Thalos. "I would rather do anything that does not involve me sitting here reading through complaints. I'd even be whistling if I was sent to peel potatoes outside...honestly, Adar. You must know how insane it is to coop me up inside. That is one thing Legolas and I both share."

"Indeed," said Thranduil. "You are dismissed for now."

"Dismissed f-forever?" asked Thalos fearfully, frowning at his father.

"Of course not, that would be incredibly stupid," snapped Thranduil. "You are my crown prince anyways. You are dismissed for an hour, move around, shoot a few arrows-do as you please. But when the one hour is off and you are not here...you will suffer the consequences and the punishments that go along with them, is that understood?"

Before he finished, Thalos rushed out of the door happily as if he had found a rainbow somewhere and quickly said, "Of course ADAR!" before leaving the room, slamming the door in his way out.

Thranduil sighed and leaned back to think. Thalos did have a point. He and Legolas could not stay still or sit down for too long. They had to move around or do something practical: that's how they were raised. They were restless, eager, and full of energy, often doing several things at once that would seem tedious for people. They led patrols and fought battles with their foes with such passion that sometimes, Thranduil bared it with pride. However, too much of anything was unwise and that applied the same with restlessness. Too much restlessness led to less thinking, unwise decisions and it led to arrogance. Thranduil had heard of neighboring princes who had grown up spoiled, arrogant, thinking they were the best. Princes had to be and were the best but it was better to be one rather than to speak of being one. And restlessness...could cause mistakes. And mistakes could be the different form life and death.

Thranduil took a deep breath. That was why he never wanted his sons out of his sight, out of Mirkwood or out his office. He feared for their restlessness, for their sense of adventure. But that wasn't what he feared most. Oh no, what King Thranduil, king of Mirkwood, feared most was something even worse than that.

He was afraid that one day, his sons would leave him to ride and go across Middle-Earth going in adventures to never come back to him again.

AN: Aww! Legolas is finally kind of warming up to the twins! And we slightly see the real, fatherly side of Thranduil! :) And oh...the twins are planning to stop making Legolas a goody two shoes? What do they have in store for him? Anyways, my so very lovely reviews!

Black Minx 17: Hahaha...I love your sense of sarcasm! But anyways, this wasn't a real cliffie. Cliffies in the future will be more intense..mwahahahaha! ;)

Guest: Thank you! :D And haha, you're right. Legolas is always pretty badass when he's fighting orcs. Elladan and Elrohir would definitely not admit it, but they're definitely impressed with him.

Luin: Yes! Legolas is forgivable because he's such a kind, caring person! :) And thank you for loving my stories! You are one of my most faithful reviewers!

Guest: Thanks, man! :)

Luin: As always, thanks for the compliments! :) Haha, yes, it's always going because I have more than twenty chapters ready. However, I'm currently having a writer's block on Ch. 21. O_O I'm very nervous about that but for now, I'm going to update pretty quickly. And about Legolas and Thranduil? About Legolas' first patrol? Yes, there is more but I'm not going to post more about that, sorry. :( Anyways, hahaha...we all want Legolas' shampoo! :)

Guest: Indeed, Legolas is so awesome when he stands up for things he supports and when he's being brave, isn't he? :)

Guest / Silver Dragon: Aww, thank you! And I will update soon. I'm also glad you're liking the story so far! And haha...there is a lot of bad writing out here in and that is so mean of your brother to do that! However, there is a lot of good stuff here in . If you like Legolas, I recommend both Adromir and Scribe of Arda as good writers. They are two of my personal favorites and very talented at what they do. Thanks for reading my story! :)

Guest: Thank you! :) And I will update!