(Looks from behind a rock) Hiya again! (ducks from flying vegetables) I'm SO SORRY about the late update! (covers ears from screaming readers)
hope you liked the last chapter, and I hope you like this one beings though I finnaly got it up! xxx

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your reviews.

Disclaimer - don't own nothing (Apart from the horses)

ENJOY! ;-)

Meetings and Findings.

"My king, are you sure...?" "Yes, Lidian! I am fine and will not hinder our journey anymore than I have!" Thranduil snapped, tightening his grip on Lidian's horse's mane. Lidian shook his head with an exasperated sigh and sat back on his horse. The mirkwood warriors and their king had made great progress since their unfortunate orc encounter - which happened the day before - and were now on the last stretch of the Misty Mountains. Thranduil had been quiet the whole time they had ridden, and in camp he had only exchanged a few words. Ilian and Lidian were worried. Yes, the king's injuries were healing, but slowly. And it wasn't only his wounds that were the presumed cause for his silence and awkwardness.

The loss of Legolas still lay heavily on his heart, and sometimes he seemed more ill than others. Like when the mirkwood party had just broken free of their forest home, Thranduil had mysteriously fallen under an illness. No-one knew how or what he had, beings though elves don't fall ill. The only cause was Legolas himself, because the next day, the king was fine, but VERY worried.
The elves of Mirkwood knew about the unique bond the king and youngest prince had. It meant that they could feel each other's emotions and know when one or the other was injured or ill. Lidian and Ilian hjad taken the King's illness as a bad sign for Legolas - who was their good friend.
"But my King! You need to rest and-" "I am fine! I can rest after we are clear of these accursed mountains!" Just as he finnished his rant, Thranduil stiffened and Lidian heard him take a quick breath. "My king? Are you well?" When Thranduil didn't answer, Lidian grew worried and slowed his horse so that he could see the king more easily. "My king? Thranduil!" Thranduil had grasped his leg and was trying to steady his breathing. Finnaly looking up at Lidian, he mustered "Legolas ... he's injured ..." Lidian didn't know what to do. They were about an hour away from leaving the mountains, but Thranduil seemed to be in alot of pain, beings though the only other time the king had reacted like this to an injury was when he was stabbed through the chest one time, which had been in the battle of the five armies. "Do you think you can hold up until we get clear of the mountains, my Lord?" Lidian whispered in the king's ear. Thranduil nodded and whispered back "Aye. Let us meet Elrond and save my son." Lidian nodded and signaled for the warriors - for the rest of the group had slowed with Lidian and their king - to move fast. The mirkwood elves obeyed gratefully, they wanted as much as their king to be rid of the moutains.
Starting back into a canter, Lidian and Ilian led the warriors out of the mountains with an injured king to meet Lord Elrond of Rivendell.

xxxxxxxxxx

Legolas' leg was burning up. He had only noticed when he had to scout ahead of the orcs before the warg attack. Then when he ran to retrieve Elladan's, Elrohir's and Aragorn's weapons, the pain flared but didn't grow to unbearable lengths. Now, though. As he was pulled along by Elladan, The broken leg was REALLY becoming known.
They - as in Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn and Legolas - had been running for at least an hour, possibly more. So, being light footed elves - however injured - and a human fast for his race, they were much faster than orcs. By now the orcs had no chance of catching up with the four. And Legolas' leg obviously thought that they were safe enough now for a rest; for at that moment, the break - which had lasted all the time they had been in the company of orcs - decided to worsen. With an audiable 'click' the bone broke free of Legolas' leg muscles and skin, breaking through to the surface and cutting through the poor archer's flesh, so it was now visable to the others (having also cut through the leggings). With a scream, Legolas fell. Elladan turned at the scream and his eyes widened at what he saw. With the reflexes of an elf, Elladan caught Legolas before the blonde elf could conect with the floor and gently lowered him to the ground. Aragorn and Elrohir came running up and both gasped when they saw the young prince. Elladan looked up from where he was examining Legolas' leg and asked Aragorn "Quickly! Have you still got father's healing pouch?" The ranger nodded and pulled out the pouch from his belt - luckily the orcs had overseen it - and handed it to his foster brother. Pulling out some athelas, Elladan sat Legolas up (helping him by putting his arm around his back) and said "Here, Legolas. Chew these, it'll help with the pain." Legolas cracked his eyes open and opened his mouth. Elladan popped some of the athelas into the archer's mouth and the prince chewed weakly before spitting the plant out and leaning his head against Elladan's shoulder.
He whimpered slightly as Elladan slowly lowered him back to the moss covered ground. Elrohir held his hand and Aragorn assisted Elladan in trying to fix the prince's leg. To their immense horror, the man and older twin found that they couldn't do anything but try to lessen the bleeding slightly.
Elladan looked to Aragorn, and the ranger looked to Elrohir, shaking his head. Elrohir's eyes widened and he stared down at Legolas - who had long ago shut his eyes. "Legolas?" No reply. The younger twin sighed and rested his hand on the blonde archer's forehead.
Raising his gaze to his brothers, Aragorn said "We need to keep moving. Ada might have sent a patrol closer to the forest border. We could meet up with it." Elladan nodded slowly. Reaching down, he hooked his arms under Legolas' knees and under his arms and lifted him. The three brothers then started their trek again. Their objective - the forest edge.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Unknown to the sons of Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell was, infact, at the forest's edge himself. With him sat Glorfindel atop his horse - Drelinin. Elrond sat on his own mount - Restor - fingering the horse's fur. "Mellon nin?" Glorfindel asked. Elrond turned and raised an eyebrow. "Would you like me to do a quick search of the forest perimeter? I might find something of a clue." The lord of Imladris thought for a moment before nodding and saying "Aye. You are the best tracker we have with us. But, do you think you can head a little further ahead? Just a little closer to the mountain? You might meet Thranduil." Glorfindel nodded in understanding and kicked his horse into a gallop - heading around to the mountains.
Elrond watched him go and sighed to himself again.
Where were his sons? And the Prince?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well, thats a rap! (eyes readers carefully) Now, I'm just going to walk slowly away... (Runs from pursuing readers)

Elven -
Mellon nin - My friend

Yours,

Hunter of Valar