PART TWO
TITLE: THE STORM
SUMMARY:
Greenwood is weathering a very harsh storm. The Prince is missing. Thranduil is losing his mind.
With a barely withheld sigh, Thranduil waved off the last of his council members. He pinched the top of his nose, closing his eyes tightly. Council meetings were always so tedious; the last one had been even more so. Anyhow, the meeting was over now.
'I wonder where Legolas is,' Thranduil thought, lips turning up in a soft smile at the thought of his son.
He tilted his head to the side as his sensitive ears caught the rumble of thunder. It was the monsoon season and the elves had foreseen a harsh storm.
Thranduil got up from his seat, gracefully, and walked out of the room. He decided to meet with the Captain of his Guard and enquire about the various guards stationed in the Greenwood. Even though Thranduil projected a cold persona, the truth of the matter was that he cared about every elf under his rule, no matter their station, and he would not see them suffer needlessly. After that, he would go to his son who was probably being minded by one of the ellyth.
The Captain bowed low on seeing his King. Thranduil inclined his head slightly, acknowledging him. They discussed about the welfare of the guards stationed at the outskirts of the forest and also about the security. Just as their conversation wound to a close, the sound of light feet running towards them reached their ears. The Captain immediately tensed up, placing a steady hand on his sword hanging by his hip, ready to protect his King at a moment's notice.
"My King!" It was the elleth who had been taking care of Legolas.
"Prince Legolas is missing, milord!"
Thranduil's face smoothed out into a cold mask. The only clue to his worry was the furrow between his eyebrows and the way his eyes had darkened to a stormy grey.
"What do you mean by missing?" He asked, sharply. "I thought he was with you. It is your duty to take care of the Prince, is it not?"
The elleth fidgeted, her mouth twisting in worry and apprehension.
"Yes, hîr vuin," she said, agreeing. "The Prince has a habit of sneaking off to play hide and seek without letting anyone know, sire. He was sleeping when I checked on him earlier. But now, he is gone."
"And why aren't you looking for him?" Thranduil asked, with a voice so cold that the elleth blanched.
"The Prince likes to visit the training grounds, aran nîn. I was looking for him here when I ran into you," she said, glancing furtively at the King and the Captain.
Thranduil inhaled sharply.
"Get everyone to search for the Prince," he ordered, silkily, his eyes flashing with threats. "Search everywhere. He might be hiding anywhere in the palace. Go!"
She gave a short bow and hurried away.
What he didn't tell, and yet the elleth understood, was that if the Prince wasn't found or was found in a less than ideal condition, it would be on her head.
Thranduil rushed to the training grounds, his Captain at his side. The thunder crashed fiercely overhead as lightning lit up the skies in an eerie manner.
The training grounds were empty. But the gates leading to the forest was ajar.
The rain was pouring down in waves. The wind lashed out at the trees, making them creak ominously.
"Get the other guards," Thranduil shouted to make himself heard over the thunder. "I am certain that Legolas went into the forest. I am going out to search for my son."
The Captain protested but the King was already slithering out of his unwanted royal robes. Armed with only his sword, the terrified father ran out in search of his son, who might be lost in the forest, during one of the dangerous storms to have occurred in years.
His clothes were sopping wet and clinging to his frame. He was utterly drenched and his silvery hair stuck to the sides of his face.
"Legolas!" Thranduil shouted, hoping for an answering shout.
He jumped over brambles and broken branches littering the path, grace forgotten in the face of heart-racing urgency. He sharpened his senses and listened for any sign that he could use to pinpoint his son's location. He knew, instinctively, that his little Greenleaf was out in the forest. He knew and yet, he did not know where, and he was going out of his mind with worry.
Oh Valar, please, not Legolas. Please let him be safe, please, please, I can not lose him, not like I lost his mother, please oh Valar protect him, LegolasLegolasLegolasmylittleGreenleaf.
Thranduil wiped away the rain falling on his eyes with a shaking hand. He tried to ignore the mounting terror.
Where could he be!?
Thranduil made himself stop for a minute and take a calming breath.
Where would Legolas go when he finds the elements turned against him? What are the places he knows in this forest?
In a flash, he turned and darted away, the image of an old, ancient and huge tree filling his mind. He remembered the clearing under the tree which was sheltered and could recall in perfect detail the day he spent there with little Legolas.
Branches, stripped of leaves, lashed out at him as he ran, mindless of his clothes tearing, heedless of the cuts on his face that bled in a sluggish manner.
It had been a few weeks since Thranduil had been able to spend uninterrupted time with his pride and joy. Hence, he had explicitly stated that he was not to be disturbed for the entire day. He knew he would receive criticism from certain elves, but it was all worth it to see Legolas' young face lighting up with utter delight, his innocent eyes filling with awe and unabashed adoration for his father.
"Legolas, pen tithen, look at this tree. Feel how ancient and strong it truly is. Listen to its tales, the various years it has witnessed, the lives it had sheltered, the numerous storms it has weathered. Listen to it all and notice how strong, how steadfast it still stands."
Legolas had gazed up at the great branches, the thick vines curling up the enormous trunk, with wonder in his eyes.
"Ada," he breathed out. "It's so beautiful."
Thranduil laughed softly at the awestruck look on his child's face. He scooped up his son into his arms, enfolding him, and delighted in the sheer joy in Legolas' surprised giggles.
He knew, then, just as he knew when he held that bundle of light and happiness in his arms for the very first time, he would do anything to protect that child. His child. His son. His little Greenleaf.
Back in the present, Thranduil moved nearer to the clearing.
"Legolas!" He shouted again.
No answer.
"Legolas!" His voice caught and broke around something disturbingly similar to a sob.
Nothing other than the wind howling and the trees creaking under its onslaught. The rain was falling even harder as though determined to drown out everything else.
Thranduil was swiftly despairing.
"Ada!" A plaintive cry, carried by the wind, reached his ears.
"Legolas!"
Filled with renewed hope, his heart thundering in his chest, Thranduil broke into the clearing. His eyes darted around, adjusting to the dark. He caught sight of a bundle, huddled at the very base of the tree.
"Ada!"
Thranduil rushed towards Legolas, and fell to his knees in front of the child curled up with his chin tucked within his arms. With a wordless cry, Thranduil gathered the shaking form of his son into the protective circle of his arms, one hand tucking Legolas' head into his neck, while the other simply held him close.
Tiny hands clutched at Thranduil's hair and clothes as Legolas shook with the cold and overwhelming relief. Thranduil pressed kisses over Legolas' face, his cheeks, his forehead, his nose, his chin. He was breathless as the bone-chilling terror drained out of him, after finding his son whole and unharmed.
"Come on, ionneg" Thranduil whispered, hugging Legolas close to himself. "Let's go home."
Legolas clutched at his father tighter, unwilling to let go even for a moment.
Thranduil climbed to his feet, carrying Legolas with him. The elfling wrapped his legs around his father, his arms around his neck and hid his face in the crook of his father's neck.
Whispering soothing words, while dragging a calm hand down the little one's back whenever Legolas whimpered due to loud thunder or bright lightning, Thranduil quickly but carefully made his way back home, all the while taking careful consideration that no wayward branch hurts his son.
Midway, they were joined by the guards who immediately formed ranks around them and cleared an easy path back.
Thranduil would not leave Legolas out of his sight for months, his nights filled with terrifying dreams of losing Legolas in a dark that he could not see through, someplace where he could not find him even though he could hear his son crying out for him.
Later, Legolas would tell his father, quietly, voice filled with utter confidence, innocent silver eyes, holding steadfast belief and faith, looking solemnly into another set of dark silver eyes, "I knew you would come for me, Ada. I knew you would find me."
Translations (courtesy of various websites):
Hîr vuin- My Lord
Aran nîn- My King
Ada- Father/ Dad
Ionneg- My son
Pen tithen- Little one
Elleth- Female elf (s.)
Ellyth- Female elves (p.)
A/N: Any and all mistakes are mine. If you find them, please let me know. Reviews are very much welcome.
If you'd like me to write anything in particular about Thranduil and Legolas Greenleaf, let me know via comments or PM me. I'll try to write a oneshot for you.