Legolas was afraid to go in there again. The smell, the chaos and...his father...he didn't seem to be himself. What was the cause of this? If only he knew. It would make it a lot easier to find the right words, to do the right things. But...he had no idea. No elf, he knew, had ever behaved like this. Legolas was lost. He thought about some herbs he could give his father, maybe some valerian root? Would it help or make things worse? Legolas sighed. He wished that Elrond was already here. But the elf he had send out to bring the Peredhel back with him, said that they'd return in the morning at the earliest. And only if what they had heard was true. Apparently Elrond had been spotted around Dol Guldur and Lorien. It would take a lot longer for them to arrive at the palace if Elrond was in fact back at Imladris. Legolas sighed again. He was aware that the guards who secured his father's chamber, were staring at him. How long had he been standing in front of the closed door? Too long, he reckoned. Legolas took a deep breath, opened the door and stepped into the depressing and confusing atmosphere. For a split second he wished that everything was back to normal but one glance at the destroyed room crushed his hope. It hadn't been a bad dream, this was real. Nothing had changed. Even his father was still lying on the same spot, eyes closed. But there was now vomit on the floor, next to his head. Although it actually just looked like another puddle of wine. Legolas frowned at the sight. Was his father still breathing? The young elf found the fastest way through the chaos again, knelt down next to the king and hesitantly checked for life signs. There was a pulse, weak though, but it was there.
"Ada? Can you hear me? It's me, Legolas. I came back."
First Thranduils eyelids fluttered then suddenly his eyes snapped open, staring right at his son.
"Where am I?", he muttered, his voice deep and raw. "What happened?"
So far, so good, his father was awake and talking. Legolas was relieved.
"You're in your room in the palace in Mirkwood. I think you passed out for a short while and for what happened in this room, well...I was hoping YOU could tell me that." Legolas did not expect what followed. Thranduil looked at him as if he saw him for the first time. "Who are you? Are you one of the guards?"
"No", the prince said, puzzled. "I am Legolas, your son."
"Don't be silly. I don't have a son. Where is my wife?" Legolas felt like he'd been erased from the face of Middle-earth in the blink of an eye. Though he had to push his own feelings away for now. His father was clearly not in a right state of mind. He did not mean what he just said.
Thranduil sat up and looked around, confusion clearly visible on his face. "Who did all this? Was there a fight? Has something happened to my wife?" Now his voice took on a demanding tone: "I won't ask again...Where is she?"
"Ada, please calm down. You are confused. This room...I think you did all this, though I don't know why. And your wife...my mother...she's...she's long gone."
"Don't call me 'ada'! I don't know you. You can't be my son. It's not possible. Nothing you say makes any sense! Why would I destroy my own room? I wouldn't do that. And...what do you mean...'she's long gone'?"
Legolas feared to say these words out loud. He didn't wanted to hurt his father but what else was he supposed to do? Lie to him? Make up a story? Oh, how he wished Elrond were here. He would know what to do.
And so he said it: "She's dead. She's been dead for a long time now. And I am her son...YOUR son."
Thranduil stared angrily at him and shouted: "Nonsense! You're delusional!" Anger was raging inside him now, so much anger. He had to teach this impertinent elf a lesson. How could he? How could he claim that his wife was dead and that he was their son? This was madness.
Thranduil got up a bit too fast and had to hold on to the bed again. He got dizzy and had to close his eyes when he felt that he was about to pass out. All the anger was gone as fast as it had appeared and the only thing he felt was weakness.
Suddenly two arms wrapped around him and guided him to the bed, where he lay down.
He was so tired and his body ached all over. He did not remember why. Someone covered him up with a blanket. Thranduil opened his eyes for a brief moment and smiled when saw who was standing next to his bed.
"Legolas, my son. You are here", he said, before drifting into an uneasy sleep.
Leaving Legolas standing bewildered beside him.