The sun was rising and some small beams found their way through the thick and tangled net of the branches. You could even hear a few birds chirping happily as they flew high over the treetops. But they didn't like to interrupt their journey to rest on a tree. And if they had to, it wasn't for long. The forest did not feel right to them. Of course it was because of the orcs, spiders and other dark creatures who were lurking underneath the trees. The odd thing now was that they avoided the area nearby the palace, where they usually have felt safe in the past. Even the trees close-by began to look frail and unhealthy. Something was indeed wrong in the kingdom of Thranduil. Elrond wondered what might await him inside the palace. Legolas messenger had not said much about the whole affair. Only that the king was sick, that it was urgent and that Legolas kindly asked for his help. Elrond had been on his way back to Imladris, when the messenger had found him. Since then the two of them had been riding for hours through the dark forest to reach the palace as fast as they could. Luckily for them, no orc or spider attacked and slowed them down, so when the sun was rising they had reached the palace. Their horses were exhausted, for the two elves had demanded a great deal of them the past night. Elrond and the messenger dismounted and gave the horses into the care of another elf, who'd lead the animals to the stables and give them food and water. The two elves walked up to the imposing gates of the palace and after exchanging a few polite words with the guards, they were allowed inside. The messenger led the Lord of Imladris through the corridors and vast halls and the Peredhel noticed the suffocating atmosphere and the unnatural silence right away. There was no laughter, no singing, no music at all. The few elves who passed them were silent and gloomy. For the first time since Elrond had heard about Thranduil being ill, he felt not only concern but a strange fear creeping up his spine. This seemed more serious than he'd expected. Suddenly a very tired looking Legolas came running towards them.
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you Lord Elrond. Please forgive me if my call caused you any inconvenience. But I am very much in need of help", Legolas said with a voice that showed just how exhausted he was. The prince thanked the messenger and told him to get some rest. Then he and Elrond started to walk through the corridors towards Thranduils chamber. Legolas had finally the opportunity to share all the strange things he'd witnessed the past hours and he felt like a weight had been taken from him as he finished his report. "He's been sleeping for a while now. But it isn't a healthy sleep. He is tossing and turning and mumbling things. The words make no sense at all. I am so...so worried. I just don't know what to do. I really hope you can help him."
Only now Elrond broke his silence: "I can see that it must be something very serious. For it has already affected the trees outside. But so far only those in the immediate vicinity."
"The trees?", Legolas asked puzzled.
"Yes, they are decomposing. There's no natural cause. I believe they are somehow connected with your father. Even in here you can feel the change. As if the palace itself is grieving. There is so much melancholy inside these walls. There is no doubt that Thranduils subjects can feel it. Did you notice how silent it is?"
Legolas was aghast. Elrond was right! He finally knew why he felt so uncomfortable in the place he'd grown up. Melancholy with a slight hint of fear hung like invisible smoke in the air.
"I...this is...uhm..", the young elf didn't know what to say.
Elrond saw that Legolas was distressed and smiled at him: "Do not worry too much, Legolas. I will find a way to help your father." Of course he didn't know for a fact that he would be able to do so, but he just had to soothe the thoughts that were plaguing the young elf.
They arrived in front of Thranduils chamber door and even the guards were relieved to see the Lord of Imladris. They bowed to him, then moved aside to let them both pass.
Elrond took a deep breath. He tried to recall his last meeting with the king of Mirkwood and realized that so much time had gone by. It was so long ago. He remembered that he found him to be a very difficult person to deal with. Always on his guard, always expecting the worst, always making sure that his people were safe. It seemed obsessive at times. And then the death of his wife. Everyone thought that the grief would be too much for him to bear. But no. He didn't even cry. The only thing that changed was his behaviour. He became unkind, distant, short tempered. Even to his own son. But the safety of his people was still his first priority.
Elrond wondered what would await him in this room. What had happened to the king of Mirkwood he had met so many years ago?