The king was grateful that Elrond led him to the bed so he could lie down. Because frankly he wouldn't have been able to stand there any longer. His legs were wobbly and the dizziness persisted. Of course he would never admit it, but his body was a wreck. Everything hurt, especially his head, as if a hundred orcs had trampled over it.
Thranduil closed his eyes and hoped that the darkness behind his eyelids would help to soothe the pain.
"I have to go and get some things I need. I'll be right back", Elrond said, standing next to the bed.
Panic wrapped itself around the kings heart. "Don't...go...", he stammered and grabbed the Peredhels wrist. Although he truly meant what he said, the pathetic sound of his voice disgusted him.
Elrond smiled reassuringly at him: "I will stay in the room, I promise. I just have to ask the guards outside to bring me a few things. All right?"
Thranduil nodded. It was barely visible but when the grip around Elronds wrist loosened, he knew that he could go now. Swiftly the Lord of Imladris headed for the door and opened it.
Legolas had been waiting outside, pacing up and down and when he heard the door, he rushed towards it. "What happened? What is it? Is he alright now?"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Elrond had to smirk. "Not so fast, Legolas. It will take more than ten minutes to heal your fathers wounds. Especially for the ones inside his mind. Now...I require your help. Can I write you a list of things I need and you'll get them for me? I don't want to leave your father alone."
Legolas nodded, eager to do anything that would help his father to get well again. And of course it was far better than pacing up and down the corridor, pondering over the whole thing. It would distract him a little, give him something to focus on. And soon Legolas was walking through the palace with a list in his hands, looking for the things Elrond needed. Hot water, bandages, valerian root, arnica, hypericum, orange mullein, centaury, a cup and...a chair? Why would he need a chair? Legolas shrugged, pushed the question aside and carried on.
When he finally had collected all the things on the list, he returned to the kings chamber again. Upon the second knock, Elrond answered the door.
"I got what you asked for. But...why the chair?" Legolas wanted to know. Elrond smiled at him. "Do you want me to stand all the time? There is not one single piece of furniture in this room that I could sit upon." Now Legolas had to smile too. He had forgotten about that.
"Can I come inside and help you?" the young elf asked.
But to his dismay Elrond wanted him to stay outside. "I may need your help, but right now, I have to be alone with your father."
"All right then but I will stay here with the guards. If I hear you call my name I will enter the chamber without delay.
Elrond nodded then turned around and vanished into the kings room again, carrying the things Legolas had brought him.
The chair didn't look that comfortable, but then again, it didn't have to be. Elrond wasn't here to relax and sit around idly. He put the wooden chair right next to Thranduils bed and put the other things he had asked Legolas to bring him, on the floor. The Lord of Imladris fought the urge to call for someone to clean up the mess in here but he feared that it would upset the king. Another person would see him in this state, and that would probably be unacceptable. Maybe later.
Thranduil had his eyes closed and Elrond guessed that he was asleep but when he sat down on the chair, the king looked at him. And that look sent chills down the Peredhels spine.
"I know you!...You were there...when they all died", Thranduil growled and anger distorted his face. He threw the blanket aside that had covered him and got up. At the same time, Elrond jumped up and stepped back from the bed. Alarmed by the hatred visible in the other elf's eyes.
"You were one of Gil-galads men. I remember now...Why didn't you come to our aid? Why did you let them be slaughtered?!" Thranduil lunged at Elrond and grabbed his throat in an attempt to strangulate him. "You let them die!", he cried. "You let him die!"