So here is the next chapter of my story, hope you enjoy

~O~

Tauriel dropped to Legolas' side, her heart racing. The elf's hand was covered in blood, his tunic saturated.

'Oh Legolas, what happened to you my friend?' She said softly.

'We need to get him back to Dale, he needs a healer soon or he is not going to last.' She said with a dominant tone.

The king just nodded and picked up his son in one fluid movement, the prince looked so delicate in his father's arms.

They started down the mountain, the king running over the rocks with grace and agility. He was careful not to jolt his son and cause him further discomfort. They soon found themselves on the battlefield, it was littered with the bodies of fallen elves, dwarves, men and orcs. Thranduil continued to run, he knew hiS son didn't have long. His mind flashed back to the day he lost wife, Legolas stood over her crying. She had sacrificed herself to save her son and he knew now that he had pushed his son away since that day. The thought of never being able to make amends for his behaviour towards him made the Elven Kings heart feel sick to the stomach.

They soon ran through the battered gates of Dale and found Gandalf stood there, his face bloodied and tired from battle.

'Gandalf!' Shouted Thranduil to the wizard 'Legolas is wounded, we need a healer now'

Gandalf ran to the King with such speed you would not expect from a man of his age.

'Follow me' said the wizard as he led them up a small walk way, the path littered with victims from the battle.

They soon came to a square with a grand building sat in the middle, he led them in and everywhere they looked were wounded elves, men and dwarves. Bard was there helping carry the wounded to make shift beds.

'Bard my friend, we need your help' said Gandalf, his voice boomed through the hall.

Bard quickly ran to them, his face dropped when he realised who the latest patient was.

'What happened?' He said quickly as he began to inspect the prince's injuries.

'He appears to have taken a blade to the gut' Tauriel exclaimed, her voice trembling.

'Here, let me take him' said the bargeman as he began to scoop the prince into his arms. He had already been surprised as to how light the elves were today. He quickly took him to a back room, the area was empty and simplistic with nothing but an old wooden table in the middle. Bard rushed Legolas over to the old wooden structure and placed him gently upon the surface. He began to tear the elf's tunic to try and get a better view of the elf's injuries.

'They are dead Bard' Tauriel said suddenly 'Kili, Fili and Thorin.'

'I know' he replied sadly.

'I have to get him' said Tauriel as she looked to Thranduil 'I want to bury him'

'Yes' was all the king could say, not taking his eyes off of his son.

Tauriel bowed her head and left the room swiftly, tears beginning to fill her eyes again. She felt guilty for leaving her prince but she could not leave Kili up there alone. Gandalf followed her, knowing she would need help bringing down the fallen dwarf. Fili and Thorin had already been brought down not long after the battle had ended and had been placed in a tomb in Erebor, waiting for Kili to join them.

Bard continued to rip away parts of the elf's clothes, revealing a deep wound that trailed across the princes entire abdomen.

'We need bandages' he said suddenly 'I will be back in a moment'

'Let me' said the king softly 'stay with him, please'

Thranduil looked at the man with his piercing blue eyes, tears spilling down his porcelain cheeks.

Bard nodded in understanding and watched as the King quickly ran from the room.

The prince began to stir, his face creased with pain.

'My lord, stay still' said Bard as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

'Tauriel' the prince whimpered as he began to shake, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead into his white hair.

'She isn't here' he replied.

'I had to save her' said Legolas, so quietly it was almost a whisper 'I love her'

He paused, a tear escaped from the corner of his eye.

'But she does not love me' he said, pain filled every word.

Bard stood there, he did not know what to say. He knew the prince was delirious from the fever, but perhaps his love for her and his aching heart was making him worse.

Thranduil had heard everything his son had said, his heart broke for him. He knew how his son had felt for her, and he had done everything in his power to make sure that he did not follow those feelings. Yet despite his son knowing his feelings were not returned he still risked his life to save her.

'Here' said the King as he approached the table.

Bard jumped, he had not heard the King return. He took the bandages from the elf and began to bind his wounds, with the help from the King.

'These bandages will not stop the bleeding for long. We need to close the wound' Said Bard as he cleaned the blood from his hands.

'Do what you must' replied Thranduil, as he stood over his sons shivering body.

'He has a fever too, we need to get that down or he could die' said the bargeman as he placed a comforting hand of the Kings shoulder.

Thranduil nodded in understanding but did not say anything.

'I will return soon to close the wound'

Thranduil looked to him, his face looked like that of a scared child.

'You are leaving?'

'Yes, I have some others I need to tend to but I will not be long' Bard replied.

As he started to leave he heard the king sob, he turned see him holding Legolas' hand to his heart whilst stroking the prince's hair.

Bard knew it didn't look good for the prince, he just didn't know how to tell his father.

~O~

Hope you liked the next instalment. More soon!! Let me know what you think