Hey, so sorry this took so long. Been a bit busy. Here is the next chapter, however, hope it was worth the wait.
~O~
Broken
'Legolas?' said Tauriel, her voice shaking as she cupped her prince's face in her hands.
The Prince laid there completely limp, his already pale complexion was now grey but for the pink that flushed his cheeks. His breath now weak and raspy, Legolas looked more and more fragile in the dim orange light. Tauriel stood there motionless, still holding her prince's face, tears welling up in her eyes. She was completely clueless as to what to do. Thranduil floated back into the room, Bard hot on his heels but they were greeted with a sight they were not expecting.
'What happened?' Thranduil asked as he rushed to his son's side.
'One moment he was fine and the next he was shaking' she replied as she sobbed 'my lord I didn't know what to do'
'It's okay Tauriel' Said Bard as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder 'my lord, he is now beyond my skill to heal.' Bard continued as he looked at the King.
'He is weak, the fever is ravaging his body, I don't know how much longer he is going to last without medicine.'
Thranduil's icy stare made the bargeman shiver, his face sad as his eyes filled with tears. The King knew that his son needed elvish healers, yet he knew that it was going to be a risk moving him too.
'I must get him back to Mirkwood, my healers will be able to take care of him there.' Said the King as he looked back at his shivering son.
'That could be risky, he may not survive the journey' exclaimed Bard, as he began to peel away the bandage that covered Legolas' wound.
'We must try' said Tauriel as she and her king locked eyes in agreement, Bard paused to look up at the She-Elf, her green eyes then switching to look into his. A smile crossed her lips as she nodded at him.
'Very well, we shall make the arrangements for him to be moved.' Replied Bard as he continued to examine the wound. Once satisfied, he then began to wrap it up again. He noticed a sheen of sweat covered the prince's chiselled chest, his shaky breaths becoming more laboured. The prince did not have long.
~O~
Gandalf paced back in forth in the courtyard, his fingers tapping away furiously on his staff. He wanted to know how the Prince, his old friend Legolas Greenleaf was fairing. He had not seen him since he had led them to the Great Hall. He remembered the blood, it had left a scarlet trail through the old cobbled courtyard.
Bilbo stood by his side, his eyes still bloodshot from the funeral of Thorin, Fili and Kili.
'Gandalf, why do we wait here?' he asked as he wrinkled his nose in distaste.
'I am waiting on news of the Prince, you do not have to stay here with me Mr Baggins.' Replied the wizard, his voice booming across the courtyard.
'Where else would I be?' the Halfling replied as he fumbled at the item he concealed in his waistcoat pocket.
Gandalf cleared his throat but did not broach any further on the subject. He looked at the Hobbit, his eyes drawn to Bilbo's hand.
'what do you fondle there in your pocket?' asked the wizard as his eyes squinted in interest.
'It's uh…' before Bilbo could finish his sentence they were disturbed by an elvish messenger.
'Mithrandir, I have a message from the King.' Said the elf as he stopped dead in front of the Wizard 'My lord is to transport his son back to Mirkwood. He requires elvish medicine.'
'Is my lord Legolas going to be okay?' asked Bilbo inquisitively.
'He has been badly wounded sir; his condition is grave indeed.' Replied the elf, his eyes dropped to the floor 'We fear if he does not get help soon then he shall not make it' He finished, his cold blue eyes returning the gazes of the Halfling and the Wizard.
'Thank you.' Said Gandalf as he nodded in appreciation.
'Gandalf, I…' Bilbo paused for a moment 'would you like me to accompany you to Mirkwood?' asked Bilbo as he looked up to his friend, the wizard casting a shadow over him.
'I very much doubt the King will want me there.' Replied the Wizard as he placed his old pointed hat on his head 'The King and I have never really seen eye to eye.' He finished as he smiled painfully. Bilbo looked at him with concern, he knew how much Gandalf valued his friends.
'Come to master Baggins, let's find you some food.' Said the Wizard as he walked off in the direction of the market.
Bilbo stood there for a moment, concern mapped his features, but then he scrambled to catch up with the Wizard.
~O~
The King was busy making arrangements to move Legolas, however, Tauriel would not leave his side. She sat by the fire in his big empty room, the warmth of the flames felt good against her sore limbs. She sobbed quietly to herself, the reality of everything was beginning to hit her like a great wave. Kili is dead, the King under the mountain is no more and now her Prince was close to death also. She fought with the guilt that she felt, he was here because he had risked his life to save hers, and she ran back to the dead dwarf that she felt she loved. Her heart was telling her she could not go back to Mirkwood, so much had happened since she left. She had disobeyed her King and forced her prince and friend to do so also. Words he had said to her by the lakeside rang in her mind 'He is my king… but he does not command my heart'. What had he meant by that? She was soon interrupted by Gandalf the Grey entering the chambers, he looked well-groomed for someone who had recently been in a battle.
'How may I help you Mithrandir?' She asked as she stood with feline grace.
'I wanted to bid you and the Prince farewell before you left for Mirkwood.' He replied as he looked at the prince's frail frame that laid upon the wooden table in the centre of the room.
He walked to his side, placing his hand on the prince's face and mumbling something as he closed his eyes.
"Mithrandir?"
"He is letting go Tauriel. Something else ails him as well as well as his wound. Something that no medicine can heal.' He let his hand fall to the Prince's cheek.
'Namárie, (Goodbye) Legolas Greenleaf' Said Gandalf as he turned to leave.
'Dartha! (Wait)' Gandalf stopped and turned his head slightly 'man-I (what is)…' She paused again, unsure if she wanted to know the answer to her question 'what else ails him, what is killing him?'
'His heart, it is broken' said the Wizard before departing the room as swiftly as he arrived.
Eye's wide, Tauriel looked to her Friend. His heart is broken? Was this her fault? All she knew was that Thranduil needed to know, but she did not know how to tell him.
~O~
Well there it is, I hope you enjoyed the next chapter and I promise the next one won't take too long.
Please feel free to leave a review!
