In Mirkwood- Chapter 4

This is going to be slightly shorter, so that I can end it in a good place. Thranduil turns up here, but his full reaction will come tomorrow. Reviewing would make my day :)

Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

The journey back was tough. The two elves bearing the stretcher tried as hard as they could to keep it as still as possible, but the twisted undergrowth of Mirkwood made their job hard. Even when the stretcher caught on a thicket and was jerked, Legolas did not make a sound. Galion was worried. One hand was permanently under Legolas' chin, feeling for a pulse.

Galion looked up at sky. The light was fading fast, the sun dipping below the trees. He sighed and called for a stop amid the tangled branches. "We need torches" he said. "I know it may attract spiders, but we should be far enough north…" He trailed off. Legolas' patrol had been attacked by orcs a few hours south of them. He had no idea whether they would be safe.

Nevertheless, he had to risk it. The more light they had, the faster they could get back to the palace. Galion pulled a small torch from his belt; like the medical packs, every elf carried one. Lighting it quickly, he brought it closer to Legolas. He didn't like what he saw. Legolas' eyes were tightly shut, his face pale. Galion felt his forehead and frowned; he was freezing cold, so Galion tucked the blankets around him more.

He stood up quickly, the torch spluttering. "We need to move quicker" he said. "We have to get the Prince to the healers as soon as possible." The elves nodded and picked the stretcher back up carefully. Guided by the flickering light from Galion's torch, they made their way through the forest.

As they got further and further north the forest became easier to move through, the ground unrestricted of undergrowth and the trees straighter, no longer covered by vines. The elves' feet found a clear path through the forest and followed it, moving swiftly as they neared the palace.

A loud voice hailed them from the trees, followed by lithe shapes dropping to the ground. Galion came to a halt as one of the other captains strode forwards. "Galion!" he said in greeting. "What brings you back? Didn't you find…"

He trailed off as Galion shifted slightly and he saw the two elves behind him, bearing the stretcher. He gasped and strode forwards, kneeling by the stretcher. He stretched out one hand and briefly touched Legolas' brow. "Galion, what happened?"

"Orcs" said Galion grimly. "We need to hurry."

The captain nodded, stepping out of the way. "What of the rest of the patrol?"

Galion paused briefly as the two elves bearing Legolas began to walk again, though their backs were bowed with exhaustion and grief. The captain watched him and Galion shook his head. "They…didn't make it."

"All of them?" The captain's face was white with shock. "Ai Elbereth…"

Galion nodded. He glanced to where the stretcher was being carried through the trees. "I must go" he said. "Will you send a runner to the palace? Alert the healers but leave Thranduil to me. I will tell him. And ask for a patrol to be sent out to follow our path- the rest of my patrol are still at the battle site." Galion sighed. "They will need help."

The captain nodded and Galion turned, beginning to jog to catch up with the stretcher. "May the grace of the Valar be with you!" called out the captain after him.

Galion looked back briefly. "And with you, mellon-nin."

0-o-0-o-0

Galion sighed with relief as they came in sight of the palace gates. The three elves picked up their pace, though they were all weary, brought down by the horror and grief from what they had seen. As he had been doing for the journey, Galion had one hand on Legolas' neck, feeling for a pulse. The other hand held his torch high, waving it as a sign to the elves on guard.

Galion didn't know what to think anymore. He desperately hoped that Legolas would live, and that he would be alright. But he knew that even if Legolas survived, he would not be the same. He had watched his entire patrol die around him and had not been able to stop it. That would devastate anyone, thought Galion, but Legolas will take it particularly hard.

That is, if he lives.

And with that sobering thought, Galion reached the palace gates. The guards there had already opened them and torchlight shone from within. Healers stood just inside; the runner had managed to reach the palace.

As soon as they entered the gates shut behind them and then healers surrounded the stretcher. The two elves bearing it were pointed along to the healing wards and they began to head that way. The crowds around the gates gradually dispersed, the guards going back to their posts and the healers surrounding the stretcher.

Galion caught up with the stretcher to speak to the members of his patrol. "Will you…tell the families?" he asked them. "I am going to tell the King."

The elves nodded, their faces sombre. Galion grasped one of their shoulders briefly, before turning and beginning to run down through the palace towards Thranduil's study.

0-o-0-o-0

Thranduil glanced up from his paperwork at the sound of running feet approaching. He frowned, straightening up as he listened. A vague sense of unease crept over him.

The sound got closer and then the door to Thranduil's study was flung open. Thranduil stood up, angry. "Just what do you think you are doing? How dare you…"

He trailed off as he realised who was standing in the doorway. Galion was there, leaning against the doorframe. "Sire…" he gasped, having run the entire length of the palace.

Thranduil frowned. "What are you doing here?" A hint of anger was still in his voice. Galion flinched slightly, and Thranduil stopped to look more closely at him. His captain was weary, his eyes dark and dull. His face was pale and his hair hung loosely around it. Galion moved away from the doorway, now unsure. He didn't know how to tell Thranduil.

As Galion moved into the light, Thranduil froze with horror. His captain's tunic was covered in blood, turning it dark red. Thranduil breathed deeply. Something had happened; something had gone wrong.

"What happened Galion?" Thranduil came around from his desk to stand in front of his captain. "You aren't injured, are you?"

Galion shook his head. "Nay, this is not mine."

"Then who's it is?" asked Thranduil, cutting Galion off. "Did you manage to find Legolas' patrol?"

His breath caught in his throat as Galion flinched slightly at Legolas' name. He stumbled back, his face white. "Legolas…?"

Galion nodded. "Aye" he murmured.

Thranduil staggered and Galion moved forwards, holding onto his arm. "He is alive, Sire" he said softly. "But Thranduil…. I fear for him."

At those words Thranduil seemed to wake himself up and pushed Galion off him. Without a word, and with a frantic look in his eye, he pulled open his door and left the study, beginning to run down the corridor.

Galion cursed as he turned, running after Thranduil as he sprinted to his son.

0-o-0-o-0

Thranduil sprinted down the paths of the palace, his robes flapping behind him. Surprised elves jumped out of the way as their King ran past, and soon the word started spreading, that the King's son was gravely injured, and that he would not last very long. The word of Legolas' death spread fast, and the elves who watched the King run past shook their heads sorrowfully.

Galion ran behind Thranduil, his head spinning. He was weary from grief and what he had seen at the battle site, but he kept his legs moving. He knew full well that Thranduil would not listen to reason right now, and that he would most probably burst into the healing wards and make straight for Legolas' bed. Galion did not want that to happen, for it would upset the healers and could cost Legolas valuable seconds. Besides, if Legolas was already…

Galion shook his head firmly as he ran. No, he would not think like that. Thranduil had now reached the healing wards, which were eerily quiet. Galion sprinted up as Thranduil wrestled with the door to the wards, so he was just behind the King as he burst into the room.

Thranduil skidded to a halt as he finally came through the doors. Healers glanced up from their work as he came in, but he barely noticed them. His gaze fell on the bed they surrounded.

Legolas lay there. His face was white, his hair covered in blood. The bed beneath him was stained red where the healers had opened up the hastily sewn wounds. Lying there on the bed he looked so vulnerable, and Thranduil was reminded of the tiny elfling he had once known.

How had it come to this? Why? He froze as he watched his son lie so still, so very, very still. His son had once been a young elfling, running rings around everyone in the palace, discovering yet more secret passageways. In those days, one had to watch their backs in case of a sudden prank pulled by the young Prince. Now his son was lying nearly dead in the healing wards. So many times he had come back, drenched in blood or wounded, sometimes poisoned. And yet again, as Thranduil saw Legolas, he wondered what in Arda it was all for.

Galion came up behind him, placing a nervous arm on Thranduil's shoulder. "Sire" he said softly. "My lord, we need to leave. We should not stay, we should not disrupt them. The healers will work better if we are out of the room. We can wait outside."

Thranduil didn't seem to have heard Galion as he stared at the scene in front of him. Blood coated the once white sheets, staining them. Healers moved to and fro, the soft sound of needle piercing thread one of the only sounds in the room, apart from his ragged harsh breathing. He could hear his own heart beating and as he again saw Legolas, it tried to beat faster, as if it could maybe beat for his son as well.

But no heart could do that, and no King could make a difference here.

Galion shook Thranduil gently, and the King turned towards his captain. His face was pale and blank, his eyes glazed over in shock. "Galion" he murmured.

"Come, my Lord" Galion said softly. "There is nothing that we can do right now." He gently tugged Thranduil back from the bed where Legolas lay, away from the room. Galion pulled Thranduil across the threshold and then reached forwards for the doors. They shut in Thranduil's face.

To Be Continued...

*runs and hides* If you kill me, there won't be any chapters published tomorrow! Next up: Thranduil's reaction.