"It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain." ― J.R.R. Tolkien

"Adar!" the words were gasped as Legolas entered the throne room near the point of collapse covered from head to toe in blood most of it black but some of it a stark red from where elven blood intermingled with its cursed cousins counterpart. Thranduil was at his side in moments catching his son mid fall and easing him gently onto the floor.

"Legolas." Cold gentle fingers probed for wounds and worried eyes found tired ones. Legolas shook his head weakly. "Only a scratch Ada." The weak reply did not encourage the elven king.

He loosened his son's armor unbuckling it and then discarding it to the side. A gash on the forearm became visible beneath the battered metal. The King slowly traced the angry welt of an orcish blade bringing the blood briefly to his lips. "What of the patrol?" The King asked gently as he lifted his son as if his weight was no more than that of a leaf.

"Only three remain I dismissed them to the healers." Only three remained of the scouting party? This was troubling news to the ears of Captain Galion who had just been in council with his lord. The Orcs were getting bolder. More so than they had ever been in the past centuries. The King walked in brisk strides to the room of healing and laid his son upon one of the beds.

"The wound is deep but not poisoned." At the Kings scathing statement a healer rushed to the bedside tearing off the sleeve and beginning to wash out the wound.

"The rest…did not make it…" Legolas's voice was growing weaker his free hand grasping at Thranduil's sleeve weakly. Thanduil sighed heavily and took his sons hand between his own.

"He will be fine." The healer assured. "He is merely weak from blood loss."

Thranduil's brow darkened. "How many were there?"

"Less than a sortie but…but they…they were different." Legolas clenched Thranduil's hand in pain as a herb was applied to his wound.

"My King!" Thranduil turned to see Galion enter. Galion blanched at the sight of the prince who was now shades whiter than the sheets of his bed but seeing the kings even face color returned to him somewhat.

Thranduil frowned. "What is it Galion?" He asked sharply.

"The fourth patrol has returned. Should I tell them to wait?"

Thranduil sighed allowing a lingering look at his son's prone form. "Have the wounded been seen to?"

"Yes my lord."

"Good then let us go see what Captain Tauriel has to say."

Ornate doors were thrown open leading into the feasting hall used as a war council room in recent days. Lady Tauriel stood at attention perfectly poised save her tunic covered here and there with traces of dark blue blood indicating a scuffle with the Umai.

"What have you to report?"

"My lord we drove the main horde off. However a presence still remains."

The King frowned. "I gave you two sorties for a reason Tauriel. Why have you failed me?"

"My lord I!" She was cut off by a younger elf with equally long fiery hair dressed in lieutenant livery.

"The fault was not by error of her own my King. We met three scores of Orcs on our way back. They forced us to detour from our route giving the retreating Umai an escape route. It was why we were late my lord."

King Thranduil's eyes widened as they blazed down at the elleth captain. "And you did not see fit to inform me of this?" The tone was cold a sharpened blade on ice.

"I… We took care of the disturbance my lord I so no reason for this to be of any concern. Orcs are common in the forest."

Thranduil clenched at his sides his alien stillness and impassive face doing more than any expression ever could. "This forest is mine Captain. Everything in it is connected whether your distrait mind comprehends it or not is no concern of mine. My concern is that my servants are incompetent in their failure to inform me of things because they think it is insignificant."

The captain upon whom the Kings rage was directed shuddered tears glistening in the eyes and only her sheer will kept them from spilling. The King seeming to deflate after his delivery slumped in a chair waving away the elleth and her brother. Both left the chamber hastily not wanting to further incur his wrath.

Galion sighed moving a few figurines on the enlarged map of Mirkwood. "My lord perhaps that was…"

"That was necessary." Thranduil's eyes met his friends.

"I understand that she has made a mistake…"

"A mistake that may have cost us lives Galion!" The elf King rose in a fluid motion and hovered over the map.

"Have you heard from the southern patrol?"

Galion looked sharply at the King eyes widening. "No milord they were due this morn, I gave them some time for travel, detour and the like, else I would have informed you! Why do you ask?"

The King's eyes narrowed at the pieces of the map. "Inform me if you hear anything. Expect the worst."

Galion's eyes glazed in sadness. "I will my King. But…there is still hope."

The King rested his hand briefly on Galion's shoulder eyes inscrutable. "I pray you are right Galion. I pray you are right."

Sortie- Ten to Fifteen soldiers

Score- Twenty soldiers

Elleth- elven maid

Umai- Giant spiders which infested certain parts of the forest of Mirkwood.

Next chapter will be up tomorrow or the day after. Read and Review!