Falasdir went straight to his room after hearing the news from the King. He was always surprised at how much the King valued him, despite their past. Perhaps that was one of the reason why Thranduil has been his closest friend. The King never judged him for who he was or where he came from. He was always there.

His thoughts travel to the first time he met Thranduil. He was still prince then. Both of them. They had been elflings when their kingdoms decided to meet. His sister still hid behind the skirts of their nursemaids. Falasdir had already knew about the marriage then, and decided to teach the Mirkwood prince tips on how to treat his sister. He was quite confident for his age, walking through the Mirkwood halls and not stopping until he stood face to face with Prince Thranduil.

Thranduil's face was stoic, much like his fathers and the longer Falasdir stared at him the harder it was to hate him for some weird matter.  When the grown ups were busy the two of them had snuck out into the back gardens.

"It must be nice to have this whole palace to yourself," Falasdir started saying. His hands ran down the flowers. That was when Thranduil stopped and turned to face him.

"It'd be nicer if I had someone to play with," his voice wasn't hard, neither was it soft. To Falasdir it sounded nothing but...lonely. He thought about telling him what their parents were planning but decided it would be better if the king told Thranduil.

"I can play with you," Falasdir proclaimed proudly. He was thinking about fighting. His father thought him how to weild a sword but he never really got a chance to try them out. Thranduil watched him warily that time as Falasdirs eyes landed on the two identical swords strapped on the Mirkwood princes waist. Falasdir had already heard of the rumors. A born warrior. A ruthless one at that. The Mirkwood King had already brought Thranduil along to battles despite him just coming of age.

"You want to fight?" The mirkwood prince quiried then, his hand landing on the hilt of one of the swords. Falasdir could not contain his excitement as he nodded. Thranduil seemed the least bit fazed.

"Very well," he had said, gesturing Falasdir to follow him. They walked to an open courtyard where only two guards stood watch. They bowed immediately upon seeing Thranduil. Falasdir did not miss the way fear shadowed across their features. What kind of reputation did this prince Thranduil have?

"Just so you know," Thranduil had said in a bored tone. "No one ever wins against me."

It was strange then that Falasdir had not taken that comment as neither cocky nor arrogant. It almost sounded like a cry for help. They fought, and Falasdir had managed to surprise prince Thranduil by disarming him with one of his swords. Even the guards that watched them seemed surprised...and terrified. Falasdir had thought of backing away then, fearing that the young Mirkwood prince would throw some kind of tantrum. But to his surprise, a wide smile spread across prince Thranduil's lips that made Falasdir smile back.

That was when he knew they would be friends.

He entered his room, seeing the letter still signed and sealed by the table. He quickly tore off the seal and began to read. His father had gone missing. There was no one to rule the land. They need the rightful heir to come back and claim it or pick a new heir. Falasdir slammed the letter back on the table. Why now? Why did he have to disappear now and bother him?

He slumped on the chair, running his hands through his face and hair. All these years of trying to get rid of the connection he had with that kingdom. All these years...and this happens? It was frustrating to say the least but Falasdir knew he never stood a chance of outrunning the past. He had just hoped for more time.

He turned to his bed, the discarded letters and the ornate box glared back at him. His mother and sister deserved better, they would have wanted him to go back. Because their people deserved better. He quickly placed the letter and necklace back in the box and bent down to retrieve the marble lion head under the bed.

He picked it up, suddenly feeling it was colder and heavier than before. He quickly placed it back in the box and put the box where he had taken it. Thranduil would want to talk to him about this but first he had to go find someone else. He had to talk to Lindethiel.

He was walking down the hall back to the dining area when a healer and nursemaid came rushing past him almost knocking him off in the process. They were in panic and Falasdir suddenly started running after them. As he neared the dining hall, a piercing scream made him still. It sounded much like Mantheniel.

He pushed the doors open to find the queen by her chair, screaming in agony as Thranduil held her hand. Legolas was spouting out orders as two guards carried in a stretcher.

Mantheniel was giving birth.

Lindethiel materializes beside him, her wide eyes trained on Mantheniel before she rushes to her.

"Its too early!!" She was screaming, helping them place Mantheniel on the stretcher. She looked pale and almost about to pass out. Thranduil gripped her hand tight enough both their knuckles had turned white. Falasdir had watched his sister in labor.

And he knew from the look of this, something was wrong. They rushed pass him and towards the healing rooms where Mantheniel had been scheduled to give birth. Legolas stays behind, ordering the guards and the rest of the elven maids to clean up the mess and to make sure nothing disrupts the birthing process. They nod at him and went about to do as they were told.

Legolas turns to Falasdir, worry easing over his features before the prince attempts a smile. He knows something is wrong too. Then Legolas does a strange thing and calls for the kitchen maids and cooks. They all line up in the dining hall as Falasdir approached the prince.

"I believe the queen has eaten something rather odd," he starts and dread fills Falasdir. Someone had purposely done this to Mantheniel?

"Who was in charge of making and delivering those tarts?" His tone was ice, glaring at each and every helper who fidgeted under his gaze.

"Answer me or I will have all of you beheaded for poisoning the queen!"

Mantheniel was poisoned?! Falasdirs hands turns to fists at his side before he notices one of the younger maids shaking and crying at the side. He points her out to Legolas who steps close to her.

"Speak." The girl flinched and Falasdir couldn't help but feel a pinch of pity for her. Legolas may be different from his father, but not right now. He was as terrifying and as calculating.

"I-I was the one that delivered them, my lord," she explains, the tears on her cheeks flowing in rapid succession. "I didn't know. I just saw them at the counter and when I tasted one it was f-fine. I checked it myself. P-p-please... that is all I know."

Legolas opens his mouth to speak when one of the guards emerging from the doors to the kitchen comes in with a scrambling old man in his hand. He looked human enough but smelled like death. He was scrambling in the guards hold before he is thrown on the ground.

"I found him lurking by the back doors of the kitchens, my lord," the guard explains. "He was carrying this." He tossed a bag of what Falasdir could assume, was powder. Legolas studied it in his hands.

"Why then has she not been poisoned?" Legolas gestures to the elven maid who was probably out of her wits by now as she muffled her crying. The older maid wraps an arm around her shoulder.

"Please, my lords," the older maid begged. "My daughter would never do anything to hurt the queen. She practically worships her."

"I knew it was her favorite," the elven maid cried. "So I brought it out. I really did taste it as per rule."

The old man on the floor begins laughing. "It only affects drows."

They all turn to him as he flashed them a toothless grin. "This kingdom will not cease falling into the hands of ruin. The King will pay."

Legolas whips out his sword, placing it directly on the skin of the mans neck. "What have you done?"

"I merely quickened the process, dear prince," he says through a fit of coughs. "Another Heir to the throne. How...happy."

"If anything happens to my mother or my sister I will have your head in this life and after," Legolas says, pressing his blade further against the mans neck.

"It is a mere warning prince," he says before his eys turn to Falasdir who continued to watch with a mixture of surprise and horror.

"A lion does not back down from a fight to own what is rightfully his," he says. "...prince."

Falasdir pulls out his own blade before the door opens, stopping all of them. The one who entered caught Falasdir unaware. It was the same fortune teller that had told him his fortune. She was alone. How did she manage to find the place. She walked confidently towards them, raising her hands to signal them to drop their swords before she turns to the old man who stared at her in confusion.

"You have no power here," she says her voice shaking but strong. "Begone you foul creature and leave this kingdom in peace." She opens her palm and a necklace drops, carrying a single diamond. The old man hisses before laughing hysterically as his face melts into black goo. Everyone steps away, sheilding their faces before nothing is left of the man.

"What is going on? Who are you?" Legolas looks at the lady expectantly but she merely flicks her head and twists the necklace back around her hand.

"She's a fortune teller," Falasdir says through gritted teeth.

"I am here to help the queen give birth," she says casually. "Can anybody show me where she is?"

There was a moment of silence as no one dared to move before Legolas steps towards the lady, a kind of recognition in his eyes before he leads her out the dining halls.

"All of you are dismissed," Falasdir motions to everyone left. "No one clean this mess up until the King has had time to inspect it."

He leaves then, marching towards the stables. The urge to look for answers was strong. He was already out of the stables when he stopped. No. He should talk to Thranduil first. See if Mantheniel is alright. If Lindethiel will be alright. He has to stay. He has to protect this family.

--

He walked back towards the healing rooms where no one can hear any more of Mantheniels agonizing screams. Legolas stood outside the room and surprisingly, Thranduil was slouched in one corner his head buried in his hands. He approached the king cautiously before sitting beside him and placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Thranduil glanced up and Falasdir is momentarily reminded of the day his sister had ran away. Thranduil had been devastated, asking Falasdir why she would leave him? Thranduil was breaking yet he was also so terrified for his sister.

He had that same look now as if begging Falasdir to tell him why it keeps happening? How much would Thranduil have to lose this time? He never saw Thranduil other than the confident elf he met a long time ago. Who had ambitions and was born a king.

His family did this to him. Falasdir felt the built wrench out every part inside of him. He pulled his hand away from Thranduil who had now his eyes closed, silently praying for the safety of the one he loves nd their daughter.

Legolas kneeled in front of his father, taking both hands in his and kissing them softly. With their foreheads pressed together, Falasdir could not help but want to tear everything apart if it meant he could stop this curse upon the woodland realm. A curse his family had started. Why could they just not leave them alone?