»»»»

"You shouldn't be here!"
Thalion shouted at Legolas.
"I case you missed it Thalion, I just saved your life!"
Legolas fired another arrow at an oncoming spider, he spun around and fired again.

This was easy, he couldn't see why his father had not deemed him ready for this yet. So far hebwas killing more spiders than anyone else.

Most of the spiders had begun to flee, Legolas grabbed another arrow and was about to fit it into his bowstring when he felt that familiar chill run down his spine.

No one noticed it but him, the voice that continued to call his name, only this time it was hundreds of them.

Screaming and shouting his name, Legolas threw down his bow and covered his ears, desperate to block out the noise.

"Legolas!"
His brother's voice snapped Legolas out of his trance, he spun around and found himself face to face with a massive spider.

The beast leaped at him and pinned him onto the ground, Legolas frantically tried to get out from under it while dodging its stinger at the same time.

The spider screeched and leapt off of Legolas, Thalion stabbed it in the side with his sword and it fell dead.

Thalion hauled Legolas to his feet and stood in front of him, fighting off every spider that came near them.

"Legolas run!"
Thalion shouted.
"I'm not leaving you!"
Thalion shoved him towards the trees.
"Go! Now!"

Legolas hesitated, he couldn't leave now!
Thalion suddenly grabbed Legolas by the arm and threw him to the side.

He landed hard on his right shoulder and looked up in horror as Thalion was stung by a spider.

Legolas scrambled back to his feet and watched as Thalion drove his sword into the spider's head.

After it fell Thalion stumbled to his knees. Legolas ran to his side and tried to hold him up.
"Thalion? Thalion!"

Legolas didn't notice that spiders had left, or the elf that walked up behind him.

"Are you alright?"
He asked worriedly.
"Thalion's been stung!"
Legolas didn't bother hiding the despair in his voice.
Thalion had gotten hurt because of him.

The elf called for another to assist him. They both supported Thalion between them and began making their way back towards the palace.

Legolas grabbed his brother's sword and followed close behind. Guilt overwhelmed him as he watched his brother's limp form between the two elves.

What have I done...

»»»»

Thranduil was waiting for them when they arrived.
His cold gaze first rested on the elf who had been stung first, and turned to horror when he saw Thalion.

When his eyes rested on Legolas, they turned to anger.
The young prince lowered his head and refused to meet his father's gaze.

"Take them to the Healers."
Thranduil commanded, the elves carrying Thalion glanced at each other nervously.
They knew that their king was furious.

Soon Thranduil and Legolas were standing alone just outside of the palace. Legolas continued to look down at his feet while Thranduil's gaze burned into him.

"What were trying to do Legolas? Get yourself and your brother killed? You disobeyed a direct order from me and I want to know why!"

Legolas flinched at his father's tone. He wanted to say something, anything, but his mouth remained shut.

"Answer me!"
Legolas looked fearfully at his father.
"I just wanted to help Thalion."
He said quietly.
"Help? All you have managed to do was get him injured! Why can you not just stay in your place Legolas?"

Legolas fell silent again.
Which only made Thranduil even more furious.
"How do you think this makes me look Legolas? How can I expect my people to obey me when my own son does not?"

"Why should they obey you? All you ever do is drink and ignore everyone! They think that you are some great king when you are really a coward!"

Legolas ignored the shock on Thanruil's face and continued to shout.
"You would rather send your son out to face the threats in our home instead of face them yourself! You hide inside of your walls while countless elves are out fighting your battles for you!"

"You cannot protect them or your own sons! You do not even care about me even though you pretend to! You have always favored Thalion, ever since she died you have-"

Legolas was suddenly knocked backwards, he stumbled and regained his balance.
He lifted one of his hands gently towards the side of his face.

He took his hand away and saw blood. Legolas looked up at his father with a mixture of pain and fear on his face.

Thranduil looked down at his son, the hand that he had used to strike his son still hung stiffly in the air. His eyes slowly filled with horror as he realized what he had just done.

"Legolas..."
His son backed away from him, tears filled his eyes but he refused to let them fall.
"Legolas, I'm sorry."

His son spun around and ran towards the forest, leaving Thranduil staring after him in pain and regret.

»»»»

Legolas ran blindly through the forest, he didn't pay attention to where he was going.
He tried not to look at his hand, which was still stained with his own blood that continued to slowly trickle down the left side of his face.

He had never seen blood before.
The sight of it wasn't what caused his horror, it was that his father had been the one to draw it.

Finally Legolas stopped running and leaned up against a nearby tree. The tears he had been holding back now began to fall.

He was mad at his father, and himself. None of this would have happened if he had just stayed in the palace. His hand strayed up to the side of his face again.

Of course, that does not give my father a reason to hurt me.

Legolas straightened and began walking through the forest. Dark thoughts ran through his mind as he continued to focus all of his anger on his father.

He had always ignored him, he had always favored Thalion, but what Legolas wanted to know was why his father did those things.

What had he ever done to him? Legolas continued to walk his hands clenched firmly at his sides. He had been walking for several hours now, and he hadn't noticed that he had left the borders of his home.

Legolas looked up at the trees. Here they were even darker and more menacing.
He glanced around nervously, hoe far had he come?

Legolas decided that he would turn around and go back, but before he could move he felt it again.

Only this time it was much stronger. He heard no voices this time, but he did hear something.
Legolas quickly dropped onto the ground and rolled to the side.

He looked up and saw a black arrow sticking out of the tree he had just been standing in front of.

Legolas' head whipped around, crashing out of the clearing came dozens of orcs.
He scrambled to his feet and ran, the orcs roared and chased after him.

Arrows flew past him left and right, some falling onto the ground and other striking the trees.

Legolas knew that it was only a matter of time before one of them hit their target.
Legolas suddenly cried out in pain, he stumbled and fell onto his hands and knees.

He looked behind him and saw an arrow shaft sticking out of his leg, and the orcs advancing on him.

Legolas struggled to stand, the pain in his leg was unbearable. He cried out as an orc grabbed him from behind and twisted him around.

Legolas' eyes widened in fear as he became face to face with the orc who held him.
Legolas struggled to break free but it was no use.

Your knife! Use your knife!

Legolas reached for his knife that hung around his waist and slashed the orc's arm.
The beast roared in pain and released him.

Legolas fell onto his back, the arrow shaft snapped as he landed.
More orcs moved in to grab him, he waved his knife around blindly.

He continued to back away from his attackers but suddenly felt a hard blow strike his head.
He felt his knife yanked from his hand, the orcs grabbed him by his arms and legs, clawing and scratching him.

The last thing Legolas was aware of was an orc throwing his knife onto the ground.

»»»»

Thalion awoke to a burning pain in his back. He tried to remember what had happened.
"Thalion?"
Inwë gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Inwë? Where is Legolas?"
"I do not know. The last time I saw him he was with your
father."
Inwë helped him sit up.
"Where is my father?"
"I am right here."

Thalion and Inwë watched as Thranduil entered the room.
"How are you feeling Thalion?"
"I am fine. Where is Legolas?"

Thalion noticed a flicker of fear pass over his father's eyes.
"Adar, where is Legolas?"
Thranduil sighed.
"He entered the woods a few hours ago, he has not returned yet."

"And you have sent no one after him?"
Thalion raised his voice in anger.
"I did, they should be back any time now."
As if to prove his point a messenger walked up behind him.

"King Thranduil, the scouts have returned, but they found no sign of Prince Legolas."

Both Thalion and Thranduil's blood turned to ice.
"I'm going to look for him."
Thalion threw off his covers and stood up.
"Thalion, you are still unwell."
Inwë tried to stop him but it was no use.

"I am going to find my brother."
Thalion glared at his father, daring him to try and stop him from going.
But to his surprise all his father said was, "I will go with you."