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The elf held out the crown to Thranduil.

"If I am the one you wish to be led by, it is I who is honored to lead you."

A cheer resonated throughout the caves as thousands of voices rejoiced. Thranduil smiled and reached out a hand for the crown.

Ozorne's eyes turned to fire and her hand went to her belt.

"Ada!" Legolas screamed as a dagger glinted in the torchlight.

Thranduil half-turned, knowing he would be too late and too weak to save himself. From the sidelines, Onyx jumped forward, a slender knife in his hands.

Legolas watched Onyx throw it, the perfect movement of his uncle's wrist sending the blade spinning toward Ozorne. He wondered if it would kill her as he watched the metal glint in the air.

The dagger dropped to the floor as Ozorne tugged at her arm, pinned to the wall by the knife through her sleeve. As her men made a move for Thranduil, Onyx spoke.

"I never miss a shot. I can drop you all where you stand without nicking a hair on your heads. Unless you want to see me do it, drop your arms now."

The first elf to surrender his weapons was the elf that had given Legolas water. His companions followed suit with hesitant glances at Ozorne.

"You are all cowards!" the woman screamed, ripping her arm free as loyal warriors rushed to bind her and her men.

Legolas staggered to his feet, steadied by Elrond's hand on his shoulder. Thranduil pressed a hand to his forehead, the crown slipping from his fingers and bouncing to the floor. The last of his strength ebbed away with a single step and he keeled into Harune's arms.

Thranduil knew Onyx held Ozorne in capable hands but he still had to make sure Legolas was safe. "My son—ada—"

"Your son is fine," Harune said gently. "You will forgive me if I am more worried about my son right now."

"Oh, shut up," Thranduil groaned.

OoOoO

Elrond knew he had been gone barely a few moments but the moment his back was turned Legolas, even in his injured state, had slipped away.

Muttering, the elf lord put down the bowl in his hands and stalked out of the room. He met Healer Jailil in the hallway.

"I suppose Legolas has vanished?" Jailil asked with interest.

Elrond eyed him. "I suppose you have stolen him?"

"Indeed not! But you should know, when Legolas and Thranduil are hurt, they always heal together. I gave Thranduil a larger chamber with two beds for a reason, Elrond."

"I am not sure it is wise for two people who are both injured to be together in a single bed," objected Elrond.

"In the event either of them find it uncomfortable, there is another bed in the room. I know my lord, Elrond, and he may as well be a child without a toy if we were to take Legolas from him."

Elrond grunted. "I would like to see that."

Healer Jailil chuckled. "I am sure you would. How much are you willing to bet Legolas is with his father?"

Elrond raised his eyebrows. "You surprise me, Jailil."

The elf grinned. "You do not know me as well as you think."

Elrond pushed open the door to Thranduil's chamber. Healer Jailil peered over his shoulder. "I should have won if you had been more of a player."

"I am not as stupid as you may think," Elrond retorted. "I do not enter losing battles."

"That is a pity," his companion replied. "You were a losing battle from the day you arrived."

Elrond smacked him on the arm. "You have reminded me more times then a person needs to be reminded in a life time."

"A person perhaps," Healer Jailil said. "But you are an elf."

Thranduil's quiet voice rose from within the room and Legolas murmured to answer it. Two elves stopped before Elrond and Jailil with trays of food.

"We will take those in," Healer Jailil said. "I shall want a report on the North Ward Apothecaries in one hour."

"I imagine being your apprentice is a hard job," Elrond remarked, as the young elves walked away, muttering.

Healer Jailil raised his eyebrows. "And being your apprentice, I should imagine, is even harder."

Thranduil looked up as the healers entered the room and sat up with a wince, the bruises on his arms plain without sleeves to cover them. Healer Jailil piled pillows behind him and set the tray in his lap as Elrond did the same for Legolas.

"How are you feeling?" Healer Jailil requested.

"Like sludge," Thranduil answered. "Now get away from me with your evil hands. You have poked me enough for one day."

"You may be King of Mirkwood but in the Healing Wards, I am Lord. And if I see fit to decide whether or not you have cracked half a dozen ribs, you will bite your tongue and let me."

Elrond bit back a laugh as Thranduil exclaimed, "Ow!"

"You have not cracked but one rib," Healer Jailil said solemnly. "You may now eat."

Chuckling, Elrond left the room with Legolas's empty tray in hand. He heard Thranduil grumbling until he shut the door.

OoOoO

"Ada?"

Thranduil stared at the ceiling in the dark as he answered, "Hmm?"

"Are there more people like Ozorne in Mirkwood?"

The moonlight told him it was midnight but, like Legolas, he too had not slept. "You know, Legolas, no matter how hard we try, there will always be people who will not understand what we do or why we do it, nor give us the chance to help them understand. No matter how hard we try, there will be people who want to hurt us and who believe can do better."

Legolas gave a small sigh. "I thought so. But it is better then you think, ada. In Lord Katar's realm, the majority of the people hated him. Here, the majority do not."

Thranduil smiled and put his arm back under his head. "Goodnight, little leaf."

Legolas snuggled against his side. "Goodnight, ada. If I hurt you, wake me up."

"You never hurt me," Thranduil whispered.

A little warm and fuzzy family healing time is just what we needed, is it not?

I love hearing from you; your comments always inspire me in writing the next chapter.

Next Chapter: Thranduil shares a story from his youth.