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"No one knows how it started," Hyrondal said as he hurried to keep pace with Thranduil's long strides.

"I have an idea I do not like," Thranduil admitted. "I have left the problem in the hands of our capable wizards. We will be able to better judge how to fix the problem once we know its roots. In the mean time, thousands of elven lives are at risk."

He flung open the doors to the meeting chamber and the raised voices inside fell silent. Thranduil took his place at the head of the round table, where the hastily assembled elves turned worried eyes to him.

"The crisis is being treated as well it might, under the circumstances," Thranduil said. "There are many wounded elves, as trees have fallen on houses and thrown elves out of their branches. The healing wards throughout Mirkwood must be notified to be ready to receive a flood and all healers on leave are to report back to work immediately until this is over."

"The messages are already being sent, my lord," Healer Jailil assured him. "The scribes are busier then they have been since times of war."

Thranduil winced. "The Mirkwood Guard has been mobilized. All outposts throughout the kingdom are to be alerted and all elves off duty are to return to work."

Hyrondal nodded. "The birds are flying. My lord."

"The Mirkwood Scouts are to replace the Border Patrol and keep a watch for attacks. Send a party to Dol Guldor in case this catastrophe is some black magic seeping from the ruins."

As his request was acknowledged, Thranduil continued, "Since no one is safe under the trees and we do not know how long this will last or if it can be fixed, all elves in danger of falling trees are to be moved to open ground. Hyrondal, Faire, your men are to everything they can to keep the trees from falling on innocent lives while the elves are escorted to safety. Use ropes—horses—anything—to control the fall of as many trees as possible."

Hyrondal and the Master of Scouts nodded, their minds alive with the division of elves and the equipment to be handed out.

"Hyrondal, as many elves as possible are to be brought to the caves underneath the palace. Dig caves and built secure shelters throughout Mirkwood sturdy enough to protect our people from falling trees. Nimrethil, the kitchens will have extra work to do. Master Eire, see to it the scribes are sending the messages as quickly as possible. We need everyone on their feet."

As he directed the outlay of supplies to be delivered throughout Mirkwood by merchants, Thranduil felt a twinge of pain in his heart as he cried with the forest.

An exhausted elven king, with feet dragging and red eyes, somehow staggered to enjoy his solitary dinner by the hearth. Though it was near midnight, Elrond and his wife were waiting up for him and Harune sprang to his feet to supply Thranduil with wine at the sight of his son's haggard face.

Thranduil rubbed his eyes. "Do not trouble yourself, ada. You must be tired to."

"Galion and I have been busy," Harune answered, as he filled four cups and passed them out. "But we all need a glass and there is nothing I enjoy more then pouring it."

Thranduil finished half his cup in one sip and slumped in his chair. "I have not been so tired since departed days of war. I feel as if I have been across half the kingdom and met every elf in it, I have been to so many meetings."

"It will not grow any easier to you had best grow used to being king again," Harune said with a smile. "Jade and Mervyn have gone to bed and Onyx is with Landion. I put Legolas to sleep in your room."

Thranduil nodded as he gazed into his cup. He looked up sharply as Elrond stirred, "You must leave for Rivendell at once. Before this grows any worse, for I fear it will."

"We cannot leave you," Celebrian protested.

"I cannot be responsible for your lives. You may die here. Your children could die here now. Mirkwood is no longer safe. Rivendell is the best place for you now."

Elrond and Celebrian exchanged glances. The elf lord rose and came to Thranduil's chair. "You did not give up on me, as you should have, when I spanked the twins and refused to learn to love them. I will not leave you now. Celebrian and I will stay here until this is over for we owe you more then we can ever repay. I would not feel right if I left you to suffer through this alone."

Thranduil dipped his head. "You are most kind but you owe me nothing and—"

"You are right," Elrond said. "We do not stay because we owe you something. We stay because we chose to. We want to help."

Thranduil met Elrond's determined eyes. "Well, Healer Jailil will be glad to avail himself of your services in the Healing Ward."

"I have missed my old place in healer's robes," Elrond admitted.

"It will not be joyful ride, I am afraid, as the inevitable will see many elves with broken bones."

"Broken bones are better tended then a spreading disease," Elrond said.

Thranduil finished his wine and rose to his feet. Harune walked with him to the door and watched him go. He dropped his arms at his side with a small sigh and went to cork the wine bottle. He hesitated with the cork in one hand, refilled his cup, and shut the bottle.

In his dim bedchamber, Thranduil changed by a sputtering candle. He blew out the little light and climbed into bed. Legolas was curled small in the center of the great mattress. Ignoring placement of pillows, Thranduil snuggled Legolas into his arms and curled around his son, feeling as if he needed to hold Legolas more then Legolas needed to hold him.

OoOoO

When Thranduil cracked his eyes open and rolled onto his back, his hand did not come up against his son. Awakened by curiosity, Thranduil untangled the blankets around his legs and slid out of bed.

The last rays of purple were fading from the sky as Thranduil peeked out the window over Legolas's head and drew in a sharp breath. Legolas looked up at him, twisting a strand of hair around his finger.

The forest line began far back from the palace save for one tree growing by the window. Tree trunks had fallen back into the embrace of their family behind them and collapsed to the grass ahead. Roots dangled in the air, sad to be ripped from soil.

Thranduil swung away from the window, closing his eyes to wink away hot tears as he hopped into his clothes, combed his hair, and rushed from the room.

Legolas drifted into his clothes, ran a comb through his hair, and trailed in his father's footsteps. When he arrived at the breakfast table, the faces of his family said a hurricane had hit.

Thranduil was already gone. Legolas could imagine him eating bread and jam on his rush to a morning meeting as he slumped into his seat.

"I did not sleep well," he said, to silence queries about his treacherous face.

"It is difficult to sleep when trees are falling and with them, your heart," Harune agreed. "Have some tea; you will feel better."

Legolas, Landion, and the twins finished breakfast and moved to the library. Master Eire met them at the door. "There will be no lessons until more peaceful times are upon us. And archery is canceled until the forest is safe."

Legolas peeked past him and beheld the new sight of dozens of elves filling the tables moved to form a line down the open floor. They scratched with vigor, moving blank parchment from the pile on their left, to the center of the desk, and to the finished pile on their right. Elves circulated, gathering the written messages.

"But I want to do something," Legolas began. "Ada is busy and I am all alone."

"Well," said Master Eire. "You should have thought about the consequences before you created this mess."

He shut the door firmly and quietly but it was the loudest slam Legolas had ever heard. He clenched his hands at his side as hot tears filled his eyes.

"Legolas?" Landion said softly, peering at his face.

"Do not," Legolas whispered. "Please—leave me alone."

Landion stood back with his brows drawn tight. Elladan touched Legolas's arm. "What is the matter?"

"It is my fault," Legolas choked. "No one will ever forgive me. I cannot find forgiveness. I cannot even ask for it."

"Thranduil knows about forgiveness," Elladan said. "He helped Elrohir and I forgive ada and nana for spanking us. He will help you."

Legolas shook his head. "No. I destroyed his home."

The twins and Landion watched the elfling walk away. Landion's lips twitched. He looked at the twins.

"There is no comfort for anyone when they are afraid of their parents," Elrohir said. His eyes were sad. "Words will not do any good right now."

Landion turned away. It seemed time had disappeared. Harune and Galion were thundering through the palace with fleets of servants in their wake, Elrond had gone to the Healing Ward, Celebrian was with Rocky and Arwen. Jade had volunteered her services in the pantry department and Mervyn had offered to oversee the equipping of elves about to enter the dangerous world of falling trees.

And busiest of all was Thranduil.

Landion knew it would be wrong to worry Thranduil with Legolas's grief but it felt wrong to watch his nephew suffer. Legolas had gone to a meeting in his father's stead so Thranduil could sit with him while the arrowhead had been inside him.

It was time to return the favor

Not all the elves in Mirkwood forgive easily. It is easier to blame then forgive, is it not?

Thank you all for reading! I love responding to your thoughts and suggestions.

Next Chapter: Onyx and Harune discuss Sapphire's death.