South Western
Eaves of Greenwood -
At the foot of Amon Lanc

Legolas stared vacantly at the looming hill; a desolate, empty, haunted, ruin of a fortress, sprawling out over the shadowed hilltop. He knew very little of Amon Lanc, it was not a place his father discussed with much happy memory. His Grandfather had fonder memories, memories of a time when it was quieter and when his grandmother dwelt there with him, again these were daydreams from long ago and indeed useless to the young prince now. All Legolas was certain of was that it was the ruins of an old Silvan fortress, and by design it probably resembled a confusing rabbit warren, making the inner halls and sanctums hard to scout without getting caught.

For the most part of a week he had danced around the outside, watching the comings and goings with morbid curiosity. He was certain that there was an evil presence in the depths of the fortress, not least because of the arrival of powerful orc shaman - orc leaders that he and the guard had intelligence on - slippery characters who evaded detection at the best of times. So, why where they congregating in an old elven city? The answer seemed elusive to the prince, and frankly he really didn't care expressly why they where there, what he did care about was the haunting cries that emanated from the ghostly place.

It did not take Legolas long to decipher the sorrowful sounds as his mother, for not long after he heard them he heard the broken names of his family in her horrific cries. That revelation made listening to the distant shrieks almost unbearable, and it took him a great amount of self-discipline, and logic to prevail, to stop him running headlong into the obvious trap to find her.

To say that he was frantic with worry was an understatement, but for what little comfort it was, as long as he still heard his Nana's cries then he knew she was still alive and fighting. He just had to find a way to reach her.

Legolas had resolved that he would need to wait on the arrival of his Adar and the bulk of the army to launch an assault that would be in any way effectual; whether that be a forced negotiation or a siege, he wasn't sure? But he knew rocking up to the gates by himself and fudging on his lack of troops was ultimately too risky. Instead he played scout, staying high and just out of reach of detection.

It became evidently clear quite early on that something was afoot, something that pointed at a bigger ploy, and Legolas was determined to piece the puzzle together. He followed the orc leaders from time to time, listening into conversations but struggling to follow the hideous black speech effectively to decipher any real clues. Yet, he did figure some things out, there was most definitely a military presence. He had watched weapons pass in and out the fortress by the cover of night - worrying amounts of weaponry, enough to stage a substantial assault. This morsel of information confirmed his fears; his mother's captivity was just a trap to lure the King out of his strong defences. If they could get his father and the army isolated and launch a series of surprise attacks then they could do some serious damage, especially with his Adar in such a fragile frame of mind, he would be easy pickings if they dangled his wife before him in such a horrific state. In fact Legolas wasn't certain if even he could keep a calm head on his shoulders if such a ploy was used. It would be miraculous if he didn't sink into a bloodlust, because he certainly teetered on the brink of it every time he heard the faint shrieks from the fortress.

But by this wet and miserable evening he had heard the approach of elves and he decided it best to alert his father's scouts of his whereabouts. So, with one last glance back at the ruined city Legolas narrowed his eyes and slid back into the shadows...he would get inside soon enough, he just needed patience.

Swooping and hopping along the low branches Legolas found and followed the trail of three elven soldiers on horseback, and cut them off by the intersection of the river that flowed passed the old city. He had decided to stop them from going any further lest they risked detection, or at least further detection, for he was sure that their enemy knew the King's army was massing.

With all the nimbleness of a hawk, landing swift and true before his prey, Legolas dropped before the white horse and his familiar rider. The other two rider's aimed their bows at the new threat but Legolas' draw was quicker, yet the leading elf's eyes were sharper still.

"Legolas Thranduilion!" Aradan hissed, his silver arm raised to steady his two guards, "you have been evading us for days, and this is how you choose to make yourself known?"

"The evading was necessary at the time," Legolas answered quietly smirking at the mildly peeved former captain as he slipped from his horse. Aradan hastily wrapped the young elf up in the best embrace he could give.

"What have you found?" Aradan asked in a whisper, pulling away to eye the youth with a meaningful look.

"She's in the fortress," Legolas felt the words catch in his throat, like they were suffocating him, "she's alive...barely...or at least it sounds like it." Aradan nodded, his hand patting the boy's cheek as he gestured towards the horse.

"We need to get you back to your Adar," he ordered, but Legolas shook his head and took a step back towards the forest.

"I can do more work here. It is certainly a trap, they are angling for battle," Legolas cried and pointed resolutely in the direction of the fortress, "I can report back, I can get information to you as I discover it...Ada cannot argue with that."

"Legolas," Aradan reached for the boy and pulled him roughly back towards him, a warning look glinting in his eye as he dipped his head to whisper; "your Adar is in a terrible condition, I have attempted to keep him hidden from the warriors, but I don't know how much time he has - Legolas you are the heir, the people need to see you."

"What?" The prince's voice sounded incredibly childlike and fearful and he cringed at his ineptitude before these elder ellyn. "But...but I cannot lead the people."

"You may not have a choice in the matter," Aradan answered brokenly as he wound his arm around the youngster, guiding him towards the horse. "But, you are not alone, not so long as I am still around. Still, let us just hope your presence gives your Adar some clarity."

xXx

Legolas had not fought Aradan's request to bring him directly to his father, especially at the announcement that his Ada was in a bad way. He was terrified of what he might find when they ushered him through the swiftly built, and well hidden camp, bringing him straight to the tent erected for the King and his generals. His fear was only intensified when he found his father absent from the tactical meeting already underway.

The various heads of the King's army greeted their young prince with a bountiful amount of praise and relief. They quickly filled him in on what they knew and Legolas divulged what he had uncovered. His intuition was proved right, there was evidence of an army amassing but they were being difficult to hunt and track...using dark magic no doubt. Whatever they had brought with them, up from the south, or down from the north, or possibly the East, it was something dark and powerful and it aided in shrouding their advances from the usually astute woodland elves. This left them all at a distinct advantage, unless that spirit was broken or contained then they would be fighting blind. And the only two elves Legolas knew that stood any chance of unveiling such a powerful mask from the roots of the forest itself, would be his father and his sister. Only one of which had centuries of expertise in their abilities, and his father was obviously to unhinged to be allowed to confront such darkness...the exposure in itself could break him. Celairiel was to far away to be of any immediate use, and besides he would never put his little sister's life at risk! No, it would appear his only option was to shake his father out of whatever madness consumed him and, if he had to, he would go right into the belly of the beast with him - he was not losing either of his parents if he could help it.

After he was debriefed by the council, Aradan quickly found him again and gestured for him to follow. Legolas went without dispute, he had shown his face to the generals and kept a semblance of order in the ranks, but now he really had to face up to the most challenging part - wrestling with his father's weaknesses.

He wasn't really sure what he was prepared to witness when Aradan drew the thick fabric of the private rent partition back, but it wasn't a ghost in a chair whose cries were even weaker, yet more haunting, than those of his mother.

Legolas stepped closer to the pale, still, form of his Adar, his sharp eyes flashing over his sickly form and hallow eyes that seemed sunken deep into the purplish sockets of his skull. Thranduil's chest heaved, a rasp in his chest that sounded sickly, made Legolas cringe. A heavy fur blanket lay draped over his shoulders, but that didn't seem to still the trembling fits that vibrated across his whole frame, like some kind of fever had taken hold.

"What is wrong? Why is he sick?" Legolas cried, the spell that had left him dumbstruck seemed to break and he rushed to his father's side, lifting his cold hand in his.

"Fading, perhaps?" Aradan offered the suggestion but the hard look in his eyes suggested that he didn't quite believe it.

"He wouldn't fade if Nana was still alive...and she is still alive!" Legolas snapped in agitation, for he couldn't ever imagine his Ada ever leaving him alone, not with such peril upon their very doorstep.

"L-l-legolas...ion nin?" Thranduil murmured his frown deepening as he wrestled to shake the weariness from his head.

"Ada, you are awake," Legolas sighed in relief and gently shook his shoulders, "Ada, I am here, what is wrong?"

"How long was it this time?" Thranduil queried obvious ignoring his son and looking straight to Aradan, he had already uncorked a bottle of one of their strongest vintages with his teeth and was handing it off to his King.

"At least three hours," was Aradan's retort much to Legolas' confusion. "You took a turn not long after we arrived, it was the worst I had witnessed...Thranduil, I thought you were dying."

"It felt like it," Thranduil huffed as he hauled himself out of his chair, wobbling a little on shaky legs.

"What do you mean? Ada, what is happening to you?" Legolas blurted out, scrambling to his feet to glare accusingly at both his father and his second in command.

"Aradan would you leave us a moment," Thranduil quietly ordered his friend to go, which he promptly obeyed, leaving Legolas even more unsettled...something was very wrong.

"Ada, perhaps you should sit you don't look well?" Legolas offered, this time in a quieter voice.

"It is easier if I walk, the room doesn't spin so much," was his father's weak reply, "but maybe you should sit, I cannot imagine camping in branches is at all comfortable...sit, ion nin, you are making me nervous with your hovering."

"I will not sit until you tell me what is wrong!" Legolas demanded, his fraying nerves having reached their limit. "you are as white as a ghost, you look about an inch from death, and Aradan had me convinced that you were on your death bed...what is happening?"

"I do not know Legolas!"

The sharp tone set the youth back on his heels for a moment, his father's temper mingled with his frustration only made the snarl sound more pathetic, but it was enough to make him check his manners. So, he ducked his head and patiently waited for his Ada to come forward first, for he had learned long ago not to push answers from him.

"Did you find the whereabout of your Naneth?" Thranduil asked, taking another long slug from the bottle of wine.

"She is the old fortress, to deep in for me to navigate on my own, but she is alive," Legolas replied evenly, peeking up to watch as his Ada practically wilted with relief...but surely his father would know his mother was still alive?

"I cannot feel her anymore," Thranduil answered the unspoken question, the revelation sounding tragic and lamenting all at once, so much so that Legolas wasn't sure how to respond. "She is gone, they ripped her from me...our bond is dissolved, ion nin...they stole her from me!"

"That's not possible," Legolas shook his head as if shaking off the nonsense statement, "surely no one has the power to break what Eru binds together...Ada, surely it is a spell...a powerful spell?"

"I wish I could be sure of that," Thranduil answered bitterly, taking another long drink, shaking his head as he began to pace again in his aggravated state. "All I know is that whatever has their claws in her, has wrangled her apart from me, and if I resist I only feel whatever torture she must be facing. I do not know whether it is wise of me to keep fighting to pull her fea back to mine, I do not know if they torture her more for my struggling, but then what if I am taking the brunt of it for her instead? I feel like every decision I make affects her, and one wrong move could seal her fate...it is driving me to madness...I cannot wait here any longer...I will go to the fortress myself."

"Are you mad!" Legolas shrieked and reached to still his father's erratic pacing, "Adar, I am not doubting what you are feeling is real, I believe Nana is suffering just as you say, but whoever is responsible for this, they are manipulating you. They want you to walk into a trap, don't hand yourself over so easily."

"And who else will go into the fortress?" His father snapped fiercely and batted his son away, "do you have memory of it, ion nin? Do you have the skill to fight in close combat with dark spirits? Of course you do not, you are a child, and a reckless one at that."

"That is unfair, you do not mean that," Legolas muttered softly, his hands raised in a quietening gesture. "You are frightened and angry, we both are, but you need to think calmly Ada or else we could loss our chance at saving Nana."

"There will be no we, ion nin." Thranduil's tone was stark and cold, as he turned his frosty gaze on his son. "I am going alone to the fortress and you will head up the army along with Aradan, you will be enough of a diversion...it will give me time and clear passage to your Naneth."

"They will be expecting you to do that!" Legolas cried in exasperation, "Ada, please do not do this, there is something dark and foul in the woods; it is making you sick, it is blinding you, torturing you. Please reconsider, we can think of something together, something better!"

"I am not making a request off of you Legolas," Thranduil sighed heavily, as he reached for his armour and began slowly dressing himself, clearly choosing to ignore his child's pitiful pleas. "This is my last order, you will take my place and head up the attack, and you will do this because I am the only one who can face whatever is in that fortress...whether it be a trap or not it is the only solution."

"Ada, please don't leave me to do this," Legolas held back the sob in his voice as he pierced his Adar with pleading eyes, "I can't lose you too."

"That is enough," Thranduil hissed sharply swivelling on his youngster with a flash of anger in his hard eyes. "You may be a child to me Legolas, but you are a prince and heir of this Realm, and it is high time you grew up and recognised that all we ever do as heirs and rulers is take risks. You win and lose in every battle, but it is best not wasting time on sentimentality. Now, pick up your weapons and see to the final battle provisions, for in the morning you march...that is your orders, carry them out with a bit of dignity."

For a moment Legolas stood stalk still and in shock, almost like he had been struck and in a sense he had, for his father and never been so cold with him. His father had always been moved by his emotions, when all kinds of tactic had been employed in their many arguments and none had worked all he ever had to do was sway his father with a heartfelt plea, but now not even that worked. There was no dissuading him, his plan was solid - and entirely stupid - but he was sticking with it anyway.

"Ada," Legolas attempted again, with a soft a voice as he could manage. Thranduil paused for a moment to glare warily at his son. "You know I will do whatever you command me, I have always trusted your judgement, but if I speak with too much sentiment it is only because I love you and I am sorry if that is a show of weakness, it was not my intention to offend." With that parting statement expressed, Legolas dipped his head and nodded towards the camp, " I will see to those provisions, you can leave quietly, I will not alert the council of your plans until the very last moment...you will be long gone by then."

With one quick bow Legolas exited the tent leaving Thranduil to his own thoughts, but if the young elf had stayed himself a moment longer he would have witnessed the plummeting grief that stole the very strength from his father's bones. The King sank onto the lone chair, with the intention of tightening his boots, but found instead that his head fell into his hands.

He had said what he had to, the only thing that would separate his son from him - a harsh King's command.

Legolas would only have fought with him, wrestled with him, pushed him in all manner of decision making, until at last the child would have admitted the only option would be to go into the fortress. Legolas would have demanded to go in his place, or at least with him, and Thranduil could not allow that, for the very thought was disturbing enough. He would not be able to focus on the task at hand if he was to preoccupied with his son's life, at least with the army he had protection and Aradan had sworn to have him removed from the main fight if the worst befell them.

His words may have been tough, they may have been cruel, but it was the only way to keep him safe and in time he hoped his son would see it thus. Perhaps when he had his beloved Naneth returned to him, he would understand the sacrifice, for it was true, this was complete folly, it would be his life for hers...that is what they wanted.

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A/N - O.O uh oh...who think's Thranduil's in trouble?

Thank You to everyone who voted and commented!!! I'm so glad you didn't forget about Clara & Thranduil - they were worried.  Xoxo

Media:  Bleeding Out (SVRCINA COVER) - Imagine Dragons.
^^^
Really recommend this song and specifically the artist, she is absolutely stellar.