__King Thranduil's Point of Veiw__

The door clicked shut as the injured Captain left. I probably should have asked someone else to see to it, but Thaladir cared more about my son than any other captain in my command. I sank back down. How could this have happened? I wondered about the strange elf he had seen the night before. Not many elves have golden hair in this part of the world. It couldn't be... No, that wouldn't be possible. My oldest son was killed years ago. It couldn't have been him.

The mere idea of Calithilon suffering to the point where he was pushed into attacking a village made me ill. The old pain of his and his mother's lose wrenched my chest and I hung my head as the tears came. I couldn't stand to lose my youngest as well.

I pushed my chair back, standing. I had to look for him myself. I made the mistake of waiting once and I didn't plan not making it again. I opened the door only to find Barhador. He stepped back when he saw me.

"I was just about to see where you were, my lord," he said. "People are asking where you are."

"Legolas is missing," I told him as I pushed passes him. "I'm going to find him."

"But my lord!" he exclaimed, trailing behind me. "You are needed here!"

My fists clenched and I stopped. Anger ignited in my chest and I spun around. He jumped back. "Not as much as he needs me out there. I won't sit back the way I did last time. He's missing and is likely more injured than he was. I'm sorry, but I'm placing him, the prince who has sacrificed his very spirit for everyone in this place, above the petty issues of the kingdom."

And with that, I stormed off. No one was going to tell me signing papers and listening to the petty arguments of trade routes was more important than my son. I made straight of the stables, ignoring the odd looks from those I passed.

I reached it and my elk was already there as if she knew I would need her. I bridled her as quickly as possible, grabbed a provision pack, and set out, heading straight of the village Thaladir said had been attacked. I had to fine him.

Night slowly fell with no sign. The dark of the trees pressed against my fea and I wondered once again how my son was able to handle it. It was suffocating. Still, I pressed on. If he could fight and protect our kingdom out here, then I could hold myself together enough to find him.

I rode through the night, hoping I could reach the village within a day or two. I would start there and find the place Thaladir had described the tracks beginning.

Morning came and I slid off the elk's back, allowing her to walk beside me to give her a rest. As much as I wanted to arrive, I knew better than to push the animal too far. The day passed slowly, each minute reminding me of the time I was too late. Not a sound reached my ears outside of the stiff rattling of the dead branches. It ran shivers up my spine, despite the sun's rays.

Finally, I pulled the elk to a halt beside me and pulled out the pack I pulled out of the stables when I left. It was an emergency pack, with preserved food as well as bandages and some dried herbs, prepared to sit in the stable in case someone needed to offer aid without much time to prepare. It wasn't much, but it was something.

I pulled out the small blanket and some jerky, settling myself on the ground for now. The trees weren't healthy here and I didn't feel safe in these branches. When did it get so caliginous out here? I pulled the blanket around my shoulders and my elk came and laid down beside me. I looked around, wondering if Legolas was seeing much the same things I was. I hoped not. The thought of him being in the forest by himself, injured and likely weaponless made me more anxious to find him.

I tried to push the image from my mind and closed my eyes. There was nothing I could do until morning. I let my mind drift, trying to find something that resembled rest to pass the night. I tossed and turned on the ground. Nightmares of my wife's body, mutilated, bloodied and torn, plagued my mind and I woke with a cry, pushing myself back against a tree. My lungs heaved as I took in my surroundings, slowly piecing together where I was.

Then footsteps padded the ground. I jumped up, unsheathing the sword I hadn't taken off, holding it out before me, hands shaking.

A figure stepped out of the trees, hands raised. "It's just me, my king. It's Captain Thaladir."

I waited until I could see him then lowered the weapon, resheathing it and pushing my hair out of my face. I began picking up the blanket and rolling it away, anything to hide my body's trembles. "You were ordered to stay, captain."

I glanced back as he gave a bow. "Forgive me, my king. But you ordered me to rest. You did not tell me how."

So this is where Legolas picked up his quick-wit. I turned around. "What are you doing here, Captain? You're injured and supposed to be putting together search parties."

Thaladir nodded. "And I did. They are just behind us as well as doubling those at the border in case he comes back on his own. And forgive me, but I heard you had torn out of the stronghold in a frenzy by yourself. I could not rest easy knowing both prince and king were in the forest."

I turned back to the elk. I couldn't help the small smile at his loyalty as I placed the bridle on the beast. "Well, you found me. What do you intend to do now?"

He shifted uncomfortably. He was used to receiving orders from those above him, not giving them. He cleared his throat. "I would ask if I might accompany you. Two is better than one. Saes, my king. I need to help you find him."

The last sentence came out whispered and I realized how much guilt he must be carrying. I nodded. "Alight, Captain. I will allow it. But should your injury becomes a hindrance, I will have no choice but to send you back. We don't have enough Captains in our ranks with your skill and can't afford to lose you." I could only hope he understood through that that I do not blame him.

"Yes, sir," he said. "Thank you, sir." He turned and whistled. A horse's hooves clopped and the animal appeared beside him a moment later. I shook my head at the sight of the supplies. He came prepared at least. That blanket last night wasn't ideal. I mounted and he followed my example soon after, following behind as we made our way further into the forest.

We reached the village that night. The villages stared as I rode through the center of their tiny town. The building offered some cover, but I still felt exposed without the trees.

We rode along and no one attempted to stop us. As we reached the far side of town smoke began to fill the air. My stomach flipped as the charred remains slowly came into view. I gave the elk a gently tap with my heal and she picked up her pace. This was the last place my son was seen. I needed to know every detail of it.

I dismounted and ran towards it, falling to my knees beside it. The soot quickly covered my clothes and hands as I moved boards around hoping for the slightest hint of him.

"Over here, my lord," Thaladir said, crouched down on the other side of the wreckage. I stood and made my way over as quickly as I could, my heart thudding in my chest. I crouched down beside where he pointed to the ground. "This is where I found the bow. Tracks led this way." He stood and lead the way back to a small patch of woods.

We studied the ground, but only picked up on faint traces here and there. It had been far too long and we simply couldn't follow it far into the woods. I went back to the tree line and followed it in again, but it simply disappeared. I climbed the tree where several branches had been broken and were able to pick up on a trail.

"I'm onto something," I told Thaladir. He followed me from below, not wanting to aggravate his injury climbing. But the trail twisted and turned, coming back to where we began. I climbed back down when the branches became whole again. I landed beside Thaladir with a sigh.

"It was probably the trail you made trying to find him, "I concluded. It didn't make any sense. Legolas must have been hurt for him to leave his men the way he did. How could he have covered his tracks so well?

I let myself sink to my knees. "All of them," I whispered. "I've lost all of them." No, Legolas might still be out there.

"I-- I am sorry, my lord..." Thaladir whispered head bowed. "It was my responsibility to get him to Imladris and I failed that duty. I am ready to take whatever punishment the king sees fit." He bowed and I looked up at him.

I took a deep breath, breathing in the very air my son must have. "I release you of your duties as captain." His face crumpled even as he tried to hide it. It was his whole life, everything he had ever strived for, Legolas had told me as much. "Until further notice, you will command and lead the search parties. I want every villager in this town questioned." Tears came to my own eyes as I spoke. "I gave up too quickly on the queen. That mistake will not happen again. We will not stop until he is found, understood?"

A light came into the former captain's eyes, burning with a need to search under every leaf in the forest to find him. "Understood, my lord. Thank you."

I nodded and we headed away for the woods. Questioning would start now.