When Legolas awoke, he didn't remember much of what happened after the battle. All he remembered was the sound of a war horn that was neither his nor the Orcs'. Then an arrow pierced his shoulder. He'd dropped to his knees. A retreating Orc ran by and slashed its sword at him. Legolas remembered falling into darkness. He remembered hands rolling him onto his back, and Aragorn's and Gimli's voices.

But now there was no one in the room - his room. He began to sit up, but cried out and fell back onto the bed. The gash across his front really burned. Anmellia ran in.

"My lord, are you alright?" Anmellia asked kneeling beside the bed.

"I'm alright. I shouldn't have tried to sit up."

"I can help you." Anmellia helped Legolas sit up.

"Anmellia, has Aragorn arrived yet?"

"Yes, my Lord. Two days ago. He and the Dwarf are in another room."

"Bring them here."

Anmellia bowed and went to retrieve Aragorn and Gimli. Legolas rested his head on the bed's headboard. It wasn't very comfortable, the headboard being made of branches woven together, but there was a nice head-rest kind of spot on it. Two days? He'd been out for two days? The door opened and Aragorn and Gimli walked in. Legolas smiled at them.

"Aragorn, I'm so glad you could make it," he greeted his friend.

Aragorn chuckled and stood next to Legolas, Gimli at his side. Legolas and Aragorn clasped forearms as Legolas and Gimli had when Gimli arrived. It was a formal greeting between friends, and one that displayed their close relationship.

"Legolas, my friend, I worried about you. I don't think I've ever seen you so injured."

"It is war, Aragorn. Did you expect to find me with no injuries?"

Aragorn laughed. The three friends talked for a while. But soon they began to talk about the war at hand. They discussed what men were to be stationed where, who could do what, and - of course - other battle strategy. The men were interrupted by the sound of war horns - Orc horns. Legolas began to get up, but Aragorn stopped him.

"Legolas, you are wounded. I will not have you go out in battle just to be killed. You have no heir yet. There would not be anyone at the ready to replace you."

"You would. Now let me up," Legolas protested.

"No, lad. Stay," Gimli replied, agreeing with Aragorn.

Aragorn and Gimli ran off to join the battle. Legolas sank back into the bed and rested his head on the pillows. He wanted to fight, but he knew Aragorn was right. He was in no shape to go into battle if he couldn't even sit up without pain. Nonetheless, Legolas kept a dagger under his pillow. He soon drifted into sleep.

Legolas dreamt of his father. He saw Thranduil's icy blue eyes and long blonde hair. His crown sat atop his head as it had always done. The crown had been given to Legolas, but he never wore it. He would always think of it as his father's. He instead wore his own circlet, which he felt suited him much better - he would probably only wear the crown on special occasions.

In his dream, Legolas saw his father. Thranduil approached his son and put a hand on his shoulder. Legolas fell to his knees, and tears formed in his eyes.

"I am sorry, Ada," Legolas confessed. "I am no leader."

"My son, you have nothing to be sorry for. On your feet!" Legolas immediately stood, shocked at his father's kind words. "Legolas, you are leading them well. I left you without warning and threw you into this job. I know that it is not an easy task, and I know you are not doing as well as you would like. But it has only been five years. You had just ended one war and have already begun another. You are stressed, you are busy, and you are alone. You have no one at your side to help you. Legolas, you are not strong in this moment. But you are holding out in desperate times and I am proud to call you my son. You are new to this and it will take time to get used to it. But you will get the hang of it. You will make a fine king someday. Do not despair."

Legolas felt tears streaming down his face. Thranduil wiped them away and embraced his son.

"I love you, Ada," Legolas said for the first time in hundreds of years.

"I love you, too, Little Leaf," Thranduil agreed, using Legolas' long forgotten nickname that his mother had given him. "But our time together grows short. Now go and protect our kingdom. I know you will not fail me."

Legolas was awoken by a large crash. A healer ran into his room.

"My king, I'm sorry to rush this. We wished you to have some rest, but war is upon us."

The woman placed her hands over Legolas' wounds, chanted some sort of spell, and Legolas' wounds were healed. The young Elf jumped up and dressed for battle. He took his bow and arrows in his hand, but the woman stopped him.

"My lord, these will not help you today. You will need a sword."

Legolas didn't particularly like using swords. They were large and heavy. He preferred his lighter bow and arrows, and when he had to use a blade daggers suited him just fine. But he knew the healer was right. Legolas pulled a sword from his closet and raced down to the battle.

***

Two comments for an update.