Thranduil walked to Legolas' room, his mind racing with hundreds of thoughts.

When Legolas had vanished after their fight, he had immedietly sent Haldir after him.

He had expected Haldir to bring him back, not go with him to Gondor. He had been gone for almost four months.

Haldir's news of Amarth's return and Alatar had filled Thranduil with fear. He had seen what Amarth had done to Legolas, and he knew what Alatar was capable of.

Of course I had expected both of them to be dead.
How they were still alive was beyond Thranduil.
For now he would focus on keeping his people, and his son safe.

He hadn't wanted to drug Legolas. But he had worried that if he had tried to restrain him while he was awake, there was the chance he could have lost control again and injure an elf.

Or worse...
Thranduil stood outside of his son's room. He knew that Legolas would be angry with him.
But he needed to understand that the only reason he was doing this was to protect him.

He didn't need to concern himself with Legolas' friends.
They could take care of themselves, they didn't need Legolas.

Thranduil entered the room, and saw the last thing he expected to see.
Legolas, armed with his weapons, and preparing to jump off the balcony.

Legolas stared at his father with a mixture of shock, and fear.
"Legolas!"
Thranduil ran towards his son.
Legolas turned away, took a deep breath, and jumped.

Thranduil hands shot out to grab him but only caught air.
He looked down in horror as Legolas disappeared in the trees.

The one image that remained his mind was Legolas' look of anger and defiance before he had jumped.

()()()

Legolas plummeted towards the trees faster than he had antiscipated.
He cursed under his breath as he landed hard on his right leg.

His hands scraped the bark of the tree he landed in as he tried to stop himself from falling out.

Once he was out of danger from falling, he quickly climed down.
Cursing everytime he put weight on his leg.

He knew that his father would be sending guards after him.
He needed to hurry.
Once he was on solid ground he started running.

Legolas ignored the pain shooting up his leg.
He would take care of it later.
His hands were bloody after being scraped against the bark.

Those were his only injuries and he considered them minor compared to what he'd suffered through before.

Besides, those were not his only problems at the moment.
He could hear guards coming.
Legolas looked behind him and cursed again.

He'd never be able to outrun them with his leg injured.
He looked around desperately for a place where he could hide.

There was a small thicket of bushes nearby.
It might work. Or they'll find you and bring you back. You can try to outrun them but it will only be a matter of time before they catch up.

Legolas heard them as they got closer.
Make up your mind!
Groaning inwardly he dove under the bushes and his himself under the branches.

He curled himself up into a ball and waited.
He watched as the elves ran by, none of them noticing him under the bushes.
Legolas tried to hold back the urge to scream.
His leg was killing him.

It had better not be broken.
He wouldn't be able to go anywhere if it was broken.
He could still here elves around.

Legolas cursed again.
He couldn't remembered a time when he had been this frustrated.
He was angry at his father, Haldir, his situation, it couldn't possibly get any worse.

Legolas knew he would have to wait for the elves to leave, or when there were less around.

He shifted uncomfortably under the bush, and not knowing what else to do, he cursed again.

()()()

"That's quite a story Aragorn."
Gimli shook his head as he thought over what Aragorn had just told him.

"Does anyone else know?"
He asked.
"I told Eomer personally, and I sent word to the Shire and Elrohir. As well as Dain. Your people should know by now."
Aragorn leaned back against the wall he was resting on.

"Legolas will inform his father about Alatar."
"How do you think he will take the news?"
Gimli asked.
"Thranduil is the most unpredictable person I have ever met."

Aragorn looked up at the darkening sky. Legolas had said he would be there before dark.
"Do you think that he will let Legolas go?"
Aragorn chuckled.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he tried some way to keep Legolas from going."

Is that why he's not here now?
"Well, I wish that he would hurry and get here."
Gimli threw a few small sticks into the small fire they had made.
"I don't want Amarth showing up without Legolas around."

"Do you need an elf to defend you from another elf?"
Aragorn asked teasingly.
"Of course not!"
Gimli shouted.
"It just seems more likely that Amarth wouldn't try anything with Legolas here."

"But surely you could handle one elf Gimli."
Aragorn pointed out.
"If I remember correctly, you and Legolas couldn't fight him on your own, or together. It wasn't until I came that you were able to stand against him."

"Alright, you made your point."
Aragorn looked in the direction of Mirkwood.
Why isn't he here yet?
"Aragorn!"
"What is it Gimli?"
"Someone's coming."

Aragorn immedietly stood to his feet. He looked in the direction Gimli had pointed to.
Sure enough, someone was walking towards them.

Aragorn tried to make out who it was in the dark.
He sighed with relief when he recognized Legolas approaching.

"I was beginning to think that you would never arrive."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes.
"Forgive me."
Legolas replied.
"I was held up."

"You're also hurt."
Aragorn noticed that Legolas was limping.
"Can't you go anywhere without getting yourself into trouble?"
Gimli asked.

Legolas smiled as he noticed the dwarf.
"When that "trouble" is your father, it is very hard to avoid my friend."
"Your father?"
Aragorn asked in confusion.

Legolas sighed.
"I will explain later. We cannot stay here, my father knows that I will have come here and he will send guards after me."
"What?"
Gimli exclaimed.

Aragorn was just as shocked, and confused, but they couldn't go anywhere until Legolas' injury was looked at.

"First I need to look at your leg."
"It is fine."
"I will decide if it's fine or not."
Legolas conceded as Aragorn inspected his leg.
"You are lucky my friend. It is not broken, just sprained."

"It feels broken."
Legolas muttered.
"It almost is."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes.
"What did you do? Fall out of a tree?"
"I jumped off of a balcony into a tree."

Gimli stared at him in disbelief.
"Why would you do that?"
"I will explain everything later. We need to leave, now."

"We're not going anywhere until you promise not to do anything  else that will involve you jumping off of balconies and breaking every bone in your body."
Aragorn told his friend firmly.

Legolas sighed.
"Alright. Can we please go?"
Aragorn nodded at Gimli and the dwarf put the fire out.
The three friends disappeared into the night.

()()()

Thranduil sat in silence at his throne. He had just heard from his guards that Legolas was nowhere to be found.

"Keep searching. I want a watch at the borders at all times."
The elves in front of him nodded and left.
Thranduil then sent for Haldir.

The elf arrived and bowed.
"Yes my lord?"
"I need you to go after Legolas. You know where he planned on going and you are best qualified for bringing him back."

Haldir nodded.
"Of course. I will leave at once."
Haldir turned to leave the room when he heard Thranduil's voice behind him.

"Haldir, do not return until you have him. And you will do whatever it takes to bring him back."
Thranduil narrowed his eyes.
"Do you understand?"

Haldir faced him and nodded.
"I understand. I will bring him back."