{}«Legolas' POV»{}

Darkness presses down on me. Faces appear through the dark veil, sinister faces craving the suffering of others. I try, but I can not move. Chains bind me to the cold wall and I am unable to suppress a shiver. They advance, devices of torture in their bloodied hands. I can't move and they begin to laugh, horrid, shrinking laughs and I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting against the chains just to protect my ears from it with no success.

And then it stops...

I find myself glancing up. The faces have left, but in its place, an even more horrific scene begins to play out before me. Adar is backed against the wall opposite of me, a cloaked figure standing over him, sword drawn. My own voice sounds throughout, but adar doesn't seem to hear. My cries are utterly ignored as the ellon drives his blade through my adar's flesh, twisting it as he rips it out. Adar's eyes grow wide, blood spills from the wound. I call out, desperately trying to get his attention, but his gaze does not meet mine...

I jolt up with a start. My chest heaves as I attempt to gain breath, taking in the familiar surroundings to calm my rapid heartbeat.  It's the same dream every time. It has been well over a month since he was killed and I was crowned king, but the nightmares still plague my mind mercilessly. Every time I watch adar die and I am helpless to stop it. My hand shakes slightly as I reach for the pitcher of water at my bed side. I pour a glass and swallow the drink, instantly regretting it as it leaves a stale taste in my mouth.

The last month has been utter turmoil. The weight of the crown weights down on me more than I thought  it would. Aragorn only stayed for a week before returning to his own kingdom's needs and I could no longer count on his immediate advice.

I sit up again when someone pounds on the door. "My lord," I recognize Barhador's voice. He was my adar's most trusted advisors and friend and has become one of mine as well.

"Come in." I tell him, climbing out of bed.

The door opens and he continues. "I apologize for having to wake you, but there was another attack. The survivors have come here. The injured are being cared for now. May I suggest that the others move into the west wing?" 

I sigh inwardly raking my hand through my disheveled hair. "Yes, and sent for Captain Thaladir please. Have him meet me in my study." 

"As you wish my lord." He says and takes his leave. 

Changing into something more presentable, I open the back door to my study, suppressing a slight shiver as the cool air greets me, the fire having gone out hours ago.

The sound of commotion reaches my ears from where I have taken a seat at my desk. It is a sound I have become accustomed to in the passed month since I have become King. The cries that echo from elves that have lost their loved ones and the scared screams from the elflings that aren't old enough to understand why they can't have their adar or naneth.

Where have I gone wrong to allow so much suffering amongst my people? I should have gone after Calithilon when I had the chance. I should have sent an arrow through his heart while he ran. I-

The glass in my hand shatters followed by the door opening and Thaladir entering.

"You sent for me?" He asks, and then glances at the shattered glass and blood that trickles down my hand. "Legolas, are you alright?"

I quickly pull a cloth over my hand. "Yes, the glass must have been weakened or something." I can see he doesn't fully believe my story as his next statement shows.

"Legolas, you can't go on like this." He says taking a seat in front of me. "Elheal's worried about you as am I." He pauses before continuing. "I understand what it is you're going through you know."

"Your adar died a valiant death." I answer, my voice low. "He wasn't slaughtered in an ambush. How could you possibly understand?" I know my statement is an unfair one.

He sighs. "Do you honestly think that I cared how he died when the soldier told me?" He asks but there is no anger in his voice, rather, it is laced with a distant sorrow.

Neither of us speak for a moment, then he finally breaks the silence. "You sent for me, I assume you wish for a report on the latest attacks?" 

I nod and he begins. "As you know, they have the mountains under siege, but they have just now begun to launch attacks from it. I am worried for the villages along the southern border though, we simply don't have the means to keep them back."

"What are you suggesting?"

He sighs. "I think we should evacuate the outlying villages. 

I nod. "I have had the same thought."

"Shall I sent the word?"

"Yes, but we should try to not raise too much of an alarm." Although, not raising an alarm would be impossible. The people know too well what is happening.

Thaladir nods and starts to turns to leave, he hesitates briefly as he reaches the door but then continues out.

The door slides shut and my head drops into my hands as I slouch over the deck. The bottle at the edge of it catches my eye. Leaning forward, I grab it and pop the lid off. The glass is still in scattered pieces in front of me and I ignore it, drinking straight from the bottle. Three swigs in, I slam it back on wood surface and lean back in the chair. I must figure out a way to protect the borders. My captains are doing all they can, but our numbers decrease every week and I worry that soon we won't have enough to launch a counter attack.

There is another knock on the door. "Come in."

Barhador steps in, breathing heavily in attempt to catch his breath. The ellon rarely takes part in physical activity.

"What is it Barhador?" I ask.

"My lord, word just arrived. Orcs have attacked another village on the southern border."

I freeze. "The southern border?"

"Yes, they were caught unawares..."

His voice fades from my consciousness. Elhael left to help those that could not travel here. I had been reluctant to let her go but she insisted that it was her duty. Valar please let her be alright.

"My lord?"

I shake my head to clear it. Barhador stands before me. "Are you well?"

I nod. "Yes, I am fine. Bring me my bow and knife, I'm riding out there at first light."

"But my lord, you are needed here for-"

"For what exactly?" I question, standing from my seat. "To sit here while you tell me my people are dying! To listen to their cries whilst I sit here! I'm tired of being idle Barhador. I'm going where I may be of more use." I brush past him, heading to retrieve my weapons myself.

<><><><><><><><>

Thaladir and his ellyn and I ride hard and after several days we start to see signs of destruction. The Orcs have ventured further and further across the borders with each breach. The smell of smoke reaches my nostrils as we near one of the villages.

A place that would be on the verge of spring blooming, has been turned to ash. Surviving elves camp on the outskirts of their former homes. I dismount as the chief walks up to us.

"Mae govannen." He says and I return the greeting.

"What happened?" I ask even though I already know, I like to hear it from someone who had experienced it firsthand.

"Orcs came from the north. They came with touches, setting flames to our houses and shooting a rain of arrows before turning and running. They were gone as quickly as they came."

"How many are dead?"

"Several I'm afraid."

"And the injured?"

"More than I can number, unfortunately. That is the only building that wasn't touched by the flame." He points to the structure at the far end of the village.

I nod and head for it. I push the feeling of failure down as I look at the devastation that I have allowed to happen. The cries of anguish hit me when I walk into the building.

I scan the room of elves that lay across the floor. Loved ones knelt beside them, caring for them with a love that cannot be taught or earned. A wave of sorrow washes over me as I watch a father or a mother gently care for their hurting child or a wife care for her husband.

A small elfling catches my eye as a healer of the village walks past me. "Where are her parents?" I ask, pointing to the elfling in huddled in the corner.

"I'm afraid they didn't make it my lord." The healer says and goes back to her work.

I look back at the child, so young, too young to have to go through such trial. I wander over to the corner, sitting on the floor next to her. She looks up, puzzled.

"You're the king." She says, her red rimmed eyes trained on the circlet on my head.

I smile at her. "Yes, I am."

She looks up at me. Her grey eyes glistening with fresh tears. "Why didn't you stop them from taking my ada and naneth?" She asks, and wipes her nose with her sleeve. There is no anger in her voice and I inwardly cringe, unable to answer. Neither of us speak for a moment until she looks up at me again. "You lost your ada and naneth too didn't you?"

I nod, blinking back my own tears.

"It hurts," She says almost as if voicing my own thoughts. "But Edenel," --she looks over to the healer I talked to when I first came in-- "says that they are waiting for me across the sea. Yours are there too I'm sure."

"Yes." Is all I trust myself to say.

The door opens and Thaladir walks in. He spots me and walks over. "Legolas, we know which way they went. I only wait your permission to hunt them down."

I nod. "I'm coming." I tell him and turn to the girl. "I must go."

She nods in understanding and I get up to leave. Just before I make it to the door, her voice stops me in my tracks.

"King." She says, grief strangling her soft voice. "Please don't let them take anyone else's naneth and ada away." Her request percies my heart and I walk out unable to respond for the lump in my throat.

Thaladir follows, we mount and ride out. 

A/N Two updates in one day! Bet you weren't expecting that! Don't get used to it, it probably won't ever happen agian. XD But you never know...