Broken (sequel to Caught)

Pale

For the sake of this story, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond did not sail at the same time as Frodo and Gandalf. Also, I am going with book-verse on Haldir, so he didn't die.

Chapter 18

Elrohir, Elladan, and Aragorn were the only ones in the healing room when Thranduil finally arrived almost a week later. Elrohir was preparing the strengthening tea that they had given Legolas every two hours or so. Though it didn't seem to be helping, they continued to do it, since it was the only thing that they could do.

Elladan was running his fingers through Legolas's hair, sighing as he looked upon the pale face. There had been no change, and he appeared to be holding onto life by a thin thread, though no one knew why. He was pale and his breathing was shallow, and he hadn't moved once.

Aragorn was asleep. The three of them had stayed through the night with Legolas, watching over him, and eventually the man had dropped off in his chair.

Thranduil came in quietly, thinking that Legolas might be asleep. Elrond came in behind him.

Thranduil could not see Legolas's face from where he was standing, and he was afraid to go look. All he could see was his son's unmoving form on the bed, and the illusion that he was only sleeping and would wake and minute could be shattered when his face was visible. Taking a deep breath, Thranduil stepped forward.

The last time his son had been that pale, Legolas had been the equivalent of a four year old mortal and dying from torture wounds. And though it was good that he was not wounded, Thranduil was still shocked by the lack of color in his skin, and the stillness he had that was akin to a corpse.

Thranduil made an unintelligible sound of distress, putting a hand on his son's cold cheek and struggling not to cry. What had he done?

He had not killed his son, he had done worse. He had stopped him from living. Since he hadn't died he couldn't go to Valinor, and he couldn't go there by sailing, and he couldn't stay in Middle-Earth if he wanted to. He was suspended between life and death, and that was a fate worse than death itself.

"Has he awoken?" Thranduil asked quietly, trying not to wake Aragorn, who was slowly creeping back to awareness.

"No," Elrond said, and Thranduil nodded, having already known that but asked anyway, out of habit.

"Come, we can go to my study to talk," said Elrond, and Thranduil and the twins nodded. As they stood up, Aragorn woke up enough to comprehend what was going on, and he stood up as well, stumbling slightly on legs that hadn't walked in half a day.

When they reached Elrond's study, the five of them sat down, and everyone looked expectantly at Thranduil. He sighed.

"When Legolas left for Valinor," he said. The twins and Aragorn looked shocked, and they looked at Elrond, who nodded his confirmation. "There was a period of time when nothing happened. Then, a week ago, a member of my council, Anomeda, ripped the sphere of my neck and threw it on the ground. It shattered. It turns out she was actually Cyras."

"How—how on Arda? Legolas killed him right before my eyes!" Aragorn exclaimed, and Thranduil shrugged.

"I don't know," he said. "I don't know how he is alive, but he is. He's in my dungeons now."

Everyone nodded, and Thranduil sighed, suddenly looking very tired. His company had ridden the entire way to Rivendell with no sleep in order to get there as fast as possible.

"What are we going to do?" he asked, putting his head in his hands. "I can feel our bond, but it is so faint...his soul is very far away. Too far for me to reach."

"Then we will need to get a group together. With the strength of multiple people I'm sure you could get there," Elrond said, and Thranduil looked up at him.

"Like who?"

"Well, there's Celeborn and Galadriel, to start. Then Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, Estel, and myself. Then there's the remaining members of the Fellowship. And Haldir, perhaps? Do you think that would be enough?"

Thranduil thought about it for a moment before nodding. Elrond stood.

"I will write a letter to all of them immediately," he said, and Elladan and Elrohir also stood.

"Come, King Thranduil," they said in unison. "We will bring you to your room."

Thranduil nodded gratefully and stood. Aragorn walked away, saying something about watching Legolas. The group went to their separate destinations.

O:o:O

Gimli, the last of the needed people to arrive, was there a week and a half later. At that point, Legolas had been in his coma for two and a half weeks, and he looked exactly the same as the day he had entered it.

When Gimli arrived he was brought to a room with the others, who were Galadriel, who took most of his attention, Celeborn, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, the only hobbits from the Fellowship left since Frodo sailed, Haldir, Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn, Elrond, Glorfindel and Thranduil. Elrond and Thranduil immediately explaining the situation to them. Legolas had been moved into a larger room so that when they tried to pull him back to life, there was enough space for everyone. Thranduil held his son's limp hand tightly within his own.

"It will take all of our strength combined to reach him," Thranduil said. "But we do believe it is possi—"

The door opened, and two young faces peeked around the corner of it. Seeing the bright green eyes, Thranduil immediately jumped up, drawing his sword and pointing it at Darean, who had entered with his sister and was now staring, wide-eyed, at the Elvenking.

"Cyras!" Thranduil yelled. "You think me a fool! You were even so stupid to let your eyes show when draping yourself in illusions!"

"Thranduil! No!" Elrond said, holding his friend back. "This is Darean and Allenda, the children of Cyras, not Cyras himself. They are my guests."

"Your guests?" Thranduil spat. "You have taken in the children of the one that broke my son the worst!"

"They are not like him, Thranduil," Elrond said, eyes begging him to understand. "They love Legolas! They were spending time with him right before he collapsed. He seemed to enjoy their company, as well."

Thranduil paused, looking at Legolas's still form. There was a tense silence as they wondered whether he would give in or not.

"Okay," Thranduil said, letting out a deep breath. "Alright. If Legolas really liked them."

Everyone let out the breaths they didn't know they had been holding, and Elrond turned to the children.

"Why have you two come?" he asked, and Darean, who still looked very afraid, said in a shaking voice.

"You said you would tell us news about him, but we never heard anything..." he said, and Elrond nearly facepalmed at his own stupidity. How had he forgotten to keep Darean and Allenda updated?

"We were just trying something that might help him wake up now," said Elrond. He motioned to two seats that were conveniently beside him. "Come, sit with us. Perhaps you can help."

The children came and sat shyly, Darean's gaze never once leaving Thranduil, who had re-sheathed his sword and was now sitting simply looking at his son. His quiet voice filled the room.

"Well then, let us begin."