Broken (sequel to Caught)

Discoveries

Elrond, holding a stack of papers, knocked slightly nervously on the door to Legolas's room. It had been years since he'd done anything nervously. The last time was when Legolas had been brought to Rivendell directly from Cyras's hands. Now that he thought about it, most of the things that had made him sad or stressed within the last few millennia revolved around the prince. He could only imagine how Legolas felt if he himself was always this stressed about the events that came to pass and they weren't even affecting him directly.

The door opened, and Elrond found himself face to face with Herethin, who he had met on many occasions on his visits to Eryn Lasgalen. Being healers, they got along pretty well because they always had things to talk about from their studies.

"Hello, Herethin," said Elrond. The other elf smiled and bowed his head respectfully, standing back to let the half-elf into the room.

The sight that greeted him warmed Elrond's heart. Legolas was sitting with his legs spread apart, holding a book. Allenda sat between his long legs, pointing at something on a picture. Darean, though too old to be as enthralled by the book as Allenda was, was sitting on a chair with a smile on his face, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and listening to Legolas read.

"Legolas," Elrond said. Legolas and the children both looked up immediately. Allenda's face saddened because she knew that Elrond was an important grown-up elf and if he needed something then Legolas would have to go and help him and not stay with her and her brother. Elrond saw this in her eyes and gave a small smile.

"Never mind. It can wait until you're done."

Allenda beamed at him and Legolas began to read again. He was nearly at the end of the picture book, anyway.

A few minutes later, Legolas closed the book gently and looked to Elrond expectantly.

"Elladan and Elrohir and Estel should be here in a few minutes, as well as your father and Glorfindel. The twins, Estel and I did some research, and I want to just debrief everyone at the same time."

Legolas nodded, and Darean and Allenda looked at him for an explanation. He sighed.

"I am...sick, little ones, and Elrond has a cure for me," he said.

"Sick? Don't sick people, like, cough and sneeze and stuff?" asked Allenda.

"Not that kind of sickness, penneth. It's more of a sickness of the mind."

Allenda jerked back, nearly tumbling off the bed. Darean barely had time to grab her before she hit her head on the unforgiving ground.

"No! Mommy said that Daddy had a sickness of the mind...and he..." she broke into sobs. "I thought you were different than him! But all of you grown up men are the same!"

"Allenda! Allenda, what's wrong? What do you mean?" Legolas said, alarmed at the sudden change in attitude from the girl.

"Daddy had a sickness of the mind and he..." Darean trailed off, and Legolas's eyes widened.

"He hurt you?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Darean nodded, still holding his crying sister. He looked down in shame.

Legolas made an unintelligible noise of rage and jumped out of the bed, shrieking out words in elvish. Elrond and Herethin couldn't decide whether it was because he was too angry to notice or because he had a few choice words for Cyras and there were children in the room.

With a burst of anger-fueled adrenaline, the prince leaped up and was running down the hallway towards the entrance to the Last Homely

House. Immediately Elrond and Herethin were running after him, their feet pounding on the floors with barely heard light elven steps. They yelled to him at the top of their lungs to be reasonable and think for a moment.