Broken (sequel to Caught)

Gone

When Allenda woke up, there were still arms around her, and she smiled at the unusual feeling. No one hugged her but Darean, and his arms were small and skinny. These were thicker and stronger, and there was something comforting in that. She snuggled into the warm chest and peeked out over the edge of the arms.

Her big brother was sitting in a chair, his head lolling to the side as he slept, drooling a little. She giggled as she watched him sleep in the uncomfortable position he was in, with his arms and legs splayed at odd angles.

The door slid open, revealing the grown-up elf from before. Elrond, right? And Legolas's daddy came in behind him, as well as three other elves. Two of them were identical, and they had the gray eyes and dark hair of Elrond, but they were slightly shorter and had younger faces. The last elf was as tall as Legolas's daddy, with golden hair and bright blue eyes. Allenda looked at them, wide-eyed.

"Hello, Allenda," said Thranduil, seeing the little girl awake, cradled to Legolas's chest. Her big brown eyes looked up at him. "How are you?"

"Good," Allenda said, whispering so she wouldn't wake up her brother or Legolas. She was unsuccessful however because the elf behind her was a notoriously light sleeper, even when he was exhausted.

Legolas's eyes fluttered open.

"A...da?" he whispered, and Thranduil smiled.

"Ion-nin," he said, coming to sit on the bed next to the two. He brushed some hair away from Legolas's forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Legolas said, and he attempted to push himself up but felt an unusual weight on his chest. He looked down and blinked, noticing the smiling Allenda sitting on his for the first time.

"Hey," he said, and she smiled, leaning over him and giving him a hug that made her look like a starfish, her limbs spread out on his chest and stomach.

Legolas chuckled at the incredibly cute gesture, and he took her in his arms and sat up. Elladan hurried to push up the pillows to support his back, and Legolas smiled in gratefulness.

Having finished getting Legolas comfortable, Elladan turned to find himself face-to-face with the sleeping Darean. And we all know what Elladan does to people that are sleeping in his presence.

He pokes their faces.

Darean shifted slightly as one long finger poked his cheek, but made no other movement. Elrohir swatted his twin's hand away from the boy's face, but Elladan continued.

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

"By the Valar, Elladan!" Darean finally exclaimed, slapping the elf's hand away sharply. He didn't know exactly which twin it was through his groggy eyes, but he couldn't imagine Elrohir doing such a thing.

Elladan laughed, but he was cut off by a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, the person stepped in. Elrond was going to let the incident go, but Thranduil opened his mouth to berate the elf. No sound left his lips, however, when he noticed the slightly disheveled look of the elf.

"King Thranduil, an elf from Eryn Lasgalen is at the gate. He requests your presence immediately."

Thranduil looked rather confused but he nodded, hurrying out the door and down the hallways toward the gate. When he arrived, an elf in the typical greens and browns of the woodland realm rushed to him.

The elf was rather taken aback by the crownless king, but he ignored that as he began to relay his message to his king.

"My King, Cyras," he spat out the name. "Has escaped from the dungeons."

There was absolute silence for a moment. Even the passing Imaldris elves froze, having heard the news.

"What?" Thranduil whispered. "How?"

"We do not know, my King. The guards claim they opened the gate to give him food and he simply disappeared."

Thranduil breathed shakily. Valar, had that man not caused his son enough pain? He could be anywhere! He could be plotting another way to recapture Legolas right now!

"Go to into the House and find Prince Legolas. Any elf will be able to direct you to his room. He must be informed of this immediately," Thranduil said, and the elf nodded, scurrying away to do his bidding.

Thranduil felt his breathing speed up as the realization set in. Cyras was back. He was back and he could easily come an snatch his beautiful Legolas away from him, and there was no guarantee that Legolas's soul, or his body, for that matter, would survive this time.

His reason to live could be taken away from him any day now.

Any day now.

Thranduil felt a cold sweat building up under his skin, and he shivered. All the elves around him had broken out of their daze and the word was spreading like wildfire: Cyras was back.

Any day now.

Why had he asked that servant to tell Legolas instead of going himself? Perhaps it was just because he was so used to ordering people around.

Any day now.

Or perhaps he couldn't bear the thought of having to tell his son that his worst nightmare could become reality any day now.

Any day now.

Perhaps he should go in and find Legolas. He would want his Ada there when he found out, right? To hold him and comfort him and tell him that he would not let anything get him?

Any day now.

But if he left now, maybe the elf would return to find him gone, and chaos would ensue.

Any day now.

He should stay here.

Any day now.

Any day now.

Any day—

"My King!"

The elf had returned, and he was running down the steps to the Last Homely House like he was being chased by a pack of rabid wargs.

Thranduil thought he might pass out as he heard the elf's next words.

"Prince Legolas is gone."