A dull throb was all he could comprehend as he pulled himself from the grasps of oblivion. His head pounded in time with his pulse, as did his arm and chest. He groaned, forcing his eyes open. The light blinded him and he quickly closed them again. What happened?

He groaned and opened his eyes again, blinking until his eyes adjusted to the light and the landscape around him came into focus. He was in a tent, gray fabric covered the sky. He tried to rise, only to have the pain paralyze him and stop the choked cry in his throat.

"Easy there," a man said, laying his hand on the captain's shoulder. Thaladir looked to his right, the man had dark, shoulder length hair and when he smiled, a gap showed between his two front teeth. Thaladir blinked, brow furrowed in confusion.

"What...?" he started only for a cough to cut him off, dry and corse. He closed his eyes as his head pounded. Finally, he slowly opened them again as someone knelt beside him. A woman smiled at him, a cup of steaming liquid in her hands. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her.

She set the cup on the ground and reached her hand forward, brushing his hair back from his forehead and letting her hand rest there. He closed his eyes at the coolness of her hand to his forehead, letting out a breath. His mind felt thick and muffled. She moved her hand away.

"We didn't think you'd wake," she said and he opened his eyes. She reached for the mug and placed her hand beneath his head, helping him up enough so he could drink. The tea tasted good in his dry mouth, the heat soothed his throat.

"Hannon le..." he said. She gave him a sideways look. "Thank you."

She nodded. "It's the least we could do after what happened."

He looked at her again and realized where he had seen her before. She was the bartender at the inn they had been staying at. He vaguely recalled smoke...and heat. He remembered the panic, the desperate need to get out and then falling, but then everything went blank. "What happened? Where are my men? Are they well?"

Her smile faded. "Someone attacked the inn. Not an uncommon occurrence these days, but they were able to light the bar ablaze and it's been so long since we've had rain..." her voice trailed and she looked to the ceiling, blinking as her eyes turned red. Then she looked back up. "We barely got out of there alive. We have not seen any of your men among the injured, but there were elven bodies found amid the wreckage. Ten of them I believe. You were the only once we were able to save and we truly didn't believe you would make it. I am sorry."

It was like someone had hit him in the chest with a club. Ten? Where was Legolas? Was he one of them? Panic rose in his lungs and his head spun. He tried to rise again, but she held him down, gently. "You're not well enough, sir. You must rest for a while longer."

"I need... find Legolas..." the words came out slurred as his vision blurred. But his prince needed him. He needed to know if he had lived.

"We are doing all we can for the injured," the man said. Thaladir had forgotten he was there and suddenly realized he was holding him down as well. He tried to struggle out of the man's grasp, but the man was too strong and the injuries had drained Thaladir of his strength.

"Saes," the elven captain begged. "Saes--hir nin Legolas. Saes!" his mind was too gone to realize he had slipped into the elven dialect and the man and woman could no longer understand him. Pain washed over him, but he fought against it, his duty ran in his blood. He needed to find his prince before he could even think of resting.

"If your friend is injured, they are doing all they can for him, I give my word," the man said, but it wasn't good enough for the captain. The woman placed her hand beneath his head and raised it again, placing a different mug to his lips. He spit the first sip out but was forced to swallow the next as they held him there.

His limbs began to feel heavy as his vision darkened. Then it all slipped away as a swath of darkness overtook him.

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

He walked among the bodies, searching for an elven face. He caught sight of one and hobbled over to it, falling to his knees as he pulled his companion into his lap. The body was cold, his lips, bloodless. Blood splattered the soldier's torn coat. Thaladir cried out, holding him close. He had served with him for almost a millennia. He couldn't be gone. Tears fell from his face, dropping onto his brother-in-arms stiff cheeks. His torso throbbed from the pressure against the wounds, but he couldn't bring himself to care as guilt grappled his heart. Had he not gone against Legolas' instincts?

He cried until he had no more tears left to cry, then he looked up. The rest of his companions were laid in a row beside him, their eyes closed and their clothing torn. He laid his brother down and searched each of their faces as he passed them, looking for the prince and mourning their loss. He came to the last one with no sign of the prince. He whispered a farewell to each of them, and then rose to find someone who could tell him where the injured were being kept. He prayed Legolas was among them.

Several long tents had been set up not far from where the dead lay. He walked in, instantly breathing in the thick smell of blood and herbs used to treat them.

"Can I help you?" a woman asked as she rang out a rag and placed it over a man's forehead. Thaladir nodded. "Yes, I'm looking of an elf and was told he may have been brought here."

The woman shook her head and his heart dropped. "I'm sorry but none of the elves made it. We did all we could, but the fire started nearest to them and it was too late by the time anyone realized what was happening."

"How many elves were there?" he asked, his voice cracked as he had already counted the bodies.

"Eleven, plus you. Most had stopped breathing before they were pulled out, and two of them died that night. There was nothing we could do for them, I am sorry."

Thaladir nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Was there a golden-haired one, do you know him? He would have been just shorter than me."

She shook her head. "No, all of the elves had darker hair like yourself."

Grief tore at his chest and he walked out. He scanned the area. Most of it was open plain, dotted with only a patches few trees here and there. The remains of the Inn sat in a heap to his left.

He made his way over and began to search, hoping, maybe by some miracle of the Valar that the prince had perhaps survived and simply needed help. He began to dig, tossing the still smoking boards out the way, his hands quickly becoming black with soot. His wounds throbbed, but he couldn't stop. He picked up the remainder of the door, pushing it to the side. Below it, something medal lay in the ashes. He picked it up with a trembling hand.

Legolas' sword.

"Legolas!" he called out. He had to be here. He couldn't have just disappeared like that. "Legolas!" Still no answer.

He began to dig with more vigor than before, tossing boards and broken bedframes aside in a desperate attempt to unbury the prince. "Legolas! Oh, Valar, please let him be alive." He tossed another piece of wood, sending it crashing behind him. "Legolas!"

Sweat dripped from his face, his shirt and bandages stuck to him. He came to the other edge of the inn and stopped. He swayed slightly but forced himself to call on the last of his strength as he studied the ground before him.

Tracks, no more than a day or two old had been pressed into the ground. He knelt beside them. They started just inside the wreckage, below a beam that lay across the area. He reached out, hands shaking, and pushed the beam aside. Below lay a bow, the string had disintegrated and the rest nearly burn to a crisp. He knew that bow. A sob caught in his throat as he lifted it and turned it over. The crest of Mirkwood was embedded in gold on the side. Legolas had laid here.

He must have gotten away. Thaladir stood, his vision darkened but he blinked it back into focus. He had to find the prince.

He stumbled after the tracts leading to a patch of trees. Perhaps he had taken refuge in there? He forced himself to moved faster. He had to know. He reached the trees and followed the tracts in. "Legolas!" he called, voice shaking. "Legolas!"

No answer. He continued to follow them until the leaves became thick and the course became harder to see. He followed the disturbed leaves and the broken branches until suddenly, it stopped. The trail disappeared near the base of the tree. He must have climbed it.

Thaladir grabbed a branch and heaved himself up, his head spun and he was forced to sit, leaning his head against the trunk with his eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the dizziness to pass. After a moment, he forced himself back up. He groaned as his battered body protested, but he had to find him.

The sunset, and still he looked with no sign of him. It was like his commander didn't want to be found. He called until his voice grew horse and the lights from the town flickered to life. He watched from the edge of the tree line, on the ground now as he had had no luck in the branches above, as one came closer.

He pushed himself up and his legs shook under his weight as his vision tilted sideways. He reached out in a pathetic attempt to catch himself, only to stumble to his knees. His lungs heaved as he sat back on his haunches. The light came closer, coming to rest beside him as someone grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Easy, there," a voice said, the man, Gamil. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

Thaladir hung his head as exhaustion finally began to take its toll. "Have to fine... Legolas... must get him to Imladris."

Slowly, Gamil helped him to his feet, bearing most of his weigh. "Come on, you're clearly not quite well enough to be out here alone. Let's get you back to the tent."

Thalaidr wanted to protest but no words would form on his tongue and his feet refused to hold all of his weight. Gamil led him back and he soon found himself drifting off into exhaustive oblivion.

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

A week passed before they would let him out on his own. There was still no sign of Legolas and Thaladir wondered what he was going to tell the king. It was bad enough that he was missing, but he was also ill to begin with. If he did escape, there's no telling how long he could make it out here on his own.

Thaladir shook his head as he strapped on his sword. Legolas was resourceful. He was a skilled warrior as well as an awarded hunter. He could take care of himself even in his condition.

He pulled his pack over his shoulder and stepped outside. Six men stood there, waiting for his command to head out. They were to help carry the bodies to the Mirkwood border where a patrol would hopefully be stationed to help carry them the remainder of the way.

He nodded to them and turned to Gamil and his wife. "You saved my life and I thank you for that, as well as doing everything in your power to save my brothers. I am in your debt." He placed his hand over his heart and bowed.

Elanor smiled sadly. "I am sorry we could not save them, but I am glad to have saved you. Please, give the families of these elves our sincere condolences." Thaladir nodded and promised to do so before turning to the men and picking up one side of a litter. The others followed and they set out under the rising sun towards the cover of the dark infested trees.

Hours passed as they trekked across the plains, the sun bearing down on them. They were forced to stop more frequently then Thaladir would have liked, but the men tired quickly and he could only ignore the ache of his own wounds for so long.

A day and a night passed before they came to the borders. He halted them with a hand and they laid their burdens down. He turned to them. "This is the border. You may go. Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated. A patrol should be here within a few hours." They nodded, their eyes wide as they took in the forest. It was bright, so much different from the outer treeline. The darkness had been fought off from here, something they most likely didn't know nor expected.

Thaladir sat himself down on a log, his hand hovering protectively over his chest. Slowly the men disappeared in the way they had come and Thaladir let out a careful breath. "Valar, seas let them be here soon..." He leaned his head against a tree. His limbs felt heavy, but it was comforting to be back under the boughs again.

He glanced over to the covered bodies and tears came to his eyes, his chest hurt, but not from the wound. How was he supposed to tell their families? He caught sight of Helmar, a warrior of two millennia with a wife and a daughter. What was he suppose to tell them? That after all his years of fighting and living in consistent peril a burned Inn finally brought him down? No, he might tell his wife the truth, but his daughter was only fifteen, barely old enough to understand the war taking place on their borders. He would tell her he fell fighting to protect her and her mother. She could find out the truth when she was older.

His thoughts roamed over each of his fallen comrades. Only one of them didn't have a wife and children, and that was only because he had just come out of training and wasn't old enough to. Tears slipped from the captain's eyes. He was supposed to protect them. They were under his command. Tears quickly turned to sobs. He should have been the one to die in the fire, not them. They were there under his orders. They were following his lead. Legolas hadn't wanted to stay there. Oh, Legolas. The thought of the prince being missing sent another sob across his lips and the jerked breath sent a splinter of pain through his chest.

Cries wracked his body and he slid off the log, unto the dry leaves. He found himself rocking back and forth. Where were they? He ran his hands through his hair, pulling on the dry, tangled ends. He needed to go fine Legolas. He had to be out there somewhere.

"Captain Thaladir?" The voice sounded muffled in his ears. He looked up, blinking the tears from his eyes as an elf stood a few yards away. The elf came closer and knelt beside him, though she was careful not to touch him. "Captain? Captain, what happened?"

"Peleth?" Thaladir choked. The elf nodded and Thaladir reached out and grabbed her arm. "They're gone."

The soldier let him rest his head against her shoulder. "Captian, Prince Legolas. Where is he?"

Thaladir shook his head and looked up at her. "I couldn't find him. I searched everywhere. There were tracks, but I lost the trail. I couldn't find him."

Peleth was silence for a moment, then she turned to the other soldier behind them. "Take the bodies to the western outpost. Two of you head back to the stronghold and inform them of the attack and that we need a unit to cover for us so we can bring the bodies home. Don't say anything about the Prince. We don't want to stir up panic." The soldiers saluting their captain and Dolenle turned back to Thaladir and helped him to his feet. "We'll find him, Captain."

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

The halls buzzed with activity as the dead were brought, but they seemed quite to the captain's ears. Healers swamped them, one quickly coming over to check him but he waved her off. "I'm fine, Elhael. I must speak with the king."

"Not until after I've seen to you," she said, gently taking his arm and leading him away from the case. "The king will know where to find you, I'm sure."

With no other choice, he let her lead him away, deep into the caves to the healing ward. There she cleaned his wounds and redressed them, though they were mostly healed by now, before giving him a new change of clothes. He changed and started to head out but her voice stopped him before he could shut the door behind him.

"Legolas..." she cleared her throat. "The prince? Is he?"

Thaladir bowed his head. Then he turned back to face her. "I don't know if he made it. I couldn't find him."

She sucked in a breath before stealing herself and nodding. Thaladir turned away and headed out, intent on finding the king immediately. He went to the throne room, but the king wasn't there so he started towards the king's study.

He found him before he could make it there. The king stopped when he saw him, then looked past him as if looking for someone. Thaladir bowed. "My king--" But the king cut him off.

"Captain, where is Legolas? What happened? No one will give me a full report."

Thaladir opened his mouth, but no words came out. He closed it and cleared his throat. A servant scurried past them and Thaladir wondered if here was the best place to disclose this information.

"My lord, forgive me, but I don't know if here is the best place to tell you."

He bit the inside of his cheek before nodding. Thaladir let out a small breath of relief as the king saw the wisdom of his words. The king turned around, back the way he had come, and Thaladir followed.

The door clicked shut behind him and the king moved to his desk and began to pace. He motioned Thaladir to tell of what he knew.

Thaladir cleared his throat and began his tale. His voice cracked as he told of how he had searched for the prince with no sign of him and of the eleven other dead soldiers. Thaladir finished and the king hung his head, sinking into his chair.

"Are you sure those were his footprints?" he asked finally. His face was drawn and it seemed as if he had aged a millennial within those few moments.

Thaladir nodded. "Yes, my lord." Then he stood and reached into his cloak and pulled out the pieces of the broken bow. "I found this where the tracks began." He held it out and the king stood, walking around his desk to stand before him, taking the charred wood from his hands.

Thaladir let him take it as the king's eyes turned red and his face fell. The king looked back to him. "I want a search party put together immediately." He held the bow gingerly. "He might still be out there. See they are sent out tonight, then you may rest."

Thaladir nodded and bowed. He didn't have to be asked twice. If Legolas was still out there, he was determined to find him.