The Rapids

A/N: Just another fanfic involving an injured Legolas. Don't ask me why. Again, I like to see the relationship between Thranduil and Legolas, as I am fascinated by it. This is set around the time of the Watchful Peace. By the way, I have no idea about what injuries would actually be sustained from the 'accident' in this fanfic, so to anyone who might know what they're talking about when broken bones come up in the conversation, sorry for this! The only thing I do know about is concussion- I was once concussed, and for about half the day I couldn't even remember what month it was.

Disclaimer: *sobs into pillow* they're not mine. They all belong to the wonderful Tolkien.

This is looking to end up at about 6 or so chapter long.

Legolas sighed heavily as he walked out of the palace gates and across the wide bridge. He looked down. The Forest River rushed swiftly beneath him. Further downstream, the river slowed and widened, leaving sandy beaches through the forest, but beneath him the rapids were still strong.

As Legolas reached the other side of the bridge, he turned and started to walk down the bank, searching for his friends. Here, the bank was high and steep, with jutting rocks suspended above the river. Legolas' gaze darkened slightly as his gaze fell on the object in his hands. A silver circlet, it glittered sharply in the morning sun. He looked at the rapids next to him. Maybe… but no. He would just get into even more trouble.

He sighed with relief as he saw Elladan and Elrohir sitting together near the bank of the swift flowing river. He came beside them, and sat down heavily, still twirling the silver circlet in his hands.

The twins looked up as their friend slumped next to them. For a while, none of them spoke, the two Noldor seeing the frustration and anger in their friend's eyes. Eventually, Elladan broke the silence. "What troubles you, mellon-nin?" he asked gently. "And why are you resisting the urge to break your circlet? I am sure your father would kill you for that."

Legolas looked up guiltily. He had not realised that he has been grasping the circlet so tight, his knuckles were white. He looked at the twins, sighing deeply. "I think it would take less than that to make my father that angry" he said slowly.

Elrohir scooted over so he was sitting on the other side of Legolas. "What happened?" he asked, frowning. He and his brother knew that the relationship between the King and Prince of Greenwood could be strained at times. Both carried heavy burdens, and tempers were shortened all too easily.

Legolas looked into the churning water as he told them of the argument. Bitter words had been exchanged between them. The argument had started out as a simple matter- a debate over Legolas' attendance at the afternoon councils and his wearing his circlet of office, but it had escalated quickly. When he finished, he looked back down at the circlet, not daring to look his friends in the eyes.

To his surprise, Elrohir began to chuckle as Elladan leaned in. "Your father meant nothing by it" he said comfortingly, as Legolas watched Elrohir curiously. Elladan reached around and dug an elbow into his brother's side, and the laughter stopped abruptly.

Elrohir grinned at Legolas. "I am sorry" he said. "But it just reminded me so much of the times when Elrond used to shout at us. Do you remember?" He looked at his twin.

Elladan eyes twinkled as he bit back a laugh. "I do" he said. "Although, it was mainly you he shouted at."

Elrohir gasped dramatically. "My dear brother!" he said. "I am so wounded by-." He stopped as a hand covered his mouth.

Legolas looked into Elrohir's eyes as he held his hand firmly over his friend's mouth, his eyes twinkling. "By the Valar" he said exasperatingly. "Are you two to have an argument every time we talk?"

Elrohir licked the hand over his mouth, and Legolas yelped as he felt the stickiness of his tongue. He hurriedly pulled it away, and wiped it on Elladan's tunic, earning a cuff around the head in the process.

Elrohir's eyes twinkled with satisfaction. "Yes" he said in answer to Legolas' question. "At least, if it will cheer up a certain princeling."

Legolas glowered at Elrohir briefly. "I'm not brooding" he said. "I'm just angry that I have to attend these stupid meetings, and wear the stupid circlet. I was hoping to come back from patrol early, and spend some time with Adar." He tossed the circlet in his hands. "I know he didn't mean what he said." he continued. "I am just tired. It has been nearly back to back patrols for weeks; this is the first time I have had some time to myself."

Elrohir smiled sympathetically. "We know the feeling, mellon-nin" he said, squeezing Legolas' shoulder gently. "Our Adar is the same."

Elladan chimed in. "But yours is the King of Greenwood" he said. "It does result in a lot of paperwork. And to be fair, you do not exactly spend a huge amount of time involved in the politics of running the kingdom."

Legolas looked up. "I know" he said. "But it is always so boring! And I always have to wear this stupid thing." He waved the circlet in his hands. The twins nodded. They were well aware of the Prince's hatred of anything shiny and royal. Legolas looked up at them sneakily. "Do you think…?" he said slowly.

The brothers eyed him carefully. "What?" said Elladan. "What do you want us to do this time?"

Legolas shrugged. "Will you cover for me if I throw the circlet in the rapids?" he asked. "You know, say we were messing about and it got dropped."

The twins shook their heads as one. "Normally, Legolas, we don't mind covering for your sorry backside" said Elrohir. "But I really don't want to get killed by the King, in front of our father."

Elladan laughed lightly. "Adar would not like it" he said. Legolas sighed, leaning back. "Very well" he said. "I will spend a few minutes out here before I must prepare for the meetings." He pulled a face at the thought. The twins smiled, and lay back on the edge of the steep cliff, watching the trees above them.

0-o-0-o-0

The pen dropped from ink-stained fingers, hitting the desk with a clatter. Elrond jumped as Thranduil slumped slightly in his chair, the last document, still wet from the ink, in front of him.

Thranduil looked up at Elrond, his eyes a curious mixture of blues. "I shouldn't have shouted" he said softly. "I should not have said what I said to him."

It did not take Elrond very long at all to work out what Thranduil was talking about. He had been silent ever since the argument, and had started to sink further and further into his chair. Elrond shook his head, laying a hand lightly on Thranduil's arm. "He will not take it to heart" he said reassuringly. "Legolas understands well the burdens that you carry as King." Thranduil sighed, but did not respond. Elrond squeezed the arm slightly. "Maybe you should go talk to him" he suggested. "If I know Legolas, he probably went to find my sons. They are along eastern bank of the Forest River, where the other elves often congregate."

Thranduil nodded, and stood up. He sighed, looking at Elrond gratefully. "I do not know how you do it" he murmured. "Elladan and Elrohir are a handful, are they not? I have trouble with just one son."

Elrond laughed lightly. "They will all grow up" he said. "I just let the two get on with whatever mischief they have concocted, and make sure to stay well out of the way."

Thranduil laughed at that. "Come" he said, pushing open the door. "Let us find the troublemakers."

0-o-0-o-0

Legolas sat up, shading his eyes against the glare of the sun. "It is hot" he murmured. He jumped gracefully to his feet. "Come! I wish to feel the spray from the river."

Elrohir got up to his feet, smiling at the thought of the cooling droplets of water. They both looked down at Elladan. "Are you coming, brother dear?" asked Elrohir.

Elladan grinned. "I am not foolish enough to get wet when I will see Adar quite soon, not to mention Thranduil. I am perfectly happy in the shade, thank you very much."

Legolas shrugged. "If he wants to get hot, let him get hot" he said, flashing a grin at Elladan, who grinned back. Elrohir and Legolas walked slightly further downstream. Here a few boulders were built up overhanging the riverbank, and the spray from the rapids could be felt there. They sat down together on the boulders, their feet dangling over the river.

Elladan watched them for a moment, before leaning back against a tree and letting his eyes glaze over. The midday sun shone down upon them. All in all, it was a pretty good day.

0-o-0-o-0

The doors to the palace were already open as Thranduil and Elrond walked out of them and across the bridge. Elrond looked downstream, past the small groups of families and friends who had found time to relax by the river. He shaded his eyes.

"There they are" he said, looking at a spot downstream. Legolas and Elrohir were sitting on boulders on the edge of the bank, whilst Elladan was further back, under the shade of a tree.

Thranduil followed Elrond's gaze. "They are going to get wet" he muttered. "That water runs from the north, it is freezing cold, even in summer." He began to make his way downstream.

A sudden noise made him look up. Thranduil could not see anything immediately, and so assumed the noise of the river had confused him. For a moment, he thought he could hear the slithering of soil.

0-o-0-o-0

Elladan gave up on trying to rest as another sharp squeal came from two elflings who were chasing each other up and down the bank. He looked over at Legolas and Elrohir. "You two are going to get soaked!" he called out. A movement from the palace gates caught his eye, and he grinned. "And here come our fathers!"

Legolas and Elrohir looked up at those words, instantly seeing Thranduil and Elrond further upstream. Elrohir gulped. "My dearest brother is right" he muttered to Legolas. "We are quite wet."

Legolas grinned. "It will keep me cool on patrol" he said cheerfully.

Elrohir stood up, making his way to the edge of the boulders. Legolas was about to do the same when he stopped suddenly, freezing in place. He looked up at Elrohir, alarmed. Behind them Elladan had gotten to his feet, his face confused.

"Did you hear that?" asked Legolas, staying in one place.

Elrohir paused, listening. His eyes widened as he heard the sound of slithering soil and shifting rocks. Behind them Elladan's eyes widened and he began to run towards the bank. But it was too late.

"Get off the rocks!" shouted Elrohir, diving for Legolas in the hope of pulling him onto the bank. But in that instant the rocks beneath both of them gave way and they fell, falling down into the rapids.

0-o-0-o-0

In a split second Thranduil and Elrond, who had already been making their way to their sons, were at the bank. Elladan was there too, and Thranduil fastened his arms around him, holding him back from the collapsed bank.

"No!" screamed Elladan, twisting with all his strength in Thranduil's arms. "No! Let me go!" He writhed frantically. "Elrohir!" he cried out. "Elrohir, where are you?"

To all three elves' surprise, a voice answered them. Thranduil's heart leapt into his throat and he let go of Elladan, falling to his knees beside Elrond, who was reaching down over the side.

Legolas was dangling beneath them, one hand holding tightly onto a protruding rock from the bank. His other hand was grasping Elrohir by the wrist. Elladan, who was now beside his father and Thranduil on the bank, let out a strangled cry and reached down, trying to get to his brother. He felt strong hands grab onto him just in time as the bank gave way beneath him, and Elrond pulled him back.

Elrohir was dangling limply from Legolas' arm. His eyes were shut and blood was trickling from a cut on his forehead. Legolas looked up.

"He was hit by a rock, or something, when we fell" he said, his words coming short and sharp as he struggled to hold onto the rock.

Thranduil turned and saw the families who had been playing by the river standing away from the riverbank. As he watched guards, who had seen what had happened, ran out of the stronghold gates. They carried lengths of rope.

Thranduil heard a stifled cry and spun back around. It was his turn to get hauled back from the bank by Elrond, whose hands were trembling. Legolas looked up, his expression pained. "The rock is slipping Adar."

Thranduil shook his head. "Help is coming. Just hold on for a while longer, ion-nin. Just a little longer."

Legolas grimaced. Already the rock he clung to was wobbling, and Elrohir was a dead weight in his other arm. "We'll be fine" he said softly. Then the rock came loose of the bank and both he and Elrohir fell into the river. They hurtled towards the white water.

To Be Continued...

Elvish translations:

Mellon-nin- my friend

Adar- father

Ion-nin- my son

Wow, that was a bit fo a cliffy. Sorry about that! *peeks out from behind corner* The next chapter should be up the day after tomorrow (a Friday for me) at around this time, maybe earlier.