Chapter Text
Elrond looked around as he straightened another row of bandages, the door swinging open to reveal, not Harry as he’d hoped but another elf bringing in a tray of warm tea for the few sick elves resting in the hall of healing.
The young elfling was late, quite late actually, he didn’t know Harry very well, but it seemed out of character for him to keep someone waiting. Especially when he’d been the one who had wanted the lessons to begin with.
He waited five more minutes, but when Harry still hadn’t shown up, he set out in search of the wayward elfling. He headed first for Harry’s rooms, though finding them empty he continued on, instead making his way to the room they breakfasted in, there was no sign of Harry, but Arwen was sitting out on the balcony sipping tea and taking bites out of a delicate cake.
“Have you seen Harry?” Elrond asked, startling his daughter into nearly dropping her cake, he forgot sometimes how silently he moved.
“I haven’t” she replied, turning to look at him with concerned eyes. “Is he missing?”
“I’m not sure” Elrond said slowly, “he was supposed to meet me nearly an hour ago but has failed to turn up. I’m not sure if he’s forgotten, gotten caught up with something else or if there is something else happening here.”
Arwen took one last sip of her tea as she stood, brushing the crumbs off her dress as she moved towards the doors. “I’ll help you look.”
They checked the library as well as the kitchens before heading to the throne room in search of Legolas or Thranduil instead.
“I assume he is out in the gardens” Elrond said, “but it will be better to find someone who knows where he’s likely to be. The gardens are extensive and would take us a long time to search them.” Elrond was now officially worried.
All heads spun towards them as they entered the room, there seemed to be some kind of serious discussion going on between members of Thranduil’s court.
“Excuse me” Elrond said with a polite nod of his head. “We were just wondering if you had seen Harry?”
Thranduil sat up straighter, “pardon?”
“Harry was late meeting me for our first healing lesson, I have been looking for him but seem unable to find him.”
Thranduil’s eyebrows furrowed in concern, he pointed imperiously to a guard. “Go and find Legolas, bring him to me immediately. The rest of you” he waved to the other guards stationed around the room. Begin searching this instant, I want Harry brought to me as soon as he is found.
A guard with red braids hanging around his shoulders turned and began organising the search, meanwhile the other elves in the room began to disburse and Elrond had a feeling that they too would be out searching for the lost elfling.
Runners were sent to alert more guards, and the search began in earnest.
“Come” Thranduil said, striding off in a different direction to most of the guards, Elrond and Arwen at his sides.
“The last time we couldn’t find him, he was in my wife’s rooms, lets check there first in case he’s just lost track of time exploring there.”
Elrond and Arwen nodded, striding down the hall, but when they arrived, they found no trace of Harry. Thranduil’s face looked pinched as they searched the rooms, calling out for the young elfling, and Elrond wondered if Thranduil had entered these rooms since his wife’s death.
“He’s not here” Arwen concluded after no sign of Harry could be found.
Thranduil nodded, “to the gardens then, that would be the next logical place that he would be.”
“I agree” Elrond said, “We have already searched several places before we came to tell you and thought the gardens would the likeliest place to find him.”
As they strode along, they noticed elves all over the place, it seemed that word had got out about Harry’s disappearance, and everyone had decided to assist in the search. Loud footsteps had the trio turning to find Legolas running towards them, hair in disarray and sweat beading his brow, it was the most dishevelled Elrond had ever seen the prince. A line of archers came running in behind Legolas, clearly trying to keep up.
“What’s happening? Where’s Harry?” Legolas gasped, brushing sweaty hair out of his eyes.
“We are unsure at this present time” Thranduil said with an aura of forced calm. “He was supposed to meet Elrond in the halls of healing some time ago to begin his lessons, however he never showed up. Elrond came searching for Harry and let us know.”
Legolas looked around wildly, as though Harry might pop out from behind the curtains.
“It seems near every elf in the kingdom is out searching, I am sure he will be found quickly. Probably having not realised what time it was.” Elrond could tell that Thranduil was trying to comfort his son, unfortunately it seemed to have little effect on the blonde. “We were just on our way to begin searching the gardens if you’d care to join us?”
Legolas nodded his head jerkily before striding off towards the gardens and leaving them in his wake.
++++++++++++++++++++
Legolas felt like his heart was trying to beat its way out of his chest, his chest ached like he couldn’t properly draw a breath. He didn’t run, afraid that moving too quickly would cause him to miss something that could lead to Harry. But he did stride with purpose, searching up and down flowerbeds and over grassy hills. The gardens were crawling with guards and just general citizens wanting to help, but still no sign of Harry had been found.
His stomach roiled and his hands shook as the search went deeper, his father stayed at his side, a steady presence as the hunt continued, it felt like it had been going on for hours. Where was Harry?
He was beginning to give up hope of the gardens, mentally making plans where else he could look when a loud cry sounded.
“We’ve found him!” Some one shouted and Legolas was running, pushing other elves out of his way as he made his way closer. “Someone send for a healer!” the voice cried again and Legolas was sure he felt his heart stop.
“There will be no need for that” Elrond’s voice said authoritatively from beside Legolas. “I am here.”
They rounded a corner, the last few elves backing out of their way as Harry finally came into view, he was sprawled on the ground, his riot of dark curls fanned out around him. He looked so tiny Legolas wanted to cry.
A firm had on his shoulder stopped him moving forward and he made to shake it off, an enraged hiss breaking out of his lips as he spun to find his father staring at him calmly, though Legolas could see the cracks in the façade.
“Let Elrond look at him” Thranduil said quietly, “that is the best thing for Harry at the moment.”
Legolas nodded stiffly, bowing to the logic even as every part of his being was screaming to go to the elfling and pull him into his arms, protect him from everyone and everything.
The hand on his shoulder squeezed softly, helping to ground him, as he spun to watch Elrond, who was leaning over Harry’s still form.
“He is alive” Elrond said quietly, running his hands over Harry’s chest and through his hair. “There is a rather large lump on his head, from a fall I’d say.”
Elrond picked up Harry’s arms and legs, checking for injury before he slowly rotated Harry’s neck around.
“He is safe to move to the healing wing.”
With those words Legolas leapt forward and scooped Harry up into his arms, being as gentle as he knew how to be. He marched off towards the healing halls, knowing that Elrond would follow. He could hear his father thanking the elves who had helped in the search before sending them back to their duties.
“It’s alright, I’ve got you” Legolas whispered, pressing kisses into Harry hair. “You’re safe now.”
They arrived in record time to the healing halls and Legolas laid Harry on a bed as Elrond got to work. His eyes watched every movement like a hawk.
After a while Elrond finally spoke. “I have done all I can for now, it seems he is need of rest, and plenty of it.”
Legolas felt himself start to relax for the first time since he’d heard the news that Harry couldn’t be found.
“He’ll be, okay?”
Elrond nodded, “I’m not sure exactly what happened but it seems to be exhaustion of some kind. Hopefully with some rest he will be feeling better in no time.”
“Thank you” Legolas said quietly, reaching out to take Harry’s hand in his own, determined to stay right by his side until he woke up.
++++++++++++++++++++
When Harry did awake it was to a pounding head and a lethargy so great he wasn’t sure he would ever get out of bed again. He tried to pull himself into a sitting position but stopped when he felt a tug on his arm. He looked down to find a hand gripping his own, turning he found Legolas sitting beside him, looking like he’d gone 5 rounds with a garden bush and lost. Legolas, who was usually perfectly put together looked, there was no other word for it, terrible. He had dark circles under his eyes, his skin looking sallow. There were smudges of dirt on his cheek and several twigs stuck in his hair.
“What happened to you!?” Harry croaked in alarm and Legolas gave him a surprised look before breaking into laughter.
“I could say the same thing to you” Legolas smiled wetly.
Harry looked around and realised where he was, feeling quite unsurprised at this revelation.
“Just magical drain, I think” Harry yawned and rubbed at his tired eyes.
“Magical drain?” Elrond questioned and Harry jumped, not having noticed the other elfs arrival.
“Yeah, when I was gardening, I was working on some roses. There was this like, I don’t know sickness wrapped around them. I pushed and pushed, and it eventually broke away, disappeared. I obviously tried to do too much though because, well, here I am.”
Legolas and Elrond both stared down at him, equally confused.
“Magic?” Elrond breathed.
“I think” Harry paused for a moment as another yawn overtook him, “so. It feels different but the same, to what I was before. It’s hard to explain.”
His eyes began to droop.
“It’s okay, we will figure everything out later” Legolas murmured, “just get some rest.”
Harry’s eyes were already closed but he pulled on Legolas’ hand until the other got the hint and climbed into the bed beside him. Warm arms wrapped around him and Harry slept.