28th of January

Please enjoy :3

First Meetings

Lord Elrond of Imladris had known Legolas long before the War of the Ring.

For an extended period of time, the Lord had not had many dealings with Thranduil, Legolas' father. The Elven king had isolated himself from most of his kin after the events of the Last Alliance.

Elrond still knew most of the important things happening in the Woodland Realm. The day he received a wedding invitation was still clear in his mind as it had been the first time he heard from his former friend after their bitter argument.

If the Lord of Imladris was honest, he had been surprised to receive an invitation at all.

The wedding was wonderful. A merry celebration in the forest, the ceremony and song one with the trees, just as the Wood-elves enjoyed it.

Elrond felt pure and full joy in the light that filtered through the treetops and the slight breeze that touched Lady Cullasdis' shimmering hair, the colour of cedar wood bright under the trees.

Celebrian had commented to Elrond how beautifully her gown and braids suited her and Elrond remarked on how happy Thranduil looked as the two rulers danced in the glade.

The Lord had not seen the now-King ever since Oropher, Thranduil's father, had died and he remembered the sorrow, grief and bitterness in the Sinda². His carefree life and aloof smile was a refreshing thing to see indeed.

After that wedding, the birth of a child sometime later was not surprising. Elrond remembered well the excitement flying around his home and he remembered smiling to himself. Thranduil with a child, a son. That was a most amusing thought indeed.

I wonder what he's going to be like. Is he going to be much like his father or more like his mother? With a smile, Elrond glanced outside at the two figures dueling in the inner courtyard. Elladan and Elrohir were his oldest children and they were already nearing their first thousand years of age.

To him it felt just like yesterday that they were pulling pranks on everybody in the Elven settlement and still convinced their victims of their innocence with those big doe eyes that resembled their mother's.

They were born after the dawn of the Third Age and if he looked further back into the garden he could also spot his daughter Arwen, reading with her back to a tree.

The Lord also remembered thinking his musings about Thanduil's child would not matter; for as closed off as the Greenwood king was, he would probably never meet the boy.

He had felt the wedding had been an exception and even though Cullasdis was more open than her husband, Imladris would probably not be their first choice of visit with the Queen having extended family in Lorien.

But as it was, fate had different plans.

With the news that always somehow seemed to float around Imladris, it was no wonder that not even a decade later, something new reached the Lord's ears.

This time though, he could not take them with a smile and a nod. He remembered that Celebrian had been with him in his study when a guard entered. It was not rumors flying around this time but grave news travelling by messenger.

"Hir-nin. We have news from the Woodland Realm." The guard said, Elrond could see that he was slightly out of breath.

"Oh yes? That is surprising indeed. What do the news entail?" he asked and could not contain a slight smile that he shared with his wife. It was a bit of a private amusement between the two of them how they frequently knew of Lorien and the Grey Havens but that Greenwood eluded almost all their news systems.

"There…there has been a terrible incident, my Lord. The Queen, Lady Cullasdis, she…" he swallowed "…She has died."

Elrond felt the blood run cold in his veins and his hand in his wife's was stiff. He saw how Celebrian's other hand lifted to her mouth and a gasp escaped her lips.

After dismissing the guard his wife and he clung to each other. It was horrible to hear this news. Just the thought of losing his beloved was too much and to think that after his father, Thranduil now lost his wife as well…even their old quarrels could not justify anyone to wish that upon the King of Greenwood. When he thought back to their wedding day, it tore at his heart to think that their destined eternity together was torn away from them brutally.

"We should offer our help, meleth-nin. Their son, he's not even a decade old, is he not?" Elrond spoke first and Celebrian nodded gravely.

"Ai, we should. By the Valar, the poor child." The lady wiped aside her unshed tears and again covered her mouth in silent shock. It was very precious to Elves, the bond between a mother and her child. To be severed from it could mean grave news for a child and it was considered one of the worst things that could happen to a family.

The longer Celebrian thought about it the stronger the feeling of sorrow over the fair Lady Cullasdis got in her chest. She remembered her kind heart and even knew the lady from her childhood in Lorien, where Cullasdis had visited her relatives often. What had happened to tear her from this realm?

A letter was sent with their condolences, asking for specifics, asking for Thranduil's wellbeing. They did not know if it would reach the King itself. Elrond hoped that the grief would not suffocate Thranduil. He had a son to think about but in the situation of being torn from his beloved that may not enter his mind. The letter therefore also offered Elrond's expertise as a healer as he also possessed knowledge about the maladies of the mind.

To their surprise, the response to their letter was swift. Just a day after their bird was sent, the answer reached Rivendell. Just as Elrond had feared, it was not from Thranduil himself but from his chief adviser and he indirectly implied that they indeed needed his help. Celebrian had read over his shoulder and they shared a concerned gaze.

"Prepare the journey for tomorrow," he ordered the guard, who nodded and exited the room. It was already late in the evening so traveling today would not be advisable. The Lord turned to his wife, his hand on her shoulder. "Do you want me to arrange for you to come with me? I know you are worried about the little one."

Indeed, Celebrian had talked with Elrond about this in the last day. Saying that they didn't even know his name and she wanted to make sure he was cared for. But now she sighed deeply.

"I would prefer to do so but can we leave Elladan and Elrohir in charge? They were never left here with the both of us gone and Arwen is in Lorien." The Lady smiled. "She is normally the voice of reason between our children."

Elrond laughed. It was correct of course. Arwen had the uncanny ability to calm and berate her brothers, whether with her calming tone or, if she was angered, her fiery spirit. Sometimes even her warning glare sufficed. That talent she certainly got from her father. Glorfindel and Erestor were more often than not victim to the pranks of the twins but their sister…after that one time when revenge was Arwen's and Arwen's alone, the two never even dared to come near her any longer when it came to playing jokes.

"I believe Glorfindel or Erestor would be happy to remind them of all the responsibilities. And if we both appeal to them properly they may see sense. I believe they have become more mature in the last years." Elrond's words earned a snort from his wife so very unlike her, it was almost sarcastic.

"That's what they want you to believe, melleth-nin. But alright, I am willing to risk it."

She smiled and kissed him softly, their foreheads touching for a moment or two. Elrond remembered thinking how life was unjust sometimes. It was hardly fair that his luck was so plenty, when in the Woodland, it seemed to be running so thin.

The journey to Eryn Galen was tiresome but uneventful. Elrond found the woods to be different from last time. It seemed that the trees were mirroring the Elven kingdom's sorrow.

Indeed, when they arrived and the gates were hastily opened for them, they found a kingdom much quieter than what they were used to. Where the mountain hall was normally filled with song and enjoyment, there seemed to be an eerie quiet and mourning.

The Lord of Imladris and his wife were greeted with much welcome nonetheless. Their rooms were pleasant and food was plenty. But Elrond as well as Celebrian shared many worried glances during the evening. They had not seen even a glimpse of either remaining member of the royal household, unnerving them.

When Elrond subtly tried to play at the topic however, his questions were quickly answered.

"I'm deeply sorry, my Lord. We did not want to trouble you so early after your arrival," the advisor and chief councilor Harnor admitted and sat down across from them. Elrond rose one of his famous eyebrows.

"It is why we are here, is it not? So please. Tell us what happened." Celebrian smiled in encouragement and Elrond nodded. The counselor seemed flustered but he complied.

"Very well. Not that long ago, the Queen decided that Prince Legolas should meet his relatives in Lorien. The King insisted on staying but he sent enough troops with them to ensure her safety. I remember the queen telling him not to worry so much…" He paused, closing his eyes. Elrond nodded in understanding. There was already new information in his words. The little Prince's name.

Legolas…

Fitting. The green leaf, in a Silvan dialect. The name was much like Cullasdis', which meant golden-red leaf. Elrond assumed it was also a play on their forest, the Greenwood.

Of course, the Lord did not show his thoughts and motioned for the advisor to continue.

"However, they did not make it to Lorien, my Lord. Their escort was overrun by Orcs before they even left the forest and many of our best warriors fell to protect the Queen and Prince. They were hugely outnumbered and the Queen barely managed to hide Legolas -when she was attacked herself. In the heat of battle, the remaining warriors got to her too late, the orcs that fought her were slain, yes. But the damage that was done could not be healed…" Again, he had to swallow thickly.

"Our warriors report how she fought until the last second so they would not get through to Legolas." A short pause. "At least in that she succeeded." His gaze fell and then he was quiet.

Celebrian beside Elrond had become stiff. Her hand around his arm almost clung to it.

"Legolas…did he…did he witness it?" she asked, her voice so quiet no human would have understood her. But the adviser's head shot up, his gaze surprised, then sad at the question.

"We cannot say for certain…he has not spoken a word since." A gasp from his wife and her hand again found her mouth. Elrond himself had to close his eyes as his heart ached. But he had to continue the conversation.

"What of Thranduil?" he asked, his healer side trying to take over. It was more rational and less emotional. Both very helpful at this moment.

"Ever since he heard the news, he has not left his chambers. He refuses all entry, servants, healers and maids alike."

"Has he eaten?"

"No."

Elrond nodded, cool on the outside but inside, his worry only spiked. Suddenly, he stood and he felt his wife as well as the adviser recoil in surprise.

"I wish to see the prince immediately." He announced. The adviser frowned but also stood.

"It is past his bedtime already, my Lord. I doubt he will be awake."

"I assure you, he will be."

Elrond took his wife's arm, who gladly accepted it once again. She was still shaken at the news but her heart dragged her to go see the small child as well. Elrond was right in wanting to see him first. From what they gathered, -Legolas had not seen the King ever since he returned and after what he may have seen happen to his mother, servants were not what he needed, it was his father.

With swift steps, they soon reached the royal chambers and stopped right in front of Legolas' door. Elrond glanced down the hall to where he assumed Thranduil's chambers lay but he focused back on the task when the adviser instructed the guards at the Prince's door to let them through.

The door was opened for them and Elrond stepped into the dark room.

Sindarin Translations

Elleth – Elf (female)

Hir-nin – My Lord

Melleth-nin – My Love

Eryn Galen – Greenwood the Great (Legolas' and Thranduil's forest before it was called Mirkwood)

By the Valar – Basically 'Oh my Gods'

Hope you liked that! I'm dividing this in three parts to make it more readable. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it!

Beta is Lady_of_Greenwood (if she even does have a account lol)