Mirkwood's Icy King
A/N: This is AU. As someone told me, there has to be a reason for a character being AU, a different set of circumstances then in the original books. Here's the different circumstance: Legolas, rather then being raised by both his mother and father, has just come to live with his father for the first time. This means that Thranduil has had no real experience with children, and so he is confused by his behavior, and even a little nervous. This is normal for first-time parents. I am not trying to depict him as being genuinely mean, but he is a little short tempered.
Summery: Legolas is a very young elf who has lived with his mother's relatives in Mirkwood since he was a baby. But now that the only one left is passing over the sea, he must go live with his father in his palace. And as if that weren't enough, the darkness of Mirkwood is spreading.
Chapter 1:
A New Home
"But uncle…" Legolas whimpered. "Why can't I come with you." The older elf looked at the small boy sadly.
"You are too young and have not lived in Middle Earth long enough to leave it. Believe me, you would want to come back very soon after you reached the undying lands." He explained, sitting down and pulling the elfling onto his lap.
"Will you want to come back?" He asked with a sniffle.
"No, I have heard the call of the Sea. I am ready to go home. You are not." He said, smoothing back the blonde hair. Legolas pouted. "And besides," He added, "It's about time you got to know your father." This didn't improve the boy's mood at all.
"Why didn't I meet him before?" He asked. His uncle sighed.
"Your mother and father didn't get along. She thinks he was too short-tempered and too obsessed with treasure." Unfortunately, his mother had died when he was only about two years old at the hands of orcs. He was now only five years old, and was being raised by his uncle.
"I don't want to live with him." Legolas whimpered.
"I know, but give him a chance. He's nowhere near as bad as your mother thought."
His uncle was gone. A messenger from the King had arrived and taken him to the magnificent cave that served as his palace. Legolas had expected it to be dark and gloomy, only to find out that it was light and cheerful. Skylights, covered with some clear material, were cut into the roof.
Legolas didn't actually see his father, the messenger saying that he was meeting someone and couldn't be disturbed. He was led him to a room that was to be his, and said that he would meet his father tomorrow. The young Prince cried himself to sleep that night, dreading the meeting the next morning.
Legolas…
"What? Who's there?"
Legolas…
He looked around into the pitch-blackness. Why wasn't there any moon or starlight?
Legolas…
"Who is it? What do you want?" A light shimmered in front of him. It started to spread out and form a figure of a person. It was tall and well built and after a moment it began to take on features.
Legolas, little Prince of Mirkwood…
The light flashed and then went out, leaving in its wake an intimidating figure. Blonde hair so much like his own stretched down a long, lean back, braided with the decorations of a warrior. Green cloak and leggings, and a silver tunic adorned the elf's body, but did not hid the muscles underneath.
Little Prince of Mirkwood…
Blue eyes so fierce and cold they made him shudder as they bore into his soul. Legolas immediately knew who this was. "…Father…?" He whispered.
Legolas, little Prince of Mirkwood…
This time the voice was deeper, richer. The eyes flashed and took on a disapproving look.
Not a prince. Just a troublesome boy…
Legolas gave a sob at these words and suddenly the figure was gone. A bright light consumed him.
Legolas almost fell out of bed when his dream ended in that final flash of blinding light. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. A kindly looking she-elf smiled back at him.
"Good morning, Prince Legolas." She said. Legolas was pleased to find that she reminded him of his own mother, or at least what he could remember.
"Good morning." He said and smiled back.
"Did you have a bad dream, dear?" She asked, sitting beside him on the bed. Legolas wanted more then anything to tell her about it, but decided against it. Surely she would think him a coward to be afraid of his own father.
"No." He said finally. She really didn't look as though she believed him, but didn't push the question.
"King Thranduil wishes for you to come to his thrown room this morning." She said, getting up and walking towards a wardrobe against the wall.
"What- what does he want?" Legolas asked, trying not to sound nervous but failing miserably.
"I'm not sure, dear. But don't worry to much about it." She said and pulled a green and brown outfit from the wardrobe.
"Put this on. I will show you to the throne room when you are dressed." She said and turned to allow him some privacy, while searching for a comb on the dresser.
"Who are you?" He finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"My name is Aradwen." She said. When Legolas had finished dressing she sat him down on a chair and began to comb out his hair. She gave him two braids at either side and tied them together at the back.
"Now, we must go now. The king does not like to be kept waiting." She led him out.
Aradwen had, reluctantly, left him at the door to the throne room. He just stood there for a moment, too scared to knock just yet. Elves who passed by looked at him sympathetically, thought he didn't see them. He was thinking about the figure in his dream. Not a prince. Just a troublesome boy. That was what he had said. Legolas mentally berated himself. It was only a silly dream, right? Gathering up his courage, he knocked on the large wooden doors that led to the King's Throne Room.
"Enter." A deep voice from within said.
A/N: Did some revisions, so that I didn't make Thranduil sound like a heartless monster. In this story, Legolas' parents didn't have the happiest marriage (yes, I KNOW that Tolkien never really said anything about that), and so Legolas' mother took him away out of spite. It happens in real life as well, sadly enough. Please drop me a review!