AN: I had an inspiration while I was bored in class, so the majority of this was written while I was supposed to be listening to a professor. I don't know all the lore and a lot of wikis have contributed to knowledge because I haven't yet read the Silmarillion. If you want to correct me on a word usage like elves/ellon/… or something, please do and I'll try to edit it – I am trying to get things right. Reviews welcome
She hadn't much bothered to count the days, years, or any time that had passed since she had arrived. She had known where she would be when she was dying, all elves knew what would come. So her arrival in the Halls of Mandos was unsurprising. Of course the surprise, or shock of her death was very much real. Thranduil had been near, but not near enough to save her, and she certainly did not begrudge him for that.
And dearly hoped he did not blame himself.
And as the time passed by, he didn't come to join her. She had known in her heart that he would not fade. He was strong, and though his love for her was as true and strong as any, he loved his wood and people just as much. Perhaps stronger still, was the love he had for their son. They weren't overly close, as the shadow grew nearer the distance between father and son would only grow. But she knew Thranduil loved their son.
So as she sat alone, but still surrounded by any who had passed, she knew she wouldn't be reunited with Thranduil while with Namo. She watched as some were released from the Halls, not back to Middle Earth, but more likely to Valinor. She did begin to fear that she would no see her living family again, until the world was remade. She did not act on those dark thoughts, and did not allow them to color any part of herself. They were typically few and far between as it were.
She did notice the larger amounts of ellyn and ellith that had begun to arrive. Being near she had learned the Sauron had returned, and Saruman had betrayed them. She learned some bare information of the group who had gone to destroy the one ring. They of course could not give her the end of the history, for they weren't there to see it. Or perhaps it had simply not yet happened, and of course the dead weren't permitted to contract the living.
She was as lonely as she wasn't. She missed her family, her love, and her son.
She did not know how long had passed since she had come to the Halls of Mandos. She had in a way made a point of not keeping track. She was honestly surprised when she found herself being shown things that had happened while she had been gone. She saw her husband, bitter and angry but still every bit the strong ellon she had loved. She saw various important event surrounding him before the switch to her son.
She cried when she saw who he had become. Not out of grief in that sense, but just seeing him. He looked very much like his father, when then he was also in many ways like her. Legolas had been the one of their kind that had joined the Fellowship of the Ring. She feared for him, but she was proud of him too. Very proud. She half wondered if Thranduil was kicking himself for sending him to that council in Imladris. More than ever she wishes she had been able to watch him, and be his mother as he aged well beyond the years she had had with him. But she was proud, and she would always love her son regardless.
When she was released and found herself in Valinor, there was joy from her family to have her back. And she was glad to be with them, finally. Yet, Legolas and Thranduil had yet to sail. The ships were dwindling, as few and fewer remained in Middle Earth. When she had arrived in Valinor, shortly after the arrival of Galadriel, Elrond, and the ringbearers, she had just missed the celebration in the hobbits' honor. She did not mind one way or the other that she had just missed that, because there was always something worth looking forward to, and with new arrivals so quickly there was often cause for feasts and celebration.
It felt longer than it probably was when Legolas arrived, with a dwarf she recognized from the company. Gimli. She did not know what to make of him or their relationship, and did not choose to inquire into it for the time being. She knew that of all the dwarves in existence, he was the only one who would be most welcome in her home, in this place. More than that though, she wasted no time at all before pulling her son into a tight embrace. She cried more than she thought was possible and she held him close, for the first time in at least 1000 years, more even. He held her back, almost shyly at first, but then just as tightly as she. She was familiar and he had missed the love she gave him ever since she did not return from battle.
Legolas had also brought news of Thranduil, and that he would be sailing when the last of his people decided. There were few left, so it would not be long now.
So, when news reaches her that white sails could be seen on the horizon, she was immediately on her way to the shores. She watched with a giddy anticipation as it grew nearer, and remained remarkable contained as it docked. A number of elves she did not recognize stepped off, and as she began to worry she saw him walking down the ramp. A rush of relief ran through her as she stepped forward so she was more easily seen. She was a queen in that respect, but she was a queen who had missed her king.
Thranduil spotted her, and it was as though those many years had not passed for just a moment. Long enough for him to move to her in a few graceful strides and have swept her up. He gazed at her like she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and she had so missed it. The others who had gathered, were dispersing or too busy reuniting with their own family. Thranduil held her close and pulled her into a kiss that at one time, she had feared she would never again receive. As they returned to her home, as his was not yet entirely prepared for them to move to, they did not step more than just a few paces from each other.
Some laughed at them kindly, others went about their business without taking note. She did not care, and she did not believe he did either.
Everything was alright, and everything would continue to be. She was with her son, her love, and her entire family on these shores. Valinor was said to heal all, and she did not disagree. As she watched Thranduil working on some sort of paperwork, he looked more at ease than she believed he ever had. She sat to the side of him, smiling and reading a book, reflecting on not on how long it had been, but on how long they would have together. Forever.