Author's Note- Hi everyone! My name is RenderBlu, and this is my first piece of fan fiction! Please forgive me for any rookie-mistakes, I'm totally open to reviews and criticism. This is set during the Second Age, while Thranduil lived away from his father in Lindon. At this point Thranduil is around 1500 or so years old. You can read loads more about all that here: wiki/Main_Page
Please enjoy and Review!
Chapter 1- A Real Father
Starlight filtered into the Hall, Elves love all light but Starlight is most precious. Thranduil studied the stars, instead of the dancers, which he was sure is what his father would have preferred him do. As an Elfling, Thranduil had spent hours upon hours in many different libraries all throughout Beleriand, simply reading about constellations and stars, mostly stars. Not much was known about the world above, but that didn't stop him from reading what was there, however little it may have been.
Thranduil continued to look at the stars through the glass ceiling, specifically for this purpose had the ceiling been designed. Counting the constellations and distinguishing and naming different stars.
Oropher turned to his son with a curious look, he never understood what so intrigued him about the sky, the stars. Sure, they're nice to look at, but to Oropher it seemed a waste of time to desire something no one really understood.
"Thranduil" Oropher turned to his son with one raised eyebrow. The young Prince flinched at his father's tone, he strongly disliked when his father used that voice.
"Have any maidens caught your eye this night?" He asked, turning back to watch the dancing guests.
Thranduil did not respond for a moment, "No, Ada." The Prince replied nonchalantly.
Oropher searched his face for any sign of emotion, even the slightest bit, he found none.
How could the stars entrance Thranduil and yet these fair maidens go unnoticed, or uncared for?
Oropher looked disappointed, there were many beautiful women in The Greenwood, but even now, Thranduil was not interested in the dancers. "Thranduil, do pay attention, you visit so infrequently, try to make the most of it." If the Prince heard him he gave no sign of it. Oropher sighed defeatedly.
The King took another sip of Miruvor, savoring the taste on his tongue. He was about to speak when he heard a voice call, "My King!" The voice was familiar to Oropher, but he couldn't place a name.
"'Tis a pleasure to see you this night, friend." Oropher said, upon turning around to see an old friend whom he hadn't spoken to for many a year.
The Blacksmith smiled, a mischievous smile. A smile the King had missed for too long, "The pleasure is all mine." Gildin replied, with a slight bow. "How have you been in times past?"
"Always the same, always the same. Save, a visit from a certain Prince." The King added charmingly.
Gildin looked beyond Oropher, and gave a hearty laugh "Thranduil! My lad, it has been too long!"
Thranduil was startled by the voice of Gildin, he had failed to notice his father conversing with the Blacksmith. "Indeed it has, Gildin." The Prince replied politely as he managed to tear his eyes away from the night sky.
"How is Lindon, I fear I haven't found time to visit?" The Blacksmith asked with a grin.
Oropher watched as the two talked of recent years, in Lindon and beyond, in Gildin's case. He tried to remember the first time he had met this Blacksmith, alas, it had been too long ago now... Oropher squinted at Gildin, nothing had changed about him, nothing visible, anyway.
"Well I'm afraid I must be on my way." Gildin said, returning to speak again with the King.
"That's too bad, we must catch up again soon." Oropher replied with a gleeful smile.
"Most certainly, farewell, Thranduil, Oropher!" He waved before departing into the crowd once more.
With one more sip of his Miruvor, Oropher began to once again drift into his thoughts, he glanced at his son, no longer was he infatuated with the stars, but simply watching the dancing couples.
The King thought about old times, times in which he was always with his son, times in which they spent every moment of every day together, times when they lived in Doriath, all three of them... Oropher shut his eyes tight, he didn't want to go back through the memories, and still, part of him did. The King compared the times in Doriath to the current time, some things were different, a lot of things were different. Perhaps he hadn't noticed it before, but when he thought about, Thranduil had changed too. He seemed much more... Distant. What had happened to the times when he told his father everything? The times of Doriath were long since past, but he had had little connections to his son for a long time, Thranduil had been lost to the King for longer than he could remember. Not since, not since... Oropher wracked his brain. Not since... her. He sighed, yes, that was when it had all changed.
The King cast another look at the Prince, he had never really thought of his son that way, he was never a Prince, only ever his son, and even that seemed hard to believe at times, physically Thranduil was a mirror-image of his father, but behind closed doors, they were completely different, and not just that, but, Thranduil always seemed to be off elsewhere, literally as well as mentally. Oropher had to admit it, to himself most of all, he had missed out on so much time with his son, he had chosen his kingdom over his kin, and it was his fault that he didn't know who Thranduil was anymore. The King stopped himself in his mad ramble of thoughts before he got carried away.
When Thranduil was younger, Oropher had given him the choice to accompany him to the Greenwood or stay in Lindon. Oropher was surprised at his decision, he h- "Would you really let me court any maiden I saw fit?" Thranduil asked, snapping Oropher out of his thoughts.
Oropher's heart leapt, perhaps Thranduil had seen, or even met someone! But another moment of thought changed his mind, he could already see where this was going. His brow furrowed, "Thranduil, I..." He began, suddenly feeling exhausted of this conversation, he had heard it many times before.
"Thranduil, you..." He tried again, but could find no more words.
"That's what I thought." Thranduil sighed, meeting his father's eyes with a sad look before turning and walking away.
Oropher watched as his son left the ballroom, with a sigh the King slumped again the wall. What had he done that had upset Thranduil so much? He hated seeing his son like this, or rather, not seeing him, Thranduil spent most of his time in Lindon, away from his father. Every now and then, especially in times like this, Oropher wondered if his son stayed in Lindon to get away from him.
Maybe if things had been different, maybe if... No. He told himself, it wouldn't matter if... If... Oropher shook his head to rid himself of the thought. A real father would go and find his son... A little voice in his head told him. Oropher stood up after a moment, tonight, he would be a real father.