Disclaimer: No idea who Legolas Greenleaf is:-P

Chapter 1---Leaving Home

Legolas Greenleaf sat up in the fork of his favourite oak tree,

dangling his legs in the air casually. He had finished his tasks for

the day, and now he did not feel like doing anything else. He stroked

the trusty bow that he had received from the Lady Galadriel of

Lothlorien, and the arrows. Of course he could go practice his

archery skills, but just the previous day he had already done archery.

He had to go somewhere, anywhere, where he could find something

worthwhile, meaningful and useful to do. It seemed to him that ever

since the end of the War of the Rings, he had been idling around his

home, Eryn Lasgalen, achieving nothing. His restless and active

nature just did not permit him to idle around. Naturally he was glad

to be home, but now yet again he was feeling stifled, and clamouring

to get out somewhere.

Most of all though, thoughts of the Sea and the Undying Lands invaded

his mind and even his dreams on occasion.

"The Lady's words were true," Legolas thought pensively. "Did not she

warn me to beware of the cry of the gulls? Indeed I have found no

real peace ever since I returned home."

He looked sadly round at the woods that he had loved, that had been

his home throughout his life.

"I am sorry, my friends. I have always loved you, but now my love of

the Sea is greater than my love for you." He thought.

Then he jumped as he felt someone slowly and rather clumsily clamber

up the tree and settle beside him.

"Ha! An elf caught off guard is something new to me!" A very familiar

deep voice startled Legolas out of his reverie.

"Gimli! Well met, my friend!" Legolas took a deep breath. "What

brings you hither out of the Lonely Mountains? And no, I sensed your

presence long ago, if you must know." His tone was slightly haughty.

Gimli snorted. "Elf pride, eh? You almost jumped out of your skin

just now." He mocked, but he clapped his friend affectionately on the

shoulder. "I have been calling you for the past ten minutes. Hmpf,

making me climb the tree." He grumbled.

"You have yet to tell me why you came," Legolas quickly changed the

subject. "Not that I am not glad to see you." He hastily added.

Gimli reached into a pocket and withdrew a sheet, passing it to the

elf. Legolas read silently. It was a letter from Aragorn, King of the

Western Lands, inviting the dwarf and Legolas to visit him in Minas

Tirith, where the man dwelt with his Queen Evenstar, and at the same

time fulfill their promise to help rebuild the ancient city.

"So you have decided to go to Minas Tirith?"

"Indeed," the dwarf answered gravely. "My lord has permitted it.

Since our homes are so close, I thought I would stop by and see if

you would do the same."

Legolas hesitated. "I would, but I know not if my father would permit

it. He is.rather overprotective sometimes." He concluded, rather

abashed.

"Go and ask him, then," Gimli urged, "And I will go with you and

declare my presence, ere your people think that I am trespassing."

Legolas led the way back to the palace where he lived, though Gimli

had already visited him a few times in the past and knew the way

reasonably well.

"Gimli at your service, Lord Thranduil. My lord sends greetings to

you and the folk of Eryn Lasgalen," Gimli bowed in dwarf -fashion.

"Well met, son of Gloin," Thranduil replied. "I suppose you have come

hither to visit Legolas."

"Indeed."

"Gimli is here not only on a visit, Father," Legolas put in. "He is

stopping by on his way to Minas Tirith. Our friend, Elessar, has

invited us to go thither to Minas Tirith and help rebuild his city."

"Oh? And how long would that take?"

"I know not, Father. I thought.that I would go south and dwell there

indefinitely. After all, it is close to Anduin, and the Sea."

"And never return home?" There was an edge to Thranduil's voice.

Legolas hesitated. "Yes."

"You have hardly been home from the War for more than a millennia,

and here you are wanting to go away again."

"I know that, Father, but I could hardly break my promise to

Elessar." There was a wheedling note in the younger elf's

voice. "Also, I have found no peace here anymore."

"And you hope to seek refuge from your longing for the Sea and the

Undying Lands in Gondor, where it is near the Sea? I doubt that you

will."

"But, Father.," Legolas cut in slightly desperately.

"Say no more, my son. I will not permit you to leave." Thranduil

turned around and strode away.

"Father!" Legolas grabbed his father's arm. "I must leave, go to a

new place where I can find something worthwhile to do. I feel that I

have been idling my days away."

"There are plenty you could find to do here." Thranduil said curtly.

"Nay, Father, I do not find pleasure in what I do here. Furthermore,

I long to see my friends, whom I have not seen for so long." Legolas

pleaded.

"Your friends can come hither to see you, if they are willing, as

Gimli is doing now."

"I will take my leave tomorrow, if it is no trouble." Gimli said, "I

know not when I can come hither again, but if you are not permitted

to go, Legolas, I will surely come and visit when I may. I would not

wish you to defy your father."

"I will go with Gimli, unless you tie me in a sack and throw me into

the dungeons." Legolas said in one breath. He knew not where that had

come from, but it was too late to retract it.

"That I will do, if I have to."

The tension in the air was so thick then that one could have put a

knife through it. Father and son stared at each other in the eye,

both unwilling to yield to each other.

Finally Legolas turned to the embarrassed and harried-looking

Gimli. "Let us go, now," the elf urged as he grabbed his friend's arm

and pulled him along. Legolas hurried out and started running, his

longer legs causing the dwarf to lag behind. They came upon the gates

and Legolas gave the password that would open them.

But the gates did not open. They stayed shut, the great magic gates

looming, still and silent in front of the duo. Legolas shook the

gates hard but still they did not budge.

"Legolas, come to your senses, will you?" Gimli shook his head, still

panting from the running. "Do as your father says. Besides, you have

naught with you. Where do you think you can go?"

Legolas spun around and strode back towards the palace, and right to

his father Gimli worriedly hovered outside the chamber. "Father, have

you changed the password to the gates?"

"Indeed. I have told you that I will not permit you to go. If you

insist, you have two choices: either to stay in the dungeon, or to

stay free here, but not go one step out of the gates. And should you

still try to leave, go and do not come back."

"Father., please understand. I have my reasons for desiring to leave."

"What are they?"

"I.I know not how to explain to you, Father." Legolas faltered.

"All I ask, Legolas, is that I will be able to have my family with me

till the end of our days in Middle-earth. Is that too much to ask

for? Your brother and sisters are married and gone away. I only

desire to spend my days with my family, and you are the remaining one

to keep me company most of the time."