Missing Persons: Legolas and Mom

Why did Thranduil treat the dwarves so poorly? Was he just callous? That doesn't fit with his treatment of Gollum. Was he just a dwarphophobe? He was on good terms with the Mountain both before Smaug and after.

The vanishing elf picnics - were the elves really unaware of the dwarves and their terrible plight? They knew how to confront the dwarves directly the next day. But only after the Spiders had almost killed them, and not in time to rescue them, either. Was that more cold-blooded disinterest? Or was something else going on?

The following is book-canon compliant through and through, except for a whiff of Tauriel (canon-adjusted) because she is too fun to leave out! There's no reason a canonical Mirkwood couldn't have a wild, out-of-the-box, rule-breaking elleth, and if it did, Legolas would certainly notice her - who wouldn't? She could even have been made a guard, though no sane king would have made her a captain, sorry. As for where Legolas's interest would go, well, book-canon seems pretty clear that it didn't go, but we aren't the only ones who would have found the subject interesting to talk about...

Chapter 1: Surveilance

"Your Majesties," the guard was interrupting breakfast, "a band of strangers has entered upon the forest road."

"Is this urgent?" Thranduil asked; the queen's look was wry. The guard's anxious knock had foreboded a report that would not await the morning meeting of councilors. Now the Elvenking gave an indulgent half-smile. "You must have run almost a week to bring this report. Rest yourself for a few hours. When you are ready, go back, keep watch and report at intervals."

"It did take a week to get here, running over the roof of the forest," the guard straightened up, pleased as if by a compliment. "The strangers, of course, are moving more slowly below. Still, they should be almost half-way here by now, and if not stopped, may reach the palace in ten days!"

"We understand. You left them covered by other guards, correct?"

"Oh yes, your majesty. The others chose me to go, thinking I was best suited to be the messenger. And my next reports should take only a day around, as the intruders will be closer."

'Excellent. I will look forward to hearing from you. You may go." He began turning away.

"May I mention," the guard interrupted again, "that the travelers are dwarves?"

"Dwarves?" the queen asked, puzzled. "What brings them to the forest? They go always by the northern route along the Great River! With the forest road blocked before the eastern side, what could they be seeking?"

"How many are there?" Thranduil asked.

"Thirteen, or fourteen, we were not sure."

The king raised an eyebrow. "Find out their business and report to me. My guess is that they are foreign dwarves, trespassing on mistaken information, aiming not for our kingdom but for the far side. In which case, they are no threat, and the forest will surely deal with them itself before long. But even so, I would know what design they have on the region of Esgaroth. Or Erebor, perhaps? But what can thirteen – or fourteen – dwarves fancy to accomplish at Erebor?"

The guard stood uncertainly at attention.

"You may go, thank you. Spy out their intentions and report as soon as you may."

The elleth bowed and left.

"She is a good girl," the queen considered forgivingly. "Hasty with youth, but well-mannered and good-intentioned overall. I am glad you have given her a position that should keep her youthful energy out of trouble."

"I would not call her well-mannered," the king replied. "Nor am I sure that a soldier's life will keep her from trouble. But no one in the palace will employ her any longer, and leaving her idle would be a greater mistake."

"She does make a nuisance of herself wherever she goes, does she not?" the queen smiled. "But it is always so innocently done, with such a desire to be of use, to improve and change things for the better…."

The king smiled wryly as well. "The idea that with only 700 years experience she should find things to improve that have not already been done and undone a dozen times by her elders….! If she would listen and learn more and innovate less, she would have a more peaceful and meaningful life."

"And she would be less interesting to our son, think you not?"

"That is very well said, dearest. I believe you have hit the point of his interest precisely. Legolas is too conscious to endure centuries of tranquility. In past ages, Elves were so engaged in fighting the Enemy, that our thoughts were never turned by idle entertainment, in the form of radical ellith, or any other diversion. But Legolas has had no worthy task for many a century."

"If he were busy raising elflings, his thought and his labor would be occupied most meaningfully of all," his mother said ruefully.

"Are you now wishing for a wild elf-lass as a daughter-in-law?"

"Not in the slightest!" she protested. "Our elf-maid is diverting in the extreme, but Legolas's fea and hers could not be inclined, or they would have been married five hundred years ago. No, his soulmate must be elsewhere in Arda. But there are so few unmarried elves anywhere," she concluded sadly.

"Yes," Thranduil echoed her sorrow. "We have been drastically reduced since the First Age, down to the Last Alliance. And it was the young who were slaughtered most. Too few were left to renew our people. But in any case," he said, more lightly, "Legolas seems remarkably content single."

"You might be misjudging him," she replied. "He does not complain, but were there some errand to take him to Lorien or Rivendell, and were there a suitable elleth there, I doubt not that he would spy her out."

"Are you thinking of Arwen, daughter of Elrond?" Thranduil was taken aback.

"Now that you mention it…." his queen's eyes were arch, "she is also unwed long beyond her time. And they share a noble lineage."

"Are you sure that she is not betrothed?"

"I have made inquiries, my lord."

"Why am I not surprised? And what did you discover?"

"Galadriel assured me that she is presently unattached."

"But you sound still doubtful. Why so?"

"I wonder that myself. The Lady's reply seemed of portent, but I cannot imagine of what. At her late age, Arwen is not likely to suddenly take an interest in anyone she already knows. Yet, if the White Lady is foreseeing some distant ellon to suit her granddaughter, why has she not arranged for them to meet?"

Thranduil laughed. "Women will always turn their thoughts to matchmaking!"

"Better than war," the queen replied.

"Speaking of battle," her husband continued, "I must join the councilors. The situation in Dol Guldor is getting too serious for neglect."