It had been a few years since there was a time that Galion couldn't even hazard a guess as to what Thranduil might do. He was still not a predictable elf by any means, especially not with his words. Pridefully, not with his words.

But he was with his emotions.

Since the fall of his father, Galion wasn't entirely sure if Thranduil had felt much emotion at all.

And so he lingered in the doorway in the council chamber after he had assembled all the various Sindar Lords and Silvan Elders. Officially, he should not have been here, but no one would even attempt to try and get him to leave.

Thranduil did not sit at the head of the table, and the crown did not rest on his head.

They all waited for him to say something. Ferdan found Galion in the doorway and raised an eyebrow, all he could do was shrug and shake his head in return.

"The Silvan people, our people, have never believed in ruling by birthright. And so I concede the throne to the one the council, together, deems worthy of such an honor and responsibility."

The Sindar Lords shared alarmed expressions but we're wise enough not to say anything. Thranduil stood, making to excuse himself from the room.

Outside the city Galion felt the forest. He was not yet connected enough with it as a whole to understand what it was trying to convey, but he did know that there was a lot of it.

His heart lurched in his chest and a sense of foreboding and displeasure shot threw him. Still there was more, so many emotions he has no name or experience with.

There was so much.

Sadness. Anger. Fear. And love. So much love he was warm with it. Burning.

And then it stopped, and so did Thranduil.

Like his soul had been snapped back into place Thranduil's eyes glowed with determination and racing thoughts once more.

Grandesh, one of the oldest among the Silvans got to his feet and walked around the other side of the table. Neglecting the crown completely he carefully plucked two blooming flowers and tucked one into each braid on the sides of his head.

"The forest has spoken, and her people agree. There is none other we would have as King."

0o0o0p0p0p0

"Thranduil, what on earth are you doing?" Galion muttered, still half asleep. His official coronation was tomorrow, and only two hours ago Galion had barely managed to get him into bed before he fell asleep.

Well, he was full of energy now.

He went to his dresser drawers and began throwing random pieces of an outfit together on the bed. "I'm getting married, want to come?"

Like gears that had sand thrown into them, his mind churned in an effort to understand, "I - you're, what? No, you're having a coronation tomorrow."

"Yes. And I'm getting married tonight. Before the start of the new day."

"You're insane! Why? Why is this happening? Does it have to be in the middle of the night, do you not want more, oh I don't know, planned!"

He started getting dressed anyway.

"Because if we are married before the new day and before I am King she will always be first, and there is no one who can tell me otherwise. I can be Thranduil, her husband, before I am a King."

Well, there wasn't any arguing with that, "You have somebody to marry you?"

"Yes. You. In the garden, come."

"Okay, now I know you're insane."

"Who else?"

The marriages prayers were meant to be said by the mother and father of the betrothed, and in the case, they were gone to the halls, the duty fell to another family member. Except…

Mereneth's brother and father had not come back from the gates of Mordor either, and her mother died in childbirth.

"You are my family, Galion. There is nobody else I would have wanted."

The sentiment nearly brought him to tears and he cleared his throat to try and breath again, "Yes, well. Considering my own family didn't even want me most of the time, that is not a case for your defense."

Thranduil grinned, bursting with anticipation, joy, and love, "Probably not. Come, we do not even have an hour left!"

It was hard not to match his friend's attitude.

He had never married anyone before.

0o0o0o0o

They had respected Oropher as their King.

But they loved Thranduil.

Because he loved them, these beautiful people. He loved everything about them and their forest home.

And they loved that instead of wearing his fathers gold crown, he let any elfling who had a flower crown to offer pile it on top of his head, while Mereneth, his wife, braided flowers into his hair.

They loved their queen too, and were delighted to hear about the rushed marriage. They had watched their prince fall in love so thoroughly for years, and heard some of the arguments had about it.

Or heard gossip about it, anyway.

Galion could not have been more proud, and he wasn't sure who was more surprised him or Thranduil when they began to tear when he tried to say as such.

The coronation was turned from a formal affair to a mid-summer dance under the stars before it was even halfway through. They all just wanted to be happy.

0o0o0o0o0o

The hope the next chapter hurts you all as much as its hurting me.

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