Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the kind reviews. This story will probably turn out totally different from the other one. Let's meet Thranduil and let's begin.
Aragorn took brisk steps as his white cloak swept behind him when he made for the courtyard. He frowned as the trumpets sounded once more before looking back and forth and breaking out into a run and only stopped when he reached the citadel.
He slipped through the doors and beside Legolas. The elf spared an anxious look at him and Aragorn took a moment to give his mate's shoulder a comforting squeeze. Together they turned back to the horses that arrived in the courtyard. The first to dismount was King Thranduil as Aragorn took Legolas' hand in his own and they descended the steps.
Bowing briefly to his father in law, Aragorn watched as Legolas stiffly accepted the king's embrace. He was left stunned when the elf stepped back quickly and he forced a smile on his face as he saw Thranduil's pained look. He merely shuddered his shoulders and accepted king Thranduil's embrace warmly.
They proceeded inside as Thranduil excused himself to refresh while Aragorn quickly took Legolas away to their private room. The moment the door closed behind him, he turned to his elf to ask. "Why are you so fearful of your father, beloved?"
Legolas paced the length of the room and tugged at his clothing before turning to Aragorn. "I am not afraid of Atar, but I am afraid how he will react when he finds out, I am…"
The hand that ghosted over the shirt was enough words for Aragorn as the man took two steps forward to grasp Legolas by the shoulders. "Are you ashamed of your condition?"
"No, I am not." Legolas responded immediately.
"Then why are you afraid of how Thranduil is going to react?" Aragorn allowed Legolas to walk away as the elf wrapped his arms around himself.
"Because I am his only child and his heir, I have already displeased my people by marrying a mortal, a great mortal, but now to carry a child. I am afraid he might be disappointed in me." The elf confessed sadly.
"Why would he? He loves you and you have done nothing to displease your people, Legolas. You married for love and you created an alliance between Eryn Lasgalen and Gondor. Both our countries will benefit from this and you brought peace to the Lands of Middle Earth. You can only make him more proud." Aragorn wrapped his arms around his elf's still slim waist and he felt Legolas relax back against him.
"I feel like a small Elfling asking for his approval." Legolas stared forward and out of the window as his hands came to rest upon Aragorn's joined ones.
"Why would you need to ask for my approval, ion nin?" Thranduil's normally booming voice came. This time it was soft however and Aragorn stepped away from Legolas and the elf turned to face his father.
Thranduil came forward, hurt in his eyes as he spoke. "When I left you were at peace and happy but when I return you barely accept my touch, young one. What has transpired between us for you to shun away from me? By no recalling of mine have I wounded you, unless I have been wrong?"
"You have done nothing, Atar. It is I who has trouble…" Legolas hesitated and Aragorn could see the tension in the slim body of his beloved.
"What trouble are you speaking off?" Once more Thranduil took a step forward, the lines in his face hardening by worry.
"There is no trouble, sire." Aragorn interrupted them as both father and son's brilliant eyes turned to him.
"Then what is the matter?" Thranduil demanded, looking from Aragorn to Legolas.
Aragorn went to his mate's side and while gently nudging the elf, he coaxed him into telling. "Aragorn is right, Atar, they is no trouble. I was ill for a little while but we know what is ailing me. I was insecure about this for I did not know your reaction. But I know now I must take the plunge as humans say. I am carrying Aragorn's child, Ada."
A heavy silence descended upon them as the minutes ticked by. Thranduil's eyes bore into his son's and Aragorn could see why the rumours about Thranduil's famous anger were coming from. "Is this true, Elessar? You are a healer, tell me, is this true?" The old king finally spoke.
"Aye, my lord, it is. Elrond has confirmed it as well." Aragorn gave a brief nod.
"How can this be? The gift was thought to have passed from our people a long time ago. Ai, my Greenleaf, why did you think I would be disappointed in you? My love for you is strong and I only wish to see you happy." Thranduil walked forward and Aragorn relinquished his place as the older elf cupped his son's cheeks.
"Are you not happy, Legolas?" Thranduil forced Legolas to meet his gaze as the elf blinked away tears before saying.
"Yes, Ada, I am happy. I am very happy with Estel and our child." The prince gave a brilliant smile as Aragorn tried to suppress the urge to hop from one foot to the other.
"Then it is all that matters." Thranduil merely said as he caught his child in a gentle hug. As Legolas wrapped his own arms around his father, Aragorn could see the tension leaving his mate's body and felt calm wash through their bond. When the two elves pulled apart Thranduil turned to Aragorn to shake the man's hand. "Congratulations, Elessar. You seem to have a lot of luck on your side."
Aragorn only ducked his head to blush as he nodded. "Aye, sire, I am on of the luckiest man in Middle Earth."
He felt Legolas' hand upon his own and grasped it tightly as he turned his head to look at his elf. Legolas seemed to glow as the elf beamed at them both. "So Ada, tell me, how is Eryn Lasgalen?"
Aragorn gestured in the mean time to the couches and chairs for them to sit as Thranduil chuckled softly and answered to his son's question. "Too quite, I hear no screams or cries anymore of the maidens when their beloved prince comes back from a patrol along the borders. Nor do I hear the running of nearly silent footsteps along the hallway as you rush towards the courtyard to greet your friends. You need to come home, Legolas. You need to give you people a change to celebrate your return and to give their own prince a welcome."
Legolas shifted uncomfortable on the couch as he looked down at his hands. "I cannot, Ada. I am needed here, besides it is too dangerous for me to travel now. It will take a month to travel at a slow pace to Eryn Lasgalen and I can hardly leave a month after that. It would be required of me to stay there at least a few months and with the child, it is too dangerous."
Aragorn felt the tightening of his lover's hand upon his own as he gazed sadly to the floor before speaking up. "As your husband I would urge you to remain, but it would be for my own sanctuary then yours. But as a king, it would be wise to go. But as a healer, you would do best to remain…" The man fell silent as he pondered his next sentence.
"And as my beloved? What would you counsel me then?" Legolas asked. "But I do not mean for your own sanctuary but for my safety."
Thranduil also looked to Aragorn as the young human king answered. "I would ask of you to remain until the child is born and our kingdom is secure. I will travel north soon enough to secure my kingdom there and I would be by your side when you go back to your home country."
"The child does complicate things sufficiently. I thought I could simply ask you to travel north with me but I see now it is not that simple. You should be where you feel you need to be, Legolas." Thranduil eventually answered.
The prince looked around distressed as he said. "I wish to return to the woods that bore me, Ada and to see my people once more. But I cannot. I have a duty to Aragorn as well as I do to Gondor. It is not the time to return north. I wish to remain here with Aragorn, for my safety as for our child's."
Thranduil leaned forward to place a gentle hand upon Legolas' knee as he answered. "Then I will have peace with your decision, Legolas. Our people will understand." The elven king smiled and Legolas smiled back relieved.
"Elrond will soon travel back north himself but promised to be back in time for the baby to be born." Aragorn quietly mentioned.
"That would be wonderful." Legolas gave him a sweet smile as Thranduil rose gracefully.
"I am going to take a walk in the beautiful gardens that surround the city. I will see you at the evening meal." With those words the king left the two lovers to their own.
Legolas rose as well and before Aragorn had a change to ask where the elf was going; Legolas had dropped down in his lap and kicked off his boots. He curled himself up on the king's lap as he met Aragorn's amused gaze as the man spoke. "You do realize this is private property you are trespassing upon?"
"Oh, aye my lord, I am aware. I am also aware of the consequences should you catch me. But I will willingly bear them." Dropping his arm around Aragorn's shoulder he smiled.
"Oh, is that so? I would punish you any other time should there not be such dire circumstances. But for now I will allow you to trespass." Aragorn buried his face in the golden hair as the elf stroked his back.
"Then you will get your reward." Pulling Aragorn's chin up the elf kissed the man until they broke apart and Legolas rested his head against Aragorn's shoulders, feeling strong arms encircle his waist and one hand coming to rest upon his flat stomach.
"I have already been rewarded, Legolas, by your love." The softly murmur made the sleepy elven prince smile as he closed his eyes for a brief nap, knowing the strong arms would always be there to catch and hold him and feeling very secure.
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