It is a relief to see Legolas alive and unharmed.

In fact, the sight of his blood-stained son making his way through the crowd renders Thranduil so happy that he spreads his arms wide open and gives the Prince a hug and a pat on the back. Never mind the ruined gown, Thranduil has another three hundred of these.

Their reunion makes the Elvenking somewhat lightheaded and he feels like he could almost forgive Tauriel for her transgressions.

Almost, but not quite.


The truth is, she was always Thranduil's favourite.

There, he said it. The Elvenking has spoken.

For six hundred years he has favoured this lowly Sylvan child, protected her, let his son keep her company. She was welcome at every feast he threw. She trained with the best fighters Mirkwood had to offer, sometimes even with Thranduil himself. The old teachers who used to take care of Legolas' educational needs made sure she got her share of refinement. He trusted her with his kingdom's safety and has often defended her worth as a captain of the border guards to those who pointed out she was too young for this position...

Tauriel threw it all away for a mortal. Not even for a human, mind you, but for a dwarf, the pitiful nephew of the pitiful Thorin Oakenshield, may he rest in peace.

Tauriel could have had everything. Well, not Legolas, but she could have had everything else. If only she hadn't run off after some stupid dwarven brat!

Well, at least Legolas is now safe from an unsuitable marriage, but…

He doesn't get it! Thranduil. Just. Doesn't. Get it.

What is wrong with the elven ways? Aren't they the best in the whole of Middle-Earth? Isn't is wise to put oneself before others? Isn't it great to be immortal, to watch centuries flick by and the generations of dwarves and men fade into nothingness while they, elves, just get better and better? Thranduil has seen the First Age. Even then the mortals were just… mortals. Nothing more, nothing less. Live fast, die young, that's what they always have been about.

Thranduil sees great beauty in deliberation. There's no need to hurry. There's no place for love at first sight. There's no decision he's made on a whim, ever.

A silly girl chose to defy everything the Elvenking believes in.

And his son followed.

The taste of betrayal has never been so bitter.


Thranduil has known his son for centuries; he can tell when Legolas is lying with next to no effort.

"It was my decision to spy on the orcs," the Prince maintains stubbornly. It is not the first conversation they are having on the subject and yet his words never change. "They were too many, it didn't feel right. Trouble was brewing and I felt like I had to do something. Tauriel had nothing to do with it."

"You were foolish," Thranduil says. "And you are being foolish now if you think I will believe you. Tauriel went, so you had to go, too."

Legolas crosses his arms. "Father, you can believe anything you want, it makes no difference. I have seen the way. I refuse to live in the shadow of darkness and I will strive to fight it wherever I can."

Thranduil sighs. His boy is so much older than Tauriel and yet he is just as stupid. Children. Why do they care about the world all of a sudden? Why do they want to be someone's heroes so badly?

"Don't talk nonsense. You belong here, in Mirkwood," the Elvenking reminds his son.

"I belong with the rest of the world," the Prince rebuffs, clearly irritated.


The King decides that he will not punish the traitor, at least not in a conventional way. Legolas has indicated clearly he will not stand for it. Besides, Tauriel has saved the last of the damned Durin line. Useless stupid dwarf he may be, but saving him somewhat makes Tauriel a hero in the eyes of other dwarves. They may not like her but they respect what she did and they would probably stand up for her if the need came. Thranduil doesn't want to cause another war just because he wants to retaliate on one elf.

But he cannot forgo the twisted pleasure of telling the redhead she can never return to Mirkwood. She wanted her dwarf – very well, she will have to stick with him and his kind until the end of her life. The Elvenking hopes that with time it will become punishment enough. Dwarves are loud, greedy and unrefined. They also have terrible beards and Thranduil has heard there's actually hair all over their body. Hair! All over their bodies! Gross. It should only take Tauriel a few years to see the terrible mistake she's made.

The former captain bears the news of her banishment well. "Thank you, Your Majesty" is all she says. Perhaps, the news just haven't sunk in yet.

"I'm not your King," Thranduil reminds her, probably a little more harshly than necessary.

"Thank you even more."


Thranduil thinks she will give up eventually. Crawl back and ask him to take her in, confess her foolishness, tell him the elven ways are the only ways…

He will refuse her, of course. She does not deserve the life of an elf after giving it up.

But day goes after day and Tauriel never asks and the King has no satisfaction.


The dirty dwarf runs from his responsibilities and gives up the crown. Probably not the worst idea: Thranduil heard he is reckless and gets into trouble way more than a reasonable creature would. Good riddance, really. Having him as the King of the neighbouring lands would not be Tharnduil's favourite experience. As far as he is concerned, dwarves shouldn't rule at all, but if they must have a King, he better be someone old and wise, not someone who doesn't even know not to flirt beyond his own race. There must be order and this Kili of the Durin line is pure loud mess and chaos.

As Tauriel watches the coronation, standing at the back of a grand hall, listening to every word Kili speaks, Thranduil observes her discretely.

Although, truth be told, he could be staring wide on, and the redhead would hardly notice – she is too bewildered to pay proper attention to those around her.

Thranduil notices the change in her hair style. It is still largely loose with a few braids holding Tauriel's locks in place but the plating is different and there are beads in it. He resists the temptation to utter a cold hurtful remark. It has only been a month since the Battle of Five Armies and Tauriel is already turning all dwarven! What's next? She is going to grow a beard? Oh Valar, why have you turned a blind eye to Thranduil's misery?

Legolas gently elbows him. "Father, you are staring."

"Am not."

"You are!"

"Am not! And you are mean!"

The Prince rolls his eyes and goes back to watching the ceremony. Tauriel remains unaware of their exchange, silent tears in her eyes. When everything is finally over, she disappears quietly and Thranduil only rediscovers her a few minutes later. She is whispering something to her dwarf and whatever it is, it puts a gentle smile on both of their faces.

Ugh, keep it private! The Elvenking would like to not throw up, thank you very much.


He tries, he really does. Sometimes he thinks that he has nearly succeeded but resistance always proves to be futile – what elf eyes have seen cannot be unseen.

And Thranduil has seen an elf choosing a dwarf. Thranduil has seen the elf happy with the dwarf. Happier, in fact, than the elf has ever been.

He is truly old. The world has truly changed. He doesn't need Galadriel to tell him that.

Thranduil closes his tired eyes and listens to the buzz of life around him.

The time of the elves must be coming to an end.


Author's notes:

Guys, you are all amazing! Honestly, I am very touched with your responses. So I tried extra hard to deliver this chapter before Christmas and NY. Hope you will enjoy it – writing it was actually quite hard as I do love kiliel and it was difficult to pretend to be someone who doesn't.

Thranduil really does not cope well with change.

PS On that note – happy holidays and see you all in the new year.

PPS My boyfriend booked tickets to BotFA, we are watching it this Sunday. I'm looking forward to it more than Thorin was looking forward to finding Arkenstone. Also it will be interesting to see how many themes I've managed to guess.