It took everything within Gilronethel to approach King Thranduil at the breakfast table early in the morning before Galion woke up on the day they were to depart. As she was even halfway across the room sent the king sent his son skipping out the door on some adventure or another.

When she arrived at the table, he gestured to the chair across from home, "You're welcome to join me."

"Thank you, my King."

He waved a dismissive hand in the air while his mouth was full of eggs, "That's too big of a word to be used around my breakfast in a realm that isn't mine, it will make my eggs taste sour. Please, call me Thranduil or nothing at all."

"As you wish."

"May I offer you some breakfast?" Thranduil asked.

"No, thank you," She said as poilelty as she possibly could all the while shifting uncomfortably in her chair under his attention, "I'm not sure how to talk to somebody like you."

He raised an eyebrow at her, and shifted very slightly in his chair as well. Except she was certain it was so far from anything related to nerves or uncomfort, "Somebody like me?"

She forced herself to swallow, and moved her hands from view so that he would no see them tremble, "Somebody so important."

"Everybody is important." Thranduil said, tone suddenly becoming much warmer and casual again though she hadn't even noticed it had changed in the first place, "If they were not, then they would not be here."

He leaned back in his chair and survived her briefly, before taking a sip of his tea, "What do you want to ask me? Just spit it out, before it strangles you."

So Gilronethel let the words spill out without thought, "Is Galion okay? Is he happy?"

Thranduil shrugged, "Happy enough, I think. If he were not, I'm certain that I would hear of it endlessly until he was."

At least the sincerity in his voice sounded promising, it was always a good sign about people when they let Galion complain as he wished, "Is his life good?"

Thranduil's full attention weighed on her like stones, "I fear my opinion is rather biassed on that, but I personally do not think it is bad. He is very busy, yes, but he always has a laugh and a smile and does the work willingly. Honestly, half the time before I've even realized I'll need to ask him to do something. He speaks his mind if I want him to or not, though I would never wish him to stop. My son is so in love with him he could be nothing less than family."

She nodded eagerly, thirsty for more reassurances, "Does he have something other than work?"

"Not as much as other elves, nor probably as much as you wish him to have. But he helps to care for five other elflings, and in doing so gets dragged along or organizes countless activities and adventures." Thranduil said.

Then he took a searching look of her face, "I think you're trying to find a way to ask me if he'a loved where he is, and the answer is yes. He's loved very deeply by many people, and we do our best to try and keep him safe, healthy, and happy.

"You respect him? Well and truly?" It was possible that she might faint from the relief the entire conversation was bringing to her.

Thranduil looked almost affronted at the question, "There are few others anywhere in Aman or Arda that have even come close to how much I respect Galion, his character, and all that he stands for. He is one of the only elves my heart has come to hold so dear that I can no longer tell the two of them apart, his friendship is something I never wish to lose."

"Thank you, I think I needed to know that."

He smiled at her, and it was nothing like she imagined. So much warmer and more genuine, "Now would you like a pancake?"

.0

His door opened, and Galion didn't have to look to know that it was a little prince that had come searching for him. There were a few small grunts of effort before Legolas managed to lift himself onto the bed.

Galion held the corner of the top cover open for him to slip inside and rest his head on Galoins chest, he held him close and began to rub a soothing hand up and down his back, "Good morning little prince."

"Good morning!"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I slept really really good. Lady Celebrian read me three stories last night!"

"Three?" Galion gasped in mock shock, "That was very nice of her."

Legolas nodded instead of answering, so he was content to lay in silence for a while with him before the elfling eventually asked, "What do you think Uncle Ferdan is doing right now?"

"Hmm, what time is it? Around eight?" Galion thought about it. What would Ferdan be doing right now on a normal day in Greenwood? "Probably helping to braid the hoards mass of hair after breakfast."

The 'hoard' being the group of orphans that lived with under the lawful care of Thranduil but in by the hands and hearts of many.

"Are you sad to be leaving?" He asked Legolas.

"A little, but I am also ready to go home, I think. I miss it."

Galion smiled a little, "That's good, that means you like and love your home."

"I will always love my home," Legolas replied, scandalized enough that Galion couldn't help but laugh.

"I know your Ada is ready to go home."

This time it was Legolas who laughed, so clear and bright, "Yes. Ada doesn't like it here, or hardly any of the people that live here."

Galion had to smile, both at the sound of his laugh and at his words. Thranduil had spent the majority of his 'free' time either with Celebrian, and little Arwen. Occasionally even Glorfindel, who Galion had not realized mastered the art of getting along with Thranduil.

Perhaps it was because he had so easily figured out his way to get along with Legolas first.

"What did you think of your stay here?"

"I liked it! I would like to come again, I think. It would be fun. I'll miss Arwen too. She left several days ago with her brothers to go see their grandparents." Without warning or breath Legolas changed topics entirely, "If you want to go home with your sister instead of us, I'll be sad but I'll understand."

This time it was Galion turn to be scandalized, "Legolas!"

He sat up, sitting cross-legged and plopping Legolas in the center of it facing him, "I appreciate your large and understanding heart. But like you, I will always love our home. I will always love my life there, and the family I've built there."

Almost watery eyes but trying hard not to be looked up at him, "Even more than you love your actual sister?"

"My sister is very dear to me, and was my only friend for many years. I love her just as I love you. But I love our home, and I love our life there. I would not leave for anything."

"You're sure?"

Galion gently boped Legolas on the nose, "Positive."

Legolas smiled, but the frowned after a thought struck him, "If you ever change your mind though, let me know first, okay?"

"I won't change my mind," Then he blew raspberries on Legola's cheek until he heard him laugh again. Then he tickled a weak spot just to be sure. "Is sending you in your Ada's way of telling me its time to get up?"

"Yes. It is."

"Trust a King to send and elfling to do his dirty work."

0.0.0...0.

The horses were all loaded and ready to go, and most goodbyes were said. Galion couldn't help but feel hope or an ache that of a forgotten thought, I hope to see his father. Even if it was just for him to come an yell at him, so at least he could take one good look at him this time before his brain forgot how to breathe.

Gilronethel melted out of the very small assembled crowd and came to Galion, "I couldn't find him anywhere, I'm so sorry."

Perhaps before he might have gotten angry, said something rude or nasty. But he had absorbed better habits than that from Ferdan and Thranduil, regardless of their reputation. Because both of them had taught Galion the beautiful and subtle art of indifference.

Ferdan and Thranduil both had a reputation for harsh words and quick tempers, but few notices how many, many topics they just quietly smirked and whispered or sent jokes to one another through the trees. Others only noticed when eventually their minds grew tired of finding jokes, and they snapped.

Even in his indifference, Galion had to laugh, "I should have known."

Gilronethel threw her arms around his neck and held him close, "I'm so sorry Galion, he loves you he just doesn't know how to say it."

"It's fine," He said, more sincerely than even he expected himself to be, "I live with others who do."

She let go, and kissed his cheek, "Good. I love you so much, you little monster. Don't forget to write to me."

"I could never."

She kissed him on the cheek again and then turned to walk back up the stairs, she had told him last night she could not stand to see him ride away again. So Galion wandered over to Thranduil and Celebrian who were also finishing their goodbyes.

Celebrian's arms were still around Thranduil's neck, and his arms around her waist had lifted her off the ground due to their height difference. They both took a deep breath before he set her back down.

Automatically, Thranduil picked Legolas back up and kissed Celebrian on the top of the head, "Tag, you're it. Next time you come and visit me."

She laughed, even as she wiped a few tears in acknowledgment at the sadness of goodbyes, "Alright, I'll hold you to it. I'll come to meet the rest of the elfings."

"Good."

Celebrian held her arms out to Legolas, who leaned out easily for her to take him into her arms and hug him tightly, "I'm going to miss you so much. Thank you so much for being my friend."

Legolas held onto her just as tightly, "I'll miss you too, thank you for being nice to me."

"Darling little thing," She told him, pulling back so that he could see the honesty in her face. "You will never have to thank me for such things, you will have have a spot in my heart and my home."

He noded with a sniff, so with one final hug she passed him back to Thranduil who said one final, "Goodbye, I'll try and get better at writing to you." Celebrian smacked him lightly on the arm and so he amended, "I will get better at writing you."

.0.0.0.

The campfire crackled towards the night sky, luling almost all if the elves laying around it to sleep. All except for the King and his butler.

They had been sitting in a mutual and compatible silence for some time when Galion broke this streak before Thranduil could, "If one more person asks me if I'm sure about my choice, in going to kick then thirty-nine times in the shin."

"I think I'd prefer my shin intact, at least until we get home."

"I'll be just as sure then too."

There was a few moments of silence. But the mind of silence that often hung around Thranduil and Legolas, the silence that felt like nothing more than a drum roll for a question. "But how have you always been so sure? I don't understand."

Galion looked down from the stars and to his friend and king, "I told you my reasons for leaving Lindon, and my father proved today that nothing has changed. I don't know what you think could be so bad in Greenwood to drive me away."

Thranduil almost laughed, "Oh, nothing could possibly come to your mind? Not some fallen fortress at the edge of a forest?"

"No." Gallon answered simply, and then added to the stars, "A dear friend taught me to be more stubborn than that."

Thranduil was silent again, but this time a calm silence as he too looked back to the stars, "He must be very annoying."

"Yes, he is," Galion agreed, "But for some reason people elected him to be a king."

0.0.0..00.

Thanks For Reading!

Would love to hear your thoughts.