Note: To avoid confusion, and too many one-shots littering the place, all future Legolas-and-Thranduil stories will be posted as further chapters of this. They won't be in chronological order (or any other kind of order). I hope nobody minds. *g*

Summary: After offering to accompany the Ring-bearer, Legolas makes a brief visit home to tell the Elven-king what happened at the Council of Elrond.

Many thanks to my wonderful beta, Calenlass, for advice, suggestions, and patience with questions.

Thanks also to Nina, for encouraging me not to abandon this story.

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I wish the Elves were mine.

Saying Farewell

Thranduil looked up at the sound of the knock. It had an odd, diffident quality, making him believe it was some young patrol captain coming to give him bad news. Briefly, he considered meeting whoever it was, and then decided against it. The reports he was reading demanded his full attention.

"See who it is," he told Istuion. "And tell them I'll see them in the morning."

The seneschal nodded, getting to his feet to answer the knock. Thranduil returned to the pages before him. He vaguely noted Istuion's surprised exclamation, followed by the hushed murmur of voices. He did not look up again until he heard soft footsteps and there came into the edge of his field of vision a slender figure dressed in the green and brown of the Greenwood warriors.

Thranduil groaned and raised his head, wondering how the Elf had persuaded Istuion to grant him entry against the King's explicit instructions.

He stopped short at the sight of the bright blue eyes looking in to his.

"Legolas!"

"Aran nîn," the young Elf said, although not in his usual light-hearted manner. He brought his fist to his heart and bowed his head. "Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo. The elvellon Baggins sends his regards."

"I thought you might change your mind when you saw who it was, my King," Istuion interjected smugly. "I take it neither of you will be coming to the dining hall?"

"Ask Galion to send us up some wine now," Thranduil responded, not taking his eyes off Legolas. "Tell him we will eat in the small dining room next to my chamber. And then you can have the rest of the evening off."

"As you command, my King," Istuion said, shooting father and son a glance of mingled amusement and affection as he slipped out.

Thranduil waited for the door to close before he said, "What have you done?"

Legolas' guilty start would have been enough to give him away, but he compounded his error by saying in a suspiciously casual manner, "Why should I have done anything, Ada?"

"I was not expecting you to return so soon. You can barely have spent a few days in Imladris. And you have clearly come to me straight from the saddle, without even stopping for a drink. I am not a fool, ion nîn. I know when you are anticipating unpleasantness and are hoping to get it over with quickly. What has happened?"

"Lord Elrond has sent some of his scouts to speak with you. I offered to escort them here and back."

"That explains why you are in Greenwood," Thranduil said. "Although I do not doubt that there is more to it. You must have ridden hard to reach the stronghold before word of your return to Eryn Galen could reach me. Even an Elf, and even one with as much boundless energy as you usually seem to have, would need rest after that. Yet you are here, ion nîn."

"Is it a crime to want to see my Ada?" Legolas asked, feigning injured innocence.

"Penneth, after all these centuries I know you too well to be undone by those eyes. Tell me the truth, and hurry up about it."

Legolas grimaced and threw himself into a chair.

"In truth, I wanted to see you before you spoke to Lord Elrond's messengers. There is something I must tell you."

"No doubt something calculated to take a few centuries off my life, like all your other escapades," Thranduil grumbled. "All right, Legolas. Out with it. What have you done?" He was interrupted by the arrival of Galion with the wine. The butler poured a cup for each of them, set the jug on a table and departed. As soon as he was out of the room, the Elven-king prompted, "Well?"

"Ada... The One Ring has been found."

Thranduil nearly dropped his wine cup in his shock.

"The One Ring? Ai Elbereth... No wonder Elrond's missive sounded so anxious. I thought it was uncharacteristic. That was the purpose of his Council, then?"

Legolas nodded.

"Apparently the... the creature Gollum had it for some five centuries before it was taken from him. I should never have let him escape! If I had known –"

"Sîdh," Thranduil said sternly, before his son could launch into self-condemnation. "You did not know, and that is that. You cannot be blamed for his escape. That you were able to feel compassion for even so degenerate a being is no sign of weakness, Legolas." He waited for the young Elf to nod, albeit reluctantly, before he went on. "So... The creature was tainted by the One. I will have words with Estel and Mithrandir later... They had no right to keep that a secret from us, especially considering that Estel left him here and they expected us to mind him!"

"They must have had reasons," Legolas said mildly.

"If they wish to be let off lightly for leaving that creature in my realm without even telling me the nature of the taint he bore, those reasons had better be very good." He shook his head. "But that is a matter for another day. Gollum had the Ring, you say? What happened? Who has it now?"

For the first time since his arrival, Legolas grinned.

"You will not believe this, Ada."

"I am your father. If I can persuade myself to believe that you were not sent to Middle-earth for the express purpose of causing me untold worry in my old age, I can believe anything."

"You know the elvellon Baggins..."

Thranduil stared.

"No."

"Yes."

"You mean he... But... How?"

"That is apparently a complicated story. However... Do you remember how puzzled we were that all those Dwarves managed to escape without any of us any the wiser? They are not known for stealth, after all."

"You are not telling me..." Thranduil's eyes hardened suddenly. "Bilbo Baggins used Sauron's Ring in my stronghold to help my prisoners escape? Sauron's Ring?"

Legolas started; he had not intended that his father should be angry with the Hobbit, for whom he had had considerable affection ever since the latter had decided to make his last stand in defense of the Elven-king at the Battle of the Five Armies.

"Ada, he had no idea what it was! How was he to know? Mithrandir knew of the ring Bilbo possessed, and even he did not know that it was the One. He meant no harm, and you must admit it was a convenient way to get rid of the Dwarves."

Thranduil chuckled.

"Convenient? That is not how I would describe it, but go on. Now that the Ring has been identified, what does Elrond plan to do with it?"

"What should have been done three thousand years ago. He is sending it to Orodruin to have it cast into the fires of its making."

The Elven-king nodded. "Good... finally the Noldor are showing some sense! But I do not envy whoever has the task of getting it past Sauron's minions in Mordor. He will be watching. In any case, I doubt any Elf would be safe to carry the Ring... The temptation to use it would be too great. I suspect the same can be said of Men."

Legolas transferred his gaze to the carpet, an action which did not go unnoticed by his father.

"Bilbo offered to bear the burden, but I believe his journeying days have ended now. The task has been entrusted to his kinsman."

Thranduil let out a breath he had not known he was holding.

"It cannot be said that the Halflings lack stoutness of heart. Mayhap Bilbo's kinsman will succeed where an Elf or a Man might have failed. But I hope Elrond is not sending him to Mordor alone." He frowned at the flush those words produced on his son's face. "Legolas?"

"That was actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Ada," Legolas mumbled in a small voice.

The Elven-king's face reflected his horror as understanding came to him.

"Baw," Thranduil said furiously. "You will do no such thing. I absolutely forbid it, Legolas! You cannot go traipsing into Mordor right under Sauron's eye! You manage to get in enough trouble just staying here."

"Ada, I gave Lord Elrond my word."

"I don't know what Elrond was thinking, allowing you to even entertain the idea. Elladan specifically promised me that he would ensure you got in no trouble this time, or I would not have let you go."

"Lord Elrond wished to have a representative from among the Elves –"

"And he chose you? With Glorfindel and all the warriors of Imladris at his disposal, he chose you?I do not see why you should even get involved, considering that it was the Noldor who helped make those infernal Rings in the first place. You are not going, Legolas. I will have no more discussion on the matter."

Legolas' eyes darkened.

"Ada, Estel is going. Would you have me let him go alone?"

Thranduil recognized the determination in his son's voice, but he was in no mood to back down.

"It is too dangerous!"

"I might get killed every time I go on a patrol! How is this any worse?"

"If I had all I wanted, you would not go on any patrols at all! Do you think it pleases me to see my son go into danger everyday? But at least that is necessary for the safety of our people. This entire situation has been brought about by the Noldor and their overweening arrogance, and I will not have you throwing away your life!"

"It is the same Enemy whether in Dol Guldur or in Barad-dûr. You have said so yourself."

"Do not argue with me, Legolas. You are not going, and that is my last word!"

"I am going, Ada," Legolas snapped. "Whether you want me to or not."

"Very well," Thranduil ground out. "Since you seem determined to do as you please no matter what I think, you have my leave to go. I never thought the day would come when you would disregard both the wishes of your father and the commands of your king."

"Ada!" Suddenly Legolas was on his knees before Thranduil's chair, his father's hands clasped tightly in his. "Ada, saes!" The young Elf sounded appalled. "I did not mean... You know you have my fealty, Ada. Do not say..." He shuddered. "I would never –"

Thranduil felt his anger dissipating at the sight of Legolas' bowed head.

"Sîdh," he said hoarsely, bringing his son's hands up to his face and kissing them lightly. "Say no more, tithen las. I did not intend to suggest that I doubted your loyalty. I could trust nobody if I could not trust you." He looked into Legolas' blue eyes. "I am sorry, ion nîn. Can you forgive a doting father who is terrified at the thought of losing what he holds most dear in all the world?"

Without a word, Legolas reached up to hug his father. Thranduil held his son close, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Legolas, you must understand. When your mother died you were all that anchored me to this world. I do not know if all fathers feel such a combination of pride and terror when their sons go to battle... I could not survive if I lost you, tithen pen."

"I must do this, Ada. How long can we stand against the might of Dol Guldur if Sauron regains his Ring? This may be the only way to bring lasting peace to Eryn Galen."

"I know, penneth. I know this is right, and I know you must do this. But my heart cannot accept it. To think of you facing the Valar know what evil in the shadowed lands to the south, while I sit here wondering and worrying and unable to separate fact from rumour... Promise me you will take care of yourself, tithen pen."

"I promise I will be careful, Ada. I will return to you."

Thranduil smiled.

"Come, then." He got to his feet, drawing his son with him. "I imagine Galion has laid dinner by now. You will be leaving in a few days, and it may be months before I see you again. Tomorrow I will have to see Elrond's scouts. Let us make the most of the time we have."

Hours later, Thranduil, unable to find rest, slipped into his son's bedroom. Legolas' eyes were wide open, reflecting the light of the stars that shone through the open window as he wandered in Elven dreams.

Thranduil pulled Legolas' blanket closer around him, although there was no need, poked at the fire, which was blazing perfectly well without his intervention, attempted to draw the drapes wider, despite the fact that they had already been pulled all the way back, and finally settled down in a comfortable chair by the bed. The Elven-king's eyes glazed over as sleep came for him at last.

Sindarin Translations

Aran nîn – My King

Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo. – A star shines on the hour of our meeting.

Elvellon – Elf-friend

Ada – Father

Ion nîn – My son

Penneth – Young one

Sîdh – Peace

Baw – No

Saes – Please

Tithen las – Little leaf

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