Author's Note:

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Thranduil

He found Legolas precisely where Galion said he would be. It was a small ledge in a wall of his halls, not far from his son's rooms. For a grown Elf, it was impossible to duck into the small space for a small child like Legolas it was perfect.

At the moment, Thranduil's height was a disadvantage.

He stood for a moment, uncertain while Legolas curled into the ledge with his back towards him, crying and sniffling. His son was never wept, treating most of his injuries as trophies from an adventure. Thranduil knelt and gently placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Come on, now," Thranduil crooned. He tugged a little. Legolas resisted, shrugging off his hand. Thranduil murmured soothingly until Legolas ceased to resist. Then he pulled him out and hugged him tightly against his chest.

"Hush, my little one," Thranduil murmured. "Where are they? I found them not in your room."

Legolas opened his palms. Two small fledgelings lay there, one on each hand. They looked asleep, but Thranduil knew better when he saw their unmoving bodies. Legolas found an abandoned nest with these two the prior evening. He brought them back. Thranduil took one look and knew the early winter frost already claimed them. There was no hope for survival.

"Why couldn't I save them?" Legolas whispered, tears still running down his cheeks.

"Sometimes, matters are not ours to handle," Thranduil replied gently. "They were beyond saving, my son."

"I had to try."

"I know."

"If I tried harder-"

"Do not think that way." Thranduil said, stroking back the few strands that stubbornly clung to Legolas' eyes. "It is time, my son that you learned you are not the cure for all that ails this world. Some things shall never change, and amongst those things is the power over death. You could not have saved these birds if Eru willed away their lives."

"But is it not our purpose to try? What then, will remain of hope?"

Legolas' gentle, childlike heart tugged on the strings of Thranduil's scarred and withered one. How long had it been since he hoped and dreamed so freely? His cynical view about a dark world now shattered when he looked through the eyes of his son.

Overcome with love, Thranduil gathered his son in his arms and held him close to his chest.

"You, my son, are a blessing," Thranduil whispered in Legolas' ear.