Disclaimer: I own nothing, neither Middle Earth, nor the Michael W. Smith song.

Legolas lay sprawled on his bed. He was rather overwhelmed by his joyous reunion with his father, though he realized now that his father did in fact love him, he still felt empty, unfulfilled. A lump filled his throat as he remembered that afternoon, just a few short hours before.

'Who is the you that no one else can see

In your heart the lonely one afraid to be

Lost again…need a friend

Flashback

Thranduil, Legolas, and Aragorn sat companionably together in the study. The man had waited several minutes before following Legolas's route down, and the elves were glad.

Thranduil spoke up, "I'm sure neither of you could sleep now, so would one of you please tell me exactly what happened in Imladris? Something about Aragorn saving you life, I believe you said, ion nin?"

Legolas chuckled as Aragorn shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "He did, Adar; I had gone on a walk through the woods of Imladris and yrch attacked. I was trying to fight all of them off myself when up ran Aragorn. He killed a few and then deliberately got in the way of an arrow meant for me. I was so shocked that I managed to kill off all the rest." He looked down, leaving out the rest of the story.

His father looked at him questioningly, but Legolas refused to meet his eyes. He was ashamed of himself, both for the half-truth he had just told and for what in the story he had concealed. But he still couldn't bring himself to confess his weakness so soon after making up. He just knew in that part of him that remained skeptical, that his father would reject him for his insanity.

Thankfully, the king didn't pressure him and the conversation turned to other matters, such as Aragorn's part in this reconciliation.

The man chuckled and blushed as Thranduil confronted him. "It's true," he admitted. "I did set this up. I realized right away that this room was below his, and that the window was open. After that, it was simple to start a conversation on his balcony. We did so all the time in Imladris."

As evening drew nigh, the king called for supper to be served there rather than joining in the grand hall. All their nerves were too raw for that. They spoke only of innocuous things as they ate, and then the two friends headed for their bedrooms, through the halls this time, though, rather than the window. Aragorn bade Legolas goodnight outside of his door, and the elf supposed he went right to sleep.

End Flashback

Legolas had no sleep in him. He was too strung up to relax, he felt so guilty and so worthless. He did his best to freeze his body and prevent the tears that were trying to burst forth. Instead he heard Lord Elrond's voice again, telling him tears were healthy rather than a sign of weakness. He relaxed marginally and the tears began to flow as hard as at his first breakdown.

'You hide your soul to keep the hurt inside

All alone your tears call out into the night

Is he there…does he care'

As he gulped on his tears, he halfway wished his father or Aragorn were there to talk to, but Aragorn was asleep and he was sure his father was busy taking care of one duty or another.

He rolled around on his bed, trying to find a comfortable position. Failing, he got up, still weeping, and went to sit on the balcony, hoping he wouldn't be heard. He sat with his arms around his knees, which were drawn up against his chest. He gazed at the nightsky as the stars grew brighter, but his vision blurred with the tears. He was so focused that he never heard his bedroom door open.

~+~

Thranduil dealt with several minor problems before he felt a tugging on his heart. Rather than ignore it, as he had done in the past when he had thought it merely to be a longing for his wife, he stopped what he was doing immediately. As that happened to be walking down a hallway, he drew several curious looks from younger elves, and sympathetic ones from older elves who immediately recognized the look on his face, having felt the same pull from siblings or children many times. He ignored both and tried to figure out what the magic wanted him to do.

'Yes I know your name

Every prayer you pray

I'm the one who brought you to this place

The voice who sings to you

The hand that clings to you

Oh my child, I've always known your name

Known your name'

He followed its pull to his son's room and opened the door silently. He did not see Legolas at first, but finally located him by the glow coming from outside. Going out, he found the prince oblivious to his surroundings with a look of agony on his face. The king hesitantly sat down behind his son. He was out of practice at comforting people, but having failed as a father before, he wasn't going to do so again. With that in mind, he pulled the elfling (as he still thought of him) against his chest so he could lean on him. Though he expected resistance, instead Legolas collapsed into him, still crying but more gently.

'I hold you close to me, close to heart

And this kind of love will find you

Anywhere you are.

Never fear, I am here.'

There was a slight thud after a moment that caused Thranduil to look up sharply while reaching for a weapon. But it was only Aragorn. The Dunadan had heard the prince and come to help, the elf presumed.

The man surprised him, however, by saying, "Thranduil, there is more to the tale than he told you earlier, and I am sure that is the double reason why he weeps. He turned to the younger elf then and said, "Legolas, may I finish your story? Your father really needs to know."

The prince tensed up but nodded slightly, turning to bury his face into his father's tunic.

~+~

Aragorn began hesitantly, but with growing strength. "As he said earlier, I came to rescue him from the orcs. He had been a bit rude to me earlier, since I suppose he wasn't used to men, but I had heard the trees warning of orcs near a woodland elf so I went to warn him. He was doing fairly well on his own when I got there, but then he was overpowered for a moment and one raised a bow to shoot him while some of the others had hold of him. I wasn't feeling particularly heroic at the time, but I had been fascinated by my first impression of him for one thing, and I also, having been raised politics, realized the diplomatic problems that would come with the prince of Mirkwood being killed by orcs while under the protection of Imladris. So I got in the way and went down hard.

"The rest of the tale I have from my brothers and Legolas since I was unconscious at the time after all. Legolas went into shock and then went berserk. He killed the rest of the orcs on his own and also, apparently, screamed. El and El heard him and thought to come to his rescue. Instead he didn't immediately recognize them and almost killed them. So Elrohir knocked him from a distance with a fallen tree branch, stunning him but getting him out of his blind rage. Then they hauled both of us back to be patched up by Ada.

"I think Legolas believes you will think less of him for that temporary insanity and because he broke you 'rule' of not crying, for he cried when he killed the orcs and again when he woke up afterward in my huge bed, where Father placed both of us so Legolas wouldn't believe me dead when he woke up."

Aragorn stopped and watched Thranduil's face for a reaction.

~+~

Thranduil was unsure what to feel but settled for compassion. Of course he had been shocked, amused, and horrified in turns during the telling, but knowing what his beloved son had gone through, he was just sorry had hadn't been there earlier for him so Legolas would have immediately known to trust him rather than being afraid of his reaction.

Legolas was still tense in his arms and trying to pull away in shame. Thranduil didn't let him though. Instead, he lifted the prince's chin and looked into the tearful eyes as he said, "I love you, ion nin." He kissed Legolas's forehead and then pulled him back into his embrace. "I am so proud of you, and I will not reject you for anything. We will get through this together."

There was a swish of cloth and another thud, and when the king looked up, Aragorn was gone, leaving the two their privacy.

~+~

Legolas relaxed into his father's strong arms. He hadn't enjoyed hearing his weakness revealed, but his father had not pushed him away as he had half expected. Indeed, Thranduil had only held him closer as if to protect him from such things. Legolas felt unexpectedly stronger now, as he had after being healed by Elrond. In retrospect, he realized that his father had been feeding him energy. Then he noticed that the king's hands had gotten rather cold.

Pulling reluctantly out of the comforting embrace, he got to his feet and then pulled his father up. Thranduil seemed rather stiff and unsteady, and Legolas had to support him back inside.

"Will you stay with me tonight, Ada?" He asked in a small voice. He knew that his father probably couldn't make it to his room, and besides, he had been alone far too long. He was afraid that if he was apart from his father too long, he would forget how loved he was and lapse back into his old coldness that came of protecting himself from the emotions that would show him to be weak, as he had thought before.

To his profound relief, his father nodded, and Legolas helped him over to the bed. When he started to protest, Legolas pushed his shoulder slightly with his fingers and Thranduil lost his balance.

In his best little boy voice, Legolas pleaded, "Please, Ada, may I sleep with you just this once?"

Thranduil grinned and nodded. Then he sat down on the edge of the bed to take of his shoes but almost fell from dizziness as he bent over. Legolas was alarmed at the turn of affairs but made his father lay back and pulled off his shoes for him before climbing in himself and curling up into a ball at Thranduil's side. The king slid an arm under Legolas's head and immediately fell asleep, followed shortly by his son.

~+~

As the sun rose, Thranduil slowly brought his eyes into focus as he tried to figure out what the weight on his arm was. Then he recalled what had occurred the night before and looked down at Legolas, who was just beginning to wake.

"Good morning, ion nin," he said congenially as Legolas stirred. The prince stretched and his eyes widened as he almost hit his father in the face. Thranduil chuckled at his surprised face. "Did you sleep well?" He asked.

"Well enough," Legolas responded, still a bit confused. Then his face showed enlightenment. "Adar! I'm sorr…"

Thranduil interrupt, "Nothing to apologize for, ion. I am just glad you are well. I have been vaguely worried about you for some time, but only lately actually scraped together enough sense to send you to Elrond."

Legolas raised his eyebrows. "You sent me to Elrond because you hoped he'd figure out why you were worried? Did you even tell him?"

"Of course not. He's a healer; of course he would see that there was a problem. I am sure he is a bit worried now, though, since from what Aragorn said, he rightfully blames me. I shall have to send him a letter by pigeon to reassure him. Meanwhile, would you get off my arm? I'm sure it's numb now." He grinned playfully and poked Legolas in the ribs.

Legolas grinned back. "And whose fault is that? My memory tells me that you are the one who put that arm there."

Just there was a tap on the balcony door and Aragorn leaned in. "Good morning, Your Royalnesses! And how are you doing this fine day?"

Thranduil sputtered indignantly at his impudence but said, still laughing. "Much better, thank you. Though of course my arm is still immobile and numb!"

They all laughed and got ready for a fine day.