Ohtar tried to hold the bow as steady as possible as he stared at the small dot on the target. It was barely visible to him at all… was he really expected to hit it?
"Ohtar."
Irritated, he lowered his bow. The voice was unfamiliar, but that didn't matter. No matter who it was, they needed to show him respect.
"Prince Ohtar," he said as he turned. Then he saw his father smiling at him.
"I see. Maybe I shall have you begin to call me Lord."
"Father," Ohtar said in shock. "What… what are you doing here?"
"Have I been gone that long?"
"I'm afraid so. I was beginning to think you were dead."
"Ohtar-"
Ohtar glared at him. Father had better not expect me to forgive him after how long he was gone, he thought bitterly. It had been nearly a year since he'd seen Legolas.
"I'm young, father. You've made me rule while you're gone, and I understand that, but I spend more time on the throne than you do. I can't lead. Not yet, anyway. Not for a long period of time. I am so tired of waiting for you to come home. It seems like you leave more often than you return." Then he walked away.
Legolas started after him but Arwen grabbed his hand. "Legolas, you must leave him. He's angry, let him be."
Legolas sighed. "He's my son, I must be there for him."
"Not when he doesn't want you to be. Come, introduce us to your wife."
"Maybe you are right."
The four walked to the gardens, where sure enough, Queen Gwilith sat near the fountain.
"The fair Lady Gwilith," Legolas said proudly. She looked up at him.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, anger in her eyes. Legolas instantly knew that his encounter with her would be similar to his meeting with Ohtar.
"Gwilith, I know-"
"You promised me you'd be home in 4 months! Do you have any idea how long it has been since I've looked at you?"
"Gwilith, we were delayed at the mountains. We had to stop for a week, and then we had some unexpected encounters."
"That's not what I'm angry about. Your army came back only to tell me that you went to Gondor! You were almost home, and then you were delayed yet another endless 2 weeks."
"I will explain everything. I assure you, there is a reasonable explanation. But I bring home guests to stay with us. Lady Arwen of Gondor, her daughters Zerameth and Laesien, and Yrinvan. He is a…" Legolas paused.
"A friend of the family," Arwen finished. "What an honor to meet you, Lady Gwilith."
Gwilith paused, as if unsure of what to say. "Where are your daughters?"
"This is Zerameth," Arwen replied, looking to her eldest. "Laesien is talking with your own daughters."
"How nice to meet you all," Gwilith said. "Legolas, a word with you, please?"
The couple walked a small distance away, when Gwilith began scolding him in a harsh whisper.
"How could you?!" she raged. "You brought home the royal family of Gondor?! You had better have your "reasonable explanation" be decent, because I do not have the patience to deal with you and your stories to excuse something that could begin a war!"
"Hush," he said. "I apologize. Forgive me, Gwilith, but you know Arwen was a friend of mine when we were young, and-"
"Legolas Greenleaf, how could you?!"
"Listen to me!" he snapped. "I am the King of Mirkwood, you will not interrupt me, even if you are my wife!" Gwilith obeyed. "Someone is after her, so I needed to get her away from Gondor, for that is where she is expected to be. Her children came only because Aragorn insisted. He did not want to take a chance with his daughters, that they may get harmed or killed. This could not be avoided, unless I would have been heartless and forgotten about her completely. I couldn't leave her to die."
Gwilith paused for a moment, then wrapped Legolas in her arms. Nearly crying, she said "I'm sorry, Legolas. But I've missed you so, and there have been rumors of your death, and I… I-"
"Im dar cuin," Legolas whispered to her in Elvish. "A im meleth lle." (I am alive. And I love you.)
Gwilith smiled and kissed him affectionately. She loved it when he spoke Elvish to her. She loved the sound of his voice, especially speaking Elvish words for they were so smooth and elegant and romantic. "A im meleth lle, nin Legolas." (And I love you, my Legolas.)
They shared a long, passionate kiss, and Legolas was assured that all wounds were healed. He wasn't sure, however, if his son would be as forgiving.