Legolas and Kir both jumped as the door slammed open. "Nib, what is wrong?" Legolas asked. "What happened?"

"Do what you want with him, I care not," Nib said as she stalked off.

"Oh great." Legolas watched Nib go, and then turned back to the throne room. "Wait out here." Legolas entered the room and closed the door behind him. Thranduil was sitting in his chair, staring at the floor. Legolas cleared his throat and Thranduil looked up. "What happened father?" he asked.

Thranduil sighed. "I told her the truth and she did not believe me."

"The truth about what?"

"Sit down Legolas. There is something I need to talk to you about."

Legolas sat staring at nothing in the rather stony silence that followed Thranduil's confession. Legolas did not know what to think. His once stable and orderly world seemed to be fading. First, he learned that the fate of Middle Earth would lie partially on his shoulders, and now discovering the person he could always trust and feel safe with had somehow betrayed him. 

Suddenly his mind cleared and he smiled. What did it matter, really? True, he was angry with his father, but that was not entirely unusual. He had known his father had not been faithful to his mother. Nib was proof of that. Much of their disagreement over the past years had been over Nib, with Legolas defending her. They could discuss the matter later, when he got back. If he got back. There were more important matters to discuss.

Suddenly, Legolas laughed. Thranduil stared at him. Legolas stopped laughing abruptly. "So you were married to Nib's mother when she had her?"

"Yes," Thranduil said slowly, beginning to wonder about his son's health. "Are you all right?"

"Yes father, I am fine," Legolas said. "Can you not see? Everything is so much easier now."

"What do you mean?"

"Nib is not illegitimate. She can inherit the throne."

"You are my heir Legolas, you know that."

"Yes, yes, but it makes this so much easier."

"Makes what so much easier?" Thranduil asked, beginning to get annoyed.

"Oh yes, you would not know, of course," The smile left Legolas' face and he became completely serious. "I will be leaving soon on a… a mission, with the basic intent of saving Middle Earth. When I arrived in Rivendell and met with the council of Elrond, there was a hobbit there, by the name of Frodo Baggins."

"Baggins? A relative of Bilbo?"

"Yes, a cousin or something, adopted as heir I believe, it does not really matter. Among other things, Frodo inherited a certain ring. A ring Bilbo obtained from the creature Gollum. Gandalf brought Frodo to Rivendell because he could no longer stay at his home in the Shire. It was no longer safe there." He said this carefully, in a very measured pace, looking at his father. Thranduil nodded his understanding. "And Frodo said he will take the ring to Mordor, to destroy it. But he will not be going alone."

"You are not…"

"I am. Elrond has not yet named our other companions. Nor, in fact, has he named me officially, but…."

"Then why do you think you will go?"

"Nib came to see me in Rivendell because of a dream she had. In her dream, she heard Elrond say I will go, all though she did not know for what. We talked to Elrond about it, and he thought it would be a good idea for me to go. He said he would name me if I… told you first."

"Told me?"

"Well, um… he said ask you, uh… ask your permission I believe he said."

"So you are asking my permission?"

"I suppose so."

"No."

"Father-"

"No, Legolas. I am sorry, but I will not risk loosing my only son."

"Father, I would rather die trying to protect Middle Earth than sit around in this forest and watch others do it for me. This mission might fail, with or without me. Or it might succeed, and we all die. The success depends on destroying the ring.

"Perhaps you would rather us do nothing at all, and let the Dark Lord take over again. Maybe you would prefer me to die in battle like my brothers when they first fought the Dark Lord, is that it?!" Legolas knew at once that he had gone too far. Thranduil looked as though he had been struck. Legolas sighed. This was a tender subject for both of them. "I… I am sorry father."

"No… no. I can see I cannot keep you from going. I am just worried about loosing my last son."

"I know. I did not expect you to be happy. I had only hoped for your blessing."

"Then you have it Legolas. And I give it willingly. I am proud of you son. I should have talked to you about your brothers before, but now…"

"We can talk when I return," Legolas said, trying to sound confident.

"Of course," Thranduil said, equally pretending. "When do you leave?"

"I should go within the week. We need to get back to Rivendell."

Thranduil nodded. "Well you must be tired. You should rest now. Come and see me before you leave."

Legolas nodded, and knelt briefly again. "Father." He was nearly to the door when Thranduil called him back.

"You will be careful son?"

"Of course. And I will come home."

Thranduil nodded and Legolas turned to leave again. "Oh, and Legolas."

"Yes?"

"Take care of your sister."

A smile spread across Legolas' face until he was grinning. "I will father."