Chapter 22 – King Thranduil's Halls
Next morning they roused themselves, ate well and then set off once more. Orophin joined his brothers this time to see them off and walked with them to the far reaches of the wood on its Northern edge. Fuineth had tears in her eyes as she bade the Galadhrim and Lothlorien farewell.
The party mounted their horses, Gimli sitting behind Legolas as was their wont of old, and turned North. They skirted the lower edge of Greenwood, travelling to the East and keeping a distance from the wood by a league or more. That far south, though now clear of evil and part of Celeborn's realm, there were too many memories of horrors for Naril and Legolas both. Naril had fought at Dol Goldur and he fell silent for the entire day that they took to sweep past the southern edge of Eryn Lasgalen (the Wood of the Greenleaves as it was now renamed) stirred by the memories and the loss.
Within a day or two they moved West once more to travel under the eaves of the trees, the two elves in particular revelling in being here again. Fuineth could see Legolas changing slightly as he came to places or neared others he had long known and were dear to his heart. It was still a joy to he and Naril both that they could travel through this forest without the constant fear of danger oppressing them. There remained evil remnants that stalked abroad but far less frequently now, their numbers ever depleting, and hiding mostly far to the North and East. Ever vigilant and alert, the two elves nevertheless delighted in taking their time savouring the smells and sounds of the wood around them.
At last, one morning, they reached the river and headed East towards King Thranduil's Halls. Fuineth could feel herself getting nervous the nearer they got to it. Legolas had not said anything to her but she knew he was a little upset by the fact that no messenger had come from his father acknowledging his news. There had been plenty enough time, their route would have been well-known enough, for one to have found and reached him well before now.
No. That no messenger had found them meant no messenger was sent. Fuineth worried that this boded ill and she sensed Legolas felt the same.
Even as they rode Fuineth could now see faces in the shadows to either side. Soon there were excited shouts and giggles and then elves and several elflings stepped out to greet them and walk alongside them. Naril and Legolas were recognised immediately, and Gimli also by one or two, and the two elves stopped their horses and leapt down to return the greetings of their well-wishers and embrace one or two who were clearly old friends.
The others now dismounted also and the entire party, travellers and residents mixed, followed the hidden path that wound through the trees. Then they came to the bridge before the great gates of the cave of Thranduil's Halls. The river was full and moving fast beneath them as them crossed it. Several of the elflings ran on ahead now as they came near, shouting and laughing the news of the Prince's arrival to the guards and the rest of the palace, and the gates were swung open for them even as they reached the great beech trees on either side of them.
No sooner had they entered when elves came forward to take their steeds and lead them away from the cave and to the stables. Murmurs of greeting to Naril and Legolas from those around could be heard, and as the guards led them through the torch lit and paved tunnels, songs could be heard telling of the glad return of the King's son.
Legolas felt for Fuineth's hand and, glancing at her, he murmured, "Now at last will I show you my homeland, meleth nín."
She smiled at the obvious delight this thought gave him.
They came to a series of corridors now off which there was a large antechamber. As they entered a tall blonde elf, in green and brown and with gems upon his collar, stood to meet them and greeted them warmly, Legolas in particular.
"Mae govannen, Legolas." Then he turned to the others, "Well met indeed to these our guests, also. Gimli! A pleasure to see you once again."
Gimli bowed low, "I thank you, Lord Elsilion. It pleases me greatly to be able to see fair Eryn Lasgalen once again." The elf smiled graciously.
Legolas spoke, "Is everything arranged I trust? I had no word, nor knew till now my messages had arrived here telling of my journey. Have rooms been made ready?"
Elsilion nodded, "But of course, my lord. Your were expected indeed your father has been informed of your arrival and awaits you even now."
As he spoke elves appeared at the doorway with their baggage. As the guests were led away to their chambers Legolas took Fuineth by the arm.
"I needs must see my father straight away. I will come and find you. There will be food and refreshment in one of the halls I would trust. Please, anything you need you ask, Fuineth."
She smiled. "Thank you Legolas, I am sure your people will make me feel most welcome, indeed they already have," she assured him.
He smiled, kissed her on the cheek and left, taking Naril and Elsilion with him.
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Legolas took a deep breath before he entered the Throne Room. He was not looking forward to this. He had been concerned by the lack of response from his father to his messages. The more he had let his mind dwell on it as they had travelled North, the more angry he had felt himself becoming and yet he knew he could not blame his father. Not that long ago he would have felt the same himself.
Naril and Elsilion entered with him and Thranduil looked up as they came in. He was in conversation to one side of the large chamber with several of his stewards. Legolas noticed he did not smile. Legolas and Naril bowed. Thranduil murmured Legolas's name and inclined his head and then immediately addressed Naril.
"Naril, it is good to see you once again. You do not visit it us often enough. Have you forgotten us?"
Naril smiled, "No indeed, my liege. It cheers my heart to be home once more."
"Ah, so this is still 'home'. Good. Good."
Thranduil had barely greeted his son, nor did it seem like he was going to. Elsilion had joined the stewards and Naril, sensing the atmosphere between the pair, now moved away also.
Legolas looked at his father levelly, and his father at him.
"Legolas. What can I say? It pleases me greatly to see you but I am shocked, in truth, at the circumstances."
Legolas's jaw tightened. "Father, shall we withdraw, perhaps? I do not wish to discuss this with you publicly."
Thranduil tilted his head ever so slightly and stepped aside to indicate the door to one side of the throne and to allow his son passage past him. Legolas walked towards it brusquely and flung the door open, not bothering to turn and watch his father follow him into the antechamber.
There was a window cut in the far wall and Legolas went to it to stare out and still his rage. His father had not greeted him. Had barely acknowledged his presence. Worse he had done this in front of others, good friends, admittedly, but two of lesser station. Not that Legolas cared for such things but his father certainly did and it therefore could only be a deliberate slight on his father's part and Legolas knew it.
He heard the soft click of the door being closed behind him. He did not turn.
"Wine?" his father was asking him.
He shook his head.
"Come now, Legolas. Let us talk about this reasonably. I realise I have upset you, but you have upset me. You must have known that. You cannot be surprised."
Legolas turned now. "No. I am not surprised. I knew what to expect. You do not change. More is the pity."
Thranduil said nothing but raised an eyebrow. He went to a cupboard and took a jug of wine and filled two cups. He held one out to his son.
"I did not want any," Legolas growled.
Thranduil shrugged and placed it on the table in front of him as if to say, 'Well if you change your mind'. He moved to a chair beside the fireplace and sipped at his wine, watching his son coolly for a moment. He almost sounded amused when he spoke at last.
"How else did you expect me to react, Legolas? Hmm? Why on earth would I be pleased that you have decided to marry a .. *mortal*?" He near spat the word, near shuddered as he did so.
Legolas's jaw muscle was clenching but he forced himself not to think of his love for Fuineth but how he himself would have seen this situation even a year ago.
"I did not expect you to be pleased. I knew full well what your reaction would be. I would have felt the same, or something near to it, not so long ago were I in your place." Thranduil smiled and nodded his approval at this but Legolas continued, "But not now. I could never understand how an elf could choose a mortal over their own kind. Never. It was utterly incomprehensible to me. Now I know. I cannot expect you to understand, father, but know this: you will not stop me."
Thranduil's eyes grew dark and his voice was low and filled with threat, "Is this the respect you show your father, Legolas? Is this the respect you show your King, and your station as Prince? That you will act on a mere whim, a mere fancy, a fluttering of your heart and demean yourself?"
Legolas's cheeks were flushed in rage but he bit his tongue.
"Can you not find some elf-maid to satisfy your desires, boy? Why does this piece of mortal flesh heat you so..?"
"DON'T you dare!" Legolas snapped through clenched teeth.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow and spoke in a firm, angry tone. "I would remind you not to raise your voice to me. YOU are the one who has chosen to come here and seek my approval or at least my permission to marry here. YOU are the one who should explain yourself; YOU are the one who should be told not to dare! You DARE to bring shame to my house! You DARE to defile our blood with mortality and you tell me there is nothing I can do about it?! How dare YOU? How DARE you?!"
Thranduil was shouting and Legolas's voice was no quieter than his father's. "I dare because I have no choice! I explained to you in my first letter to you that I fought against this. Fought against it with all my being. Even when I finally acknowledged my feelings for her I resisted telling her, telling anyone. I accepted that I would never have her, that it was impossible. I tried. Desperately."
His tone was changing now, he was reliving the pain of what he had gone through, the turmoil, the angst were all flooding back. Despite his father's demeanour the two were close and Thranduil was about the only person Legolas could have opened his heart to in such a manner.
"And it was made worse when I could see in her the same feelings reciprocated. I could not bear it. I lied to myself, denied it for so long. Raged and battled in myself." He looked up at his father now, his eyes glistening with unfallen tears. "But I knew I could not let anyone else have her. The pain of not loving her, of not having her for my own would have been as great or worse than the loss I face ahead of me now. Either way my heart will break. This way I can at least have some joy by which it's pain may be eased."
Thranduil looked at his son, at the distress evident in his face, and though he would not admit it he began to understand something of what his son had gone through. He was resolute, however. He nodded.
"That still does not change the fact that elf and mortal should not mix. Kind with kind. That is how it should be. It is bad enough when races mix within kind."
Legolas sighed and rolled his eyes skyward.
"Don't you sigh at me! Friendship is one thing, but this! This is beyond reason. It is profoundly stupid. Terribly wrong." He stopped, looking at his son with a sudden compassion in his eyes. "Legolas I do not want to see you hurt. And you will be. Sorely hurt." Suddenly Thranduil could not look at him. "What if the grief is too much, Legolas? Did you ever think of that?"
Legolas looked at him. He had not told his father of the seagull's cry he had heard or the sea-calling he felt, though he suspected his father, who knew him so well, had guessed it having seen the change in him when he returned home after the War, and indeed Thranduil had. The King had even discussed it with Galadriel who had confirmed his suspicions. And he had wept long then into the dark night alone in his chambers when he knew that his son would desert him. Legolas knew that it would cut his father sore to lose him, whether by grief taking him or the sea.
Legolas came over to sit opposite his father, his elbows on his knees, regarding the elder elf with a sad smile. "I did indeed, father. Of course I did. You must not think I took this decision lightly. Nor did Fuineth. She is well aware, all too painfully aware, of the consequences of this. It stopped her just as it stopped me. But denying this was causing us more pain than admitting it. Can you understand that?"
His father nodded and Legolas smiled to see it, thinking at last he was getting through to him. Then he saw the sneer on his father's face as he said, "Yes indeed I can but she, as a mortal, is frail and all too young to understand how to control herself better, I do not doubt. But you, Legolas, you are old enough to control your desires. I thought I had brought you up better than this. I thought I had taught you to understand your priorities and responsibilities in life."
Legolas snapped, "How does my marriage affect my priorities or responsibilities?! It has nothing whatsoever to do with it!"
"It has everything to do with it," his father roared. "Do you not understand?! Apart from the fact that you need to set an example, you of all people should know better. You are in a position of responsibility and therefore cannot follow your desires and whims like a child. You are not an efling any longer, my boy, and it is time you started to realise it!"
Legolas was livid.
"Not an elfling?! Not an elfling?! You call me, a battle-hardened warrior, one who fought to defend this my home and all of Middle Earth, an elfling? You speak to one who battled fell beasts and faced terrors and horrors that would have made lesser men or elves quail in such a manner? You may be my father but I was full grown long ago! Rather it is you who treats me as a child and a doltard but I can assure you I am neither! I was stupid but only because I decided to come here because I felt, out of honour and respect to you.." Thranduil snorted his contempt but Legolas continued over him, trying to ignore him, "Out of honour and respect to you that I should discuss this with you, meet you face to face, allow you to meet her and decide for yourself! That was stupid: that I should have trusted you to show the same respect to me that I have afforded you!"
"You have already decided, Legolas! What is there to discuss? If you seek my blessing, you shall not have it! If you seek my approval, you shall not have it! And if you think you are to marry here in my halls, irrespective of my views, then Legolas you sadly mistaken!"
Legolas stared at his father in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"You heard," growled his father.
"You would deny me to marry here amongst my people and my friends?"
"I would deny you marrying in MY halls amongst MY people to someone of whom I do not approve, yes! You have your own realm. You chose to leave and forsake this your home."
Legolas groaned. He was not going through *this* argument again.
Thranduil was continuing, his voice rising with every phrase, "You are the one who decided that the company of mortals was more to your liking than that of your own kin. You have had poor role-models in the South, that much is clear to me. He may be King, your friend Aragorn, but you should not follow his example in everything."
"Don't you dare speak of him and the fair Undomiel! You have no understanding of what they went through or how hard it was for them both!"
"No! Perhaps not!" roared back his father, "But I can understand entirely the rage and despair of Elrond!"
There was a shocked silence. Both were standing, their faces red, their eyes flashing.
Legolas broke away to stand at a desk, his hands splayed out on it as he leaned forward over it, his head bowed. He was breathing hard through his nose, his teeth clenched.
At last he said, quietly, struggling to control himself, "That may be so, but Elrond knew the decision lay with his daughter. She was free to choose and Elrond gave his permission though it broke his heart."
He turned now to see his father was standing, facing the fire with his back to him. The tension his stance was evident.
Legolas continued, "But I will not become mortal like her. It is not the same decision. It may be the grief will be too much. I cannot know that, nor can you. That is for Eru to decide. Believe me, father, if I could have avoided this I would have. I would not, for all the world, wish to put you through this."
Thranduil turned then, regarding his son. "Legolas I know you understand how I feel. And you know that I would feel this way no matter who it was. The emotions are stronger in me because you are my son and I love you too much to see you do this to yourself."
Legolas nodded, "I know."
They were silent for some time then. Thranduil sat once more and picked up his cup of wine. At last he spoke. "I do not think there is any more to discuss, Legolas. I cannot see what purpose it would serve. There is nothing you can say that would convince me this is right for you. Till then you will not marry here."
"Elbereth!" Legolas sighed, "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"I could say the same of you!" his father retorted.
"And if I am, then who did I get it from?!" Legolas countered.
And suddenly their eyes met and they laughed.
As their chuckles faded Legolas said, "You will like her when you meet her, I know you will."
Thranduil looked at him now and his curiosity got the better of him, "Yes I must admit I am intrigued by one who could move you so, Legolas. I know you have had plenty of elf-maids to choose from, have done so indeed, but this, this I have never seen in you before."
Legolas smiled, "She is beautiful. Dark and tall and with a warmth about her that is wondrous. She has character and fire, and yet she is the gentlest and most considerate person I think I have met in a long age. She speaks Sindarin and knows much of elves and elvish ways. Her father was Dunedain and her brother fought with me in the War of the Ring. He has taught her much of the ways of the Northern people."
"So you said in your letter."
Thranduil's voice betrayed nothing but he had been impressed by what Legolas had written in his description of her and he was, though he scarcely admitted to himself, looking forward to meeting her.
There was silence and then Legolas said, in a calmer tone than before, "Father, guests are already on their way. You had plenty of opportunity to tell me you would refuse my marriage here after my first message. I said then those were my plans. Even after the second message, if you had used a bird, it would have got to me in plenty of time. You cannot now, at this late hour, expect me to turn back the King and Queen of Gondor and Arnor when they are halfway to our halls already or Lord Elrond who would have already left Rivendell."
Thranduil fumed suddenly, "Perhaps you should not have been so presumptuous?"
"Perhaps you should not have been so hotheaded as to not reply to my messages," Legolas snarled.
Thranduil conceded the point. "Even so. These are my halls. I rule here, not you, Legolas, or not yet. I shall meet her, I shall consider it, but otherwise messengers will be sent. South to Lothlorien to meet the guests there, and West to Rivendell. There will be no wedding. You understand me?"
Legolas's voice was still calm but there was a steely tone to it. "I understand. But I must correct you, father, on one thing: there will be a wedding. Whether it is here or in Ithilien it will occur. Whether you like it or not, forgive me, but it will happen."
Thranduil's eyes were flashing and his teeth ground. "So you would wilfully defy me, your father and your King?" he growled.
Legolas looked him in the eye and said, "Yes. In this matter without question or hesitation."
Thranduil threw his cup into the fire, turned on his heel and swept out of the room.
"Well, that went well," murmured Legolas to himself.
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As King Thranduil stormed out into the Throne Room his face was black as thunder. The elves in the chamber stepped out of his way and dropped their voices as he strode past.
Naril ventured into the antechamber and saw Legolas, his face pale with anger, still leaning against the desk, his hands gripping its edges as his eyes flashed. Naril tapped gently on the door, hesitating as to whether to enter or not. Legolas looked up, and, seeing it was him, gave a weak smile.
Naril grinned, "So, about as bad as you feared, then?"
Legolas sighed and shook his head, "Just about. He has forbidden the ceremony to take place here."
Naril looked shocked. "It's a bit late for that. Aren't guests already on their way?"
Legolas nodded. Naril fell silent for a moment.
"What will you tell Fuineth?"
Legolas's expression grew clouded. "I will not tell her. Not yet. He has said that he may change his mind. I cannot see him sticking to this, if truth be told, if only because it will look ill mannered indeed to send Elrond and the King and Queen back to their homes before they even reach us. He could have stopped this by replying to my messages, but chose not to. There is little he can do now, though it sticks in his throat, I am sure." Naril nodded.
Naril was Legolas's elder by a near thousand years. He was close to both he and the King, his father having come from Doriath with Thranduil's own.
"You know he is set in his ways, Legolas. Perhaps time will cool his ire. He has yet to meet her and he cannot fail but like her when he does so."
Legolas smiled then, "Well yes, I think so too. He will never approve but I hope that by meeting her he will calm somewhat. In fact I feel sure he will."
They were silent for a little while. Then Naril spoke quietly. "It might be well for you to follow him. To try talking to him some more."
Legolas snorted, "What is the use? I am defiling his name and honour and am acting like a mere elfling, apparently. It is desire that is driving me and no more."
Naril raised an eyebrow, "He said that?"
"More or less."
Naril sighed and shook his head, "And you no doubt took the bait and defied him."
Legolas looked at his friend, "He is being completely unreasonable. He was outrageously rude to me just now, even if I am his son and his subject."
Naril placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder, "He was angry. You are both as stubborn as each other, and I can say that as one who loves you both and has known you since you were a mere elfling in arms. My father knew your grandfather and knew King Thranduil from his childhood too. You are both well-known to me."
Legolas said nothing so Naril continued, "You know what will have happened. He will have been storing up his rage and shock all this while since he first received your news. It has all come out in a great rush this day. The worst is over. Now he can start thinking more clearly once more. It was ever his wont. You know that better than I."
Legolas nodded and sighed. "You are right. I am loath to bring Fuineth to him just yet though. I fear his anger will betray him and that would upset her greatly, I know. She is scared enough of meeting him. She has not said as much to me but I can sense it in her. She knows he does not approve and she is worried."
"It is understandable," murmured Naril, "But all the more reason for you to go after him. Apologise if necessary."
Legolas flashed him a look.
"Yes, you heard me right, Legolas. Apologise. You know better than I how appease your father. And you need him and his permission. His approval, as you say, you may never achieve but if you and he are not to be hugely embarrassed by having to turn back such noble guests as are already on their way then you will have to do whatever it takes to pacify him."
Legolas knew Naril was right. He had allowed his anger to get the better of him and hadn't argued his case nearly well enough, he knew. He smiled.
"Thank you Naril. You are right. I will go and find him. I love him dearly and I know he is only behaving thus out of his love for me also. I need to make him understand why I have chosen thus. Meeting Fuineth will help, but I must smooth the path before that can happen."
Naril nodded. "I will go and make sure the guests are being looked after, then, while you do so."
Legolas smiled his thanks at his friend and Naril watched as Legolas left the room to go and find his father.
Next morning they roused themselves, ate well and then set off once more. Orophin joined his brothers this time to see them off and walked with them to the far reaches of the wood on its Northern edge. Fuineth had tears in her eyes as she bade the Galadhrim and Lothlorien farewell.
The party mounted their horses, Gimli sitting behind Legolas as was their wont of old, and turned North. They skirted the lower edge of Greenwood, travelling to the East and keeping a distance from the wood by a league or more. That far south, though now clear of evil and part of Celeborn's realm, there were too many memories of horrors for Naril and Legolas both. Naril had fought at Dol Goldur and he fell silent for the entire day that they took to sweep past the southern edge of Eryn Lasgalen (the Wood of the Greenleaves as it was now renamed) stirred by the memories and the loss.
Within a day or two they moved West once more to travel under the eaves of the trees, the two elves in particular revelling in being here again. Fuineth could see Legolas changing slightly as he came to places or neared others he had long known and were dear to his heart. It was still a joy to he and Naril both that they could travel through this forest without the constant fear of danger oppressing them. There remained evil remnants that stalked abroad but far less frequently now, their numbers ever depleting, and hiding mostly far to the North and East. Ever vigilant and alert, the two elves nevertheless delighted in taking their time savouring the smells and sounds of the wood around them.
At last, one morning, they reached the river and headed East towards King Thranduil's Halls. Fuineth could feel herself getting nervous the nearer they got to it. Legolas had not said anything to her but she knew he was a little upset by the fact that no messenger had come from his father acknowledging his news. There had been plenty enough time, their route would have been well-known enough, for one to have found and reached him well before now.
No. That no messenger had found them meant no messenger was sent. Fuineth worried that this boded ill and she sensed Legolas felt the same.
Even as they rode Fuineth could now see faces in the shadows to either side. Soon there were excited shouts and giggles and then elves and several elflings stepped out to greet them and walk alongside them. Naril and Legolas were recognised immediately, and Gimli also by one or two, and the two elves stopped their horses and leapt down to return the greetings of their well-wishers and embrace one or two who were clearly old friends.
The others now dismounted also and the entire party, travellers and residents mixed, followed the hidden path that wound through the trees. Then they came to the bridge before the great gates of the cave of Thranduil's Halls. The river was full and moving fast beneath them as them crossed it. Several of the elflings ran on ahead now as they came near, shouting and laughing the news of the Prince's arrival to the guards and the rest of the palace, and the gates were swung open for them even as they reached the great beech trees on either side of them.
No sooner had they entered when elves came forward to take their steeds and lead them away from the cave and to the stables. Murmurs of greeting to Naril and Legolas from those around could be heard, and as the guards led them through the torch lit and paved tunnels, songs could be heard telling of the glad return of the King's son.
Legolas felt for Fuineth's hand and, glancing at her, he murmured, "Now at last will I show you my homeland, meleth nín."
She smiled at the obvious delight this thought gave him.
They came to a series of corridors now off which there was a large antechamber. As they entered a tall blonde elf, in green and brown and with gems upon his collar, stood to meet them and greeted them warmly, Legolas in particular.
"Mae govannen, Legolas." Then he turned to the others, "Well met indeed to these our guests, also. Gimli! A pleasure to see you once again."
Gimli bowed low, "I thank you, Lord Elsilion. It pleases me greatly to be able to see fair Eryn Lasgalen once again." The elf smiled graciously.
Legolas spoke, "Is everything arranged I trust? I had no word, nor knew till now my messages had arrived here telling of my journey. Have rooms been made ready?"
Elsilion nodded, "But of course, my lord. Your were expected indeed your father has been informed of your arrival and awaits you even now."
As he spoke elves appeared at the doorway with their baggage. As the guests were led away to their chambers Legolas took Fuineth by the arm.
"I needs must see my father straight away. I will come and find you. There will be food and refreshment in one of the halls I would trust. Please, anything you need you ask, Fuineth."
She smiled. "Thank you Legolas, I am sure your people will make me feel most welcome, indeed they already have," she assured him.
He smiled, kissed her on the cheek and left, taking Naril and Elsilion with him.
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Legolas took a deep breath before he entered the Throne Room. He was not looking forward to this. He had been concerned by the lack of response from his father to his messages. The more he had let his mind dwell on it as they had travelled North, the more angry he had felt himself becoming and yet he knew he could not blame his father. Not that long ago he would have felt the same himself.
Naril and Elsilion entered with him and Thranduil looked up as they came in. He was in conversation to one side of the large chamber with several of his stewards. Legolas noticed he did not smile. Legolas and Naril bowed. Thranduil murmured Legolas's name and inclined his head and then immediately addressed Naril.
"Naril, it is good to see you once again. You do not visit it us often enough. Have you forgotten us?"
Naril smiled, "No indeed, my liege. It cheers my heart to be home once more."
"Ah, so this is still 'home'. Good. Good."
Thranduil had barely greeted his son, nor did it seem like he was going to. Elsilion had joined the stewards and Naril, sensing the atmosphere between the pair, now moved away also.
Legolas looked at his father levelly, and his father at him.
"Legolas. What can I say? It pleases me greatly to see you but I am shocked, in truth, at the circumstances."
Legolas's jaw tightened. "Father, shall we withdraw, perhaps? I do not wish to discuss this with you publicly."
Thranduil tilted his head ever so slightly and stepped aside to indicate the door to one side of the throne and to allow his son passage past him. Legolas walked towards it brusquely and flung the door open, not bothering to turn and watch his father follow him into the antechamber.
There was a window cut in the far wall and Legolas went to it to stare out and still his rage. His father had not greeted him. Had barely acknowledged his presence. Worse he had done this in front of others, good friends, admittedly, but two of lesser station. Not that Legolas cared for such things but his father certainly did and it therefore could only be a deliberate slight on his father's part and Legolas knew it.
He heard the soft click of the door being closed behind him. He did not turn.
"Wine?" his father was asking him.
He shook his head.
"Come now, Legolas. Let us talk about this reasonably. I realise I have upset you, but you have upset me. You must have known that. You cannot be surprised."
Legolas turned now. "No. I am not surprised. I knew what to expect. You do not change. More is the pity."
Thranduil said nothing but raised an eyebrow. He went to a cupboard and took a jug of wine and filled two cups. He held one out to his son.
"I did not want any," Legolas growled.
Thranduil shrugged and placed it on the table in front of him as if to say, 'Well if you change your mind'. He moved to a chair beside the fireplace and sipped at his wine, watching his son coolly for a moment. He almost sounded amused when he spoke at last.
"How else did you expect me to react, Legolas? Hmm? Why on earth would I be pleased that you have decided to marry a .. *mortal*?" He near spat the word, near shuddered as he did so.
Legolas's jaw muscle was clenching but he forced himself not to think of his love for Fuineth but how he himself would have seen this situation even a year ago.
"I did not expect you to be pleased. I knew full well what your reaction would be. I would have felt the same, or something near to it, not so long ago were I in your place." Thranduil smiled and nodded his approval at this but Legolas continued, "But not now. I could never understand how an elf could choose a mortal over their own kind. Never. It was utterly incomprehensible to me. Now I know. I cannot expect you to understand, father, but know this: you will not stop me."
Thranduil's eyes grew dark and his voice was low and filled with threat, "Is this the respect you show your father, Legolas? Is this the respect you show your King, and your station as Prince? That you will act on a mere whim, a mere fancy, a fluttering of your heart and demean yourself?"
Legolas's cheeks were flushed in rage but he bit his tongue.
"Can you not find some elf-maid to satisfy your desires, boy? Why does this piece of mortal flesh heat you so..?"
"DON'T you dare!" Legolas snapped through clenched teeth.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow and spoke in a firm, angry tone. "I would remind you not to raise your voice to me. YOU are the one who has chosen to come here and seek my approval or at least my permission to marry here. YOU are the one who should explain yourself; YOU are the one who should be told not to dare! You DARE to bring shame to my house! You DARE to defile our blood with mortality and you tell me there is nothing I can do about it?! How dare YOU? How DARE you?!"
Thranduil was shouting and Legolas's voice was no quieter than his father's. "I dare because I have no choice! I explained to you in my first letter to you that I fought against this. Fought against it with all my being. Even when I finally acknowledged my feelings for her I resisted telling her, telling anyone. I accepted that I would never have her, that it was impossible. I tried. Desperately."
His tone was changing now, he was reliving the pain of what he had gone through, the turmoil, the angst were all flooding back. Despite his father's demeanour the two were close and Thranduil was about the only person Legolas could have opened his heart to in such a manner.
"And it was made worse when I could see in her the same feelings reciprocated. I could not bear it. I lied to myself, denied it for so long. Raged and battled in myself." He looked up at his father now, his eyes glistening with unfallen tears. "But I knew I could not let anyone else have her. The pain of not loving her, of not having her for my own would have been as great or worse than the loss I face ahead of me now. Either way my heart will break. This way I can at least have some joy by which it's pain may be eased."
Thranduil looked at his son, at the distress evident in his face, and though he would not admit it he began to understand something of what his son had gone through. He was resolute, however. He nodded.
"That still does not change the fact that elf and mortal should not mix. Kind with kind. That is how it should be. It is bad enough when races mix within kind."
Legolas sighed and rolled his eyes skyward.
"Don't you sigh at me! Friendship is one thing, but this! This is beyond reason. It is profoundly stupid. Terribly wrong." He stopped, looking at his son with a sudden compassion in his eyes. "Legolas I do not want to see you hurt. And you will be. Sorely hurt." Suddenly Thranduil could not look at him. "What if the grief is too much, Legolas? Did you ever think of that?"
Legolas looked at him. He had not told his father of the seagull's cry he had heard or the sea-calling he felt, though he suspected his father, who knew him so well, had guessed it having seen the change in him when he returned home after the War, and indeed Thranduil had. The King had even discussed it with Galadriel who had confirmed his suspicions. And he had wept long then into the dark night alone in his chambers when he knew that his son would desert him. Legolas knew that it would cut his father sore to lose him, whether by grief taking him or the sea.
Legolas came over to sit opposite his father, his elbows on his knees, regarding the elder elf with a sad smile. "I did indeed, father. Of course I did. You must not think I took this decision lightly. Nor did Fuineth. She is well aware, all too painfully aware, of the consequences of this. It stopped her just as it stopped me. But denying this was causing us more pain than admitting it. Can you understand that?"
His father nodded and Legolas smiled to see it, thinking at last he was getting through to him. Then he saw the sneer on his father's face as he said, "Yes indeed I can but she, as a mortal, is frail and all too young to understand how to control herself better, I do not doubt. But you, Legolas, you are old enough to control your desires. I thought I had brought you up better than this. I thought I had taught you to understand your priorities and responsibilities in life."
Legolas snapped, "How does my marriage affect my priorities or responsibilities?! It has nothing whatsoever to do with it!"
"It has everything to do with it," his father roared. "Do you not understand?! Apart from the fact that you need to set an example, you of all people should know better. You are in a position of responsibility and therefore cannot follow your desires and whims like a child. You are not an efling any longer, my boy, and it is time you started to realise it!"
Legolas was livid.
"Not an elfling?! Not an elfling?! You call me, a battle-hardened warrior, one who fought to defend this my home and all of Middle Earth, an elfling? You speak to one who battled fell beasts and faced terrors and horrors that would have made lesser men or elves quail in such a manner? You may be my father but I was full grown long ago! Rather it is you who treats me as a child and a doltard but I can assure you I am neither! I was stupid but only because I decided to come here because I felt, out of honour and respect to you.." Thranduil snorted his contempt but Legolas continued over him, trying to ignore him, "Out of honour and respect to you that I should discuss this with you, meet you face to face, allow you to meet her and decide for yourself! That was stupid: that I should have trusted you to show the same respect to me that I have afforded you!"
"You have already decided, Legolas! What is there to discuss? If you seek my blessing, you shall not have it! If you seek my approval, you shall not have it! And if you think you are to marry here in my halls, irrespective of my views, then Legolas you sadly mistaken!"
Legolas stared at his father in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"You heard," growled his father.
"You would deny me to marry here amongst my people and my friends?"
"I would deny you marrying in MY halls amongst MY people to someone of whom I do not approve, yes! You have your own realm. You chose to leave and forsake this your home."
Legolas groaned. He was not going through *this* argument again.
Thranduil was continuing, his voice rising with every phrase, "You are the one who decided that the company of mortals was more to your liking than that of your own kin. You have had poor role-models in the South, that much is clear to me. He may be King, your friend Aragorn, but you should not follow his example in everything."
"Don't you dare speak of him and the fair Undomiel! You have no understanding of what they went through or how hard it was for them both!"
"No! Perhaps not!" roared back his father, "But I can understand entirely the rage and despair of Elrond!"
There was a shocked silence. Both were standing, their faces red, their eyes flashing.
Legolas broke away to stand at a desk, his hands splayed out on it as he leaned forward over it, his head bowed. He was breathing hard through his nose, his teeth clenched.
At last he said, quietly, struggling to control himself, "That may be so, but Elrond knew the decision lay with his daughter. She was free to choose and Elrond gave his permission though it broke his heart."
He turned now to see his father was standing, facing the fire with his back to him. The tension his stance was evident.
Legolas continued, "But I will not become mortal like her. It is not the same decision. It may be the grief will be too much. I cannot know that, nor can you. That is for Eru to decide. Believe me, father, if I could have avoided this I would have. I would not, for all the world, wish to put you through this."
Thranduil turned then, regarding his son. "Legolas I know you understand how I feel. And you know that I would feel this way no matter who it was. The emotions are stronger in me because you are my son and I love you too much to see you do this to yourself."
Legolas nodded, "I know."
They were silent for some time then. Thranduil sat once more and picked up his cup of wine. At last he spoke. "I do not think there is any more to discuss, Legolas. I cannot see what purpose it would serve. There is nothing you can say that would convince me this is right for you. Till then you will not marry here."
"Elbereth!" Legolas sighed, "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"I could say the same of you!" his father retorted.
"And if I am, then who did I get it from?!" Legolas countered.
And suddenly their eyes met and they laughed.
As their chuckles faded Legolas said, "You will like her when you meet her, I know you will."
Thranduil looked at him now and his curiosity got the better of him, "Yes I must admit I am intrigued by one who could move you so, Legolas. I know you have had plenty of elf-maids to choose from, have done so indeed, but this, this I have never seen in you before."
Legolas smiled, "She is beautiful. Dark and tall and with a warmth about her that is wondrous. She has character and fire, and yet she is the gentlest and most considerate person I think I have met in a long age. She speaks Sindarin and knows much of elves and elvish ways. Her father was Dunedain and her brother fought with me in the War of the Ring. He has taught her much of the ways of the Northern people."
"So you said in your letter."
Thranduil's voice betrayed nothing but he had been impressed by what Legolas had written in his description of her and he was, though he scarcely admitted to himself, looking forward to meeting her.
There was silence and then Legolas said, in a calmer tone than before, "Father, guests are already on their way. You had plenty of opportunity to tell me you would refuse my marriage here after my first message. I said then those were my plans. Even after the second message, if you had used a bird, it would have got to me in plenty of time. You cannot now, at this late hour, expect me to turn back the King and Queen of Gondor and Arnor when they are halfway to our halls already or Lord Elrond who would have already left Rivendell."
Thranduil fumed suddenly, "Perhaps you should not have been so presumptuous?"
"Perhaps you should not have been so hotheaded as to not reply to my messages," Legolas snarled.
Thranduil conceded the point. "Even so. These are my halls. I rule here, not you, Legolas, or not yet. I shall meet her, I shall consider it, but otherwise messengers will be sent. South to Lothlorien to meet the guests there, and West to Rivendell. There will be no wedding. You understand me?"
Legolas's voice was still calm but there was a steely tone to it. "I understand. But I must correct you, father, on one thing: there will be a wedding. Whether it is here or in Ithilien it will occur. Whether you like it or not, forgive me, but it will happen."
Thranduil's eyes were flashing and his teeth ground. "So you would wilfully defy me, your father and your King?" he growled.
Legolas looked him in the eye and said, "Yes. In this matter without question or hesitation."
Thranduil threw his cup into the fire, turned on his heel and swept out of the room.
"Well, that went well," murmured Legolas to himself.
-------------------------------------------------------
As King Thranduil stormed out into the Throne Room his face was black as thunder. The elves in the chamber stepped out of his way and dropped their voices as he strode past.
Naril ventured into the antechamber and saw Legolas, his face pale with anger, still leaning against the desk, his hands gripping its edges as his eyes flashed. Naril tapped gently on the door, hesitating as to whether to enter or not. Legolas looked up, and, seeing it was him, gave a weak smile.
Naril grinned, "So, about as bad as you feared, then?"
Legolas sighed and shook his head, "Just about. He has forbidden the ceremony to take place here."
Naril looked shocked. "It's a bit late for that. Aren't guests already on their way?"
Legolas nodded. Naril fell silent for a moment.
"What will you tell Fuineth?"
Legolas's expression grew clouded. "I will not tell her. Not yet. He has said that he may change his mind. I cannot see him sticking to this, if truth be told, if only because it will look ill mannered indeed to send Elrond and the King and Queen back to their homes before they even reach us. He could have stopped this by replying to my messages, but chose not to. There is little he can do now, though it sticks in his throat, I am sure." Naril nodded.
Naril was Legolas's elder by a near thousand years. He was close to both he and the King, his father having come from Doriath with Thranduil's own.
"You know he is set in his ways, Legolas. Perhaps time will cool his ire. He has yet to meet her and he cannot fail but like her when he does so."
Legolas smiled then, "Well yes, I think so too. He will never approve but I hope that by meeting her he will calm somewhat. In fact I feel sure he will."
They were silent for a little while. Then Naril spoke quietly. "It might be well for you to follow him. To try talking to him some more."
Legolas snorted, "What is the use? I am defiling his name and honour and am acting like a mere elfling, apparently. It is desire that is driving me and no more."
Naril raised an eyebrow, "He said that?"
"More or less."
Naril sighed and shook his head, "And you no doubt took the bait and defied him."
Legolas looked at his friend, "He is being completely unreasonable. He was outrageously rude to me just now, even if I am his son and his subject."
Naril placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder, "He was angry. You are both as stubborn as each other, and I can say that as one who loves you both and has known you since you were a mere elfling in arms. My father knew your grandfather and knew King Thranduil from his childhood too. You are both well-known to me."
Legolas said nothing so Naril continued, "You know what will have happened. He will have been storing up his rage and shock all this while since he first received your news. It has all come out in a great rush this day. The worst is over. Now he can start thinking more clearly once more. It was ever his wont. You know that better than I."
Legolas nodded and sighed. "You are right. I am loath to bring Fuineth to him just yet though. I fear his anger will betray him and that would upset her greatly, I know. She is scared enough of meeting him. She has not said as much to me but I can sense it in her. She knows he does not approve and she is worried."
"It is understandable," murmured Naril, "But all the more reason for you to go after him. Apologise if necessary."
Legolas flashed him a look.
"Yes, you heard me right, Legolas. Apologise. You know better than I how appease your father. And you need him and his permission. His approval, as you say, you may never achieve but if you and he are not to be hugely embarrassed by having to turn back such noble guests as are already on their way then you will have to do whatever it takes to pacify him."
Legolas knew Naril was right. He had allowed his anger to get the better of him and hadn't argued his case nearly well enough, he knew. He smiled.
"Thank you Naril. You are right. I will go and find him. I love him dearly and I know he is only behaving thus out of his love for me also. I need to make him understand why I have chosen thus. Meeting Fuineth will help, but I must smooth the path before that can happen."
Naril nodded. "I will go and make sure the guests are being looked after, then, while you do so."
Legolas smiled his thanks at his friend and Naril watched as Legolas left the room to go and find his father.
