AUTHOR'S NOTE: Since you guys are such awesome readers and reviewers, I've decided to put a little more to the story. So I hope you enjoy the bonus chapters (yes, that's right, chapters as in more than one…there's one more after this). I love you guys….look at the number of reviews! I've never had such a successful fanfic!
A week passed and Legolas grew stronger each day. His wounds healed, as did his ribs, though he carried a faint scar on his chest from the sword wound that had introduced the living poison of Mordor into his body. It too would heal in time, fading away as the years wore on, for Legolas was of elven blood. The orc bodies had been burnt in a large fire at Aragorn's request, for there was not much that could be done with them. Also, there had been funeral services for several of the guards that had fallen in the orc invasion, for the creatures had killed those who stood on guard in the posts outside of the palace so that they might pass through. These bodies had not been found until a few hours after the attack had been countered, when new guards came to relieve the men who had been on watch before them. Boromir had been hailed as a hero, both among those within the palace and those not, for he had succeeded in destroying a great threat.
But this had all happened earlier in the week and now Gondor had slipped back into a quiet state of peace. It was then that Thranduil came up to his son one afternoon, as the last golden rays of the sun gilded all the world. Legolas was standing with his back to him, staring out of one of the large windows that overlooked Minas Tirith in the direction of the Anduin. He was dressed in stately white and gold garments, a thin circlet of gold upon his brow, looking every bit the elven royalty that he was, but his posture was relaxed and he leaned easily against the window sill.
"Legolas?" Thranduil ventured, hating to interrupt his son.
"Come in father. Is there something wrong?"
"We must speak. I can no longer remain in Gondor, and I want you to come back home with me."
Legolas shook his head. "I wish to stay in Gondor. For I have promised Aragorn my help in the restoration of the city and he has offered to our people the woods of Ithilien in which to dwell."
"You would abandon the woods of Mirkwood?"
"No! But there is much in Gondor that holds my heart here and makes me hesitant to leave."
"Your friends," Thranduil commented.
"Yes, in part," Legolas said quietly, turning from his father and looking back out of the window.
Thranduil took a moment to follow Legolas' gaze until he saw in what direction his son was looking.
"The Sea-Longing," the elven king breathed and Legolas
nodded. "How? When?"
"It was during the war. Aragorn, Gimli and myself were guiding the Army of Dead, whom Aragorn held to their broken oath to defend Gondor. We brought them to the harbor, for it was only with the ships that our hope lay to make it to the city in time. We knew that the time we had was all too little as it was. It was there that I heard the wailing of gulls, though the Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood forewarned me of them."
"This cannot be!" the king protested. "You are so young!"
Legolas smiled and turned back around to Thranduil. "I do not regret what I have done father. I made my choice, as we all did. It is the fate of all elves to pass over the sea. My time too will come. But do not worry, there is much that still holds my heart to Middle Earth and it will be long before I forsake it for Valinor. For now, being close to the Anduin is enough."
Thranduil nodded his understanding, deciding to let the topic drop, for he knew that there was nothing that he could now do. The Sea-Longing had already been stirred up within his son's heart and it was a siren call that none of the Firstborn could ignore.
"There is something else that I needed to tell you, though until now I dared not, for I feared that you might do something rash, even in your weakened state. But now that you are well, I can no longer keep this a secret from you," Thranduil said after a moment or two's silence.
"Something is wrong," Legolas stated, noting the tone of his father's voice.
"Yes. Mirkwood is in grave danger. During your time with the Fellowship, while Sauron's forces grew, so did the darkness within our woods. Goblins and spiders have multiplied and have taken hold of some of the land that we once recaptured from them. We have tried fighting back, but our people are losing hope. They look for your return, for everyone acknowledges that you are the best among them with the bow. Our people are fearful, Legolas, for the darkness creeps ever closer to our strongholds and the palace."
Legolas sighed deeply, for he was greatly disturbed by this news. His brow furrowed into a worried look.
"I will return then, with you to Mirkwood. Give me but until dawn tomorrow to make ready for departure and to take last minute counsel with Aragorn, for I wish to open trade between our two kingdoms. I will send word for the attendants to have our horses ready early. Take heart father and fear not. I will not let the darkness take our land from us nor the creatures of evil harm our people. Mirkwood shall once again be Greenwood the Great."
