Chapter 68: Thranduil moment
Thranduil suddenly woke up. He had dosed off, and it was not near nighttime. He got up and began cooking. He realised why he was having so very many thoughts of his babies. Elrond had told him it was because now he was caring for them all alone with no wife...
Thranduil could remember the days Legolas would play in the courtyard, pick a few flowers, and run up to him. Thranduil would pick Legolas up in his arms and Legolas would climb over his father's shoulders and onto Thranduil's head, giving his father the flowers and smiling brightly, holding his father's hair tightly so he would not fall.
Thranduil always would take Legolas, still riding on his head, inside and put the flower in water (or Legolas would complain) and then go back outside with his elfling.
Thranduil smiled at the thought of his young elfling, holding him tightly, Legolas trusting him not to let him fall.
Thranduil knew not all thought he was such a kind and loving elven king. Those who saw him and his sons and daughter strolling in the woods and playing, they knew he was a good father, but some who had never seen those fatherly moments thought he was just meant for commanding his armies and should not have been a father to four children.
Many elves from other lands had came, and seen Legolas being put aside during meetings, Thranduil telling him to find something else to do, and those elves thought that Legolas did not deserve such a father. But unknown to those elves, once they where gone Thranduil always would go see Legolas and make sure he was content and would play with him immediately.
Thranduil was furious at the elves and men who thought Legolas should be taken away from him, but Thranduil always forgave them. Legolas loved Thranduil and never wanted to be taken away from his father... again.
Some weeks after the death of Aldaril, Thranduil's wife, Thranduil was extremely depressed. Legolas and Illiendal where both quite young, especially Legolas, since they no longer where getting attention from their father and where miserable without their father giving them the attention they used to always receive. Thranduil would not play with them and they could not heal from the loss of their mother with their father behaving as he was.
Because of this behaviour, Elrond and Celeborn realised that this was unhealthy for Thranduil's youngest children as they where terribly sad. Celeborn took Legolas into his bedroom, away from his father and anyone from the palace. Celeborn asked Legolas when the last time his father had played with him, and Legolas could not remember. When Celeborn asked when was the last time Legolas was happy, Legolas still could not remember. When Celeborn asked Legolas is he was happy in Mirkwood with his forest, Legolas cried, and managed to say through sobs no.
Celeborn and Elrond took Legolas and Illiendal away from Thranduil, telling him it was for their better. Thranduil begged not to, at their feet even, and yelled much. Though Celeborn pitied Thranduil, never seeing the elven king looking so pathetic on his hands and knees before, but Elrond refused.
Legolas along with his sister where taken to Imladris (Rivendell) where Elrond took him as his foster son, and Illiendal as his foster daughter - that pleasing Elladan who really did like she-elves, no matter who they where. When Legolas was brought to Imladris, he had just turned six. Once Legolas was six and a half, his sister then ten, Thranduil missed his children so much he was certain he was going crazy. He left his eldest son Tonus in charge of Mirkwood and rode to Imladris, demanding for the return of his children. Elrond tried to calmly explain to Thranduil why he needed to foster his children, but Thranduil ignored every word. Elrond decided to invite Thranduil to stay in Imladris with him and his children, and if Thranduil could care for his children then he would get them back and he could return to Mirkwood with the children.
Thranduil took this as a challenge and immediately accepted this. Thranduil stayed in Imladris and chose to stay in the same room as his son and daughter. Elrond watched for three months as Thranduil proved Elrond wrong. Thranduil spent all his time with Legolas and Illiendal. He played with them, fed them and soon Elrond saw the two giggling more than they had since coming to Imladris, more than when Legolas would be tickled by Elrohir and more than when ELladan would do something stupid in attempt to impress Illiendal.
Elrond finally allowed Thranduil to keep his children after four months of watching Thranduil. Thranduil had grown very impatient with Elrond and left immediately with his elflings. Legolas was glad to be home, and many suspected that Thranduil's disliking of Elrond came from this experience, though occasionally Thranduil would appear to be best friends with Elrond.
Thranduil again snapped out of memories, as he smelt his toast burning. Taking away from the fire, he was left with black toast.
To be Continued...