CHOICES IN LOVE

Disclaimer: The title LOTR and it's brilliant characters belongs to the great mind of J.R.R Tolkien. As for the others, Miya (Mee-yah) and the rest, they're part of my hyperactive imaginative mind.

Chapter 7 - Ruling Eryn Lagaslen

Thranduil watched by his study balcony as a servant walked into the archery field and tapped his son to deliver his message to come to his study immediately. Legolas had come home a week ago and Thranduil had already put off the pending matter far too long with his son. Things had to change for the time has come for his son to know the real meaning of responsibility.

Minutes later, the prince entered the room with his trademark easy grace. "You asked for me father?" Legolas asked.

"Yes, yes, sit down." Thranduil walked around his desk and faced Legolas who was still clueless to what was going to happen. "Can you tell me how old you are?"

"Two Thousand eleven father," he answered puzzledly. "What does my age have to do with anything?"

Thranduil rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply. "Legolas, I am six thousand five hundred forty-seven already and my time has come to leave this earth for the beautiful halls of Valinor. I came to the throne of Mirkwood a century less than you are now and I am passing the kingdom to you before the year is over," Thranduil said as bluntly and as clearly as he could.

Legolas blinked twice. He couldn't be hearing right. "Pardon me?"

"The throne, my son. Eryn Lagaslen will be yours before the year is over, which is roughly in four months' time."

"But fahter, I cannot rule Mirkwood yet!" Legolas protested, standing up, shaking his head. "I am neither ready nor capable to rule a kingdom as big as Mirkwood!" Legolas' heart began to pound wildly, his head spinning at what his father is saying.

"You very well know that this time in inevitable. I cannot rule Mirkwood forever. I was supposed to hand down the kingdom to you just before you left for Rivendell to answer Elrond's plea. I have put off this matter far too long. I need to got to Valinor already Legolas. I cannot stay here forever," Thranduil said with a tired look.

"I don't have any experience father, I cannot handle Mirkwood, I WILL fail in this task! Ask me to go to and conquer anything that is wrong in Middle Earth and I will find a way do it, but not rule Mirkwood or any Elven city! I greatly fear that I will fail!"

"Then who will rule Mirkwood my son? It is you that I only trust and no one else. Trust in yourself Legolas, I see a very capable ruler in front of me and I know he will face real trouble but I also know that he will overcome all of them," Thranduil said convincingly. "Eryn Lagaslen needs you, Legolas, I need you to take care of our people."

Legolas was staring out the window of the room and saw the vast lands of Mirkwood, the tall trees and the foggy grounds. This was his home. He knew that his time would come though not as a shock like this. He was afraid to rule a land like this but he knew that will have to. Just not this soon. He braced his hand on the windowsill, trying to find the courage in him to do as his father asked. "I will be king and I will do whatever I must so that I will not fail you father," Legolas said finally.

Thranduil walked to his son and said, "You will need a queen Legolas and this is a must. You cannot bear the trials that Mirkwood will encounter alone."

One shock for the day seemed not enough that his father had to say this as well. But he accepted it all, it was his birthright. "I don't care who she is. I don't care if she's ugly or has a sharp-tongue. I don't care if she's a servant or a noblewoman, just find me one," Legolas said, closing his eyes as if in pain. True, he never care to find real love because he knew that it was impossible for a person like him to find one. He loved adventure more than anything and it seems like he was taking yet another one. The adventure of ruling the Elven land, Mirkwood.

"I already have someone in mind, I don't think she is ugly though I must admit that she has a somewhat sharp tongue when provoked. And no, she is a well-bred woman. You might even like her," Thranduil said with a light smile at his son. "She will be here in three days."

"We will be married in three days?" Legolas asked with a surprised tone.

"No, no. She will be staying here in Mirkwood for six months. At that time preparations will be made, by midsummer next year, you will be a married man. I will be staying here in Mirkwood until your wedding before I go to Valinor,"

Legolas didn't know what else to say. In a span of fifteen minutes he was unofficially declared the King of Mirkwood and a married man. It wasn't unusual to have an arranged marriage though it was more common now to let them choose whom they want. Legolas didn't give a damn anymore. All he thought about now was how on earth was he going to handle Mirkwood.