Chapter 2:
Tense Meeting

Legolas gulped, took a deep breath, and gave the door a push. It opened easily and he stepped inside. He jumped slightly when he heard the doors close again with an ominous rumble, but didn't turn around. He looked up into intense blue eyes that studied him from a throne up on a dais.

The young elf was shocked to realize that he was wearing the same clothes as in his dream, but with the addition of a wooden staff in his hand. He wondered if he had really seen him before. Leaves were woven into his hair, serving as a crown. The braids of a great elven warrior drew the hair nearest his face back.

The king cleared his throat impatiently, making Legolas blush as he realized he was staring. The Kings stare was cold, and he seemed impatient. Legolas hurried the rest of the way until he was standing in front of the dais. He was nervous, unsure of what he should be doing. Should be bow? He was king after all. Did a prince bow to his father? Not that he knew of. Should he say something? But what?

So he just stood stock-still and waited. Thankfully, the King seemed to at least approve of this. But he gave no smile or any kind of greeting what so ever.

"How well do you fight?" He asked, standing up and moving down towards his son. Legolas was startled, feeling increasingly tinier as he approached.

"I…uh…" Was all he could say. The king frowned.

"Have you even picked up a weapon before?" His features remained the same, businesslike and hard.

"Yes!" Legolas said indignantly. He shrank back as the fierce blue eyes glared at him.

"I see your uncle didn't even teach you respect." He said with a snort. "Have you ever used a bow?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No." Legolas said, deeply embarrassed.

"A sword?"

"No."

"Anything at all?" He said, exasperated.

"No." Legolas dropped his eyes to the ground.

"That brother of hers taught you nothing! How does he expect anyone to survive if they can't defend themselves, especially in these woods?" He seemed to be talking to himself.

"You can't talk about him like that!" Legolas momentarily forgot himself. How dare this heartless creature insult his uncle!

That cold stare caught him and he shivered. This was a father? He had offered no welcome of any kind, and did not bother to hide his disappointment upon hearing that he had had no weapons training. Legolas had thought that a father, or any parent for that matter, was supposed to be kind and loving. Why was this one so cold?

In that moment, Legolas decided that he didn't want to see any more of his father, and fled from the room. He heard the door swing shut behind him, but no following footsteps. Good. He would rather have Spiders eat him then live with him. He flew out of the gates as they opened for him. The guards shouted a warning at him, it was not safe in the forest by himself, but he ignored them.

He ran without thought into the forest, not bothering to look at where he was going. He didn't know where or to whom he was running to. He just knew he wanted to get away from there.

A/N: Established that there is defiantly some animosity between Thranduil and his wife's family.