~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thranduil's eyes narrowed on the silence of the woman his son loved. She had been so vibrant when they returned from Gondor, but she had faded to a shadow of her former self. With a soft sigh he wondered if Legolas had noticed.
He snorted at the thought, knowing there was no way his son wouldn't notice such a change in the woman he did his best to spend all waking and sleeping moments with. Still, was he aware how close to fading she truly was?
Hesitation paused that thought, and he brought it out again for a more careful analysis. She was mortal, but half-elven. Could she fade? If it was possible, she was on the verge of doing so. Why?
"Silomern?"
"Yes, my lord?" the elf asked, one brow lifted ever so slightly. He stepped forward from the slight shadows beside the throne he had been standing attentively in.
"Have you noticed anything about Lady Lunian?" he asked softly.
Silomern's lips tightened, his eyes narrowing just slightly. "Besides her humanity?" the elf asked, a harsh, uncompromising note in his voice.
Thranduil frowned at his right hand elf. "She is half-elven, as well, Silomern. Besides which, Legolas's bond with her should be enough for you to view her more kindly."
Silomern blinked in startled surprise. "Half-elven, sire?"
"How else would a human have lived so long without aging?" Thranduil snapped, angry on her behalf, understanding now. With a wave of his hand he ordered the elf from his sight. "Be gone."
Silomern swallowed and blinked before backing from the hall, aware he had displeased his king even if he didn't understand why.
Well, he had gotten the answer he wanted, and he didn't like it in the least. "Celadrim, summon my son here."
The elf bowed and strode quickly from the room.
Thranduil waited, frowning, rubbing a hand over his chin. When Legolas entered, a brow lifted in question, he waved the other elves from the room. Only when they had not only left but closed the doors and could no longer be heard did he move. He motioned Legolas to his side, then frowned at the stone floor.
Legolas waited patiently. His father often kept him waiting while he thought out how best to word something or how to go about getting to the point.
"My son," Thranduil started, "I wish to speak to you about Lunian."
Legolas glanced down slightly, trying to keep a frown from his brow. "Yes Father?" he asked, congratulating himself for his steady tone.
"I have noticed her change, Legolas. It troubles me, but I know not what to do about it." Legolas glanced up at his father's gentle tone. Thranduil nodded knowingly, with sympathy and compassion in his wise eyes. "A royal decree is out of the question. That would only make things worse, even if she knew nothing of it."
Legolas nodded, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "I know."
Thranduil nodded in approval, seeing his son had worked things out, at least to some degree. "Have you any solutions?"
Legolas lowered his gaze once more. After a moment's hesitation, his choice was made, and he spoke softly. "One." When his father said nothing, he looked up. "I wished to speak with you on a somewhat different matter." Not waiting for permission, he ploughed ahead. "I wish to remove to Fangorn with any elves who wish to go. The woods are ancient, have probably been on Middle-Earth longer than the elves. There is a lot we could learn there, and I think some of our people would agree to travel with me."
With them. Lunian and Legolas. Any who went would have to do so accepting that she would be with the prince, would have to accept him as their king, and his decision as law. Those who left would have to accept her as their queen, in function if not name. Even during the journey, when she would probably become more lively once more, and then in the construction of homes, they would start to see with more than the eyes of elves who believe there is nothing in the world of men that could affect them positively in any way. Hopefully, they would begin to accept her as those in Imladris had since her beginning.
If all went well, she would find a home among the elves that would go with Legolas to Fangorn.
Slowly he nodded, seeing the true wisdom in such an idea. "Have you asked Lunian to go with you?"
"Not yet. I was on my way to do so when I was summoned."
"Then you are dismissed," Thranduil murmured. "You will announce your decision when you are ready."
"Yes, Father."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~