Disclaimer- I yet again say loud and clear that I do not own anything

SofiaB- that was inspired by an almighty argument that I'd had with my mum, you know the ones where you get so angry that you throw absolutely anything at each other no matter how hurtful they are. I just felt that Niall too needed some kind of outlet, after all he's just lost a twin and that can't be easy no matter how old he is. Thank you as ever for reviewing

Laurenke1- thank you as always. I just thought that Legolas needed to show his parental feeling a bit more, even if they're not the usual cuddly feelings lol.

WillyWonkaIsMySweetCandyMan- hunni, lay of the sugar a bit p I know its so sad, but then again its fun to play around with characters. I'm sorry I haven't reviewed your fic yet, I promise I will, I'm just trying to put off reading any Willy Wonka fiction till I've seen the film. I've think I've only seen the original once or twice so I don't remember anything about it. But when I see it, yours will be the first I look at I promise!

And last but never least

Uh- hey sweetie how are ya? You'll get your puppy in the next chapter, so long as you review lol p I just need a name for it. And hey you, I left a review for lost soul and never got reply, just tell me please…are you gonna give up with Lost Soul? Please don't, I love that fic, its my inspiration for Into the Fire so you can't not write more lol

Note: As some of you know I'm currently writing a fic by the name of Into the Fire. However as much as I love this fic I'm struggling with writing it. Is there anybody out there that would like to have a go at co-authoring something? Suggestions are also welcome of course. I'm willing to take it down and completely re do it…as much as that may pain me lol. Please let me know. My e-mail address can be seen in my bio feel free to mail me

I also have to say that I'm very disheartened by the lack of reviews I've been getting. I'll continue to write of course by still, I felt that it was a valid point. please, if you can leave a review behind.

And as always a massive thanks to my betaEldarExilePrincess for clearing a moment in her busy shcedule to cast her eyes over this. It really is very much appreciated!Thank you xxx

And so the morning dawned with an air of sadness. The dew upon the leaves and slight chill in the air all spoke of an ending. But every ending had a beginning, and as she lifted the heavy, warm, covers and slid her feet to the cool rug on the floor, she could feel the change in the air. It made her heart pound and her eyes water. She was nervous, but she did not have time to dwell upon her feelings. She had children to take care of. The smile on her face as she turned to look at her sleeping husband was filled with excitement and promise.

Waking at the feel of his wife's gaze upon him, he opened his eyes, his arm reaching for her and pulling her back down beside him and she laughed as she fell onto his chest in a clumsy action. Not wanting to get up, Legolas wrapped his arms her and closed his eyes again, smiling when she tried to climb out his embrace. After a few minutes of futile wriggling she gave up and settled on his chest, closing her eyes and giving into the lulling heartbeat as he rocked her into a half slumber.

"We need not rise yet. Sleep, for a little while longer."

She nodded sleepily and cuddled into his side as she slid off his chest.

A heavy silence covered them as they lay there, neither of them wishing to let go of each other and face what was inevitable.

A loud crash and a yell came from Niall's room and with but a second Thalia had shot out of Legolas' arms and bolted across the room. She stood there, her palms against the door, trying to open the door, but it would not move.

"Legolas, open this for me."

The prince rose from the comfortable mattress and she could not help but smile at the sight of him. His pale blue silk sleeping pants were creased and his hair was free to cascade over his broad shoulders. Noticing the grin on his face she coughed and pointed to the door.

"Its stuck. I can't erm…open it."

He laughed, a light baritone that sent shivers down her spine.

"This is ridiculous."

Behind the heavy door that separated them, Niall sat upon his bed, clothes in piles, games and toys tossed over every surface. There was nothing left hanging in his wardrobe or his drawers and as he sat amongst the mess he felt satisfied. His parents couldn't make him go now, there was no way that his nana could find what he needed to take now. His eyes glinted as he eyed the blanket that hung down over the wardrobe, a basket of toy soldiers and an array of stuffed toys balancing threateningly on top of the material.

With a less than innocent giggle the little boy stood from the bed and reached for the corner of the blanket closest to him, but no matter how tall he tried to make himself, he could not reach the blanket. Glancing round he quickly spotted a chair buried underneath piles of tunic that were soon shoved onto the floor. Despite the chair being taller then him, he managed to drag the chair over the battle-laden field of clothes and toys, and with a knowing grin, he climbed onto the seat. He knew what he was doing. He knew that at the first sound of the almighty crash that was about to happen, his parent would come running through the door to see if he was alright. He also knew that his nana would panic and feel guilty, and if he could make her feel a little guiltier he knew that he could make her let him stay behind. But his adar, he was not sure about his adar. Would he let him stay? Would he feel guilty? Would he be angry?

But then again, he did not mind if his adar came in, he would not do anything to him. He would say that he was naughty and he should not do it again, and he might have said that he was not allowed to play with his toys for the day, but he would not do anything.

The door burst open and immediately the air turned icy, his adar looked at him with a terrifying anger that threatened to chill the small elf's bones and the regret seeped from his heart.

His thoughts turned when he saw the reaction of his mother. She was pale and instead of anger her eyes reflected panic and relief, but in a moment he watched her expression change and a thunderous cloud fell over her face.

"Finish your packing and stay here until one of us comes to get you. Your behaviour is completely unacceptable and you will learn that you as your parents we control your actions. Do you understand?"

With that she turned on her heel and marched into her room leaving her husband and son alone.

Placing his hand on the solid door, Legolas took an unconsciously aggressive stance.

"Do as you have been instructed. Breakfast will be attended by all; we will escort you. Until then, you shall remain here."

---

Breakfast was an almost silent event. Nobody wished to disturb the pretence of a happy family sitting down to a meal together. In truth, a rift had appeared. Thranduil understood very well the actions his son had taken, but Eloria did not. Niall needed stability, and taking him to Imladris was not going to give him what he needed. The elfling was unsettled, but she had seen for herself that when he played with his friends and took part in his lessons he was content.

But perhaps her feeling towards Niall were clouded by her sadness at seeing her son once again leave Mirkwood. But it was of no consequence. A hundred years was not long to wait and he would once again return to his homeland. But Thalia… Eloria was uncertain about her beloved daughter and a part of her doubted that she would see her again upon these shores.

She was taken aback when her husband placed the glass that he had been drinking from down on the table harshly. His blue eyes blazed with intensity and his fingers held the glass in hand tightly,

"Is this what we have come to? A family who cannot speak the truth even when it lies obscenely in their path?"

Thalia and Legolas shared a guilty glance and placed their forks down, each with a sullen expression. Eloria and Niall ignored the three and continued eating.

"What is it you wish to address, father?"

Thalia almost winced at the tone of Legolas voice. His impatience and anger simmered beneath his skin, threatening to erupt. He and Thalia had discussed the future and together they had found a path that would protect them and keep them safe until the end of time.

Thranduil sat forward so that his elbows were resting on the table, his hand folded beneath his chin as he began with the words that none of them had had the courage to speak.

---

Thalia laughed as the bundle in her arms waved his arms and giggled. She held Lynden close to her chest and turned to look at Legolas, her bright eyes boring into his and the fire within her veins igniting a passion that he had squashed down. He shook his head with a grin and reached for her hand, which she took without hesitation, her fingers instantly wrapping around his and squeezing in an attempt to calm herself down. She turned to the brooding boy, who sat upon his own pony.

"See Niall, we are here, we are home."

The boy looked at her, his eyes cold and his lips twisted into a sneer, but his mother had grown used to his icy demeanour and now simply shrugged it off. As they came closer still she became restless and the fire within began to burn her very skin.

"Legolas, we're home."

The prince nodded and kissed his wife's hand.

"Yes my love, we are home."

And so they were. Legolas knew that while Mirkwood was the wood in which she lived, Thalia's heart belonged to the lands of Elrond. And he did not begrudge her this, for her he had her heart.

"My Lord, I will ride ahead and alert the guards to our presence."

Thalia lifted her head, her soft curls bouncing against her face as she shook her head with a grin.

"There's no need; they already know we're here. In fact, I'll wager that there is somebody who has already informed Elrond and adar. We will be met, do not worry."

Legolas could not help but laugh at the look on his guards' faces, it was one of both skepticism and amusement but he did not question his princess.

The sound of the waterfalls got louder as they came closer to their destination, and without a thought he looked at his wife with eyes that sparkled and smiled in content. It was as if a weight had been lifted and he was young again, he could almost forget everything. Gripping the soft mane of his horse, he slowed down until he was side by side with his son. Looking down at the younger version of himself, he felt a sadness that he had not given his son what he had promised him upon his birth; a happy and safe life. And yet he knew that the elfling was now only brooding out of habit, he could feel the curiosity emanating from the smaller elf. Niall looked at his father with insolence, refusing to give into the happiness he felt within his heart but when he caught an almost silent sigh from his adar he felt his walls slip.

"You will be happy here Niall. Try to forgive and forget, ion nín, for there can be no resolution in resentment."

Feeling the wind behind him, Legolas leapt from his horse gracefully, his eyes sweeping quickly over his family and then over the elves that had gathered to see the joyous reunion.

The smiles on their faces warmed his heart, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a smile spread over the face of his son at the sight of Elladan and Elrohir standing tall, dressed immaculately in tunics of red, quivers of strong and prepared arrows strapped to their backs and grey eyes twinkling with happiness. It was obvious that the pair were ready for a day among the dense forest.

Glorfindel lifted his newest grandchild into his arms with a smile and kissed his daughter on the cheek quickly before she was caught up with those who wanted to give her their best wishes.

"You have my admiration, I had thought that Niall would have wished to remain with his grandparents. How did you pursue him to join you?"

A fleeting, bitter smile crossed Legolas' lips, and he shook his head and his eyes traveled to Niall who for now stood with the twins. His eyes were focused on the sword that Elladan was showing him and to everybody it seemed that Niall had found a healer in his mother's brother.

"In all truth my Lord, it was not done by persuasion. I forced him to come. And here he will remain until I say that he may venture elsewhere."

Legolas' heart jumped when he saw Niall's hand venture towards the sharp blade of the sword but quickly Elladan had grasped Niall's hand and instead allowed him to run his fingers down the broad side of the weapon.

Seeing Legolas' obvious discomfort, Glorfindel chuckled and quickly reassured him.

"Perhaps your son will find solace in the spirits of the twins. He had always attracted the heart of Elladan and I have trust in that he will do everything he can to aid in your son's learning. Do not worry, for worrying will solve nothing. Allow this to happen Legolas, and you will see your son as a new elfling, of that I can assure you."

The prince nodded, indeed feeling reassured by the wisdom of an elf ages older than himself and much relieved of the burden that he had been carrying.

Across the yard Thalia stood with Lord Elrond.

"I know why it is that you have come."

She smiled softly, her eyes betraying the small amount of guilt that was hiding within her heart.

"I hope that you are not displeased with me my lord, and I hold a hope that you will give me your blessing…and watch over my husband. You have allowed your wife to sail and I am sure that you felt pain at your separation. While I know that Legolas will live on and join me when the call of the sea reaches his heart, it is still a worry."

Tears pricked at her eyes but she did not let them fall, for the understanding in Elrond's eyes was enough to strengthen her decision. The elven Lord reached for her hand and took it within his own.

"You are a princess, have you considered the effects that this will have upon your people? And what of your children?"

She covered his hand with her free hand and squeezed, her express one of freedom and joy.

"Myself and Legolas have laboured about this for so many hours. Sometimes it was almost too much to think about. I will miss Mirkwood, truly I will. I am sad to know that I have seen it for the last time. And now I stand here, in the lands that nurtured me when I needed a helping hand. But my heart is no longer here, Elrond. I will sail, but it will be with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. I will see you all again. I cannot deny that I will miss you, and my heart aches at the thought of leaving you all behind, but I know that we will meet again, and it will be a joyous occasion."

Elrond nodded his head, a bittersweet smile sliding across his lips.

"And the blessings of the elves will go with you"