Summary – Legolas returns home after the War of the Ring. How will his father react to Legolas' decision to move to Ithilien?
Disclaimer – I do not own anything and my apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien for using his characters.
A/N – Reviews and constructive criticisms are appreciated!
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Dinner was a light-hearted affair. Many Elves joined the royal family at the dinner table. All wanted to hear about Legolas' time as a Walker, but he deflected the questions, asking instead to hear about what had transpired in the forest while he was gone.
His family delighted in telling him of the escapades that Narcalimo had gotten into. Even though he was counted as an adult Elf, he was still very young, just over a century. He tried to defend his actions, which led to even more laughter. After dinner, the Elves went to a hall, where they sat around and told stories. After the demands grew too numerous to deflect, Legolas finally told a few stories about the other members of the Fellowship. Mainly the Hobbits and their curious antics. Several dignified Elves laughed harder than they had in centuries when the prince told the story of, finally, catching up with the Hobbits at Orthanc and their greeting.
After several hours, Legolas excused himself, pleading his tiredness. As he left, Thranduil stopped him.
"My son, you do not know how wonderful it is to have you home. I am glad to hear that your journey was not all trial and strife and you did manage to have some light moments. Unless you prefer otherwise, take tomorrow to visit your friends and enjoy your home. The following day is soon enough for serious talk."
"Thank you Father. I also am glad to be back. I would enjoy spending a day in the trees and visiting friends. I missed the forest while gone. I will have to tell you about Lothlorien and Fangorn, if I can. Both defy description."
"Go and sleep."
Legolas inclined his head and left. Once in his room, he lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He would tell his father and brother as much about his journey as he could, but there were some things he would never repeat. The terror of the Balrog in Moria. The fear of facing the Black Gate. And the sea-longing. He could not leave Middle-Earth yet. There still was too much to do. Too much his friend Estel needed from him. And how was he going to tell his father his promise to the new king of Gondor? Thranduil would not be happy.
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The next morning, Legolas rose early. He went down to the kitchen before anyone else was stirring. He had always been an early riser, but during the Fellowship he had learned to survive on even less sleep. Helping himself to some fruit from a bowl, he left the castle.
Eating as he walked, he first went to the stable to check on Arod. The horse nickered happily and raised his head to be scratched. After spending several minutes, Legolas chuckled. "Enjoy the rest, Arod. I will be back later." The prince walked out of the stable and walked to the gardens. He spent some time simply absorbing the joy he felt at being home.
Later in the morning, he went to visit several friends. He did not spend long with each, but exchanged greetings and brief stories of the recent times. He was saddened that so many Elves had perished in the fighting at Dol Guldor, but knew all had given their lives willingly to protect Arda. After lunch with his nephew and a few more visits, Legolas retreated to the trees. Even as he had walked through Fangorn Forest, his heart had cried for his home. He spent the afternoon simply sitting in a tree, absorbing the sights, smells and feelings of being home.
Eventually, his brother came to find him and brought him down for dinner. It was another joyful affair with many Elves at the table. Again, Legolas deflected most questions about his experiences. He did describe the crowning of Aragorn and his wedding to Arwen.
Before he left, Thranduil motioned to him and Sorontor. "Legolas, if you are willing, we would hear about your journey tomorrow. After breakfast?"
Legolas nodded. "Until then," he said and walked out. Despite using his tiredness as an excuse to leave, the Elf wasn't ready for bed. Instead he walked to the gardens. He dreaded telling his family about his experiences, but knew he had to tell them something. Pushing the thought aside, he simply sat, relaxed, and watched the moon for several hours.
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He rose early again, despite the late night. After breakfast out in the garden with Melime and Narcalimo, he rose and went to his father's study. The door was closed and he heard voices within, so he knocked.
"Enter," his father responded. Legolas opened the door and entered to find his brother already there.
"Good, you are here. Have a seat, my son."
Legolas sat in the chair indicated next to his brother. Their father faced them.
"It is so wonderful to have you home, Legolas," Thranduil said. "Everyone in Eryn Lasgalen missed you."
"Father, please." Legolas protested. "You keep saying that every time you see me."
"If you do not stop, his head will grow and his crown will not fit!" Sorontor laughed. The other two Elves joined him. When Sorontor had stopped laughing, he grinned at his brother. "You were missed – especially by a few Elf maidens." He winked.
Legolas smiled back. "And I missed a few of them." He paused. "Especially Melime…" he trailed off and gazed innocently at his brother.
"You missed my wife?"
"Of course. She was my friend long before she saw anything in you. And what she sees in you, I still do not know!"
"Watch it, brother." The words were said sternly, but the laughter in Sorontor's eyes and on his face belied the tone.
Thranduil smiled and then sighed. He had missed his sons' banter, but knew it had to be stopped or they could continue all day. "Enough! We did not meet to listen to you two argue with each other."
"But Father, you actually missed our arguing." Sorontor fixed a stare on the king. "I know you did. After all, you complained many times it was too quiet without Legolas."
Legolas raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I have trouble believing that."
Sorontor nodded as Thranduil smiled sheepishly. "It was too quiet without the two of you arguing with each other. But Narcalimo did his best to fill in the gap." The three Elves laughed again.
When the room was quiet again, Legolas shifted in his chair. He leaned forward to the water glass in front of him and took a long drink. After setting it down, he shifted again and took a deep breath. He pushed the chair back slightly so he could see both his father and brother at the same time.
"Before I start, I just need to say, parts of this tale will not be easy for me to tell. Parts I will not tell. No, Father," Legolas cut Thranduil off as he opened his mouth to speak. "There are things that I cannot repeat. I need your agreement, now, that you will not ask me for things I cannot speak of. I will try to tell you all I can, but I need your word."
Sorontor and Thranduil exchanged glances and then both nodded. "Your word," Legolas prompted.
The crown prince spoke hesitantly. "Was it really that bad?"
"Parts of it were."
"Then you have my word, Legolas. I will not ask for more than you want to share."
"You have my word as well my son. I do not wish to cause you more pain than what you have already experienced."
"Thank you." Legolas smiled slightly at both of them, before dropping his eyes to the carpet. He raised his head, and began with his arrival in Imladris. He spoke of the shame he felt when he found out what Gollum really was and the fact they had let him escape. He told how the Fellowship was chosen. He began to tell of their journey to the mountain.
When lunchtime arrived, the three Elves ate in the study and Legolas continued his tale. He spoke of the snowfall on Caradhras, and the decision to attempt Moria. It was hard for him to tell anything about Moria but he tried. He told about the fight with the Watcher in the Water, Balin's tomb, the cave troll, fighting goblins. He paused when he came to the Balrog. After having sat for so many hours, he got up and crossed to the window. Staring with unseeing eyes at the trees, he continued his tale.
"We were surrounded by goblins, no way out when suddenly they disappeared. We heard a noise, one more terrible than I ever had heard before. Mithrandir told us to run, and we did. Then after we crossed the bridge, he stood there. He faced it. He defeated it, but at the last second he fell also. Mithrandir was taken by a Balrog. We were crushed." He paused and then continued. "Aragorn somehow rallied the Hobbits and the rest of us and we escaped. He forced us to keep moving to the borders of Lothlorien. That was hard. Mithrandir was gone."
"But he lived. We heard that." Sorontor interrupted for the first time.
Legolas turned and looked at him. "He did. He came back stronger than before, but we did not know it for much longer." He shook his head slightly. "I care not to speak more of that time. Instead let me tell you about Lothlorien."
The Elf resumed his seat and gradually told them about the beauty of Lorien. He left out the part about being blindfolded as he was led to it, knowing his father's opinion of Dwarves. The elder Elf would have trouble seeing past that to the true friend Gimli had become. Legolas spoke of the beauty and wisdom of Galadriel, but left out her warning. He was not sure what either of the others would think that he persisted in the face of what he expected would be his death.
Evening had drawn when Legolas stopped. "Shall we continue tomorrow? This is a good place to stop. Tomorrow, I will tell you about the gifts Lady Galadriel bestowed upon us and our journey down Anduin and beyond."
Thranduil smiled. "Yes, leave us within the beauty of Lothlorien. I will dream of it tonight, I am sure."
"Legolas, you will have to tell Melime about Lorien. She will appreciate it."
"I will." Legolas nodded slightly and then stood. "I will see you both at dinner."
Once outside the study, Legolas quickly headed to his room. He needed some time to himself before heading to dinner. Telling about Moria had been even harder than he expected despite the fact he had given only the briefest of details.