HOMECOMING

Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing except maybe a few characters I created. But you wouldn't want them anyways. They have behavior issues.

Chapter 9

Legolas stood outside of the suite of rooms his brother occupied with his wife and son. The agreed upon hour had expired and Legolas found himself staring at the door, afraid to knock. What was their reaction going to be? Would he help Aragorn at the cost of his family? He shook his head. He had to find out. He reached out to knock, but before he could the door was pulled open.

"Legolas! You are here. I was about to come and find you," Narcalimo said. "Please come in." His face gave away nothing so Legolas entered, unsure of what reception he would receive. He looked around the sitting area. Sorontor stood with his back to the room staring out a window. Melime was sitting on a chair, tears running down her cheeks. Her dark hair was tumbled as if she had run her hands through it many times. Legolas stopped just inside the door, barely out of the way as Narcalimo shut the door.

"I told them of my decision, Legolas," Narcalimo informed him. Legolas looked at him and then back at his parents. Sorontor turned around slowly.

"Why do you have to do this, Legolas? Was it not enough that you went on the quest? That caused enough distress. Now you have to tear the family apart?" Sorontor's tone was harsh and he glared at his brother, his dark blue eyes sparking with anger.

Legolas sighed and crossed towards Sorontor. He stopped several feet away, where he could see both Sorontor and Melime.

"I am truly sorry, Sorontor, Melime. I never dreamed that Narcalimo would want to go." He stopped and stared at the carpet before raising his head and continuing. "It never was my intention to hurt the family. I knew Thranduil would not be happy with my decision, but I did not think he would react as he did. I did not think that Narcalimo would want to go either."

He took a deep breath. "I would like to be able to say, 'never mind. I will not go' but I cannot. I have to go. I am not going because I want to, but because I need to." Legolas voice was firm and decisive. But then it dropped and held an apology, "I love you two very much and it grieves me to be the cause of your pain. But I must be. I leave in five weeks." Melime gasped and looked at him. "And unless you forbid him, Narcalimo is going with me."

"Five weeks? You are going that soon?" The tears fell faster and her voice broke.

Legolas felt his own heart break at those tears. "Yes, five weeks."

"Why so soon?" she managed to ask as Sorontor came to her and pulled her close.

"We need to be in Ithilien before the spring growing season truly starts. It is a long journey. Five weeks is the longest I can wait."

"Why? Why do you not wait for a year? Give everyone time to adjust to this idea? A year is not long." Sorontor's voice was not as harsh as it had been but was still full of anger.

"A year is not long for us, but for Men it is. For Aragorn and his new kingdom, at this point, a year is very long. I wish I could wait, but I cannot." Legolas spoke sincerely.

Melime looked up from her husband's arms. "Why do you have to take Narcalimo?"

"Mother, he is not taking me." Narcalimo crossed from the door and bent down in front of his mother and held one of her hands in both of his. "I feel the need to do this. You and Father love Eryn Lasgalen and are content here. I am not. I never have been. I have always wanted to see more of Middle Earth. This is my chance." He looked directly at his father and then gazed into his mother's brown eyes. "When Legolas spoke of the reason he had to go, it echoed in my heart. I finally found what I have been looking for."

No one spoke or moved for several moments after he had finished speaking. Then Melime looked at Sorontor. Wordlessly, they communicated. Finally, Melime placed her free hand on her son's shoulder.

"Your father and I need to discuss this. Please leave." Narcalimo nodded and kissed his mother's hand before standing. He looked at his father and then turned to leave. As Legolas followed him to the door, Melime called out, "Legolas, wait. We wish to speak more with you."

Narcalimo turned to look at his uncle who gave him a small smile and then closed the door behind him. The smile faded as he turned and looked the upset parents. They had separated and the look of Melime's face was foreboding.

"How dare you!" She exclaimed.

"What?" he asked.

"How dare you take my son away from me!" Melime was now getting angry.

Legolas took a deep breath. It would not be good for both of them to lose their temper. "I am not taking him. It is his choice."

"Oh, really? You propose this move and he is going. It fits my description of taking!"

"I am not forcing him against his will. He wants to go!" He was not doing well maintaining his temper.

"You could tell him no!"

Legolas slumped on the couch and buried his head into his hands. When he looked up the anguish on his face was evident even to Melime angry as she was.

"How? How can I tell him no? What reason? He is of age and he wants to go. He has agreed to follow orders, take his turn on guard and everything else I have asked of him. I have no reason to tell him no." Legolas looked between his brother and his friend. "Do you think I was happy to hear him say he wanted to go? I have already lost my father because of this move. Now I am in danger of losing my brother and my dear friend. If I could convince Narcalimo to stay, I would. But I cannot. I saw the look in his eye and I have heard the conviction in his voice. He is going whether we want him to or not." Legolas voice shook as he continued. "Please talk to him. Let him know you still love him no matter what his choice. Otherwise," he stopped unable to continue. He put his face back in his hands.

Melime and Sorontor exchanged looks and then walked over to Legolas. Much of their anger evaporated in the face of his honest and sincere pain. Neither wanted to add to the misery Thranduil had caused Legolas. They sat on opposite sides of him. Sorontor reached out and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Legolas, we are sorry. Sorry that we are blaming you for Narcalimo's decision. Especially when Father is still being," Sorontor broke off; he could not think of a proper term for his father's obstinacy.

"But you have to understand, Legolas. This is our son. Yes, he is an adult, but he still is so young. I am not ready to lose him. It is hard for me." Melime spoke quietly.

Legolas raised his head. The dry eyes spoke more of the pain he was in than tears could have.

"I understand."

Sorontor stood up and paced around the room. "We are not ready to give our blessing or even our permission yet. We need to discuss it first." He stopped and stared at his brother. "But, Legolas, I still wish this have never come up! Why did you ever become friends with a MAN!"

Legolas gave a wry smile. "I have asked myself that many times, Sorontor. Many times." Legolas hugged Melime and then stood up and hugged his brother. "Thank you for at least talking about Narcalimo's choice. I will leave you two now."

"Father will come around before you leave, Legolas." Sorontor said as the younger brother walked to the door.

Legolas stopped with his hand on the knob and slowly shook his head. "I am not sure anymore," he mumbled as he left.

The household was very quiet for the next few days. Sorontor and Melime remained withdrawn. During the past month, Legolas had spent as little time as he could in the house, but now he spent even less. After talking to all the Elves who did not have horses, he assigned spare ones to them. He would have to return many of these after the journey and buy new ones in Gondor or Rohan. He worked with Elves on the practice fields and answered more questions than he thought possible.

He worked closely with his father's commander to make sure the horses would not be needed and that he could rearrange the guards so the ones going would not be missed. He also talked to the chief cook to make sure they had enough supplies for the journey. His father did not interrupt or forbid the other Elves from helping so they did so willingly.

The third day after the meeting, Narcalimo met Legolas as he walked in from the practice ring.

"Legolas, Mother and Father want to speak with us."

"Do you know what they are going to say?"

"No, I do not."

"Let me go bathe and change and then I will be there, Narcalimo."

"But they want to see us now."

Legolas smiled wryly. "I have spent the entire afternoon sparring. I am hot and filthy. It will not take me long."

Narcalimo sighed, but said, "Alright, but I will come with you."

"To make sure I do not take too long?" Legolas questioned with another smile.

"Yes."

Legolas led the way to his room and quickly bathed and changed. Narcalimo paced the entire time and kept up a steady stream of conversation. His nerves about his parents' decision were evident. Outside of the crown prince's rooms, Legolas turned to his nephew, "Quiet now. Let your parents say what they want."

Narcalimo nodded and took a deep breath. He knocked on the door.

Almost immediately, Sorontor opened the door. "Narcalimo, Legolas please come in."

They did so and stood a few feet inside the door. Melime was standing by the window. Sorontor walked past the other two and took his wife's hands in his. Together they faced their son.

"Narcalimo, we have decided you can go," Melime paused, "with our blessing."

Narcalimo stared at his parents for a moment before rushing to them and hugging them. After several more moments, he stepped back.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," he said.

Sorontor held up a hand to stop him. "Do not thank us too much, son. You have not chosen an easy path. Rebuilding Ithilien will not be easy. But since you truly want to, we will not stand in your way."

"I truly want to. Thank you," he said again.

Legolas had remained standing, quietly. He was so relieved to see Narcalimo's parents support him, but inwardly he was screaming, "Why, Father? Why could you not have seen this the way they do! Why?"

"Legolas," Melime's call forced him to shake his head to clear the internal voice. He forced a smile and stepped forward.

"Yes?"

"We are counting on you to keep an eye on our son. To try to keep him safe, make him work hard, and behave like an Eryn Lasgalen prince, even in Ithilien. Do you agree to do so?"

"I will do my best, Melime."

"And we except regular updates from both of you. You will send a courier with letters and news often?" Sorontor asked.

"We will. It may be less than once a year, but we will try for more often."

"Very good. Now, let us have dinner and discuss your plans. Tomorrow we will start to help in anyway we can," Melime said.

"Thank you, Melime, Sorontor. Your support of Narcalimo and me means more than I can say," Legolas told them.

Melime smiled and hugged him. "Come, let us eat."

Narcalimo offered his arm to his mother and the two headed into the dining room. Legolas started to follow, but Sorontor reached out and stopped him.

"Legolas, tomorrow I will talk to Father."

"Sorontor, you do not have to put yourself in the middle of this."

"I already am, by allowing Narcalimo to go. Someone has to talk to Father and make him see reason. He probably does now, but his pride will not let him admit it."

"Thank you, brother. I hope you are right," Legolas said softly.

"So do I," Sorontor replied grimly as he led Legolas to the dining room.

TBC…

A/N: Yea for those two! At least they were smart enough to support Legolas. He he.

This story is getting closer to the end - which is good because I've had some good ideas for a couple of other stories over the weekend. One LOTR and one not. Well, at least I think they're good ideas. Y'all will have to tell me what you think once they been posted. And that reminds me - as always feedback on this story is very appreciated!