Homecoming
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: Thank you all my wonderful reviewers! Muchly appreciated. (The squirrel climbs off its wheel and bows its thanks: first to the north, then east, then south and finally west. It climbs back on the wheel and ponders which of the three different plots whirling around my head it wants to tackle next).
Chapter 11
The following two weeks flew by. The night of the last meeting was held before Legolas had time to break through his father's defenses. He had continued to talk to his father everyday. Some days, he simply reminisced about early times with their mother or different things father and son had done together. No matter what he said, Thranduil continued to ignore Legolas. He did not answer the door, he would not even notice the younger Elf if they happened to meet somewhere.
Legolas hid the sadness he felt from the other Elves, but the thought of leaving Eryn Lasgalen without talking to his father hurt. He just did not think there was anything else to do. And, then, there was no longer any time.
The meeting was brief. Everything but what the Elves would carry on their horses was packed in the wagons. Most of the personal supplies were packed and just were waiting to be put on their mounts the morning they left.
"Spend the next two days with your family and friends. We will ride out at first light in three days. Be saddled, mounted and ready to go." Legolas instructed them. The meeting broke up.
As the Elves dispersed, Yulian walked up to Legolas.
"Lord Legolas," she said.
"Good evening, Yulian. How are you tonight?"
"I'm good." She stopped.
"Is there something you wanted to ask me?" Legolas encouragingly smiled at her.
"Yes there is." But now that she had his attention she seemed bashful.
"Go ahead."
She took a deep breath and then looked at the prince.
"I want to learn the bow like Ondollo and Alassello!" she said in a rush. "I know it's right before we leave, but I just found out that they were learning. I want to learn also!"
Legolas bit back a sigh and looked around. Her parents were standing near the gate talking to a couple of other Elves. He looked back at the elfling and saw the anticipation and nervousness in her gray eyes.
"Yulian," he began.
"You're going to say no aren't you?" she interrupted.
"I was going to ask what your parents' opinion of this was," he chided her gently.
She hung her head and scuffed the ground with a foot. Her dark hair fell forward and covered her face. "I have not asked them."
"Why not?"
"Because they will say no."
"So you thought you would go around them and ask me?"
The elfling blushed but met Legolas' eyes defiantly. "If you said yes, they cannot go against you," she said hopefully.
"Yulian," Legolas began again. "I am sorry, but you are too young."
"I'm not that much younger than Alassello! And he's learning!" she exclaimed.
"You are only 11. I am sorry, truly, but you will have to wait another three years."
"Why three? Alassello's learning now and he's only 13!"
"Young one, if you start learning in three years that will be earlier than most Eryn Lasgalen Elves."
"But…"
"No but's, Yulian. You asked and I have answered. You simply are too young to learn now."
Yulian sighed, but replied, "Thank you for talking to me, Lord Legolas. I wish the answer was different, but I will try to understand."
Legolas reached out and ruffled her dark hair. "You are a great elfling, Yulian. I am glad you are coming to Ithilien. And I look forward to teaching you the bow in three years. But do not ask before then or I will delay it even longer!" He smiled to take the sting out of his threat.
"Oh, thank you! I will be the best archer if you teach me! Three years is a long time to wait, but I will!" She saluted and then ran to catch up to her parents. Lisse talked to her for a moment and then looked across the clearing at Legolas. She smiled and waved before shepherding her daughter and husband in the gates.
Legolas looked around the deserted clearing and gathered the lamps. He headed in also.
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As Legolas moved inside the gates, Sorontor stepped out of the shadows.
"Legolas."
"Sorontor, what are you doing here?" Legolas asked surprised.
"I wanted to listen to you tonight. I have to say, I was very impressed with how you led the group. I was even more impressed with how you handled Yulian. That took fact and aplomb. Very good. You will be a great leader."
"Thank you, Sorontor." They hugged briefly and then Sorontor looked to the side. "There is someone else here to talk to you also."
Thranduil stepped out of the shadows. Legolas gasped, "Father?"
The king's face was impassive, betraying no anger or joy or any other emotion.
"Your brother dragged me out here to listen to your meeting." He stopped and an awkward silence filled the night air.
Finally, Legolas broke the tension. "I am glad you came," he paused. "I am sorry that I am talking some of your Elves with me. While they all are going willing, I ask for your forgiveness in taking them."
The Walker stopped again and an even thicker silence filled the air. Sorontor watched as Legolas' face went from hopeful to hesitant then resigned. Meanwhile, Thranduil looked at everything but his son. But he did not leave.
Legolas sighed and shifted as if preparing to leave. Sorontor reached out and put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Wait a moment longer," he mouthed silently. Legolas glared briefly at his brother, then stared blankly into the distance, waiting. Sorontor stepped back and also waited.
The silence was hostile. Then, unexpectedly, it was broken by a low "no."
"What?" said a startled Legolas.
"No," Thranduil repeated. "I will not give you my forgiveness for taking some Eryn Lasgalen Elves to Ithilien."
Legolas and Sorontor stared at the king in disbelief.
"No," he said for the third time. "You have done nothing that requires forgiveness. All you have done is fight and plan for the improvement of Middle Earth." The king finally looked his youngest son in the eyes.
"You have been willing to lose your home, family and your life to protect stubborn, bullheaded Elves from evil. I cannot forgive you because you have done no wrong."
The brothers still stood motionless staring at their father, but Legolas' eyes showed hope once again.
Thranduil took a step forward and reached out his arms. Legolas took a step and they met halfway.
"My son," the king said as the two hugged.
Sorontor quietly wiped tears from his eyes as he watched. The lying he had done to get Thranduil here, then the cajoling and pleading to get him to stay was worth it. While he was still sad to be losing his son and brother to Ithilien, at least they would not leave while at odds with Thranduil.
Reluctantly Thranduil and Legolas broke apart. In a repeat of their first greeting after the quest, the king kept his hands on his son's shoulders and looked into his blue eyes.
"I am sorry that I have been such a fool, Legolas. Your words and actions make sense for the good of Arda, but I did not want to think so broadly. I only wanted to think of my family and my forest."
"But, my son, you are smarter than me. You see what has to be done for all of Middle Earth and you are doing it. I, now I can say, I commend you for your belief and actions, especially for preserving in the face of my opposition."
"Thank you, father." Legolas stepped forward and hugged him again.
As they headed back to the palace, Thranduil said, "I am sorry that it took me so long to come to my senses, Legolas." He looked at his elder son, "And I am grateful to you, Sorontor, for tricking me into coming to the meeting. I needed to see it." The elder son nodded his blond head in acknowledgement.
"Legolas, you will make a great leader of Elves in Ithilien," the king continued. "You are strong, but you do not forget the individual. You dealt with the elfling's question very well. I am proud of you. And your mother would be, too."
They had reached the entrance to their home as Thranduil spoke. Legolas turned towards him.
"Father, thank you. Your words mean so much to me. I can travel much easier knowing you support me. And," he continued in a much softer tone, "I miss mother, also. I look forward to the day we see her again on the shores of Valinor."
"That will be a happy day indeed," Thranduil echoed.
Sorontor smiled and nodded his agreement. Then he opened the door for his father and brother to pass through. He was so glad that Legolas was leaving in good stead with their father. It would make the parting bearable.
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The next day flew by quickly. Thranduil insisted on checking all of the preparations and packing. Several times Legolas had to remind himself that he wanted his father's involvement in this planning, originally.
But the Walker erupted when Thranduil said they needed to take several more wagons for belongings.
"No! Father, I have told you, repeatedly, we purposely are traveling light on this journey. We have enough weapons, food and clothing to see us through a year. Aragorn and Gondor will supply us with building materials and anything else we need to establish Ithilien. Next year, or later, we send some Elves back for more belongings."
"But why? Why not take everything now?"
Legolas bit back a sigh. "Because the road to Gondor is extremely dangerous still. The more we take, the longer we have to travel, the more at risk we will be. Speed matters."
"But what about when you come back for the rest? How will you protect it?"
"Maybe some Men of Gondor will travel. Or some more Elves will have joined us from Imladris or Lorien. I am not sure, but I do know it is not worth going slow now for the doubt in the future."
Thranduil looked at his son steadily and then nodded. "Fine, I will quit trying to make you take more. But I must tell you, I do not like the idea of Men from Gondor coming into my realm, even on an errand from you."
"That will be a last resort," Legolas promised.
Thranduil smiled, knowing Legolas would keep his word.
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That night, Eryn Lasgalen held a party. All Elves from the forest were there. Casks of wine were tapped and fires roasted succulent meats.
Goodbyes and best wishes were exchanged, some tearful, some joyful. Many Elves recited lays and sang songs. An undercurrent of sadness ran through the festivities. All the present knew Eryn Lasgalen would never be quite the same after some of its brethren moved.
Late in the night, Legolas was called upon to speak. He tried to refuse, but the clamor from the crowd was insistent.
He gave in with a smile and climbed upon a rock that has served as podium throughout the night.
"My fellow Elves, I thank you. For my Eryn Lasgalen brethren – your support and help have been invaluable. For those traveling with me to Ithilien, I applaud your courage and willingness to move. To those that stay, I will miss you and the forest of my home. Thank you again, and I bid you farewell. We leave at the sunrise tomorrow. Enjoy today."
He saluted the Elves and jumped down from the rock. He slowly made his way through the crowd, exchanging "good luck" and "good night" with everyone. His departure signaled the end of the party to the others and all began to head towards bed.
TBC…
A/N: Woo hoo! Thranduil finally came around. Did I have you worried? I hope so grins evilly
There will be one more chapter to wrap up some loose ends and then it's on to the next story.