For Disclaimer, please view Chapter 1.
Author's note: Here's a small Chapter to keep you happy. I probably won't post for a couple of weeks, but the good news is…a nice fat juicy chapter will await for you at the end of those weeks…thank you for all your support.
Chapter 17: To Keep Living
Memory:
"You agreed to this Legolas." Thranduil said pacing back and forth, thinking about what his son had just told him.
"I know."
"She is worried and so are her parents that you care nothing for her." He stopped his pacing and faced Legolas, only to find a scared elfling in front of him. Where had his son gone? The proud prince of Mirkwood? Surely it was not this creature in front of him staring at him innocently with wide eyes that spoke pure truth.
Legolas remained silent.
"Legolas? Do you even care for her at all?"
"I care." He looked at his father sheepishly.
"Oh that I would cast Elrond's daughter out of your heart!" He threw his hands up in the air as if pleading with some God. "Lothluin would make a fine wife, she would love you." He emphasized the word love and once more cast his gaze back to his son.
"But I cannot love her; it would be unfair to her for me to pretend something that could never be." He stood there patiently watching his father throw a fit.
"I would have never agreed to your betrothal to Lothluin in the first place if you would have told me how you felt, in the name of the Valar, this was your idea!" He flailed his arms about again.
"I thought I could fight my feelings. They are stronger than I care to admit." His tone of voice was opposite to Thranduil's, low and almost like a whisper.
Thranduil sighed. "Now things have become complicated and you are caught in the middle."
"If there is no way to break this engagement, I will not embarrass you Ada. I will marry her, I will hold to my agreement."
So, his proud prince of a son had returned to him in a blink of an eye, the scared elfling was gone. But Thranduil knew how fragile he really was, and closed his eyes remembering days when Legolas was not so strong. "And sign your death warrant? Binding you to an Elleth you could never love? I remember your fading son, and I do not wish to see you go through that ever again."
Legolas looked as if he was about to cry. "And I do not wish to put you through that again. I am sorry for what happened all those years ago."
"It was out of your control." He put his hands on Legolas's shoulders. "There is nothing to be sorry for."
Legolas gave a small smile, "I am lucky to have such an understanding father."
Thranduil smirked, "Only for some things. You should not get used to it. I warn you though, that breaking this engagement will be a long process, and she is your betrothed until something else can be arranged. You will treat her accordingly. So please, try and pay some attention to her; she is very fond of you."
"She is too young. Her mind lies elsewhere."
Thranduil would attempt to bring up the touchy matter with his son. "Legolas, have you tried going back to Imladris, to speak with Lord Elrond?"
"Not since the last time."
"Do you not think that 300 years is a bit of a wait?"
"I tire of looking for her and never finding her." For the first time during this conversation he let his father know how he truly felt. "I know she is alive, that is all I can feel from her, that is all I need to feel from her to keep living."
