AN: To those who commented and whom I cannot respond thank you for taking the time to do so, it is greatly appreciated.

To the guest who asked where this all came from, sorry if I confused you, and I readily accept that its curious. As I said at the start its a sort of cross over between a commercial fanfiction and the real thing. So in Chapter 1 (your point) the Legolas you see is close to PJs fanfiction travesty, and the point of the whole thing is to get him, and the world he occupies, back to where they need to be for LoR. I call it 'writing back' and allows me all sorts of opportunities to analyse the idiocies committed and get around them. Rather like writing a story and doing a jigsaw puzzle at the same time. Its what started me writing fanfiction more than 10yrs ago and in another fandom.

Of course I can end up with rather a lot of words as I do so...

In the Elven Kings Halls – Lessons to be learned

"You enjoyed your day?"
Elrond smiled at the young mortal who stood upon the threshold of his chamber, serious faced and clearly uncertain of something. He put aside his letter and beckoned that the arrival come further in.

A smile swept across that same face, lighting the grey eyes as if a lamp had been turned on behind them.
"Indeed I did. The Prince was most patient with me, happy to repeat things when I did not understand and content to match his pace to mine."
Elrond laughed.
"Ah, then I expect you learned many things."
Estel nodded as he stepped into the room and closed the door.
"He showed me how to determine my direction by the growth of trees and grass, to move more quietly even in the undergrowth and to understand the trail that I might leave for others if I am not alert to it."

He sighed.
"I had not thought myself such a novice but it is different here than in the valley for the land is much wilder, the shadows longer and the trees seemed almost to have a will of their own. The stories I have heard of the dangers of the Greenwood make more sense now for even with the prince beside me there were times when I almost felt overwhelmed by it. I said as much and he just smiled and told me that it was the echoes of his fathers lordship and his peoples power that I could feel, that and the age of the forest spirit and the shadow of its mind."
He looked at Elrond and his smile wavered a little.
"Yes it was a very good day."

The elf inclined his head.
"I am sure it was, and yet I detected a hint of some other feeling in you. Regret perhaps? What then was the worm in the apple?"
Estel shifted uncomfortably as his smile died and his gaze slid down to the floor.
"Nothing at the time, for as I have told you he was as kind as I could have wished. But on looking back I think I chattered more than was needed, or even seemly. Yet he answered my questions freely without any restraint that I could discern, regardless of their subject."
"Had you so many questions?" Elrond asked trying to keep the sudden anxiety from his voice, for he did not know how much of their conversation the father had relayed to the son.
Had the Prince known to restrict what was said of Estels' line? Perhaps not, and yet there seemed to be neither shock or surprise in the young face before him, nor any hint of grievance, so he could have learned little of himself that he had not known before. Yet Elrond was still uneasy and guarded his tone and expression with some difficulty.
"What was so pressing that you pursued it enough to now fear you asked too much?"

The boys' expression became a little strained at the question and he began to worm the toe of his boot through the pile of rug upon the floor, glaring down at it as he did so, a trick he had had since childhood and that often emerged at times of embarrassment or uncertainty. Elronds' anxiety grew but he waited patiently as Estel continued his assault upon the rug. After a moment or two he sighed and his voice was soft and hesitant as he answered.
"About his Realm and their fight, and how they train their warriors, and how long it took him to become such an archer, and how they hunt, and if it is hard to be the son of a king, and how his father deals with the men within his Realm."
The list came out slowly, and Elrond doubted it was exhaustive, he knew well enough how curious his ward could be, but he felt some relief for it seemed that Estel's thoughts had been focussed upon the life of Thranduil's Realm during his hours with Legolas. That being so it was unlikely that his querying had strayed into anything that might have meaning for his own past and future.

He inclined his head in response.
"Ah I see, well those all seem to be good questions and reasonable enough of themselves, though it's true there are a lot of them, and others too I suspect, but I doubt the Prince had objections to answering."
"Nooo" there was some hesitation around the word, Elrond felt a new wave of anxiety and a frown replaced his careful smile. He struggled to keep his voice even.
"There was more then, something you think he might have objected to?"
Estel shrugged.
"Not objected to, but on thinking back I fear that I asked more about his father and grandfather than was truly polite."
The elf lords' anxiety increased, for those might be dangerous waters, and it was with some difficulty he kept a snap from his tone as he replied.
"Indeed and why was that? For the Prince never knew his fathers father, I am sure I told you as much."
Estel nodded.
"Indeed you did, I recall that you told me that prince Legolas was born in the early years of the Watchful peace, after King Oropher died at the gates of Mordor."
"That I did. And so he was. Why then did you ask and what was it that you think was impolite? Why do you have so much interest in his father the king, for I assume your questions were of a personal nature rather than questions of the Realm?"

Estels' toe worked more deeply into the carpet and uncertainty flickered in his face as he replied.
"Personal, yes perhaps that was the case and perhaps that is why I wonder if I ventured too far in my questions. Yet I cannot feel regret at it, though I pray I gave no offence, for the king is like none I have ever known." The uncertain look was replaced by a frown. "Nor in truth is the Prince, there is an energy about him that is different to those at home, and a sense of endurance perfected and strength that somehow echoes the trees of this land. And yet….. There were times when I also thought I felt a… sadness in him though I could not have said why."

His mind slipped back to the morning, early in their time together the Prince had taken him to see a huge beech that stood at the centre of a wide and grassy glade. Legolas had approached it with a bow of respect and then laid his hand upon the massive trunk staring up into its spreading branches with a strange yet hopeful look upon his face. After a moment the hope had faded and he had sighed and turned, his smile had been bright but there had been a hint of shadow in his eyes that betrayed a feeling that did not match the smile. Then in a breath it was gone and he was waving Estel forward to come and stand beside him.
"This is the Kings tree, my fathers' tree. When he wishes to speak with the forest he first comes here, for there is little that happens in the Wood that this tree does not hear of. It is from this tree he seeks report of the health or otherwise of the forest, it is to this tree that he first reports the doings of the Realm and requests largess from the forest be it wood or herbs or game."

The Prince looked around him.
"This tree is the chief of the Sentinels, that keep my father informed of those within the Wood and their doings. They are the first line of our Realms defence for they see and hear all, none can pass them unseen. It was the Sentinels that told my father where to find Thorin when he trespassed. If you are to return again then no doubt he will make you known to this tree so that all the Sentiniels will recognise you and let you pass."
"Let me pass?" He had asked, "Would they stop me?"
"They might if they took you for an orc or a landless man, or anyone who might do harm, for there are many ways they can act if moved to do so." His smiled widened. "I believe they played many a game with the dwarfs on their trek, for the trees trusted their motives no more than my father. Trees are always wary of dwarf, for their coming usually means no good for green and growing things."

Estel remembered that he had laughed.
"I recall the dwarf Thorin and his company. Very troublesome I believe they were. Though not dangerous it seemed."
Legolas turned his eyes to the tree, his fingers spaying across the bark, his expression became distant and when he spoke his voice was cool and hard."Dangerous perhaps not, though they did much damage in the end. But foolish and thoughtless and it near killed them. Indeed in the end it did kill many, men, elf and dwarf. Why the wizard left them to travel through the forest alone I cannot guess but had the trees not told us where to find them they would have been naught but a spiders meal. Though at the time their doings made it seem as likely that they were the spiders' friend as their enemy, the dark one has taken many servants in the past."
Estel had felt a surge of regret at his clumsiness and hung his head.
"Yes, I am sorry for you must feel the loss greatly and I did not mean to stir such sadness. I recall Lord Elrond told me that they would give your father no account of their actions. Not wise when in a strange Realm, and one at war with evil."
He looked up at Legolas hopefully.
"But as for the trees, can you not introduce me?"

The strange sad look flitted across the princes' fair face again and he shook his head removing his hand from the tree.
"No, for that is not for me to decide. If my father thinks it necessary he will name you to the forest."
The sad look melted with the brilliance of his smile as he indicated they should return to the horses.
"But come we have much to do and see and we should be about our planned business."

Estel shook the memory from him as he realised Elrond was replying.
"I saw something similar, some sense of loss, when he last visited Imladris. I had thought it linked to the battle before the mountain and their losses there but perhaps there is some other grief. Though he seems to be in much better spirits now so perhaps it is linked to the past darkening of the forest, for to live so close to such evil must strain the heart."
A musing tone entered Elronds voice.
"I confess their good spirits surprise me after so many seasons struggling against the shadow of Dol Guldur. I almost believe that Thranduil is indeed a magician when I see how merry his people can be in the face of such trouble and loss."
He nodded.
"I too have wondered at it, for I would not have thought them a people so recently at war. As for what grieved the Prince I cannot tell for as I said he is in some way different to the elves of our home."
He frowned and slowly shook his head.
"But it is the King that feels most strange. There is something about him that draws me to him, and yet some part of me feels small and uncertain in his presence and I do not know why; nor why that feeling does not anger me. It is because he is a king or because he is of the Sindar?"

He met Elronds eyes with confusion in his own.
"Is it because of the majestic poise that lives within his every movement? I cannot think so for every elf I know has grace aplenty. Or the fine robes and fair face, fairer than most elves even, again I think not for I have seen others with fair faces and in robes no less wonderful and not felt it. Or does it lie with the gravity of his manner, because of the sense of power and danger that hangs around him? Though I cannot say where that comes from for he has never threatened me or even spoken unkindly to me."
He frowned.
"Or is it because of that strange light I catch in his eyes sometimes when in his company, as if he sees things that I cannot see, has thought things I cannot think?"
He sighed.
"His eyes are far seeing and carry that hint of centuries known that I have seen in others of your kin. I know that he is an elf lord of another age and has fought the evil in many great battles that are but far history to me. I know that he has seen the passing of many great Realms of men and elf and their Lords and so I cannot expect that his gaze should be that of a man. But this other light I sometimes see, or think I do, it is different to the wisdom and weighty consideration I see in all elf kind that I know. I do not see it in those I have been raised amongst, except perhaps in Glorfindel, though in his case it is different again."

His look became beseeching as he struggled to be understood.
"I live amongst elves and yet your kin are the only ones I know of. I have read the Lore within your library and yet there so little about Thranduils line or the Sylvan elves. I still do not understand why he is a king and you are not, why those who were not of his tribe took him as their king when they had no need to do so and why they remained loyal to him even after their losses at Dagorlad and as the darkness spread. I hear that he speaks with trees and see that he guards his gates with a power I cannot fathom, but for all that he rides out with his warriors and wields sword and bow as a mortal king must. Yet I still do not understand the real sense of him. I think he must be a good leader as well as a great king and I wondered what it was that makes him so, for even men call him king."
He sighed again and his eyes were troubled as they met Elronds.
"I will never be a king, but one day I must return to my kin and lead them and I would know a little of how leading men differs from leading elves and how to do it well. I hoped that if I understand a little of this king I might glean something that will help me to bind men together in a hard world when all about seems darkness."

Elrond was silent for a moment watching his foster son with an expressionless face. It was not so surprising that Estel had followed such a line of thinking for he was a youth that was unusually deep of thought for a mortal, and aware of the greater matters of the world beyond his years. Nor could he deny that such thoughts were timely. Eventually he nodded, smiling at the serious and uncertain look upon the boys face.
"I see, and I'd not claim such thoughts were anything than understandable."
He drew a deep breath deciding that he might as well test the waters now as any other time.
"Thranduil is indeed a good leader, for none would call him a great king if he was not and most do call him so. I too have wondered at how he held his Realm together when their losses at the Dagorlad were so great and bitter, at how he holds his Realm together now when we have learned to our sorrow the deep and growing evil that drove his people north, and that those people have struggled with for an age. I have also wondered how he has held the allegiance of the mannish settlements within his lands and the friendship of the men of the Lake and now of Dale. Certainly it argues for some considerable skill in reading men's hearts, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. That is part why I wished to make this visit and to have you accompany me."

He saw the look of surprise drift across his wards face and smiled.
"I am not blind Estel, nor have I lived all my years in a hidden valley. I too have walked this world long enough to see the towers of the cities of men rise towards the skies and then fall to dust. Indeed I think that I have walked it at least as long as Thranduil and known many men and their deeds. I understand that there are things you need to know at least a little of before you venture into the wider world, things that I, nor my sons, nor any of those at Imladris, can teach you. Woodcraft and living off the land is but a part of it and the elves of the forest can do much more of that than those who live within our valley. Skills at arms both Glorfindel and my sons might provide but not battles fought by stealth, nor evading the enemy when they press hard upon you. These Thranduils people might well teach."

He caught the boys' uncertain look and sighed.
"But it is true that there is more than that. I would not see you go out into the world knowing only the hearts and minds of elves, for that would leave you ill prepared for all that you will find. Thranduil can give you some insight into the hearts and deeds of men, of both the good they do and the ill and why they do so."
He rose and placed a hand upon his wards shoulder with a sombre look.
"It is for this reason I wished you to travel with me on this journey and why I have petitioned him for aid on your behalf, that you might start to learn of such matters before you return to your fathers people and the weight of the cloak of chieftain falls upon your shoulders. He has agreed."
Estel seemed dumbfounded, a look of both shock and fear settling upon his face.
"What!" the word escaped as steam from a kettle. "What have you sought on my behalf? What has he agreed to?"

Elrond turned and poured two glasses of wine from the jug upon the table and handed one to Estel with the indication that he should sit. When he had done so Elrond returned to his own chair, taking a swallow of his wine before he continued in a gentle tone.
"Do not be afraid for I have committed you to nothing, nor asked anything I think you would dislike. Nor is any thing decided as yet. But I have sought permission for you visit here if you so wish, to sit in the courts that deal with the disputes amongst men when opportunity presents. In the same manner I have asked that you be allowed to sit in the petitioners courts when men come to petition the king or seek his judgment on one of the lower courts decisions."
His ward leaned forward in his chair the fearful look replaced by curiosity.
"Visit? When, and what would I have to do?"
"I have proposed the summer, each summer until you reach your majority or longer if you so wish. As for what you would do, well much of it would be spent travelling with the Prince who sits as his fathers representative in the petty courts of the mannish settlements when required."

"What are petty courts?"
Elrond smiled and took another sip of wine before he replied.
"What elves would call the courts of dispute. Though the men of his Realm are subject to Thranduils law the nature of men, and the evils they may succumb to, means that the structure of the conduct of that law is a little different in their case within Greenwood. Just as it was in Gil-galads land, where men also resided."
He leaned back in his chair and gestured with his glass.
"Serious crimes, by which I mean murder, rape, causing serious harm or intent to kill, kidnap, enslavement, fire-setting and the crimes against the Realm are all heard by the law givers of Thranduils court, in which the king may preside if so called upon to do so."
He took another sip of wine then set his glass down.
"But others such as theft and affray are settled within the community where they can be; but when they can't, or where one or other party, feels aggrieved or unfairly treated then they may appeal to the crown. Usually one of the court wardens is dispatched to hear the complaints and settle the case but all have the right to appeal to the king and in such a case, or where the warden cannot make judgement or where that judgement is contested for some reason, then the matter is heard at a petty court. It is not seemly, nor has it been safe, for the king to travel to such courts, which may be held in the settlement where the crime arose, and so such aggrievement are often heard by the prince. Though if he cannot, perhaps by virtue of being absent from the Realm, then one of the senior members of the Council may hear it. If that does not settle the matter then the parties involved must travel to the palace to stand before the King."

Estel was quiet for a moment a faint frown wrinkling his brow, eventually he took a swallow of his wine and also sat back into the chair.
"What then would I do if I accompany him?" He said.
Elrond smiled faintly.
"Watch, listen, and learn a little of the hearts of men. It causes me much concern that you stand on the brink of manhood and know so little of your own kind, and whilst I know and understand your desire to go out into the world I cannot help but feel it would be unwise for you to do so when all you know is elvish society."
Estels frown returned.
"Are the two so different then?"
Elrond sighed.
"Oh yes, there is much different. Men are subject to lusts that elves are spared, they often lack constancy and continence; that alone makes the nature of their society and their crimes something apart."
He took another swallow of wine before he continued.
"But more than that men are creatures of time Estel, a short time, and it shapes so much about them, for they rarely live long enough to see their actions come to fruit. You are of a long lived line but even for you time will drive the pace of your living and shape your view of much. You do not know this as yet because you are so young, even in the years of men, but you will not escape its tyranny. The years of even your life is but a moment to an elf and to those who knew you as an infant it will seem but a heartbeat before silver claims your hair and your strength wanes. Long though your years will seem to men to my kin, to an elf it will be but a short season before your spring becomes winter."

Estel bowed his head.
"I have never thought of it before." He said softly, "yet I know it to be true, young as you say I am. How short my span must seem to you and yet that has not stayed your hand in caring for me, nor caused your kin to turn from me. I would have the princes' friendship as I would have the friendship of your sons, but I would not have that be a burden to them."
Elrond rose and came to stand beside his ward, sighing softly as he placed a hand upon the bowed shoulder.
"It is not a burden, for they know that your time marches to a mortal clock and will love and stand friend to you for the time you have without regret. We do not know where you go when you depart as we do with our own but we trust to the wisdom of the One and to the hope that in the end all friends find each other again. They will grieve for the loss of your presence when you no longer stand beside them, but they will not despair. They will not forget, but nor will they be burdened by sadness at their remembering. Nor would they have the time they have with you soured by constant thoughts of your loss."
Estel looked up with a faint smile.
"Nor would I, and so I too will trust to the all seeing of Eru."

Elrond smiled his hand tightening for a moment before he turned and returned to his own chair. He looked at his ward with a raised brow.
"Then what do you say to my proposal?"
The smile that answered the question made the words unnecessary.
"If the king will allow it then let it be so, though I confess the thought fills me with near as much fear as pleasure!"