AN

Sorry but not much seems to happen in this despite the time its taken me to get this chapter ready. Still with the world as it is maybe a little wandering in gentle fantasy will be welcome. To those who have commented and I haven't replied to please accept my apologies, life has been a bit rushed, but your comments, like those of the people I can't reply to, are very gratefully received and treasured.

As always this world and the majority of its characters belong to whosoever the law says they do, few are mine. Anything of any value belongs to JRR T. I write this for fun with with no intent of profit

Harvest Home

Harvest time was upon the Woodland Realm when they reached the woods around the stronghold. Summer was almost gone, and though some of its glory remained its fading could be seen everywhere. The berries still on the bushes were soft and soon to fall if not picked, and the flowers that basked in the cooling sun were overblow, their petal shimmering satin in the softening light yet with a look of impermance about them as if a breath would send them fluttering to the forest floor. But the strongest sign that the seasons would soon turn lay in the trees and their abandonment of the greens of summer. Everywhere brilliant orange and yellow tints lit the boughs; the glowing leaves hung like trumphal banners from the great oaks and beeches, whilst the rich reds of the maples flamed like bonfires against the deep greens of the hollies and yews.

Yet summer had not entirley surrendered and the air was still soft and warm and perfumed, with the last scents of summer overlaying the soft sugary smell of the blazing leaves that would soon begin to fall. The breeze was not yet a wind and it had no sharp edge to it while the blue of the sky, though paler than when they had set off, was still bright and gentle. The clouds that occassionally massed against it were pale and the rain that had fallen on them during their journey homeward had been summer rain. Despite the abundance around them they all knew that the season would soon turn, and maybe quickly, and they were glad to be so close to home.

It was early in the day, not long after sunrise, when they began the last leg of their jouney back to the Kings Halls, though they had travelled into the night for they were now within the lands that had always been held by the king, and where the shadow of evil had been kept at bay. They had rested more for the pleasure of watching the night than for any fatigue. The sounds of home, somehow different from those in the south forest, had filled their hearts with joy and reassured them that no grief awaited them at their journey's end. For Legolas this brought a small but expected pain, for he was still unable to hear the song of the trees and only the birdsong, the call of elves and the scurrying of the woodland life within the thickets told him of the closeness of the end of their travels.

Legolas smiled as the sounds of the harvest being gathered reached his ears, but looked around himself with a faint sadness for he knew that even now guards would be standing watch over those about the business of preparing for winter. Archers would be positioned in the trees with arrows to hand ready to let them fly a the first hint of danger. Respite perhaps but not true rest or forgetting of evil. Since the battle before the mountain all of Thranduil's people had been aware how quickly disaster could come upon them even from the most innocent beginning. One thing this journey had impressed upon him was that he was not the only one who had been changed, hurt even, by the actions of Thorin and his little company. For many the trust in so called allies had been further eroded, particularly where those allies were dwarfs. Too many had seen the boorish behaviour of Dain before the hoard of goblins had arrived, too many had heard Thorins distainful and greedy words to Bard and their king. Many more had heard it reported by those who returned. Though they had fought together when the armies of evil arrived not all of the distrust would be washed away by the blood Dains folk had shed beside them, for dwarves had injured them too often in the past.

No, it would be some time before those words and actions were fogotten, if they ever truly were. The people of Thranduil's Realm had long been wary of strangers, and with good reason. They had lost many in the Last Alliance and had received little help or thanks for it from any, even when the Necromancer arrived and his evil began to spread.

The king had brought them further north in search of some measure of peace and security but it had been many, many centuries of the third age before their numbers had grown enough for them to be truly able to defend themselves against intruders. The caution learned in those centuries had never left them, despite the strength of their magic, and his father had never sought to change that. It had to be admitted that it had served them well and their reputation as unfriendly, and their king's as stern, did much to keep the lawless and predatory from their lands.

In the days of the spiders that had mattered less for a brigand would have to be desperate indeed to enter where the spawn of Ugoliant might seek to feed upon them. For this reason they had always been generous when reporting their estimates of the number of spiders in their woods, and the extent of their territory, to others. But it was true that enemies very often ended up in the those parts of their lands where the spiders dwealt, those that did not wandered in half dream and confusion into melt swollen rivers or dark tangled tracks of hostile trees under the spell of their peoples magic, or the kings influence. Orcs met much the same fate, though they often faced the malice of the trees too, for they well knew of Orc habits and they could wage a form of warfare of their own when so inclined. One reason why Orc rarely ventured into the north forest and the flat lands around it, instead keeping to the mountains where they had no need to fear spiders, the enchantments of the king and his people and the woodelves legendary aim with an arrow. The few orc packs that had tried to penetrate the kings lands in the years after they moved north had soon discovered that elven archers who could hit a bird eye on a dark night had little difficulty in finding the chinks in orc armour. Archers who were very good at hiding themselves amongst trees that conspired with them against their enemies.

But that was no concern to them for the moment. Since the battle before Erebor even the mountains were free of goblins, though none could say how long that happy state would remain.

As they wound their way down the forest path towards the stronghold the sounds of the final harvest were all around them and the elves they passed were all busy with the first preperations for the coming of the colder seasons. Legolas smiled as they passed one group of young elves busy collecting willow wands under the watchful eye of their elders. Not only was there much to be collected at this time of the year but there would be other preperations needed to ensure that the dwellings of those who remained living in the forest during the cold months were secure and warm, before the winds turned north and took on steely edge. Everywhere elves were busy collecting firewood to stack into the woven shelters where the fuel to feed the fires of the coming feasts was stored. From deep within the forest glades wood smoke drifted up into the air from the banked fires that rendered other fallen wood into charcoal for the winter fires and kitchens, and soot for making dark dyes.

In the kitchens of the forest dwellings and the Kings Halls preserves and pickles would be made in considerable quantity from the overflowing vegetable and herb beds that surrounded most eleven dwellings, and around the orchards apples were being inspected and wrapped in straw before they were stored in great barrels that were transported to the Stronghold to be stored in the kings storerooms alongside great wheels of cheese and slabs of butter. Others were busy collecting tree syrups, for this was the time when they were sweetest, and making infusions of late summer flowers for use by the healers. Flowers and fruits and herbs were being collected for teas, or to be dried or preserved in wine; some, the best of the fruits would be soaked in the firery distillations produced in the stills of the raft elves and then packed in waxed leather bottles for use at the Yule feasts. Down the elven paths lines of carts were making the journey west in from the flat lands beside the river with more butter and cheese and baskets of fruits and flower petals. The air rang with the sounds of greetings, encouragement to the horses that pulled the laden carts, and snatches of song.

Now was a time of plenty in the forest and the King's lands around it and as little as possible could be wasted if their people were to be happy and well fed in the coming season, and so these last days of summer were anything but restful. Nor were the days that followed on its heels. Then the hunting parties would make their first forays bringing in the game that would be salted or smoked and stored in the great caverns that lay below the stronghold. Smoke rwas even now rising in a grey haze from the huts on the edge of the forest where fish and game, and even cheeses, were smoked before being packed into barrels.

The returning party exchanged greetings and smiles with everyone they past, all of them glad that they had reached home safely and in time for the great feast that marked the end of summer and the start of the preperations for the harsher time soon to come. With a little luck they might find themselves favoured with early tasting of some of the goods being prepared, for in the kitchens cakes and biscuits would be baked in great numbers, and, when time permitted, sweetmeats were prepared and wrapped and set aside in sugar dusted chests. Having been absent for most of the summer it would not be too difficult to persuade the cooks to spare a little of their bounty. Most would be set aside for later decoration but as Legolas well remembered there were always those that didn't turn out quite the way it had been intended and it took but a smile or two to be allowed to consume the evidence.

Legolas had seen several harvests in the lands of men during his days upon the road, and laboured in their bringing in, but he didn't think he had ever seen any as happy and contented as his father's people, despite all the years of their hardship and loss. He found himself wondering what was the magic that kept them so content in their companionship, these people who had once been so scattered. Not for the first time he wished that he had met Oropher, the prince of Doriath who had brought them together in such harmony and who they had chosen as their king. His father rarely spoke of him, for he found all memories of the years of seige and battles on the Dagolad painful, yet when he did so the love that there had been between them was clear to see.

The long quiet imp of guilt suddenly reared up in his mind.
"And what would he have made of your conduct do you think?" It hissed.
Legolas gritted his teeth and pushed the thought away with a sharp rebuke.
"Understanding I hope, compassion such as my father has shown. One day I will know, or so I trust, until then I will cause no further grief by wondering about something there can be no answer for."
With that he turned his thoughts back to the present, the bustle around him and the smiles of welcome on the faces of those they passed.

The Stronghold had clearly been told of their approach for the great doors were open and guards waited to welcome of them. As they approached the king emerged from within, still wearing the colour of summer and with flowers in his crown. At his back were his personal guard, and the master of the guard was at his side, but there were no others, a sure sign that it was known that they were all safe. Legolas felt a surge of warmth that his father had taken time to come to welcome them even though he knew them to be safe, for this was a busy time for the king. Just as the harvest had to be gathered in and stored so other matters had to be set in order before the chills of winter arrived. Winter brought the elves of the forest into closer contact than the long months of summer and the king was always careful that no reasons for strife were brought with last sittings of the law givers and days of settlement and petiton took place before the feast of Starlight, the last feast of Autumn, when all who wished to take shelter within the Stronghold and the woods closest to it would arrive. Thranduil, wise king that he was, knew well how small grievances and arguments could fester in the long dark days and was at pains to see all such settled as much as they could be before forced inactivity and close proximity provided the opportunity for them to do so. Elves were generally peaceable, certainly within their own society, and the types of assaults and other violence seen in the lands of Men was very rare, but less aggressive confrontations could still cause disturbance and discomfort if unchecked. In the cold days when the forest song was muted such irritations were more commen and Thranduil did everything he could to ensure that all known sources of discontent were damped down before they translated into arguments around the winter fires.

Nor did his duties end there, for he played his part in gathering food for those who wintered in his Halls and he would also ride out with the hunting parties and inspect any last minute repairs to ditch and dyke. Alongside that he would deal with any remaining business with the men of Lake or Dale while the weather was still kind enough for the messengers to travel in safety. Another two turns of the moon and contact between men and elves would all but cease until the new year brought kinder weather and safer travelling conditions. Only the raft elves might venture into the Long Lake during the cold months and only then when the river allowed it. Some years few such journeys were possible and no word would be exchanged between men and elves until the wind changed.

Had Thorin's company arrived but a moon later they would most like have drowned in their journey down river.

Legolas halted his thoughts abruptly, unsure where they had come from. With a hiss of annoyance at himself he strode across the bridge and saluted his father before meeting his eyes with a smile. The king return the salute with an inclination of his head and the smile with a warm one of his own. Behind him the others also saluted their king then stood in silence awaiting his instructions.

Thranduil's glance took in the serenity in his son's face and posture, and the ease with which the others waited behind him, with some hidden relief before moving on to encompass the whole of the scouting party in his attention. He spread his hands in a gesture of welcome.
"Welcome all, welcome home. It is good to see you back unharmed and in time for the harvest feast. I am sure that you have much to report but now is not the moment for that. Divest yourself of your packs and other burdens and then go and find your families and friends, you have travelled far and will have much to share with them, both to tell and hear. Tell them they are excused their duties on my word for there are no other tasks for you or them this day. We will meet on the morrow and you may tell me of your findings in the south."
Legolas could imagine the smile that lit his companions faces as they bowed their thanks, for there had been much wondering about the doings of their kin as they had returned to familiar lands.

Thranduil stepped to the side with his son to allow the returning party room to pass and watched as they disappeared into the Stronghold, putting out a hand to touch Legolas's arm before he could follow them.
"Will you dine with me or have you things that need your attention?"
Legolas laughed, wondering fleetingly what his father thought he might have to do that was so pressing.
"With much pleasure. There is nothing I would rather do, for I lack your patience and would hear all your news of what has been happening here as soon as maybe."
Thranduil smiled again.
"Not patience, for I confess I very much wish to know your report. But your companions must have longed for home and family for some time and I would not prolong their longing without need. For myself there is nothing of particular note to report, at least nothing you would wish to hear so close on your return."
He gave a small laugh and patted his son's arm briefly.
"I cannot tell you the pleasure it gives me to be able to say that to you, for it has been a very long time since I could expect to do so."
Legolas reached up and gripped his fathers hand.
"I am glad that is so, but as with my companions the smallest of matters will be of much interest. We have all thought often of what was taking place at home here in the north, and many evenings have been spent in wondering and hoping."

The king tilted his head and regarded his son with thoughtful eyes.
"Yes, I suppose your wonderings about us would have been no less than those here wondered about you. The darkness still robs us of peace it seems, once we might have wandered for many moons with no fear of what might be happening to those we left at home. Or they for those that wandered. It may be many, many turns of the seasons before that is the case again. If it ever is. But that thought is for another time."
He caught the eye of his equerry who had emerged from the Stronghold with a bundle of parchment clutched in his hand and an anxious look upon his face, and sighed.
"I must return to the petitioner sessions and you need to find a change of clothes no doubt, and maybe a little rest. I will see you at dinner."

Legolas smiled and shook his head.
"A change of clothes would be very welcome, and the chance to wash off the dust of travel, but as for sleep ….. no need for we have all rested well since we crossed back over the mountains and there is much to be done at this season. If you have no need of an immediate report I can no doubt find other tasks in need of extra hands."
Thranduil smiled again and inclined his head.
"No doubt, very well it shall be as you wish. The reports on both sides can wait until the sun sinks. When you have changed and taken a meal, should you need it, report to the Pantry master and see if she has need of some assistence, I recall that there are always many barrels and jars to be moved at this season."

The king turned towards the shadow of the doorway his guard falling into their accustomed places around him, old habits did indeed die hard. He cast a rueful look over his shoulder,
"I almost envy you, hard labour it may be but at the end of it I have no doubt you will be well rewarded by the cooks. As for myself..."
He let the words trail away and disappeared indoors followed by his smiling guard.

It was a gentle night and the doors to the balcony that looked across the forest were open, a slight breeze stirring the long curtains and the edges of the tapestry upon the wall. Legolas stretched his shoulders and reached for his wine cup, there had indeed been many barrels to be moved and a feeling of mild fatigue had settled upon him. On the other side of the table his father peeled an apple as he spoke of the last days before their return.
"It has been a good summer." he said with a smile of satisfaction. "The harvest is a fine one and Laketown have made a small payment against the loans we made to them at the time of Smaugs fire. Some in gold and silver but more in salted fish and woollen cloth, a fair trade and one that will help against the privations of the seasons should winter be harsh. Dale too has made a small payment, some in gems which they must have traded with the mountain for, but again more in leather and linen and cheese. I had not expected it so soon, from either of them, but it says much for how their communities thrive, and I would not offend their dignity by refusal."

Legolas nodded his agreement.
"Perhaps the dwarfs of the mountain have made some recompense for the damage Thorin's actions caused to them, the men of the Lake at least. As you have said before Dain is become a fair King however rash and unfriendly some of his earlier actions might have been. He settled the treasure well I know but much of what was due to Men went to Bard and only though him to the Lakemen and we both know how much of that was likely lost with the old Master."
"True, but there is nothing that can be done about that now. Let us be glad that, for the moment, both Dale and Laketown prosper, and the risks of winter are less than they might have been. Something worth celebrating, I am glad that your little company are home in time to enjoy it."

Legolas raised his wine cup in salute, a broad smile settling on his face.
"As are we."
Thranduil frowned slightly and hint of urgency and concern entered his voice.
"Your mission was uncomfortable, or dangerous? You did not seem unduly wearied when you returned. None seemed to be harmed. Did you encounter dark creatures or indeed any peril?"
Legolas shook his head and reached across to grip his father's wrist gently.
"Nay, that was not so. I apologise if I have stirred your fatherly concern, or indeed your kingly ones. But be easy, we met no danger only a strangeness that reminded us we were far from home."
The king's frown deepened.
"Strangeness you say. A sense of dark enchantments lingering? A fog of evil? Or of being watched?"
Legolas shook his head again and smiled.
" No, none of those, we would have done as you bid us and returned home immediately had that been the case."
His smiled faded and he sat back in his chair his brow furrowed in thought, recalling his impressions of of the south land.
" But there was a sense of distance from the forest that struck at the heart of all of us. The trees it seems were silent and some more than that, surly, with anger still dwelling in their spirits."

Thranduil looked at him with concern.
"The forest was hostile? To elves?"
Legolas let his eyes drift to the familiar trees outside the stronghold.
"Not hostile," he said eventually, "we did not fear any danger from them nor from any of the creatures within the forest, at least no more than in any wild place, but there was no welcome. The forest mind remain shuttered and all of the group felt that what communication there was felt muted and reluctant."
Thranduil sighed an expression of sadness upon his face.
"It was to be expected I suppose. For half an age it has sufferred under the shadow of evil. Would that we, I, could have done more to protect it but that was not possible. Not without help that was not the forest will know only that we withdrew and it suffered the effects of evil alone. The forest mind here in the north cannot yet reach their family in the south and so the mind in the south will know little of our battles and grief. No, I did not expect a welcome for I have done nothing to earn one. My fear was that my failing would put you in danger in some way."

Legolas looked back to his father with a stern yet gentle look upon his face.
"Do not blame yourself I beseach you. I know well how hard and wearying it has been for you to hold what has been held. We could not have done so by the bow and knife alone, and, while I know better than to ask about the magics you have used in the holding of our lands, I have seen the toll they have taken upon you at times. Even then you have taken up sword and bow again when the times required it. I know how much every loss has cost you, be it tree, wild creature or elven warrior, none know it better. But believe there are none amongst our people, no tree in our forest who would have another came to kingship by a tragic and bitter route and have had little peace in your reign. You have nothing to berate yourself for."
His father smiled sadly.
"I would wish to believe that to be so, and that if it is so that I have earned it."
Legolas sighed.
"Believe that it is so and that it is more than earned." He shook his head, "I know nothing of Thingol other than what I have read, and nothing more of Gil-galad, but I do know with certainty that our people do not regret taking you as king. I know too that they would say that of all the princes that came east across the mountains you have proved to be the greatest king."

Thranduil looked down into his wine and spoke softly.
"Tauriel would not agree I think. She would call me harsh and imperious."
Legolas sighed again, a deeper and more weary one.
"Perhaps but what would she know of the duties and trials of a king at war, guard though she might have been? I have thought more on this since the crowning of Bard and I will confess I gave some thought to it on the journey south to those lands she longed to venture into. But there is nothing to be learned from her, neither from her words or her actions. Tauriel was a wayward and foolish child in heart and thought, this I have come to understand. She neither understood the duties of kingship nor wanted to, for they conflicted with her own impetous desires. It was beyond her understanding that duties to the kingdom, to the many, could come before the immediate wishes of the heart, or the treasured few. Nor did she understand, nor wish to, that actions have consequences and that the responsibility for them sits with the one who acts. Though it may be others who bear the burden of those actions. No, her words were fine but empty and her deeds were often rash and selfish. For her all things were starkly simple, the wishes of the heart must come above all else and the world must be ordered as she wished and those who saw the world, duty, differently were wrong and heartless. Like a child whose parent will not give them that extra sweetmeat that will make them sick."
Thranduil gave soft huff of laughter.
"Perhaps. I would hope her view of me was not a true one."
Legolas gave his father a long and steady look.
"Be assurred of it."

For a moment there was a companionable silence between them as each sipped wine and nibbled slices of sweet fruit, it had indeed been a good harvest. Finally Legolas broke the silence, his mind drifting to his wonderings that night above the Gladden fields.
"The last night before we turned home I sat and looked over the Gladden fields and wondered at Isildur. I thought I saw some similarities between him and Tauriel, both were impulsive, unwilling to listen to others and neither had much thought beyond what they desired. Had he behaved with honour and foresight so much evil would have been avoided." He shot a questioning look at his father, "I wondered what manner of lord he was and what nature of king he would have made, had the ring not taken him. It seemed to me that it was arrogance and willfullness that was his downfall and that in the last moments of his life he must have known it and despaired. You fought beside him for some years did you not?"

Thranduil considered the matter for a moment.
"That I did, seven turns of years did we fight before those cursed black gates." He said softly, "I called him comrade, and yes, friend of a sort, in as much as it was possible to do under such circumstances. But he was a mortal for all his line and his views and desires were shaped by that."
He shifted in his chair and sipped his wine again before continuing.
"Isildur lacked many of the qualities of his father Elendil the Tall, certainly he lacked his fathers wisdom and acuity. He was proud of his line, to an excessive degree on occassions, and prone to assuming a right to be heard and honoured, even to be revered. In that you are correct in seeing some similarity between Tauriel and he. Yes he too was impulsive, quick to anger and ever sure of his own rightness."
He shrugged elegantly.
"But do not misunderstand me, he was not knowingly cruel or unfair and he could be an entertaining companion, at least until his consumption of ale reached a certain level, then he became boorish and argumentative. I was never as easy in his company as Elrond and that in turn had consequences for how he saw me. I paid little attention to his frequent barbs and incivility for he was often thoughtless in his dealings with others. "

Thranduil sighed.
"But I would not disagree with your assessment of him. We all knew the danger of the ring before he took it up, and it was nothing more than arrogance that made him believe that he could touch it and remain undefiled. Where, for most, the grief for a lost father would have increased the revulsion felt toward the thing in his case it spured a desire to profit from it, to master it even though all who had stood before those gates should have known it could not be mastered."
Legolas frowned.
"Then why did he take such a chance?"
The king shook his head sadly.
"I cannot say with certainty but it is my thought that he thought himself to be stronger, more noble than was the case. He had been hearing of his greatness from those around him since first he strapped on a sword and he reaped a bitter harvest from the indulgence and flattery. One reason perhaps why Elrond has kept his wards history from him, requiring him to grow up as a boy amongst elves. Though he has other reasons too."

There was a moment of silence before Legolas prompted him.
"Do you still recall that day?"
Thranduil nodded.
"That I do, though being truthful not of the day of his loss. We were alerted by woodsmen who had heard the conflict while it raged and rode out as soon as a host could be assembled and armed, but I have no doubt he had fled even as we learned of his fate. We travelled swiftly but our aid was too late and the battle was over by the time we arrived. The best that we could do was rout the remaining Orc and preserve the dignity of the dead. None of the men of Isildur's company, great as it had been, remained alive, the battle had been long and fierce. All of Isidur's sons perished that day along with many of his finest warriors. Of him there was no sign, we searched across the open land, into the eaves of the forest and up and down the river for days but found no trace. There was no doubt in my mind that he had perished, for had he survived we would have found some sign of him, but exactly where and how his death came to him was never discovered. The ring disappeared with him and the only hope we had was that it had been lost in some manner that would prevent it ever returning."

Legolas sighed at his fathers sombre expression.
"But you did not share that hope?" He prompted softly.
Thranduil shook his head.
"No, I did not, and nothing has changed my view of it it since. From that day I have believed that not only will Sauron return but so will the ring. When those events occur then we must do all in our power to prevent the two from finding each other, for only by doing so may the world be kept from shadow."

Legolas let his eyes drift down to his wine and thought on that for a moment. Eventually he sighed.
"Yes, that must be the ambition of all of the free people of Arda. I only hope that it can be done. As I looked down on the Gladden Fields I wondered what his decendants felt about a deed that must seem so long ago to them as to be but a legend, but that has brought so much loss and pain across the centuries. I confess it concerns me a little how the boy Estel will think of it when he learns of his lineage."
Thranduil nodded.
"I mused on that matter too when he was within my Halls. He is wise beyond his years I think, and yet... to know that so many of the ills of this age lie at the feet of your forefathers, that so many have sufferred and died for one man's folly and that the blood of that man runs in your veins however many generations have passed,... that will be a sore trial for one as noble in heart as I think him to be. I little doubt that this is why Elrond has not yet broached the matter with him. But the time is coming when he must know, at least if what is feared comes to pass."
"I hope he doesn't tell him before his visit to us, for he will know of the battles we face now, and root of the evil that has blighted so much of our land." He shook his head, " I do not know what I could say to him should he wish to speak of it."
Thranduil inclined his head.
"I agree, for I fear that if he were to know of it when next he stands in my Halls I would be hard pushed to prevent him from seeking out the evil in some youthful determination to make amends in some way. But he is not ready for such battles, as Elrond well knows, and I would see none harmed because of the need to protect him."

Legolas shifted in his chair and took another swallow of wine before he responded.
"Do you think he will tell him?"
Thranduil tilted his head in thought for a moment then shook it.
"Not yet. Not before he is come to full manhood I think, so perhaps another five turns of the seasons. But he must tell him before the boy takes his place as chieftain of his people."
He smiled at his son.
"Do not wonder how you will reassure him for it is quite possible that we will not meet him again for some time after he gains the knowledge, when the wound of knowing is in some part healed. Elrond has good reasons for wanting him to spend more time in the world of men and it is there he will travel once that knowledge is his if my assessment of him is a fair one. After all most of his life has been spent amongst elves, yet his future and fortune is mortal, and, as you are aware, Elrond knows that matter must be addressed."
"Yes, but I find myself hoping that he does not know for some time yet. I would have him enjoy peace for a little longer. His life may be longer than most men but he is mortal and his time of trial will come soon enough whatever path he takes."
Thranduil nodded.
"I too, would wish his youth to be unsullied by that knowledge, but that choice does not lie with us. We can do no more than stand as friends to him as he finds his way into the world. If his fate is destined to be harsh then there will be little we can do to change it, and it will be no different in that then the fate of many, even amongst our own people, while the shadow of evil remains."
Legolas nodded a sad expression settling on his face.
"That is true. I wish that it were not."

Thranduil looked out towards the darkened forest his mind driftng back to the battle before the mountain, and the many dead that he had brought home. In some ways he was glad that Legolas had been spared that sight, though the manner in which he had been spared it had perhaps been as painful.
"So do I, more than I can say," he said softly