Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

Warning: Concepts contained in this chapter are semi-dark and mind-bending. You were warned!

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ L: White Gems of Lasgalen ~

Woodland Realm, 3019 TA, February 29

The king of Mirkwood sprang off his mount. The ruler of the Woodland Realm could not ride a less magnificent creature. His elk was the father of the majority of Woodland's animals. He was more powerful and swift than any stallion. There was neither a human nor an Ellon who could will it. Only Elvenking was able to acquire him as a friend. He moved closer, staring upward at the statue of his wife. It was filthy and littered with fallen leaves and roots. He knelt beside her statue and pressed his hand on it.

There was no tomb for her son or husband to mourn, although Thranduil had a statue of her likeness posted at the Elven gate. No corpse was ever located, and her ashes were scattered by the cold wind. The majority of Mirkwood was shocked when word spread that the Queen had been slaughtered by orcs on Mount Gundabad. There were several rumours and chit-chat regarding her demise, but never any facts. How did the Queen die, and how did the King know she had been slain without a corpse to prove it?

Oh, but he knew it, in the most bitter way, a father should ever face.

He recalled the day he had ridden to Erebor to meet with Thrór to ask for a share of all the gems and gold that the King under the mountain owned. White Gems of Lasgalen. The White Gems of Lasgalen were fashioned by the Dwarves of Erebor for the Elven-queen of Mirkwood. That winter day of 2550 TA, March 1st, Thranduil had reached Erebor bargain what it would cost him for the dwarves in Erebor to craft a special necklace of the White Gems of Lasgalen.

He never knew the real price that he would have to pay.

Thranduil was never given back the necklace that he had commissioned from Thrór for her. Because upon his return he had found out, that the Queen had ridden out with Legolas and two of their guards. The prince proudly wanted to travel with his mother in the Lake-town, and the Queen agreed. Esgaroth was a community of Men upon the Long Lake constructed entirely of wood and standing upon wooden pillars sunk into the lake-bed, the town was south of the Lonely Mountain and east of Mirkwood.

Legolas discovered that Esgaroth had one of the biggest metal arrows capable of killing dragons. It was an offer made by the Elvenking himself after he was burnt by the fire dragon, and he would ensure that the cities around his kingdom received these arrows as gifts. However, most did not accept his gifts; only the men of Esgaroth accepted and installed the whole bow that could fire arrows from a great distance.

Archery had always been the most essential aspect of his life, and after discovering the existence of the arrow, he wanted to see it. He was aware that asking his father would get him a frosty glance and a penalty for greed. Thranduil doted on his son, yet he refused demands for the young prince to travel. Especially since more terrible creatures had begun to appear on his doorstep and his world had gotten darker.

However, as a traveller, Eleyewn had never denied her son permission to explore the unknown. And when Legolas invited her to accompany him on a little excursion to Lake-town, she consented. It was a typical day for a mother and son to ride across the Woodland Realm until a band of orcs severed the roads. Those were warrior orcs from Mount Gundabad, sent specifically for the Elvenking upon learning he was riding to Erebor.

The orcs never found the King, instead, they found the Queen and the Prince. The guards were slain immediately, and the Queen and Legolas were captured, after a long fight. But were not strong enough to deal with a large group of trained Orcs. They were brought to Mount Gundabad and imprisoned for weeks there. What exactly had happened inside Mount Gundabad no known really knew.

Only Legolas.

Thranduil had used all his resources, troops and allies to find his family. Those were the darkest days he had ever witnessed. He managed to find a very broken and injured Legolas outside Mount Gundabad. His son narrated to him through most of the torture he had seen his mother go through and spoke less about his own. But he was sure about one thing, the orcs after torturing them for weeks had slain the Queen and eaten her. They made Legolas see all of it, knowing it would break his young Fëa and Hröa (soul and body).

Then they released Legolas with the only directive to return home and inform Thranduil of what he had seen. They were aware that the child would perish and that the King would be grieved. The Elvenking's Halls and its inhabitants would vanish forever. As expected, Legolas would fade away, and Thranduil would reached a new level of gloom. There was no longer any hope, just darkness and suffering. Thranduil's worst dread was realised. His son broke the news to him that his queen had died in the most tragic manner conceivable.

The only thing left to see was his son's passing and his own departure. In the end, though, he was Thranduil, king of stone and wood. There was a reason why he received that title. A justification for his ability to tolerate the darkness he had experienced for generations. He would cope with his sorrow as he saw fit, but for the time being, his only objective was to rescue his child.

That was his action.

The great Elevenking requested assistance for the very first time. To rescue Legolas, Elrond, Galadriel, Mithrandir, and Dínenion were summoned. And for the first time, all four Lords and Ladies accepted the invitation and entered the Halls of Mirkwood. Thranduil had faith in them and told them what had transpired, or at least what Legolas had managed to tell him. His only plea was that his son would be spared all suffering and gloom.

All five argued over dates until they determined that Elrond could cure his Hröa, but it would take a long time. However, his spirit and childhood memories could not be undone, simply forgotten. Mithrandir and Dínenion laboured for days until all memories were eradicated. Legolas rarely remembers his mother, since she was removed from him to preserve his life. And his life was preserved at a higher price.

Thranduil never disclosed what happened to the Queen; only that she was seized by orcs and slain was known. Never did Legolas appear in the narrative. Elrond, Galadriel, Mithrandir, and Dínenion pledged that they would never discuss the topic with anybody, particularly Legolas. Thranduil never discussed the mother of Legolas. After the prince was cured with no recollection of what had occurred, he was told that the Elven-queen had been brought to Gundabad by the Orcs, where she perished.

And even after the Battle of the Five Armies, when Thranduil finally opened up to Legolas, the only thing he could tell him was that his mother loved him more than life itself. Thranduil cherished his son. Legolas could only perceive a little of his father's affection. Had he known, though, Legolas was the only reason he remained in Middle-earth. Obviously, he cared for his kin and sought to protect them.

As he did most evenings, Thranduil rode at the entrance to Mirkwood. When the Elvenking was in distress, he would ride to his wife's statue. After her death, He was left alone to confront his greatest fear. How to bring up Legolas! He feared his darkness might harm his bond with his only son. But he was most afraid of the day Legolas would recall. No one knew when the magic would wear off and the memories would resurface since elves lived so long.

"Nae saian luume', Voronwer! (It has been too long, Loyal one!)" Thranduil whispered through his breath. It was a rare occasion to find the Elvenking on his knees, surrendered to his most beloved person. "Amin dele ten', Legolas! (I am worried about, Legolas!)" he softly exhaled.

"Do not be bitter, with my conclusion to remain behind." He continued, "Legolas needed me, I could not forsake our son. The Grief was unbearable. Yet, after I managed to live so long with the darkness and the pain. I manage to pledge myself through everything. The sea is no longer calling me. Although I know I should sail and come meet you Eleyewn. And I will wait for me. I cannot relinquish our kingdom now. Neither our son. When the time is right, I will find myself to you. Amin mela lle! (I love you!)"

Only his wife realised the extent of Thranduil's suffering and sorrow in life. After the death of his father, he was anointed, king. How much he needed to improve himself in order to become like his father. When the fire consumed his life, he was doomed to perish. He ought to be long gone. Nonetheless, he survived an injury that no Ellon would have survived. His left side was charred as a result of the burn. Lord Elrond and the Grey Wizard assisted him in concealing his wounds using illusion spells. As for the darkness left behind by the dragon, He still has it. Thranduil endured torment and fire for Ellon, but he was still able to walk triumphantly across Middle-earth. He was not only an Elvenking by title, but also by deed. Legolas knew very little about his father. Thranduil attempted to protect him whenever possible.

But nothing could compare to the grief of losing his wife and son. Nothing could break him deeply, than have young Legolas narrate him through the events of how the orcs tortured his mother and him, how they butchered her and ate her. All like a horror story, that he was not allowed to be part of. What a King he was that he could not save his own wife, and rescue his son? Those two incidents were enough to cause him to hide inside his halls.

And now that he was more open, and was offering his aid to the rising war. He was not sure what darkness would await him. He had spent most of his immortal life in grief, but the last five hundred centuries were pure hell for him. His only hope and light were Legolas, his Kingdom and the White Gems of Lasgalen. He could go to war to claim those forsaken Gems. He finally had the White Gems of Lasgalen in his possession. That one gift cost him to lose his family. Now those were kept inside his private quarters, like a memory that had to remain forgotten.

Everything for Legola's sake.

((Upcoming Chapter Fifty-One))

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