He could tell that the dwarf had been waiting all evening to get an opportunity to speak with him alone. And it seemed that Arwen whisking Legolas away for a dance was a perfect time. Thranduil did not hate the dwarf, contrary to what some might say, but sometimes he still did grieve about it. The heartbreak of mortality was a special king of pain to those who were not meant to know it, and it was something his son and the twin sons of Elrond were both about to get very well acquainted with.
"May I sit?"
Thranduil looked over to the stout creature, already noticeably older than when he had first met him, though not as much as Estel, "By all means."
The dwarf came to sit beside him, watching Legolas and Arwen dance for a while, "I used to think Legolas was afraid of you." Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the dwarf, "He never spoke about you, didn't proclaim himself your son. Now of course I know I could not have been farther from the truth."
"It would have been easier to raise him had he been. At least then he might have listened to me."
The dwarf laughed wholeheartedly, "I still do not yet know how you managed to keep him alive all this time."
"Nor do I."
Gimli cleared his throat, apparently ready to say what he had been wanting to say this entire night, "I feel like this is the last time I will see you under pleasant circumstances."
Thranduil's eyes turned to the King of Gondor, Legolas had been lucky that the boy had been blessed with extra life but it seemed even that was running to an end. He had maybe twenty years left, "Yes, I do believe you are correct."
Legolas knew his friend's life was coming to an end, he just refused to acknowledge it.
"I just thought you ought to know that meeting your son and calling him my dearest friend is the greatest thing this world has given to me. Yet know I think I am starting to understand that it could be his longest pain."
The king had warned his son about Estel, he tried to deter him from that pain. He had tried again with the dwarf, but he had already known it would not work. And then he had moved to Gondor and liver with humans, calling more and more of them friends. So many mortals.
Thranduil turned away from Estel and back to his son, "Eternity is a very long time to miss someone."
"It is something I cannot even begin to comprehend. I'm sorry for the pain I will cause him, and I'm sorry you've had to watch it happen. You are a good father, I have no doubt you tried to warn him away. And I have no doubt that he ignored you entirely."
He had to look away from his son, thinking about the devastation the loss of Estel and Gimli would bring him.
Not to mention Arwen, the rest of the fellowship, those here in Gondor.
"You're right, I tried to warn him away. And you're right, he did ignore me." He turned to face the dwarf fully for the first time, "I must ask something of you."
"Anything."
"The loss of Estel will devastate him, but he is a very good actor. When Estel passes I need you to bring my son to me, I need you to bring him home. Do not let him fool you."
Gimli didn't even hesitate, "Even if I have to bind him and drag him there by his ears."
"Thank you."
Both turned back to Legolas, who was now trying to teach one of Faramir's daughters a dance.
"There is one other thing."
Again, Gimli did not hesitate, "Anything."
"When Estle passes, Legolas will have to sail to Valinor. He should have already gone for the sea-longing has already started to take its toll. You have to make him leave, to allow him to stay will be his death."
The dwarf looked down at his hands, "Yes, we have already talked about that. He wants me to sail with him."
Thranduil blinked in surprise, there were very few things in this world that his son did not tell him, but that was one of them. Somehow, it was a good surprise.
At least Legolas would not have to say goodbye to two friends at once, and the dwarf could stay with him until Thranduil crosses the ocean himself.
"Do not have any regret your friendship, Master Dwarf. Legolas never will, even if he has an eternity of opportunity to do so."
…
Chapter 15!
Halfway through, thanks for all of your love and support!
Keep it up guys!
