"He's already reading?" The elf asked nobody in particular, shock evident in his face and voice.

Thranduil looked up from his book before either of his parents could answer, "Yes, he's already reading," Before returning to the pages.

After the laughter died down, the same elf said to Oropher, "That's going to be your problem, Oropher. Thranduil going to be too smart for you."

Oropher sighed heavily in response as the others got into another round of laughter, "Aye, probably. Eru help me."

.0

Oropher threw himself down to sit on the edge of the bed next to his wife, Muinthel, and sighed dramatically. She looked up from her book with laughter already in her eyes, "What did our son do now?"

"It's not what he did now, the dawning realization that I'm out of ideas to keep him from sneaking out of the city." Oropher had no other ideas than the ones he had tired, and none of them had been successful for long. "He's too smart for me, I won't win. And the embarrassment of losing so many times is mounting."

"Where there's a will there's a way, especially when it is Thranduil's will. "She closed her book and sat upright in bed, throwing her legs across Oropher's lap so that she could lay her head sympathetically upon his shoulder, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to make a compromise." Oropher admitted bitterly.

.0.

Celeborn's stomach refused to acknowledge its own existence as he came to terms with the words the messenger had brought: Meneingroth had fallen, once and for all.

"Do they know who made it out?"

"Only Elwing and Prince Oropher. Dior and Nimloth are dead. The twins are missing, stolen by the servants of Celegorm."

"And Thranduil?"

The messenger shook his head, "Nothing is yet known about his fate. He's been presumed to have been trapped within the city and killed."

Galadriel took his hand, and the messenger scuttled away. "You don't think he's dead."

"No." Celeborn agreed, "I do not. Nothing could have trapped him in that city, nothing. Thranduil didn't die, he's too smart for that."

"King Oropher is dead?" Elrond asked, somehow shocked that Mandos found the courage and audacity to demand such a thing from such a formidable elf. Even if they stood on the scorched earth of Mordor. "Huh."

Glorfindel continued without being asked, "Thranduil is leading Greenwood's forces now, choose him until they can have an election at home."

"Thranduil?" Elrond found himself asking again, trying to piece the small slips of knowledge he had of the Prince into the picture of some sort of battle master. They didn't fit. He looked back to Glorfindel, "You don't look concerned, are you not concerned?"

Glorfindel shrugged, "Not really. Thranduil is smart. Certainly smart enough to learn from his father's mistakes and to listen to the advice of others. I think the Greenwood choose wisely."

.

"Are you sure allying yourself so closely with an already troubled kingdom is such a wise decision, Radagast?" Saruman asked, his dislike of the idea only slightly more obvious than his dislike for the other wizard.

Who seemed oblivious to both, "This is the right choice, I know it is. I knew even before the trees and the birds and the lizards told me it was. Before the Lady Yavanna admitted her fondness of them. King Thranduil is smart, and he is good. I have no regrets."

0.0.0.

Even if his master did not have a body, the Orc could sense his rippling rage, the voice in its head was cruel with disappointment, I should not be surprised you failed. Away, before I feed you to something of more worth to me. Like a worm.

The walls of Dol Guldur hummed with thought. Before another orc opened his mouth, the voice cut him off, I do not want to hear such stupidity again. I do not care what has worked on Elves in the past. This is not any elf, this is King Thranduil."

This time the walls shook with rage, King Thranduil it too smart for any plan other than one of my own. A worthy opponent, which is why he needs to go."

.0.0.

"You know, the odd's aren't as bad as you've led yourself to believe. Legolas could-" But Galion was interrupted.

"Legolas could what? Learn to fly? Somehow managed to show and arrow so far it blinds the Great Eye? Entangle himself so closely with the fate of the One Ring and avoid his black hole of a destiny?" Thranduil snapped, back still turned to the entire room and face staring out the window.

Every bone and muscle in his body was more rigid than stone, and Galion hated to see it. He thought about another approach, when Thranduil said again, "If all you have is comforting lies than I have no want or need to see you right now."

With a very small chuckle Galion stepped up to stand next to his King at the window, "You're too smart for your own good sometimes, you know that?"

Thranduil glanced out the corner of his eyes, "It's been mentioned once or twice."

.0..0.0.

Oropher finally closed the detailed history book that Thingol had found in preparation of his returning from the Halls of Mandos. All about the detailed plans, plots and silent fights that waged for centuries under the branches of Greenwood.

All the effort, magic, and cunning from their King that kept them all alive. All the tricks, outmaneuvering, and just plain old deep preparation Thranduil had planned. All the sleepless nights, heavy burdens, and endless thought and care.

He wiped a few tears before he looked up to Thingol, "Wow."

"We always knew he was smart, I just never suspected he was smarter than the force of darkness that taunted even the Valar."