Gems and Jewels
Legolas: 14
Thranduil hadn't expected it, and he had to admit that his heart almost skipped a beat when he walked into his room to see his son sat on his bed, holding up a very familiar necklace.
Legolas turned as his father walked in and his eyes widened slightly. "Ada," he said, "I, um… I didn't mean to…"
Thranduil shook his head as he walked fully into the room, indicating to the boy that he didn't need to explain himself. Instead, he smiled. "I see you have found your naneth's necklace," he said.
Legolas looked down at the silver in his hand. "This was Nana's?" he asked quietly. "I came in here to look for that book you said I could borrow, and I searched in that drawer over there, only to… only to find this."
Thranduil was silent as he walked across the room, seating himself next to his son. "It is beautiful, is it not?" he said, wrapping his arm around the Prince's shoulder and drawing him close to his side.
Legolas nodded, tracing his finger across the intricate patterns of the necklace, feeling the individual pearls and diamonds. "She is wearing this in the painting in my room," he stated in sudden remembrance, not looking up.
Thranduil nodded. "Yes." His words began to get caught in his throat as memories of his beloved wife flooded his mind.
"Why was it hidden in your drawer?" the young ellon asked. "Do you not like it to be there for you to remember her?"
Thranduil smiled. Of course he wished to remember his queen, but sometimes it was difficult to do that. "Yes, I suppose so. However, I do not need a necklace to remind me of her," he said, "for I see her in you every day, and you are far more precious than any gem or jewel."
Legolas smiled, tears brimming in his eyes as he leant against his father and drew in a ragged breath. "I miss her."
"So do I."
Father and son sat in complete silence, hugging each other tightly and both lost in their own reminiscences as the sun slowly started to set outside, the last of her rays shining in through the window and making the silver glint.