A/N: APOLOGIES! This is a re-upload of this last of the finished challenges. I haven't quite gotten used to the niceties of posting here and completely forgot it uploads a story in its entirety. Including the initial scribbles for this story that I forgot to delete. UGH! Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Summary: B2MEM 2011 - Day Twenty-eight - Gondor – Challenge - write a letter inspired by this line: there was no avoiding it, the letter had to be composed…; Day Thirty - Grey Havens-Mithlond – Challenge - leaving or returning home. (Mithrandir/Thranduil/Legolas/Gimli)

Forgive & Forget

December, 3018

Mithrandir,

I am sending copies of this letter to both Imladris and Lothlórien in hopes at least one may reach you with some alacrity, as I believe this news may be of import to your current schemes.

Why is it, I wonder, that the guests you foist upon me are so obnoxious? No, do not add to your sins by implying my hospitality is somehow lacking. I can forgive you the burglar and the Dorwinion, but we lost almost an entire patrol over this last one; perhaps I should have required that you visit the mothers and fathers, sons, daughters, wives and husbands of the deceased.

As you may understand from the tone of this letter, I am less than pleased with the outcome of the little experiment you left with us this summer and wholly displeased with the fact that you failed to append your visitor's history to your request that we *keep* him until you came for him.

I do not know what you are up to, nor do I think want to know; however, Legolas blames himself for this loss, and thus refused to allow another to bear this letter. Should he encounter you, I expect you to do whatever is necessary to make certain he comes home with a clear conscience. And, pray, do not further involve the heir to the throne of Mirkwood in your schemes.

Thranduil

Gandalf tossed the heavy vellum down on the pristine desktop with a peeved sigh. Elrond had left the writing of the response up to him, since, the Master of Imladris had pointed out, it had been his idea to include Thranduil's son in the Fellowship. Not that Legolas was aware of that yet; another confrontation Gandalf was not looking forward to. Likely the young elf had strict instructions to return home immediately, no matter the blandishments a jumped-up wizard might pour into his Silvan ears.

There was no more avoiding it; a response had to be composed.

That required fortification – even for a long distance letter. Thranduil's temper was legendary.

My dear Thranduil,

The burglar was none of my doing, as you very well know, and your share of those burgled items must have covered any slight cost and indebtedness I could have incurred even if it had been my doing. If you insinuate that Mr. Baggins and company found your hospitality somewhat lacking, as to that, I cannot rightfully speak; however, I would never presume to judge the hospitality you afford the ill-advised who enter your woods unsuspecting.

The heir to the throne of Mirkwood – rather a misnomer when it comes to immortals, do you not think? - it seems, was more circumspect than I had guessed in the telling of your tale. I did not realize it had been his patrol on duty; naturally, I will do all in my power to convince him the fault was not his. Alas, this is a grievous loss for the side of right. But we are set upon a course at last, though I will not trouble you with the details.

However, I must add that by the time this reaches you, Legolas will be off with myself and a group of friends on a tour of the continent. He is pleased to have been invited along and I have assured him of your goodwill in this avocation - as I'm certain you will assure him when he returns home at the end of our little adventure. I know you will be glad of the opportunity for him to travel safely and in such august company – the nephew of the burglar is going along – and I'm sure he will benefit from the extended exploration of places he has never before been allowed to visited.

I expect you will want to thank me for expanding your son's horizons when next we meet.

Your humble servant,

Mithrandir

December, 3019

Legolas lifted his head and inhaled deeply as he slid from their mount in the yard before the stable block. "Home, Gimli. There were times I thought not to see this again."

"Aye," the dwarf muttered into his beard, allowing the elf the privilege of helping him dismount. "But not mine. Let's get this over with so we can get on with the journey to my home."

Gimli glanced around the bustling yard. "Not much of a welcome for the heroes of the Ring War." He leaned up on tiptoe toward the elf's ear and whispered loudly, "D'ya suppose they even know?"

Legolas smiled briefly, but the level of apprehension Gimli had felt building since they'd entered the Greenwood was all too apparent in the long, slightly sqinched green eyes. "They know."

Gimli had imagined fetes and festivals; the elf looked as if he was contemplating hard labor for the rest of his unnaturally long life.

"I go directly to my father. I can have someone show you to your rooms if you would prefer."

"Thank you, but I go where you go." It wasn't that he was afraid, he just didn't want to be left alone among a wood full of unknown elves. It had, after all, taken months to accomplish the bending of one solitary elf; where two or more were gathered … no, he would stay with Legolas. Like a burr on a saddle.

"I would take you around to the front, my friend, through the formal halls, but this way is quicker."

Gimli made a sweeping motion with his hand and fell in beside the long-legged elf, trotting to keep up with his distance-covering stride.

Their progress through the dwarf-carved halls - Gimli knew dwarven work when he saw it, no matter that it had been covered over with all manner of fabrics from airy, shimmering curtains to heavy, hand-woven tapestries and thickly strewn carpets throughout – was met with cries of delight on all sides.

"The Prince is returned!"

"Prince Legolas!"

"My Lord, you are safely back amongst us!"

"My Prince, you have been sorely missed!"

Legolas acknowledged every greeting, though he did not allow them to slow his progress in the least. Gimli continued to trot alongside, eyeing the various reactions to his inclusion, from raised eyebrows to folk warding against evil. Once he might have taken that personally, now he just chuckled to himself and smiled widely in the wake of the people's prince.

They came at last, after what seemed like miles of branching, twisting, turning corridors, to a wide set of hewn stairs that led up to a second floor. The first bare rock he had seen and Gimli halted for the first time, falling upon his knees on the bottom step.

Legolas, two steps above him stopped and swung around at the dwarf's astonished cry.

"By all the Valar!" The bearded head swung back and forth as Gimli surveyed his immediate surroundings. "There is mithril veined throughout these stairs!"

Legolas lifted an eyebrow. "Aye, throughout the entire warren of interconnecting palace rooms carved out of the rock. Just as we saw in Moria," he added with polite, though edgy, regard. "Do you wish to stay out here and examine it more closely?"

"All of Moria did not boast the glow of mithril." Gimli rose slowly, thankful no one else had witnessed his moment of complete and undisguised delight. "Which explains the glow. I had thought to ask later about the lighting, but I see now the light of one lamp reflects like a thousand," he said in awe.

Legolas shrugged. "Come or stay as you wish then." He saw nothing unusual about his home; it did not appear to have changed at all in the year he had been gone. He turned abruptly and took the remaining stairs two at a time, anxious now to be over and done with his trepidation.

All activity in the audience chamber ceased as he appeared beneath the lintel bearing the carved relief of the house of Oropherion, though there was a collective intake of breath when the panting dwarf appeared at his side.

Thranduil laid the letter he'd been reading – for the perhaps the hundredth time – on the arm of the throne. "So, Mithrandir is finished with you finally." It was not a question. "You have perhaps recalled your duty to your kin?"

There were winces from some of his cabinet members, the women especially. His son had not lacked for mothering on the death of his wife. To the contrary, he'd had more mothers than most children had cousins.

Gimli watched the archer's long fingers stretch involuntarily, curl loosely into fists and instantly stretch again. Legolas strode forward to the middle of the room.

"I never forgot my duty to either my kin, or my king, my lord." The prince dropped gracefully to one knee before the monarch, bowing his head, but his voice rang silver like the winnowing light that caught and bent the reflection of the random veins of mithril running across the floor and around the walls. "If not for the courage of two small hobbits, and one adan, to whom we owe allegiance, there might be no kin this day."

The king had read the letter so many times now, it was committed to memory.

You will find him much changed, Thranduil. He has been tested and tried by forces of evil such as you have never encountered. The might of Sauron from a distance is nothing compared to the will of the One in close company. Give him his due.

"Our business for today is concluded, we will resume at the regular hour in the morning. Leave us."

Startled by the voice above him, Legolas looked down at tooled leather boots before his gaze travelled up to meet his father's. No one could match Thranduil's ability to move silently. And then he was on his feet, clasped in his father's arms and for a long time, there was only the familiar scent of woodland paradise, wild honey and goat's milk soap - and aegis.

Gimli slipped away quietly.

I regret to inform you, whilst on this journey Legolas strayed too close to the sea and has heard its call. He is not yet deep in its thrall, but as you are aware, time will not be on his side in this.

And I suppose, since it is through my machinations that he suffers now, I should lay the ground work for his request to remove from Greenwood with those of your folk who would return with him to Gondor and Ithilien where King Elessar has put him in charge of the restoration of that decimated land. He will have purpose and responsibilities there that will no longer be required of him in the Greenwood as renewal spreads throughout the lands.

Thranduil, he will not seek your forgiveness for he believes his choice to have been ordained; however, he needs it still as he has been much grieved at what he yet perceives as defiance of your will. If you can find it in your stubborn heart to give it willingly, it will do him much good.

Though I have spent the last year mentoring a pack of children, the gift of fatherhood will never be mine. You have a fine son, cherish all that he is and celebrate all he has helped to accomplish.

As promised, I am returning him to you hale and hearty, though not personally, as I had intended. I am sending Gimli, Gloinsson, in my stead. Welcome the dwarf for Legolas sake, for they have become fast friends and you will do well to allow that friendship to strengthen and grow. It may be that Gimli's will be the Song he hears above the sound of the sea, in which case, you will need the good will of the dwarf in order to keep your son nearby.

By the way, you will shortly be receiving an invitation to the royal wedding. I would add my voice to King Elessar, Lord Elrond's, and your son's – do come and celebrate this momentous occasion with us. I am sure you have something appropriate left over from the dragon hoard to offer as a wedding gift.

Wielder of the Flame of Anor

Mithrandir