Thranduil couldnt sleep the night Legolas went home with Elrond. Legolas hadn't always been that difficult-it was by Thranduil's own doing that turn a once sweet, funloving elfing into a cold, rough beast. Thranduil always pretended it was Legolas' fault-that he'd turn out like that eventually anyway; but deep down inside, Thranduil knew he had ruined him.
He never thought he was CRUEL to him-he never gave him more then he could handle. But he knew it was no way for a father to treat his son, yet he did it anyway.
Thranduil finally gave up on sleep and went to the balcony to look over the ruins of his kingdom. Everything was failing in his eyes-his wife sailed for the Undying Lands, leaving him with a mirror image of her to taunt him. His kingdom was quickly going to the evil of Middle Earth and not only that; he had to live with the fact he didnt have a son anymore.
No one in Greenwood knew who Legolas was-everyone assumed when the Queen left-she took their son with her. No one knew Thranduil locked his infant son in the dungeons that day, in the cold darkness, leaving him there to cry, frightened. Three days later, a nursemaid took him out and took care of him until he was old enough to be put to serious work under the call of the head servant. Legolas was brutely beaten and abused; forced to work long hours on little sleep and hardly any food or water. Legolas grew strong and tough to the point where he didnt feel anything. Not happiness, not sadness, nothing. All he could feel was the stripe layed on his back when he lost his temper or wasnt swift enough for his superior's liking. Not a day went by Thranduil didnt regretted his decision, but by that time, it was too late.
Thranduil looked up at the sky; wishing for his wife back. "Nuvitina, why did you leave me?" he whispered, tears forming in his eyes. "Why did you leave me with your precious irreplaceable light? You should've known I couldnt take care of him." Thranduil sighed wearily. He knew she couldnt hear him, so he didnt know why he bothered. Thranduil turned back and went back to bed, eventually falling into an uneasy sleep; his dreams plagued by dreams of his son.

Erestor watched Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas as they did the assignments he gave them for the day. He was impressed by how eager Legolas was to learn. He always gave his full attention and was learning fast. Erestor also saw that Legolas seemed to calm down some when he had something to do. He rarely fought with anyone and smiled a whole lot more then he used to. He was coming along very well, except he wouldn't go near Glorfindel. Ever since the fight with Elladan, Legolas went out of his way to stay as far from the fair warrior as he could. Whether out of fear or some sort of twisted respect, Legolas didn't speak or so much as look at him unless he had to.
"Sir? I'm done." Legolas' quiet voice brought him back to the present. He was standing in front of Erestor's desk, his piece of parchment in hand. Erestor looked at the twins and saw neither one was even through the first two questions yet.
"Oh, yes." Erestor took the paper from him. "thank you, you may go." Legolas nodded and walked out. Erestor watched the blond elf walk away, allowing himself a small smile. He was going to go far, that elfling was.

Legolas wandered down to the archery range to watch the the students train. Since the incident with Elladan, Legolas hadnt touched a bow. But he liked to watch them practice.
"Aim...go." Legolas could hear the orders as he approached. He was in awe at how in sync they were. He longed for that kind of concentration and discipline.
Legolas sat down under a tree as close as he could get without being in the way. He watched the captain go among the students, repositioning an elbow or adjusting a hold. "Very good. Just a little higher." the captain said. Legolas' heart sank as he realized it was Glorfindel. About that time, Glorfindel turned and their eyes met.
"Well, gentlemen. Seems we have company." Glorfindel said with a slight smile. "Shouldn't you be in class?"

Legolas was frozen, unsure of what to do. "I am finished for the day." he finally said after he found his voice. Glorfindel nodded before turning back to his students. Legolas took it as an invitation to stay, so he moved a bit closer to hear some of the instructions.
After about ten minutes, Glorfindel called halt and the students started packing up their stuff for the day. Legolas hoped someone would forget to take some of their equipment so he could practice with it when Glorfindel wasnt around but before he could do anything, Glorfindel motioned, without turning, to Legolas to follow him to the garden. Confused, Legolas hurried after him, jogging to keep up.
"Yes?" Legolas panted once he caught up with the longlimbed warrior. But Glorfindel didnt speak until they were a long way away from the castle and the archery field.

Then he sat down on a bench and motioned for Legolas to do the same. "I have one question for you, young one." he said. Legolas tried not to look nervous.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Will you or will you obey orders or commands if told?" Glorfindel asked, studying the elfling. Legolas blinked.
"What do you mean?" Legolas asked slowly.
"Dont think I dont see you watching the training sessions." Legolas bit his lip nervously. "do you want to continue training?"
"Of course!" Legolas said excitedly. Glorfindel held up his hand.
"But are you willing to do all of it? Take orders, follow commands to the letter? No arguements, no fights, none of that."

"I'll try to do my best." Legolas couldnt keep the defensive tone out of his voice. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow.
"Try? If you're out on a battlefield, my dear Mirkwoodian, 'try' isnt good enough. You have to do!"

"I will do my best...SIR." Legolas replied. Glorfindel nodded.
"That's all I ask."

"How is his training coming along?" Elrond asked two weeks later. Glorfindel and Elrond were sitting in Elrond's chambers, drinking wine and discussing the day.
"Very well. He is used to obeying orders, so that isnt a problem. But," Glorfindel smiled. "he just isnt used to following MY orders." both chuckled at that.
"But he is obeying?" Elrond asked.

Glorfindel half-shrugged, taking a sip from his glass. "More or less. He has the attention span of a bug. He's worse at staring off into space then Elrohir." Glorfindel shook his head. "but in his defense, he is trying."
"That child is so bright and pleasant." Elrond said thoughtfully. "He's a lot like Thranduil, actually."
"He is a lot like Thranduil." Glorfindel agreed. "do you think he will ever be completely ok?" Elrond sighed sadly.
"Only time can tell that, my friend. But I believe as long as he stays here, he will be eventually fine."

"It is late and I have lessons in the morning." Glorfindel stood and stretched. "Good night."
"Good night." Elrond said. After Glorfindel left, Elrond retired to his bed, his mind still filled with thoughts about his wayward elfling.
Legolas' resemblance to Thranduil was uncanny. Both were very passionate people; highly energetic and eager to please. They both had very thick blond hair, which was uncommon for Mirkwood elves. They both had electic blue eyes and fiery tempers. But Thranduil's son went with his wife to the Undying Lands, did he?
Elrond sighed, willing his questions away so he could sleep. The elfings didnt have lesson that day, so they spent most of the day in his study, getting underfoot and making things THAT much harder to do.

"Do you think he knows we're coming?" Elrohir whispered loudly. Both Elladan and Legolas shushed him.

"Well, if he didnt, he does now!" Legolas retorted, giving the younger of the twins a hard look. Elrohir covered his mouth.
"Sorry." he said. Elladan motioned for complete silence as he opened his father's study door an inch. All three elflings peeked though the opening to see Elrond and Erestor sitting at the desk, talking. Elladan silently closed the door.
"Ok, now. When I say go, we all go, ok?" he said. The younger elfs nodded their consent. "Good. Ok...GO!" the three elflings burst through the study door, shouting. To their disappointment, the adults ignored them and continued with their conversation.
Annoyed, Elladan marched to his father's side and pulled on his sleeve. "Ada! Pay attention!" he said bossily. Elrond only just managed to keep a grin off his face as he turned to his eldest son.
"Yes Elladan? Is there something you need?" he said.

"YES! We need you to act scared!" Elrohir piped up, running to the other side for some attention too. Elrond put a hand on each of their heads, smoothing their fine dark hair fondly.
"Not at the moment, my sons." he said smiling. "Maybe later, I have something urgent I must discuss with Glorfindel and Erestor."

"If he ever arrives." Erestor added. The twins and Legolas looked disappointed, but nodded understandingly.
"Ok, bye then." as they went out the door, Glorfindel came in.
"Ah, there you are." Elrond said. "Sit down, there's a problem." Glorfindel frowned as he took a seat next to Erestor.
"What is the problem?" Erestor asked. Elrond took a letter out of his desk and handed it to him. Erestor read it and quickly handed it to Glorfindel, who finished reading it, crumpled it into a ball and threw it forcefully across the room. "

This is NOT going to happen!" he proclaimed loudly.

"But what can we do? Go to war?" Erestor pointed out. "He does technically belong to Thranduil..." Glorfindel glared at him. "By whatever slave laws Thranduil passed, he is TECHNICALLY his property and he has a right to claim him."

"Erestor, no living being should EVER belong to someone else." Elrond said quietly. "Yes, we will go to war if we have to, but I am not sending that child back to him, never."
"Have you responded?" Glorfindel asked.

"No. What can I say?" Elrond rubbed his forehead. "'Sorry, but we're going to keep your child?'" Glorfindel opened his mouth to argue, but then froze.
"His child? Wait...didnt Thranduil HAVE a child?" Glorfindel asked.

"Yes, he did." Erestor said slowly. "What was his/her name?" Elrond thought for a long time before shaking his head.
"I do not remember." he said thoughtfully. "It was such a long time ago, it completely slipped my mind."
"What happened to said child? Does anyone know for sure?" Glorfindel asked.
"The child went with Nuvitina to the West." Erestor said. "Rumor has it anyway."
"So that may very well BE the long lost prince/princess?" Glorfindel asked. "He seems a lot like Thranduil."
"We dont know for sure, but we arent going to say anything." Elrond said. "We dont need rumors to spread or it could get even uglier for us."
Glorfindel went to the window behind Elrond's desk and look out over the courtyard where Legolas and the twins were playing hide and seek. Legolas was IT and was looking for the twins, a huge grin on his face. He seemed so happy, like a child should be. Glorfindel felt a surge of anger. No one was going to put a finger on that child and he would personally see that they didnt.

A/N: Sorry for such a late update! I've got a REALLY good idea for how to end the story, so I'm going to be working over time! Prepare for more!