Author's Note: Yes, I still live! I know it seems pretty unbelievable, but I actually didn't manage to write more than this ... It pains me to leave these stories and you lovely readers high and dry, but I promise to do my best. I hope you will like this chapter, though it is very short.

Enjoy!


Knowing his friends, Thranduil should not have been surprised that news about this S.M.A.U.G., the blackmailing and threats travelled faster than a bushfire. Despite all warnings and dangers, Erestor arranged a meeting of Thranduil's friends and family – he called it the "Mirkwood Initiative", because they would have to act in the shadows and keep this operation a secret. They met under the guise of a workout-session in a room Glorfindel organised for them at a ballet school, whose director used to sponsor him. So far, Erestor, Glorfindel, Celebrían, Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elladan and Elrohir were present, all dressed in ridiculous gym clothes. Celeborn's purple sweatband looked especially hideous.

Thranduil, who wore a simple black sweater and grey sweatpants, arrived together with Legolas and Tauriel, who insisted on helping with the "Mirkwood Initiative" as well.

"I won't allow some douchebags to destroy your life just 'cause they feel like it," Legolas had said sternly, and Tauriel affirmed her participation by simply showing up in her jogging clothes. Her expression would have fit better on a battlefield though. Her bright red hair made her look even fiercer.

"Hey guys," Thranduil tiredly greeted his friends and waved in lieu of having to kiss and hug every single one of them. He was too exhausted for that, since he hadn't been able to sleep properly ever since he got that letter.

"Have a seat," Celebrían said gently and rolled a pink Swiss ball towards him.

"Thanks, Bría."

"Now we're just waiting for Thorin and Dís, and then we'll start the meeting," Erestor announced, but just at that moment the doors swung open and banged against the walls behind, revealing two figures. Everyone stared in awe at this majestic entrance.

"Oops."

Thranduil chuckled and bounced on his stability ball, perhaps amused for the first time in days.

"Hi Thorin. Hello Dís."

"Sit, then we can begin," Erestor called, and more gym mats were brought out to accommodate the newcomers.

"So, we all are here because of the 'Mirkwood Initiative' – a venture to help Thranduil and bring down those S.M.A.U.G. people. By meeting today we all agree never to speak of this to anyone who is not present here."

"This is essential," Glorfindel added, placing a hand on his partner's knee. "Technically Thranduil should not even have told us, since the letter he received stated specifically not to speak of its instructions to anyone."

"We can't call the police. They would draw too much attention," Tauriel chimed in, looking grim.

"Exactly. We'll have to handle this on our own," Elrond said, and everyone nodded.

"You have our full support, Thranduil."

"I thank you all so much," he sighed at that, feeling a great weight fall off his shoulders. "How do I deserve friends like you?"

"You don't," Elladan joked.

"Yeah, we're just too awesome for you, old man," his twin Elrohir added.

Thranduil managed a weak laugh and gave them a fond look.

"What exactly is the plan?" he heard Thorin ask from his left.

"We need to have a plan of action that everyone knows and agrees to," Dís put in. "As detailed as possible, and with plans b and c to act as failsafe. We can't afford any risks."

"Okay, first we thought about …"

Erestor and Glorfindel had apparently already thought about a lot, and Celeborn had some nasty ideas as well. Galadriel had some contacts that could help with finding out who S.M.A.U.G. actually was or who was behind it. The details were still rough and would have to be discussed at a later stage, but in the end it boiled down to this: Thranduil would act as bait, and while they all presented an united front, they would close in on Manzanares, who seemed to be an extension of S.M.A.U.G., if not a part of it. They would get as much information out of him as they could before turning him in to the police – depending on how much he liked to talk either for blackmail and stalking or, if they had no hard evidence for that, for sexual harassment. To draw out the rest of S.M.A.U.G., Thorin agreed to organise an art exhibition, at which time they would reveal he knew about S.M.A.U.G. blackmailing Thranduil, daring them to attack him openly. Only then they would fully involve the police, since that was the most dangerous and tricky part. Everyone agreed that in order not to jeopardise Thorin's life, the authorities would have to be involved at that stage. After that it was in the hands of the police.

Once everyone had consented to this plan they dispersed, each of them laden with ideas, plans and concerns. Thranduil remained behind, as did Erestor, Glorfindel, Thorin and Legolas.

"I am really glad to have you all on my side," Thranduil said after everyone else had gone.

"That's what friends are for," Glorfindel grinned, bouncing on his stability ball.

"The Mirkwood Initiative is a go," Erestor added.

Legolas, who had been quiet during the whole meeting, wrapped his arms around his father and rested his chin on his head.

"You should have told me."

"And what good would that have done?" Thranduil sighed, leaning against his son.

"We would not be in this situation. I would have helped you. Now I just feel guilty because you did it for me – to be able to take care of me." Legolas hugged him a bit tighter. "Thank you. But you should not have."

"I didn't do it for you alone," Thranduil protested quietly, very aware that especially Thorin was listening intently. "I was selfish too. And your mother …"

"She was grateful, you know that. She wouldn't have been able to … go as comfortably and …" Legolas' voice cracked, and finally Thranduil stood, hugging his son back.

"I know, darling."

"I did it for her too, you know," Legolas sniffed. "My medical training. I wanted to be able to help people, like she did. Help people like her, too."

"I know. She would be proud of you." Thranduil pressed a kiss to his son's hair and met Thorin's wide-eyed gaze. He knew he would have to explain a lot to him – everything was connected, and it was important that everyone knew the details that had led to this mess they found themselves in now. And he also kind of owed this to Thorin, who had told him all about himself, while Thranduil just kept big parts of his own past to himself. If there was just a chance that their work-relationship could develop into something more, he had to tell Thorin everything.

"Maybe we could all grab a bite or have some coffee together?" he proposed, but it turned out that Legolas had to return to his practice, Erestor had a meeting and Glorfindel already had plans. Which only left him and Thorin.

"Where do you want to go?" Thorin asked as they left the building, holding the door open for him.

"Are you hungry? I'm starving. There's an Italian place just a block away, what do you say?"

"Sounds good. Lead the way then."

After a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, Thranduil sighed.

"Listen, there's a lot you need to know still. Would it be okay for you if we … talked about that now? I kind of gathered the courage, and I don't know whether I'll lose it soon again."

"Sure," Thorin said kindly, wrapping an unsure arm around Thranduil's shoulders, but once the blonde leaned into the contact he grew more confident and started to rub Thranduil's arm.

"I was very young when Lauren … that's Legolas' mother … when she got pregnant. I mean, she was young too, of course." Thranduil groaned. "I'm terrible at explaining this. The point is, we weren't ready. I was only earning very little, and she mostly lived off her parents' good will – until she got pregnant and they threw her out. She hadn't even finished college yet."

Thorin squeezed his shoulders and made a low sound.

"That must have been hard for both of you."

"And I felt responsible of course. Legolas wasn't planned, you see. And Lauren was devastated that her family had just shunned her like that – I wanted to do something good, for Lauren and Legolas. So I accepted jobs that were no exactly conventional."

"Like what?"

"Oh, smuggling mostly. I travel a lot, and with a lot of bags. Hardly anyone would think of properly searching four handbags, a rucksack and five suitcases."

"Okay."

Thranduil bit his lip. Did Thorin look a bit paler than before?

"You're not … disgusted now, are you? I mean, are you disappointed in me? You know what it is like to be on the worse side of things. What it is like to have no real choice."

"I do. And I don't condemn you for grasping at straws." He fell quiet, looking down on his feet, though he held the door to the restaurant open for Thranduil, and the smell of delicious food seemed to calm them both a bit. There weren't too many other customers, but it wasn't empty either, so they chose a slightly more private table to sit, and not too much time passed until the waiter came to receive their orders.

"It's hard to picture you as anything else but the confident, beautiful person you are now," Thorin said after the waiter had left again.

Thranduil blushed and fiddled with the edge of his place mat.

"I'm not very confident right now," he sighed, deciding to ignore that second comment except for a flattered smile. "But you are right – I changed quite a bit since that time. It's been a long time after all."

The waiter returned with their drinks – soda for Thranduil, and a beer for Thorin – and they clinked glasses.

"To the Mirkwood Initiative," Thranduil said.

"To your safety," Thorin murmured earnestly and reached out to squeeze Thranduil's hand, making him blush again so he hid behind his glass.

"You know, I'm really glad you are here. I'm … I don't know how to thank you," he confessed, squeezing back.

"Just promise me to sit for me again. There are many paintings waiting to be painted, and I can't do it without you."

"Of course. I promise."


Author's Note: Thank you for being so patient with me!