Wow - Sorry for the long wait - life has a way of getting really busy!

As always - no profit for these stories and the characters all belong to Tolkien

Thanks to AleB, Freya Shieldmaiden, anarithilien, D4rkD4wn, Aranel Mereneth, Ziggy 3, Lilo, Miggs, Caelhir, Rebellious Rogue and Lady Minuialwen for reviewing and putting up with my irregular updates.

Lilo - no slash in this story - I have another one that has slash.

I have had to disable the anonymous reviews - which I hate to do because I get lazy and don't always feel like logging in but there are just a few nut cases in this world and it is better to just keep them out.

Hope you enjoy!

A Cage of a Different Kind Chapter 19

"My Lord, there is a large party of elves coming this way. Do you know who they are? Do you want us to stop them? What are your orders?"

Legolas was puzzled. "Who would be coming now? I have gotten no communication announcing a visit? Elrond and the twins would be coming soon but they would be coming from the other direction..."

"I don't think this represents any threat but watch them. Report back to let me know where they are going."

Legolas looked around the clearing. His settlement was coming along. They had been building shelters for the short term and had just started on the long term buildings. He was taking his inspiration from Lothlorien and utilizing the tree's for their safety and beauty. So far, most of the elves that had joined him were from there and had appreciated being able to help plan and contribute to the start of this new oasis. The word had spread pretty quickly and every few weeks new elves were showing up and pledging allegiance to Legolas. His settlement was growing much more quickly then he could have ever imagined, the only setback had been the continuing attacks from rogue orc bands that still frequented the area. When the forces of darkness had been defeated at Mordor it left the remnants of Saurons minions without purpose. Now they were fighting to survive and raiding and pillaging seemed to be an essential part of that survival.

"Could this group of elves be yet another contingent looking to relocate with him?" Legolas thought as he continued working. He was interrupted when the scout returned.

"They are definitely coming here my Lord. They are from Mirkwood."

"Mirkwood!" Legolas stood there in shock. "None of my people have come to join yet. Could it be my father? Why would he come without a word in advance?" Legolas had stopped corresponding when his father had refused to come to his wedding. He had received no word since he had left to attend Aragorn's wedding months ago and after finding out what his father had done to keep he and Eowyn apart, he was hard pressed to feel overly thrilled to see him.

"How long before they arrive?"

Just then another elf came running. "The King of Mirkwood requests an audience with the lord of this settlement."

"I guess that answers my question." Legolas thought wryly.

He turned and walked briskly towards the waiting elves. His heart hammered in his breast. He was silently praying that his father would maintain decorum until they could speak in private. Thranduil was not known for his mild temper and manners.

"Greetings your majesty. To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" Legolas bowed respectively to his father and his retinue. The formality was not lost on Thranduil.

His father sat regally astride a beautiful snow white horse. A simple mitheril circlet adorned his brow and held back his hair that was so like his son's.

Thranduil inclined his head frostily. "I came to see where my errant son had ended up."

Legolas grimaced and the elves around him murmured in surprise. "Had you responded to any of my correspondence, you would not have to question."

Thranduil's eyes narrowed dangerously and Legolas was quick to amend his statement to avoid public conflict. "Adar, please, let us talk in private. My people will be happy to take your horses and care for them while we arrange accommodations for you. I apologize for we are still in the building process and things are not all finished. If you give me a little time..."

Thranduil snorted disdainfully as he looked down his nose at his surroundings. "Had I known this was so...rustic, I might have rethought my decision to come, but I will stay in my own pavilion. Do not bother. However, I would like to 'discuss' some things with you if you can pull yourself away from your duties for a time."

The last was said with sarcasm that was not lost on Legolas. "Why are you here!" He thought as he motioned to some elves who rushed to take the forest king's horse.

"The rest of you shall set up our camp. Please find a suitable spot not too far from here." Thranduil ordered as he gracefully swung down off his steed and raised an eyebrow at Legolas in question. "Where do you wish to have this talk?" he asked pointedly.

"There is a nice area set up over here your Majesty. Please follow me." Legolas said formally as he bowed slightly at his waist and lead his father to a small garden area he had arranged outside his fete.

They had just taken a seat when Eowyn came out of their dwelling and made her way over to greet their new guest. She had heard the commotion and wanted to find out what was going on.

As she approached she noticed the regal bearing and stature of the new arrival and her breath caught in her throat as the head turned and she found herself looking at someone who bore a striking resemblance to her husband. Her steps slowed slightly and her thoughts swirled in confusion and anxiety. "Why had Legolas not told me that his father was going to visit?" She had been helping to get their house ready for their coming child and things were in disarray, not to mention that she was not dressed properly and her hair...

Her thoughts were interrupted by her husband's voice. "Eowyn. Please allow me to introduce you to my father." It was then that she realized that he was just as surprised as she by this impromptu visit. She had gotten to know her mate much better over the last few months and she could hear the strain in his voice although his face remained impassive. She took the hand he had held out and put on her most gracious and lovely smile. "Welcome to our home your Majesty." She said with a slight curtsey.

Legolas drew her close to his side protectively as he turned to his father. "This is my wife, Eowyn." He said proudly.

You could have heard a pin drop at that moment. It was as if the forest held its breath as well. Thranduil's eyes swept over her measuringly and the surprise at seeing her very pregnant belly was not lost on anyone. This was one of the few times Legolas had seen his father speechless and he quietly enjoyed it for a moment bracing himself for the tirade that was sure to follow.

Instead, his father continued to look at the mortal woman his son had chosen without so much as a word.

Eowyn shifted uncomfortably as the hand she had held out in greeting was pointedly ignored. She pulled it back and glanced at her mate in question. She had seldom seen the fury that was now building in her husband.

"Now I begin to see why the 'wedding' had to take place so quickly. You might have mentioned this Legolas."

Legolas' hold on his wife tightened slightly and he turned his full attention on her. "Please leave us for a while meleth." He said quickly. "There are some things that my father and I need to discuss. I will find you soon." His heart flipped at the hurt expression on her face but she still managed to bow slightly and respond with dignity.

"Of course my love. I will be inside. A pleasure to meet you your majesty." She said and as gracefully as was possible at this stage in her pregnancy, she left them alone.

Legolas watched her leave and then rounded angrily on his father. "That was rude and uncalled for Thranduil. You have come here unannounced and I will not have you treating the woman I love with disrespect."

"It seems you may have 'loved' her very quickly my son." Thranduil countered. "Since when was it acceptable to beget a child on a woman you were not joined to?"

"Perhaps if you had responded to any of my messages over the past few months, you might know the answer to that question, but then, you are an 'expert' on the sending and interception of messages, are you not?" The fury contained in that comment was not lost on Thranduil and he drew himself up to his full height.

"You expected me to waste my time on a passing fancy of yours? I had no idea you were planting your seed anywhere and everywhere you pleased."

Legolas' mouth dropped open. He knew what his father was capable of, after all he had been raised by the elf now standing in front of him but this was beyond anything he had encountered before. "She is my wife and I will not even grace that last comment with a reply."

"First of all, you do not have a 'wife' in the eyes of Erin Lasgalen, or her king. Secondly, I tire of this game you seem bent on playing. You have a duty to your realm and it's people which you have flagrantly ignored for long enough. I expect you to stop playing and return home immediately."

"You have some nerve coming here and demanding 'duty' from me after what you tried to do to us." Legolas spat as he shook with anger.

"What I tried to do to you?" Thranduil responded heatedly. "You mean what you did to me, nay, what you did to your King and to your people? First you go galivanting around the countryside risking your life for humans and now 'your 'love' has kept you from your home and everything you were raised to do. You have known her for less than a year Legolas and you are already having a child? How could you have chosen this? What trick did she use to ensnare you?"

"WHAT?" Legolas roared. "Are you implying that some sorcery must have been involved? You go too far father."

Their exchange was no longer private and the few elves that had been going about their duties nearby quietly vacated the immediate area. This went unnoticed by the pair, so locked in battle by now that the world had ceased to exist around them and their volume had risen with their tempers.

"It was your duty to marry someone of your own race. It was your duty to obey your king and remain in your kingdom to rule and guide your people when their present king sailed. It was your duty to provide your people with an elven heir, not some half breed mongrel your human whore is going to whelp for you!" As those words left his mouth, he knew he had gone too far. He watched his son stiffen with hurt and disbelief.

Legolas felt those vicious words as if they were physical blows and he was now the speechless one. After a few moments that felt like an eternity he gathered his wits and with supreme effort replied. "I have loved and honored you to the best of my ability and we have had our differences, but this is the first time that I am ashamed to call you my father." Legolas' face reflected his sadness and barely contained fury and with that he turned and started to walk away.

TBC

Hopefully I will get the next chapter up in a week or less - that is the least I can do after the last long wait.

Thanks for reading!

Alanic