Riding Thranduil's elk was surprisingly comfortable. He was no expert on a horse so he was surprised that he was actually balancing on the creature. Though, having Thranduil holding his waist probably helped. Bard chuckled at that thought.

"What is so amusing meleth nín?" Thranduil asked.

"I am picturing myself in a crown, I don't think I will be able to pull off a crown of ice as well as you." Bard replied.

"Nonsense. My crown is made up of branches." Thranduil scoffed.

Bard laughed, "Not the one you wear outside." He reached behind him and tapped the silver circlet sitting atop the King's head. It was made after he had returned to the Greenwood. To show their acceptance of their King, the Elves created a new crown for Thranduil. One made of metal but twisted to look like it had icicles hanging from the back. They made four, one for each season so that when he when he went outside his realm he could still have his crown match the current season.

Thranduil bat the hand away from his head. "You will look very dashing my dear. My Elves have already come up with some ideas. You will just have to decide which ones you like best."

"Just because you have multiple crowns Thran, doesn't mean I need more than one."

"On the contrary, we need to complement each other. You and your children will receive at least four crowns."

Bard groaned.

They eventually got to the Greenwood. Several guards stood at the front gate, taking the elk away once Thranduil and Bard dismounted. His children ran out of the gates and embraced him tightly. "Da, you're here!" Tilda cheered.

"We were worried, Legolas said that someone had gone to get you, but didn't say who." Bain said.

"Thran came and saved me. The Master is no longer in power, they will be holding an election soon."

"Does that mean we are going back?" Tilda asked.

"Do you want to go back?" Bard asked.

Tilda looked back at Legolas who now stood next to his father by the open gates. "Not really. I like it here much more than Lake-town."

Bard smiled, "Well, that's one vote." He turned to his other children.

"I vote here too. You and Thran will marry soon, it only makes sense that we live here." Sigrid said.

Bain shrugged, "I don't mind."

Bard turned to Thranduil and smiled, "I guess you have four new citizens."

Thranduil smiled, "Indeed I do." He turned to Feren, "Move their things into their rooms. And set up a temporary room for Bard near mine."

Feren nodded and left.

"Temporary room? Why not the one I used when I visited?" Bard asked.

"You are no longer guests here. You will need new rooms. Your room is temporary because you will soon be sharing mine."

Bard blushed.

"Do we all get our own rooms again?" Tilda asked.

"But of course my dear. All new rooms for you to make your own." Thranduil smiled.

"Can I have mine near Leggy's?" She asked.

Thranduil's brow rose at the nickname and smirked at his son. "We shall see what we have available."

Legolas blushed and turned a warm smile towards Tilda when the girl came and hugged him around the waist.

Thranduil chuckled. "Come, let's get everyone settled in."

(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)

Bard and his family's transition into the Greenwood was seamless. The Woodland Elves accepted them with open arms. Thranduil arranged lessons for the children. "They will need to learn how to be leaders, you never know if one of them will become a King or Queen someday." Thranduil said.

"I don't need to be thinking about suitors already." Bard groaned.

"Sigrid is of age." Thranduil pointed out. "Once she has been presented as a Princess suitors will come."

Bard didn't like the sound of men fighting over his daughter, she was still much too young in his eyes.

Thranduil chuckled, "Have no fear meleth nín. I will do the same for her suitors as I have done for Prince Kili and what I will do once Aragorn asks me for Legolas' hand."

Bard chuckled, "That does not mean I am looking forward to that time."

Thranduil smiled, "No parent wishes their children gone. But it is something we must do."

(Spring)(Summer)(Fall)(Winter)

Thranduil sat in a large clearing. His elk was grazing with a herd of deer while he sat peacefully under a nearby tree. He felt Aragorn's approach long before the ranger reached him. "Come sit young ranger." Thranduil said as soon as the man entered the clearing.

Aragorn hesitated before taking a seat beside the King. "Your powers are improving Sire"

"They are indeed." Thranduil smiled. "Is there a reason you have come? I thought you would be with my son."

Aragorn smiled, "I was, but I thought it time I seek you out. I believe you know why I have come."

Thranduil smirked, "Are you up to the challenge?"

"I can only imagine. Legolas has told me the test you prepared for Prince Kili."

"You should expect something similar. You are asking to court my son after all."

"Which is why I thought to seek you out alone rather than embarrass myself in front of everyone." The ranger smiled.

Thranduil smirked, "Are you prepared for whatever I have planned?"

"Anything you ask. I hope this will also make up for my slight against you." Aragorn replied.

"You speak of when you called me a monster?"

Aragorn nodded.

Thranduil scoffed, "Nonsense. You had every right."

"Either way, what task do you give me?"

Thranduil thought for a moment, "The task I wish for you is not something you can achieve in the near future."

"What do you mean?"

"There will come a time where you will have to return home. Hard times will come and you will need to take the lead."

Aragorn turned away, "I gave up that life."

"You did, and I am not asking you to return to it. All I ask is that you take your place when the time arrives."

Aragorn frowned but nodded.

"In the meantime, you will return to Rivendell to make a customary courting gift. I expect that Elrond taught you what to do?"

Aragorn nodded.

"Then I expect you in two weeks. You may go."

Aragorn smirked and bowed, "Farwell your Majesty"

Thranduil nodded and watched the young ranger leave.

"You may come out now Bard." Thranduil said.

The bowman walked out from behind a tree and sat next to the King. "That was a lot easier than I expected."

"Elven courting rituals are complicated. They usually take longer than two weeks, so it will challenge him. I admit, it is not as challenging as Prince Kili's test, but that was only because he was a Dwarf" Thranduil smirked.

Bard shook his head, "Will you ever accept Dwarves?"

"I tolerate them enough" Thranduil replied.

Bard sighed in fond exasperation.

"I do have a question though." He said. "About the first part of you conversation. It was very cryptic."

Thranduil chuckled, "There will come a time when the kingdom of men will need a leader. Aragorn is that leader."

"So he is a Prince?"

Thranduil nodded, "He is Isildur's heir."

"The King of Gondor? The one who defeated Sauron all those years ago?"

"Indeed. His father died when he was a boy and so Elrond took him in. When he became of age, he became captain of the Dúnedain and the Rangers of the North. He has refused his role as Prince of Gondor, leaving it in the hands of a Stewart."

"And you want him to reclaim his crown?"

"No. As good a King as Aragorn would be, he is still young and I fear that role would kill him quicker than his mortality would. You can still lead a people without sitting on a throne."

"He's very carefree isn't he?" Bard chuckled.

Thranduil nodded. "When the time comes, Aragorn will take his place at the front."

"How can you be sure?"

"I may not receive as many visions from the Valar as Galadriel, but I do have some."

Bard nodded. "Then I hope everything works out."

Thranduil smiled, "As do I."

I know I gave Aragorn a bit of an easy task, but I couldn't think of anything…and this way I can talk about the future.

Hope you liked it!