THE FORGOTTEN
I Defed na Thuringwen
The Trying of Thuringwen
Author's Note: The chapter in which – Legolas gets really close to losing his composure and Lothril is offered a chance at revenge. …Elvish in italics… If you are re/reading this in real time, the date for this chapter is January 15th. …I started writing this chapter back in October 2022, I believe it was. Basically as soon as QuieroEscribir helped me figure out what all the attacks were going to be. As soon as that was sorted, I set to work on the trial scene knowing full well it would be months before it got posted. But this has been soooo worth it! It gave me a chance to flesh out the legal system (via a conversation between Lothril, Thranduil, and Legolas that I didn't publish) and give myself a little more of an idea of the political structure of the kingdom. All that to say… this chapter had a lot of nerdular nerdance going on with it behind the scenes and I think it resulted in a pretty darn good chapter.
This time, heading to the throne room for a trial was a far different experience than going for Acharon's trial had been. Lothril was not nervous, nor was she worried Thranduil was going to be too harsh. On this occasion, she wore an austere outfit of black and silver, studded in stars. She wore her hair in elaborate braids coiled and pinned near the nape of her neck. She wore also the tokens of Elrond's house as well as certain particular pieces gifted to her by Thranduil that marked not only his favor and approval, but also her status. In the light, she looked like a sky full of stars trimmed in moonlight, but in the throne room, she knew she would appear more like a starless night accented by cold, dark silver.
Legolas came for her as he had before, this time clad in a deep green velvet that almost looked black in the folds, and marks of his princely status as well as his military rank and accomplishments. Lothril had never properly learned how to read such insignia back home and she hadn't quite figured it out here either, but now that she knew what it was, she could see it was definitely a little different and that he was highly decorated. This time he also wore a sword at his side and he was carrying a long knife in an elaborately decorated and jewel studded sheath and belt with a rich and elaborate handle.
"You should wear this," he said as he presented her the knife and matching belt. "Now that you have been introduced to court, your position is official. And King Thranduil held an emergency council meeting two nights ago and they voted unanimously to grant you status as an official member of the court, which in short means you are allowed to carry a weapon into the throne room now. We can go over the rest of the details later. May I?"
Lothril nodded and Legolas wrapped the belt around her hips and fastened it for her.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," she answered firmly.
He took her arm and they went down to the throne room. This time she knew to expect they were going up to the top and she strode in purposefully and took her place, looking every inch like the sword hand of justice. Walking in she noticed that Thuringwen was wearing a dress of somber colors, but no braid or jewel or adornment save the shackles that bound her hands. Lothril had only caught a glimpse of her between armored guards, so she did not notice whether or not she looked at her.
But she had. She had stared at her as Lothril the unwanted, Lothril the pest, Lothril the unworthy came down the hallway on the Prince's arm. Her gaze was soon transfixed though on the prince and she half imagined she was on his arm, going to preside over the trial of Lothril the usurper. Thuringwen had hoped desperately he would spare her a glance, but he did not. It didn't matter. She knew she would get her statement in court. Perhaps then he would see, he would understand… it was all for him! For the kingdom! She would make it plain and surely he would understand and whatever enchantment that witch had him under would be broken.
After the prince and Lothril filed in, in came the entire council of lords with their wives, with the exception of Lord Himben who was accompanied by his daughter Lady Tulussil. That made Thuringwen bristle as well – such an obvious and painful reminder of the havoc that witch Lothril had caused on one of the best noblewomen in the kingdom! To her surprise though, she did see Gormes there, coming in with other lower courtiers, with whom only a couple weeks ago Thuringwen herself would have been amongst. But now she was behind guards and in chains.
At last, it was time for the prisoner to enter.
Lothril watched and listened as King Thranduil called for the accused to be brought in and the large doors to the throne room slowly opened once more. In came the guards and Thuringwen, looking none to penitent as she walked in between guards, but looking plenty spiteful as she looked up at the thrones and her eyes fell on Lothril. And Lothril did not miss the nearly obsessive look she gave to Legolas, who was bristling as he sat beside her.
Thranduil though beheld her coolly and said, "Thuringwen, you have been accused of five acts of malicious intent towards a member of the royal house, two acts of intent to cause serious harm or injury to a member of the royal house, one act of intended murder of a member of the royal house, and three acts of endangering the health and well-being the crowned prince, and two acts of endangering the life of the crowned prince. If you are found or plead guilty to the five acts of malicious intent your punishment will range from age long, dark imprisonment to age long indentured servitude depending on how you plead and the subsequent trial. How do you plead?"
"Guilty," Thuringwen answered without hesitation.
Without so much as a blink, Thranduil moved on to the next charge. "If you are found or plead guilty to the two acts of intent to cause serious harm or injury to a member of the royal house, your life will be forfeit unless the counsel of lords and the members of the crown agree by overwhelming majority that your deeds were wrought in extreme circumstances and therefore justifiable for the greater good of the kingdom or else you can prove you were forced by an outside power greater than yourself, such as a necromancer. How do you plead?"
"Guilty, but I demand trial under the law," Thuringwen answered, and within her right to do so.
Thranduil gave but a slight nod. "Trial shall be granted. If you are found or plead guilty to the one act of intended murder of a member of the royal house your life will be forfeit unless you can prove possession or bewitchment by a being or power greater than yourself. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty," Thuringwen answered.
Whether or not he was surprised at this did not show on his face at all, as it remained a cold mask. However, his grip on his royal staff did tighten.
Legolas nearly lost his composure at her plea of not guilty.
Lothril's eyes narrowed as she stared down at the arrogant accused. She had a really funny feeling she just figured out what her argument was going to be…
"If you are found guilty of three acts of endangering the health and well-being of the crowned prince your life shall be forfeit unless the counsel of lords and the members of the crown agree by overwhelming majority that your deeds were wrought in extreme circumstances and therefore justifiable or excusable for the greater good of the kingdom or else you can prove you were forced by an outside power greater than yourself, such as a necromancer. How do you plead?" Thranduil asked again.
"Not guilty," Thuringwen answered.
"If you are found guilty of two acts of endangering the life of the crowned prince, your life shall be forfeit unless the counsel of lords and the members of the crown agree by overwhelming majority that your deeds were wrought in extreme circumstances and therefore justifiable or excusable for the greater good of the kingdom or else you can prove you were forced by an outside power greater than yourself, such as a necromancer. How do you plead?"
"Guilty, but I demand trial under the law," Thuringwen answered again.
With that the court scribe stood and read back the charges and her pleadings and asked, "Do all parties agree the information so entered into the official court records is correct?"
Both the king and Thuringwen agreed that it was correct and with that the trial began. Lord Gwilithon stood and assumed his place standing at the foot of the throne stairs, acting as an official representative for the counsel, should it be needed, and Lord Teithon moving into a chair on the other side of the throne stairs and near the court scribe acting as royal court observer, as he usually did.
"For five acts of malicious intent against a member of the royal house you have pleaded guilty. Do you wish to make a statement either to the court, the crown, or the victim?" Thranduil asked, his demeanor and voice still cool.
"I wish only to say that I now understand how my actions could be construed as malicious, but that they were done with the best of intentions. I truly feel remorseful for causing Prince Legolas any pain or discomfort with my deeds, but it was clear to me he was blinded and something drastic needed to be done to cause him to see the truth. I only hope that my actions have brought him some clarity," Thuringwen said, looking up at Legolas. "I plead guilty out of a sense of remorse that I have brought any discomfort to the prince."
Lothril studied Thuringwen's face… was that… devotion?
"The prince?" Thranduil repeated, a faint note of surprise entering his voice. "Your actions and therefore your charges are for your deeds against Lady Lothril. We thought this was explained and understood upon arrest."
"Then I must request to change my plea," Thuringwen replied, and with a fair amount of boldness for someone in her position.
"For what reason must you change your plea?" Lord Teithon asked, as was fitting for him as court observer.
"For the reason that I do not acknowledge Lothril as a member of the royal house," Thuringwen answered, her voice calm and venomous.
"You will address her as Lady Lothril henceforth or else you shall be tried for contempt of court," Lord Teithon said sternly. "Her rank as lady is uncontested in this court and comes from her relationship to Lord Elrond of Rivendell and it will be respected as such. Is that understood?"
"It is understood," Thuringwen replied with a bow of her head.
"As for your refusal to acknowledge Lady Lothril as a member of the royal house," Lord Gwilithon said, "the power to accept or reject her status as a member of the royal house lies with the royal house and has been affirmed by both the council of lords and this court, of which she is an official member in good standing."
"Your petition to change your plea is rejected by the court," Lord Teithon said.
"Your petition to change your plea is also rejected by the council of lords," Lord Gwilithon added.
"Your petition to change your plea is rejected by the crown as well. Do you have anything further to say in your defense?" King Thranduil said.
"Not on this charge, your highness," Thuringwen answered.
King Thranduil nodded and said, "You have pleaded guilty to two acts of intent to cause serious harm or injury to a member of the royal house, but have demanded trial. What do you wish to say in your defense?"
"Only that my actions were done with the best intentions and for the greater good of the kingdom," Thuringwen answered.
"How were your actions for the greater good of the kingdom?" Lord Gwilithon asked.
This was it – she knew it when she asked for the trial. This was her chance to make him understand. Thuringwen looked up at the prince and said, "Lady Lothril is harmful to the kingdom. One only needs look around this courtroom to see the negative changes she has wrought. She drove Acharon to wrath and then turned things to appear the victim and even now he is in the dungeons. She has disgraced Lady Gormes and driven a wedge between Lord Himben, Lady Gormes, and their daughter, fairly wrecking the family in the process and she only arrived just prior to enderi. Even at the Hunter's Feast she stole credit for the brave recovery of the king and the prince and made a drunken spectacle of herself. How much more damage shall she inflict upon the kingdom if she is allowed to stay and go unchecked? Surely such a person can have no place in this kingdom, especially at the side of our beloved and noble prince!"
More than one member of the court who had been present for both the hunt and the feast and had witnessed what happened first hand made sounds of disgust and anger at her assertions of Lothril's actions and character. Even Teithon, who was typically able to remain very impartial during court frowned at Thuringwen and shook his head in disgust. Further back in the courtier's spectator section, Gormes flinched.
Thranduil's eyes darted to his son as she spoke and he laid a hand on his before his son broke off the arm of the chair. Legolas was absolutely rigid, his eyes practically burning with wrath. Thranduil used ósanwe to ask his son, "Do you need to remove yourself from the throne room? You can descend the back stair and leave through my passage if you do not think you can check yourself." His thoughts certainly weren't chastising… they were deeply understanding.
Meanwhile, Lothril was sitting beside Legolas, her dark eyes smoldering with anger, her mouth slightly agape, brows drawn together, and looking like she didn't know what to think. She was angry that this person had tried to drive her away and then kill her. She was horrified that this was how anyone viewed her and mystified how she managed to draw any of these conclusions about herself. However, she was also almost laughably amused at Thuringwen's take on the events surrounding Acharon and Gormes. She had been barely involved in both. Their lives crumbling was their own doing! If Thuringwen hadn't tried to break up her betrothal and kill her, Lothril would have had a good laugh at her perspective, but as it was… she was not happy at all.
She interrupted Thranduil's ósanwe conversation with Legolas by leaning forward and asking quietly but with some heat, "Am I allowed to speak? Because I have some words for that -"
"No, you are not permitted to speak at this point, but you may address her later," Thranduil answered quietly, cutting her off.
Legolas did not know what he wanted to do. Part of him wanted to see Thuringwen executed on the spot, part of him wanted to leave with Lothril in tow and just hold her and be grateful they were both alive, and part of him wanted to stay and watch her hang herself. Her little speech fairly well insured her death on just those charges. If that was really her thinking and reasoning, there was not a single thing she could say to keep her from being executed. The only question at this point was how.
The king turned his attention back to Thuringwen and asked, "Is your defense for the other charges the same as this or do you have other things you wish to say in your defense?"
"It is the same, your highness. I have acted in a manner that I thought for the good of the kingdom, this court, the crown, and the prince. The only other thing I might add, if I may, is that I never, ever intended to harm the prince himself and I regretted deeply the realization that my actions had put him in danger. I had meant to separate them first," Thuringwen answered.
"Do you wish to forego trial on the other charges?" King Thranduil asked.
"Only if there is no hope of me finding mercy on these charges," she answered.
"The council does not agree that your actions were for the good of the kingdom or the crown, nor that you were acting by force or possession of a power or entity greater than yourself," Lord Gwilithon said.
"The court agrees with the council of lords that your actions were not for the good of the kingdom or the crown and that you were not forced nor possessed by a power or entity greater than yourself to act in this way," Lord Teithon said.
Thranduil looked at Thuringwen and said, "The crown agrees the council and the court. There is no hope of you finding mercy on these charges, therefore by our laws your life is forfeit and by your own statement you are considered guilty on all charges. Lord Gwilithon, Lord Teithon, please approach the throne so we may discuss her sentencing."
Lords Gwilithon and Teithon ascended the stairs and stood one or two steps down so they were more or less eye level with the seated king.
"Lord Teithon, when was the last execution?" Thranduil asked.
"Nearly seventy years ago. That Man from Laketown who went mad and attacked and killed several of our bargemen after the dragon was slain. King Bard of Dale granted us permission to try and convict him as our laws saw fit and we determined he was incurably mad and a danger to everyone and himself and so executed him. He was drugged so he would not fight the executioner, bound and blindfolded, and taken out into the forest and executed by beheading. Quick and painless," Teithon answered.
"And the last elf we had to execute?" Thranduil asked.
"It was for treason. We learned that he was in league with the Necromancer. He was stripped naked, flogged, and then beheaded by axe," Teithon answered.
"What does the council recommend?" Thranduil asked Gwilithon.
"The council recommends only execution and as soon as possible. No flogging, torture, or prolonged prior imprisonment," Gwilithon answered.
"Any opinions on methods?" Thranduil asked the lords.
Lothril chimed in, "I know more than a few poisons that would do the job in anything from minutes to days, depending on the concentration, and ranging from painless to agonizing."
"I for one am inclined to respectfully disagree with the council's recommendation," Legolas said in low voice. "She spent weeks terrorizing Lady Lothril with increasingly dangerous antics which ultimately resulted in a direct attempt on her life. I think we should not tell her when she will be executed only that she will be and leave her in a lightless cell for weeks before taking her out and executing her."
"Lady Lothril," Thranduil said, turning to face her, "do you recall the first time we sparred and you destroyed those practice dummies?"
"I do," Lothril replied slowly. "Do you want me to obliterate her?"
"It is an option worth exploring," Thranduil replied.
Lord Gwilithon quickly interjected, "The council would prefer to see a demonstration of this prior to approval to ensure it conforms to our tradition of punishment that is not excessively cruel."
"Certainly," Thranduil said. "Let us recess this trial and concerned parties may remove themselves to the practice fields where Lady Lothril can provide a demonstration and then a decision can be made."
"Hold!" Prince Legolas said, holding up his hand in a stop gesture. "First I would know if the Lady is agreeable to playing executioner to her attacker." He turned to look at Lothril and took her hand in his. "Are you willing and agreeable to executing Thuringwen? You are free to say no. This is not like killing someone in battle. She will be unarmed and defenseless and completely at your mercy. Is that something you are prepared to do?"
"I would add, you need not decide today," Thranduil added.
"Indeed not," Gwilithon seconded. "We can merely approve the method today as a possibility and then you make up your mind at your leisure and the announcement of how she is executed made later."
"I am agreeable to the demonstration today, but uncertain as to whether or not I want to be her executioner and wish to take time to think it through," Lothril answered, feeling just a little blindsided by the whole thing. She certainly hadn't been expecting to be propositioned to be Thuringwen's executioner!
"Fair enough," Thranduil said. "Then we will pronounce Thuringwen's guilt, recess this trial until the lady has made up her mind, and convene an emergency council meeting on the practice field immediately after court is dismissed."
Both Gwilithon and Teithon nodded and with that descended the stairs. As soon as they had resumed their places, King Thranduil tapped his staff on the dais to return things to order and said, "Thuringwen, by your own words and admittances you are found guilty on all charges, therefore your life is forfeit. You shall immediately be returned to the dungeon until a decision is reached on the method and date of your execution. Is there anything you wish to say before you are returned to the dungeon? You may consider this your final statement and are free to address anyone you wish."
Thuringwen's eyes almost shone as she stared up at Legolas who shifted uncomfortably and looked very stern. "I wish to say I do not regret trying to rid the kingdom of Lothril. I do regret not opening the prince's eyes to the truth of her and I deeply regret ever placing him in danger. I would never intentionally put the ellon I love in danger and that I did accidentally-"
As soon as Legolas heard the phrase, "put the ellon I love in danger" he immediately stood and left the dais down the back stair, pulling Lothril with him.
Thuringwen saw him stand and she paused, and for a brief moment she could almost see him flying down the stairs to her but almost the moment that thought was had, she watched in despair as he turned his back to her and left with that hateful elleth. She stared at his empty seat for a moment before asking, "Will the prince be told the rest of my statement?"
"It will be entered into the court records," Lord Teithon said.
"Then I will continue," she said, sounding on the border of dejected and hopeful. "That I accidentally endangered the ellon I love is my biggest regret and I wish to say how much I love him and everything I have done has been for the good of the kingdom and him and…" she faltered. "That is all."
Thranduil tapped his staff on the dais and said, "This court is recessed until such time it is ready to make the pronouncement of the method and date of the execution of Thuringwen. Take her away." He tapped his staff again and as soon as Thuringwen was out of the throne room he tapped his staff again and said, "Lords of the council, by request of Lord Gwilithon and myself would like to call an emergency meeting out on the practice fields and immediately. This will be a closed meeting."
In the meantime, Legolas had taken Lothril out of the throne room and as soon as they were in the king's passage and the door shut silently behind them, the sounds of the courtroom were gone and Legolas pulled her into a tight embrace and didn't say a word.
Lothril really wished she knew what to do or say right now, but she didn't as she barely knew what to think herself after being asked to be an executioner...
"I am so very sorry, Lothril. You ought to have been safe here. I had no idea she had any feelings for me! I barely know her at all! I am so sorry-"
She put a finger to his lips which he kissed and she said, "Of course you had no idea. Legolas, she is crazy. Straight up banana nut bread, extra nuts. You have nothing to be sorry about. You could not have possibly known and the only person who should be apologizing here is that loon in the throne room that tried to kill me and almost killed you. And she will never apologize because she is penind. Frankly, I knew marrying someone in a position of power would likely carry a certain amount of inherent risks like this anyway, so I cannot say I am completely shocked this happened. But hear me now Legolas Mellothon – I am safe here. As safe as anyone can expect to be anywhere. You and you alone kept me safe from that booby trap and you and your father saw to it I was not an easy target and that she had to work very hard to get to me. You and your father did everything you could to keep me safe and alive and I am both. I am safe and I am alive. You have nothing to apologize for."
"You are entirely too understanding and forgiving," Legolas said almost looking pained.
"Of who?! Maeglinien* in there?"
"No, of us and our failures. You should have been untouchable!" Legolas said angrily, trying not to yell in frustration with himself.
Lothril frowned. "Legolas, that is impossible. You know that. And you did not fail. Do you hear me? You did not fail. She is in chains, I am alive and unscathed. The only other thing you could have done is lock me up in the dungeon."
"Do not even joke like that!"
"Then stop blaming yourself for not seeing the future and not thinking like a deluded crazy elleth," Lothril said gently.
Just then the door opened and Thranduil came in, shutting the door behind him. "The lords are going to meet us on the practice field right away. Legolas, if you do not wish to attend, that is fine, but then I must take Lothril with me now."
"I will go also," Legolas said resolutely. He was not overly fond of the idea of her being an executioner, but if she had no problem with it, he wouldn't stop her. However, he had a sneaking suspicion she had been a bit blindsided and was not exactly thrilled with the idea and he was determined to go and advocate for her if needed.
Thranduil gave a slight nod and the three of them took a door just a short ways further down the passage and on the right which led to a short hallway that ended with a door that opened up onto the main large hallway that led to the gate.
As if expected, there were guards present and waiting to escort them out onto the practice fields and servants waiting with thick cloaks for them to put on. Once cloaked, the royal family left through the gate and crossed the bridge and went down the cleared paths to the practice field. Everyone arrived essentially at the same time and Lothril got her first glimpse of what a council meeting looked like.
Lord Gwilithon called it order, a quick roll call was taken, and Lord Gwilithon informed the other council members that they were summoned here by advisement of himself and Lord Teithon as well as the recommendation of the king in order to observe a possible means of execution for the would-be assassin Thuringwen. As Lothril already knew full well why they were there, she closed her eyes and began singing softly until Lord Gwilithon asked her to step forward and explain what she was about to show them.
She hadn't quite been expecting to do that, so as she walked towards the front of the group where Lord Gwilithon was, she quickly thought through what she wanted to say before turning and facing the council.
"My lords, essentially what I am going to do is destroy a practice dummy and turn it to dust," she said. Simplicity seemed like the way to go with this. With that she turned towards the practice dummies and resumed her singing for a moment before making a throwing gesture at the dummy on the end. It immediately burst into dust and there was hardly a trace of it left.
"What will happen if you do that to a living creature?" one of the lords asked, she did not see which one.
"I honestly have no idea, if you are thinking in terms of what will be left. I have never used this against a living thing," Lothril answered.
"Do you think you would be able to?" Lord Gwilithon asked.
"If you mean that in terms of do I think it would work? Then the answer is I do. I know it would work. If you mean it in terms of would I myself be able to do it to someone, I do not know," she answered truthfully.
"It certainly seems like it would be quick and painless," Lord Teithon said. "And that well aligns with our laws."
"Indeed it does. Are there any more questions for Lady Lothril or about this method of execution?" Lord Gwilithon asked.
The answer came back negative and when he asked for a vote on whether or not this could be considered a viable option of execution for Thuringwen, the answer came back as all yeses with one abstain. With that, the impromptu council meeting was ended and everyone returned inside.
As soon as the three of them were back inside and in one of the private passageways Legolas said strongly, "I do not like the idea of Lothril being made an executioner."
"Well, I cannot say I am overly excited at the notion myself, but I am not sure I am any more fond of the notion of watching her head roll off her shoulders or watching her bleed out from an arrow or a stab wound to the heart either," Lothril replied. "I will kill orcs and foul monsters all day, but I do not like the thought of killing anything else."
"Then you do not have to," Thranduil said reassuringly. "It was simply an option I wished to explore and I thank you for indulging me so far as you did."
"You are welcome, I suppose, but I still am not overly fond of the idea of watching her be killed either," Lothril said. "I accept the fact that the laws are what they are, she was aware of them, she broke them, and now she must suffer the consequences for them. But I still do not much like it."
"You do not need to attend her execution," Thranduil said. "The only requirement is that one representative of the crown, the court, and the council be present at any given execution to see that it is carried out properly. I am the only one that needs to be there for the crown."
"I certainly plan on attending also, so you need not come," Legolas added.
"Thanks, but… well, I guess I have time to make up my mind yet," Lothril said.
"Lothril, this is all still very new for you and it is plain this entire trial has been a bit unsettling for you. Why do you not go up to your room and have Estelneth draw you a bath and summon a musician and you relax and put this all out of your mind. I shall tell the council you do not wish to be further involved in this matter and let this be the end of it for you," Thranduil said, putting an hand on her shoulder as they walked. "If you like, I shall even conceal from you the date and means of her execution and you need not ever be troubled by it again. She has caused you enough grief and pain. Do not let her bring you more now. Let it be done."
"I shall certainly have the bath and the musician, but the rest of it feels like cowardice," Lothril replied.
Thranduil stopped her and said, "No, it is not cowardice. It is proof you are yet young and though you have seen the horrors of war close at hand, you are still innocent enough to be troubled by troubling and hard things. There is no shame in that. Legolas and I are simply older and have seen these hard things play out many times over. It is not easy even for us, but we are used to it and it is a sorrow we have learned how to bear in our long years. You will learn how to bear such sorrows and bitter things soon enough. It need not be today. Let yourself be young and glad for a little while longer."
She nodded. "I will see you both later then."
"Take as long as you need," Legolas said softly, holding her hand.
She nodded and at the door that led to the hallway their rooms were on, she parted company with them.
"I think I would like a game of darts," Thranduil said.
"Darts?" Legolas asked with a raised brow.
"I know, but I think I am going to defer the decisions to the council and the court. I am entirely too close to this to be objective and I realized it when I had to bite my tongue when Gwilithon recommended a swift and soon execution," Thranduil said. "Personally, I like Lothril's suggestion of a slow, painful poison."
"I must say I am rather fond of that idea also," Legolas agreed as he opened the door to the game room. "Perhaps we can still persuade them in that direction."
Thranduil looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "Perhaps I shall give a recommendation from the crown but otherwise recuse myself from being involved. I am still viewed favorably by our people and I would like to maintain that until I abdicate."
"You are truly serious about abdicating?" Legolas asked as he shed a couple layers and draped them over a chair.
Thranduil nodded as he did the same and set his crown down on the billiards table. "I am. I will wait for word from you that you are making ready to sail and then I shall abdicate and come join you and help you build a ship. I have had a long reign and I dare say a very successful one, and I have been sundered from Lauríel too long. I need to see her again, Legolas. If you had not fallen in love with Lothril but all else was the same, I would have considered abdicating as soon as you returned home, but I stay now for you and Lothril. Fulfill your pledges to King Elessar, leave your mark upon Ithilien by making it a fair and good place, enjoy the first years with your wife, and then we shall all sail together."
"Truthfully Ada, I am grateful you are sailing with us. I do not think I could face Nane if you decided to stay behind," Legolas said as he lined up for his first throw.
"I would not ask you to unless it was to give her word I was in the next boat," Thranduil replied.
Legolas tossed his dart and as it thunked into the board he said, "Truly, the closer I draw to Lothril, the more amazed I become that you have tarried this long. I miss her terribly and I cannot imagine how it must be for you."
He looked down at the darts in his hand. "It is hard," he confessed. "However, we do still have our bond and though it feels thin it is still there and she is still with me, even if faintly. You will understand better when you wed."
"I am sure I will, and I am equally certain I will wonder more," Legolas said as he threw his last dart and stepped aside. Despite being distracted by conversation and really not focusing much on the game, he still left his father with a rather formidable score to beat.
Thranduil stepped into place and lined up for his shot. "You might at that. You will not have a kingdom you are ruling that is concerned about dragons to the north, nor will you have a shadow to the south and to the east that concerns you, nor will you have a son who is still in love with the woods and some of the parting words of his mother which were 'stay for him so he may find his beloved'."
"She said that?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil nodded. "She always swore faithfully she had no gift of foresight, but she was almost always right in her predictions. And I am glad I listened to her. There have been hard times in these last five hundred years, but seeing your joy with Lothril makes me glad I stayed and I am eager to share this joy with her when we sail."
"So am I. I know she will love her when she finally meets her," Legolas replied.
"Without a doubt," Thranduil said with a smile before throwing his dart.
-⸙-⸙-⸙-
A/N: To the Guest who asked if Legolas watched any detective shows while in our world - yes. At least one episode of Columbo (starring Peter Falk). *Maeglinien: means daughter of Maeglin. For those of you who aren't familiar with "The Silmarillion", I have mentioned Maeglin, Idril, and Tuor before, but here's the cliff notes with the story - Maeglin was an elf who fell in love with a female elf named Idril. She was in love with someone else and married him and instead of just dealing with it like literally every other elf whose love interest didn't reciprocate, he betrayed the great elven city/realm of Gondolin to freaking Morgoth (ie: Satan himself, basically) with the promise of once her husband was dead, he could have Idril and be king of Gondolin. (Which, if Maeglin had thought about it for all of two seconds, he would have realized this was a complete and total lie because literally the only elf ever allowed to remarry was Finwë and that was after Manwë said he could… and Idril had already rejected him, so…)
