Hello everyone! I know that its been literally five years since I finished this fic, but for reasons unbekownst to me its spiriit breaifly reposessed me and demanded that I do the final chapter again, but this time for Thranduils POV.
So, this is that.
I hope you enjoy.

"Not too much farther now," Legolas said, glancing back only momentarily, just long enough to ensure that Galion and his father were still following close behind. Thranduil with a deep hood pulled over his head in order to hide his easily identifiable blond hair, lest anybody he used to know in Menegroth recognize him and try starting a conversation before their mission was completed.

Legolas had done his best to lead them through the parts of the city that would be the most deserted, even one a wonderful warm summer morning. Even so he was unable to keep the three of them completely hidden away and occasionally a welcoming voice would drift from an open storefront, pleased and surprised to see Prince Legolas.

For perhaps the third time in his entire life, Legolas managed to keep himself from becoming distracted or sidetracked by any of the cheerful elves around them. They passed by a few stalls set up on the street-side to sell various different handcrafted items and garden fresh fruits.

"No fruits for you today, Prince Legolas?" One of the merchants seemed genuinely shocked by this turn of events, "You must be ill!"

"Not ill!" Legolas called back to the merchant without slowing his pace, "I'm in a hurry this morning, but I'll be sure to stop by before I leave the city again!"

Two winding streets and a back alley later, Legolas unlatched what appeared to be a side gate of a property of not insignificant size.

Leaving the gate open behind him, Leoglas quickly vanished up a small set of curved stone steps, taking them two at a time in his excitement and haste to reach his destination.

"Doing okay?" Galion asked softly to Thranduil, momentarily using his admittedly smaller body to block the entrance to the property from his friend and King.

"I think I might be sick at any moment, I was almost sick three times since we even entered the city." Thranduil grumbled, pushing past Galion with minimal effort, "But other than that I'm fantastic."

"Well, whatever you do, don't be sick directly onto him." Closing the gate softly behind them, Galion tried to suppress a smile, "What a reunion that would be."

"Might make it better than the one I'm about to have," Thranduil replied, stomping up the stairs without an ounce of good cheer and humor that Galion was practically overflowing with

"Oh stop it, you're being dramatic."

A fact that Legolas agreed wholeheartedly with and had been reminding Thranduil of nearly every hour on the hour for the entire journey to the city that Oropher had decided to call his home in Valinor. When he wasn't calling his father dramatic, Legolas was doing his best to convince him that Oropher had been anticipating this day even more than Thranduil was.

It hadn't made him feel any better, or any less dramatic.

By the time Thranduil and Galion had also ascended the winding stairs leading from the gate, Legolas had already made it to the end of the walkway and was in the process of opening the door without knocking.

He left it open behind himself with equal disregard.

"Grandada? Are you home?" They could hear Legolas calling in the house as the two older elves made a significantly more measured approach to the front door. Thranduil lagging behind Galion, the nervousness adding twenty pounds to each one of his ten toes.

Since the day of his coronation, Thranduil had never managed to successfully care what anybody other than his people had to say about him being King Thranduil of Greenwood The Great, and all of the actions taken while bearing the title. A few times he'd been a bit miffed or a touch taken aback by a comment made about him, but it never lasted longer than a few days because ultimately he simply didn't care.

He didn't care about their opinions, their views, and quite frankly he didn't care about most of them as living creatures.

Orophers opinions however… meant more to Thranduil than his opinions of himself. Much more. A fact that had been much easier to ignore and refuse to acknowledge before Oropher had died, when he had still been around to guide Thranduil with those opinions. After he left for the Halls of Mandos, it had practically become a passtime of Thranduil's too worry how far he'd led himself, his family, and his people astray from where his father would have.

He lay awake at night thinking about all of his endless mistakes, wondering what his father would think and say of them. Fearing that the mistakes would be too great to ever even look Oropher in the eyes again.

Galion stepped inside the home, stopping just inside the doorway when an elf who was definitely not King Oropher had appeared at the top of a staircase that led to the second floor, "Prince Legolas! I thought I heard your voice, though I did not dare believe my ears. I thought that the next scheduled trip was for King Oropher to make to you?"

Galion had been Thranduil's personal attendant long enough to recognize another elf of the same occupation by nothing more than their posture in under five seconds; he did not need a single one of those five seconds before immediately knowing that whoever this elf was was in charge of maintaining order in the household. A job that was taken extremely seriously, if the uncomfortably straight and wrinkle free robes were anything to go by.

Reaching outside of the doorway, Galion grabbed Thranduil by the wrist and dragged him somewhat subtly through the threshold of the house.

"Arahaeldor," Legolas greeted with obvious and genuine cheer, continuing on his way up the stairs where Arahaeldor met him halfway on a small landing. The two shared a brief but clearly affectionate and customary embrace. "You're correct, it is his turn to do the visiting. He does not know that I am here, I don't suppose you're aware of his whereabouts?"

"Not his exact whereabouts, no." Thranduil didn't miss the scrutinizing that Arahaeldor gave to him and Galion, and then him again. It was then that Thranduil remembered that he still had the hood pulled over his head. "But I'm sure it would not take too long to locate him should there be a need to find him quickly. Is there a need to locate him quickly?"

"There is, yes. As quick as possible."

Araheldor held a fisted hand over his heart and gave a small bow of acknowledgement, "Where should I tell the messengers he should meet you?"

"Upstairs. Tell him that it's urgent, please."

"Of course, my prince. It will be done at once."

Without another word or even a sniff in the direction of the new visitors, Araheldor vanished back the way that he had originally appeared from. With a grin on his face and in his voice, Legolas gestured for the two lining by the doorway to follow him further inside, "Well come on then, unless you plan to ambush him in the doorway upon his arrival."

Galion turned to look at Thranduil again, choosing not to comment on how pale his King suddenly looked. Choosing instead to close the door gently behind them and push Thranduil in the direction of the staircase much less gently. Thranduil went forward reluctantly, his mixed emotions about being reunited with Oropher becoming more potent with every minute the reunion drew nearer.

The pair reached the top of the first staircase, Legolas' voice drifted to them from somewhere above, "One more floor up, first door on the right."

They followed the instructions, finding Legolas standing in a reasonably sized but incredibly serene and warm feeling bedroom.

The wall farthest to the door was taken up by a set of double mostly glass doors that led out to a balcony that overlooked a larger garden below, the doors were sandwiched between much smaller green and clear stained glass windows.

The wall to the right of the balcony had a small fireplace with several chairs arranged in front of them, clearly used to company, and a small desk and chairs. To the left of the balcony was a large featherbed and several softly woven blankets. Most other wall space was taken up either by large potted plants, paintings, or bookshelves filled with books and trinkets.

Hanging from the ceiling were half a dozen large potted plants, their different colored flowers and vines weaving across the ceiling and lazing across the tops of bookshelves and drapes.

"He insisted that I have my own room, instead of just staying wherever other guests might. Decorated it himself." Legoas was already smiling a little at the memory before saying it outloud, "When he showed it to me on my second visit, he was so nervous I thought he might be sick."

"Hmm, who does that remind you of?" Galion mused to the room as a whole.

"Later, Arahaeldor told me that he'd spent months rearranging and redecorating it himself until he'd finally locked the door and gave the key to Arahaeldor to keep from him or else he would never stop."

The story put a few of the anxieties still gnawing on Thranduil's insides to rest, "According to Uncle Thingol, when Nana found out that she was pregnant he did the exact same thing with my nursery room."

"What's this?" Galion, who had been perusing the shelves leisurely, asked while Thranduil continued to stand frozen just to the right of the doorway. Still trapped in an invisible prison of the varying anxieties that still remained inside, gnawing happily.

"It is my Thirty-Seventh place ribbon from a fishing competition that I made Grandada join with me, only somewhat reluctantly I should add." Legolas picked it up fondly, slowly running his fingers over the vaguely crinkly ribbon.

"The rules said you could only use one hand each to catch the fish and no other tools. His shoe got stuck in the mud at one point and it took us both several minutes to get his foot free, the mud kept the shoe the end of the competition we were both laughing so hard we could barely stand upright, we had to crawl out of the lake."

Even through all of his nervousness, Thranduil managed to crack a hint of a small smile at that. If anybody could convince proud King Oropher to try and catch a bunch of fish with only one hand, of course it was Legolas. Of course Legola already had his Grandfather thoroughly wrapped around any finger he wanted.

Galion accepted the ribbon for inspections before placing it back where it belonged, "I did not know that a Thirty-Seventh place ribbon even existed, or had ever existed for that matter."

"Oh, it doesn't," Legolas answered with a laugh. "Glorfindel made them because, and I quote 'An attempt that valiant deserves recognition, regardless of results.'"

Galion was about to ask about another item on the shelf when the entirety of Legolas' face lit up, he dashed to one of the windows while telling the others "I think I hear him!"

It had been so long since either of them had heard his voice, so it took Thranduil and Galion a few more moments before they were also able to identify Oropher's occasional frantically shouted apologies. It took them several more moments to realize that the sounds that had accompanied the shouting was the sound of Oropher running as quickly as his legs could carry him down the crowded street at the front of the house.

The one that Legolas has worked so diligently to keep them away from.

The door to the house banged open, and judging by how quickly footsteps began to ascend the stairs, it would likely remain that way.

Oropher spilled into the room.

In his haste and concern to reach Legolas, he didn't yet notice that Thranduil and Galion were standing on the other side of the room.

He came to stand in front of Legolas, reaching a hand out to touch his grandson's face. First resting against his forehead like one might do to check a fever on a young child, and then coming to rest lightly and lovingly against his cheek, "Legolas, what's wrong?"

Legolas' own hand came up to rest against Orophers, his smile was tinged with a bit of guilt, "Nothing. I'm alright, I promise. I just wanted to get you here quickly."

Not taking his word for it, Thranduil watched as Oropher took his hand back from Legolas' face and forced him to turn in a circle to briefly inspect every inch of him, just to make sure.

The same way that Thranduil could remember doing with him when he was young.

Seeing his son and his father interact, even for just a minute, was nearly enough to bring Thranduil to tears. Even if Oropher didn't approve of anything else that he had done, even if he disagreed with every decision he'd made as King or as a person it wouldn't matter. Not really. Because in Thranduil's humble opinion, his best and most important achievement was Legolas, and it was clear that his father more than approved of his Grandson.

Now that his father was standing in the same room as him again, Thranduil realized that was all that he really wanted. He just wanted his father to see all the same wonderful things in Legolas that he did.

Taking one last look scrutinizing over Legolas, Oropher said, "Well, I'm here."

The words spilled out of Thranduil before he was aware they had even climbed onto his tongue. "Yes. So am I."

Everything in the room froze; the air immobile with silence.

"Thranduil." Oropher breathed, whipping around to set eyes on his son, but otherwise seemed as rooted in one spot as Thranduil was.

Fearing he might be swallowed up by uncertainty, Thranduil glanced over to Legolas for encouragement for a fraction of a second, and then back to Oropher, "Hello, Adar."

Oropher looked like he wanted to say a great many things all at once, but all that came out was a somewhat broken, "I'm so sorry, oh my son, I'm so sorry."

Then, he was moving forwards.

Oropher met him halfway.

Thranduil lost every drop of composure that Eru had ever blessed him with the moment his fathers arms wrapped around him.

How many times had he longed to have his father back? To receive the comfort of his embrace? To know that he was home, that he was safe, that everything was alright?

To know that his father still loved him, no matter what had happened?

Countless.

Countless times.

So many times that it seemed Thranduil's body was at a loss for what else to do other than shed a tear for every instance he'd been left longing for this moment.

Oropher's strong hand cradled the back of Thranduil's head and neck, as he held him against his chest, somewhat muffling the occasional sobs that managed to escape.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you, I'm sorry I didn't listen, I'm sorry that I'm a prideful idiot sometimes." Oropher managed to pull Thranduil a fraction closer, and kissed the top of his head, "I'm so proud of you. You've done so well. I'm in awe of you."

"It's alright, Adar. We all make mistakes." Still enjoying the comfort of his fathers arms, Thranduil didn't hasten to pull away, "And your mistakes were made a world away, both time and distance."

The two held each other tightly a little while longer, as Thranduil finally settled a measure of composure over himself. The sobs dwindling to small sniffs.

Legolas' voice drifted over to them from where he still stood by the window he'd watched Oropher approach from, "Told you."

Thranduil got the distinct impression that Legolas' teasing words were meant for the both of them.

"Yes, well, you know as well as I that sometimes no matter how many times you tell the Greenwood Royals anything, they must still figure it out for themselves." Galion added, not from where he had been the last time Thranduil had been aware of him but from where he had gone to stand next to Legolas, arms causally linked together.

The surprise was enough to finally pull Oropher's attention away from Thranduil, if for just the moment, "Galion!"

Galion gave an extremely poor imitation of a bow, "My Lord Oropher."

Oropher barked a laugh, one part surprise and two parts relief, "When Thranduil told me that he hired the same elf that had gotten fired for losing his temper and his tongue, I admit, I was worried. I didn't think that you would last a week."

"He deserved it," Galion laughed, "Also, you had a right to worry."

"Certainly, just not for the reasons that I had initially thought. It is good to see you, Galion. Thank you, for everything that you've done."

Galion flipped some of his dark hair over his shoulder, "No thanks necessary, I'm only here because Thranduil pays me." He looked over to his right where Legoals still stood next to him, arms loosely linked together, "Well, that and I love my Little Prince too much to leave him."

"Yes, well," Legolas copied Galion's previous gesture and flicked some of his blond hair and nonchalantly tossed his blond hair over his shoulder, "Who could possibly resist loving me?"

Oropher turned back to Thranduil and said with raw sincerity, "You've raised an amazing son."

"He was amazing all on his own," Thranduil cleared his throat so that the next words wouldn't have to fight through the impressively sized lump that had suddenly developed there, "I just kept him from getting himself killed."

"No easy task, I've come to learn."

"No. No it is not."

Legolas scoffed, "And yet, here I still stand."

"Yes," Thrandul agreed, looking back at Legolas, beyond pleased and comforted to finally be on the same continent again, "Finally, there you stand."

The next time Legolas spoke it was directed to Orpher, "I'm returning home first thing tomorrow morning, but Ada said-"

Oropher didn't need to hear the rest of the sentence, "I'll go with you."

Legolas turned a sly grin to Thranduil, "Told you."

Ignoring his son, Thranduil turned his full attention back to Oropher, "Lady Yavanna is growing us a home to live in, her own offer, it might even be done by the time we return. As long as you can stand to be under the same canopy as a dwarf, that is."

"For my family? Anything." Orpher answered without any hesitation, but added after a soft look in Legolas' direction, "Besides, I suppose the dwarf isn't that bad."

"At least we'll be easier to find when the rest of our family is released from the halls. So I don't break any of their friends by accident." Legolas made a slightly disgusted face, "Well, not technically by accident."

Thranduil couldn't keep himself from laughing at the comment, his spirits much too high to stifle any additional joy, "I'm still a bit disappointed that I missed that."

"He's still a bit scared of you," Oropher told his grandson matter of factly.

Legolas was not even remotely remorseful "Good."

Oropher looked back to Thranduil, who saw a few familiar worry lines in his fathers face, "Speaking of family, Thranduil, where is Ferdan? Do not tell me-"

"No, no." Thranduil quickly reassured, "Ferdan is as strubbornly alive as ever, he's scouring every single available and unavailable surface for any trace of his younger siblings and cousins. I told him that when we return we-

"Of course we'll help him look," The relief was obvious in both Oropher's face and his tone, "I should have known better than to think Ferdan would allow himself to be separated from you, by Mandos or any other means."

"You really should have known," Legolas agreed, "Uncle Ferdan's iron will is the only thing stronger than the will of Eru, I think."

The three older elves in the room all laughed heartily at his comment, sharing a few nods of agreement, "Good to know that not a single thing about him has changed, then."

"Ferdan has changed," Galion objected, "He's three times more irritating than he was the last time you were in his company and he's got anywhere from twenty to four-hundred and fifty seven new scars."

"Galion, are you under the misguided notion that you have not also gotten more irritating in the last two thousand years?" Thranduil asked, with complete and utter disbelief.

Galion narrowed his eyes to accusatory slits, "Did you ever think that perhaps the common denominator between Ferdan and I becoming steadily more miserable is you, Dear King?"

Thranduil raised a single eyebrow, "The relentless war with Dol Guldur had nothing to do with it?"

"Nothing at all," Galion said, as confident as ever, "Not a single thing, in fact."

"Uh-huh."

"Come," Oropher gestured for all of them to go through the doorway, "We all have much to catch up on, let us go find somewhere more comfortable to settle ourselves."

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you liked the update.
I would love to hear your thoughts on it, and what your favorite part(s) were! Have a good day and stay safe out there!