The old ways

So, Haldir stayed in Mirkwood at my fathers court. My father used him like he would an unworthy servant, sending him to retrieve messages, bring messages, clean the stables, clean saddles or even for the lowest works in the kitchen. My love never complained, he did everything he was asked for, he wore his head high and showed everyone that it was not the work that makes a person being less than others but the attitude. We met only at official occasions, but it was enough to keep me going. He was near me and somewhere deep inside I still hoped that everything would work out for us. My father kept a close watch not only on Haldir but on me also. I knew that he only waited for us to slip and make a move towards each other, but no matter how often I was tempted, Haldir kept me at distance. The only thing we had, were the letters we wrote to onetherther. I believe my father knew about them, but they were always delivered and never tempered with.
Exactly one year later, the unbelievable happened. A small banquet was held in honour of my 1001st birthday and much to my dismay Haldir had been ordered to serve us at the table. It was embarrassing for me, but I pulled myself together and tried to ignore the stare of the others. Before dessert was served my father rose from his seat and addressed me "My dear Legolas, many have wished you well on this day and have gifted you with not only jewels and goods but also with their presence. Only I have been late with my gift, I am sorry for the delay, but I needed for all to be present. Please come here to me." I looked a bit awkwardly in some smiling and quizzical faces and moved to the seat of my father. When I reached him, he held a small wooden box in his hands. "This my son, comes from the very bottom of my heart and I hope it will conjure a smile on your face." I took the box, not knowing what to expect. As far as I could remember my father had never, in my hole life, given me anything 'from the bottom of his heart'. With slightly shaking fingers I untied the silver ribbon holding the box closed. I felt the stares of all, including Haldir, on me as I opened the box. Inside lay a piece of ivy about 15 inches long.
My heart was hammering and I felt all colour drain from my face as I flung myself at my father."
"Oh my God! Was it such a bad sign? What did it mean? Something like a death sentence?" Gimli sat upright in his chair.
"Oh no! No, Gimli! It was a very special gift. A piece of ivy is used during the elven bonding ceremony. In that moment I knew that my father had given us his consent, and was willing to accept Haldir into our family. He motioned to Haldir to join us, who still looked a bit confused, for he could not see what it was that caused my emotional outburst. Haldir moved across the room to join us and kept his distance, but my father reached for his hand only to put it into mine. He took the ivy from the box and wound it round our hands and wrists for everyone to see and announced that the crown prince and Haldir of Lorien were to bound for life.

Gimli blinked and tried to wipe a few tears from his eyes, hoping the elf wouldn't notice it.
"And so you got married?"
"Oh no!" Legolas laughed. Many years passed until that day and many events. My father wouldn't let anybody else plan our wedding. In the end it was decided that the main ceremony was to be held in Rivendell where Lord Elrond would take our vows. From there we would travel to Lorien, Haldir's home and last but not least a large feast and ball in Mirkwood. But until that day many things happened."
"When did the idea with the child come up? Was it Haldir's idea?"
"Actually no. I think my father was one who brought it up. Even though he never spoke of it. It was a real problem for him. Of course we could adopt a child, but I think deep in his heart he wanted it to be a real son of Thranduil. He must have talked about this with Gandalf and Elrond but he never uttered a word about it. Anyway one day I wanted to speak to my father and went to his study and library, but he wasn't there. Strewn all over the place were open books and scrolls, very unusual for him. My father is rather fussy when it comes to documents. I decided to wait for him and threw a glance at the papers. One was titled 'Male born children', the next 'Fertility of a male elf', 'Pregnancy among elves' and 'The physical endurance for a male in order to be prepared'. Those were odd titles and I sat down to read some it. All were about the same issue; the possibility to get a male elf fertile in order to carry children. Same gender couples were and still are quite normal among elves. Though after the wars during the first age and the problem of the low population of elves due to the slow reproduction rate, many wise alchemists and healer had pondered about the idea of pregnancy for males. At first I was excited about it, until I read about the procedure. I can tell you, it sounded not very pleasant. Rather painful and somehow disturbing. Parts of the body were to be accessed that I don't want to talk about.
Still, somehow the idea had planted itself somewhere in my head. On the other hand it took another 434 years until we got married. Mirkwood was threatened more than once in that time, Lothlorien was under attack and a marriage of a Mirkwood prince wbviobviously nothing my father would allow without the proper preparation."
"Oh my, so long. How did you manage for all that time? Were you allowed to be together? I mean you didn't have to stay chaste all the time, did you?" Gimli looked shocked.
Legolas leaned back and laughed. "No, we didn't have to stay chaste. Although it came to us as a surprise. In the beginning we had our separate bedrooms, but after some time my father came to me and asked me to follow him. He led me down a winding corridor to lower part of the vast caves, in which Thranduil's halls are build, until we arrived in front of a large wooden door. Haldir was already there waiting for us. We threw a glance at each other but neither of us knew what this was all about. To my astonishment, my father grinned slightly and handed me a key. I looked at him questioningly, but he only nodded towards the door. So I unlocked it and opened it hesitantly. I can remember very clearly that it was one of the rare moments that I was completely speechless. Behind that door lay a beautiful room, warm and full of light, which came in through specially build canals that lead form the caves to the outside," Gimli nodded knowingly as Legolas continued " the furniture and decorations were in the finest shades of green and gold, like the forest and a little spring ran from the right far wall to a little pool in the middle of the room and on to the opposite end only to disappear in the ground. The ground beneath the little stream and pool glittered as if it was made of emeralds. Opposite of the entrance door there was another door leading to a large bedroom decorated in shades of blue and silver like the night. When I think about it now, I suspect that my father had hoped that Haldir and I would make our permanent home at Mirkwood. But anyway, we were absolutely taken aback. My father hushed us inside and threw us an amused smile. 'I hope you two feel comfortable here. It is a little off, but I presume you don't mind, and we won't disturb you or you us. Make yourselves at home and I wish you many happy days and nights from now on. Oh, I have already ordered your belongings down hear, so you don't have to busy yourself with that. And Haldir, you are of course relieved of all your duties, you used to have. But I would be very grateful if you could join my guards for the remains of your stay.'