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A liaison in the Great Greenwood	By : Azukiel Category: +Third Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 7953 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any copyright to the Tolkien/ Middle-Earth fandom, nor to any of his canon characters or languages. I do not make any money from this fanfiction. Original characters however, are my property.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Legolas felt a wave of warm air wash over him as he entered the tent after his father. It was the first time Legolas had entered his father's tent since he had arrived.
Though it was more spacious than his own, which was expected as his father was the king, Legolas was rather surprised with how scarce its furnishings were.
The inside of the tent was a deep beryl green, a reminder of the foliage of the forest he called home. Two large emerald banners, outlined with golden thread and bearing his father's insignia hung upon opposite sides of the area. There were flaming braziers positioned around where the king moved about the most. The back left corner was sectioned off by a large, engraved mahogany divider which separated the king's sleeping and bathing area from the openness of the rest of the room.
To the right of the entrance where Legolas now waited, stood a rather miraculous and polished set of armour. It stood proudly upon its stand where the engravings of vines upon the steel shimmered from the auburn glow of the braziers. His father's armour was truly a masterpiece of Elven craftsmanship and was much deserving of such an adept warrior.
Legolas continued to stand at attention by the entrance, his demeanour somewhat nervous as he had began to shift on his feet. Thranduil had sensed this easily enough, and did well to hide his amused grin as he walked over to a simple table where upon it sat a flask of wine, a gilded teapot and some glasses and cups.
"Iôn nin, you do not need to ask for permission to be seated." Thranduil smiled warmly as he opened a small canister of herbal tea leaves to make a brew.
"V...very well, adar." Legolas stammered as he went to sit on the small sofa his father had motioned to then.
"I would offer you more wine, but I think you have had more than enough..." The king smiled, amused as he turned his head slightly to look back at his princeling. The pointed tips of the young ellon's ears were still bright red from the effects of the wine, as were his cheeks still a rosy hue; partially from his previous embarrassment as well.
"And so," His father continued as he stirred the pot. "You will have to make do with tea instead."
"Of course." Legolas smiled nervously in return as he took the cups from his father and placed them on the small table between them.
"Allow the tea to brew a little longer." Thranduil said as he too placed down the small pot, and took a seat on the sofa opposite the prince.
"Now, iôn nin, I know much is on your mind and it pains me to see you so troubled. Please, do not feel embarrassed or uncomfortable to share what ails you with your old ada."
Legolas gave a small smile of relief at his father's warm and casual words. Yet he could not help but still feel slightly hesitant in his father's regal presence. Perhaps it was that regality, that acknowledgement of superiority of a father over a child, a sovereign over his subject, which kept him unsure of himself. Though something else entirely was indeed making him flush once more.
"Adar....díheno nin..." Legolas lowered his eyes then, feeling ashamed. Thranduil looked upon him as a slightly perplexed expression crossed his face.
"What for?"
"For the rather....uncouth conversation that you were unfortunate enough to overhear...." Legolas' voice lowered slightly as he began to wring his hands together.
"You are already aware of the fact that the Lady Adlanniel and I have pledged ourselves to each other...in the physical sense...."
"That, I am." Thranduil confirmed as he leant forward to pour the tea before them, allowing his son to continue.
"I want to apologise for the fact that we both...." Legolas gulped then, almost too frightened to say the word he wanted to say.
"Av'osto Legolas. Bedo." Thranduil gave a reassuring smile as he handed the prince a cup.
Legolas took a sip of the herbal brew to help clear his throat and his mind. "For the fact that we both deflowered each other, despite the culture and traditions of our people. We disgraced the Eldar, and at such a young age....and continue to do so...." He continued meekly, his eyes still downcast. Thranduil was surprised that Legolas would apologise for this that he was already aware of, especially considering his son knew that he too was not entirely innocent. Yet the sincerity of it warmed his heart.
"Avo drasto, iôn nin." A grin crossed his face then in amusement. "I had been even younger than you when I had lost my innocence."
Legolas raised his head, his eyes wide with surprise and somewhat with embarrassment. The expression on his face made his father chuckle at him.
"Now, as I had just said, do not worry yourself of such a thing. What was done was done and there is no point in worrying about something you cannot change." Thranduil then changed his expression to a more serious, yet compassionate one.
"Now tell me, henig, what truly ails you so?"
"Well adar, this whole situation we are in and facing daily makes me constantly dread what is to come in the future." Legolas began as he lowered his tired eyes.
"Do we even have a future, with war constantly raging? Will this world ever be a place where war and death does not exist? Why is it that we are so inclined to kill each other? I just cannot comprehend it..."
"Indeed, it is a rather complex subject." Thranduil sighed, understanding his son's feelings exactly.
"Wars are waged to gain power over those deemed subordinate as the hunger to rule and dominate others can consume some. Yet, at times, war is waged to obtain land for one's people to cultivate or exploit when they have abused their own. Other wars are raged due to petty grudges, or to force one's beliefs onto others. Though do all these reasons justify it?" His father asked.
"I do not believe anything justifies the senseless killing of others." Legolas furrowed his brow slightly at the mere thought.
"And that is why, Legolas, it is up to us to know to do what is 'right' in the better sense of the word."
"But what is right, ada? What I believe to be right may not be 'right' to the enemy that I face."
"Exactly, Legolas. Therein lies the dilemma of war."
"So what am I to do? Every time I have killed I have felt part of me die as well, like there has been no meaning to it all...."
"I understand, iôn nin. I felt the same way during my first true battle. War affects the heart greatly, but we must not allow it to destroy the essence of who we really and truly are. You must keep your mind focussed on what is before you and how to overcome it. You must allow these experiences, no matter how difficult, to help you grow to be a better person and to help you better understand the importance of life."
"Is life truly important, ada? Killing each other does not make us great..."
"Indeed, it does not Legolas. Think upon this; Though you must defend your homeland, is all the senseless slaughter that comes with it truly necessary? Are you killing enemies that threaten to bring destruction to your land or are those you are fighting simply pawns, in this game of war, merely following the orders they are given? Perhaps they have had no choice but to fight for the one who rules them...Taking a life is simple, Legolas. However, sparing one and knowing when to show mercy is what makes us truly great."
Legolas nodded slowly as he allowed his father's wisdom to sink in.
"Yet, I feel that it is too late for me to accomplish such greatness...I feel that my heart has completely withered and faded away..." Legolas sighed dolefully.
Thranduil, having looked to him empathetically and with compassion, moved to sit beside his son.
"It has not Legolas." The king said, his tone gentle as he placed a hand upon his son's shoulder. "If you had no heart then you would not be wearing this still." Thranduil took into his fingers the small diamond that hung from the golden chain around the prince's neck.
"This," Thranduil continued as he held up the diamond a little higher so that Legolas could look upon it. "Is where you should focus your heart, and this," Thranduil then took his son gently by the jaw and turned his head to face eastward towards the enemy camp. "Is where you should focus your head; focus on what is in front of you."
Legolas nodded slowly. "Am I even capable of such things any more?" His voice drifted mindlessly as he stared off into nothingness.
Such words pulled at the Elvenking's heart, for seeing his son so despondent saddened him immensely. Though he and Legolas no longer showed each other much in regards to physical affection, Thranduil placed his hand on the back of his son's head and softly stroked his golden hair; the same way he had used to when Legolas had still been an elfling and had often begged for his father's love. Legolas turned to look at his father then, his heart twisting at his father's touch, his eyes reddening with tears. It was not until that moment that he realised how much he had missed him.
"Diheno nin, adar. Here I am, all teary eyed like some spoilt brat of a child. What a great heir I shall turn out to be...I do nothing but bring shame to your great house and fail you as a son." His voice sounded frustrated as he hastily wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Oh Legolas...." Thranduil began as he took his son's face into his hands and gazed into his eyes sadly but not without adoration for his only child. "Do not ever think such thoughts. You have grown into such a fine and honourable young ellon. No words in our language nor that of any other in this world can describe how proud I am of you. My dear little Greenleaf...henig...ionneg..." Thranduil himself had to strain desperately to withhold tears of tenderness for his son, knowing that now he had to be the pillar of support for the prince to lean on.
"Offering to lead the army in my stead was a huge step for you. It proved to me that you were ready to defend Arda, our realm and all that we hold dear. It showed me that I had not failed entirely as a parent...that you were finally ready to leave the nest and spread your wings."
"Yet I fell out of the tree and broke my wings in the process...."
"No, Legolas, you did not. You soared like an eagle. I have heard nothing but praise and admiration for your valour from those I have spoken to since I arrived here."
"Who?" Legolas sniffed. "Haldir and Glorfindel?" He asked. His father nodded.
"They will say anything to please you..."
Thranduil looked down at the prince, surprised. His expression then turned stern. "Legolas, I know how you feel, but you should give yourself more credit. I too have seen your skills here and they are miraculous, a sign that I have trained you well. Do not put yourself down again."
Legolas nodded guiltily before he let out a long sigh. "I may have been ready to defend Arda, but Adlanniel did not seem to think so..."
The king's expression softened once more. "Indeed, females often think differently to we males. It is in their maternal instincts to fiercely shelter those they love, often going to great and harsh lengths to do so."
"But she has been so cold towards me in her letters, ada. And you know how she behaved before I left...I felt so broken...and though we managed our farewells....." His voice began to shake again as he once more strained to hold back his tears. "I cannot help but feel that she is drifting away from me, like I am losing her. Some of her words were so bleak...bitter...I do not know what to do...She is my world...I cannot lose her...I will wither away and die..." Salty tears were flowing down his pale cheeks now and he made no effort to stop them. The mere thought of his beautiful elleth; of how much he missed her and needed her, of how badly he felt for causing her so much despair, and of how horribly he felt for having caused all their woes, brought him to breaking point.
Thranduil felt a tight knot form in his throat at his son's desperate words. The guilt he now felt was terrible for he knew that he had played a large part in causing the young elleth's growing chasm and thus his son's own despair. Adlanniel and Legolas' relationship was like that of two vines of ivy; they had grown together over the long years, and had become so entwined that if anything were to try to separate them, they would surely wither and fade.
Thranduil looked away as the prince began weeping into his hands, trying desperately himself to hold back the tears of guilt and pain that threatened to undermine him. Under no circumstances could he allow his son to see him weep, and under no cost could he allow the prince to see into his window of vulnerability. Taking a deep breath he turned back to the prince whose tears were wracking at him mercilessly. Thranduil had, in a great part, caused this pain and now it was his duty to bring it to an end. Gazing sympathetically at the broken hearted prince, he opened his arms tenderly. "Come." He beckoned gently. Legolas, looking up at him then, his face reddened and wet, was a little taken aback at such an offer. He could not remember the last time he had felt his father's arms around him. Yet he did not hesitate, for in his weakness and despair he needed so desperately his father's comfort. The fact that Legolas was fully grown did not prevent Thranduil from pulling the prince into his lap to embrace him, just like he had used to when the prince had still been a child. Nothing could break that paternal affection he had buried deep within him for his son.
"Diheno nin, adar....diheno nin..." Legolas wept into his father's shoulder. Even he himself could not comprehend why he felt so horribly overwhelmed and emotional for it was not in his nature.
"Do not apologise, ionneg. We all have a limit to what we can handle. Even the strongest of hearts can break." His father said gently, as he began to stroke the prince's hair once more. His touch seemed to bring the young ellon some form of comfort.
"But I am crying like a coward..." Legolas sobbed.
"No..." Thranduil reassured as he rested his chin upon the prince's head and pulled him in closer. "Áva nainuvalyë; an lá ilyë níreli nar úmiéo, Legolas." With those words he kissed the prince softly on the crown of his head. Legolas, rather touched and surprised by his father's words, looked up to him with adoring eyes.
"Adar....." Legolas could see how saddened his father's expression had now become. Something had indeed struck his heart; some old wound reopened.
"Those are the words my father had shared with me once, a long time ago, when I too had fallen into despair and ruin...."
Legolas continued to gaze at his father, absorbing his words, his own despair now turning to pity. Indeed, he knew that his father had suffered much in his long life, much more than he ever had.
"During our skirmish by the outskirts of Dagorlad...when the wraiths of our kin rose up to devour us; we whom had dared to disturb their already tormented existence...." Legolas began slowly as he stared off into the dancing flames of a nearby brazier, "I had thought I had seen Aran Oropher, your father...my grandfather....No, I am certain of it."
Thranduil looked down at him surprised for this was the first time Legolas had revealed such news. But he remained silent and allowed the prince to continue.
"We had been trying to retreat as we had managed to push the enemy behind...the rotting flesh of the ghouls had been everywhere, engulfing us. I had never smelt nor felt such horrid death as I had then....nor had I ever been so terrified. They had been your kin, adar, our brethren...yet they took into their clutches any whom came within range, despite alliance. They took more of our brothers into their depths. Despite it all I could not help but feel such sorrow and pain for them, that they would be tormented to dwell there for eternity, never able to cross into the Halls of Mandos." Legolas lowered his eyes and tightened his father's grip around him at the memory, his father's warmth his only solace as he reminisced the pain. Though he was listening intently, Thranduil's eyes too gazed off into the distance. His son's words brought back so many horrific memories of that time, of that fateful war where he had lost so much.
"As I was pulling my soldiers to retreat, I saw a figure standing alone, not so far from where I had been, staring back at me." Legolas continued, his eyes still downcast.
"His image was ethereal, and he was tall and strong like you, and not rotting like the other spirits surrounding us. His hair was long and silver and flowed from the wind and upon his head he wore a crown of silver....I saw that on his armour he bore the sigil of the beech tree....."
These words made Thranduil's breath hitch painfully in his throat. His father's name had meant 'Tall beech tree' in Doriathrin, and thus he had adopted the beech tree as his own sigil. The lone spirit that Legolas described had indeed been his ill fated father.
"He stared at me, ada, his eyes were so pained, so sad.....and full of....regret....."
Thranduil too lowered his eyes then, and as he did so his eyes met with Legolas' saddened gaze. The prince knew then, by his father's now sullen expression, that his tale had been painful.
"I know the story of the Battle of Dagorlad, ada, but please.....tell me what truly happened...."

"Well...." His father sighed as he rested his chin upon the prince's head once more.
"You already know that there had been no love lost between we Sindar and the Noldor."
"Indeed, I am well aware..."
"Thus you know as to why my father and Aran Amdir of Lorien had refused to march under Gil-Galad, a Noldorim's orders. Despite the fact that due to my upbringing I too was not overly fond of the Noldor, I did not despise them and I had respected Gil-Galad. He had always been amiable towards me when I visited Forlindon. But my father....he still held within his heart the bitterness of that old feud....I could not blame him entirely for it, for I had not been born at that time and thus could not understand the deepness of the hatred that had rooted itself within him....but I sorely blamed that bitterness and irrational stubbornness for causing his inevitable downfall....and the wasteful deaths of so many of our kin. I had tried to reason with him and Aran Amdir, tried to tell them that a pre-emptive strike would be suicide; that we had not discussed a plan for such and were ill equipped compared to our Noldorin counterparts, but neither of them heeded my words. I was just a young buck who knew nothing to them. I remember looking over to Lord Elrond, who was up the way from where we had been positioned...and when our eyes met he knew something was wrong. Perhaps my own eyes had portrayed that. But...." Thranduil let out a long sigh then, embracing his son tighter as he too needed some comfort, "It was too late. Before I could react my adar and Aran Amdir had already charged into the field with their soldiers. I could have kept those in my charge from making such a horrid mistake, and I did hesitate Legolas....but Oropher...he was my adar...I was fiercely loyal to him...what was I supposed to do in such a situation? He was the only family I had then..."
"You had been put between a rock and a hard place..." Legolas sympathised, knowing it was painful for his father to share such knowledge.
"Indeed..." Thranduil sighed before continuing. "Do I betray my adar, the one who had brought me into this world and had cared for and nurtured me for millennia, knowing that his decision had been rash and would likely lead to my death? Or do I choose not to try to protect him from this horrid mistake he had made, and betray him? Though I should have listened to logic, I chose to follow my heart and I followed them blindly onto the battlefield. As you know, we had lost over half of our forces. So many lives lost, and for what? A king's stubborn pride and a grudge that he had held onto for far too long? I had tried in vain to protect my adar, but we were outnumbered and too ill-equipped as I had said, and I had to watch his life slowly ebb away..." Thranduil took in a deep breath as the memory replayed itself in his mind. He felt his voice strain as he continued. "He died in my arms." Thranduil's eyes reddened then with tears, but he had shed enough for that pain and dared not let them fall again; his son was shedding the tears for him.
"Yet it was his last words to me that I remember so prominently. He had begged me not to make the same mistakes he had made, and told me some of what I have already told you; to listen to reason and think with your mind." Thranduil raised Legolas' chin and gently wiped his tears away then, gazing fondly into the prince's cerulean eyes. "He also told me to be a better father than he had been...and I promise you, iôn, I have been trying."
With those words Legolas returned his father's gaze in kind. "But," Thranduil continued, his voice dropping in even deeper sadness, "Since your naneth passed, I have often felt that I was failing you. I had felt that I was becoming too much like my father had often been; distant, too cold and strict...which he too had become at the loss of my own mother...I have tried not to be like that..."
Legolas' eyes became pleading as he shook his head, not wanting his father to think of himself in such a way. Legolas himself did not believe his father was as he described; not always.
"No...." His voice quivered. But Thranduil hushed him gently.
"I have not been the father that I had vowed to be. I have not been the father I should have been to you Legolas. It is true...and I am so truly sorry."
"Adar..." Tears were streaming down the prince's face once more. His eyes were desperately searching his father's, trying to find a way to end the pain they were both feeling; trying to tell his father that he had not failed and that he adored him unconditionally. Yet his voice clammed in his throat due to his sobbing. Thranduil took his son's face into his hands once more.
"Despite my shortcomings, ionneg, I will always watch over you and will always strive to to guide you in the best way that I know how. You are and always shall be my little elfling and no matter what you are feeling or going through, I will always be here for you."
"Oh ada...." Legolas began as he found his voice. "You did your best to raise me, despite all you had gone through, and not once have I ever thought you to have been too harsh or a bad parent. I know that after naneth died, we grew more distant...but you were dealing with her loss in your own way just as I was and I have always understood that. I have always tried to learn from your strength...though it may not be so apparent now..." He gave a weak smile as he gestured to signify his current disposition. "I could not bare ever losing you ada. I will always follow you, till the end of days."
Thranduil's heart burst with warmth and love for his child at such words, and as he embraced him tightly he felt a wetness upon his cheek; was it a tear of his own or those of his son? He could not clearly tell for all he wanted to do was hold his boy close.
"But remember what I have said to you Legolas. If by the rare chance I ever make a mistake similar to that of my own father, then I want you to use your brain and not follow me blindly like I had once done. Is that understood?" His voice was paternally stern at that moment. "Promise me."
"Of course, adar. I will do my best to try to prevent that rare event from ever happening."
Thranduil smiled and fondly kissed Legolas atop his head once more. "As I said, it will be highly unlikely. I am sure that I heeded my father's last words well enough and have learnt from his gaffe."
"You are the strongest and wisest of all whom I know." Legolas added then. But his father chuckled at him. Though he appreciated such a compliment, he did not believe it to be entirely true.
"I am not so sure about that Legolas."
"Well I most definitely am!" The prince asserted strongly.
"And I thank you for your honesty." His father's loving smile then returned some of the light to the prince's faded eyes. He sunk deeper into his father's strong arms and once more rested his head on his father's shoulder.
"I know I may be too old now and am no longer an elfling...but I have missed this....and have longed for it for some time..." He said softly as he gazed back at the brazier closest to them.
"I will not be afraid to admit that so have I, iôn nin, and I apologise that I deprived you of what you deserved for so long; the adoration of a parent to their most beloved child."
It did not take long for the young prince to drift off in his father's arms. Perhaps it was due to the effects of the wine he had consumed, but he king understood how exhausted both physically and mentally the prince was already. Thus he continued to cradle his son, wanting to savour this precious time they had together, going over what they had spoken about in his mind.
"Goheno nin, henig..." The king whispered softly as he continued to stroke the back of the prince's head softly. "For I have caused most of your woes..."
The prince shifted slightly, yet he did not waken. Had he heard his father's words? Even if he had, would he know the true purpose behind them? Regardless, Thranduil knew that he had to end the suffering he was causing. But would it be too late to do so? For he and Adlanniel too had become entwined like ivy, growing against each other; twisting and entangling. Now his roots could not provide what he sought in life; alas they had been taken away long ago. And now he was deprived of that nourishment he wanted the most. He had grown and become stuck at the top of the pinnacle of the vine. That was, until she came. Though now they had become too entwined against each other, and untangling such would inevitably cause their vines to whither and suffer. But with Legolas still growing besides her perhaps she could recover...
Thranduil sighed inwardly as he kissed the slumbering prince once more upon the crown of his head. Not wanting to have to carry a slightly drunken elven prince through the camp back to his own tent, Thranduil lifted his son and gently took him over to his own bed. Pulling off the prince's boots, one after the other, the king pulled the blankets and furs over him to keep him warm from the incoming chill. He sat beside the prince for a short while, gazing down at him adoringly, yet unable to push back the guilt that was chewing through him. He knew it had to come to an end, he knew it had to stop. He just had to be strong enough to do so. With his son sleeping there before him, looking so innocent and at peace, he knew he had to be. Despite the love child that would be born from his transgression, the tangled web he had created had to be unravelled.
Leaning forward, the king gently pushed a tuft of golden hair away from the prince's soft face. "Quel kaima, ionneg. May the coming days be brighter for you..." And with that Thranduil stood to return to the sofa. He knew that he would get no sleep that night.
He did not know for how long he had been gazing into the dimming light of the brazier, nor how long the chalice of wine on the table before him had sat there untouched. His fingers were mindlessly twirling themselves around the silver chain that he had around his neck, a trinket that he had hidden under his heavy robes from the eyes of others, including those of his own son.
It was something that he did not often wear now, due to the feelings it invoked, but he had always promised the owner that he would wear it during times of war and peril, wear it as a symbol and reminder of hope and of love. But that devotion held within the pendant he was now holding he had betrayed cruelly for not giving up the affections he had still for another. Now that she came into his life that long lost love resurfaced and threatened to tear him apart. But it was to no fault but his own; A fault in need of correction for all their sakes.
His fingers trembled ever so slightly as he fumbled with the clasp of the intricate locket. When it snapped open, he felt as if his heart had ceased beating within his chest at the image that now gazed up at him; The image he had not looked upon since her death. Had he known that looking upon her image would have wrought such emotion he perhaps would not have opened it. Yet there he was, his fingers and his jaw trembling, his eyes fighting to keep tears at bay as her beauty was locked forever in that tiny painted image within the locket, smiling eternally.
Nevertheless his heart betrayed him. He clasped his hand over his mouth to stop the painful sob from echoing throughout the tent, closing his eyes to try to prevent the tears from falling. But his attempts were to no avail.
"Bessig....you whom I have betrayed the most...why have I been allowed to fall this far? Is there any redemption from what I have done?" He wept as he continued to look helplessly down at her image. "Yet I would take all the punishments and pain in the world for you to forgive me and mend this wretched heart of mine."
Suddenly he heard the prince murmuring in his sleep. Quickly, he composed himself and hastily wiping the tears from his eyes he closed the locket once more, not wanting to dwell on such sorrow any more. Alas, there would be more sorrow to follow in the days to come. As he watched the last auburn light of the brazier snuff itself into a wisp of smoke he thought to himself the same question his son had asked him earlier that evening; When would it ever end?

Sindarin - English
iôn nin - My son
adar - father
ada - dad
ellon - male elf
díheno nin/ goheno nin - Forgive me (reverential - used to apologise to someone more superior than oneself/ informal - used to apologise to a minor or someone of lower rank)
av'osto Legolas. Bedo - Do not be afraid, Legolas. Speak.
Eldar - The race of Elves
Avo drasto - Do not worry yourself.
henig - my child
elfling - Elf child
ionneg - my boy
Arda - The world of Middle-Earth
Doriathrin - Sindarin dialect spoken in Doriath.
Forlindon - Northern Lindon (Harlindon was Southern Lindon; Where Thranduil and the Sindarin Elves had resided under Celeborn)
naneth - mother
quel kaima - Sleep well
bessig - beloved wife (my darling)
Quenya - English
Áva nainuvalyë; an lá ilyë níreli nar úmiéo - I will not say 'do not weep', for not all tears are an evil.
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A liaison in the Great Greenwood