(no subject)

[arrowpoint]

Who: Legolas, Thranduil
What: A grandchild, a crown, and shameless NPC making.
Where: Woodland Realm


[The road to Eyrn Lasgalen was a long one - particularly when traveling with an infant. In the end, though rather weary, the group from Ithilien found themselves at the Elvenking's gates.

There was a good deal of activity when they first arrived. Between unpacking, housing the horses, and giving greetings to old friends from home, they were all tired. Erthil was more tired than most, however, having been caring for Ferion on the road this whole time, so Legolas' wife left immediately to rest.

With the chaos finally dying down, and an infant in his arms, Legolas leaves the group to find his father. It had been too long.]

Comments

[arrowpoint]

[It took Legolas a moment to understand what was being said. At first he did not understand who his father was speaking of, then it starts to sink in.]

My lord, this is your kingdom.

[He can't help but slip into the formality - to remind his father of his title, in the slim hope that he might chose to stay.]

I was not meant to...

[He trails off. Yes, he was the crown prince, that was always the case, but being immortal, Legolas never had any real thought of succeeding his father. Particularly not while the king was still living.]

[elf_king]

You're right it is and I know you have made a home for yourself in Ithilien, but my desire to sail grows stronger as the days pass. I would not be the first king to pass my crown.

[He sighs wanting to drink, so hands the now sleeping Ferion back to his son's care so that he might pour himself a glass.]

Once the kingdom is yours, you may do what you will. Tak our people with you to Ithilien or remain here to rule.

[arrowpoint]

[He takes back his son carefully, trying not to wake him, but Legolas looks rather dumbfounded.]

How can you say that so easily? This forest is home for many of our people... I could not ask them to leave it...

[Even those who came with him to Ithilien knew they still had a home in the forest, and many also had close kin still in the wood. Legolas himself could not imagine a world without this kingdom... diminished as it may be, these days. For now, though, that wasn't what he really wanted to know.]

...When do you depart? How long from now?

[elf_king]

[At this point his immediate thoughts were for wine so he did not answer right away as he drinks a glass of wine first. It is not meant to be disrespectful to his son, but rather to buy him time to think and explain.]

It has been my home and my kingdom for near on 5,000 years Legolas. I do not abandon it lightly but I would not dictate to you it's future king what it is you can or cannot do to kingdom that is yours.

I will depart when you are situated. [Not when you are ready.] So you have some time to prepare yourself. You are after all familiar with the day to day running's of my realm, but I will be happy to guide you for a little while until I am ready to leave. I would like to see Ferion grow a little before I depart.

[arrowpoint]

[It was a lot to take in at once, and so Legolas is still reeling a bit from the shock of it all. His father was leaving, and he was to be king. The kingdom was much changed, and he had a child of his own now.]

I would much like you to stay long enough to stay in Ferion's memory. I do not want him to know you only in the stories I tell.

[Legolas did not have the fortune to know Oropher, after all, and often he wished that he had. There's a long pause, then he says reluctantly;]

...Though I do not want the burden to your heart to grow to heavy to bear, either.

[elf_king]

He did not wish that for Ferion either. And nodded. I can wait Fifty years maybe longer. Enough for him to grow knowing who I am. Doing such wouldnot burden my heart my son. It gladdens it and makes the sadness all the easier to bear.

[He finished the wine and then set the glass down, gesturing for Legolas to place his son on a couch so Legolas could have his hands free.]

I will wait until you are ready to make the announcement that you will be king of the Woodland Realm.

[arrowpoint]

[Fifty years was nothing. It felt like far too short a time.

Ferion thankfully doesn't stir while Legolas places him gently on the couch. He was too young to roll, but he makes sure that he's not in a position to roll off none the less.]

I will never be ready.

[The words came out before Legolas even had a moment to think on them. However, he cannot deny his king, even knowing that soon he would be king himself.]

...Though I would ask for at least a little time to sort out my affairs.

[He walks back towards his father, and while he would normally wait to be invited first, he pours a glass of wine for himself, hands shaking slightly now that he didn't have an infant to hold.]

[elf_king]

[Thranduil was not going to allow his son to have so many doubts. His tone grew sharper, and his gaze a touch harder.]

You are a prince and a hand that helped throw down Sauron. I highly doubt that ruling a kingdom will be too much of a challenge to you. Look at what you have accomplished for our people in Ithilien.

[arrowpoint]

[As his father's tone changed, it brought back a bit of normality to the situation. That was the king he knew, and all it gave him all the more reason to reject the idea of taking the crown from him.]

It is not the responsibility of rule that I dread.

[His voice changed slightly also, a touch defensive and louder.]

The crown does not belong to me.

[Realizing that he was talking a bit too loud, he turns to check on Ferion to see if he had awoken. Fortunately while the child made a small uncomfortable noise briefly, he went back to sleep. Thankful for that small miracle, he takes a large sip of wine. His voice is much softer afterwards.]

...I cannot imagine a time when you do not walk these halls. I cannot replace you.

[elf_king]

[Thranduil was not about to raise his voice anymore out of the desire to keep from waking Ferion, but he continued to look sternly at his son and his tone while soft nevertheless carried a touch of steel.]

I am not asking you to replace me. I am asking you to lead after me. You will be a different king to I. A king of these times that our people can follow. As I already said you may lead the people from wherever it is you wish. You can abandon the halls here entirely if it is your desire. Regardless if you wish it or not, the crown will fall to you as I will sail.

[arrowpoint]

[He's quiet then. There was so much to say - so much running through his mind, and yet nothing more escaped him. Legolas puts down his wineglass and moves to the balcony that overlooked the vast caverns. He looks tired... weary from the journey, but also feeling the weight of the great burden that was just set on his shoulders. He leans against the stone railing. It is a long while before he speaks again.]

...I do not wish to be king, yet king I must be. I would not beg you to stay here when your heart pains you to move on, nor would I leave our people lost and leaderless. If I take up the crown I do not do so for myself. I do so for the great love I have for the Woodland Realm... and for you, Ada.

[Perhaps it was the presence of Ferion that made the informal title slip from his lips, but with some sadness Legolas remembers who his king is - his father, though changed by grief and time, would always be the same person who held him close as a child, and hummed him to sleep. His Ada was leaving.]

[elf_king]

[He is sorry that he has to pain his son so. That he is demanding him take up the burden of kingship... He bows his head, looking down looking into depths of his wineglass. The dark liquid offered no answers and only served to remind him of all the blood that he had seen spilled. With a small grimace, he set the glass down and moved to stand next to Legolas. He would not drape himself along the railing as his son might, but stood tall and silent as he gazed out over the cavern.

Being called ada by his son, brought a soft smile to his lips. He knew his son would not usually use the phrase as it was childish as he himself would soon bear the phrase off Ferion's lips.]

I understand your reluctance ion nin I too took up the burden of a crown with heavy heart. At least this is not a separation of sorrow, but one of joy. You have found your happiness here in Middle Earth. It just so happens mine lies elsewhere.

They say the best kings are the reluctant ones, for they weigh their decisions carefully and are not swift to act in was that would harm their people. Just promise me that you will not become too marred in your reluctance that you cannot move freely into a brighter world.

[arrowpoint]

For me the brightness of Middle-earth in this new era will be diminished without you in it.

[He stops there, though, and is quiet for another few moments before taking a deep breath, and turning around to look at the couch where his sleeping child lay.]

But if you will allow, I would much like to speak of something would gladdens our hearts, rather than grieves them. You have only just now met my son. Do you not wish to hear more of him? With or without your crown, Ferion is your grandson.

[elf_king]

I would like very much to hear of my grandson and to see him grow for a time. Even with the heaviness of my heart, I will not leave yet. I will be gentle in my leaving of the crown to you... I know it will not be easy otherwise.

[He smiles softly then, reaching out to lay a hand on his son's wrist. It is a simple gesture, meant to convey all the feelings and emotions that he cannot easily express after so long of keeping his fear and anger pent up.]

Tell me of your wife as well. Is she happy with you in Ithilien?

[arrowpoint]

[It was wasn't often that his father made such gestures, at least not since Legolas had grown. He returns it by placing his other hand on top of he's fathers for a few moments before removing it. Thinking of his wife, however, lightened his heart some.]

She is at ease in the city of Men. Erthil has an adventurous spirit, enough so that I feel she would be glad to be anywhere, so long as it were at my side.

[That fact would serve her well, when Legolas would have to ask her to relocate once more.]

It is a joy to have her by my side. She is brings laughter and light into my life, and is gentle with me when my heart is troubled. It was also she that chose our son's name, and was kind to remember my family line.

['Ferion' was after all, meant to signify a son of the line of Oropher.]

[elf_king]

She is very well matched to you if she can bring forth a contentment at this day and age, and she also does use honor in the naming of your child.

Tonight, at the feast I wish to honor her appropriately. Will you attend me in the treasury later and help to pick out something that you think your wife would find suiting? I also wish to give a gift to Ferion. Young though he might still be, there toys brought from Erebor for him.

[ Yes, son he shopped at Erebor for his grandson. Try not to faint. ]

[arrowpoint]

[Though Legolas is amused that his father would brave Erebor for toys of all things, he says nothing on it. Young children had a way of giving light to most Elves, even the Elvenking himself. He smiles.]

He will grow far too quickly. One hundred years will pass in what feels like a single breath, I am sure of it. He will thank you properly when he is old enough to play with them.

[He turns now and stands straight, no longer leaning on the railing. Legolas might not have the same fondness for jewels as his father did, but that by no means meant that he didn't enjoy spoiling his wife.]

She favors gold. I feel it reminds her of her home in the Golden Wood.

[elf_king]

[ It was wise of his son not to mention the toys, or Erebor. While Thranduil might be civil towards his dwarven neighbors now, there was still little love lost between them at the best of times.

The talk of Jewels was something he could at least understand and actually enjoy in. ]

I have an idea as for what we may yet give your bride. I'll show you when we go to the treasury.

[ For now however, he was more inclined to look at his grandson once more, stepping away from the railing and venturing towards where the princeling slept. Just looking on him eased his troubled heart, enough so that some of the worried and woes he wore faded away. ]

I remember when you were so young. I gazed upon you much like Ferion here and I thought long about the world that you would grow into... I hope his world is a far happier one than the one you were given to...

TLDR alslo /makes stuff up about thran's mom dying early too whoops

[arrowpoint]

I too hope his young years will be filled with joy and not tears

[Legolas walks over to join his father in looking down at Ferion who was sleeping peacefully. The king's words brought him to thoughts of the past, in part, but also future.]

It was a time of peace when I was born. There was no way to know that the darkness would follow after.

[Or that his mother would be a victim of that darkness so shortly after. The thought of a childhood both without a mother's love and in a time of peril was heartbreaking. He pauses a moment, something on his mind. It was a subject he was reluctant to touch upon, but felt he needed to ever since the young prince was born. And a certain fear... He takes a breath.]

There is much I understand now that I did not before. I dared not ever tell you, but in my youth I heard whispers that our line is cursed. That we are not meant to keep our wives for long, and that our sons will grow without the love of a mother. If such a sorrow came to pass...

[He trails off. Legolas won't say the words, but he did not know if he could ever love so deeply again if Erthil were taken from him.]

...Forgive me, father, for all the times I have been unkind to you in doubt of your love for me.

The feels. OH MAN THE FEELS

[elf_king]

[The only hint that Thranduil gives to hearing his son's words is a momentary twitch of his eyebrows, as if he was about to frown. Then a sadness washes over him and he looks away, heading now towards the table for more wine.]

I do not think it is our line ion nín. At least I hope it is not. I fear it is more my curse. My mother lived a long time with my father in Doriath before it's fall but died in her efforts to see me live... I speak only of it now to assuage your fears. I do not think your Erthil will be struck from you as we are once more in a time of peace... and you have followed a different path to my own.

What can I say? I like the feels XD

[arrowpoint]

[For a moment, Legolas feels guilty for hoping his father was right - that it was his curse alone and not that of the family line - but he is a father himself now, and all possibilities of Ferion's future are on his mind.

He's quiet, now, knowing that such subjects cannot be breached for too long. The soon to be king sits on the sofa gently to further watch his son sleep. He changes topics to put some distance away from his father's memories of sorrow, and his own doubts for the future.]

We brought a beech seedling with us for Ferion. I had hoped to plant it here, instead of Ithilien. Is Amaron the gardener still within the realm, or has he gone into the west?

[elf_king]

[ Thranduil sighs softly, appreciating the subject change, though it also hurt to veer away from it. After all he had been willing perhaps for the first time in a very long time to broach the subject. To keep himself from showing his annoyance, brief though it was, he drank from his wine goblet, letting flavor of the red wine still his tongue for just a few seconds more. ]

No, he has gone west. His daughter Alfirinel has taken over in his stead. She loves trees of our forest home dearly. In fact she treats them as if they were children. If you wish to plant a tree here in honor of your child, she will show you where to plant it and will tend to it as if it were her own offspring.

sorry dad he's used to "we do not speak of this" D:

[arrowpoint]

I remember her. She would greet me often as I went out into the gardens to play when I was a child. I will entrust her with the seedling for the night, until it can be set to ground. Will you come to give Ferion and his tree your blessing?

[Of course, Legolas wasn't expecting a 'no' answer, but it was appropriate to ask... before his father could reply, however, young Ferion stirred with sounds of mild distress. Immediately Legolas goes to him, picking him up and standing to rock him gently.]