gwador | (no subject)

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Who: Legolas & Thranduil
What: Sealonging talk, after Ithilien and nearing time to go.
Where: The Woodland Realm

[The ride from Ithilien to his father's realm long and tiring, but that was not what had Legolas feeling so weary. Ever since the war ended, a heaviness had started to grow in his heart and now it had become almost too much to bear.

Aragorn was gone. Another friend so cruelly taken by the bitterness of mortality. In truth, of his closest friends only Gimli was left... and who could say how much longer.

The greenness of Eyrn Lasgalen's new growth should have been a comfort to him, but it did little to lift his spirits. When he finally passes off his horse and camping gear to a stable hand, he asks that a messenger give word to the king that he has arrived.

In retrospect, he probably should have sent a messenger of his own to tell of his impending arrival. However, between the grief and the longing, his mind often wandered.]

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[Well, he couldn't expect such a quick recovery. Not after the years of tainted forest and then having it in ashes for a time. ]

More will come in time. For now I feel two or four can be lost.

[Of course, they didn't hunt entirely for sport. Their game would be eaten tonight and perhaps tomorrow if luck was with them. Their feathers would be used for fletching. Legolas mounts his horse, a white mare, and lets his father take lead while the hunting party trailed behind them both.]

[Despite the circumstances of his son's looming departure, this was a lovely day. There was finally the sounds of birds which had long been absent, the horses running through the green branches of the trees now standing tall above them.

Thranduil holds up a hand for them to slow and come to a stop as a deer is spotted caught staring at them with ears perked up.]

[ Legolas also spots the deer and comes to a stop. It was a fairly easy shot, one that wouldn't be much of a challenge for him. As rank demanded, however, the king was entitled to the first shot. He nods to his father and waits. If they took in a stag or two, the extra meat could be sent to the kitchens.

The green forest around them makes the prince somewhat nostalgic, and he almost feels too tall. The woodland realm had become Mirkwood before he had reached adulthood, after all.]

[Even though it had been many years since he had used a bow and arrow, Thranduil doesn't hesitate to notch the arrow. There is no fumbling and the shot hits the deer in the flank as it turns away from them.

It's not as to the mark as he had been hoping for but it had been a great deal of time.]

[The animal is wounded and therefor not as quick as it would usually be. Legolas was a better shot than his father, having used a bow extensively for most of his life. The prince stays put on his horse even though the deer was getting far from them, and shoots quickly.

There's small sharp intake of breath just after the arrow is released that he hopes his father doesn't notice, but the deer drops as it's spinal cord is severed at the back of the neck.]

We will have a fine meal tonight, and much to share with the kitchen as well.

[Legolas is a subtle shade paler than he was before. Perhaps imperceptible except to those who truly knew him well. Still, he looks satisfied and as if he is enjoying himself.]

[Thranduil heard the intake of breath, turning slightly towards Legolas. But he doesn't comment on how Legolas has paled in just that moment before urging his horse onward toward the deer.]

An impressive shot. Perhaps we shall have enough for a feast this evening.

[He didn't dismount as a marchwarden gathered the deer up carefully to take it back. It would be cleaned and prepared by the kitchens while they were hunting.]

[When the fallen deer is cleared from the road and safely onto one of the carts, Legolas urges his horse forward at an easy pace.]

I would like that if we manage to take back enough game.

[For Legolas it was a fairly easy shot, but he wasn't about to say that when his father had made a poorer one. The king was far superior in swordsmanship, after all, but that - combined with their natural talent - was the difference between growing up among The Silvan or Sindar. Sometimes he wondered what his life would have been like if Doriath had not fallen.]

You do not speak often of your days in Doriath, Father. Was the forest there much like this one?

[A pause, and then quickly added;]

Forgive me if I should not ask...

Edited 2015-03-08 17:13 (UTC)

[Thranduil looked surprised at that, turning to look at his son. Legolas had never asked about Doriath before and there was a moment as the king looked thoughtful.]

The forests of Doriath were far more vast. The trees grew up taller- underneath them was as if stepping into the night. I was younger than you when I roamed underneath those trees, often with your grandfather, but the forest was truly beautiful. Full of light and music.

[A small smile appeared on Thranduil's lips, he had had a good life in Doriath before its fall. He remembered running after his father as Legolas had once done with him when he was little, laughing. So carefree.]

These forests are a faded reflection of the glory of Doriath when it was protected by Melian. Before the dwarves killed the king and sacked the city, before the sons of Feanor returned once more.

I would have liked to have seen it, though I will always hold this forest near to my heart. I have seen many forests since my travels began. The Mallorn of Lorien were a wonder to behold, and Fangorn was so ancient that I could nearly feel the beginnings of Arda... yet I feel none will compare in my memory to this wood in my youth.

[It was hard to imagine losing his homeland forever as his father had experienced. Even when it was tainted and sickly, and later burned to the ground, the Woodland Realm was still there in land, and new trees had sprouted from it... Still, that was a sad subject, and one he felt his father should not have to recount.]

I will not ask about the ill times that followed. It is a good and bright day today, and I would not want your memory of this hunt to be clouded by sorrow.

[...Except it probably would be, at least a little. This was their last hunt together in this forest, and the last days they would be together until his father also sailed... That is, if he felt inclined to. Legolas frowns a little at the thought, but doesn't speak of it.]

[There was no going back to Doriath, to the forest of his childhood. Those memories only lingered in his mind- darting between those vast trees as he ran ahead of his father. Doriath was underneath water now, there was no going back.

Just as there would be no going back fro Legolas. Thranduil nodded, there was a shadow that lingered but they had this time. He would not see it overcast.]

You will always have it in your memories, Legolas. Even after centuries, you could close your eyes and even for a moment you'll be here once more.

What you say is true, though there are some things that have escaped my memory.

[The prince did not remember his mother, being so young when she was taken from them. He wondered if she would be reembodied in Aman, and if so was she there waiting? How would he know her? However, it was a topic he would not broach himself.]

There will be new memories, also, in the Undying lands.

[The words are spoken a touch fondly - true sealonging coming through in his tone. His life didn't end there, he wanted to remind his father. He would live out all the days of Arda. He's quiet a long moment, then;]

...Will you follow after me, one day?

[Thranduil bowed his head. He would have gone with Legolas if he could. His father, perhaps his mother, and his wife were no doubt there waiting for him to arrive. He longed to be reunited with them and if it was with his son, it would truly lift the grief from his heart.]

One day. My place is here with our people until the day that they decide to depart.

[He was a king, he could not allow himself to be so selfish in his desires.]

I cannot keep you from sailing and I would not do so as your heart desires it. There you may meet your grandfather, Oropher. He was a mighty warrior in his time, he will look after you while I am unable to.

[He knew that his father would stay for the kingdom - that's why he phrased it the way he did; one day. One day, perhaps ages had gone by, the last of their people would either leave it, or fade into the forest around them. Legolas had only wanted to know if his father would indeed sail, or stay bound to the wood he so loved. It was a relief to know that even though they parted now, in time they would meet again.

He smiles a little at the mention of Oropher.]

I look forward to our meeting, if he has been released from the Halls. Though in the Blessed Realm I will not need to be looked after. There is no sorrow there.

[If anyone can be released from the Halls, it's Oropher. Thranduil has no doubt but he can help a soft smile, as strained as it is. There will be sorrow in the Woodland Realm when the prince leaves.]

I know you do not need to be looked after but I would like to know you will not be entirely alone when you are there.

[Hearing that Legolas felt a little guilty for not bringing up Gimli. He wouldn't be alone, and he was grateful for that. He was about to say more when he hears the sound of rustling in the foliage nearby. He whispers.]

That may be quail or perhaps rabbit.

[The prince readies his bow while another of the hunting party goes on ahead to prepare to drive out the game.]

[Thranduil gestured for the rest to remain behind while he and Legolas rode forward as two rabbits were driven out of the bushes. They both froze for a moment, not sure what direction to run.

In that moment, Thranduil had an arrow notched and ready, they could each take one. He knew his aim was not as accurate as his son's but he's still able to get a clean shot nonetheless.]

[Legolas' arrows is a touch behind his father's and it... misses. A pained noise slips out of gritted teeth, and the prince hunches over, one hand clutching his chest.

He did not want to do this now. This was supposed to be a perfect day.]

It... will pass...

[Thranduil's eyes went wide as he hears the noise behind him. He turned his horse around sharply to get to his son's side. To see Legolas clutching his heart was the most painful thing he had seen.]

We can go back if you are in pain.

...It will pass.

[He insists though gritted teeth, and in a few moments more the pain does fade... along with part of him, he knows. As much as he doesn't want to show it again to his father, he had to know how far it had spread. If it was too much it might cut his time here short.

The rest of the hunting party was still a good distance away as the prince shrugs off his jerkin and unbuttons his shirt. As much as he tries to block the view from his father with the fabric, it's noticeable that the fading had gone beyond it's previous borders, extending further down his rib cage... Thankfully not so much as to shorten his stay... he sighs in relief.]

[The sight of the fading having extended down is not an easy sight for Thranduil to see. He is silent for the moment, wanting to reach out to provide some measure of comfort but the sounds of the hunting party catching up to them jerks him out of the moment.]

We should continue then. I am sure we will find even more game in the deeper areas of the forest.

[Legolas is glad his father didn't insist they return. He knew once the pained passed he would be well enough to continue. Hearing the approach of the hunting party, he quickly fastens his shirt and puts the jerkin back on. He nods once to his father to show that he was all right.]

Yes, I feel you are right. Let us go on.

[Thranduil knew that insisting they return wasn't going to stop the fading, and Legolas wouldn't thank him for it. His son had always been so strong. They would continue with the hunt until Thranduil deemed it time to turn back. They had ventured far into the forest, Thranduil was able to see more signs of life returning underneath the trees once more.

Their people were truly happy to see their king and prince at a feast once more. There were songs of joy but while Thranduil was pleased he had this time, it was all too brief.]

[It had been some time since Legolas last attended a feast in his father's halls. In Ithilien the population was smaller, and mingled with Men. For the first time in a long time, the prince found himself laughing and taking part in song. Rumors had begun to circulate, and there were many old acquaintances eager to fill his glass or tell him an amusing story to lighten his heart.

However in time all things end, and Legolas finds himself leaving the banquet hall with a belly pleasantly full of food and wine. He's not drunk, of course, but very relaxed when he reaches an outer living area of his father's chambers and sinks into a padded chair. He leans on one wooden armrest as he speaks.]

Did you enjoy the feast tonight, father? Feren can tell merry tales, can he not?

You were always fond of his tales from a young age, it seems little has changed in that regard.

[They are alone here, no one will enter even the outer living area of Thranduil's chambers unless on a pressing matter. It's quiet, away from the feasting still going on. Thranduil came up to sit in one of the other chairs.]

I was pleased to hear you laugh and enjoy yourself once more, Legolas.

There are still some things in Middle-earth that bring me joy, if only for a little while.

[The full unrest of sealonging would return before the night was over, but for now, he could ignore the feeling - at least while the wine he had consumed kept him relaxed. Legolas lets out a content sigh then is quiet for a little while, just listening to the sound of fire crackling in a nearby brazier.]

...In my room I found the first bow I ever held in my hands. It is only the length of my arm.

[He smiles fondly in memory.]

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where would you like to go from here? more talk? lead into something else?

maybe to after the feast? they can have some quiet father son time

Sure thing :3

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