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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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.]

I remember when I gave you that bow. You were excited to try it though as I recall, your first attempt did not go so well. Your mother was not pleased with either of us.

[The wound from the arrow had healed hundreds of years ago, leaving no scar on his arm but the memory was still fresh in his mind.]

But every day you practiced with it, you were determined. I could barely get it out of your hands most days.

My memory of that time is clouded. I remember but a little of it. Seeing that I had injured you frightened me.

[Legolas is quiet for a long moment after that, looking like he's sobering up some.]

...I do not remember her.

You were young when she was taken.

[Thranduil had not spoken of his wife for many centuries. The subject was simply too painful and he had not done enough to keep what little memory his son had alive.]

I did not make it easy for you to remember her, Legolas.

[He wouldn't admit that he agreed. As a child Legolas had asked so many questions, and when the years went by without answers, he eventually stopped asking. Now he had so many. He did not know when he would get the chance to ask again, and they couldn't be certain that she had been reembodied in Aman. When the prince speaks, his voice is quiet, and he does not meet his father's eye.]

...What did she look like?

[Would he even know his mother if he saw her?]

[Thranduil remembers exactly what she looked like. The feel of her hair between his fingers, the shade of her eyes she looked at him with all the love in the world, the sound of her laughter when they were alone.]

The shade of her eyes was the same as yours, her hair slightly darker. [For a moment, he's lost in a memory, his eyes unfocused.] She was the most beautiful, her laughter would echo throughout the forest like music.

I have no doubt you would recognize her.

[Over all the long years of his life, Legolas realizes that this is the first time he had heard his mother described through his father's eyes. Never before had his father spoken of someone with such adoration in his voice. A small part of him, deep in the back of his mind was even angry that he had never heard such words before. Perhaps... things would have been different between them.]

Would... she know me?

She loved you more than anything. She will know you even though you were young when she was taken.

[Because the thought of his wife not being reembodied is not something Thranduil cares to think about. He knows what if she was able to depart the Halls, she would choose to have the chance to see him and Legolas once more. It was a selfish desire, he missed her even if he never let it show after her death.

Thranduil was silent for a moment before he set his wine glass down. He gestured for Legolas to stay where he was while he went into his inner chambers to retrieve a small box. It was not something he had ever shown anyone, not even Legolas but tonight, he believed it was time. The box was handed to Legolas carefully before he sat back down, inside was a ring, perfectly fitted with a brilliant bright blue stone in a silver band.]

She will recognize this at least.

[Legolas takes the box when it's given to him, but hesitates to open it. He glances up to his father, as if to ask for further permission before he lifts the lid. When he sees the ring, he doesn't know what to say. This had been hers, hadn't it?

He's quiet for a long time, just looking down at the ring and trying to form an image of who had worn it. Perhaps it is the wine, or the lateness of the hour, but Legolas can feel the early prickling of tears threatening to spill.]

You would allow me to take this with me?

[The words are said with a touch of uncertainty and awe.]

[It's not easy for Thranduil to let go of the one thing he has left that belonged to his late wife. But he preferred for Legolas to take it with him, instead of the box remaining where Thranduil had hidden it out of sight.]

Yes. I should have let you had it sooner, so you would have something of hers.

[The regret is clear in his voice. He had always discouraged Legolas from asking in the past, unable to handle the mention thinking of his past wife. It had been selfish to allow his grief to rob Legolas of those memories but hopefully now he could attempt to remedy that.]

[Legolas looks down at the ring for a moment more before closing the lid and placing the box on a nearby table with a trembling hand.]

You have my deepest thanks.

[He's quiet after that, reaching back in his memory.]

There is perhaps... one thing, I remember. Though I am not certain.

[He begins to hum a tune he had not heard for a long, long time. He doesn't even remember the sound of the voice it belonged to, but the melody had stuck with him.]

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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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