Written by
Zhie.
Rated PG. Work In Progress;
The main characters are Thranduil, Legolas, Ilmendin, and Haldir.
Prince Thranduil marched through the halls of the kingdom he had helped to build. No, not prince…King Thranduil. Enraged by this discovery, he kicked open the door to the royal office, breaking it off of its hinges. Removing his helm, he threw it across the room, taking out a large vase and consequently the pedestal it sat upon. He continued to the desk, picked up a paperweight, and threw it against the stone wall. It burst into tiny pieces, scattering across the floor. His next move was to take the chair to the already ruined door, but two heads poking around the side of it caused him to toss the chair aside instead.
“Did we not win the battle?” His younger son asked, and the question was more of a jest. The attempt at humor did nothing to reduce the fury in his father’s eyes, and so, Legolas backed down, letting Ilmendin enter the room before him.
“Is Grandfather not coming back?” guessed his elder, placing a hand upon his father’s shoulder. This son, Thranduil knew, was to be his heir. Ever the peacekeeper, serious is thought and in action. Thranduil nodded, face still full of rage, and he heard the younger give a cry of disbelief.
“It can not be!” Legolas fell into one of the large leather chairs reserved for visiting dignitaries and counselors of the realm. His head was bowed, and he began to pray to the Valar on his Grandfather’s behalf.
Thranduil had not the heart to tell him that Oropher would be judged upon his own merits and not upon the thoughts and prayers of others now that his spirit rested in Mandos. Ilmendin asked the silent question, and Thranduil gave a nod. His anger was passing, for now. This evening he would spend in contemplation with Ilmendin upon what to do in Greenwood with the passing of the King of the Forest, no doubt aided by a barrel of the finest brew that was to be found. For now, Ilmendin gently persuaded Legolas to rise from the chair and led his now weeping brother from the room.
Waiting until his sons had stepped over the shattered door, Thranduil reset the chair behind the desk and sat down in it. It felt odd – the chair, it seemed was too old, too large, too mighty for a mere prince. “But I am not a prince.” He mused sadly, removing the bent wire from his brow. Too proud he was of his heritage to leave his prince’s crown here at home, wearing it into battle, as if daring the foe to take down a noble such as he. But his father, King Oropher, chose a more practical solution, leaving the crown of his office to sit on his desk. There was little else upon the top of the immaculately kept surface – a stack of papers from other kingdoms, things for writing, and a letter. The letter was addressed to him. Frowning, Thranduil slit the envelope, noting the wax seal of his father firmly pressed to the back.
To my son, King Thranduil of Greenwood the Great,
I have long thought of what I would tell you if I were to fall in battle. If your eyes do read this, then such a thing has come to pass. I regret nothing I have done in my long life, and if I am granted chance in the future to return, I should hope to do so in Valinor. Always did I hope one day to find myself upon the sandy beach of the lands, though I am adverse to ships and would rather die by the hands of orcs than set foot upon boat.
Thranduil paused, smiling wryly. One might wonder if the Valar had watched and read this note before the great battle. His father’s odd sense of humor did little to comfort him, and he read on.
If you come to think by chance some great knowledge shall be known by reading this, then you are deceived. I have by now taught all that I knew to you, and hope only you have learned at the least the more important things. Most important of all, remember that I have complete faith in you. You need not think to make me proud, for you already have.
Enjoy your reign, enjoy life. Hug everyone for me, even Ilmendin, though he shall likely squirm away from such affection. Do not assume he will rule when you have put aside the crown, for the sea calls to him even now, but he fights to ignore it. Hug Legolas twice, for he will not want to rule when you have put aside the crown. Do not assume you have an heir, but do not assume you will have to rule the woods forever. Come and visit me in Valinor some day. I will miss you and I love you.
Your Father
Oropher
The ink had begun to run where teardrops had hit the paper, and Thranduil
opened the top drawer of the desk, carefully removing the contents and placing
them on the desk. He then lowered
the sheet into the empty drawer, then the envelope, and closed and locked it.
Notes