Chapter XXI (EXT): The Best of Sons (Part VIII/c)Â
âNot long after Aragorn left us, life returned to form. AradĂșlin had given birth to a daughter much to the chagrin of Aranduil; now old enough to voice his thoughts rather loudly much to my amusement. Though I worried about SĂșlelenth as her time grew near, ĂlĂșriel reassured everyone that she was in good spirits and stronger than expected. I saw otherwise in her eyes but said  nothing to her as I went about my duties.
As I spoke with FĂ«aluin one day in the hall, I felt a tug on my robe. I looked down to see Aranduilâhis eyes wide with curiosity.
âYes,â I asked. âWhat is the matter, Aranduil?â
âUp,â he demanded. I looked at FĂ«aluin trying hard not to laugh. I bent down and picked Aranduil up.
âYou are up,â I said. âIs there something the matter?â
âYou cannot hear me down there,â he said. âYou are taller than I am.â
Fëaluin started to laugh.
âWell, I can hear you quite well now,â I answered. âWhat is it you want to say?â
âWhy are there so many girls,â he asked genuinely concerned. âThere are too many girls.â
âI do not understand,â I said.
âNana had a girl now uncle says there is another.â
âI do not understand, Aranduil,â I said. âAnother girl?â
âYes,â he said sternly. âĂlenuil said there is another one now.â
FĂ«aluin and I looked at each otherâour faces racked with concern. Before we could say another word, ĂariĂąth arrived.
âThere you are, Aranduil,â she said. âWhy did you wonder off?â
He looked at me then looked at her defiantly.
âHe is the king,â he said.
âAranduil tells me there is another girl,â I said as ĂariĂąth took him from me.Â
âSĂșlelenth has given birth, yes?â
âYes,â she said smiling. âShe is faring rather well.â
âYou have seen her,â FĂ«aluin asked.
âOf course. Someone must keep watch over NenduĂźl and TĂĄrimĂ«ânever mind this one.â
âAranduil,â he said frowning. âI am Aranduil.â
âYes, I know,â ĂariĂąth answered, flustered.
âĂlĂșriel is with her,â I asked.
âI was,â a voice said from behind us. ĂlĂșriel walked toward me smiling.
âIf you will pardon us,â ĂariĂąth said making a quick courtesy and going on her way.
âI shall see about EldĂŽr,â Fealuin said as he bowed and took his leave.
âHow is SĂșlelenth,â I asked. âYou are smiling. Shall I think her well?â
âYou may,â ĂlĂșriel said. âShe is resting now. You may see her when she rises.â
âAnd the child,â I asked. âAranduil has expressed his discontent on the arrival of another girl.â
âDid he,â she said, laughing. âHe will have to accept that his new cousin is a darling little girl as his sister AurĂel.â
âWhat will I call SĂșlelenthâs child?â
âEĂ€rluin,â she answered. âShe looks very much like her mother.â
âAnd you and ĂariĂąth say she is well,â I asked once more.
âAs well as one can after such an ordeal.â
âWell, I know better than to presume what the fairer of us goes through,â I began. âI have been married long enough to know not to ask either.â
ĂlĂșriel smiled at me.
âYou have learned something after all these years,â she said.
âI share my chambers with you,â I began. âIt is far more pleasant when I do not have to win a disagreement."
**** **** **** ****
It was nearing the end of Autumnâa few days short of Lasselantaâtwo years later that news would come from Rivendell. In my study, I sat alone reading when the doors opened. I did not see anyone enter, but I had my suspicions.
âIs that you, EĂ€rluin,â I asked.Â
A small child appeared peeking around my tableâa head full of earthen curls and green eyes. She made her way over to me for me to take her and set her on my lap. Since she had begun to walk, she seemed wander into my study often. I continued reading as EĂ€rluin leaned into my chest observe. Just then,  FĂ«aluin and EldĂŽr entered.
âA messenger just arrived from Rivendell,â FĂ«aluin said handing me a small note affixed with the seal of Rivendell. I opened it and began to read. When I was done, I put it down.
âWhere is this messenger,â I asked. âDoes he remain with us?â
âYes,â EldĂŽr answered. âHe awaits outside the doors.â
I nodded and Fëaluin waved to the guards. The doors opened and into the room came a familiar face.
âYour Majesty,â he said as he bowed to me. âIt has been a long time.â
âGlorfindel,â I said. âIt has been quite a long time.â
âI see you have been rather busy,â he said, referring to EĂ€rluin sitting straight up on my lap and looking at Glorfindel with curiosity.
âYou have word from Elrond,â I asked ignoring him. âIt must be important if he sent it by you.â
âIt is a matter of grave importance,â he said, his face falling. âYou know of the awakening of evil once again in Mordor.â
âI do,â I answered. âAm I to guess that Aragorn told you of that hideous creature Gollum that escaped from my dungeons.â
âNot particularly,â he said. âBut it is what that creature seeks that Sauron wants again he once lost.â
âI got nothing from Gollum of any worth,â I said. âIf Elrond wants from me knowledge of what either of them seeks, your journey was for nought.â
âYou read his letter,â he said.
âYes.â
âThen you know what was asked of you,â he said.
âYes.â
âYour answer is no,â he asked.
âMy answer is not mine to give,â I said. âIt will fall upon Legolas to decide.â
There was a painful silence that befell my study. The doors opened and Legolas entered with MĂźrĂĄre.
âAda, have you seen,â he began. âThere she is.â
The two of them came to me and MĂźrĂĄre took EĂ€rluin from me. I stood up.
âLegolas, stay,â I said, motioning to MĂźrĂĄre to leave. She could tell something was wrong and left quickly.
âWhat is it,â Legolas answered.
âElrond has asked me to send someone to Rivendell,â I said. âHe has asked me to give to a quest a prince of the realm. That would be you.â
Legolas seemed taken aback for a moment. He looked around the room curiouslyâlooking at Glorfindel.
âMe,â he asked. âYou would allow me to leave for such a quest?â
âI am afraid it is not up to me,â I said. âYou are of age, Legolas. The decision must be yours to make.â
Legolas nodded, bowed and took his leave quickly.
âRest, Glorfindel,â I said. âYou will have your answer shortly. I know my son.â
He bowed and followed Fëaluin out the doors.
I sat down and turned my gaze to the thunderous falls beyond my balcony. âHe wants to do this, Thranduil,â EldĂŽr said. âAs he has always done before.â
âI know,â I said softly. âI will not keep him from it and neither will his mother. She spoke of his destiny long ago. It is his time now.â
**** **** **** ****
The morning Legolas would leave, every memory I had rose to the surface and flowed through me with great emotion. On this day, ĂlĂșriel and I would stand before the gates of Mirkwood to say farewell to our son.
The walk to the gates seemed far too long and too quick. When I stepped into the first light of day, I could see Legolas with Elenadar, Elenatar, TarthĂŽn and Aruilos. They would escort Legolas to Rivendell and TarthĂŽn would return on his brotherâs horse. When Legolas saw me, he ran to me. I could see the little boy he had been behind the elven prince he had become. His life was his own to live beyond what I had given him.
âI am ready, Father. Mother,â he said.
âI am not, I am afraid,â I said. âBut you are no longer a child.â
âI remember many things,â Legolas said. âBut none so wonderful as being your son.â
I could not say anything. I was aged, yet youth had not left my face or my stature diminished. It would be the same for most of the elves of Arda. Looking into the face of my son, I could see many things. I saw the newborn in my arms and now I was sending a man into a world that had yet to find itself at peace.
âI have done many things in my life, Legolas,â I began. âThere are things I long to remember and things I wish to forget. I was given many things in my life. Born to a king, I became one. I loved the most beautiful of creatures and she gave me my greatest treasure. You. I have not always been the best of fathers, but I was given the best of sons. I am the King of Mirkwood, but I am first and always your father. That is my crowning glory. Return to us, Legolas.â
He embraced me and smiled. I knew I was crying. I knew that behind me on this day stood an kingdom watching the heir to its throne leave for Rivendell. I did not care what anyone thought--I was once again losing a part of my heart to this world that had taken from me so much.
âI will return, Ada,â he said smiling. âNothing will keep me from you.â
I was taken by those words as they were what I had said once a long time ago to ĂlĂșriel the night before I left for war. It was a promise I kept.
ĂlĂșriel embraced him as tears rolled down her face.
âI am proud of you, my little Greenleaf,â she said.
IsĂlriel was next to embrace her brother.
âWhat will I do without you,â she asked.
âIf I know my sister, you will get on without me for awhile,â he said. âLook after our family, IsĂlriel. Especially TarthĂŽn. Do not tell him I said that.â
She laughed and as she released Legolas and we watched him walk away.
I smiled. Fëaluin looked at me curiously.
âWhy do you look at me, FĂ«aluin,â I asked. âDo I amuse you?"
âYou have become the king your father always knew you would be.âÂ
Legolas mounted his horse. Elenadan and Elenatar would escort him to Rivendell. I watched my son ride away until I saw him no more. As the dusk began to fall upon Mirkwood, I knew that Legolas would return and my kingdom and all of Arda would be changed forever.âââTKWR:BII The Saga of Thranduil (EXT. VER.) by J. Marie Miller 12-08-17
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