Chapter 2 – Machinations

The feast continued until the small hours of the morning and everyone left pleasantly exhausted. Thranduil insisted that Legolas accompany him to their rooms. Though Legolas would have preferred to stay and talk to his friends, who seemed determined to greet the rising sun, there was no way he could refuse his father.

On their way back Thranduil commented, “Gondor rejoices to see its new Queen.”

Legolas blinked, his father was making small talk? It was only when Legolas saw that his father was pointedly looking at him, did he realise that some answer was expected.

“Yes, the people seem happy.” Legolas carefully replied. *~ What does he expect me to say? ~*

“As they should be, Arwen will make a good Queen.” Thranduil continued with his seemingly aimless observations.

*~ What are you thinking father? ~*

It took another keen look form Thranduil for Legolas to add, “A very good Queen. She already cares deeply for her new people.”

“A Queen is necessary for the well-being of the people.” Thranduil casually remarked.

Before Legolas could formulate a response, Thranduil continued, “The celebration helped lift everyone’s spirits. It gladdened the heart to see such joy after such darkness.”

*~ Where are you leading with this father? Why do you hesitate to say what you think?~*

There was a moment’s pause in which Legolas remained resolutely silent.

“Mirkwood could use such joy.”

Legolas, for the smallest of seconds, stopped walking and glanced at his father. Thranduil was looking intently at Legolas, obviously gauging his reaction. Legolas quickly schooled his features into impassivity.

“Mirkwood could use any joy at this moment.” Thranduil said.

This time Legolas stopped walking and turned to face his father. He could feel the pain emanating from the older Elf. This celebration could not have been easy for him; any joy was tinged with pain for him since Queen Eruante had left Middle Earth.

“Ada, Mirkwood will be happy once more.”            <Father>

Thranduil smiled, he knew his son shared the same pain he did. Losing ones mother was only marginally less painful than losing ones wife. But it cheered his heart to know that Legolas shared his love as well – it was not difficult to hear the determination that last statement carried. Mirkwood’s Prince had given his vow.

“We will talk in the morning, ion nín.” Thranduil entered his chambers leaving Legolas at the door.            <My son>

It was not a request.

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Legolas bowed as Thranduil closed the door. He remained standing outside, staring at the door, hoping that it would help him make sense of the conversation he had just had.

Thranduil never said anything without meaning, without purpose, especially to his son. Legolas walked towards his room, he was in no mood to go back to the revelry. He needed to sift through what Thranduil had said.

*~Gondor rejoices to see its new Queen. ~*

*~ As it should. Father was right in saying that Arwen will be a good Queen; she will be good for Gondor, and for Aragorn. ~*

Legolas smiled at the thought of his friends. He entered his room and dismissed the waiting servants. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and did not need hovering servants around.

*~ A Queen is necessary for the well being of the people. ~*  

Legolas knew the validity of this statement from personal experience. When his mother had left, Mirkwood had lost something precious. Though no one spoke about it to the young elf, he had instinctively known that all elves had mourned with his father. He could still remember that sweet smell of his mother’s arms when she held him. If Legolas closed his eyes, he could still trace every curve of her face with his mind.

Legolas sighed; it would not do to think of Eruante. He needed his mind to be unclouded if he was going to unravel Thranduil’s hidden meanings. Legolas reached out for his nightclothes, when his father’s next words came crashing down on him.

*~ The celebration helped lift everyone’s spirits  . . . Mirkwood could use such joy. ~*

This time Legolas did stumble. Thranduil was hinting at a wedding, he wanted to provide Mirkwood with a Queen, or more precisely - a Princess.

Legolas sank down onto his bed. It never crossed his mind that Thranduil was hinting at another marriage for himself. Though extremely rare, it was possible to sunder marriage vows. It was not done lightly and only if great need demanded it.

The only situation that Legolas could think of was when Celebrian had been forced to leave Middle Earth after her rescue from the orcs. Lord Elrond could have put her aside, since she could not be a wife to him anymore. However, he chose to wait until they were re-united.

By the same precedent, Thranduil could have put Eruante aside, but Legolas knew that Thranduil had never contemplated such an action, even for the Realm. Eruante was the one of the few things Thranduil loved more than his Kingdom.

This could only mean that Thranduil was planning his son’s wedding. A Princess would be a close substitute for a Queen. Legolas shook his head, he did not know whether to praise his father’s audacity or hold his head and weep. In the end, he did neither. He lay down and decided to get some sleep. One approached the enemy well rested and alert. The irony did not escape Legolas – his father was the enemy in this case. A loving enemy at that. Legolas could only hope that he had managed to completely misunderstand what his father was suggesting.

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Legolas arrived promptly outside his father’s room just as Anor[1] was rising. Thranduil’s ‘morning’ started when the sky lightened and the first rays hit Middle Earth.

Sure enough, Thranduil was ready and waiting for Legolas to appear. He motioned for Legolas to head towards the gardens. Both father and son shared a common love of Nature and Gondor’s gardens had some beautiful trees.

Neither spoke as they reached the gardens, content for the moment, to let the morning wash away any lingering weariness in them. Legolas watched as Thranduil turned his face slightly to let the morning light play over his face. His heart twisted, it was rare that he saw his father this content. Thranduil looked at Legolas and both smiled at each other. Both father and son were at ease and pleased to be with each other.

Unfortunately, the mood did not last.

“I want you to get married.” Thranduil shattered the fragile mood with his abrupt statement.

Legolas inwardly smiled; at least his father was not going to waste time with pleasantries. He took a deep breath and engaged his father.

“Why?”

“Were you not listening to what I was saying yesterday?” Thranduil countered.

“I was under the impression that we were having a pleasant conversation, nothing more.”

“Pleasant conversations may be instructive as well.”

Legolas wondered what to say now. Refusing outright would only make his father angry. “Adar, a decision like this should not be rushed into.”

“I am not rushing into anything, I have been thinking about this a for long time.”

This surprised Legolas, but in hindsight, it should not have. Thranduil never did anything impulsively. On the other hand, it angered him that Thranduil had been thinking about his marriage without consulting him.

“What made you decide to spring this on me now?”

“Considering all the has happened, Mirkwood needs a Princess now more than ever.” Thranduil’s voice was calm and that irked Legolas more than he cared to admit.

“And what of what I need?” Legolas struggled to keep his temper in check. Losing his concentration now would only give his father the upper hand.

“What of your needs? You are an adult now, I would have thought a wife would have been exactly what you require.”

Legolas clenched his teeth; Thranduil was deliberately misunderstanding what he was trying to say. “Adar, I believe I am not ready for marriage at this point in time.”  <Father – formal tone>

“Then you will make yourself ‘ready’.”

“Adar, I cannot marry someone I do not love.” Legolas bit out.

“I did not love your mother when I married her, but as time passed learned to do so deeply. So shall you.”

“Not everyone is as lucky as you were with Naneth. I would like to be in love with my wife, before I get married.”            <Mother>

“Not all of us have that luxury, ion nín. Mirkwood needs a Princess and it is your duty to provide one.”            <My Son>

“I will not sacrifice my life for the sake of duty.” Legolas head pounded and he struggled to keep his voice level.

“You are over 3000 years old, you cannot behave like a child any longer. You are a Prince and your life is about duty. Duty to your people. You will get married.” Thranduil was losing his temper as well, he was not used to people arguing with him, least of all his son.

“You would sacrifice your son to allow your people to indulge in a carnival?” Legolas heatedly demanded.

“Please acquit me of such stupidity. Your marriage is not an excuse but a necessity.”

“A necessity for whom?”

“For Mirkwood. You are my only child and with you, our line ends. If nothing else, you need to produce an heir, Legolas. It is time.”

“Is it my fault that you only decided to have one child?”

“You know that my decision had little to do with it. Eruante had difficult conceiving as it is, but if she had remained she would have tried none the less.”

Legolas swallowed, that accusation was uncalled for; he knew Thranduil would never shirked his duty. “Ada, I am sorry for that remark. But there is still time for me to find a wife myself.”

“You are ignorant ion nín, there is no time. You will have to trust me when I say that you must get married now.”            <My Son>

“How can I trust you when you do not accord me the same right?”

“Legolas, I do not wish to argue with you. I have made my decision.”

“Have you decided who I am going to marry?”

“Yes, some time ago.”

“Adar! I will not allow this to happen.” Legolas declared, not believing that Thranduil could be so high handed.

Thranduil finally lost his temper as well. “Remember who you address, Prince. I am your King and I am giving you a royal command. You are to get married soon after we return to Mirkwood. I will brook no disobedience in this matter.”

Legolas felt his heart grow cold, this was not his father who he addressed, this was the King of Mirkwood. This was the elf he owed allegiance to, the elf he had vowed to serve and obey.

But he could not cave in so easily, “And if I refuse?”

“I will make sure that you are unable to set foot in Mirkwood again. I have no use for traitors.”

Legolas reeled back; Thranduil was serious – deadly serious. This was no idle threat.

“As my King commands.”

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