Between Duty and Love

Part Four – A Father’s Farewell

Thranduil watched his sleeping son from the doorway. Nothing could stop the tears in his eyes from shedding. He did not even bother to wipe them away. The longer he watched him, the more Thranduil wanted to kill himself. It pained him to even lay eyes on his son, knowing it would be the last night he would see Legolas alive.

Carefully, he crept into his son’s room and sat on the edge of his bed. Legolas didn’t stir; his eyes were closed, deep in sleep.

He ran his fingers through Legolas’ silk-like golden hair.

Thranduil marveled at his son’s appearance; how Legolas mirrored both him and his wife so well. Of course, he always did so, but this time was different; it would be the last.

So young . . . so innocent and full of life . . .

Elbereth! Why should he be put through such torment? Why should a father be forced to kill his only child? He had known life was unfair and cruel, but this crossed the line of reason.

Thranduil’s mind wandered to the time when Legolas was just a toddler, and he had attempted to give him a bath. He had turned his back for a mere second, and Legolas was gone; running through the palace stark naked. It was quite a surprising and amusing site for the servants; the crowned prince, running throughout the hallways wearing nothing, soon followed by an angry king of Greenwood. It was a favorite story for several decades, told at every banquet held at the palace, behind the king’s back; but of course he knew. He always knew.

His lips curled into a smile at that memory, but became solemn again when he realized Legolas would become just that: nothing more than a memory.

His eyes fell to the bed sheets around his son’s waist. Carefully, he pulled them up to Legolas’ shoulders.

Leaning over his son, he whispered, “I am fighting a losing battle, and I cannot keep fighting it forever. I hope you will understand what I must do.” “I will miss you when tomorrow is over, lasgalen dithen. More than you can imagine.” He softly kissed his son’s forehead. “Take comfort in knowing yours will be swift and painless while mine will be slow and agonizing.”

He stood up, and slowly began walking out of the room. Halfway out the door, he stopped. He glanced over his shoulder one last time, then turned away. Already he could feel his heart breaking.

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lasgalen dithen -- little greenleaf