The History Of Legolas – Thranduil and Almwen

Author’s Note: First off, The Lord of the Rings and all associated characters belong to Tolkien and his estate. I am not making any profit off of this story, save the enjoyment I had making it.
Sorry for taking longer than usual to post this; I just got finished with finals and had a five hour drive home. But now that I'm on break, I can update more regularly (well, I can update the next story more regularly, anyway). Thanks for being patient!

Warning! There is mention of sex in this chapter, but no description.




Thranduil woke from his delicate slumber. He could feel warm sunlight pouring over his face as he lay with his eyes closed. The prince could discern the distinct sent of pine in the air. He could hear the soft breathing of the one who slept next to him; Almwen.

The prince of Greenwood had not meant for it to happen, though he did not regret it. He and Almwen had slipped away from the royal dinner the night before, wanting to spend their last hours together before he left the next morning. They had wandered the halls of the palace, eventually coming to Thranduil’s chambers. They both were heartsick, and out of desperation, they ended up solidifying their relationship in a physical bond.

According to the laws of the Eldar, Thranduil and Almwen were now married.

Finally opening his eyes, he looked upon his bride. Her dark hair spilled over her bare, pale shoulders like darkness over sunlight. Almwen’s dark eyes were still closed, most likely guiding her through a wonderful dream.

Thranduil leaned close to her and kissed her forehead before rising out of bed. He went and put on his green and brown fighting tunic in his dressing room and pulled back his golden hair that had fallen out in the night. Carefully, he re-braided the customary warrior plaits behind his ears and then took up the armor that was on a stand in the corner.

He slid the leather armor of the Green-Elves over his head and onto his body. Thranduil then put on his wrist guards and his leg guards and reached for his sword and fastened it in its sheath to his hip. With each piece of armor that he put on, the prince of Greenwood felt more and more reality sink into his mind.

He was going to war. And he might not return to see Almwen again.

Painfully aware of what lay before him, Thranduil walked back into his bedchamber and looked upon the sleeping maiden in his bed. She looked so peaceful, and so innocent.

Not wishing to wake her, Thranduil leaned over her body and kissed her lightly on the lips and then rose to leave.

“Do not leave,” A soft voice called from behind him.

Thranduil turned to see Almwen, awake and sitting up in bed, hugging the sheets to her body. He went to her side and took her hand.

“If you keep me in your heart, I will never leave, meleth nín.”* He said quietly.

“What if you do not return?” Almwen asked mournfully, her dark eyes threatening to spill tears.

“I promise that you will see me again.” Thranduil said, kissing her.

“I will hold you to that,” Almwen said, a witty smile crossing her face. The prince of Greenwood was pleased to see her smile again. After a moment of silence, he sighed, knowing that he could linger with her no longer.

“I must go, my father will call for me soon and then we will ride to meet the armies of Gil-Galad and Elendil.” He said.

Almwen, though there was sadness in her eyes, smiled and kissed Thranduil’s cheek. “Ná Elbereth veria le,”** she whispered.

Thranduil leaned close to her and kissed her passionately and ran his fingers through her dark hair once more. The tears in Almwen’s eyes spilled over her cheeks as she closed her eyes and returned the kiss, trying to chase her fears away by loosing herself in the moment.

Knowing he could no longer delay, Thranduil broke away from her and rose from the bed. He held her hand until he was too far away to hold it any longer and let her fingers slip gracefully out of his. When he was at the door, he turned and looked at Almwen one last time.

“Melin le.” He said.

With a soft look in her eyes, Almwen smiled and nodded. “Melin le.” She replied.

And with that Thranduil turned on his heel and left the room, fearing his heart would break.

~

He found his father in the council room, going over last minute plans with his councilors and looking at maps with the captains of the army of Greenwood.

“Thranduil,” Oropher said, when he saw his son. “We ride in an hour. Are you ready?” He asked.

“Father, I must speak with you.” Thranduil said. Oropher raised an eyebrow.

“Speak, then.”

“Alone.”

A confused look came over Oropher’s face. He studied his son carefully and could see the urgency in Thranduil’s eyes. He had never seen the prince this way before.

“Leave us for a moment,” Oropher said to his councilors and captains. The elves nodded and silently made their way from the room, leaving father and son alone.

“What troubles you, ion nín?”***

“Father,” Thranduil paused before spilling his words. He was not sure of what to say. “I am in love with Lady Almwen.” He said. Oropher looked perplexed. Of all times to confess to love, why now, before they marched for the Black Gate of Mordor?

“I have wedded her.”

Oropher looked shocked for a moment, but then began to laugh heartily. “I had wondered where you went off to last night…” He chuckled.

“Father, this is serious.” Thranduil said, sounding as if her were scolding. “I do not regret it, but I had not spoken to her father before this, and…” Oropher cut him off with a wave of his hand.

“Veryandil and I have talked at length about you two together. Eru knows you’ve spent enough time together in the last few months to raise suspicions. He approves. Do not fret, Thranduil.” Oropher said.

Thranduil sighed from relief. He was worried about Veryandil’s reaction, but that only cleared up half of his concern.

“Father, though there has been no ceremony, we are still wedded, which makes her princess of Greenwood…”

“And she will be treated as such. She may reside here in the palace if she wishes, and if any evil should befall this place, she and her family will be under heavy guard. I will see to it before we leave, Thranduil.”

“Hannon le, Ada.” Thranduil sighed again. Oropher put his arm around his son’s shoulder and smiled.

“You are a fine son, Thranduil, and I am proud to call you my own.” The King of Greenwood said. The prince smiled at his father, proud to be his son and to fight under the banner of Greenwood.

~

An hour later, Thranduil and Oropher sat upon their mighty steeds at the head of a massive army of Silvan and Sindar elves alike. The banners of Greenwood the Great flapped in the breeze and the horses stirred nervously, sensing the tension in the air.

Thranduil looked up to one of the balconies of the palace and saw Almwen standing there, looking down at him with a smile on her face. As his father spoke, Thranduil’s attention stayed on Almwen.

“Now is the hour, elves of Greenwood the Great, when we take up arms and defend our land from the evil that has so long infested Middle Earth. Let us give hope back to the free peoples of Middle Earth!” Oropher declared.

Almwen breathed heavily. She knew that when this war was over, not all that had gathered here would return. Fear clutched her heart as she kept her gaze on Thranduil.

“Let us ride for our mothers, our fathers, our sons and daughters, our lovers,” Oropher continued.

Thranduil shot a look at his father, whom he knew was referring to his own love affair. Almwen laughed from her perch on the balcony when she saw Thranduil glare at his father.

“We will not allow this shadow to fall upon the great land of Greenwood! We will stand and fight!” Oropher declared, unsheathing his sword and holding it high in the air.

“For Greenwood!” He cried out as his horse reared back.

“For Greenwood!” The soldiers called out.

Oropher repeated his battle cry as he pointed his sword forward towards the path that they would follow and urged his horse forward.

As the army moved forward, Thranduil looked back one last time at Almwen and held his eyes to hers until he could see her no longer.

“Until we next meet…” Thranduil said softly, turning his eyes to the road ahead of him.

Up on the balcony, Almwen watched her lover until he disappeared under the fir trees of the great forest and held her hand to her chest.

“Be safe, meleth nín.” She whispered.

To Be Continued…

~
* “My love”
** “May Elbereth protect you.”
*** “My son”