8Disclaimer - Middle Earth and its people belong to JRR Tolkien.
Three Months
Three months… three months had passed since the Queen had been killed. Three months with a King so lost in grief he barely noticed his own children. Three months and the fractures in the family were starting to show.
Thranduil Oropherion, King of the Woodland Realm, sat in council, his head leaning on one hand, his eyes full of unshed tears. The counsellors were speaking but he hardly heard a word. Three of his four children sat quietly to one side of the chamber wrapped in their own thoughts and grief. Although they sat alongside each other, the king's sons and daughter had a gulf of pain and grief between them. It showed in their faces and postures, each body rigidly erect and closed in on themselves.
The door to the chamber opened quietly and a server entered carrying a silver flagon of wine to refill the council's glasses. No-one noticed the figure that darted silently in before the door could shut. Swiftly and silently, the blond elfling purposefully made his way towards the head of the table, hiding behind pillars and tables as he went. He moved this way unnoticed, until he reached the King's chair and scrambled up into fathers lap and stood there facing him. An astonished silence fell over the council and anxious eyes turned to king. How would he react to such a breach of protocol and interruption to the council?
Before the king could speak, Legolas placed one small hand over his father's heart and leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
"Ada, Nana said that she would always be with us. She said she would be in the rustling leaves and the song of the river. She said she would be in the sunshine. She said she would live here in our hearts..." He patted his father's chest gently. "… and we would live in hers. Is it true Ada? Is she really there?"
The tears filling Thranduil's eyes overflowed as he gazed at his youngest child, this small reminder of his beloved. He gently brushed away the tears on his son's cheek. "Yes, tithen pen, it's true."
"Nana said when we heard and felt those things, we would be getting a hug from her. I don't want those things," the elfling's lips trembled and tears again fell on his cheeks, "I want a hug from Nana!"
Thranduil wrapped his arms around his small son and whispered "I want that too, ion-nin." He looked up at his other children and picking up Legolas, walked over to them, the council forgotten. "I think we all do." The King reached out towards them and after a startled moment, they stood and ran into his arms.
Silently the council members bowed and withdrew, leaving the royal family to share their grief together. A little warmth had re-entered the woodland realm in that moment.
o O o
Queen Idril turned away from the mirror in the Halls of Mandos and turned to the figure standing behind her. Bowing she said "Thank you my lord – I can see that the healing has begun."
Ada - Father/Dad/Daddy
Nana - Mother/Mum/Mummy
ion-nin - my son
tithen pen - little one