Four weeks had gone by and Legolas was beginning to show signs of getting better.
Aragorn remained constantly at his side, helping his friend along the road to recovery.

When Legolas was finally deemed fit to leave the confines of the healing wing Aragorn suggested that he should go see his father.

At first Legolas refused. Thranduil hadn't returned to Legolas' room since the day he almost died. Which meant that neither Legolas or Thranduil had spoken a word to one another in over thirty years.

But Aragorn was insistent, so was Feren but mainly towards Thranduil. Both had relentlessly pushed both king and prince until finally they conceded.

Legolas was standing next to Aragorn outside the closed door that led to his father's throne room.

The elf was looking far better than he had been a month ago, the color had returned to his face and all of his scars had faded.

Yet he could not hide the shaking of his hands or the fear that was in his eyes at the prospect of facing his father after all these years.

"I cannot do this Aragorn."
Legolas took a step back.
"It has been too long! And the way I left him, how I vanished-"

"Listen to me Legolas."
Aragorn grabbed his friend's shoulders and drilled him with a hard stare.
"It doesn't matter what you did or why you did it, all that matters is what you do now. Your father loves you Legolas, he wants to see you again."

When Legolas still seemed uncertain Aragorn rolled his eyes and released him, but did not break his gaze.

"You told me a long time ago that you were done running. Yet you never stopped hiding. It's time for you to stop Legolas, it's time for you to go home."

Aragorn searched his friend's face and saw a battle being waged inside the elf's mind.

"No matter what you choose to do Legolas, I will always be your brother."

Legolas looked up at his friend in surprise but couldn't say anything as Aragorn walked away.

The choice was completely up to Legolas. Aragorn could nothing to make up his mind for him.

Whether you like it or not there are some problems you cannot solve.
Aragorn mused.
Whether Legolas chooses to remain here or go with me is his choice.

Still, whenever Aragorn thought about his friend leaving him, he began to feel emptiness creeping into his heart.

There had been a time where he had wanted nothing to do with the elf, he would have loved it if he had left and never came back.

Now here he was, mourning because there was a possibilty that he would have to say goodbye to a friend, who was not even dying!

Aragorn nearly laughed out loud at the irony.

Whatever you choose mellon nin. I hope that it brings you hapiness, and gives you the peace that you have long sought for.

»»»»

Legolas watched Aragorn disappear down the hall then turned his head back towards the closed doors.

Once again he was being forced to make a choice: Enter this door and make amends with his father, or turn his back and return to exile.

You told me a long time ago that you were done running, yet you never stopped hiding. It's time to stop hiding Legolas. It's time for you to go home.

Home.

The word was such a foreign concept to him.
He had never felt at home here after Thalion's death, he hadn't been able to find a home in Rivendell or among the Ranger's.

Even his travels with Aragorn, though he cherised every moment he had spent with his friend, hadn't been able to give him what his heart had always desired....

Belonging, acceptance, and as Aragorn said earlier, a home.

He knew that Elrond and the twins thought of him as family but they couldn't give him those things. Neither could the Dunedain, and though he did accept him Aragorn could never give Legolas the home that he desired.

He was a Ranger, meant to travel the lands without a place to call home. Legolas had lived that life for far too long and he could no longer bear it.

He needed to find a place where he would belong, where he would accepted, and loved.

And the only one who could give him those things was behind those closed doors.

Legolas took a deep breath and placed his hands on the solid wood doors. He knew what he had to do, and he would not hide from it any longer.

Closing his eyes and taking in one more deep breath Legolas pushed the doors open.

»»»»

Thranduil stood alone and motionless in front of his throne.
What kind of king was he? He was supposed to be strong and brave for his people, and yet he couldn't summon enough courage to go see his son.

Instead I make him come to me as if he is the one who needs forgiveness.

If anyone needed to ask- no beg for forgiveness, it was Thranduil.
He was the one who had driven his son away, he was the one responsible for Tauriel's death, he was the one responsible for everything that had befallen his family.

It is too late for me to ask for their forgiveness, but it is not too late for me to ask for his.

Thranduil sighed and turned towards the closed doors. That was if Legolas would even come. Feren had told him that he was coming but Thranduil was begining to think that his son wasn't coming.

And why should he come? I don't deserve his forgiveness, he is probably already gone and I will never see him again.

Just as Thranduil was about to turn away the doors suddenly opened, and Legolas entered.

»»»»

Legolas couldn't think of any words to describe what he was feeling as he set eyes upon the father he had not seen for so long.

The father who had risked his life to save him, and had been rewarded with his only son running away, never to return.

Yet here was now; standing in his father's throne room and looking into his shocked and disbelieving eyes.

Neither said anything to one another, nor did they move. All they could do was stare at one another until they convinced themselves that what they were seeing was indeed real.

Thranduil began to move towards him. Legolas had to resist backing away yet the fear that had taken hold of him.

What would he do to him? Would he demand to know where he had been? Why he had left? Was he angry with him?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

Once his father stood in front of him Legolas lowered his head and braced himself for the barrage of questions that were surely about to come.

Yet Thranduil did nothing. He only stood in silence, staring at his son.

Legolas thought that he was waiting for him to say something, to explain himself and his actions to him.

But he couldn't find the words to say, he didn't know how to explain why he had run away.

He needed to ask his father for forgiveness, that was all he needed to do.

Legolas raised his head and met his father's gaze.
"Adar I-"
Legolas never got to finish as he suddenly found himself trapped inside his father's arms.

Legolas' eyes widened and he stared straight ahead, dumbfounded at what was happening.

Thranduil's body shook and for the first time in all his life Legolas saw his father cry.

He had never been able to imagine his father, his fearless, cold, stoic father actually crying.
Yet here he was, crying because of him.

"I'm so sorry Legolas."
Thranduil's voice came out as a choked sob as he continued to hold his son.

"Everything was my fault Legolas. Your mother, Thalion, Tauriel, they are all dead because of me. Please, forgive me..."

Legolas couldn't comprehend what was happening. He had expected that he would be the one crying and begging for forgiveness, not his father!

The question was: should he forgive him?

Legolas listened to his father's cries, he felt his trembling body and the strong arms that embraced him.

He had to forgive him, and not just for his sake, but for Legolas' as well. If he did not forgive his father his heart would shatter.

Legolas put his arms around his father and returned his embrace. Feeling his own tears beginning to form in his eyes he said in a trembling voice, "I forgive you ada."

»»»»

They spent hours alone talking with one another. Legolas told his father everything that had happened to him in the last thirty years.

The only parts Legolas left out was the vision he had had in Rivendell of him, Tauriel, and their son who had never been born, and of the dream he'd had of Tauriel.

But had that been a dream or something entirely different?
He would have time to ponder those things later.

He finished his tale with how he had become unconcious during his and Aragorn's harrowing escape from the orcs.

Legolas waited for his father to react to his story. Thranduil had his hands folded together in front of his face and his eyes were closed.

"You have become close to Aragorn haven't you?"
Thranduil said after a minute of silence.
Legolas nodded.
"He is like a brother to me, I would give my life for him and he would do the same."

"So I've heard."
Thranduil opened his eyes and looked sternly, yet also sorrowfully, at his son.
"I told him that after you were well that he was to leave our lands. I may allow him to return some day but he leads a dangerous life ion."

"Already he has enemies who are constantly hunting for him and I cannot allow you to run along with him headfirst into danger."

Legolas nodded in understanding which surprised Thranduil, who had been expecting him to argue or yell at him in outrage at his words.

"I know ada, we have already discussed it, and I am aware that he is leaving tomorow at dawn. All I ask of you is that I can travel with him to the borders of the forest, without a guard trailing us."

Thranduil hesitated for a moment, his eyes fearful at what Legolas could be planning.

"I will not run away ada."
Legolas took his father's hand into his.
"I am done running, I only ask that I will be able to say goodbye to Aragorn."

Thranduil sighed and nodded.
"Very well Legolas, but please promise me that you will come back. I could not bear to lose you again."

Legolas smiled.
"You won't. I promise."

»»»»

"So this is it then."
Aragorn announced as he and Legolas reached the border.
"This is where we part ways."

Aragorn stood with his back facing the Misty Mountains and his face towards Legolas.
His friend smiled sadly at him.

"I guess it is."
He said quietly.
"I'll have a lot of explaining to do once I reach Rivendell."
"Perhaps we could keep this between ourselves?"

"I doubt it. How else would I explain to Elrond and the twins that you suddenly decided to return home?"

"You could say that I grew tired of the way you smelled. You really should consider bathing more."

Aragorn chuckled as he shifted the bag of provisions he had been given on his shoulder.

"I'll keep that in mind."
"For the sake of Elrond and the twins I would hope so."

Aragorn tried to hit Legolas with his bag but the elf easily leaped out of the way.

"Might I add that reading a someone's personal letter is extremely rude and intruding on said person's privacy?"

Aragorn gaped at him in shock.
"How did you know?"
"I have my ways."
Legolas winked.
"Of course I should apologize myself, after all I read all of those poems you wrote concerning a certain elf maiden."

"LEGOLAS!"
"They were well written too, you have a wonderful way with words my friend."
"I'll kill you!"
"Now Aragorn don't tell me that you went through all that trouble to prevent me from being killed only to turn around and do it yourself."

Aragorn allowed his anger and embarassment to die down as he slowly breathed in and out.

"Are you calm now?"
"Yes."
"Thank the Valar."

Aragorn grinned and the two friends embraced.

"Novaer Legolas, na lû e-govaned vîn."
"Novaer Estel. N'i lû tôl."

They pulled away and Aragorn turned towards the Misty Mountains.

"Aragorn, if you ever need me I will come. No matter what."
Aragorn looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow.
"Will your father allow you to leave everytime I find myself stuck in a hole?"

"He would come around....
Eventually."
Aragorn laughed and dipped his head.
"Goodbye Legolas, for real this time."

Legolas offered him another sad smile.
"Goodbye gwador nin."

With that Aragorn set off to Rivendell. While Legolas turned around and reentered the forest.

As he walked beneath the branches of the trees the wind began to stir around him, gently pulling leaves from their branches and sending them spiraling down onto the forest floor.

Legolas closed his eyes and allowed the wind to envelope him in its soothing embrace, his hair whipped around him as golden rays from the sun cast their light upon the elf.

After all these years of struggling to find his way through the dark he had found the way out, he had found the light.

He was a fading light no more.