not reading wips feels anti-fanfiction to me. and i don't mean that in a "so you're a bad person if you don't read them" kinda way. do what you want. but i also feel, that you are completely missing the point. with fanfiction you're supposed to come along for the ride. the epic highs and lows of highschool football. the comment sections. the conversations. the theories. the "sorry i didn't update last week i was abducted by aliens and then my cat got stuck in a tree." LIKE. if you just want a story that's fully finished and polished go to a bookstore. fanfic is an EXPERIENCE. and ALSO. participating in the process is part of the way you make fanfic writing worth while. it's part of how you thank authors. like why would anyone write fanfiction if no one was going to interact with them until it was done? it again feels like a way that fanfiction is being eaten by consumer culture. you're waiting for your product. but this is supposed to be a club. you don't turn up to drama club like "where's my play bitch?" NO ma'am. we're supposed to paint these cardboard trees together. ok. i may have lost control of this metaphor. BUT YOU GET IT.
Summary: Medieval AU - Forced to marry Thranduil, you have to learn to tolerate each other
Warnings: Forced marriage
Tarot prompt will appear in bold
My father was calling for me first thing in the morning, which likely wasn’t a good omen.
“He's here!” he says in an excited whisper once I come to my bedchamber door.
“Who is here?”
“Your future husband, the King of Mirkwood.”
My stomach dropped through the floor. I had thought my family would've stopped persisting with their arrangements for marriage when I very clearly took the stablehand into my room in a show of defiance. I didn't want some pampered royal to wed, I didn't even want to be married at all, least of all to the King of Mirkwood.
The little I knew of him was from maids who'd fled his service to come to my family's estate. They described him as cold, callous at times with no interest in any kind of romance beyond the need for release. He simply had no time to properly woo a queen, nor did I think he had the inclination.
“Then he shall be sorely disappointed when he has to return. I will not be marrying him.”
“Listen to me,” my father's levity drops. “This is your only option now. You have insisted on soiling yourself with our staff and commoners so I cannot realistically present you as pure.”
“Then I shall have to become a spinster.”
“Thranduil is not demanding a dowry and will increase trade between our lands. You will be marrying him and you will marry him tomorrow. If you do not, my girl, you know what will happen to you.”
“Perhaps a death in the wilds of Fangorn is better than a lifetime of shackles,” I sneer.
“Hollow words, daughter. We both know you fear that forest so you will end up doing your duty.”
He left me to my thoughts after that. Mainly I tried to devise an escape plan.
After changing my clothes to something more plain, gathering things I could sell and trying to look less high born, I climbed out of my window and down the old and hardy vines that crept up the castle walls. Once on the ground, I heard a soft cough behind me.
Lithe, silver haired and with an imperceptible expression, the man had to be Thranduil.
“I was told you might attempt this,” he presses his fingers together in front of him. “I wanted to see for myself what kind of wife I was to acquire. A rather resourceful one it seems.”
“I am sure you can find a better match than myself. There are prettier, meekier women you could have.”
“Perhaps but none that would afford me such a good trade deal,” his shrewd eyes meet mine. “You are the choice that comes with the most rewards.”
“Then look to your second choice. I have no interest in becoming the queen of someone who treats me like a particularly good yield of crops.”
“Forgive me,” he doesn't sound like he means it. “You will gain advantages too. My kingdom is larger and richer, you will want for nothing if you toe the line with me and I will give you beautiful children.”
“I do not want a husband or children.”
“Then that is unfortunate for you but everything is signed and ready. This wedding will go ahead whether you want it to or not and irrespective of the fact I do not find you a particularly charming woman.”
“Why don't you go stick your head down a latrine, King Thranduil? I'm leaving,” I attempt to skirt around him to head into the town.
My way is suddenly blocked by Mirkwood guards who appear from behind the treeline. There are some of my own guards mixed in with them who leap at me, holding me like a struggling cat as I'm dragged back to my room.
I was watched the entire day then as I was taken to the kingdom of Mirkwood in a carriage. I did not even have peace when they were stuffing me into a wedding gown on the next morrow.
The colours of my house were displayed on the dress that nearly swallowed me in the fabric and I needed my maids to hold the skirts up so I could even walk to the grand hall. Once there, I was greeted by Thranduil in silver finery, his crown prominent and another sat on a plush pillow to the side of him that I assumed was for me.
His had berries, mine had acorns.
I barely said anything throughout the ceremony other than what was expected. My anger was simmering under the surface, something that my now husband seemed to be aware of and also amused by.
After our hands were bound together so I couldn't escape his cool touch, then came time for the public kiss. I caught the eye of my father glaring at me, a clear sign to just submit.
So I crawled into the back of my mind, stoking up my imagination and memories to transpose someone else onto Thranduil's movements. The kiss was only brief but I managed not to recoil.
Then I was crowned as queen before the feast began with tumultuous applause.
“Your behaviour was encouraging,” Thranduil says quietly to me once everyone is distracted by food and drink. “I could almost believe you wanted to be here.”
“I can smile and nod when I need to but do not speak to me like I am a child.”
“If you will act like one, I will treat you accordingly. I am not enthused either, wife but here we are.”
So I resolved not to say another word to him unless I absolutely had to. That worked well until the time came that we were expected to solidify the union in his bedchambers.
“Do not touch me,” I hiss the second we are alone in there.
“It will be quite difficult to get an heir in you if I don't,” Thranduil raises an eyebrow.
“Get your heir from a mistress. I don't care.”
“I can fake a great deal many things but a pregnancy is not one of them and if you think I will raise a bastard, you are gravely mistaken. Take your pleasures in others by all means but only I shall be the only one to get your belly to swell.”
“You would...you would let me be with other people?” I thought I'd misheard him.
“You do not like me, I do not like you now I have met you. It does us no favours to deny ourselves but I will perform my duty and I expect you to do the same but not tonight. I am much too tired. Sleep beside me, wife. You will be safe, I swear it.”
I am left to get out of the ridiculous gown myself and into night clothes before joining him in the bed. I despise the sensation of someone else there with me under the sheets and I was finding it impossible to relax.
I did not sleep well at all on my wedding night.
At least it became easier over the next few days. Thranduil seemed to be allowing me a grace period to settle in before trying to consummate the marriage which I was grateful for but the man was so naturally caustic that I often found other places to hide from him like his library or the wider Mirkwood forest.
Even then my sanctuary was to be ruined.
I was reading in a notch in my favourite tree when I heard clicking above me. Droplets of something marred the page of my book and I finally and reluctantly looked up, dreading what I would find.
A great spider was waiting to strike and I had to choose between falling to the forest floor or taking my chances on the branch. I decided to fall, the leaves cushioning my impact but I was still winded, too winded to get up and flee in time before the spider was on the ground as well.
It didn't even occur to me to call out for help as I used the book to stop the pincers from catching my face, shoving it into the cavity there before grabbing a sturdy stick and hoping it would be enough to scare the thing away.
I managed to stab one of its eyes as it let out an earsplitting shriek before I was kicked back by its two front legs. Over in the dirt I rolled and it advanced on me once again, sensing I was in a weak position.
Then it writhed, legs splaying and twitching before it fell to one side and Thranduil was standing behind it, sword covered in black ichor.
“What are you doing so far out from the kingdom?!” his eyes flash with fury.
“Trying to read in peace.”
“If you had alerted me that you were planning to come here, I would've warned you about the monsters that lurk in this place. Do not make me a fool king who cannot keep his wayward wife alive. You have more freedoms than others in your position and still you vie for more.”
“What were you doing out here anyway?” I question him back because his timing is rather suspicious.
“Following you,” he wipes off his sword. “Your maids told me where you were after I tried to find you earlier. Your family is here to see you.”
“To see my progress.”
“Yes,” he never sugarcoats the truth. “Now get up off the dirt and come with me.”
He extends a hand to me which I take before I am hoisted to my feet.
“Thank you,” I give him gratitude, even though I am loathe to. “For saving my life.”
“So you do have decorum, though I am guessing it is reserved for those you respect,” Thranduil starts leading me back. “That is fair. You have gained a modicum of mine for lasting so long against a Mirkwood spider armed with nothing. I heard no screams from you and I saw you partially blind it. That was very brave.”
“I try not to rely on others to solve my problems.”
“Admirable.”
This was the most civil we'd ever been with each other and I did not find myself hating it. In fact, we almost managed to hold a conversation on the way back about our mutual distaste for my family's sudden visit.
We put on appearances for them, held hands when we needed to but during the dark hours we remained entirely separate until we slept. He did allow me to vent my frustration at my father's comment that I was now 'well heeled' though.
“His concern has always been about your value and you deliberately make yourself a poorer choice. I am very sure he suggested the match because I am known for not indulging rebellious spirits in my inner circles,” Thranduil tries to calm me.
“And yet you let me retain mine.”
“It is not in my interest to spend that much time teaching you to behave. I have other things that warrant my attention more,” he says plainly. “But I will not be able to put duty off for much longer, the maids are already cultivating gossip about the lack of noises from this bedchamber.”
“I understand.”
“Have you taken any lovers?” he turns to me and I can just about discern his face in the dim light.
“No. Have you?”
“I have had one tryst when you irked me regarding the sacred day celebrations. It was perfunctory.”
“Perfunctory? That hardly seems enjoyable.”
“It is a release, nothing more.”
“You do know it can be fun, don't you?”
“I am aware. Are you volunteering to show me that fact?”
For just a moment I think he smirks but it is fleeting.
“Go to sleep, husband.”
“Of course, wife.”
From that day, we talked more under the impression that neither of us cared to listen that much to the other's problems and so it did not matter to reveal our inner most thoughts. Thranduil would usually rage about other kings and their perceived disrespect to him, particularly the mountain king. His name was met with a string of insults behind it fairly regularly.
I came to discover that the impassive King of Mirkwood had a lot of passion to him behind closed doors, the cold exterior a mask he would wear.
In turn I would decry his subjects who would bother me frequently when I would try to find alternative places to read within the kingdom's limits, assuming I had some kind of power over Thranduil to gain favours. He listened half-heartedly to these complaints before becoming irritated with them after a few days.
“Then why do you not tell them to leave you alone? You are queen. You do remember you have a certain degree of power now?” he frowns.
“I do not want to accidentally abuse your people.”
“They are our people. In fact, tomorrow you will help me rule them. You do not bend easily and you have an impressive grasp of wiping all emotion from your face.”
“You're asking me to sit in on your council?”
“Just because I find you irksome does not mean I overlook your other qualities,” Thranduil laughs softly. “And I shall be particularly vexed by my visitor tomorrow so the company would be nice. I want you to despise King Thorin as much as I.”
When I sat on my smaller throne next to him the following day, it wasn't hard for me to dislike the neighbouring king. He was stubborn, unyielding and incredibly rude.
After some barbed back and forth between the two men, I had had enough.
“Forgive me if I speak out of turn, King Thorin but you speak of slights against your kingdom from this one and yet I did not see you at our wedding. You did have an invitation though, am I correct?”
Thorin looks at me from under dark eyebrows, wondering where I am going with this.
“Yes,” he replies gruffly.
“Other kings came. Did you have a particular reason for this offence?”
“Offence?!”
“Yes, offence,” Thranduil latches on to my train of thought. “We are supposed to be friends, are we not? Why did you not come?”
“Your sham marriage does not interest me, Thranduil,” Thorin scoffs.
“There is no sham here, king under the mountain,” I take Thranduil's hand. “I am your neighbouring queen but I shall be magnanimous and overlook this lapse of judgement if you will cease trying to play the victim and have an adult conversation about your issues.”
Thorin looks aghast for a moment before turning to Thranduil and, when I turned also, I saw that my husband seemed proud of me. He didn't even modify his expression when we locked eyes.
“My wife is much more eloquent than people imagine,” Thranduil breaks the silence. “We should both follow her example.”
“Fine,” Thorin replies with a sigh.
They managed to talk without further argument after that. Then Thranduil took us both back to our quarters before regarding me strangely.
“I do not make apologies. I am never wrong,” he comes closer to me before taking my hand and caressing the back of it with his thumb gently. “So believe me when I say I am sorry. I have not given you enough time to know you well. How you handled Oakenshield was poetry, how you started civil negotiations between us was the work of the finest advisor.”
“I cannot deny it was gratifying to watch him so uncomfortable.”
“I should've put you on the council much earlier,” Thranduil chuckles before surprising me by kissing the back of my hand.
That was the beginning of his affection towards me. It was a subtle start: a palm against my shoulder to steer me to my seat during meetings, brushing back errant hairs, holding my hand for longer than necessary after the other members of the council left.
We still traded barbed words, still had very frank arguments with each other but there was less hate between us now. Then came a day that was a true test of the rocky foundations we had laid down.
“I am sorry, dear wife. I can hold off duty no longer. Three moons have passed and I am fielding concerns that are spreading throughout the kingdom about us.”
“Surely we have seemed more united to them this past month?”
“But they hear no scandalous rumours about what we do in our private quarters. They only hear silence or fervent discussions.”
“We could pretend?”
“There is no fakery in the scents and the mess of intimacy or I would've done so in our first week of marriage. I will only touch you as much as you let me. I am not interested in forcing you or upsetting you.”
I knew this day would come but I had been dreading it less as of late.
Rather than let this hang awkwardly between us, I loosened my gown before letting it slip from shoulders to pool at my feet. I was not shy and I would rather he not be either or it would make me nervous.
“Braver and braver,” he affords me the same courtesy, divesting his clothes until we are both bare to each other. “You have the power here, queen of Mirkwood. Tell me how I can make this easy for you.”
I lead him to the bed, pulling him on top of me. He settles, body between my legs and reluctant to go much further I think.
We are spared the strangeness of the situation when a maid accidentally walks in. We are usually entertaining guests by this time so it was not unusual for her to be here. She just gives an awkward squeak and an apology before running out.
“There starts the scandalous gossip,” I make a light joke and Thranduil moves off me, going to redress himself. “Uh..I am a little confused.”
“The idea was that we would be heard but being seen solidifies that we are in fact engaging with each other. We do not have to do the act now.”
“Oh. Yes, I suppose you are right.”
I'm not sure why I was put out by that and I did not fully understand his reaction, given that I could see his physical desire for me before he covered himself. I hadn't expected him to stop.
I spent much of that night wondering about my own feelings on the matter, analysing and overanalysing that interaction. I looked to my husband who was asleep by the side of me and, on a whim, decided to get closer to him.
The next thing I knew, I had woken up in his embrace with the warm light of the morning revealing the tangle of limbs.
“I assume you were cold,” Thranduil says dryly before getting up for the day. “I will ask for thicker furs later.”
I tested his limits all throughout the council meeting, touches, interlacing our fingers together, even a kiss on the cheek. To all his advisors we appeared as a loving partnership.
Thranduil made no remark on my behaviour, not even when I played with a strand of his hair during the king's moot feast which included King Thorin, King Bard and my own father. There was a moment he leaned into it even, eyes closing briefly as I skirted the shape of his ear.
The dancing began soon after, the simple moves known by all as they twirled as one. Thranduil and I remained at the head table as he spoke to King Bard genially enough.
“Might I apologise for my rude behaviour the last time we met and ask for your company?” Thorin is extending his hand for mine.
I actually look to my husband, seeking his guidance and he gives me the briefest of nods. Normally I would've done whatever I desired to.
“Yes that will be acceptable,” I accept, going to dance with him.
“The Mirkwood king has a formidable wife,” Thorin speaks as we circle each other, palms the only thing connecting. “However did you end up marrying such a ruthless man?”
“When every other suitor rejected me, including yourself.”
“I do not remember this.”
“I am sure you don't.”
“A mistake on my part but I am not mistaken that your marriage is mere pretence. I have had spies in this kingdom tell me as much. Now I shall make you a better offer. I can unburden you from this union, give you more riches than you have ever dreamed of and you would have more power to wield. I believe with your sharp mind, Erebor could be an empire someday.”
“I have no aspirations to rule more than this, I have no greed for gold and I have no desire for you, Thorin Oakenshield.”
“It would be wise to consider-”
“-I have nothing to consider, now I wish to sit down,” I go to pull away from him but he holds me a fraction too long, his pride wounded at my rejection and, faster than I can comprehend, Thranduil is at my side.
“May I cut in?” he says pleasantly enough.
“Of course,” Thorin glares before storming off.
“You did not look happy. I thought my presence was required,” Thranduil dances with me now.
“I was not happy.”
“Did he insult you?”
“No, he insulted you.”
I have given far too much of myself away with those words but perhaps he had given himself away with the speed of his rescue.
“He offered you marriage,” Thranduil surmises. “Diminishing myself in the process.”
“Yes.”
“Thorin is the logically better prospect. Unthinkingly rich, old ties with vast influence-”
“-I do not care.”
There's a softening in his gaze as he spins me round, maybe even fondness.
“You defend my honour and offend my greatest rival,” he moves with such grace and I barely keep up. “I would want no other for a wife.”
Before I could remember I was supposed to be demure at this feast, I reached up and kissed him, genuine emotion behind it. I think the overt display shocked those present who'd been making disparaging talk about us, including my own father.
“Let us retire,” Thranduil whispers by my ear. “I loathe these people as I think you do as well. I would much rather enjoy a late night argument with you.”
“Or a pleasant conversation,” I give a small laugh. “Make our excuses then.”
My husband never seemed to relish being social. It was a trait we shared.
As he went to speak to the other kings, my father slipped out of his seat before approaching me. I had an ill feeling about it.
“King Thorin has just told me he gave a marriage offer.”
“He did but I am already married, father,” my tone is very flat. This is not something I want to speak about.
“We can break this off with Thranduil,” he lowers his voice. “Ties with Erebor will benefit both families much more than with Mirkwood and Thorin is rarely interested in finding a wife. You must have impressed him.”
“All I did was hold him accountable for his actions.”
“A good quality in a wife, especially for a king as impetuous as him.”
“I am happy where I am,” I can feel myself getting stiffer, the stern demeanour I had crafted for the council meetings taking over.
“By all accounts you have not even lay with the man,” my father is whispering now. “The marriage can be annulled quickly on those grounds.”
“I will not marry Thorin Oakenshield. I have a husband, I am content with my husband. My husband is kind to me and does not force me to do things I do not wish to. My husband values my thoughts and seeks my help as much as I seek his. This discussion is done.”
My father regards me with a new sense of respect, I think, “Thranduil really has changed you.”
“It is her who has changed me,” my husband returns, placing his hand in the small of my back. “Now if you are quite finished making our existing trade deal tenuous by supporting Erebor, I would like to take my wife to our chambers to retire for the evening or do you insist on bullying her further?”
“Bully-?!”
“You seem to have forgotten my reputation and that is one of ruthlessness. Make an enemy of my wife and you make an enemy of me, no matter that you share blood. Remember that.”
This is how Thranduil must've felt when I shamed Thorin. A sense of elation, smugness and a degree of attraction for his defence of me.
When we leave my stuttering father to arrive in our quarters, I see Thranduil much more differently now. The truth is I had been doing so for some time now. It was a slow progression from hating him to our civil understanding to the small traded affections.
“I meant what I said,” Thranduil mistakes my look. “I would burn your father's kingdom to the foundations if he upset you.”
“I know you would. I would insult Thorin in front of the whole of Erebor if he upset you.”
“I know you would. That we form our marriage based on the hatred of others...” he lets that hang in the air and I wonder if he's not enthused about it particularly. “You really were the only one who could've been matched to me in the entire world. The only one who understands me.”
I can hold myself back no longer. I am hoping he won't reject me as I press him back against the door and kiss him again and thankfully he didn't. He held me close to him, savouring the touch.
This time he was the one to undress me and I was the one to undress him. This time we did not stop even when we were interrupted again by what I assumed was Thorin's maid he has installed in the kingdom to report on our marriage. I made sure to amplify my noises at that point in particular.
I had never felt loved when being intimate with others before but I did with Thranduil. He never stopped caressing me, kissing me, whispering words of romance to me. By the time he was done with me, I was boneless, lust-drunk and smiling.
“You were correct, dearest heart,” Thranduil has me in his arms as we bathe in the afterglow. “It really can be much more enjoyable, especially with the right partner.”
“You will find, dear husband, I am never wrong,” I repeat words he has said to me before.
I had never heard his unrestrained laugh before and I hoped I would hear it again many more times during my life.
“We are going to utterly rule this world, you and I,” he touches his forehead to mine.
“And then avoid all of our subjects because people are vexing.”
“You are the missing piece of me,” Thranduil places his hand over my heart. “I want you to know I have taken no one else into my bed since that last occasion and I will never do so again. I only want you. I want us to be a true husband and wife.”
“I would like that.”
And so we were. We became a formidable partnership, a force to be reckoned with and also treated with the proper courtesy. We took lands from Erebor, we absorbed my father's kingdom into Mirkwood when he slighted us once more and we started a golden age of the woodland realm.
Though we were feared by some, the stance was softened by Thranduil's increasingly public displays of affection. Our marriage was idolised because of it.
The ruthless king and his unyielding queen, truly, deeply in love.
“It is a holiday celebrated by man is it not? While we do not have such a day in our culture, Thranduil and I have grown to celebrate our union with every passing day. There is a fondness in our hearts that links us together, and it is through that unbreakable bond which we appreciate what we have. For while the seasons may change as the winds come and go as dictated by Eru above, not a day goes by where I will do cherish him with my heart.”
Pair: Thranduil X Female Elf Reader (You) X Young Legolas
Words: 907
Warnings: Fluff
Summary: Thranduil and Legolas made a crown.
Based on THIS IMAGINE by @the-ring-wasnt-even-pretty.
Once I saw that post I immediately made this story. However, I was unsure to post it or not because I'm still nervous. By the way, I know that only Thranduil and his wife are only there but hey. Thranduil deserves a happy short story as well with, of course, our young Legolas
Sweet Greenwood tree smells invade your nostrils as much as nature's breeze hits your skin.
Orange leaves fall from the tree making an orange carpet for the elves who walk by.
"Autumn," you muttered to yourself.
It is always one of the best seasons that you always look forward to aside from spring of course. It is still your favorite season after all.
Peaceful and silent. That is how you explain autumn not until-
"Ada I got the twigs!" You heard Legolas yell from running from tree after tree to collect twigs.
You are not certain on what they are really up to but all you know--is to wait for the finished result.
"I also got the wild berries and some flowers Ionneg(Son) now let us assemble it. I do not want your naneth to think that we are just playing." Thranduil said while staring at you from afar. He knows well that once you are too silent from the rest of the morning, that means you have a serious day.
And that day is, unfortunately, this day.
Thranduil knows how you admire autumn not only for its beauty but for its peace as well.
He remembers that every fall you are always silent to admire it, embrace it and embark it to one of your memory trees.
But since you have a son together. It is really hard for you to find peace of mind and enjoy the scenery because Legolas always run back and forth from tree to tree.
One time you remembered Thranduil calling Legolas a horse because he has too much-running energy.
Now intrigue. You watched the two from your table to their sitting position under the tree. Them facing the bushes and you facing their backs.
"Honestly Valar, What are they up to?" You mumbled to yourself when you noticed that both of them began to remain silent. No one dares to move or dare to speak.
As if they are now dealing with a serious matter.
So you decided to stand up and walk to them when both of them said.
"Stay there Naneth!"
"Stay there Meleth!"
"O-okay." You said awestruck when they both said that at the same time.
They are the copy of each other.
Several minutes later, you noticed that Legolas stands up and run towards you.
"What is the matter little leaf? Did your Ada scold you?" You said in a worried tone, and you noticed two sets of ocean eyes staring at you from afar when you mention "scold" and you gave him a wink as an apology but he squinted his eyes as he continued his "secret" business.
Legolas shake his head and gave you a flower.
A wildflower, but you did not know what it is called since it is your first time seeing it.
"It is for your nana and ada said you like flowers that is why I picked them for you," Legolas said smiling proudly.
"Do you like it?" Legolas asked you.
"Of course little leaf, it came from you and I must cherish it." You said while smiling and picking him up to let him put the flower in your elven ear.
Minutes later, You and Legolas started to play until Thranduil stand up and made you two stopped on what you're doing.
"Is it done ada?" Legolas asked and you can read the excitement from his face.
"Yes, ionneg," Thranduil said while patting his robe to remove the autumn leaves that stick with it.
"Can I see it now?" Legolas asked his father once again and right after that Thranduil began to walk to both of you.
Legolas is obviously, the most excited one here.
Legolas then reached for his hand and Thranduil put a small crown made out of twigs, wild berries, and flowers.
"So that is you both are up to earlier?" You said while shaking your head in disbelief.
Once Thranduil placed the crown properly to Legolas' small head, Thranduil came up to you.
"This one is special because it is for my queen", Thranduil placed the crown that he made for you.
And surprisingly, the crown fitted your head.
"It fits." You said to him while smiling.
"Of course." He said smiling at you.
Now you reached for his other hand that holds the last crown.
His crown.
You reached for it and placed it in his head and Legolas seemed to be enjoying the view.
"We all have crowns!" Legolas said gleefully climbing to his father's legs whilst you hold his tiny head because his crown might prick Thranduil's legs.
"Why did you make them pointy? Are we going to kill anybody with it? I hope not." You said to Thranduil while laughing.
"Well, I just want them to see how scary our family is that no one would dare to lay their hands even on our single strand of hair." Thranduil chuckled as Legolas continued to wrap around his father's legs.
Thranduil grabbed your hand entwining your both fingers together as you walk back to the castle.
Legolas is in the middle of you two, still running up his business.
While walking Thranduil grabbed you and gave you a passionate kiss that lasted for a minute because…
"Why did we stop ada?" Legolas said having no idea what is going on up there because of their clothing.
Both of you chuckled whilst the confused elfling still do not understand what is going on.
Summary: You and Thranduil reminisced your first interaction as strangers to each other.
It has been a decade since you and Thranduil have been married. Ever since then people in Eryn Galen—"Greenwood the great" as mortals call it— became fond of the new couple. They have been asking for an heir as you recall it on your first day as a couple.
Although both of you wanted an elfling, as a member of the royal family your responsibility keeps on piling up so you both agreed that your first responsibility is the realm especially Sauron and Sauron's minions been eyeing Amon Lanc for half a century now.
Paper works, countless meetings from the council regarding the rising attacks of orcs from your borders, realms of both men and other elven kingdoms asking for aid, and so on. It bothers not only you but the people of Eryn Galen.
"Are you alright?" Thranduil asked when he noticed that you've been staring at the window for 10 minutes.
"Do you need to rest?" his voice said in worry.
"Yes I am alright and I do not need rest, there are people whose safety rely on us, and as your wife, a princess, that means I must help you to your responsibilities as a prince whilst King Oropher been busying himself to the upcoming war in which in my opinion is not a good idea. I am not just worried about you but our soldiers as well. They have family Thranduil, like us. But Sauron keeps poisoning our peaceful time here on middle-earth, I do not know what to do or think anymore".
While you were speaking, you did not notice that Thranduil went to your chair and he hugs you from the side. Normally, you don't talk about serious things like this but now you can not help it. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers might go to war to leave their families behind without knowing if they will be able to come back or they will end up in the halls of Mandos.
You, yourself is scared as well not only for Thranduil, your husband but to your second father, King Oropher.
"Meleth nin(My love), I know what you feel. You see, war is a dangerous game where it is a matter of life and death. I, myself have been to many wars before and as far as I know, you joined some of them, yes?".
You nodded and yes he was right. Right before you became Thranduil's wife you became a soldier from Lothlorien. Although you are a respectable lady since your family is one of the Lothlórien's council, it did not stop you to join many battles. Elves considered you like the best archer in Arda since you hit every target dead on the spot.
"Enough of this subject and let us focus on something else. Since we are already talking about you being in too many battles, do you remember the first time that we saw each other?" Thranduil stuttered as his eyes shimmered looking back in the memory of you together.
"Yes I remember, father still finds it amusing though. The first time when we met together I thought you were a guard because of how filthy you look."
You were in the battlefield shooting arrows to every orcs you see. Left and right, front to your back as they continuously emerge from somewhere. You did not know where.
You ran to your father's side when you saw him guard less.
"Valar, You are too open." You muttered to yourself when you saw your father being his clearing being too open, as if he's inviting the orcs to come to him.
"You always got my back sellig. (Daughter)" You rolled your eyes hearing those. Again. For the nth time.
Minutes later, your coast is clear and thankfully some soldiers only received small to mild wounds.
"Y/N, daughter let's get back to the king's tent to see our next plan. Orcs that arrived in our area is suspiciously lower than we anticipated. They're maybe plotting for something and we must alert them to what we have noticed."
You nodded and followed your father back to the King's tent. King Gil-galad, Highest king of Noldor and is a highly respectable king in arda.
Although you're not a Noldor, they still accepted your parents refuge to Lothlorien-and also because if Lord Celeborn-for some time now especially Sindarin elves are enormously low due to the fact the Noldor elves attacked the Teleri elves in Valinor. Right after the kinslaying, your parents departed to Valinor to help aid the other elves from the destruction of Sauron.
The Valar granted the remaining elves in Valinor to help them to fight against the upcoming destruction of Sauron. Many elves departed Valinor and some chose not to, for their grief towards their kin is still painful. In result, all of the Noldor are banished from Valinor due to their traitorous wicked act.
Your parents has been together since they are still in Valinor and when they reached Middle-Earth. Thingol, the high king of Sindar elves accepted your parents refuge to Doriath. Your father became part of his council and became friends with many Sindar elves like King Oropher of Eryn Galen and Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien.
When the destruction of Doriath happened, elves despised the dwarves for their obsession of jewelry and killing their Sindar King, Thingol. Queen Melian, wife of King Thingol, Mother of Lúthien warned your parents about what she saw in her vision. Y/N's future.
-------------------------
"You must understand that your daughter is a gift from the Valar and raise her well for she will play a huge part during this time. War and destruction, poisons, accursed lands and betrayals. I hope that you will take care of her, nurture her with knowledge of both worlds. Train her with different weapons and most important of all, love her and cherish her for we do not know what future lies to all of us." Melian said to both of your parents whilst holding you in her chest.
"Every elfling is a Valar gift to all of us elves and you Y/N, I see your future so bright but with a hint of darkness in it. However, it will be in a long time and we are not in a hurry. You can find love in this world and cherish it like the love of your parents." Melian said that only you and your parents can hear. She kissed your temple before she gave you back to your parents.
"You must go now, seek a refuge to other realms if you have to. Doriath is gonna fall any time of the day now. Many soldiers have died protecting this realm so as innocent ones. Flee my friends, my heart will weep upon your leaving."
Your parents understood and immediately left Doriath with Lord Celeborn's company and there you grew up into a beautiful, wise and respectable elleth. Many centuries had passed since the fall of Doriath and the thought of it made you stronger, braver, and confident in every battle you face.
At first, your parents did not agree to you to partake any war since you are too young to experience it. But your determination and heavy preparations of training made them agree to you to join battles.
And one of them is this.
You and your father finally reached the elven king's tent to report the anomaly that happened in your troops. Upon entering the said tent, you noticed a tall ellon standing next to the Sindar King Oropher that made you think that they have arrived at the same time as you and your father.
The ellon stared at you for a moment but you did not care about it at all. You listened to both kings as their observation about the said orc attack is not normal.
10 minutes and they're still discussing about the possibilities that might happen next hour or so. But you noticed that the ellon is still staring at you and of course you're already used to it since having an elleth to an army is rare.
You stared at him back, eyebrow rise as if your telepathically talking to him saying "what's wrong?."
He then cleared his throat and pretends to listen to both kings but your composure is still the same.
Little did you both know that King Oropher noticed his son's odd behavior earlier and he just silently observing and waited for your reaction towards to his son.
Normally King Oropher knows that every elleth and women has been obsessed, head over heels to his son Thranduil. Now the situation has changed and it excites him to know what will happen next.
King Oropher cleared his throat and said,
"Why not the both of you go outside and help the healer aid the wounded soldiers, I know that both of you have quite knowledge about elven medicine and I think the healers appreciate it if they have more helping hands out there." He said looking both at you and Thranduil.
Your father stared at you and gave you a nod as an answer that you are dismissed so you march outside right after you give your curtsy to the three of them.
Thranduil followed you heading to the healing tents and no one even bother to speak a word.
When you both are near, Thranduil suddenly speak.
"What is your name?" He asked curiously staring at your hair.
"Y/N" you shortly replied without looking at him.
Thranduil find it annoying when you did not turn to talk to him so he then said.
"Are you really in such hurry to help the healers? You know, the king just said that to dismiss us without saying it."
"I know." You said and turn to him, looking straight in the eye.
"Since you already know my name, may I know yours so I am not calling you orc. You seemed to enjoy their company earlier and decided to shower their blood all over you as a souvenir, no?"
You asked as his face looked amazed instead of being mad.
"I am Thranduil and yes I enjoy the battle earlier however I have no control of their blood spilling or whisking at me." Thranduil snapped back but you just want to laugh because his appearance is quite horrid than expected.
His armor, half of his hair, or even half of his neck is smeared with orc blood and you find it worrisome because it don't usually happen to everyone, unless, they're reckless.
You rolled your eyes at him as you turned your back.
"Since we both are heading to the tents you might as well want to get yourself cleaned. Base on your situation, you might be a veteran warrior yet a reckless one as well."
"How do you know that I'm good in the battlefield?" Thranduil asked as you two began to walk towards the healing tents.
"I noticed that you do not possess any wound from the battle earlier, all the bloods belong to the orcs that you and your company have slain."
"That is a good observation, however I did not notice that you looked at me even for once." Thranduil said in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, with all due respect your majesty, I have seen enough already." You said leaving him outside once you entered the said tent.
You immediately asked for a bucket of water and a towel.
Once when Thranduil entered. He was shock to see you holding a bucket of water and a towel and giving it to him.
"Clean yourself." you muttered.
"Then I will help you clean your hair."
Thranduil immediately took the bucket and the towel and he began to clean himself whilst you began to wash his hair.
Surprisingly while you wash his hair. You noticed that his hair is not really blond but rather a white-ish silver hair.
"Your hair is paler than I anticipated." You said to him while drying his hair.
"I got it from my kin, we are Sindarin elves. Are you a Sindarin elf, yes?"
"Yes I am Sindar but my hair is not the same of our kin. Queen Melian had said that I am a gift from the Valar but I do not know why they decided to color it brown." I said to him.
Honestly, many people thought that I am Noldo because of my hair but once they look at my physique it is really a Sindar.
"Maybe the reason why they gave that color is because it glows in the sun like gold. Your hair reminds me of Laurelin tree in Valinor however I did not see the tree myself." He said turning at you.
"Well since you compare my hair to the golden leaves of Laurelin might as well I compare yours to Telperion. Since the leaves of it gives a shiny white light like hair of yours." You said and you swear you saw him smirk.
You stand up and was about to return the bucket of now cloudy water.
When he grabbed your wrist and said,
"Do you know me?'' He asked raising his eyebrow yet his eyes is full of… amazement?
"I do not know you personally since we have just met earlier however…" his gaze is now in mere anticipation when you said "however".
"However?..." He continued waiting for your answer.
"I noticed that you might be a boastful ellon yet known to mischief." You said then he let go of your hand to continue your plan earlier.
His mouth agape and was about to say something but he laughed. Teary-eyed prince watching your every step once you came back to his side.
"What?" You asked in confusion. You mean what you said to him since his gaze from you earlier feels like a judgment. You had met so many people already and you only know one thing. Their eyes says it all. A woman, elleth or whatever form they are as long as they are female, they have no place in males world.
You are sick of it.
Sick and tired of being ridiculed because of your gender.
No matter how many times you prove them they're wrong, they'll just shrug their shoulders and says things such as; "She is just lucky", ''I can do that with my eyes closed." Whatsoever.
Now staring at Thranduil's blue eyes. You thought of nothing.
And you noticed it.
He was trying to read your emotions through your eyes for eyes cannot lie, however, he was failing. Miserably.
You noticed his eyes being nervous so you decided to head out and pull his arms so you two can have air.
"Why did you laugh? I am telling the truth." You said boringly.
"You thought of me being boastful yet you are not scared?"
"Why would I be scared?"
"I am a prince of Greenwood the great and no one ever dares to say horrid things such us that."
He said firmly but Thranduil noticed your smirk and deep inside he smiled to keep his scary mask on.
"You really think I do not know you? I have heard of your stories to multiple battles already, it seems that you have a dungeons worth of elleth or even women. If you think of me as one of them, you are wrong. The look that you gave me earlier is the look of many men and ellon for centuries now. They all judge me as not part of the guard just because of my gender and that idea pisses me off. With all due respect your majesty. Prince Thranduil of Greenwood the great…" You said the last line in a sarcastic tone.
"My duty for your hair is already done so now I need to help the healers in the next tent, you did not forget it, do you?" You said but you noticed a hinge of change in Thranduil's face. He was not mad but more of like… puzzled?. No. Excited?. No. It is more of like a….
Challenge.
"I was not expected that the Lady of Lothlorien have heard about me. Unsurprisingly, I have heard about your great battles as well Lady Y/N." His looks gave you a confirmation that he is challenging you.
"How so?" Challenging him back.
"You are not the only one who can observe here Lady Y/N. I noticed that you're not looking back at me and it confirms my suspicion earlier. You thought that I was judging you but no. Like I said, I have heard of your stories as well… ''
"And what are those stories about?" Nervousness being your number one enemy right now.
"That the Valar sent elleth is glowing like a tree of Laurelin. Many eldar that had seen the both trees compared your glow to Laurelin. I stared at you because you are beautiful." Thranduil said trying to hide his pink cheeks by standing taller.
Your empty thoughts earlier is now a bucket full. No. A working fountain perhaps.
You stared at him with "you-do-not-know-what-to-say-because-I-am-flattered-look".
"You think you are the only one who can be blunt and honest at the same time, do you not?" Thranduil smirked but his cheeks are still pink.
"You say what you want to say, but there are people out there that needs our help regardless of our title, let us help them since there are only few healers in our party right now." You said while turning back to him but now your…smiling.
Little did you know that when you turned around Thranduil sighed and smiled and he is happy that you can not see his reaction right now or else, that would be embarrassing.
-----------------------------------
You both laugh while telling each others point of view and feelings.
"Wait, do you know that your King Oropher planned it all?" You said to Thranduil that is now currently in your side.
"What do you mean Meleth?" Confusion in his eyes yet you know that he is eager to know more.
"Ada said that the three of them were bystanders, they were just hiding inside the tent only peeking through the doors. It turns out that King Oropher talked to King Gil-galad to pretend we are having an orc attack for us to meet each other and talk." You said to now wide-eyed Thranduil.
"They used their previous battle plans to study all the orc activities." You said while smiling.
You noticed Thranduil scratching his neck as if he's trying to remember something.
"No wonder why Ada showered me with orc bloods, do you know when we all finished decapitating each orcs before burning it, my father threw their heads at me." He said in a tone of betrayal.
"Well at least now we know each other then." Looking at you with shimmering eyes. He then pulled you to his lap and kiss you with laugh…I mean love.
-----------------------------------
A/N: This is my first time writing a ff so please if you found a problem. I am sorry. I will improve it once I am confident enough of my writing skills but for now, so be it.
And that folks explains how his son Legolas became a pirate, before Legolas went to Valinor. Whilst they were sailing, Legolas tried to be a pirate during their sailing meanwhile Gimli is admiring Galadriel’s 3 golden hairs in his room.
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Little!Legolas plays dress up with Thranduil’s autumn crown for August 27th’s Daily Doodle Sketch.
Tolkien is careful to note that children are precious to the elves, so my head-canon gleefully has Thranduil doting on his golden son and indulging him at every possible turn…
Red (Prismacolor Col-Erase Tuscan Red to be exact) and white colored pencils on tan paper. 9x12"
But seriously, do you ever realise how much of a sassy little shit Legolas’s mum must have been?
Like, given the fact how cocky Leggy acts like all the time and how serious Thranduil tends to act, just try to imagine where Legolas got that from, you know what I’m talking about. Let’s just assume Legolas is a ‘perfect mixture’ of both his parents; Thranduil all serious, his wife all cocky. And now think HOW COCKY that woman must have been in order for the perfect mixture to still be cocky. It’s like mixing blue and green. You need a lot of green if you want your result to still look green, and it will be green, but the first green that you mixed with the blue was still way greener. And the more blue you use, the more green you need.
Just THINK of that.
Think about Thranduil having to put up with that.
It’s not like he doesn’t have a certain amount of sass, it’s just, you know, not that kind of sass.
Imagine the two of them arguing.
JUST IMAGINE IT.
Bruh.
I know in fan art and so on, Thranduil’s wife is always portrayed as a kind of flawless looking, beautiful lady next to him, and we assume she must have been very loving and caring due to the ‘your mother loved you very much, more than life’ thing, but actually being loving and caring doesn’t say very much about a person. You can love and care about someone and still be portrayed without any kind of personality the way Thranduil’s wife is often portrayed. But what if she actually had a character of her own, and I need her to be more than her looks and her relationships to her husband and son.
That is why I’m going to sell my soul for cocky!Thranduil’s wife/Legolas’s mum.
JUST BECAUSE IT’S LOGICAL AND IT FITS AND IT’S PERFECT AND MOSTLY IT’S JUST SO MUCH FUN.
Legolas is so so good because literally ANY other elf would probably have known more, like, important quest-relevant lore than him – compared to the rest of them he is a baby and more likely than not one of the youngest if not the youngest elf in all of Middle Earth. And even most of the other, younger elves are probably from places like Rivendell where there’s more of the older traditions, not cursed, war-torn Mirkwood where they were mostly fighting to survive (and which is way more Silvan than Noldor/Sindar, so all that type of lore was never as much the culture there to begin with)
BUT he still got picked for the Fellowship, and ended up being the exact right choice for it entirely because it was more important that he was a weird ray of sunshine who proved to be way better at befriending other races – including a dwarf! – than all those other powerful or older elves would have been. His unique trait that made him the right elf to be chosen for the quest was literally “being good at friendship” and I love him so much.
I know the hobbit movies make a big deal about how angsty teen Legolas is and completely screwed his relationship with his dad Thranduil. But whenever I read the Lord of the Rings I cannot help but think: my goodness, but Thranduil must have really spoiled Legolas rotten.
We first meet Legolas at the Council of Elrond. He is dressed simply and for light travel, and does not choose to wear his title as a Prince, instead identifying himself as a messenger from Thranduil, his king. Indeed he often chooses to call Thranduil his king rather than his father, which many have taken as a sign that relations between the two are strained.
However, I propose the direct opposite - that his many mentions of Thranduil as his Elven-Lord demonstrates not only his love for Thranduil, but also his respect and admiration of what a great king his father is for his people.
