Legolas & Thranduil headcanons because the movies can eat my ass
After his wife died, Thranduil raised Legolas alone - and by that, I mean, he literally refused to let anyone step in and help him, he was a 24/7 dad.
He fed him, bathed him, held council meetings with a baby in his arms, walked around the castle wearing a sling because he wasn’t letting that little nugget out of his sight. Legolas didn’t even sleep in a crib; he slept right in his father’s arms because Thranduil was too scared to be away from him.
An advisor of his once made the mistake of suggesting he let a nanny care for Legolas, and scarcely escaped the conversation alive.
Legolas has always been quiet, but was borderline mute as a kid. Nothing was wrong with him, he just didn’t really feel like talking. Thranduil didn’t care, his baby is perfect.
Mirkwood elves are known for being merry, but Legolas takes the cake. He was a backflipping, tree-climbing, bannister sliding, chandelier swinging firecracker of an elfing who was constantly giving his father mini heart attacks.
A few elves express their concerns about the young prince being too excitable. Thranduil tells them to fuck off, his baby is perfect.
Legolas brings stray animals back from the forest. Said animals range from cute little mice to not-so-cute baby spiders.
On one occasion, he brought home some abandoned duck eggs and kept them in his chambers; when they hatched, Thranduil happened to be the one on egg duty and they ended up imprinting on him.
As Legolas grows older, he becomes restless and wants to see the world beyond Mirkwood. Thranduil is terrified to lose him and can’t help but be an overprotective mother hen. This puts a strain on their relationship.
Only Thranduil is allowed to scold Legolas though, anyone else tries it and they’ll lose an arm because his baby is perfect.
It’s only when Legolas witnesses the horrors of The Battle of Five Armies that he finally understands why his father is so protective. Thranduil also comes to understand that he can’t keep his child under his wing forever.
When Thranduil discovered Legolas had joined the Fellowship, he travelled straight to Rivendell to strangle Elrond with his bare hands. He ends up having a mental breakdown instead. Elrond understands. He’s a good friend.
Legolas returns from the war to find his father on the brink of fading, and he carries that guilt for the rest of his life.
When Legolas sails to The Undying Lands, Thranduil only remains in Middle Earth for a thousand years or so before joining him.
“I can’t believe your son brought a dwarf-”
“Shut up, my baby is perfect.”
“But your majesty-”
“Perfect.”