Light and Shadows (Thranduil's story post BOTFA)

Partings

Many years passed but Eryn Lasgalen was timeless and still just as it had always been - just as it would always be. The tides of time that passed fast for mortal men did not clash in the same way upon elven lives and their secular homes. Thus, Thranduil continued his life in the Woodland Realm as the Elvenking, taking care of the new territories in the North and maintaining good relationships with the Men and the Beornings. Legolas continued with his life as Lord of the Elves of Ithilien, taking care of his colony and helping both Aragorn and Faramir in battle when Sauron's old allies would try and disturb the peace. 

As life had settled into a familiar routine for Thranduil and he had become accustomed to the ways of the world in the 4th Age, change came again in the form of unexpected news. On a peaceful day of March, when the sun shone and the birds were singing among the trees of Greenwood, Thranduil received the news that King Elessar - Aragorn - had passed.

It seemed only yesterday that he visited him in Minas Tirith, Thranduil recalled. A hundred years truly was nothing for an elven life compared to a human life. The news was shocking and sad. His son, Eldarion, would succeed him, of course, but Aragorn's parting from the world would cause great grief to everyone. Thranduil thought of Legolas with a pain in his heart and recalled that Legolas was only staying in Middle-Earth as long as his mortal friends endured. Now that his good friend Aragorn was gone, would he choose to stay or sail away?

He, Tauriel and a small delegation travelled to Minas Tirith for the funeral. Legolas was there already with his dwarf friend. They stood by the lifeless body of King Elessar. The dwarf was weeping loudly. On Legolas' face though, there was a numb expression that betrayed much grief, one that Thranduil knew very well. There was little he could say to his son in those moments to ease the pain of his friend's passing.

Celeborn was also there, with a few elves of Lothlorien, trying to bring some comfort to his granddaughter, Arwen. Tauriel looked at her with an expression frozen by shock, seeing and perhaps feeling the pain of Arwen Undomiel. She truly seemed like her life was fading away, as she looked at the lifeless body of her husband with empty eyes, lacking any spark, her cheeks more hollowed than normal and looking lifeless herself. It was as if all her beauty, sang in tales and songs, was now fading away.

'Come.', Thranduil spoke gently, as he took Tauriel's hand into his, walking with her to the coffin of the King as it was their time to pay their respect.

They stood in front of Aragorn's body, placing their hand on their heart and closing their eyes briefly, saying a short elven prayer. Tauriel placed white lilies onto Aragorn's body. Her eyes then looked with compassion at Arwen, whose face was half-hidden by a dark veil, and Arwen almost tried to smile faintly at her but then her lips curved into a pained, bitter smile and she started to sob. 

They could not linger there as others were waiting to come next to King Elessar and pay their respects. Thranduil and Tauriel went next to Legolas and Gimli and they all stood there in silence, witnessing the funeral ceremony until the end. Then, the coronation of Eldarion took place, and everyone shouted 'The King is dead. Long live the King!'. 

When all the formal ceremonies were over, everyone had a bitter expression on their faces. Thranduil was finally able to talk to Legolas. He looked at his son for a few moments but it was hard to find the right words.

'I am so sorry. He was a great man and a great King.'

Legolas smiled sadly with a resigned expression.

'It was inevitable. I knew that it would happen sooner or later.'

'His son, Eldarion, also seems a good man. I am sure things will not change for you in Ithilien under his rule.'