An arranged marriage could solve everything: Legolas' post-war melancholy, Lasriel's dream of freedom and a family, her mother's exile, King Thranduil's dark secret. But turning childhood friendship into love is not as easy as they thought - and nei...
~Legolas makes a new attempt to reconcile with his father and notices differences in him. Maybe the parents' suggestion is not altogether bad, after all...~
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~♕~
"If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme."
Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio
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40. Acceptance
Back at the colony, they met Gimli carrying a large bag. "I'm helping my papa move in with me for the rest of his stay," he explained, looking unusually cheerful. "I would have offered it sooner but I didn't think he would want to."
"I am glad you are on such good terms." Legolas tried to sound pleased and not jealous.
"Thank you. I never thought I'd see the day, but maybe it's my Cheery's doing. She's showing him the channel we're working on and he actually seems impressed. But it's hard to tell with him. Never was one to show his feelings, you know?"
Legolas was immediately ashamed of his brief jealousy. Gimli and his father had their difficulties as well; he ought to have remembered that.
"I know exactly," he replied. "No wonder my father and he seem to get along so well. They are just the same."
Gimli grinned. "They are. And also, they both have really handsome and strong sons."
"Indeed. Intelligent, too."
"And very humble," Lasriel added with a smirk.
Gimli left, still chuckling. Legolas felt his smile wane. He didn't want to go back in.
Lasriel took his hand. "It will be alright."
He squeezed it. "I hope so."
When they entered the kitchen, a lovely aroma met them. Nimrodel and Thranduil were cooking.
She turned her head when they entered and gave them a smile that was both nervous and relieved. "Glad you returned. We are making a very belated dinner... I hope you do not mind?"
Legolas didn't know what to answer. He didn't like that they used his kitchen, especially not the two of them together, but he also was ravenously hungry after the journey and everything that happened afterwards.
"Of course not," said Lasriel. She was eyeing the library longingly, probably wanting to check out the new books their parents had bought. Amroth and Mithrellas already sat there, each with an open book in their lap. Mithrellas was staring blankly at hers, her face downcast.
Legolas' chest tightened. He had missed her so much, for so long... and now she was here, in his house, alive. Yet, it felt like she was farther away than ever. That the short distance between them was a miles wide chasm, impossible to cross.
