The Price of Pride

4: The Demise of the ElvenQueen

Prologue

Laicolassë

Chapter 4: The Demise of the ElvenQueen

Woodland Realm, 2685 T.A.

The halls of Thranduil's underground palace echoed with a somber silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside and the soft murmurs of healers attending to the wounded. Thranduil's guards had brought back Legolas, Tauriel, and the rest of the patrol, their bodies battered and their spirits crushed by the trauma of witnessing their queen's abduction by dark forces. Especially for Legolas, the weight of guilt was palpable, a heavy shroud darkening his once-bright spirit.

Thranduil, driven by the desperate need to find Lainathiel, rode as deep as he could into the dark reaches of Dol Guldur. The bond he shared with his queen was his guiding star, but after three days and nights of relentless searching, the connection grew faint. Exhausted and disheartened, he returned to his halls, his heart heavy with the realization that he had not found her. Yet, he did not give up. Every night, he sent his most trusted men to scour the dark corners of Mirkwood, and often he would ride out himself, searching tirelessly.

Back in the halls, a new tragedy began to unfold. Legolas was not recovering. His grief over losing his mother deepened, festering into a persistent darkness that clouded his soul. The memory of that fateful night became an unbearable weight, crushing him with guilt. Thranduil's words of comfort and assurances that it was not his fault fell on deaf ears. Legolas sought isolation, withdrawing from everyone, including his father.

How could he face Thranduil, knowing that his actions had led to his mother's capture and possible death? No words or actions could penetrate the wall of guilt and despair Legolas had built around himself. In desperation, Thranduil sought counsel from Elrond, one of the rare times he reached out for help beyond his realm.

Elrond advised patience, reminding Thranduil that Legolas, like himself, needed time to navigate his grief. "Le iôn lín," (He is your son) Elrond said. "Sui le acharnan i dûr lín, boe e maeth i ven lín." (Just as you have endured your own darkness, so too will he find his way.) Reluctantly, Thranduil heeded this advice, granting Legolas the space he needed while grappling with his own sorrow.

As time passed, the forest known as Greenwood the Great fully transformed into the shadowy Mirkwood. The darkness that once crept at the edges now engulfed the entire realm. Orcs, giant spiders, and other foul creatures roamed freely, their presence a constant threat. Thranduil retreated further into his halls, focusing on protecting Legolas and their people from the encroaching darkness. His grief for Lainathiel deepened, casting a long shadow over his kingship and his relationship with his son.

Legolas, once a rebellious and adventurous youth, had changed. His smile was gone, replaced by a steely resolve and a grim determination. The guilt over his mother's fate still weighed heavily on him, but he found a way to channel his anguish. He rode out frequently, patrolling the borders, hunting down orcs, and confronting the dangers that threatened their realm. It was a relentless pursuit, driven by a need to atone for his perceived failure.

In his grief and isolation, Legolas drew inspiration from Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond, who had also known the pain of losing their mother. They coped by hunting orcs and aiding the Rangers of the North. This gave Legolas a sense of purpose: to protect his father and his people, to face the darkness head-on rather than hide from it. He took on more than his share of responsibilities, pushing himself to the brink in his quest for redemption.

Thranduil, though deeply pained by the changes in his son, allowed it. He understood that this was Legolas's way of coping, of finding some semblance of peace amidst the chaos. He hoped that, in time, Legolas would come to terms with what had happened and perhaps, one day, forgive himself.