The Lost Hope

Chapter ILVII

Thranduil's pov

My emotions are a mess, I know that the elves have come to protect us, and I have never felt so much gratitude as I do.

It takes me by surprise as I feel a weight lift off my body, almost like I had a magical surge of energy invigorating my body. It takes a second to place it, but I know what it means. The curse I had received in Gundabad, the curse that ripped my skin as I felt anger to people, is finally gone.

I try standing, hoping that my new energy could revitalize me. I am wrong, but before I could collapse Legolas came to help. I gripped his shoulders, relieved that everything is somehow turning out okay. Somehow, the three of us are alive.

I then spot an orc I mistook for dead lunge at Legolas, aiming a sword at his back.

"Legolas behind you!" Tauriel screams. I knew that Legolas couldn't react fast enough, so I decide to push him to the side.

My body goes to an immediate stop as the blade pierces me. Straight through the stomach right below the ribs. Legolas recovers from being pushed, pulling his sword and slicing the head off of the orc. I go limp, falling to the floor.

"Father!" Legolas's voice sounds, muffled to my dying ears. He lifts me to his lap as Tauriel comes over. "Father stay with us."

"I am sorry son." I say in our native language. "I treated you poorly for so long, I never got to say sorry."

"That doesn't matter!" Legolas interrupts.

"It does to me." I close my eyes. "You mother was proud of you, and I am also. I trust... that you... will lead onward... and rebuild... Mirkwood."

I am sorry, Legolas.

—

My spirit awakens at the ghostly site I wished never to see again. Though this time I don't see people fighting, there aren't orcs, and no one is dying.

We are all already dead.

"Thranduil?"

The familiar voice makes me turn to see a familiar face I haven't seen for centuries. "Aryna."

We embrace I finally feel relief, ghostly tears stream down our faces.

"I have waited for you to come, but I hoped it would be a good time." Aryna says. "I got to see Legolas before he went back. Did you get to see him?"

I nod. "I did, he was with me, and he is okay."

Aryna smiles. "It is up to him now, do you think he is ready to rule a kingdom?"

I pull back looking at her eyes. They aren't a bright and defined blue that they used to be when we were alive, but seeing them still brought relief.

"I think he is ready, and I know he will be a better father than I am when the time comes."