Falling For You

Chapter Eight

He watched as Tauriel moved Rae and Kili's bodies so that they were holding hands and cuddling- as if they were asleep- she placed the runestone that Kili had given her into their intertwined hands as she cried. He wanted to comfort her but he thought it would be better if she had this moment to process and grieve.

Legolas turned on his heel and entered the tower, wishing to find his father and as luck may have it, he ran into him.

"I... cannot go back." He said, quietly, avoiding eye contact with his father. Thranduil furrowed his eyebrows at his son in shock. Legolas brushed past his father and prepared to leave. However, it seemed Thranduil had other plans.

"Where will you go?" Thranduil asked, frowning slightly. Legolas paused and turned to face the elven king.

"I do not know." Legolas clarified, calmly. Thranduil thought for a moment.

"Go north. Find the Dúnedain. There's a young ranger amongst them - you should meet him. His father, Arathorn, was a good man. His son might grow to be a great one." Thranduil explained, Legolas nodded his head in understanding. However he had a thought. An important one at that.

"What is his name?" Legolas asked, if he was searching for someone, may as well know the name of them - don't want to seem creepy, y'know?

"He's known in the wild as Strider. His true name you must discover for yourself." Thranduil said, Legolas have him a weird look, clearly judging his father's choice of words.

The two royals nodded to each other and Legolas once again turns to leave, on his new quest. However, Thranduil stopped him once more, causing the prince to pause.

"Legolas.. your mother loved you.. more than anyone.. more than life." Thranduil spoke quietly, however he knew his son heard him. Legolas had a distant look on his face as he processed his father's words.

His blue eyes widened in shock once he finished processing them. After a moment, Legolas reached out to his father but the king only bowed his head in respect. Legolas nodded, calmly, before pausing again.

"Can you look after Arcturus and Remi?" Legolas asked, Thranduil froze. Had nobody told his son about the little elfling?

"I cannot do that. Arcturus, I can. Remi has sadly passed from this world not long ago." Thranduil explained, slowly. Legolas' eyes widened, a frown upon his face.

"What do you mean?" He almost demanded. Thranduil frowned.

"A guard from Arcturus's patrol team was supposed to be watching young Remi and had taken her out of the gates. A spider pack attacked them, neither made it. It was only an hour later did any of our patrol teams had found their bodies. We did all we could to save her life." Thranduil answered, he had an unreadable look on his face. Legolas bit his lip. He wasn't there for Arcturus when it happened. Did Arcturus even know?

"Oh.. take care of Arcturus then at least. He's injured." Thranduil nodded at his son's request before they parted ways. Thranduil went to speak to Tauriel while Legolas jumped on his horse and rode to Dale to say a final farewell to his beloved friend.

By the time he made it to Dale, everyone was cleaning up, tending to the injured and leaving the dead to have a funeral soon.

Legolas searched the streets for Arcturus, growing more and more worried as he couldn't find him. Anywhere.

"Excuse me? Are you looking for the brown haired elf? The tall one with curls?" A young girl asked, Legolas recognised the girl from the house that was raided by orcs. Slowly, he nodded.

"He's in that clearing. Be careful, he's crying." The girl said, sadly, pointing down a street where he saw a clearing.

"Hannon le." (Thank you) He spoke softly, smiling to the child. Tilda looked up confused but the elf had already left, he had dismounted his horse and let him roam while he slowly approached the clearing with caution.

"Arcturus?" Legolas spoke slowly, trying not to startle the elf. However, he turned around quickly, wiping his eyes.

"Oh, Legolas." Arcturus answered, Legolas walked over and sat beside his best friend. Arcturus was sitting cross legged in front of a statue, his mother's head in his lap.

Legolas frowned, Lorelei had three or four arrows embedded into her armour and body, blood coming from her mouth. Arcturus had closed her eyes and had begun braiding her blonde hair.

"I didn't know she came with you." Legolas held his friend close. He frowned in concern as his friend's lack of communication - I mean who would talk much after losing both your mother and your sister within two days?

"We wanted to help. I knew the risks, yet I didn't make her stay home." Arcturus sighed, moving a strand of his mother's hair out of the woman's face. Legolas pulled the other elf closer to him.

"I have to go north. Find a ranger named Strider. Do you want to come with me or go back to Mirkwood?" Legolas questioned, he didn't want to leave him alone but at least he'd have Tauriel...

"I'll stay. I have to at least say goodbye to them properly. Will you going to return to Mirkwood afterwards?" Arcturus leant his head on Legolas' shoulder, his eyes drooping slightly.

"No. I don't think so. But we'll see each other again. I know we will." Legolas spoke softly, Arcturus smiled, calmly. His smile didn't reach his eyes though, they still remained dull and lacked emotion.

"I guess this is goodbye." Legolas and Arcturus stood up, Arcturus had laid Lorelei's head back on the patch of flowers that had been dropped by a villager.

"Til we meet again." Arcturus playfully and dramatically bowed to the prince. Legolas only copied his actions until both of them were laughing.

"Stay safe, Legolas."

"You too, Arcturus."