It was another autumn day in the kingdom of Mirkwood. The golden sun was setting behind the far reaches of the Misty Mountains, casting long shadows along the walls of the palace of the peaceful Woodland realm. Many years have passed from the Battle of the Five Armies and the feeling of eminent doom had faded from the woods for decades, allowing the elves to breathe more easily.

The lives of elves have gone by slowly, but surely. After the huge losses of lives they saw in the battle, the population of Silvan elves started to grow. The King noticed many young Silvans running around the palace, having fun and being merry. It always made him smile, because it meant once again, his people felt safe.

Despite his stern demeanour, he genuinely loved the company of young elves. They were so carefree, so open. Whenever he had a chat with one or two of the elflings, it almost made him forget his worries and his aching heart.

Decade and a half.

That's how much had passed since the Battle. Thranduil still ruled his kingdom with his silent fury and strong will.

He was sitting on his throne in the middle of the vast caverns of his underground realm like no years had passed. The wooden crown in his hair looked still the same, perhaps just few more leaves and berries had grown into it. He was the same, he even looked the same. Even though he didn't feel the same anymore.

It was fifteen years since he last saw his son. True, Legolas did send him notes whenever he changed his destinations in his travels and from time to time Thranduil got a word from Lord Elrond about his son's adventures. His son wasn't coming back to his home. And neither was Tauriel.

After the battle, Tauriel had disappeared. Of course, she was under the impression that she was still banished from the Woodland realm and before Thranduil had chance to take back his harsh words towards her, she was gone. No-one never found her – no matter how much they searched. In his desperation, he had even sent a query to Lothlórien and to Rivendell to ask about her. But she never showed up to neither of the great elven realms. She was gone, without any words or goodbyes.

Thranduil always regretted the way he had dealt with the whole situation with the dwarves and with the relationship of Legolas and Tauriel. In his desperate blindness, he didn't see the consequences of his actions so far ahead. He acted with raw emotions and anger, never really stopping to think and ponder if he was doing it all for the right reasons. In truth, at least some of his actions were founded on good, understandable reasons, but majority of them were just an answer to his wounded pride and wounded heart.

He wanted to forgive Tauriel, he really did. She had a good heart and everything she did for her dwarf was for the right reasons. Even if he did not like her particular reasons. But he never had a chance to voice his thoughts to her, because after Ravenhill, she was gone forever.

And now here he was. Alone, sitting on his throne and listening the far voices of his elves doing their everyday things. The palace is busy like a beehive and every now and then he hears a yelp or laughter, which makes him feel a bit better. Silence in his own halls is the last things he wants.
The last forest patrol has still not returned and he decides to wait until they arrive, before heading to his quarters.

He does not have to wait for long, since he sees Thannor, the newest Captain of the Guard, approaching the throne.

"Hîr Vuin," Thannor stops and bows to the King.

"Thannor," Thranduil nods. "What news from the border?"

"Nothing much, my lord." The Captain continues. "The Spiders have not returned to the nests we destroyed few moons ago, which is very good. We reached as far of the west end of the forest without any problems. No orcs, no goblins nor spiders to report about, my Lord."

"That is very good news," Thranduil nods again. "Seems that the dark forces of Dol Guldur have left the forest be for a while. Keep your guard up, Captain, and I am waiting for the same kind of report back in few days."

He dismisses the captain with a wave of his hand. But Thannor doesn't move.

"My lord," he bows again.

"What is it?" Thranduil furrows his dark brows and eyes the man with suspicion.

Thannor clears his throat and searches for words to continue. "Uh… we… uh… We found something from the edge of the forest you should see, my King."

Thranduil's intrest perks up and he looks the Captain of the Guard curiously. "What is it you talk about Thannor?"

Captain signs for one of his guards to approach. He does, dragging a little person behind him.

Thannor grabs a hold of the youngling and pushes him in front of the throne for Thranduil to see.

It is a young elfling, only few decades old, from the looks of it. The little boy has strawberry blonde hair that curl a bit in the ends of the strands, his face is muddy and his clothes torn. He would seem like an ordinary Silvan elf, but when Thranduil looks into his steely blue eyes, he sees the fierceness in them. He sees passion, he sees fire, he sees raw emotion.

For a second the young elfling reminds him of someone he used to know. A flash of anger and regret runs through him. He gets up from his throne and walks down the stairs, his golden robe whispering behind him. He stops in front of the boy and looks down at him.

The boy doesn't back off or doesn't even flinch when their eyes meet again.

"Who are you?" Thranduil asks, narrowing his eyes.

The boy answers with same gesture. "Who are you?"

"Don't you know who I am?" the King asks with slight irritation.

The youngling sighs. "No, I do not."

"What were you doing in my forest?" the King continues.

"Your forest?" the boy's eyes widen in surprise. "I thought the forest was for all creatures, big and small. The forest does not belong to anybody!"

Thranduil smiles at the irritation of the young elf. "That is where you are wrong, my dear child. The part of the forest you were found belongs to the Woodland Realm, we do not want any trespassers in our woods. What were you doing there alone? Where are your parents? Your companions?"

The boy nods briefly and then swallows nervously. "Forgive me, I did not know that I had wandered so deep into the forest for I breached the borders of your lands. I did not mean to do that. Would you be so kind and let me go. My mother is waiting for me at home and she will have my backside tanned if I am late to show up to home."

Thranduil nods to the guards and signs them to go away. The Silvan guards make their way back to their quarters silently, leaving only Thannor, the King and the young little elf to the throne room.

Thranduil starts to walk around the boy, taking in his last words. "Your mother?"

"Yes." the boy sighs and says nothing more.

"But not your father?" the king asks.

The youngling shakes his head. "No. I do not have a father."

Thranduil nods again, deep in thought. "What is your name, boy. Who is your mother?"

"I am Tor-Hùrion." the boy looks up to the king's eyes. "My mother is a healer of the forest, as Radagast says."

"Radagast?" the crease between Thranduil's brows deepens.

"Yes. We live near to Rhosgobel. The old wizard is a friend of mine." Tor-Hùrion answers.

"A forest healer?" Thranduil murmurs and turns away from the young boy. "I have never heard any healers living in the edge of my forest."

"It is not your forest where I live," Tor-Hùrion answers to the King and observes his tense backside.

"Tor-Hùrion?" Thranduil turns around to face the boy. "Your name implies you are part of the forest. Are you not?"

The youngling smiles. "No, my lord. My mother tells me that once we were part of the forest, but yet we don't live in there anymore."

"So, what were you doing in my forest then?" Thranduil approaches the boy once again. "If you don't live in the forest, what business did you have there?"

"I was just collecting mushrooms. And chasing the young rabbits." The boy stutters a bit and glances down at his feet.

Instinctually, Thranduil feels that he is not telling the whole truth. He wants to know more. But at the same time he sees the weariness on boy's features. The young elf is tired and will collapse soon, if he doesn't do anything.

"I know you are lying." The King finally states to the boy, after a long pause. "But, we will continue this tomorrow. Rest now." He turns to Thannor. "Take him to the guest rooms. Make sure he has access to food and clean clothes. Put two guards behind his door. He is a captive and cannot anywhere in this palace until I get the whole truth of the story."

In the corner of his eye, he sees Tor-Hùrion getting furious. His face is turning red and he yells to the king. "Why I am a prisoner? I did nothing! You have to let me go!"

The King answers with the same ferocity. "Not unless you tell me the truth!"

"I did!" the youngling shouts back.

"I know you did not! But this does not matter. I have time. I will figure this out. Now, ego!" Thranduil signs to Thannor to leave and take the prisoner with him. The Captain grabs the boy by arm and starts dragging him away. The boy is reluctant to go and he tries to hit Thannor. The Captain only smiles at this and starts to push the boy in front of him.

"You'll regret this!" The boy screams to the king.

Thranduil only smiles at the fury of the young elfling and this is amusing him. He has not seen such a fire in one of the elves in such a long time, he has started to miss it.

He follows the pair down the path with his blue-grey eyes. Even though the Captain of the Guard is stronger than the boy, he is having hard time pushing the boy to the direction he needs him to go.

King smiles at commotion. He is just about to turn away from them and head up to his throne when something catches his eye. The young boy is armed. There is a dagger on his hip.

That wouldn't mean much if it would have been an ordinary dagger. Almost all elves are armed, even if it's only a dagger or a small knife.

But this dagger… He knows every curve and edge of the dagger, because he has seen it before. He'd know it from anywhere.