Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or The Hobbit. Just enjoying the making of a story.

Chapter 1: Thoughts on the Journey Home

It was a warm day in spring. The trees swayed to the song in the wind carrying the melody of old with the enhancement of the bird's melodies as they fly from tree to tree, welcoming the return of their prince from the war after the fading shadows. The once shaded darkness of the wood was now almost gone along with the foul creatures that had taken hold of it. The trees shimmered emeralds the grass a soft shade of peridot, the colors of returned life after many years of strife. Legolas breathed the fresh air no longer having to feel on edge from the once growing shadows that plagued his land and people.

It has been almost one year now since the end of the war and he was now finally returning back home back to his beloved adar. He craved his father's presence and warmth. Before leaving Mirkwood he had felt like his adar was too strict on him, too protective making him feel almost caged in like an animal in a trap. He never quite understood why his father was this way with him, always worrying trying to keep him at arms reach. Not until he left to Imladris and off on the quest of the ring had he finally realized all the torturous sites that his father had tried so hard to protect him from. Protect. What he took for being stubborn, cold, and depriving had actually been care, love, and protection from the cruelty of war.

He hung his head with a frustrated sigh in self disappointment at the remembrance of the last wards he had spoken to his father after they had gotten into another of their many arguments about how Legolas was only to go to Imladris to send a message then come right back to the wood, and just like his reckless self he had disobeyed his father out of spite and curiosity to go off on a journey where the return from it alive was very slim, and throughout the journey he hadn't even sent word to his father as to how he faired which he was sure was only going to worry his father senseless. During the journey he was too focused on the quest and still mad at his father from their last encounter that the thought of sending a message never went past a thought.

\\Flash back\\

Thranduil sat at his study looking down at parchment filled with messages and reports on his realm. He massaged his temples with a deep sigh before looking up at his son "Ion-nin… I called you here so that you can run an errand for me" He spoke softly with a stern look in his eyes obviously hiding his exhaustion and fatigue behind a serious mask, and succeeding to hide it from people who did not know him well. Legolas bowed his head to his king "What is it that you wish of me ada?" He was curious as to what it was sense his father only trusted him with important errands, other than the usual patrol in the wood.

"You are to go to Imladris and send a letter to Lord Elrond." He stood as he continued to speak and walked over to a side table, and pored two goblets of Dorwinion wine setting one against his lips to sip after handing the other to his son. Legolas couldn't help the fluter of freedom in his heart and the edges of his mouth forming a smile at the thought of finally being able to leave beyond the woods "You will go to Imladris send the message to Lord Elrond and then you will come straight back with no delay" he stressed to last part as he studied his son waiting for his displeasure in the matter. The woods were growing darker and more dangerous and he did not wish for his son to come back under even more dangerous circumstances than the usual, and if it were possible he wouldn't send Legolas out at all but the message needed to be sent and with haste. Sure enough Legolas set the goblet down with out even a glance at it and began to protest, his smile faded into a frown "Ada can I not stay for a couple of days at least to visit Elladan and Elrohir? It's been far too long sense I've seen them last, and too long sense I've left past the wood" Thranduil couldn't help but to role his eyes at the thought of his son with those two menaces once again and their adopted human brother Estle. He shook his head and took another gulp of his wine not savoring its taste like he usually would. At the moment he needed all the wine he had for the inevitable argument that was forming "No. You will do as I say and come back right after giving in the message. I do not have the time to spare you to your tricks with the twins and their human brother, nor does their father have the time to fix the damages of these tricks as if you were all elflings in need of being taken care of. We are in dark times Ion-nin and-" he was cut off by his sons continuous protest. "We are always in dark times! Why can you not spare me two days from this wood and from you! All you care about is what you want and you never stop to think of what I want!" the words were like knives to Thranduils heart at hearing the hurtful words leaving his beloved sons lips, his chest tightened at the thought of his son not wanting to be near him, yet his expression remained neutral as the words repeated over and over in his head. Had he truly pushed his precious green leaf so far as to no longer wanting to be with him? He watched his son fume from rage and stomp towards the door not waiting for his father's response, and right before he left he whispered loud enough for his elven hearing to catch the words no parent would want to hear from their child " I Hate you…" and with that Legolas slammed the door to his fathers study leaving his only parent stunned and in utter sadness from his words.

/End of Flash back/

Legolas truly felt remorse at what he told his father. He would never be capable of hating his loving adar no matter what his father said or did. His chest ached wishing he had turned back that day to apologies to his ada before leaving to Rivendell, and to tell him how much he loved him and that he did not mean the words he said. His stubbornness and pride in a moment of anger, however, had him leave without even waiting for his father to see him off safely. He raised his head looking up at the evening sky afraid to meet his ada yet longed for the moment to feel safe in his loving arms once again, hoping for his fathers forgiveness. The song calmed into the first hours of the night and the trees helped guide him home through the now darkened road ahead with nothing but his elven glow for lighting. He moved his horse forward into a jog once he noticed how close he had gotten to home, recognizing the trees that managed to stay away from being tainted by the shadows. Little did he know of the steely green eyes that watched him from the canopy of trees with a cold glare and a toothy grin 'The princeling is back to find a marvelous surprise' it thought and hissed in its own mind before sinking back into the thick of the wood.