Chapter 30: Queen Consort

Thranduil approached the site with reverence, leading the way. Even though vines have overgrown the area and a dense canopy made visibility difficult, he knew exactly where he was heading. Utilizing his swords to clear a path, he made room for the rest of his small group. Legolas, Tauriel, Galion and Injros had nothing to do but follow. At last, he came to a halt, making Legolas nearly tumble into his father's back. The younger elf peered round from behind him, and yet he could only see but overgrown vegetation and ancient trees. Thranduil however jumped forward with the same abruptness as he has stopped earlier and started to pull vines away from a tall, wooden form. And as the features of the statue came into view, Legolas found himself face to face with the likeness of his mother for the first time in his life as every picture, portrait and locket depicting the once queen had been removed from the Halls with Thranduil wanting to avoid being reminded of her unnecessarily.

"I will help," Galion pushed forward, joining the king in his endeavour to rid the statue of leaves, moss and dirt. Not that there ever was any doubt, but once the debris were removed, it became clear how beautiful Queen Alhinath had been. Given the choice of wood, it would probably be fair to say that the elleth had also been blonde, with full lips and stately features, frozen in time with an expression of kindness. For several moments, they all simply stared, overtaken by different emotions, Thranduil with longing, Galion with reverence, Legolas with awe and the other two with cautious curiosity, not wanting to intrude.

In another burst of energy, Thranduil cleared the whole sculpture, pulling away all the branches that covered the legs and cloak of his wife's likeness. His hands slowed as he finished and his hand moved up, to the cheek that he smoothed and caressed for one moment before turning to Legolas, "I loved your mother, perhaps too much for everyone's sakes. I want you to know that from this day forward, you can always ask about her and I shall answer to the best of my ability."

Legolas nodded in acknowledgement. It would be a lie to say that things weren't still frosty between father and son, but there were issues to be sorted, "let's deal with the gems."

Galion produced those at once from a box he had been carrying and handed them over to Thranduil who hesitatingly placed the jewels where they belonged, around Alhinath's neck. They glinted like starlight even under the dense canopy, proving they needed very little light for the full effect of them glittering. Thranduil pulled back, surveying his work, imagining how his queen would have looked with the necklace.

"Is it working? Did the curse lift? Is transferring to the statue enough?" Galion voiced everyone's worries, rather nervous.

"If Mithrandil says it will work, then it will work," Thranduil summarised his feelings on the subject.

"How do you feel ada?" Legolas wanted confirmation as well.

Thranduil sighed and moved further back away from the statue, turning his attention on himself for the first time since he'd spotted the figure. He put a hand on his stomach and probingly pushed here and there, brow furrowing in confusion. "I feel well. It was cramping with queasiness just minutes ago, but now I feel all right." His heart was beating fast, but that would be the thrill of the realisation. Nothing could stop him and Tauriel being together now, their trust in each other should be absolute.

Tauriel moved to him, placing a hand on his belly as well. She had been staying in the background so far, she didn't even want to accompany the group as she considered it wasn't her business to meddle into matters to do with the late Queen, but curiosity and concern over Thranduil's well-being now took over and she did a mental medical assessment based on her sensing his energies, as well as a thorough palpation of the abdomen, or as close she could get to such a measure while having him standing up. "I think..I think Thranduil is well," she hugged him as a result.

"I..cannot go back," Legolas let them know of his intentions and turned to get out the niche straight off. It wasn't really a surprise to anyone. If after the battle he had reasons to leave, they were manifold increased at this time and so he bolted.

Thranduil pulled himself out of Tauriel's embrace, "ion-nin," he called after Legolas.

"I know." Legolas only half turned. Words weren't needed to establish that their fondness for each other remained unquestioned as it has always been despite all disagreements, the look said it well enough. "I will be here when you need me, my King," he promised, "it's not all you, it's me. I need to find out how I want my life to turn out and I can't do that in Mirkwood." There were too many conflicting emotions, too many to deal with.

The king nodded, acknowledging, "fare well, my son." His voice was melancholic, with a tint of hope in the rekindling of a proper father/son relationship.

Tauriel squeezed his hand in encouragement, that she never let go during the conversation, claiming him subtly. She did not want to sadden Legolas any more than he already was though and thus she didn't kiss her elf, especially not with the statue of the past right behind them, but she did nestle into his chest and melted against him, providing much needed warmheartedness. "Don't we have a wedding to plan?" Galion urged them all to move and find their way back to the horses left by the roadside.

"Several in fact," Injros chipped in, thinking of his own bride among the many who got engaged just recently, one by one and little by little pledging to fulfil the requirements of the Edict, and finding happiness along the way.

The (Fairytale) End.

Notes:

Note on Queen Alhinath. The word translates into Evangeline, which is why I chose it. As Tauriel was played by Evangeline Lilly, the choice feels a bit like not having made a queen replacement after all, the two equate at some level.
Thank you all for reading!