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When Lord Elrond declared that he could see land, everyone in the boat appeared on the deck and Legolas felt nauseated as he was so nervous. How would the others react that he managed to sneak Gimli here? And his mother. Would he recognize her? Would she recognize him?
As the boat landed on the shore with a gentle thump, everyone straightened their backs and prepared to climb off board. Gimli tensed and threw Legolas a look, who placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine."
Elrond was the first to step off the boat, and the moment his feet hit the ground, a elven woman with silvery hair stormed out of the crowd and into his arms. Celebrían had left for the Grey Havens after her mind had been broken by orcs, and even if Elrond was as strong as ever after her departure, everyone knew how much it had hurt him to see her go. The pair hugged tightly, and Legolas felt saddened about the truth that his parents could not have the same happiness, at least not yet. He had begged his father to come with him, but he had refused and said that he had things to take care of before he could depart with a unburdened heart. Legolas knew better than to ask about the matters he had to take care of, and instead, he had tried to fish out information about his mother. The only thing he had managed to get out was that she had the most beautiful H/C hair.
He looked around the crowd that had gathered to welcome them, but he did not see anyone with hair of the color his father had described, and his shoulders slumped. Maybe she was not here. Gimli noticed his friends melancholy and walked up to him, and reached up to pat his shoulder.
"What's bothering you?" Legolas glanced at his friend and then back up at the happy couple, who were now speaking to each other with hushed words, their foreheads pressed together.
"Nothing." Legolas answered, and swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Listen, laddie. I might be a dwarf but I'm not stupid. I know when something bothers you. Now tell me." Legolas thanked Valar in his mind that he had a dwarf as a friend. Anyone else wouldn't have been able to pry the information out of him.
"I just hoped that I would see my mother here." Legolas spoke quietly, and Gimli tensed. He knew that Legolas had little memories of her, and the ones he had were hazy.
"I'm sure you'll meet her soon." Gimli didn't know what to say, and he hoped that his words were enough.
Unbeknownst to the two, you were standing just a little bit away, your hands clasped in front of your mouth. Your little leaf was here, he had grown into a such a handsome ellon. For some reason, you hesitated to approach, even if you had waited for this moment for so long. Would he even regognize you? What if he hated you because you had left him?
You took a deep breath and walked towards him. His back was to you, but his dwarvish friend (about who you will ask more later), seemed to notice you. His eyes widened and he tapped Legolas's shoulder, mumbling something before he retreated towards the ship.
Legolas turns around and you can't help the tears running down your cheeks. He is so handsome. Your little boy is grown up, and the tears keep coming. From the corner of your eye, you notice Elrond and Celebrían watching, and she is holding a hand on her heart, but all your attention is on Legolas. He just stares, his eyes wide with desbelief but he takes a step towards you.
"Lasdithen" You whisper, and he breathed out heavily, stilling his movements.
"Lasdithen (little leaf)" Legolas knew that nickname. A faint memory of you tucking him to bed, humming slightly, and telling him over and over again how much he was loved. Tears welled in his eyes and he surged forward, colliding with your chest and crying softly.
"Naneth. (Mother)" He sobbed, and you wrapped your hands around him, rubbing his back with soothing circles, your eyes brimming with tears as well.
"Ai, iôn nín. (Oh, my son) Valar only knows how much I missed you." You whisper, and you gently guide him to a bench a few small steps away and sit down as he still clings to you.
It took Legolas a moment to let go of you. His brain told him to, but he just held on, fearing that you might disappear when he did. When you gently pulled away, he took a stuttering breat in and looked at your face. It was so filled with love, and you brought your hand to his face, cupping it and wiping a tear off it with your thumb.
"You've grown into a such a handsome ellon, just like your father." Tears fell from your eyes as you studied his features and placed a kiss to his forehead.
"I just wish I had been there to see you grow." More tears fell from your eyes, and you let your hand fall, and took his hands into yours. They were slightly bigger, and calloused from shooting a bow so often.
"I just wish that I had been there for your first steps, first words, first hit with a bow. I just wish I had been there." Your voice dropped down to a whisper, and Legolas squeezed your hands gently.
"I wish that too, but ada was there." He didn't want to mention how absent Thranduil had been in his life, he wanted to offer some kind of comfort as you seemed so bothered about the topic. You smiled and slid a few stray hairs behind his ear. As he lifted his eyes to meet you, the baby blue ones he had inherited from Thranduil met yours, you kissed his forehead again, and Legolas hoped that he could stay there forever.
"Now, I would like to know more about your dwarved friend." Legolas looked up to you, slightly startled, but your eyes didn't have any hatred, just pure curiosity.
"It's a long story, naneth." You let out a gentle laugh.
"We have time, lasdithen. (Little leaf) All the time I'm the world." You point out gently, and Legolas gets up.
"I'll get him."
The story is long, but you enjoy every bit of it, and listen carefully, laughing at some parts and gasping in fear with others. Gimli can't help but to feel slightly nervous when in your presence, as your demeanor gives a unmistakable glow of queen. He notes that even if Legolas has gotten most of his features from his father, most of his personality comes from you.
- - - -
It has been hundreds of years in the mortal calendar, and Legolas and Gimli as well as all the others from the ship have become settled quite well. Bilbo and Frodo have their own hobbit holes and Gimli has an apartment next to them.
Your house is a simple pearly white house next to a huge elder tree. Legolas lives close by, in a similar but smaller house. He actually lives in the same house as Tauriel, who sailed shortly after Kili's death and despite Gimlis suspicions and numerous accusations, no, they are not a couple. You couldn't lie, you were a little disappointed when you learned that you didn't have any grandchildren, but Frodo stopped by every now and then for tea, it made up for it, at least a little bit.
Gimli was tinkering with a piece of wood he had found, carving a small wooden elk out of it, when Legolas suddenly burst through the front door. Gimli jumped and dropped his knife and wood, leering at Legolas.
"By my beard, lad! I could have cut myself!" He complained, but when he saw Legolas' face, it was a mixture of shock and happiness, he quieted down.
"What is it?" He asked, hoping that nothing bad had happened.
"My father. I think he's coming here. Someone spotted a ship and he promised that he would get himself here. I think he is in that boat. Can you find my mother and keep her under the elder tree, and I'll bring my father?" Gimli nodded numbly, he was having tough time understanding what Legolas was saying as he spoke so fast.
"I don't think he will be thrilled to see me here." Gimli reminded, and Legolas waved his hand in the air.
"He won't even notice you when my mother is close to you. I swear. Now go, the ship is almost at the harbor." Legolas ushered him up, and Gimli walked to your house, pondering what would he say.
Gimli's words might not have been the most official or eloquent, but he managed to get you under the tree. In the harbor, the boat had just reached the shore, and Thranduil had stepped off, looking around for you. When he couldn't find you, he began to panic. Where you not there at all? He saw Legolas walking closer, and managed to maintain his composure but his voice still broke when he greeted him.
" Mae g-govannen, iôn nín. Nae saian luume'. (Well met, my son. It has been too long.) "
"Mae govannen, ada. (Well met, father). " Thranduil was still looking around, and Tauriel walked forward.
"Saesa omentien lle, Aran nín. (Pleasure meeting you, my king.) Can I take that?" He gestured towards the chest Thranduil was carrying, who handed it over, a little bit hesitantly.
"Where is she?" Thranduil asked Legolas, who gestured him to follow.
"Tauriel and I thought it might be more pleasant if you weren't in front of everyone." Legolas explained, and Thranduil nodded, a wave of relief washing over him. You were here.
Legolas stopped and gestured Thranduil to stop as well.
"Wait here just a moment." He spoke before he slipped past a veil of ivy.
"Naneth?" Thranduil heard him say, and his heart almost came to a holt. You were actually there, so close. He had waited for this moment for so so long but now when it was at hand, his head was empty.
"Ada?" Legolas' voice sounded, and Thranduil took one last, deep breath, before he pushed past the wall of ivy.
"Thranduil?" Your voice was barely above whisper, but he still heard it and his eyes snapped at you. He didn't even notice Legolas slipping away, his sight was tightly on you. You let out a sob and grabbed the hem of your dress, sprinting to him, all the while tears made their way down your cheeks. He caught you in his arms, and he spun around slightly as your lips met for a kiss and tears made their way out of his eyes as well.
You pulled away after what felt like seconds, yet years, and you pressed your foreheads together as you laughed lightly, tears still flowing down your cheeks.
"After all this time, we are still fools in live. Just like your father said.*" You laughed, and Thranduil hummed in agreement, pressing a kiss to your temple while tightening his hold on your sides. You just stood there, holding each other, the smell of elder tree's flowers floating around you.
You rested your head on his chest, his hands tightly wrapping around your as he swore he would never, never, leave your side again.
"Naneth, Ada?" Your son's voice sounded, slightly unsure. You lifted your head from his chest and slipped one arm out of the hug while Thranduil did the same. You opened your arms, and Legolas hesitated only for a moment before he walked into the embrace of his parents. He didn't care what Gimli would say. It had been so long since their last hug.