eachdraidh | video. open to both courts.

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[ Legolas has waited several hours to make this announcement. Grieving, weeping with quiet tears for the half of it, gathering composure and thoughts for the other. He still hardly feels the strength needed to say what he has to say, hardly feels himself having the competence, yet it must be said and he makes a good show for it.

His shoulders squared, head held high no matter the shame he still carries with his hair cut short as it is, his face seems carved out of stone into an expression of firm neutrality, yet not without the soft edges of gentleness. What suffering there is is hidden deeply and out of view. The light in his eyes has dimmed, and with the usual cheer and laughter missing from the picture he makes, his presence seems hollow.

A shadow of his usual self, yet he holds himself together all the same. The Prince he should be, his father's son though not once in his life has he been truly prepared to take over his father's role.

He never wanted to either and especially not like this. ]

Elvenking Thranduil has vanished from this world, leaving behind his shard.

[ His lip doesn't tremble, there is no pause, his voice is even. ]

What he has set out to do, I will carry out in time. 'tis a promise to the shard-holders and the natives of the Drabwurld alike. What begs to be repeat now, with my own voice, with my own words, is that I have forsworn all allegiance with either Court and I will build a home for all who wish not to be drawn into the madness of this foolish war.

[ Time for play is over, time for growing up at last has just begun. He takes no title, names himself no Prince nor King nor anything much really. ]

Those who had unfinished business with him are welcome to bring it to me, his son Legolas Thranduilion.

[ A beat of a pause then in a tone far gentler, yet at the same time tired, he adds. ]

And to those who are to partake in the upcoming battle, I wish you luck.

[ Be safe, he wishes he could say, but the words get stuck in his throat. Then mimicking his father's attitude, he shuts the locket without another word.

In what little time he was speaking the sharp edges of the shard in his hand cut through skin with the force of his hold on it, blood trickles down, painting red flowers on the floor, but he barely feels it. Body numbed to pain with the agony of the soul, he feels himself cracking and crumbling and shattering all over again. What strength that returned over the weeks spent at the Station, seems to be now fizzling out with every quiet breath.

He feels more alone than he has felt in all his life, not knowing if he'll ever see his father ever again. Not even knowing what has happened, in truth, just that today he was simply gone and on bed there lay a shard.

This isn't Arda, this is Drabwurld, will they ever see each other at Aman again? Or has he lost his father for all the rest of his life? ]

( ooc: there'll be a delay before he begins responding and all responses to this post will be in voice only. Thrandaddy is gone, babyleaf's gotta grow up asap and pull his act together. :c )

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[ In truth, Legolas himself is not the most knowledgeable in the matter, especially not here in Drabwurld. Their souls were bound to Arda, the bodies may die, their souls may remain in the Halls of Waiting, but they can return and take up a physical body all over again after a time.

Still, these are reassuring words for an elven soul does leave the physical body when it cannot sustain it or heal it anymore. ]

Thank you, for to hear that is a great relief.

[ And oh is his voice ripe with gratitude, that with the next question slowly morphs into concern. ]

Do... you feel all those who pass, no matter the distance?

[Well, it's good to know that Legolas appreciates the words. Nico takes a breath at the question, however.]

It does depend on distance, but the range is just for people I don't know well. For those I know very well...distance has no meaning. I'll sense their passage no matter where we are. I...sensed my older sister, once.

[It still hurts to think about, but not as much as it had when the wound was first inflicted.]

There are some souls I can't sense. Satyrs and nymphs, for example. Their souls get reincarnated into plants rather than a mortal body. But I can sense when people are close to death, too. It's like a buzzing in my ears, most likely because they're in-between. Either it goes away and they survive the experience, or....

[Nico trails off. He's sure the elf knows.]

Sorry, this is...probably more information than you needed.

Edited 2014-07-25 22:30 (UTC)

[ Peace. The word makes Celegorm want to weep, and laugh, all at once. His shoulders shook, and his ears were full still with the sounds of battle. ]

Peace is a dream, Legolas. A swiftly-fading dream that not even the Ainur could craft for themselves for long. I learned long ago that clinging to it precipitated only more suffering. I cannot say if I would not have attacked them in time. Caer Scima has made itself a home to me, who had been bereft of home, a beggared prince who had failed all who relied upon him. I swore when I came that I would not fail again, that I would not trust to an unreliable peace, that my vigilance would not waver.

Let others say I am an affront to the light; let them call me ignoble, blackguard, whatever words they wish. If I am effective, if I guard what I love well, if I honour my father, keep my oaths, and guard mine well, I am satisfied.

I thank you, for bargaining with them on my behalf. I wish it had come to better end.

I'm sorry.

[ She is, too -- Thranduil had seemed to be a good man (well, elf), when they'd spoken. ]

When you're ready, if you haven't already spoken to him, you should talk to Waver Velvet.

Shit.

[ that just about sums it up ]

[ She squeezes him gently, nodding her head against his shoulder; she's smaller than he is and she wonders how much comfort her embrace is really giving him. She wasn't very good at singing and she couldn't really braid hair... What could she offer him other than her company and friendship? Hopefully that would be enough. ]

It's not the same as here, though, is it? We have no idea when we're going home. But we will go home, Legolas, that I'm sure of. You'll see your father again sooner than you think.

[ She pauses, hesitating, before she leans back and reaches into her bag. She doesn't have much for homesickness and the loss of family and friend, but she does have some things - the most important being Honeydukes finest chocolate. If it was good enough to help fight back against a Dementor it should help here. ]

Try some of this. It'll make you feel better, I promise.

[ He knows he'll be hearing that phrase a lot in the upcoming days and it's tiring, but at the same time he knows all too well why they say it, he understands so he cannot really be impatient with it. ]

I will seek him out then. Is there anything I ought to know before I do?

[ It... really does. And this conversation Legolas locks to private and his voice cracks, just a little, the composure breaking along the lines where it has been but barely put together. ]

He was gone this morning, where I had last seen him the shard. No blood, no message. Perhaps this is the punishment for refusing allegiance to the Seelie Court.

[ And perhaps he had done it himself to... follow. ]

( Lydia doesn't hesitate to stay with him, to sit next to him. Her fingers gingerly pass over the locations on the map. )

You're very sweet. ( Her eyes narrow as she keeps her attention on what lies before them. )

What're we looking for here?

You can't think like that.

[ Not that John wouldn't, if it were him, but Legolas can't. From what little he understands of elves, it could kill him. ]

Sometimes things just... happen. There's no reason for it.

He's also known as Lord El-Melloi II. He and I are both considered Unseelie, but we're... not in favor of the war. Even if it may sometimes look otherwise.

[ because it's dumb ]

He's traveling at the moment and might not be able to talk freely, though.

[ He has the same features of him, from the little memory Alice remembers of him. He has to be his son, surely? She knows that the elves here are very, very old. ]

I am sorry to hear that, sir, but take solace he is where he should be.

[ The gesture itself is a comfort, not even necessarily the physical feeling of it. His lips crimp, eyebrows draw together in a pained frown and the expression stays for a while longer as Legolas allows himself this moment of freely showing his pain. Father once told him not to hide it, not from him, but he's gone now and unlikely to return if it was the monarchs who sent him back for his defiance. ]

Is that what it truly is? Returning home?

[ He glances towards the item she presents with, expression shifting into confusion instead now. Chocolate says the package on it, his lips part. ]

What is it?

[ He shifts without thinking twice on it, to make space so that Lydia can be comfortable as well. ]

Six riders of the native elven tribes have pledged themselves to my father, pleading of him to unite their clans. As he had promised, I will carry out.

[ In other words, he is planning travel. ]

I will wish to set out and perhaps soon.

[ No longer particularly keen on remaining at the Station for much longer anymore, not with his father gone the way he had. ]

What you seek is peace, merely you know that it is won with hard work. When all else fails then with battle, if we must, [ when there is no hope, as it was against the Enemy, the war and all the battles, ] but there are means to build peace that do not lead through bloodshed and suffering.

[ But hearing all of this, it seems every time they talk he learns more, he understands more with ease that he truly finds staggering. And each time they talk he feels at a loss for words, while his heart goes out to Celegorm and his fate, no matter the deeds he may have committed in all his life. ]

Keep your home safe, but do not march on another's home in an attempt to forestall what may not come to be at all. That is all I would ever ask, even if Caer Glaem is not a home to me and never will be again.

[ There are people there he still cares for, however, and them he would wish to spare this pain. Them and oddly enough Celegorm himself. ]

So do I, but alas... there seems to be no stopping what has already began.

[ Silence, then quietly. ]

Be safe.

[ Legolas listens attentively, silent all the while that Nico speaks. ]

No, it is... fascinating and yet it also seems to be something that could be a cause of great grief to you.

[ His voice carries the sympathy, the concern for the state of another's mind and soul when having to live with such feelings assaulting them at all times. So many died each day, after all. ]

You are beyond strong, my friend, to have kindness to spare for another.

[ Ah, it matters little now. Seelie, Unseelie, and Ariadne has proven a good conversationalist, a kind and intelligent girl. ]

There seems to be many unwilling and more will likely be driven away from both Courts, when they see how foolish it is.

[ Anyway, he sounds grateful for the information. ]

I will remember that.

So he disappeared as a stroke of fate.

[ Bland and tired. ]

I have considered that I may have to remain here for all of my eternity, but it was a thought bearable while he was here with me. [ No longer there is just a sea between them, but worlds. He can tell though, if only vaguely, the reasons for John's words, so he offers a small comfort. ] I will be well, John, I will live until the way home is opened to me.

[ A promise to Thranduil, that he would live, that he would not ever simply give up, no matter the pain. ]

[ Where he should be, the thought makes him uncomfortable, because there is no certainty. ]

What certainty do we have, though?

[It's one of those things where sometimes Nico has to wonder if he's going mad or if he's already mad. It's not something he likes to entertain very often or for very long.]

The power can be a burden, but at the same time...it let's me know for sure those people I care about are alive.

[A very great relief when Percy and Annabeth are all the way in Greek Hell.

The compliment is a little uncomfortable for Nico to take, but he doesn't comment on it. He really doesn't get praise like that very often, especially not in conjunction with his powers.]

If you don't mind my asking, what's your afterlife like?

So many things in life seem to be equal parts a great burden and a great relief. I should hope the former will never outweigh the latter, I should hope you have support...

[ Ah, truly his heart goes out to Nico and his plight and it rings clearly in his voice.

That is a big question and Nico is lucky that Legolas can answer it the way he is now, for he has learned parts of it only after setting foot in Aman himself. ]

Our lives are bound to Arda and we will live as long as our world does. The physical bodies may be slain, but our souls will prevail and unless an elf truly opposes, then when the body dies we enter the Halls of Waiting for a time. There we rest, there we regain what strength we need to face the world again. For you see, when an elf is slain... it is always, always with great suffering and agony, for we are more resilient than Men.

[ How many have died the most horrific deaths already? All of them, more than likely. ]

And when we are ready, we may leave and we may be granted a new physical body to live out our lives in Aman. Only one elf in all of our history has returned to Middle Earth from the Undying Lands after his death. What the Halls themselves are like, I cannot say as I have never seen them myself.

[ He pauses, then speaks quietly, a thought slipping past almost with him unaware of it. ]

And neither have I found my mother amongst those at Aman when I have arrived...

[ Was her suffering so great? Had she truly not wished to see him... ]

[Nico has never heard such...concern and sympathy, and all of it is sincere. It cuts straight through his natural inclination to distrust and be wary of others. His defenses relax somewhat in response, even more so as he listens to Legolas' explanation.

The comment about his mother, though...yeah, he knows that feeling very well.]

...The one ghost I've never been able to talk to, even in the Underworld, has been my mother's. My sister told me it was because I was forbidden, and so was my mother. I don't know your mom, so I can't say for sure, but maybe she didn't want to be found because she didn't want you to hurt more than you already have. She may still be there waiting for you to join her when you're ready.

[Perhaps with a smile and open arms. This has been a thought that has haunted Nico. Wondering if his mother will be proud of him and still love him despite everything.]

[ Ah... the pain is dull now, it's been nearly thousand years since she has passed, after all, when he was but a wee elfling. Darkness doesn't linger now anymore as it had when he first arrived to the Station, when his first thought at the memory of his mother was the desire to follow her into death. This time a weight settles on his heart, yet Nico's words are soothing in a way.

He knows mother loved him, the little memories she has of her were all bright and full of happiness. He knows from his father too. ]

Perhaps so when I return again. [ There is a small smile in his voice and a great degree of gratitude once more. ] Your words once more have given me hope and brought comfort.

You have my gratitude and should you need aid, I will offer what I may.

[ A pledge of friendship and alliance. ]

[Nico is so happy this is voice because his blush is pretty stellar. Ugh ugh Legolas is just way too nice he can't even deal with this, other than to just let it happen.]

Um...same to you. I mean, if you need any help or just...someone to talk with. We can maybe trade stories....

[The urge to bury his face in his hands is strong in this one. Gods, he's so flustered.]

[ Hermione nods, smiling softly, lifting her hand to touch his cheek with a tenderness she had quite forgotten she'd possessed. It's been a long time since she had felt this kind of motherly feeling for someone that wasn't Harry or Ron - but Legolas is like her brother, now, she thinks, and she's allowed to mother him as much as she wants. ]

I think so. I can't imagine there'd be anything else. We were brought here so, when we leave, we have to go home, right?

[ She smiles, opening it and breaking off a piece, offering it with a bright expression. ]

Chocolate. It's a kind of sweet food, something that warms the body. You'll like it, I promise.

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