video. open to both courts.

[orcsurfing]

[ 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 )

Comments

[orcsurfing]

[ 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. ]

[amplified]

( Lydia doesn't mind the closeness, really. She doesn't usually dig guys with long hair. But she's totally into the idea of leaning on him. She'll decide later whether this is an appropriate action. Right now she just wants to make sure he's alright. And distracted if he needs it. )

Do you have a neutral point where you can meet?

[orcsurfing]

[ He shakes his head, the short hair brushing his cheeks. ]

No, I must ride out to meet them in their own territories. And it is important that I come personally to negotiate with them.

[ With the recent introduction of the fairy rings, it may make the travel a little easier, but from what he can tell, it may only win him by only two-three weeks at the most. Otherwise... he's looking at months long travel. Which, in truth, given the recent moods and circumstances regarding the Courts, perhaps it's for the best. ]

[amplified]

( she doesn't miss a moment of that flawless hair. someone needs to call loreal stat. )

Do you need someone to go with you? Do you have someone to go with you?

( she really doesn't like the idea of, after everything that's already happened to him, him going out there just on his own without extensive backup or something. )

[orcsurfing]

My father's men remain by my side, loyal as they ever been to my father and his father. The native elves likewise, they wish of me what they wished of the Elvenking they sought out.

[ The smile he offers is plenty reassuring. ]

I will not be alone. The dryads will remain loyal as well, as they had all these months now.

[amplified]

Does his absence leave you king in his stead, then? Do you take his place in the line of command? That's usually how it works with royalty. Unless you've got an older brother you've been holding out on me about.

( she smiles back, because he's kind of annoyingly infectious. )

Good. I'm not sure I'm so keen on riding out to meet a bunch of elves but... If you needed it, I would.

[orcsurfing]

The people who have sworn fealty to him, swear it now to me. Whether I am King... for them, perhaps, but right now in no more but a title. I am an only child to my father, though he had oft expressed his sadness for never having given me a sibling.

[ Though each time he did, Legolas would brush it off. It would have been nice to have a brother or a sister, but on the other hand he was content and happy with the life he had with his father. Even after his mother, and Thranduil's wife, has passed when he was so young. ]

You have my thanks for considering it, though I fear it would be a journey ripe with dangers and I would hate to drag you into it all the same.

[amplified]

It makes sense. I just wondered if that title passed to you automatically, and all of the duty that comes with it. You seem pretty determined not to ignore what needs to be done already. Adding an appropriate title for a leader is almost secondary, I guess.

( she tucks a hair behind her ear and turns her attention back to the map )

I'm not just some teenage girl, you know.