Legolas wandered through the unlit halls of Elrond's home, it was midnight and he was completely alone.

He stepped onto one of the balconies and rested his arms on the rail. His gaze drifted across the hidden valley, which was bathed in moonlight.

His thoughts were focused on Thalion as they usually were, he missed his brother so much.

What struck him odd was that he barely remembered the orc attack. He had brief glimpses of orcs surrounding him and seeing Thalion dead....

Thalion...
Dead....

Legolas never thought that he would hear the name of his brother and that word in once sentence.

But Elrond had said that very thing to Legolas when he awoke in Rivendell, 'Thalion is dead.'

"And it is all my fault."
Legolas murmured to himself.
"Mind if I join you?"
Legolas jumped and spun around in surprise. It was almost impossible to sneak up on an elf and he wanted to know who it was that had.

It was an old man, dressed in grey and had a kind look in his eyes. Legolas felt like he knew this man, yet he knew that he had never seen him before.

"You have grown since I last saw you young Greenleaf."
"How do you know my name? And I do not believe that we have met."
Legolas glanced at the man curiously, but with traces of suspicion in his eyes.

"I met you when you were only a child. Your mother and brother knew me and your father knows me as well."

The man studied Legolas and smiled.
"You were much smaller back then, too shy to approach me on your own and too curious about me to stay away."

Legolas tried to remember seeing the man before but his mind was blank. Why could he not remember anything from his childhood?

"What is your name?"
Legolas asked hoping that if he knew, it would bring some sort of memory back.

"I am known to the elves as Mithrandir, but I am called Gandalf by everyone else."

"Which would you like me to call you?"
"You may call me Mithrandir or Gandalf. And shall I call you Legolas or Greenleaf?"

This caused a small smile to appear briefly on Legolas' face.
"I would prefer Legolas."
"Very well then. And I would not mind being called Gandalf."

Gandalf joined Legolas on the edge of the balcony. Legolas studied him curiously and wondered what he was doing in Rivendell.

"What brings you to Imladris?"
He asked him.
"I am an old friend of Elrond's."
Gandalf exlained.

"I am visiting him and also seeing how Thranduil's son is faring."
Legolas straightened at his words, he hadn't heard from his father in years!

"How is my father? Is he ready for me to return home yet?"
Gandalf sighed and his eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"No, not yet."
Legolas' face fell and he turned away from Gandalf, he had expected as much.
"I doubt that he even wants me to return."
Legolas said aloud.

"He ignored me after my mother's death, for all I know he blames me for that. And he probably blames me for Thalion's as well. I believe that it does not matter to him whether I return or not, it may be better if I don't."

"You are wrong Legolas."
Gandalf raised his voice and Legolas' flinched from the sharpness of his tone.
"Your father loves you Legolas, more than you will ever know. His one problem is that he has allowed the fear of losing the one he loves to control him."

"His fear of losing the only family he has left is causing him to push you away in order to protect himself from the pain he felt at losing your mother and brother. He can not go through it again so he will do whatever he can to distance himself from you."

"Yet he does not realize that he is hurting you, and that is what will cause discord between the two of you."

Legolas took in his words and pondered over them. Did his father really think that way? Did he really love him or did he think of him as nuisance?

"I want to go home Gandalf."
He finally said after a length of time.
"I know, but until your father sends word that it is safe for you to return you are to remain
here."

Gandalf paused for a moment and added:
"Of course, you cannot stay here for too much longer. You have responsibilities to attend to in Mirkwood."

Legolas face furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"You are now the only son of Thranduil. The elves of Mirkwood will look to the two of you to lead and protect them."

Legolas had been grieving so much for Thalion that he had never thought about what changes his death would bring to him.

Gandalf was right, Legolas was no longer the youngest son of Thranduil, he was his only son.

All of Thalion's duties, everything he was in charge of, now falls onto me.

"I cannot do this Gandalf. Helping my father with ruling the kingdom, defending our borders, Thalion always did those things. I do not know what to do and I doubt that I could earn the same loyalty and obedience from the Guard that Thalion had."

"You already have their loyalty."
Gandalf placed a hand comfortingly but firmly on Legolas' shoulder.
"You may not have had the position your brother did, but you are and have always been a prince."

"The elves of Mirkwood will follow you just as they followed Thalion and as they obey their king."

His words did not comfort Legolas in the slightest. He could never do what Thalion did, or be what his father was.

He has always been sure of himself, ruling and leading come naturally to him. Thalion always had that same authority father has, I do not.

"Remember this Legolas."
Gandalf said sternly.
"You cannot expect to return home and be aloud to grieve and wander about as you have been. I know that you miss Thalion and his death was an evil one, but he would want you to continue living your life and not spend it mourning for his."

With that said Gandalf left Legolas alone out on the balcony. The young elf watched him leave as a surprising wave of anger came over him.

How could Gandalf, or anyone for that matter, tell him to stop grieving for Thalion and move on as if he hadn't even lived in the first place?

He refused to forget his brother and not Gandalf, Elrond, Arwen, and the twins could make him.

Gandalf's words continued to repeat themselves in his mind. Whether he liked it or not he was now the only son of Thranduil, the sole heir to the throne should anything happen to his father.

He had a duty to his people, to help protect and lead them. Could he do it? Would he be strong enough?

Thalion had always been strong, and fearless. That is what made him such a great leader.

But Thalion was gone now, he couldn't be there to lead the Forest Guard and defend their home from the spiders and other evil things dwelling there.

His father couldn't go off everytime there was a small disturbance in the forest, the people couldn't afford to lose their king to something that could be taken care of by his son.

That was why Thalion was always good at his job. He understood what he had to do for his people, and our father.

Legolas closed his eyes and sighed. That was what he had to do now. Whether he liked it or not.

And Gandalf was right, he had to stop mourning for Thalion. His brother would want him to stay strong, for their father's sake.

Legolas opened his eyes and looked up at the stars, the moonlight cast a silver light around him, making it seem like the elf was glowing.

I will never forget you Thalion, you meant more to me than anything or anyone else. But I will continue what you started and protect my people, just as you did.

My only regret is that I was not able to protect you....