Thranduil saddled up his horse. "Where do you think you are going?". Thranduil froze. He turned around and looked at his friend, Damrath. "I'm... I'm leaving", Thranduil said. "Leaving? Where?", Damrath asked. "I don't know, but I can't stay", Thranduil looked down. "What happened?", his friend asked. "My father wants me to marry someone I've never met, just to unite two kingdoms. And... And I can't do that. I don't want to disobey him, but he asks too much of me. It's not fair", Thranduil sighed. "So you're just gonna leave?", Damrath asked. "Yes, well, not forever, I'll be back. I just need some time on my own". "But what about... What about me and Hamlith? Do you want us to come with you?", Damrath looked at Thranduil. "No, stay, I'll see you sooner than you know", Thranduil smiled at his friend. "Take care!"

Oropher had been waiting long enough for his son to show up, so he decided to go look for him one more time. He didn't know where to start, but he went to his room. He knocked on the door, but no answer. He decided to go in anyway, maybe Thranduil was there, but didn't want him to know. The room was empty, but on the bed there was a note; "I'm sorry. I can't".