Thank you to MOStar598, PackWolfLegolas, spectra6, fateclaws, Preciouskittiekat, crystalily2003, dobblewolf, and nathalieAlice for commenting and voting on the previous chapter! 

Thank you to appleoutt, Uncornpay, RomaulWalker, Uncornpay, and Indrakshee for adding this story to their reading lists!

Note: This chapter is coming a day earlier because as of Monday (tomorrow), I am heading out to cook and bring joy to a camp of 100 men all out looking to become the kind of man a father My Word is speckled with. Updates may be slow, as wifi may be nonexistent. Updates made from camp will also be devoid of mentions, as copy and paste is hard on a little device, but know that I appreciate you all and that mentions of gratitude will resume once I am home, on Saturday. 

Wish me luck and that this annoying cold goes away before the big day! Now then, enough about me! Enjoy the chapter. 

Legolas's head drooped as he sat before the empty hearth, rocking back and forth without rhyme of reason. He pressed his feet together with his hands and saw shifting darkness for his eyes were closed.

The elfling heard another tree fall.

He heard the door open.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and cringed. He recognized the rustle of Thranduil's robe and the smell of pine his father always carried about without opening his eyes.

Thranduil sat down beside him. "I understand you are not feeling well."

Legolas rested his chin on his drawn up knees. "It is my heart. It does not feel forgiven for what I have done. I am to blame, am I not?"

Thranduil thought about Legolas's words before he responded. "Well, there are times in our lives when we must accept responsibility for our actions. But accepting responsibility for something does not mean you are accepting blame. Blame is something others try to heap upon you and fault is a mistake that is soon mended when you accept responsibility and learn how to correct your error."

Legolas pressed his cheek against his knee. "I accept responsibility for this. I know it is a big thing to accept responsibility for but I am ready to bear it. I want to fix my mistake, ada, but I do know how."

"If it is any consolation, I do not know how to mend the forest either," Thranduil said, fondling Legolas's hair. "I my best the only way I know how and try to keep everyone safe."

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Legolas asked.

"Well, you could help Master Eire copy messages," Thranduil said.

Legolas looked down. "I do not want to be with him. I went to see him this morning and he hinted this was my fault. He blames me."

"I am sorry he hurt you with his words."

"Many elves must blame me," Legolas said softly.

"I am sure there are elves who do see you as the cause of their problems," Thranduil agreed. "But you must not let it drag you down."

"I should apologize to them—try to explain what happened and why it happened. Do you think they would listen?"

"I think they would. But there is no time to call an assembly until as many elves as possible are safe in the caves beneath the palace. Once the initial rush is over, I will call a meeting and you may address our people."

Legolas picked at the hem of his tunic. "I am scared to face them."

"Legolas, my little ion nin, you have no need to fear our people. I know frowns and blame hurt your little heart but your intentions will shine through. No one will blame you for this once they understand why it happened."

Legolas looked into his father's eyes and nodded. "I am sorry I made this extra work for you. And endangered so many lives."

"Now, Legolas, you must understand what you are accepting responsibility for. You are accepting responsibility for creating the black magic. The falling trees and the hurt elves, the extra work and endangered lives are a chain reaction and not part of what you did. You accept responsibility for starting the chain reaction. The rest is a consequence."

Legolas turned his father's words over in his mind. "I see. But I have to accept some responsibility for the chain reaction since I began it."

"Some," Thranduil agreed. "But not all."

"If I cannot help Master Eire, is there anything else I can do?"

"I think Nimrethil could use you if you came equipped with paper and pencil," Thranduil said. "She is taking stock of the pantries for the elves in the caves must be fed."

Legolas moved close to his father to hug him. "Hannon le, ada."

Thranduil smiled and kissed Legolas's forehead. "Amin meleth le, my little leaf. I am glad I can be here for you."

Legolas watched his father leave. Landion slipped through the door and hesitated, his eyes betraying he had fetched Thranduil, but Legolas turned to him and smiled. "Thank you for bringing my father."

Landion's shoulders relaxed and he ran to join Legolas. "I knew you needed him. Are you better now?"

Legolas tilted his head to one side. "I think so."

The elflings sat in silence until Legolas stretched his legs. "I should help Nimrethil."

"Can I come to?" Landion asked.

Legolas considered. "Well, ada did not say you could not help so I think you can."

Landion jumped to his feet. "I will fetch some paper and pencils!"

Legolas passed Onyx outside the door and waved to the elf who felt more like an uncle then Landion ever would. Onyx returned his greeting with a smile and sat down on the sofa with a troubled face.

The shadows were long outside the palace and the dinner table cleared of the last meal when Onyx roamed the halls in search of his father. Harune's bedchamber was empty if one did not count Landion asleep in the big bed. A sliver of candlelight shining from under Elrond's door meant the elf lord was up talking with his wife and a peek into Thranduil's chamber revealed Legolas listening to a story.

Onyx strolled back to the family room and found Harune with his feet on an ottoman and a glass of wine in hand. He hesitated in the doorway until Harune saw him and waved him over. Onyx sank into the sofa with a sigh.

"I see you have something on your mind," Harune said, putting a glass of wine in Onyx's hand. "Do you want to share?"

Onyx twirled the glass stem between his fingers, rolling it back and forth as he collected his thoughts. He leaned his elbows on his knees and looked up. "I left because I thought it would cause you pain to look at me."

"My darling ion nin, if any father looks at his child and feels pain, he has done something terribly wrong in the raising of his son or daughter. And I assure you I have made no such mistake."

Onyx turned his eyes away from Harune's face. "I am the one who made the mistake, ada. I blamed for Sapphire's death."

Harune squeezed Onyx's shoulder. "I know you did, and I tried so hard to show you the blame was nonexistent. But there are times when words fall on deaf ears. I am sorry I could not help you then."

Onyx stared at the white liquid in his glass. His hand trembled until Harune steadied his wrist and took the glass before it dropped.

"I buried many feelings the day nana died," Onyx whispered. "But standing outside the door and listening to Legolas and Thranduil talk about forgiveness brought the feelings back. Legolas turned to his father so willingly."

"I did raise Thranduil, you know," Harune said in amusement. "And I am hoping my son will turn to his father with as much trust in his eyes as Legolas did."

Onyx bit his lip, ashamed of the tears springing into his eyes. He felt Harune's arm slid over his shoulders and draw him close.

"Onyx, there is no shame in tears. Have I made such a mistake you are afraid to cry in front of me?"

"I have been away too long," Onyx choked. "It is not you."

He rested his head on Harune's shoulder and let the tears slip down his cheeks. "My heart broke the day nana died."

"As did mine. And I grieved the death of my wife as I have grieved the death of no other. But I rejoiced in my grief because I still have my son. And I never once blamed you for not protecting Sapphire," said Harune.

"I know that now," Onyx said. "I made a mistake leaving. I missed you, ada. I missed being a part of the Mirkwood guard. I missed my family and my life. But I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was giving you your happiness."

"I missed you to," Harune said. "But I wanted to give you your space and because you never said anything, I never guessed how much you were struggling. You seemed happy as a dance teacher."

Onyx smiled. "I enjoy teaching elflings to dance and I feel free moving to music. But my body prefers the dance of battle then one of courtship and it will never be different."

"If you do choose to come home, we will welcome you with open arms. Looking at you does not bring me any pain."

Onyx clasped his hands in his lap. "I am here to ask for forgiveness, ada. I made mistakes and I hurt the people I love. I hurt myself. I accept I could not protect nana as I would have liked. I accept I am not a failure as a warrior and nana's death does not mean I am."

Fathers and sons have resolved their differences! And Onyx has finally ridden himself of all festering feelings.

Thank you so much for reading. I love hearing and responding to all your lovely comments.

Next chapter: Harune and Onyx continue their discussion.