Chapter Text
Legolas, Who Finally Figures It Out
It was long after the War of the Ring.
The Fourth Age had begun.
Legolas had been thinking about his father’s life a lot lately.
And by thinking, he meant realizing that absolutely nothing about Thranduil made sense.
- Why did he never talk about the First Age?
- Why did he seem to know way too much about Noldorin politics?
- Why did he disappear for centuries at a time?
- Why did Elrond always look like he was holding back laughter whenever he saw him?
And then—one day—it finally hit him.
Like an entire oliphaunt running at full speed.
Thranduil wasn’t just Thranduil.
Thranduil was Finduilas.
Finduilas was Gil-Galad.
Gil-Galad was… Finduilas, again.
Legolas stared at nothing for a very long time.
Then he buried his face in his hands.
His father had been fake dead more times than he could count.
His father was technically a Noldorin princess.
His father—his very dramatic father—had lied to him for thousands of years.
Legolas took a deep breath.
Then stood up.
It was time for a conversation.
Finduilas, Who Knows Exactly What’s About to Happen
Finduilas—who still refused to use her real name—was sitting on the shores of Valinor, drinking wine, and enjoying her retirement.
And then she felt it.
A disturbance in the air.
She sighed.
Then turned around.
And there he was.
Legolas.
Standing a few feet away.
Arms crossed.
Expression very calm.
Which was very bad.
"...Hello, ion nín," Finduilas said carefully.
Legolas simply tilted his head.
"Finduilas," he said.
Finduilas flinched.
That was not a good sign.
Legolas took a step closer. "Or should I say—Gil-Galad?"
Finduilas sighed deeply.
"Alright," she said. "I can explain."
Legolas raised an eyebrow.
Finduilas immediately corrected herself.
"Actually, no, I can’t."
A Very Long Discussion (With Wine)
It turned out that thousands of years of deception required a lot of explanation.
Finduilas and Legolas sat on the shore for hours.
Finduilas explained everything.
Legolas listened.
At one point, he simply shook his head.
"Does anyone else know?" he asked.
Finduilas hesitated. "...Elrond."
Legolas nodded. That made sense.
"...Cirdan."
Legolas nodded again.
"...Most of Greenwood."
Legolas froze.
"Most of Greenwood?"
Finduilas shrugged. "They figured it out after a while. But they never said anything, so I just… kept going."
Legolas stared.
Finduilas took another sip of wine.
Legolas put his face in his hands.
"...Unbelievable," he muttered.
Finduilas smirked.
"Well," she said, "it’s worked out so far, hasn’t it?"
Legolas looked at her.
Then sighed.
Because, in the end…
She was absolutely right.
And So It Ends (Sort Of)
Finduilas patted Legolas’s shoulder.
"Look on the bright side," she said.
Legolas gave her a tired look. "What bright side?"
Finduilas grinned.
"You’re technically the heir to the High Kingship of the Noldor."
Legolas immediately stood up and left.
Finduilas laughed and poured herself another drink.
Because, really…
What was one more secret among family?