Chapter Text
It was late into the night when Oropher finally went in search of his son, after not hearing so much as a whisper to indicate that he hadn’t gone and done something incredibly stuppid. Thankfully, and for perhaps the first time ever, Oropher found Thranduil exactly where he was supposed to be.
He heard his sons bellowing voice long before he caught sight of him high upon the wall, yelling at his fellow soldiers about how to better fix their defenses. What areas they were weakest in, and where you could sneak in and out of the city if you were determined and clever enough.
The exact perfect job for Thranduil to have, since nobody else knew or exploited the cities defenses as ritually nor as successfully as Thranduil. And those were only the times that Oropher knew about.
Even from the ground, Oropher could still feel the raw rage spilling off of Thranduil stronger and faster than water over a waterfall. He made absolutely no effort to avoid his father's eye and it was in that moment Oropher knew his son was coping as poorly as he feared he was. He gave a brief and subtle motion for Thranduil to come and meet him on the ground, and he complied imiediatly.
Further cementing Oropher’s fears.
When Thranduil landed next to him Oropher began a stroll that exhibited the utmost leisure into a nearby archway where they were obstructed from view. Once there, he pulled Thranduil against him and held him strongly in his arms. “Oh my son, I’m so sorry your heart is breaking like this.”
Thranduil loved this city, he loved its people, he loved its memories and his love only grew with each passing year. Oropher liked the city, but it felt empty now with so many of the people who had made it home now gone, but his heart broke for what the loss of it might mean for his son.
He had refused to allow himself to contemplate the fact that Thranduil might now even survive the fall of the city, nor Oropher. He refused to acknowledge that both of their deminses seemed near a certainty.
He could tell just by looking into his face as he pulled away that Thranduil had made a similar if not identical decision about their upcoming fates, “Its alright, Ada.”
“Not it isn't, but thank you for trying to lie to me.”
Thranduil almost smiled at the commnet, but then he just leaned back into his father again and Oropher readily held him close. This was too much change, heartbreak, and death for one youn elf to handle.
“Dior is making an address later today to the city, there will be a caravan leaving for Sirion in a few weeks time, anybody who wants to leave is welcome to go.”
Thranduil nodded into his fathers shoulder and replied, “Ferdan will be wanting his family to go.”
“It’s already been arranged,” Oropher said gently, “But I want you to consider going with them.”
Thranduil recoiled from him in obvious horror, “Ada? What? I couldn’t-”
“Thranduil listen to me,” Oropher said as he placed both of his hands on either side of Thranduil's face, “This is going to be a battle the likes of which we have not even seen in our worst nightmares. This is a battle where nobody is going to win.”
Thranduil was looking him deep in the eyes when he nodded and said, “I know that it is.”
“Then why will you not leave?” Oropher almost begged, the desperation his soul felt but mind refused to acknowledge leaking out with every syllable.
“Likely for the same reason that you will not,” Thranduil replied without needing a thought. Oropher could do nothing but stare at is son, but Thranduil starred back with the same burning determination, “Are you going to leave with me, Adar?”
Oropher just stared at him, because he know that Thranduil already knew the answer to that question. If this city was going to burn, then it was going to burn with him inside of it, “No,”
“Then how dare you even suggest I abandon our people,” Thrandil scolded.
“You will not be abandoning them,” Oropher tried, “But leading the vulnerable to a safe place where they will not be harmed.”
Thranduil was not swayed, “Somebody else can lead them to safety. I am content to lead them into battle, thank you.”
Oropher stared at his son, and Thranduil continued to stare back. Without warning, even to himself, Orpher was unable to stop the flood of tears that began to leak from his eyes in overwhelming numbers.
Thrandil was more shocked that perhaps Oropher had ever seen him, “Ada-”
Unable to finish his own question, Thranduil settled for drawing his father back in for a deep and loving embrace. Every inch of his heart going out to Oropher in an attempt to offer some sort of support, any sort of support that he could.