The hobbits were gathered together in the corner, excitedly sharing stories and laughing. Frodo, still a little weak from his recovery, leaned against the wall and simply listened, grinning hugely the whole time. For a while all the others could do was watch them, smiling in warm amusement. But after a while, when the hobbits showed no signs of slowing, they turned back to each other.

"You know something, it's as if the very air around me has grown lighter" Aragorn said to the others, who nodded.

"I felt that too, a great burden has been lifted from my heart" Legolas added.

"I feel that calls for a round of drinks!" Gimli declared, slapping an open hand on the table. Aragorn heartily agreed while Legolas rolled his eyes and shook his head in mock exasperation.

"We have laboured for many long days and nights, enduring great perils and terrors, to overcome the greatest evil Middle-earth has ever known and you call for drinks?"

"I did not labour hard for many long days and nights, enduring great perils and terrors, to overcome the greatest evil Middle-earth has ever known and not have a drink!" Gimli retorted, eyes widening in delight as the mugs of ale were delivered. He quickly seized one and hurriedly began to guzzle it back. Aragorn began to drink also, though unlike the dwarf he did not drink as if he had been lying in the desert for many days, dying of thirst. For the sake of the others Legolas took a mug also and tentatively began to sip at it. He could not sustain it, and screwed up his nose, setting the mug down. Once he had swiftly downed his mug, Gimli rubbed his mouth and gave a lusty belch, making Legolas grimace again, but his eyes belied the fact he did not really mind. The company were in such a good mood that they continued to drink, toasting many things. The success of their mission, then each individual battle. Boromir's life. Boromir's death. Boromir's family. Each of the hobbit's health and that of their families. As Aragorn and Gimli got gradually looser, they goaded Legolas into drinking along with them, and he noticed that he gradually got used to the taste, as he had in Edoras. Soon the ale began to run dry and different liquor was brought forth. Aragorn seized the amphorae and sloshed some into his mug, serving some to Gimli also. As soon as the smell hit him, Legolas recognised the rich red liquor.

"That is no ordinary wine! It is the juice of the Eleniel flower, or the flower of stars in the tongue of man"

"It is beautiful" Aragorn declared holding his cup up to Gimli who reciprocated the gesture. Both of them knocked back a mouthful. Aragorn clearly enjoyed it, though it was evident from Gimli's grimace that he did not.

"Altogether too rich and sweet for my taste. It has no fire in it" Gimli said in his brusque growl.

Aragorn said nothing but took another deep draught, grinning and wiping his beard.

"When I was a child, they told me strange tales of the potency of the Eleniel flower." Legolas told him.

"Such as what?"

"They used to say that it kept people young, kept the forces of age at bay. Some even drank it in order to peel back the fingers of the years, to de-age themselves as it were. According to the legends their plans backfired on them and they were reduced to wailing children"

"You'd better watch how you knock that elvish brew back laddie. You would'nae want to be reduced to a wailing child with no mother to come to your side" Gimli said, laughing

Aragorn laughed along with him "I'm sure you or Legolas would come to my aid" he said in jest, taking another draught of the wine.

"Not me laddie. I've never been one to tend to children"

"So the job falls to Legolas" Aragorn turned to the aforementioned elf "would you be my Nana (Mum/Mummy/Mama)Legolas?"

"It amazes me how quickly alcohol dull men's wits" Legolas said, feigning annoyance while Aragorn and Gimli laughed.

As the day went on and night began to fall, Gimli and Aragorn became drunker and drunker. Legolas' wits remained sharp as ever. He had stopped drinking long ago but even if he hadn't, he would still have been as sober as he started. It takes a lot to get an elf drunk. Eventually the night came to an end. The hobbits had long retired to their bedchambers and Gimli stumbled off alone. Aragorn however had to sit back down as soon as he rose, so giddy was he on his feet. Legolas took his arm and proceeded to bear him to his room. After the fourth time the man had swayed and trodden on his toes Legolas felt justified in making complaint.

"What possible reason you have to drinking away your dignity and causing yourself to reel about like a newborn lamb is beyond me"

"I want my Naneth (mother)" Aragorn slurred, giggling in a silly fashion.

"You don't need your mother, you need a crutch" Legolas said with displeasure but without malice.

Finally he reached Aragorn's bedchambers and was able to shake the man's weight from his shoulders. He wandered out of the room, down the corridor and out into the open air. There he stood for a moment, searching the heavens thoughtfully, taking slow deep breaths of the cool free air. There he remained, long into the night, until finally weariness took him and he retired.

Legolas sank into the mattress, grateful for this chance to rest. The bed was warm and clean, unlike the make shift beds he'd made do with on his journey. Though elves did not often need sleep his weary limbs and head cried out for it. It was an un-elvish indulgence but when for an eternity and a day you'd struggled to save the world from the greatest evil it's ever known, Legolas figured a little indulgence was called for. He'd cast off his worn cloak and scuffed boots, un-braided his hair and was ready to sink into sleep. And he would have, if not for his elf ears. With his keen hearing he alone heard the soft childish wail drifting down the halls. A young boy, by the sounds of it, calling for his mother in elvish. The only thing was it was coming from Aragorn's room. Legolas sat up, puzzled. He did not know how to react to the sound. But when the wail picked up into a cry of terror he did not hesitate. The paternal instinct he never knew he had kicked in and he knew he had to get to the source of that cry. Bare footed and cloakless, hair un-braided and streaming out behind him he was a strange spectacle as he ran down the hall ways. He threw Aragorn's door open and burst into the DĂșnadan's bed chambers. The sight that greeted him elicited an unbidden yelp in his throat. A small child laid thrashing in the bed, legs caught in the sheets. Legolas's memory of young Estel served him the knowledge of who this child was. It was Aragorn himself. The child, clearly caught in the throes of a nightmare, screamed.

"Naneth! Naneth! Tua amin!" Mamma! Mamma! Help me!

Legolas raced to his side. The boy awoke, eyes snapping open. He regarded the elven prince for a moment before throwing himself into his arms "Naneth!" he cried, clinging to Legolas and sobbing into his shoulder. Legolas wrapped his arms awkwardly around the boy, wondering if he had stumbled into a dream. But the boy's tight fists clutching his tunic, the warm little body pressed against him, the wet of his tears. It was all too real.

The boy thought he was his mother. Legolas didn't have the heart to contradict him.

"Lle tyava quel?" do you feel well? He stuttered, unsure what to say to the boy. The boy shook his head, nuzzling into Legolas' chest. "Lle anta yulna en alu?" Do you need a drink of water? Legolas asked, mentally smacking himself on the forehead. Again the boy shook his head. His eyes lulled. Legolas lay him back on his bed and covered him over with his blankets. Something made him bend down and kiss the boy's head. Suddenly the boy threw his little hands up and hugged Legolas's neck.

"Amin mela lle, Naneth" I love you, Mamma he said, smiling sweetly. Legolas' heart melted.

"Dina, A'maelamin, Lle anta kaim." Silence, my beloved. You need sleep.

The boy smiled and closed his eyes. Legolas slips into a chair near the boy's bed, resolved to watch over him. His eyes are wide and his heart thunders in his chest. He can't fathom what has just happens. He knows only one thing. This child is his friend Aragorn. And because of that, he will do all he can to keep the boy safe.