Disclaimer: I do not Own Lord of the Rings or its characters. I do own the ocs however.

AN: This will be slash or guy on guy in later chapters. If you don't like please don't read. Oh and lots of ocs will be in this story. Legolas will not be getting with any ocs however.

Legolas was beyond excited at the prospect of visitors. It wasn't often travelers from Imladris came to Mirkwood. He ran as fast as his little feet would take him. He would be most disappointed if he had missed them arriving. He noticed his Father in the hallway up ahead and was over joyed. He had not missed their visitors! Thranduil looked toward his youngest child with amusement.

"Why in such a rush, Ion-nin?"

Legolas came to a halt in front of his Father.

"I don't want to miss them Ada!"

Thranduil chuckled and scooped his youngest into his arms. Legolas wrapped his tiny arms around his Father's neck.

"The sun is just dawning, Ion Nin. It will be hours yet before they arrive."

This disappointed Legolas greatly for he was so looking forward to meeting their soon to be guests and hearing all about their adventures. A loud over done yawn was heard from just a little ways down the hall. Torthinuil, the second son, stood stretching. He grinned at both his Ada and little brother.

"Man am I starving! I think it must be time for breakfast don't you, Greenleaf?"

With a huge grin Legolas squirmed out of his Ada's arms and ran toward his brother. He very nearly knocked him over as he wrapped his arms tightly about his brother's legs.

"Toron, your back!"

He swept Legolas up and spun him around. Legolas' laughter was music to his hears after this last patrol. He had much to report to his Father but first to see to the distraction of their little greenleaf. He pulled him close only to have Legolas attack him with tiny ticklish fingers. He laughed loud and squirmed about to please his youngest brother.

"No, enough, toron. I am too weak from hunger to be able fight you back!"

He dramatically fell to the floor being most careful to make sure Legolas would simply land on top of him. Legolas sat on top of him most happy having won this little skirmish. Thranduil walked over smiling down at two of his children.

"I am glad to see you made it home safely. However never let it be said I starve my children. Come we will have breakfast, Ion-nins."

With Legolas' attention on their Father Torthinuil sneak attacked him and tickled him until he was red in the face. He then proceeded to throw him over his shoulder and faced their Father. He could see the amusement in his Father's eyes though many who did not know him would not have. He smiled at his Father.

"Shall we then?"

Legolas squirmed about and Torthinuil continued to tickle him randomly as they made their way to the dining room. Already there was the rest of their beloved family. Firindal, the oldest of Thranduil's children and Heir, stood close to the head of the table. As he looked toward them his normally sever look grew softer. Hondolar, the fourth child but third son, was sitting a book open upon his lap. He stood as they walked in and also seemed relieved. Lirilandwa, second child and only daughter, immediately rushed forward tears in her eyes to hug her returned brother. Afterwards she gently took Legolas from him.

"Tor's come home!" announced Legolas.

As if the others had yet to notice. A chuckle, a soft pat on Legolas' head and everyone was taking their seats about the table. Breakfast was served right away and Legolas decide this was going to be a very good day. They were going to have important visitors, his brother had come home, and now they were serving his favorite honeyed bread rolls!

"Torthinuil, Ion-nin, I have heard from some of the other mahtar in your patrol. Would you like to speak of it?"

Torthinuil sighed but put his fork down and looked to their Father. He did not want to speak about what had happened but this was not just his Father, this was his King and he had a duty to his King to tell him all.

"Everything was fine at first. A small sighting here or there but nothing we could not handle. It was on our way to the last checkpoint that it happened. We were ambushed. Rushed upon by a group of too well armed orcs. We had no choice but to engage in battle with them. We were out number but doing well to lessen that quickly. That's when I heard Yevalan cry out in fear. I turned quickly but…"

He was feeling a bit choked up here. It was all flashing before his eyes once more. The screams and blood of his fellow mahtar. The smell of the shadow all around. A small hand snapped him out of it and he looked down into a worried pair of small blue eyes. He tried to smile to reassure Legolas he was fine. He looked back to his Father.

"I was too late. We were so distracted by the orcs that we didn't notice the liante until it was too late. They dragged away a few of us and the orcs made it impossible to stop them. After the battle a number of us were injured or taken by the liante. I decide then to track them and see if I could rescue any still alive."

"That was very dangerous, Ion-nin."

"I know but I would not have been able to live with myself other whys. Dawinthin and Gorenlal both volunteered to come with. We found them after a day's tracking. Dawinthin and I distracted the liante while Gorenlal went after our fallen comrades."

He tried to ignore the narrowing of Firindal's eyes or the horrified gasp of their sister's. He picked Legolas up and sat him in his lap. A reassurance for himself this time.

"You obviously were successful." stated Thranduil.

He too did not seem pleased by this but said no more than that.

"Yes, we were able to rescue Rathorlen and Talawe. It was too late for Yevalan however."

He had known Yevalan almost all of his life. They had trained together. The others too looked grief stricken by this news. All but Legolas that was. He was just confused.

"I don't understand," he questioned.

Lirilandwa burst into tears and rushed into Hondolar's arms for comfort. This only confused Legolas more however. Why was everyone so sad? Hondolar with an arm full of sister looked to his baby brother.

"Yevalan has gone to be with Nana and so we will not get to see him again for a long while."

Tears started to bubble up for Legolas did not want Yevalan to go. He played with him out in the gardens and brought him candies. He told him stories of the human towns he's been too. A sob made its way to his throat and he started to cry in earnest.

"No! He can't go! Tell him he can't Ada!"

Thranduil's heart grieved for the fallen warrior but more so for his children. Torthinuil looked so broken by this.

"The liante was after me but the stupid fool stepped in the way. It should have been me," he whispered.

It broke his heart to hear the guilt in his son's voice. This only made Legolas sob harder though and cling to his brother.

"No, you can't leave too. Please don't leave Legolas, toron!"

The sorrow in his voice shook Torthinuil to the core and he held his brother close to him. He rubbed soothing circles on his back.

"I'm not leaving, titta lasse."

Thranduil came around the table and took both his children into his arms. It had an immediate effect. Legolas calmed down and it made them both feel so much safer. Torthinuil held to his Father for a moment taking strength from his embrace.

"I am sorry for the loss, Ion-nin but I am also most grateful to him. I will have to think of a way to thank him properly next we meet."

That made him chuckle a bit and wipe his eyes.

"I can think of a few ways. Such as a bottle of your best."

That brought at least small smiles to their faces. Just then Orathorlen or Thorlen for sort came bustling in. He froze at the sight of the royal family tear streaks down their faces.

"My Lord is everything alright!?"

He looked to his children and patted Torthinuil's shoulder.

"No Thorlen but it will be. What is it you needed?"

"The party from Imladris has been spotted but a little ways out, my Lord."

Thank you so much for reading this! I hope you enjoyed it. Please review I need the support to continue writing

Ion-nin: my son

Ada: dad or daddy

toron: brother

mahtar: warrior

liante: spider or spiders

titta: little

lasse: leaf