A Prince Is Born

In the year 845 of the Third Age, Greenwood the Great rejoiced. King Thranduil beyond the river and Queen Malnarthan Golden Beacon were gifted a second child, their second son. He was brought kicking and screaming into the world one cool spring day as the breeze blew through the open window of the Healer's Talan. The small pink infant was named Legolas by his mother so he would always remember the green leaves of the forest, the leaves of his home. His elder brother Thalion hero entered the room by his father's side, eager to see his new brother. Even though he was superior by some 49 years, Thalion was looking forward to some company, although the little Prince would not be old enough to spar for some years.

"Suilad Naneth greetings Mother, how do you feel?" His mother smiled weakly, pleased her son welcomed his new brother,

"Tired, but it has been worth it. Come here Thalionnen my hero. Meet your little brother, Legolas." Thalion looked at the small red face wrapped in a green cloth. Big, grey-blue eyes stared back at him and held his gaze. Thalion was struck by those eyes, like deep pools of water, but there was a cheeky glint in there too. This baby would grow up to be trouble, his brother thought.

"Nana Mum, could I hold him? I will be careful." Malnarthan smiled; pleased her elder son was so interested,

"Of course Thalion. Just be gentle and support his head like this." She held out the infant to Thalion who took him in his arms cradling Legolas to his chest as he had seen his mother do. Thalion wrapped Legolas tighter in the cloth subconsciously, but an action his proud mother did not miss. Malnarthan looked at her firstborn, but saw he had more to say, "What is it ionnen my son?"

"He is so little Nana, so helpless. I will look after him. Always. Gweston sír le ah Adar I swear today to you and father." Malnarthan looked at Thranduil who stood proudly by the door. She had not seen him smile so much since she first told him she loved him. Their little hero was no longer quite so little. Suddenly Legolas gurgled, squirmed in his brother's lap and reached his hands up to his brother. Thalion gasped, "Why did he do that?" Malnarthan gave a small laugh,

"He likes you Thalion. He will always look up to you, you know." The elf smiled at this and then kissed his mother and little brother before handing the baby back and leaving the room to tell everyone about his new little brother. Thranduil side-stepped out of his son's way and sat on the edge of his wife's bed. He saw how tired she was, but a light shined from her face and filled the room. Malnarthan began to feed Legolas who suckled eagerly while his father stroked the fine wisps of blonde hair on his son's head. He already knew who his son looked like, he looked like Thranduil's own father Oropher, who had been king of the forest before him. Oropher had fallen in battle before the Black Gates of Mordor. Thranduil shook those thoughts and image from his mind and pushed them back to where they had been for the past 850 years. This was not the time or place for such thoughts. He needed to concentrate on his wife and child,

"Melethen My love is there anything you need? Can I send for some food?" Malnarthan dragged her attention from her baby to her husband,

"I would like to return to our rooms, but I suppose that is impossible. I would feel much better amongst surroundings I know."

"Now, now Malnarthan, you know the healers like to keep all the new mothers here for a while to make sure everything is as it should be."

"But Thranduil, I am not a new mother, I have been doing this for 49 years already. I know what is best for my son." Thranduil sighed. He did not like having to overrule the healers in his palace, especially not for his family, but he did not want his wife's worrying affecting the baby. A quiet word in the ear of a sympathetic elf was all it needed. The Queen was moved back to the talan she shared with Thranduil. Thalion would live with them for another year until he came of age at 50, when he would be crowned his father's heir and then a suitable place would be found for the new Crown Prince to have his own flet.

Legolas' infancy was not a pleasant one for his family. He would cry and cry at nights and his poor mother despaired with him. The only one he seemed to respond to was his brother. Thalion became used to walking round and round the flet and sometimes up and down the stairs leading to it with a little Legolas in his arms sucking on his thumb and watching his brother silently from behind those big eyes as he sang to him or told him stories from history. Even once Thalion had come of age and he had left his parents' apartment and lived in a separate one not all that far away he could still hear the cries of his brother and often went to help his mother and father calm the baby.

One hot night in late summer it was almost dawn and not a single member of the royal family had slept. Legolas was now three years old and some nights he would sleep soundly, but the sticky, muggy air kept him awake as he tossed and turned in bed. He would not even suffer being picked up because being close to another person just made him hotter and grumpier. They had had enough. Thalion knelt down to be eye to eye with his brother,

"Are you hot and tired, tithintor little brother?" Legolas poked his fingers towards his brother and nodded, "So am I Legolas, so am I," Thalion mused. "Would you come for a walk with me, I know somewhere nice and cool where we could go, if Ada agrees?" Legolas sat up in bed and looked at his brother as if Thalion had just given him a great pot of gold,

"Yes please, Thalion." Legolas flopped out of bed and Thalion put a little tunic on Legolas. Legolas had not been walking securely for long, but Thalion knew he could stumble his way about the wood quite happily.

"Where are you taking him Thalion?" His father asked.

"Near the river father," Thalion said, his eyes not leaving their task of dressing his brother, "if you agree, that is."

"I would agree to anything Thalion, if only he would rest." Both parents wrung their hands with worry, Legolas needed rest. He had not developed the ability to rest during the day and so he needed to sleep the human way, albeit with his eyes open.

"Come on then tithintor. We shall go and explore." Legolas put his little hand in Thalion's and waddled towards the door of his room, "Go to bed Naneth, Adar. If this does not settle him then he can stay with me tonight. At least some of us will get some rest then." The King and Queen thanked him and retired.

Legolas had gone to the edge of the Royal Talan and stopped at the top of the stairs. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and sank to the floor looking up at his brother. Thalion picked him up to carry him down the long stairs to forest floor. They had gone a little way when Legolas took his fingers out of his mouth and stuck them into his brother's cheeks and then his ear,

"Legolas, you do not do that!" Legolas sniffed at the harsh sound of his brother's voice and his lip quavered. Thalion noticed and had to act fast if he did not want to wake up half the Halls, "Hush penneth little one, I did not mean to be horrid. You just shocked me." Legolas lip stopped quivering, but he continued to sniff. Thalion shifted Legolas in his arms and held him closer to him, "Legolas you must not touch the ears of other elves, 'tis not the way of our people."

"Would Ada be angry if I touched his ear?" Legolas asked sweetly, looking at his brother as if all the secrets of the world had been revealed to him.

"Yes penneth, he would be very angry. Here we are, safely at the bottom, will you walk?" Legolas nodded and allowed Thalion to put him on the ground. The soft mud felt cool against his hot feet and Legolas grasped his brother's hand,

"As angry as he was when I hurt Eldirn?"

"Yes thithtor, you should never strike a lady. It is not the way a prince should behave."

"But she took my lembas! And she s not a lady, she is a baby." Legolas sulked and took his hand from his brother's,

"Legolas there is plenty more lembas in this forest, you did not have to have that piece. You are a prince Legolas; people will look to you to set an example. You should behave accordingly." Legolas did not look too impressed at this and shuffled his foot in the earth creating ridges and troughs with his toes. His little pink tongue poked out of the side of his mouth as he tried to write his name in the earth with his big toe. Once he had managed a slightly eschew and crude rendering of "Legolas" in Tengwar, he looked up at his brother,

"Sing me a song Thalion, please?" Thalion took his little brother's hand,

"When we get to the river Legolas, I will sing you a song." Legolas smiled broadly at Thalion and toddled off beside him. They soon reached the river and Legolas threw himself in between two crooks of a great tree that went down into the quiet water. Thalion settled himself next to Legolas, leaning on one of the tree's outstretched limbs,

"A song Thalion, a song! You promised." Legolas looked at his brother hopefully,

"Very well Legolas. I will sing you part of the Lay of Leithian. This is the part of the story where Lúthien and Beren, and elf and a mortal who were in love went into the stronghold of Morgoth to try and take one of the beautiful Silmarils from his crown of iron." Legolas smiled, he liked this story, his father had told it to him once, while his mother looked on and told him off for scaring the young elf. Thalion did not have a remarkable voice, but he sang the lay in a clear and strong voice and Legolas was enchanted. It had never been sung to him before and he was soon enchanted by the rise and fall of the melody line. Legolas began to feel sleep rise up inside him and he shifted down into the soil which moulded softly round his body creating a soft and cool cot. A combination of the cool breeze off the water and the soothing sounds of his brother's voice soon lulled him into a deep sleep.

Thalion finished the verse he was on as Morgoth fell into a deep sleep, soothed by the voice of Lúthien, and so did his little brother. He pushed a strand of blonde hair from Legolas' face and tucked it gently behind his ear. Thalion smiled as his brother slept, watching him rest until dawn came and the songs of the waking birds roused Legolas and he carried a dirty, but well rested little elf back to his parents in their talan.

As Legolas grew he learnt to rest himself in living dreams, but still his nights were uncomfortable, especially during the heat of summer. Always he would find himself with Thalion on these restless nights and together the brothers began to explore the area around the Royal Talan and the neighbouring flets and houses that made up the main hub of the Greenwood. One night they stumbled upon a group of Silvan folk merrymaking in the forest. Legolas was so excited by the music and dancing that Thalion had to drag him away from the swaying figures in the forest clearing. He did not think the King and Queen would appreciate him leading his young brother astray. Legolas was fascinated by the whole experience and a great desire to join the group filled him. It would be a desire that would get him into trouble more than once in the future.

One of Legolas' problems when he was growing up was that his playmates were scared of his position and so was he. He had no idea what it meant to be a prince; all he knew was that it made people treat him differently. Another problem was that he worshipped his brother. Thalion was good at everything he turned his hand to and Thranduil praised him greatly while brushing Legolas' small achievements aside. Legolas craved his father's attention, but somehow Thalion's accomplishments managed to over shadow him. When Legolas had learnt to ride by first breaking in the horse he had been given he had been elated, but that was the day Thalion had won one of the archery competitions. The silverware Thalion had was far more impressive than the bruises Legolas had from being kicked by the initially stubborn horse and that night, as in many others, he was passed over in favour of his elder brother.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery and that is what Legolas did. If Thalion was the one who got all the praise then Legolas thought it would be the logical thing to do to be like Thalion and maybe he would get some attention. Once, when Thalion went out hunting with his friends and a couple of guards they shot and caught deer which they roasted publicly and ate, giving food to anyone who passed. Legolas had started archery and he was determined he could do the same. His friends were too scared of what Legolas could do to them to say no and he went out one morning at dawn. By dusk Thranduil had received a string of visits from worried parents and when darkness was drawing in he sent out some of his soldiers to search for his son. The search did not take long as the trail was easy to follow. The guards found Legolas and his companions seated round a small fire to keep warm, all lost, cold and scared out of their wits with their horses grazing idly on the grass near to the fire.

They were led back to Thranduil who had gathered all the parents together to wait for the children and he made Legolas publicly apologise to all of them for being "stupid enough to believed he could go out on a hunt without proper provisions or the skill" as Thranduil put it. Legolas was then taken back to the Royal Talan by his father and lectured on the responsibility that his position as a prince held. It was a speech that Thranduil gave and would give him often as he grew. Whenever he was making decisions Legolas would think about his father and what he would say before deciding what to do. He wanted to do right by Thranduil, he always did, but somehow Legolas could never please him. Thranduil's voice ran through Legolas' dreams as he rested, reverberating in his skull and weaving their way into the fibre of his being. The speech usually began with the story of his grandfather,

"When my father came south he found the people of the Greenwood a tribal, lawless people. They lived lives in little groups and did little to help each other. He showed them how they could all live together and be a happier people with more of the things they wanted. They respected him and took him as their king. Legolas, many of those people are still living here, some deep in the forest, but they are here. I, we, owe it to them to keep this forest protected so they can live in the simple peace they have had for hundreds of years. They trusted my father completely with their future and now they trust me, and in turn they will look to you to set the example."

After this would come some anecdote about one of his grandfather's great accomplishments and it would move on to Thranduil talking about his early childhood after his father had settled in the Greenwood. When he thought he had suitably shamed Legolas by forcing him to face up to his heritage Thranduil would move onto Legolas specific mistake or mistakes of the day and tell him exactly how he was not living up to his responsibilities or endangering the lives of his people. This was either by possibly leading them into a death trap or by forcing Thranduil to pull his soldiers from guard duty to march off after his wayward son. More often that not the speech would end with Thranduil saying,

"We never had this trouble with your brother. Your poor mother, she worried herself to distraction when you do things like this Legolas."

The strange thing about this was the Legolas did not resent his brother for the attention and praise he received, in fact he loved him more and spent as much time with Thalion as he could get. After being completely humiliated Legolas would usually go to his brother for comfort. Thalion would sit with him in a sitting room in his flet while Legolas poured his heart out to him about wanting to make his father proud of him, how the harder he tried the less Thranduil thought of him and how all Legolas wanted to be was like his brother. Thalion sighed and told Legolas that his father did not want two sons the same and Legolas had to find out who he was, their father would love Legolas no matter what he did. When Legolas was younger he believed that, but the older he got the easier it became for him to hide what he was feeling and to push down the great cry that always threatened to surface during these times. Sometimes, if Thranduil had chastised Legolas before sundown Thalion would take him out to the archery range or teach him to wield a long knife. Initially Thalion had tried to get Legolas to use a sword, but he just could not get his brother to move correctly with it in his hand. Legolas' arm became stiff and he no longer moved with any fluidity so Thalion moved him onto the knife. These were the times in his childhood that Legolas cherished the most. He revelled in the positive attention he was given and Legolas loved the warmth that praise gave his heart. He made mistakes, of course, but Thalion made light of them, laughing even and Legolas laughed too. He visited these times frequently in his dreams and they lightened the dark times for Legolas in the many years to come.

However joyous Legolas' time with Thalion was, all good things must come to an end and so it did. When Legolas was in his twenty-fifth year Thalion, his brother, and to be brutal, his only close friend, was married to a beautiful she-elf named Eiliant rainbow by his brother. Legolas was confused by how one moment an elf could be known by one name and another by something completely different. One evening when he was sat talking to his mother Legolas asked why. Malnarthan smiled and said,

"Ionnen, you know that when elves are born they are given two names, their essi, one from their father and one from their mother," Legolas nodded, aware of the truly horrid name his father had given him. "Well sometimes friends or loved ones give you another name, an epessë. Take Lady Galadriel as an example. Her mother-name was Nerwen and her father-name was Artanis, but when Lord Celeborn fell in love with her he called her Galadriel. These names are always the most special because they are given by those that love you and know you the best." Legolas nodded again as he took in this information. "Your brother first fell in love when he saw her dancing under one of the waterfalls singing and laughing. He did not know who she was but in his mind he called her Eiliant because of the rainbows created around her by the spray of the water. Your brother watched her and followed as she ran through the forest laughing and calling to the birds. When he had caught up with her enough to call to her he called to her 'Eiliant! Eiliant!' and she stopped and turned to him puzzled by the name he used for her. He explained and the name stuck and now they are to be married," his mother finished smiling, so happy for her son. Legolas thought this through, and it seemed like a strange thing to do. Were not two names enough for someone? Did they have to have a third?

Legolas had enjoyed the wedding and the feast after. Legolas and Sadron faithful-one, one of his playmates, had stolen a bottle of the very potent Dorwinion wine wood elves were so fond of and hidden themselves in the royal family's private garden. Secreted behind a large bush Legolas uncorked the bottle and they both got their first taste of the strong liquid. After only a couple of sips the colour heightened in both their cheeks and they began to giggle uncontrollably at the slightest thing around them. When messengers from Thranduil came to look for them the two clapped their hands over their mouths and bit down on their tongues to stop their laughter peeping out. It did not work and soon their mirth was heard ringing throughout the small garden and two pairs of hands took them firmly by the collars of their clothes and carried the quickly sobering elves to the King.

Thranduil saw the two guards enter and quickly excused himself from the conversation he as in and caught Heledir Kingfisher, Sadron's father's attention,

"Legolas, Sadron, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Thranduil asked. Both elves looked suitably shameful and both their fathers were stern and unyielding. "I am ashamed of both your behaviours. I expected better of you Legolas. You know you are not supposed to drink this, " Thranduil brandished the bottle in their faces. Heledir took his son by the arm and in a voice soft, but rippling with anger, said,

"Sadron, I am sadden and deeply hurt. I thought we have taught you to behave better than this, sneaking off and drinking like a firion mortal man. You are to come with me now. Say good night to the King." Sadron felt his cheeks redden once more, but this time with shame. He bowed he head and bowed to Thranduil, muttering his goodbyes. He dared not look at Legolas.

That night Legolas was sent back to the Royal Talan under guard. Two soldiers were then posted on his door and another pair at the foot of the tree. Legolas was giving severe talking to by his father about disobeying his instructions and leading impressionable young elves astray. It was not until Legolas had been effectively put under house-arrest for the next fortnight that Thranduil decided he was neglecting his guests and his son and daughter-in-law that he returned to the feast.

During the two weeks Legolas was pushed to the limits of his tolerance. Many times he had tried to guess the height of the tree and whether he could jump to the ground without injuring himself. It was spring and he longed to be outside frolicking in the piles of blossom and playing under the new green leaves of the wood. He watched the other young elves play and then at night he watched the older elves taking torches and instruments deep into the wood to go merrymaking in the new-found warm weather. To ease his suffering his mother had given Legolas a selection of books to read but these could not hold his attention for long. Legolas longed to be active. He wanted to be out in the forest, not stuck in the talan, but as his father continually reminded him, it was his own fault.

The fortnight passed slowly, but eventually it came to an end and Legolas was free once more. His father released him from his prison late in the evening on a hot early summer night. All Legolas could think about was getting out and seeing his brother. He had sorely missed Thalion's company during his imprisonment because he was the only person who did not treat him either as a young elfling which he no longer was or as the Prince of Greenwood who must be obeyed. Thalion was a teacher, a guardian and a friend all rolled into one. As Legolas pulled on his light shoes, Malnarthan looked up from her work and said,

"Legolas, ion nîn my son, where are you going?"

"Naneth," Legolas said with the greatest of patience, "I am going to see Thalion. Surely you do not expect me to stay inside again this evening after fourteen inside the talan?" Malnarthan sighed,

"Legolas, I do not think that Thalion will have much time for you in the night now." Legolas was confused. His mother continued with the most tact she could muster, "Thalion is most likely busy with Eiliant, Legolas. He has other things to attend to now."

"But I like Eiliant and she likes me!" Legolas clearly was not getting the message. Malnarthan saw this was high time for the father-son talk given to all young elves otherwise she could see Legolas storming over to Thalion's flet at the most inopportune times in the future. She was overjoyed with the way her sons loved each other, but she remembered what it was like to be a newlywed and knew Thalion would not appreciate the interruption; Legolas or not. Thranduil was called and Legolas was taught the most valuable of all information.

Thranduil shifted uncomfortably and then Legolas did. Thranduil cleared his throat and Legolas looked at him suspiciously. Thranduil stood up and moved to a chair opposite Legolas instead of being next to him on the bed. Legolas shifted again as Thranduil frowned severely at him. Thranduil saw this and said,

"Legolas you are not in trouble. There is no need to look so worried. Your mother wanted me to talk to you about what happens when you fall in love." Legolas pulled a face. He had seen the saccharine looks Thalion had been giving Eiliant for over a year, he did not want to hear all about it but Thranduil did not give him any choice. "I remember when I fell in love with your mother. All I could think about were ways to see her and to be with her." Thranduil smiled dreamily as he thought back to long ago when he had first met his wife in the court of his father. "The day she told me she loved me was the happiest of my life. We were dancing in the forest and it felt like our feet were barely touching the ground. As we passed out of view of everyone else she said to me, 'Thranduil Oropherion, if you do not ask me to marry you soon I swear that I…'" Thranduil stopped and Legolas said,

"What did she say, Adar?" Legolas said, feeling that that was the sort of response his father wanted. Thranduil gave Legolas a grin that he had never seen before,

"She did not get the chance. I kissed her." Legolas pulled a face and Thranduil chuckled at his reaction. "I asked her father for permission to marry her and we exchanged our silver rings at a big feast in a glade in the forest. You remember, your brother did that a year ago too." Legolas nodded, bored with the conversation. "And then a year later we pledged our love together in a ceremony in the forest and started to form the unbreakable bond between us." Legolas looked at his father in the hope that the conversation was over, but Thranduil shifted in the chair and said slowly, "It is how this bond is completed that your mother wishes I speak to you about." Legolas felt his father's nervousness from across the room. It was not like Thranduil to get nervous talking to Legolas, he had always seemed so sure, so angry. Legolas hoped his father would finish soon and let the awkwardness pass but still he continued, "After the wedding ceremony and the feast, the husband and wife leave their guests and go to their home for their first night together." Thranduil ran his fingers through his hair and scratched at the back of his neck as a red flush spread about his cheeks. He stood up and Legolas breathed a sigh of relief, "Stay here. I will not be long."

Legolas flopped backwards, arms spread out on the bed, and screwed his eyes tight willing the situation not to go any further. His father's and his embarrassment was acute and it would just be better if Thranduil did not say anything more. Legolas lay still for a while listening to the blood rush through his ears and the pounding of his heart. It calmed him and the previous conversation drifted from his mind. That was until Legolas heard his door open and his father's light steps come in. Legolas sat back up quickly and father's walked quickly towards him, a book in his outstretched hand, "Here, this should explain everything." The thin volume was thrust into Legolas' hand and his father walked out as quickly as he had returned.

Legolas shuffled backwards on the bed and crossed his legs. He settled the book on his knees and with a mixture of eager curiosity and fearful trepidation opened it to the first page. The book had been hand-written by a healer many years ago and the pages were yellow and some of the ink had smudged. Legolas read the entire first page in a half-whisper. It was an exhortation on waiting until marriage for the joining of two bodies intimately. Legolas did not understand quite what that meant but turning the page he was greeted with a detailed drawing of exactly what this involved. Paling, Legolas turned the page again and with a strange fascination read the details of a section entitled 'How To Find the Greatest Pleasure'.

Just as he had finished the book Legolas heard his mother return from her evening stroll around where they lived. She spoke in a whisper to her husband, but Legolas could still hear,

"Did you talk to him? Did you tell him?"

"I gave him a book," Thranduil answered matter-of-factly.

"You did what?" Malnarthan cried. "Really Thranduil, I am disappointed. You managed to tell Thalion."

"Yes well Thalion is different." Malnarthan let out an exasperated noise at her husband, then something dawned on her,

"Where did you get this book Thranduil?"

"Well muin dear, it belonged to my father once. He showed it to me when I was an elfling."

"Oh no Thranduil. You go right back in there this minute and tell him properly! Go on!" Legolas could hear his mother pushing his father's reluctant feet across the wooden floor of the talan. Thranduil was preparing himself for possibly the most embarrassing conversation of his life when the door to Legolas' room opened in front of him. He saw his son pale-faced and saucer-eyed, book in hand. Legolas handed it back to Thranduil and gaped for a moment at his parents, his gaze going from one to the other, back and forth. Suddenly Legolas collected himself and muttered,

"Walk," under his breath. He was down the steps from the talan as if a host of orcs was snarling at his heels.