I'm on fire with posting these LOTR/Hobbit stories lately! This story will consist of a multitude of one-shots (drabbles?) not in chronological order (although the first few chapters will be in order); focussing mostly on the lives of elves in Greenwood (later Mirkwood), as well as the friendships they make.

Featuring Thranduil, Legolas, Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn, Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Haldir, hobbits, cats, horses, and a cast of OCs. (Some of my OCs also appear in some of my previous works).

Hope you enjoy :) and please do drop in a quick review at the end, I would love to know what you think!

Of Balrogs and Elflings

"Ada! Nana!"

The elven king groaned and abruptly sat up in his bed, startled by the young ball of energy that had came running in the middle of the night into his chambers. The young elf had dived and buried himself beneath the warm covers of the huge bed, the tiny body almost lost in the vast amount of fabric. Thranduil sighed and rested a soothing hand upon the trembling elf, pulling back the covers to reveal a head of golden and wide, bright blue eyes that were brimming with tears. The clash of thunder and lighting sounded through the palace and the young prince cried out in fear, scrambling back under the sheets. Thranduil gently rolled the little body over to face him and smoothed back his hair, careful not to wake his slumbering wife beside him and his newborn son, who was sleeping in the adjacent room.

"Little Leaf," Thranduil began and he pulled the prince into his arms. "Hush now! You are my brave warrior, are you not?"

Legolas sniffed and rubbed his eyes, giving his father a slight nod.

"Then why, penneth, does the storm frighten you so?"

"It's so loud, Ada!" the prince wailed.

"Hush, ion nin! Your mother is still weary from bringing your brother into this world and we must be careful not to wake her, do you understand?"

Legolas clamped his hand over his mouth and nodding vigorously, snuggled into his father's lap as Thranduil proceeded to rock him, hoping the motion would quickly lull the young elf to sleep. He glanced briefly at his wife and his shoulders sagged as he saw her eyes open, her expression immediately filling with concern.

"What is it my golden one?" Legolas turned his head at the sound of his mother's voice and instantly crawled into her arms. Thranduil chuckled wearily and stood to check on his newborn son nearby.

The queen of the Woodland Realm smiled gently and kissed her eldest son's brow. Her eyes narrowed when Legolas told her of his fright from the sounds of the storm occurring that night and she squeezed her arms around his little form.

"You have never been afraid of the weather like this before, Legolas," Queen Merilwen said, cupping the elfling's cheeks and wiping away his tears.

Legolas sniffled and pointed towards the doorway. "Master Glor – Glorfy – Glorfin – Gilorfindel -" Thranduil had just returned to the bedchamber and sniggered at the mispronunciation of the great elf lord's name. "Glorfindel told me the thunder is really the footsteps of a Balrog who comes to punish elflings if they don't go to sleep when they are told to!"

Thranduil could not contain the snort of amusement at hearing the child's words and Merilwen fought a smile as she stroked her son's soft blonde hair. "The thunder is simply the clashing of the clouds in the sky when they are heavy with water. Then the water is released to us as rain and cleanses the earth. It is a blessing, dear one."

Legolas' countenance brightened, but then he stiffened and jumped to his feet on the bed, causing the mattress to bounce slightly. "What about the lightning, Naneth? Master Glorfin said that it is the sword of a Balrog which means that if elflings don't fall asleep it will come and eat them!"

Merilwen could not stop the soft laughter that escaped from her mouth and she shared a loving yet amused look with Thranduil. "I think you will have to have a word with Lord Glorfindel next time we go to Imladris, and warn him of the consequences of scaring elflings," Merilwen said teasingly to her husband. The king rubbed his forehead and pulled the child into his grasp.

"I agree my dear," he replied as he bestowed a kiss on his son's cheek. "The Balrog slayer may be able to escape with telling such stories to other elflings, but not to young, mighty princes! Am I right, my brave warrior?"

Legolas peered up at his father and grinned. "So none of it is true?" he asked in a small voice, eyes round and hopeful. The queen rubbed his back and tucked the prince beneath the covers.

"Nay, it is all but the great lord's… interesting imagination," the queen laughed as she lay back down and wrapped her arms around Legolas. Thranduil smiled and sighed in contentment at the picture they made and tightened his hold on the young prince.

"Go to sleep now, ion nin," Thranduil whispered, his eyes twinkling in mischief. "Or the Balrog might just come and gobble you up!"

"Ada!"

"Thranduil!"

The king grinned sheepishly and attempted to console the squirming elf in his arms. Neither the king nor the queen attained sleep until the sun had risen above the tall forest trees, and the joyful chirping of birds eventually calmed the elf prince into a peaceful slumber.

Translations:

Ada (Dad/Daddy)
Nana (Mum/Mummy)
Penneth (child/young one)
Ion nin (my son)
Naneth (mother)
Imladris (Rivendell)