Time frame: Legolas is a little kid, probably about four.
A/N: Congrats! You made it through Chapter 1, which I realize was probably extremely difficult to do if you had never read the Silmarillion. Never fear, that is probably the most "If you haven't read the Silmarillion, nothing herein will make sense" chapter I'll have. And hopefully you enjoyed it nonetheless, if you read it. And if you just skipped over it to get to Legolas, just know that I don't blame you :) Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! LalaithElerrina, Gwen Eruanna, and Crookneck, my many thanks. Remember, this story is fed by reviews. I love them, as do the characters. Many of them are a bit shy, and don't really want their diaries to be posted...Thankfully, Legolas wasn't quite so bashful. But who knows? Mayhaps reviews will be able to convince the others that they do want to post! Most importantly, though, I hope that you enjoy!
~Legolas~
Three-year-old Legolas toddled into his father's magnificent throne room, short legs churning. He dodged between the legs of the courtiers standing there, accidentally bumping into knees and ankles in his rush. More than one elf that dayc bored and exhausted from standing for all the many hours required of the council hearings, were interrupted from their tedious musings only to look down and catch a glimpse of white-blonde hair darting past at knee height.
The crown prince clambered up onto the dais unimpeded, the guards watching him with amusement and letting him pass unquestioned. As soon as he had reached the top of the platform, Legolas was dashing toward his father's throne.
Thranduil, shocked to see his son - who was supposed to be safely in his nurse's care - automatically bent to scoop up his wayward child, what he had been in the midst of saying dying on his lips.
To Thranduil's surprise, Legolas twisted, neatly evading his father's hands and squirming beneath his father's throne.
Now truly worried, Thranduil leaned over and peered into the space between the legs, unconscious of the fact that the entire hall was watching the dais with more interest than had been garnered all day.
"Legolas? My son? Are you well?" Thranduil asked worriedly.
"Shhhhh..." The child's frantic shushing rang through the entire cavern, as did his next words. "You'll give me away Ada," he whispered reproachfully.
"Give you away? To who...?"
"To the goblins!" Legolas replied in earnest.
"Goblins?" Thranduil asked, still at a loss.
"Yeeessssss..."
"And what-" Thranduil was cut off as a frantic looking elleth dashed into the Throne Room, eyes wide and chest heaving as if she had been running.
A high pitched squeal issued from beneath the Elvenking's throne, and an instant later, a small, blonde-haired elfling darted out from the safety of the small space, all the while screeching "SHE FOUND ME, SHE FOUND ME!"
The elleth skid to a halt before the dais, her eyes following the path of her retreating charge before snapping back to look at her king.
"My lord," she gasped.
Thranduil lifted a hand, silencing her, a small smile gracing his lips. He canted his head to one side in the general direction that his son had taken.
"You may wish to go after him," the Elvenking grinned, "Else your elfling lunch will escape." A panicked squeak issued from somewhere at the back of the hall.
The nurse blushed but smiled, curtsied respectfully, and then turning she took off after the young prince, growling and screeching nonsense words as she went.
Silence fell as the two escaped the throne room, and for a long moment no one moved.
"Well," Thranduil announced, bringing his hands together, "Shall we continue?"
Somehow, the rest of the hearing did not seem quite so long or painful.