Note: Not my characters! I've decided on a compromise for Elrond's age- I'm making him 8000 years old during LOTR. This takes place way before that, however. Legolas is going to remain a child during this fic, but the sequel will have slash in it. I do not like little Elves being with older Elves… *shakes head to that* Yes, there is child abuse in this fic, but nothing graphic.

What's In A Name?

Part 2

Elrond Half-Elven was not often taken by surprise, but this was a rare exception. He gaped at the beautiful, blond-haired child who was snuggled in his arms. Pity went through him, for King Thranduil of Mirkwood was a hard Elf, and very demanding in his childrens' lives.

This… baby, as Legolas was compared to Elrond's far greater age, was no match for whatever his father might do to him. Elrond wished that it was not so, for this little one was sweet and trusting. The half Elf knew that Thranduil would twist the innocent child and make him the same as his other children currently were.

Galadriel turned a slightly compassionate look on the husband of her daughter. 'I can see that you did not know this, Elrond. Legolas is the son of Thranduil, and he is a very special child. As well as a burden to his father.'

'How could he be a burden to his father?' Elrond questioned finally. 'He is… innocent. I would that I had such innocence, for I have seen many things that removed my own.'

'The King of Mirkwood cannot be bothered to care for his youngest child,' Galadriel told him, her face impassive once more. 'Though it is a pity.'

Elrond knew this to be true. The little one blindly trusted anyone, whether or not they were worthy of trust. The tiny, pale hand still clung to Elrond's dark hair, just enough to reassure the child that he was safe. Thranduil is a fool, Elrond thought. Legolas should be nurtured and protected until he reached maturity, not cast aside because he was small.

The half Elf finally said, 'I know. I myself do not understand an Elf having little ones if he is not prepared to care for them as he should and protect them from harm.'

'It is not ours to cast judgment, Elrond,' Galadriel said, a slightly disapproving tone in her voice.

Elrond nodded. 'If that is all, Lady Galadriel, I will join my own children at the feast.'

Galadriel nodded silently. 'Be warned; Thranduil may demand that you return his son. He is Legolas' father and should be obeyed in that matter.'

Elrond nodded once more, before he turned and carried the sleeping child into the dining hall. His dark eyes scanned around the room, before he saw Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir. The Elven lord made his way over to them.

Many tables, covered with a white cloth and silver containers of food, had been set up. Elven servants placed the food on the shining, silver plates for the noble Elves. Candles were everywhere, to enhance the natural light of Lothlorien. The room was large to look at, and the gathered Elves were a sight to behold.

Glorfindel was relieved to see Elrond finally. He opened his mouth to question Elrond, but the Elven lord shook his head. He mouthed, 'Later.'

Glorfindel nodded. 'I see you still have your little friend, Elrond.' He glanced at the young one, who shifted in his sleep and moved his little arms around Elrond's neck.

Elrond turned a soft smile at the sleeping child. 'Indeed.' No matter if Thranduil was his father or not, Elrond could not help growing more and more fond of this child, though they had only just met.

'Do you want me to get you some food?' Glorfindel questioned

Elrond nodded. He normally would not agree, but carrying both Legolas and his food would be nigh to impossible. And he didn't want to awaken the boy. 'If you please, Glorfindel. And maybe some food that he can eat, for I believe that the smell might wake him.'

Glorfindel stood, after pushing his seat back. The blond Elf assisted Elrond in sitting carefully, so as not to wake the child, before Glorfindel left the table and went to get some food for his Elven lord. A smile was on his face, for he knew that Elrond had a weakness. A weakness for naturally caring about little ones.

Elladan and Elrohir stared curiously at the blond-haired boy, who looked quite young. They were used to their father 'rescuing' other children, for Elrond was known to be quite fond of Elven children.

'Who is he, father?' Elladan questioned.

Elrond looked at his son and smiled. He didn't mind showing open affection to his children, even in public. 'His name is Legolas, Elladan.'

'He's my son,' Thranduil said coldly.

Elrond turned to face the Elven King. He had not heard Thranduil approach, for it was very noisy in the room. 'So I heard,' he said, no emotion in his voice.

Thranduil frowned. 'Give him to me, half Elf,' he said, menace in his voice. He didn't want Elrond corrupting his son, even though he was just a brat and a nuisance

Legolas whimpered and clung tighter to Elrond. His eyes showed that he was still asleep, however. But he seemed to know that his father was near and was afraid.

Elrond gently rubbed the boy's back and looked at Thranduil. He chose his words carefully. 'What if he screams and disturbs the silence again, King Thranduil? The other Elves would not be pleased at all.' The half Elf was using Thranduil's pride against him, for he would not want his son to disrupt the mourning feast.

Thranduil frowned thoughtfully. He truly disliked the half Elf, but his words made sense. And then Thranduil wouldn't have to be responsible if Legolas did cause more problems. The boy was such a burden. 'Fine,' the Elven King snapped in a low voice. 'You take care of him, and keep him quiet. But you will not corrupt him by telling him what you think of me! Is that understood?'

Elrond nodded in agreement. 'Of course. Shall I return him to you when you depart for your kingdom?' the Elven lord questioned. He kept his expression impassive, knowing that if any of his secret triumph was seen, Thranduil wouldn't hesitate to snatch the boy way.

'Yes. I depart in the morning,' Thranduil said, before he turned and stalked away.

Elrond gently stroked the blond head, relieved when the hard King of Mirkwood finally left. Pity was in Elrond's heart, for he was certain now of what Galadriel had told him about Legolas being a burden to Thranduil.

Elrohir gasped, 'Legolas is his son? He doesn't look like him!'

Elrond frowned at his son. 'Judge not a child by his parent,' the half Elf said. 'And you should not judge Thranduil, either.' Elves were supposed to not let their emotions cloud their judgments, but it was hard not to in Thranduil's case.

The foolish King of Mirkwood had no idea of what a treasure this trusting son of his was, Elrond thought darkly. It had been so long since he'd glimpsed such wide, innocent eyes. Even Elrond's own, young children no longer held such innocence in their eyes.

Glorfindel returned, and saw the tense expression on Elrond's face. He set the plate of food in front of the Elven lord, who thanked him. Glorfindel then took his seat again, but the chair scraped along the ground as he positioned his chair once more.

Legolas stirred again, and blinked his eyes, as he gazed up at Elrond's face. The little Elf released his grip on his blanket and brought it up to touch the face of the one who held him. The face was smooth to his touch.

Elrond felt a small hand touch his face, and looked down at the child, who was looking at him with those wide, trusting grey-blue eyes. Curiosity shone in his eyes, as well. 'Are you hungry, Legolas?' the half Elf questioned gently.

Legolas nodded, wondering who this Elf was. 'Who are you?' he questioned softly, his voice almost a whisper.

'Elrond is my name, little one,' the Elven lord answered, smiling at the boy. He set Legolas in his lap, and told Legolas to take whatever he wanted from his plate.

Legolas was confused. His father never let him eat off of his plate, so he wasn't certain of what to do. Elrond saw the confusion in the boy's eyes, and patiently scooped up some food in a spoon, before bringing it to Legolas' mouth.

The Elven child obediently opened his mouth, because this was what he was used to. He made too much of a mess to feed himself, or so his father said. Elrond placed the spoonful of food in the open mouth, and removed it. Legolas chewed carefully and swallowed.

Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir were slightly amused as they watched the Elven lord of Imaldris feeding the child with blue-grey eyes. Elladan thought that Legolas was kind of cute, but too little to play a game with. Elrohir was surprised that his father was even caring for the child, considering that Thranduil was his father. He knew that the King of Mirkwood severely disliked his father, but did not know why.

Glorfindel had seen Thranduil speaking to his Elven lord, which was why he had gotten the food as quickly as possible. Elrond had been insulted all day by the Elven king, and Glorfindel was tired of it. He was ready to claim insult on Elrond's behalf if he heard one more insult from Thranduil.

Elrond was focused on Legolas, who gazed up at him, as he swallowed more food. The Elven lord was angered that Thranduil should have such a sweet child, for Elrond knew all too well that Legolas would become like his older brothers. The Elven king had disciplined his child so that they did not speak back to him at all. Nor did they smile, cry, or sing, which was sad, considering how their mother had had such a sweet voice. It did not matter to him that Legolas was Thranduil's son, though he would have preferred for any save the King of Mirkwood to be the boy's father.

Legolas wondered why a stranger showed him more kindness in one day than his father had in his entire life. This… Elrond had not yelled at him once or struck him for crying, which Legolas was used to. He'd even given him back his blanket. It was very special to Legolas, for he'd had it his entire life, as long as he could remember.

The little Elf had rarely seen his mother, and was usually left alone. His father had told him he was weak for crying for his mother, and had slapped him for it. So Legolas barely knew her, for he had only gotten to see her about four times in his life. Thranduil had seen how fond his wife was of their youngest, and had sought to sever her bond with Legolas by forcing her to stay away from him.

So Legolas knew nothing of love, for his brothers did not deign to speak with him usually. His father pretended that he did not exist, and his mother had not been allowed to see him. Though only very young, the small, blond Elf knew that his worth in his father's eyes was nothing. If truth be told, Legolas did not even know that the Elven lady who had snuck in to see him occasionally was his mother, for he did not know what a 'mother' was. That was what Thranduil had intended, for he wanted to destroy the bond between mother and child. And he'd succeeded.

Elrond saw the strange look in Legolas' eyes, and then wanted to shake himself. The boy had lost his mother, and probably grieved over her. 'You miss your mother, don't you?' Elrond whispered gently.

Legolas blinked. 'What is a mother?' he whispered back, confusion in his eyes.

Glorfindel, Elladan, and Elrohir coughed hard, nearly choking on the bites of food that they had just taken. They had gasped, in the middle of swallowing, at the words that Legolas had just said. How could the boy not know what a mother was? They were all here to mourn her death.

Elrond frowned. 'You do not know what a mother is, Legolas?'

The blond-haired child, with wide grey-blue eyes, thought for a few moments, before shaking his head silently.

To be continued