Hi everyone…again! I've had to reload the chapter. Apparently there is a NEW rule out that you can't post reviewer responses in your story. So I've had to delete and upload the doc. ALRIGHTY...

Thanks to ALL the reviewers who have already reviewed for this chapter. And of course the last one. I really do appreciate you all. You make me sooo very happy. Not many people have wanted to review in this chapter. But that's okay, I still plan to write and post after the holidays. I love my reviewers very very very much! And I will just have to PM (private message) you to thank you for your very kind reviews. Thanks Nieriel Raina for telling me this!! I would be completely clueless about this new rule. Because of her telling me, I can continue to post this story and have an account.

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Because of the brilliant Mistopurr this chapter is going out without any mistakes and more description. She made the story sound so much better. Thanks you!! She also has a new story out, so everyone if you have a chance go read and review her. Not only is her story very smartly plotted, but also there is allot of middle earth knowledge put behind it. So if you like a well written story...go read hers.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (Happy hannukah.ect ... ECT.)

Chapter 2

Close to two years had passed since the birth of Legolas; already the child was walking, talking, playing, and filling his Naneth's life with happiness and company. Thranduil came as often as he could to the happy pair, his son's over-exuberance a pleasant change from the rarely escapable duties which weighed so heavily upon him. He was melodramatic, demanding all the attention he could grab, much like his father. But graceful even as a toddling Elfling, he took after his mother. His bright blue eyes were the color of a river after a light shower; when the sediment is settled down, the river takes on a bright blue color, and such were Legolas' eyes.

One day later in the evening, the only hours they had to themselves, they decided to go on a picnic in the meadow a few minutes walk from their abode, though Thranduil and Elranna were sure that Legolas would most likely curl up and take a rather long nap. But his slumber would leave them to a delightful few hours by themselves. Legolas ran ahead, gaily reaching for the butterflies that flew around him. Thranduil had his arm offered to his wife who carried the picnic supplies in a basket nestled in the crook of her own arm.

"Legolas, stop!"

Immediately Legolas stopped in his tracks, and turned swiftly around to find a pair of hard eyes fastened unwaveringly upon him.

"Son, how many times have I warned you not to go too far ahead of us? What would happen if somebody kidnapped you, and because we were so behind we could never find you?"

Legolas' river blue eyes widened even more, and he furrowed his brow, thinking greatly upon the matter. He did this often whenever a question arose, his face would become horribly contorted as he drew his dark eyebrows together and contemplated deeply…well as deeply as an Elfling could. Elranna nudged her husband with her elbow in amusement; Thranduil was often quite stern with Legolas. He was gone much and knew that Elranna spoiled the boy hopelessly; in his opinion, his child must have 'backbone.'

Legolas answered after a few minutes of deliberation, "But you said you'd never let anything happen to Nana and me, and you alllllllllways keep your promises."

Thranduil's jaw dropped in surprise, though he promptly shut it. "Stay in sight, Legolas," he reminded gently.

Legolas offered a large, childish grin and ran ahead, once again out of sight. Thranduil shook his head in feigned despair. "Does he make it a point to disobey me El?"

At the nickname, Elranna leaned against her husband. "He does not consciously do it, Thranduil. Give him time. He is only an Elfling."

Thranduil smiled, one of his rarest smiles that she treasured deeply in her heart. "He's our leafling."

Elranna laughed gaily.

"When I was an Elfling growing up…"

Elranna stopped him. "You were a prince growing up dear, Legolas is different; you had responsibilities, hardships, and with the tragedy of your mother leaving, you knew the pain of grief, even as a child. Legolas hasn't a care in the world, and I intend to keep him like that."

Thranduil smiled and pecked a kiss gently on her cheek.

"Thranduil, you should smile more." The other Elf raised one delicate eyebrow. "You are always so serious around Legolas…allow some light to shine through you…I know he captures it. He reflects you the way the moon does the sun."

They walked silently into the meadow to find Legolas sitting on the ground petting a ferocious looking wolf. But the wolf looked no more then a 'large dog' as Legolas small hands stroked its large ears.

Thranduil's eyes widened in surprise. Elves were known to communicate with animals, but never before they reached maturity. "Legolas…what are you doing?" he called, concern making the question louder than the distance between them demanded. Legolas turned his head and smiled at his parents, then turned his head back to the wolf in front of him. Thranduil came up slowly behind Legolas and kneeled next to him.

"Legolas, be careful. Animals are our friends, but you can't communicate with it yet. Why must you pet this animal's ear...it could hurt you?"

Legolas looked up. "I am not petting it, Ada. The dog had a scratch behind her ear and insisted I help. And do not worry, Ada, she will not harm me." The child's cherubic face broke out into a bright smile. "She says that I am the only Elfling that has ever heard her voice. We had a very nice conversation about her children. She says she only attacks when 'they' are near her."

"Who are 'they', Legolas?"

"She says they are big, dark, ugly, and talk mean."

"Orcs?"

Legolas thought a moment. "I suppose that's what you call them."

"Is this the first time you've talked with animals?"

Legolas shook his head. "I've always heard them, and the trees too, and they all have such pretty voices. They sing all the time."

For Thranduil this was too much to take in. Legolas stood up and waved as the wolf sat up and trotted off into the forest. He promptly sat on his father's lap; the older Elf's mouth had been unconsciously hanging wide open at this revelation. Legolas leaned up and whispered in his father's ear, though not so quietly that his mother could not easily pick up the conversation.

"The trees say it's going to rain…"

Thranduil looked at him. "Do you think so, Legolas?" A determined nod. Thranduil returned the gesture. "You are right, son, the east wind is connecting with the wind of the south. Rain is in the air…" Thranduil kissed his forehead. "Go on, we came here for you to enjoy yourself; go and play."

Legolas nodded and went off as if nothing had happened as Elranna laid out the food.

"Is it possible," she whispered, as Thranduil's bright eyes followed their son. "that one so young can hear the voice of the trees?"

"With the Valar all is possible," Thranduil answered, giving her one of his thoughtful smiles.

"Nana!" Legolas called as he toddled over, his hands cupping a treasure. "I want to give you something."

Elranna smiled slyly at Thranduil and kneeled down to eye level with her son. "Is it something slimy?" Legolas shook his head. He had a redundant nature of always wanting to give his mother everything he caught, from mosquitoes to frogs to worms.

"Is it ugly?" Legolas shook his head, blonde tendrils of hair flying in different directions.

"Hold out your hands Nana…please," he begged.

"And why should I do that?"

Legolas thought for a moment, inhaled loudly and puffed up his chest. In a close imitation of his father, he said, "Because I told you so." At the sound of choking coming from Thranduil's direction, he turned accusing eyes that way. "You do it all the time to Nana."

Thranduil shook his head. "I do not pull rank on your mother, Legolas. And besides, that's different…much different."

Legolas sighed loudly. "You're so confusing…"

Thranduil chuckled. "I think the same of you, my little Greenleaf."

The child flashed a delighted smile at the sound of his nickname, before turning back to his mother. "Please, Mama?" Looking up at her through lowered eyelids received a tender smile, eagerly returned.

"Alright, my little mockingbird, show me." She held out her hands in reply to Legolas very slowly opening his own. Inside was a beautiful orange butterfly. Elranna gasped.

"Legolas, be gentle, you could hurt it!"

Legolas shook his head. "He would tell me if I was hurting him."

He opened up his hand fully and the butterfly flapped its wings, but did not fly off. It hovered over Legolas' hand and then flew into Elranna's. It landed and stayed for a while before making its departure. Legolas immediately plopped back into Thranduil's lap, almost making him spill his glass of wine. "Careful, Legolas…" Thranduil warned him as he placed his hand on the child's shoulder.

Legolas leaned against his father, obviously tired and in dire need of a nap.

"Is my little Greenleaf tired?"

Legolas shook his head, and rubbed his eyes. "Ada?"

"Yes, Legolas."

"Why did you name me Legolas?"

Thranduil's perfect Elvish memory went back to two years ago, when his son was born.

"When I held you in my arms for the first time…" Legolas snuggled against his father's chest. "A green leaf floated in through the window. The name Legolas is a Silvan dialect form of pure Sindarin Laegolas, which means Greenleaf."

Legolas nodded sluggishly, nearly asleep. Thranduil stroked his hair. Though Legolas was emotionally and mentally developed as a six-year-old human child, he was smaller then most other Elflings his age. But he did not seem to mind; he knew that he would grow up into being as graceful and powerful as his Ada.

Thranduil held Legolas close, while he and his wife shared soft and loving words in Sindarin. After a while, Thranduil laid Legolas gently on the picnic blanket and wrapped him with his cape. The Elfling slept on, peacefully.

"El…" Thranduil called, opening his arms. Elranna moved gracefully over to him and laid her head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Thranduil played with her hair, twisting it slowly in his fingers.

"Do you think he's imagining the communication with…nature?" Elranna asked. Thranduil shook his head.

"How could he know about Orcs? There aren't any children his age around him, and we've never spoken of them. He always was so gentle to animals; and remember in the garden, a few months ago, he had fallen asleep on the large roots of a tree. Perhaps he was speaking to it."

Elranna shook her head, "I simply cannot believe it. No Elfling has ever spoken with nature, not in all of history. No Silvan or Sindar elf has ever spoken to trees before reaching maturity."

"Hush darling…" Thranduil placed his finger on her lips. "We mustn't doubt his abilities. It is obvious he can hear their song."

He slipped his finger off of her lips and leaned in for a kiss. A loud clap of thunder, high above, jolted them from their passion, and also caused Legolas to jerk awake. He looked around, Thranduil closely watching his response. He gazed up as the lightening lit the sky; his eyes grew brighter and turned almost white, as he watched.

"Come, we don't want to get caught in the downpour," Thranduil murmured, reaching out to his wife and son.

Legolas took his father's hand as he stood up. Elranna began to gather the various objects of food, but Legolas' eyes remained fixed upon the sky. Thranduil picked him up gently, holding him, watching. The trees began to move, but there was no wind to move them. It almost seemed as if they were trying to usher the small family home. The tree's song reached Thranduil, even though he was not in contact with any.

"Run home, father of the young listener, run home. Protect him, comfort him, he will defend Arda."

The voice faded into nothing but the wind making the branches undulate. Legolas laid his head on his father's strong chest. "I want to go home," he whispered. "The trees are angry…something happened."

Thranduil nodded and took Elranna's hand in his, leaving the meadow with more haste than they had come. As only contained in their worse nightmares, the secret of Thranduil's family, his wife, child and home…had been discovered.

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