Ok so this chapter is a little longer. Thank you to all who reviewed, favorite, or followed! Enjoy!

In response to Cloud Dancer: I'm glad you like it so much! when i read your review i was dancing with you on those clouds! lol thank you! see ya :)

The Elven King was lying awake in his bed that night, and like so many other sleepless nights, he was deep in thought. Why was his son so distant? Something was wrong, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. After a little while of these thoughts he finally rolled out of his sleepless bed. He walked over to the double doors leading out onto the balcony, and opening the large doors, he walked out into the cold chilling night.

For a moment he just stood there, bathed in the brilliant light of the full moon, forgetting all the worries of his kingdom, if only for a moment. So many times had he stood here on the baloney, feeling the gentle breeze that swept the tops of the trees making the leaves dance in its wake, trying to forget. Trying to forget his long sorrowful nights, the long and hard battles of the past, and the death of his kin.

However unwillingly he slowly started to remember, but with remembering came the good times and the bad. His thoughts drifted to his late wife, he missed her so very much. For some time he stood there reminiscing about the past. The tranquil softness of the night around him soothed his wary soul. It was some time before he was drawn out of his thoughts by an unsettling restlessness in his heart. Something was wrong in his forest, the days grew darker. Something was coming, again he was frustrated. There were so many things he didn't know the answer too.

Finally coming to the conclusion that thinking about it would not make things better, but would only make his heart more troubled. Thranduil slowly went back into his room and shutting the doors behind him, he crawled back into his bed. After a moment the tired Elven King finally fell into a deep needed sleep.

-ooOoo-

The next morning Legolas woke up letting out a little cry of surprise as something wet and warm touched his toes. Legolas quickly pulled his feet into the safety of the covers, only to have the pup's little wet tongue follow his toes under the sheets. Legolas groaned as he retreated further into the sheets. But Penneth was persistent and followed with even more vigor then before, enjoying the little game. "Ahh!" Legolas gave a small cry as Penneth put his toe all the way into his mouth that time.

Signing Legolas finally gave up and started to move towards the edge of the bed. Placing his know wet feet on the cold stone floor, he stood and walked towards the wash basin in the corner of his room. After a quick splash of cold water, Legolas went to get dressed. Penneth followed him everywhere as he got ready for the day and got upset when he couldn't follow Legolas as he left to go to breakfast.

"No Penneth you can't come with me. Ada won't like you in the dining room." The young prince said in reply to a particularly sad whimper. But Legolas didn't make it half way down the hall before he heard a high pitch wolfish howl coming from back down the hall. The prince turned on a dime and hurried back towards his chambers.

As he approached the howls got louder as if Penneth knew he was just outside the door. Legolas quickly opened the door and ducked back into the room. Penneth got louder only this time with excited yips and barks. "Shush Penneth! You act as though I have been gone for the whole day."

Legolas told Penneth, who immediately stopped howling and sat down, as if giving Legolas his undivided attention. With a heavy sign he continued "I have to go to breakfast and to my lessons. Then I will be free to play with you for the rest of the day. So you have to stay here and be quite until I return. Okay?" Legolas wasn't expecting an answer, but it seemed like he saw Penneth nod his head, he knew the pup understood. So turning, Legolas once again made his way down the hall and was satisfied that this time he didn't hear any howling.

-ooOoo-

After breakfast Legolas didn't have time to run over to his room and feed Penneth. However, he did promise himself that he would feed Penneth a big lunch. On his way to his lessons he felt like if he could have anything in the world, it would be a work free day with his father. Thranduil hadn't had a day off of work and hadn't spent a day with his son in a few months.

Although they ate breakfast and dinner together and Thranduil usually came to say goodnight. Legolas wanted to go on a hunt or play in the gardens with his father like they used too. But the king as of late had been terribly busy with a new trade agreement with Asgain, a neighboring city. Asgain grew a very large amount of wheat this harvest and intended to trade it for some of the luscious silks that the elf maidens of greenwood spin.

He only knew this from sitting at the dinner table with all his father's advisers. As Legolas walked into his study room, Celebwen was already waiting for him. She was a tall and fair she-elf with long raven colored hair and a pair of dark eyes to match.

"Good morning, Legolas." She greeted him.

"Good morning, Celebwen." He replied as his lessons began…

-ooOoo-

Later that day after archery training Legolas finally got back to his room, feed the pup, and then snuck Penneth outside to play for the rest of the day. Meanwhile Thranduil was in his study signing yet another document when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." the tired king called, Thranduil looked up as the door opened and Galion walked into the study with a few more scrolls for him to sign.

"Sire?" Galion quietly inquired placing the scrolls into a nice pile.

"Yes, Galion?" Thranduil responded going back to the parchment on his desk.

"It's Legolas, sire, he is lonely." Thranduil looked up as Galion continued slowly, "He has been distant as of late. I'm sure you've noticed."

"Please, get to your point, Galion, I am incredibly busy as you can see. " Thranduil said quietly gesturing to all the parchment that littered his desk.

"Yes sire. Well, I think you need to take some time off and just enjoy your son and your forest. Don't deny it, you need some rest, I can see that something is bothering you." Without a word the elven king pushed out his chair and walked over to an open window. After a moment Galion walked over to the window as well, he had known Thranduil almost all his life, the king was his friend and like a brother to him. He knew something was wrong, so he was worried for his friend.

Thranduil stood by the window for a moment staring out into the emerald topped forest in complete silence. Until the elven king finally turned to his butler and closet friend, with a fearful look in his eye.

"Something is coming Galion. The forest is changing and yet the change is so small. There is restlessness in my heart. Something fell and evil has entered the forest this day and I fear it will only grow."

"What are we going to do?" Galion asked in a worried tone.

"I don't know, Galion. The only thing we can do is wait-." Thranduil stopped short, "Unless…" Thranduil almost whispered it as he turned back to the window.

"Unless…. What sire?"

"I want a patrol to scout out the southern part of the forest and Dol Guldur." Thranduil suddenly commanded.

"It will be done my king." Galion said with a bow and quietly left the study leaving Thranduil still standing by the window. If he was right… if there was evil in that fell tower again, he didn't know what he was going to do. But fortunately for Thranduil that darkness that entered his forest that day slept for many more years. The patrol that was sent out found nothing, and the restlessness that lay in the king's heart subsided as the days grew on.

-ooOoo-

That night, after dinner and Penneth had been fed, Legolas was up playing with the pup. Legolas really enjoyed having Penneth around, he never imagined how fun it would be to have a wolf pup friend. He wanted to keep the pup, but he knew his father would find out soon enough. It's not that his father didn't like animals. Of course not, his father was the king of the Woodland Realm and he loves all the creatures that live on his land whether it is big or small. It's just that Thranduil didn't like Legolas to have wild animals in the palace as pets. He thought this as he watched Penneth crept into the bath chamber sniffing everything. Legolas stood by the door in his night clothes watching and thinking until the pup couldn't be seen in the shadowed room.

When there was a soft nock on the door, and without waiting for an answer the door started to crack open. Legolas knew that must be his father because Thranduil was the only elf in the palace that never waited for an invitation to enter his son's room. Legolas quickly slid the bath chambers door closed, shutting off the room and the curious wolf pup inside.

"Ion-nin you should be in bed, the hour is late." He heard his father's deep timbre voice say as he turned around.

"I know Ada, I was just going to bed." He replied as he walked over to the bed, climbed up and sat cross legged with his back leaning on the head board. It is the truth, he thought, I was just going to go to bed.

"I'm sure." His father said with a knowing look in his eyes that told Legolas that Thranduil really wasn't too bothered as long as he didn't stay up to long. "I've been meaning to spend some time with you. I know I have been busy and absent as of late and I promise to take you on that hunting trip. " His father said as he slowly sat on the edge of the bed, "But it may be a little while my little leaf, because I must go to Asgain." Thranduil saw the hope in his son's eyes, that had been bright at the mention of a hunting trip, fade at his last words.

Although, Legolas was getting bigger and more mature he still was attached to his father and didn't want him to leave. "It will not be long like last time my leaf. Asgain is only a little past the Lonely Mountain." Thranduil knew he didn't have to tell this to his son because Legolas was a good boy, but still he hated the sadness in the elflings eyes every time he had to leave.

"Okay, Ada. When will you be coming back?" Legolas said with a small smile trying to hide his disappointment at his father's announcement.

"I should return with the rising of the new moon." His father said with a growing smile, "You be good while I'm away. Listen to Celebwen."

"Okay, Ada," Legolas said compliantly.

"Come here you," Thranduil said playfully as he quickly reached for his elfling and hearing a squeal of delight as he caught his son. Pulling Legolas into his lap and quickly sliding onto the floor, Thranduil trapped Legolas into a bear hug, tickling him simultaneously.

"Ada, no fair I didn't get a chance!" Legolas laughed out as his father continued to tickle him. After a minute Thranduil stopped as Legolas panted, tired from all the laughing, but his father didn't let him out of the hug.

"I'm going to miss you Ada." Legolas said quietly after a minute.

"I know, my leaf, but I will be back before you know it." Thranduil said as he finally let Legolas go from the hug and stretched out on his back where they had landed on the floor.

"Ada?" Legolas said suddenly breaking the silence that had fallen on the two.

"Hmm?" Thranduil hummed in response. "Can I come with you to that city?" Legolas asked not thinking what would happen to Penneth if he did leave.

"No, tithen las-nin, it would be too dangerous for you." Thranduil said softly without hesitation. But seeing the disappointed look in his son's eyes he quickly added, "But I also need you to stay here. I need you to watch over our home and our people." After the king had said this he sat up, "Legolas." Thranduil said the name with emphasis to get the elflings undivided attention, "Can I entrust you with this quest?" the king said in a playful tone, causing Legolas to nod his head enthusiastically. "Good, but you're not going to be able to do any of that if you're tired."

His father said as he stood up pulling his son with him. The young prince sat on his father's hip, with his head on Thranduil's chest, listening to the strong heart beat that was there. He relaxed as his father's heart beat washed over him.

Thranduil stood still for a minute, comforted by his son's presence, and holding him close walked over to the bed.

"Ada, will you tell me a story?" Legolas asked after Thranduil had put him in the bed and pulled the covers up.

"Legolas, it is late" Thranduil started to say but was interrupted by Legolas,

"Please, Ada." He begged.

"Okay, but only a short one." Thranduil relented, walking over to a table by the bath chamber door to retrieve the story book. "Which story do you want to hear tonight?" his father asked picking up the book. Thranduil paused, distracted, he could have sworn he heard a strange sound from behind the sliding doors.

Oh no! What am i going to do! He is going to find Penneth! Legolas thought, seeing his father reach for the door handle.

"Oh, Ada, I know!" he quickly cried, relieved to see his father stop reaching for the door and look at his son."Beleg! Tell me about Beleg Cúthalion and the great hunt for Carcharoth the Wolf. " Legolas promptly told his father, hoping Thranduil would come away from the doors and Penneth.

With a smile Thranduil walked over to Legolas and slid onto the bed next to his son. Thranduil had a sneaking suspicion about what could be behind that door, but he wasn't sure yet. These thought flew from his mind as Legolas cried "Yay!" Making Thranduil realize how much he had excited Legolas and that he wasn't going to be calmed down for a little while.

As Legolas snuggled closer into his father's side, Thranduil started the story with a small laugh. Thranduil dove into one of his son's favorite stories that was full of bravery, love, and heroism. As the minutes passed and the story reached its climax, Thranduil saw his son slowly relax onto his side and watched as his eyes glazed over and started to wonder the paths of elven dreams.

"Sleep, las-nin, perhaps I will see you on the morrow." Thranduil whispered as he carefully slid off the bed making sure not to wake his sleeping son.

Pulling the covers up to Legolas' chin, Thranduil thought of how much Legolas meant to him. How could such a small life mean so much? Thranduil was in awe of what a child could do. Legolas had changed his life in so many ways. He remembered the first time he was handed the small little bundle, wrapped up in soft linen. That day he had been so afraid. Something so new and delicate in the hands of an old, seasoned warrior. After the death of his father and his father's broken crown was given to him, Thranduil didn't believe he would ever truly heal. His wife had helped, but after her passing Thranduil truly wanted to die. But the only reason he stayed was because of his small son.

Bending over Thranduil planted a soft kiss on his sleeping son's brow. "Le melin las-nin. Losto vae." With these words Thranduil left his child to rest as the stars of the sky lit up perhaps a little brighter at the king's fair mood.

When Thranduil got back to his chambers he was surprised when he found a small amount of animal hair on his robes from lying on his son's floor. This might be the reason that his son was a little secretive lately and what had been making noise in the bath chambers.

Although, Thranduil wasn't too thrilled over the fact that his son might have an animal hidden in his room. He decided that the animal probably wasn't dangerous and that the animal would keep his son company while he was away. He would deal with the animal when he returned. Sneaky elfling, Thranduil chuckled to himself as he walked into his closet to finish packing for his journey on the morrow.

Authors note:

Ok so I think Galion is kind of like a brother to Thranduil so that why he was so open with the king. Beleg did help with the great hunt for Carcharoth ( which means red maw) the story did happen it is an exciting story that is awesome. The next chapter is coming up soon next week! Please review, it makes me really happy! See ya!