A/N: Hello everyone! I'm so sorry this took so long to post... My muse had disappeared entirely =( But I am taking a quick break from school work so here is another update for you! Thank you to all who reviewed, it made my day! =)

Now on with the story! Hope you enjoy! =)

Home
Chapter 3 – Surprises At Home

Legolas' footsteps echoed in tune with Thranduil's, the sound dancing off the stone walls of their underground dwelling. Lasneth and Lalaith followed hurriedly, the elleth's presence only evident by the soft swish of her soft, embroidered gown. Thranduil came to an abrupt halt, almost causing Legolas to walk straight into his father's back. The prince quickly regained his stance and glanced anxiously at Lalaith, his brow furrowing in distress. The wooden doors to the infirmary opened with a loud groan and Legolas raced straight in ahead of Thranduil.

To the prince's shock, the main ward of the infirmary was utterly dark. The curtains had been tied shut, blocking out all form of light from the moon. Legolas squinted and discovered the outline of a small figure sitting in a bed a few paces from him. Legolas spun around on his heel to discover that his family who had entered with him had disappeared. His frown deepened in confusion as he tentatively took a few steps towards the brief outline of the figure, breaking the pin drop silence of the room. His breathing gained momentum as a slight movement of the curtain caught his eye. He continued his silent steps until a loud cry startled him out of his wits.

"SURPRISE!"

What in Arda...?

Legolas stared, bewildered at the sight before him. The curtains had been flung open, allowing the luminous light of the moon and stars to flood the room. Legolas could now clearly see the joyful expressions of the Fellowship, his sister, brother-in-law, nephews, niece, cousins, friends, wife, children, brother and father glowing back at him.

"Shut your mouth before a fly gets in, gwador," (brother) came the chiming voice of his older sister, Lindariel. She gracefully strode to his side and placed her delicate fingers beneath his chin, closing his jaw shut. She immediately engulfed him in a bear hug, tightening her grip when Legolas whispered "Lind!" into her golden hair. Legolas detangled himself from her grip (which took much effort, for she was strong) and glared at his father, whose eyes were twinkling with mirth.

"Nicely done, Adar," (father) Legolas scowled. "You scared me out of my mind with that dreadful trick!"

Thranduil laughed heartily, raising an eyebrow in surprise as he heard Gimli laugh along with him. "I simply could not resist, ion nin (my son), since I have not scared you in a good while! This was the first thing to come to my mind! Thank the Valar for blessing me with having such a mischievous daughter and son to partake in my lead without question!" Thranduil settled his gaze proudly on Lalaith and Lasneth who still held each other's hand in friendship, joining their king in his delight. Legolas shook his head and smiled sheepishly. However, his breath caught in his throat when he saw the figure lying on the bed. "Miriel!"

"Ada!" (daddy) came the young girl's reply as Legolas rushed over to his daughter's bedside and picked her up in his arm, showering her face with butterfly kisses. Miriel giggled and squeezed her tiny arms around his neck, a bright grin plastered to her face. That was when Legolas noticed the white linen bandage wrapped around her left leg. "Iell nin!" (my daughter) he exclaimed, his parental instinct kicking in. "What happened here?"

"Yrch," (orcs) his daughter whispered back, fiddling with the collar of his tunic. Legolas turned to Lalaith, who by now had walked over to his side. She smoothed back his hair from his shoulder and sighed.

"After the ring was destroyed," Lalaith began softly. "The orcs made one last attempt to attack both Eryn Lasgalen and Lothlorien. We had already lost many warriors whilst watching the borders, so we had weak numbers when they unexpectedly attacked." She sighed as the memory of her tiny daughter sprang into her mind. She shook her head to block it out, not wanting to relive the cries of pain she had heard that had pierced her heart. "The orcs got through and tried to take Miriel. They knew she was of royal blood." Lalaith chuckled humourlessly. "They knew that their action would be their final but most painful wound to the king. Lasneth found her. We were lucky in that we had barely enough soldiers to protect the majority of the city. We lost many lives that day."

Legolas bowed his head and shut his eyes in pain at the thought of the innocent people who had sacrificed themselves for their forest. He uttered a quick prayer to guide their souls safely to the Halls of Mandos before opening his eyes and smiling gently at Miriel, stroking her flaxen locks softly. He placed a hand on Lalaith's shoulder. "Where is Estellan?" he inquired. He had glanced about the room earlier, but he had not seen his younger son.

"He is in the nursery," she replied, then she giggled. "He sleeps like a log! Just like his father!"

Legolas narrowed his eyes in mock-annoyance as he heard his daughter dissolve into giggles along with his wife. "Ha – ha. Go ahead and laugh. At least I'm a good looking log!" He wiggled his eyebrows at Lalaith and winked, earning a firm smack on his arm. He bit his lip and resisted the urge to say "ow." After all, the crown princess did have a surprising amount of strength. He wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with a bruise there tomorrow.

Legolas proceeded to greet his childhood friends and fellow warriors, gripping their forearms in greeting. He gave his four cousins (his father's sister's children) a warm embrace, giving a brotherly hug to the two ellyn and a kiss on the cheek to the two ellyth. He exchanged pleasant words with his brother-in-law and Lindariel's husband, Arandur, and tickled his two nieces and nephew, making them burst into peals of laughter as they playfully wrestled with their uncle. Legolas was glad to see that his brothers of the Fellowship, especially Gimli, had managed to get along well with his family, and were now conversing comfortably with his cousins and brothers.

After many introductions, cheerful greetings and merrymaking, King Thranduil ordered everyone to their beds to rest. "I have organised a ball for tomorrow, to honour the deeds of the Fellowship of the Ring." The Nine Walkers had bowed their heads humbly to the king, followed by a collective groan from the whole of the royal house, who knew the extent to which their king became carried away with in the subject of feasts of any shape or form. The royal family lead their guests to their rooms, before turning in themselves for a full night of peaceful slumber. Their prince was now home and the royal family was complete once more. Their home was also safe from the evil that had once infested the lands of Middle-Earth, and this time, they eagerly awaited for what the coming of dawn would bring.

A/N: Review please? xD