A Very Merry Yule
by arelenriel
It was the Yule season in the Greenwood at the foot of the Misty Mountains. The elves were all busy preparing for the celebrations that would occur throughout the lands of King Thranduil at midnight the evening before Yule. Legolas who that winter had just celebrated his seventh begetting day. He and his brother Lothlanos who was a rather chubby five year old elfling were quite busy helping their father Kong Thranduil decorate the throne room for the coming holiday." Ada how come Nana is not helping us decorate this year." whined little Lothlanos who was tired from all of the days excitement ( he and Legolas had been helping Galion bake cookies with his wife Nestare in the big kitchens attached to the palace.) King Thranduil lifted up the sleepy elfiling and went to sit with his youngest son upon his comfortably padded throne. He cradled Lothlanos against his shoulder as Legolas came to sit on his knee. Thranduil cherished these quiet moments when he had his sons to himself. Being a king was annoying in many ways not the least of which was not spending as much time with his growing family as he might wish. He looked into the fire and began to explain the reason for their Nanas absence to his small sons.
" Tithen-pen, you know that you just got a new baby sister did you not?" Thranduil questioned little Lothlanos seriously. " Well Nana an Silvriniel get tired very easily right now. Nana is up at all sorts of silly hours with your little sister and does not get much sleep, and Silvriniel is teething right now and does not sleep very well. The two of you have begun to get your adult teeth and you know how much it hurts. Nana took Silvriniel and went to bed early tonight. The elflings sighed for they did so love hearing the story of Varda's stars from their Nana. She learned it from hear Naneth (also mother to Haldir, Rumil and Orophin, Lothwen was their little sister). and had told it to her ions every year for as long as they could remember. Seeing the sad look on the faces of his small sons Thranduil was struck by an idea. " Shall we go upstairs and get your Nana to tell you of Varda's stars and then the two of you can sleep in the big bed with Nana and Ada.?" (Galion was always responsible for putting presents under the Yule Tree as he and Cirdan were the only elves to ever truly appear old and thus resemble the rumoured Ancient Yule Ada, though Mithrandir would substitute in a pinch.)The two sleepy brothers nodded their assent and Thranduil escorted his sleepy sons up to the Royal Chambers.
" Thranduil my love, what is it? " murmered a sleepy Lothwen who lay on the bed little Silvy (as her brothers called her ) finally asleep in her arms. Thranduil told her about their little ellons missing the story of Varda and Lothwen smiled." Come here tithen's pen., and I shall tell you the story of Varda's Stars. It all began before the elves awoke. The Valar were trying to find a way to protect the elves on their awakening from the depredations of Morgoth Bauglir and his terrible servants….." The elflings snuggled contentedly against their parents and the little family settled into the warm feather bed. Thranduil smiled knowing that he would forever remember the sights of three silvery blond heads snuggled amongst the blankets, and of the glow of his wife's face as she read to their little ones.
