From this chapter onwards, the story goes out of chronological order... Lasneth is not yet born in this one and Legolas is still a baby/toddler.

Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy :)

P.S. Next chapter is written and ready to go... the quicker the reviews come the quicker I'll post it up ;) hehehe.

Of Kings and Bizarre Pictures

Thud.

Thranduil's ears perked up at the light sound of wood hitting the ground, however the king's mind was engrossed in the words scrawled over the parchment he held in his fingertips.

Thud. Thud.

The king saw a shadow of movement out of the corner of his eye and was about to return to his reading when a loud crash resounded through the room. Thranduil's eyes snapped up in the direction of the sound and he groaned when he saw the open door leading to the balcony of his private study. With a start, he remembered just who else was supposed to be in the room with him.

"Legolas!" the king's voice was frantic. "Legolas, where did you go? Are you alright?"

Thranduil released a sigh of relief when he saw the young prince leaning against the balcony railing with various books, wooden soldiers and toy arrows scattered around him. The child gurgled at the sight of his father and clapped his hands in delight.

"Up!" the prince demanded, reaching his arms above towards Thranduil. "Ada, up!"

Thranduil knelt and gently took the elfling into his embrace. He stood and looked over the balcony to see a small pile of books and arrows on the grassy ground several floors down. He noticed an elf rubbing his head, a look of pain crossing his face. Thranduil swallowed his laughter and attempted to pin a stern look on the child. "Legolas, it is not nice to throw things to the ground, especially at other people."

Legolas cocked his head to the side at his father's serious tone before bringing his tiny hands into another clap. "Las fire! Just like Ada!"

Thranduil could not maintain his strict façade at his son's endearing actions and proceeded to tickle the small bundle in his arms. Legolas emitted a few high-pitched squeals of laughter, his little body writhing as he tried to flee from the king's arms. "Ada, stop! No more!"

Thranduil arched an eyebrow. "No more, what?"

Legolas smiled innocently up at the king, his eyes large and round. "No more tickle, please?"

Thranduil grinned and ruffled the elfling's blonde hair. "Very well, Little Leaf." He retreated back into the study and sat down at his desk, placing the child in his lap. Thranduil had just picked up the paper he had hastily discarded moments before when he felt a light tapping on his shoulder. He peered down from above his nose and saw Legolas kicking his legs in the air. Thranduil sighed once more. Ai, how does one so small have so much energy? The king smiled wryly as he thought. I must remember to give Merilwen more credit for keeping this one tame enough to eat and sleep, let alone sit in one spot for more than a minute! "What is it, Legolas?"

"Ada, I am bored."

Thranduil turned his gaze to the window and noted from the position of the sun that it was almost midday. His wife had left the palace for a few hours to visit a friend and had left the king on Legolas-duty. She would not return until the sun had set. He cast the paper aside on his desk and shuffled the elfling in his lap to face him. "What does your mother usually play when you are bored, my Leaf?"

Legolas tapped his chin with his index finger, pondering for a moment, before his blue eyes lit up. "Naneth plays hide-and-seek with me!" he exclaimed. "And we also draw in different colours!"

Thranduil was not keen on having to chase after an already excited elfling pretending to find him. The second idea seemed the more appropriate and appealing. "I have plenty of paper right here, penneth," he said gesturing towards the desk. "Would you like to draw?"

Legolas nodded so eagerly that Thranduil worried for a moment that the child's head might snap. He chuckled and pulled out a new quill and parchment, smoothing them out on the table. He straightened and adjusted the child in his lap to face the desk and watched, highly entertained as Legolas grabbed the quill and began to form nonsensical scribbles and pictures on the paper. He watched as his son drew the sun, the moon, the trees, the birds, the horses, his mother and father… Thranduil's eyes narrowed at a particular drawing. "Legolas, what is this?"

The prince pouted, puzzled at why his father had asked such a question. "It is Mith – Mithran – Mithrandir!"

Thranduil's eyes widened in shock and then his shoulders shook with mirth. Legolas had drawn quite an interesting interpretation of the friendly grey wizard. There were squiggly lines upon his face of what Thranduil assumed represented wrinkles, a long grey cloak, a head with no neck, hands that were larger than feet, and a pointy hat that was so tall it reached up into the clouds. In the wizard's ridiculously large and disproportional hand he held a staff that appeared to be releasing fireworks from the tip.

"Of course it is Mithrandir, how silly of me!" The response seemed to satisfy the young prince, and he continued to add to the drawing. The king made a mental note to show the grey wizard the bizarre picture.

Hours passed and the king of the Woodland Realm remained in his study drawing with his son, until the poor child had exhausted himself and fell asleep with his head resting casually on his father's shoulder. Thranduil propped his feet up on the footstool beneath the desk and ensuring his arms were wrapped securely around the child, allowed his eyes to glaze over in elven sleep. And that was exactly how the queen found them when she returned to the palace that evening, a smile upon both their faces as both the king and prince roamed their waking dreams.