A/N: Like my gravy, the plot thickens!

- Rajesh Kuthrapali

Thranduil awoke with a pounding headache. His baby was crying louder than an elephant. Thranduil groaned as he got out of his bed, noticing Sîdh was gone. Probably on her morning walk around the gardens. Realizing little Greenleaf was hungry, Thranduil went to go look for Sîdh. In the gardens, Sîdhe was talking with Galadriel. "Sîdh!" Thranduil called out. The elleths giggled like children as Thranduil realized he was in his nightclothes and his hair was a state. Thranduil's mouth gaped open as he turned as red as Gimli's beard. "He's hungry." Legolas was shoved in Sîdh's arms and Thranduil ran away to his chambers. He was ever so grateful the men were asleep.

At breakfast the elflings discussed what they might do today. "Adar, lothron bad mi i taur?" Arn asked Thranduil.

"Arn, you know better than to ask me that. It's dangerous out in the forest alone." Seeing every elflings head droop, Thranduil said "There is one place I know of where you may have a safe picnic." Meril gasped and said she had to get ready, but Thranduil picked her up and put her in her seat. "Patience Meril."

Thranduil strode to the kitchens asking for a large picnic basket to be prepared. He requested sandwiches and cookies. Bread and cake. Jam and candy. Everything his precious children loved. He, Elrond, and Celeborn would chaperone the picnic, and three guards tagged along.

On six horses and two ponies, the company set off to a magical place. It was a paradise in the comfort of your own home. A crystal clear waterfall rushing gently, a meadow with exotic flowers and chlorophyl bursting out of the sweet grass. There were trees perfect for climbing while the day wasted away.

Elladan and Elrohir gasped at the sight while Thranduil promptly smirked. They halted and unpacked. The blanket lay across the sweet grass and the picnic basket lay smack dab in the middle. Thranduil set up some swings on the trees, as he planned to take his family back often. The horses grazed as the children went swimming.

Thranduil softened at the sun's rays, and he let Arn take Legolas around the clearing. The children played around and ate while the men talked and laughed. Somehow his incident this morning got out. Thranduil looked more sunburned than he was.

The day passed and the elflings got sleepy. Everybody packed up and headed home. When the palace came into sight, they could feel their warm beds.

A/N: This was more of a filler for the dreaded Chapter Five.