Legolas was cranky to say the least. Yesterday had been hellish, and he wasn't expecting today to be much better. His arm was immobilized, wrapped in a hard plaster cast, and his father insisted there be a guard stationed at his door all night should he need anything. It was highly ridiculous, and Legolas was embarrassed enough to begin with. A prince was not supposed to be beaten down in the street. He should have fought back. Legolas knew he could have fought the boys and potentially could have won. He had been trained in combat, and really was a formidable little Elf, but he simply did not have the fighting spirit. He would much rather throw words than fists, and when the fight got out of hand, he was already bleeding on the ground, his arm twisted behind his back.
He sighed, exasperated and loudly, prompting a reaction from the armor-clad sentry just outside the door.
"Are you well, your Highness?" he asked. Legolas said nothing and rolled over, his broken arm dangling off of the bed, his cast heavy and club-like.
"Prince Legolas?" the sentry asked again.
"Yes?" he replied, mumbling into his pillow, his golden hair splayed out around his fair face.
"Shall I fetch something for you? Should I call for King Thranduil?" Legolas sighed again, and the sentry looked down to his feet. He was only a young man, appearing eighteen or nineteen in the eyes of a man, and he was clearly conflicted. He hadn't the slightest clue what to do for the little prince, and he didn't want to displease anyone. He feared that if he left his post, Thranduil would be angry with him, but on the other hand, if he didn't summon the King, the prince might be upset. He was trained in combat, not in the mind-workings of young royalty. Legolas wasn't exactly cooperating, either. He could have easily told the young guard that his arm hurt and that he wished for Elrond to come and fix it, and that he wished Estel were there to cheer him up, but he was simply so miserable he couldn't bring himself to say anything. Back home, everyone knew what he wanted all the time. He didn't have to say anything. Legolas was a sweet, kind little boy, but he was royalty, and when he was cranky, he could be a bit difficult. He expected the people around him to cater to his needs, whether he said so or not, which was, of course, ridiculous, but again, it only ever happened when he was especially miserable, which he was on that morning in Rivendell.
"I—I'm going to fetch King Thranduil. Is that alright?" the sentry asked, still watching Legolas, waiting for a reply.
"Yes go on. I care not." Legolas grumbled, giving his club-like cast a dismissive wave. The young man ran quickly down the hall, his sword and ample armor ringing as he did so.
The sentry returned moments later, followed by Thranduil, who walked quickly, ahead of the young guard, a sense of urgency evident in his silvery eyes.
"Thank you, Zelphar. Please rest now. You have been a wonderful protector for the prince." Thranduil said with a smile, looking down at the sentry, who played with a strand of his dark, cropped hair.
"Thank you, Your Highness." He said with a bow before hurrying off down the hall, probably to breakfast with his mates. Thranduil glided to the bedside, and sat down on the edge, giving Legolas a loving rub on the back, pressing his thumbs into the boy's shoulders, something Legolas quite enjoyed.
"What is wrong, my Little Tree?" Thranduil asked. Legolas said nothing, laying on his belly with his arm dangling off of the bed.
"I do hope you were not impolite to your sentry. He has done you a great service."
"He didn't need to do anything. He could have gone to bed." Legolas said, a sour note to his bird-like voice. Thranduil thought for a moment, trying to decide what to say. He knew that Legolas was in a mood, and did not wish to upset him further.
"He is a kind young man. Elrond is training him in healing." Legolas said nothing. "I know you are upset, my Little One, but you must always be polite and thankful for what you are given."
"He should have gone to bed. I didn't need anything." Thranduil dropped the subject.
"Are you feeling alright? Are you in any pain?" Legolas nodded.
"Shall I fetch Elrond?"
"Yes please, Adar…" the little Elf answered, his voice softer now. Thranduil stood to leave.
"And Adar?"
"Yes, Legolas?"
"Would you say thank you to Zelphar for me? I was not very kind to him…I was being difficult." Thranduil smiled. It was always a small triumph when Legolas learned something useful, and he just had. He had learned respect, not only for his superiors, but also to those who served him.
"Yes, Little One." The Elf King said before departing, slipping through the sheer curtain like a rolling mist on a valley.
Thranduil returned a moment later with Elrond, Estel and Arwen at his heals. Arwen looked completely terrified, squeezing the bouquet of flowers she held in her pudgy, childhood hands. She ran to the bedside and placed the flowers on the sheets next to Legolas' face, then darted back to her hiding place behind her father's legs. Estel laughed.
"Arwen don't put them in front of his face!" he chuckled, picking up the flowers and placing them on the bedside table. Legolas smiled when he noted Estel's presence.
"Thank you, Arwen." Legolas cooed with a smile. Arwen blushed a deep rosy red as she peeked out from behind Elrond's legs. Estel hopped up onto the bed at Legolas' side.
"Feeling better today?" the boy asked, still feeling a bit of guilt for his friend's situation. Legolas shrugged.
"I suppose so." Legolas replied.
"Oh, Legolas, save the drama." Thranduil said with a smile, continuing to rub at Legolas' back and shoulders, sitting on the bed just opposite Estel, with Legolas laying in the middle. Elrond laughed lightly.
"My nose hurts, though, Adar." Legolas said, looking over his shoulder at his father with a pout playing across his face, a bandage sealing the open scrape on his chin.
"Hush. Be brave, Little One." Thranduil said with a smile, ever so slightly exasperated. Legolas could be a bit difficult when he wasn't feeling his best, and part of being difficult was being a bit rude; at least in Legolas' case.
Legolas let his head fall against his pillow again. He closed his eyes and snuggled Gilthoniel close to his chest, sighing heavily.
"You didn't get hurt, did you Estel?" Legolas asked, opening his large, grey eyes, looking up to his friend.
"No," he answered with a small smile. "But I wish you hadn't gotten hurt so badly. I should have been hurt, not you." Estel glanced up at Thranduil, the only one who knew of his secret envy. He gave Estel a wink and a grin.
"No. Neither of us should have been hurt, but I don't mind it being me, I suppose." Legolas said with a smile, closing his eyes again. "You like to run and play and climb trees…You shouldn't be hurt."
"But you do, too." Estel said. Legolas sat up.
"Legolas has an entire eternity to climb trees and run and play. Do not worry for him, Estel." Thranduil said, pulling his son into his lap. Legolas rested his head against his father's lap as Elrond retrieved Legolas' daytime clothes; a pair of brown pants that tied under the knee, and a pale blue tunic characteristic of the Royal Family of Mirkwood. Elrond looked to Estel and Arwen, and the older child understood immediately and turned to leave. Arwen stood still for a moment, blinking her large, blue eyes at Legolas.
"Arwen!" Estel cooed, taking her by the wrist. She shouted briefly, but soon understood and followed Estel out. Thranduil chuckled.
"She's quite sensitive." Elrond said, rolling his eyes as he took Legolas gingerly by his broken arm and slipped it out of his pajama shirt, replacing it with his daytime clothes.
"She is very sweet. Linwe has always wanted a daughter." Thranduil said with a smile, looking down briefly at Legolas, who returned a puzzled gaze.
"Arwen should come home with us for a bit." Legolas said quietly with a smile, fisting his hand in slight pain from his arm.
"I think she would be too frightened." Elrond said with a grin. "She has never met your Nana before."
"I'm sure that will change shortly." Thranduil replied. Legolas thought nothing of it.
—o0o—
Later that morning, Legolas and Estel were out in the garden, sitting on the branches of one of the many flowering trees on the veranda.
"I don't believe that you climbed all the way up there with your arm in a sling!" Estel said as he swung from a lower branch. Legolas sat placidly above him, looking up dreamily at the pink and white flowers that surrounded him. He hardly noticed the telltale clap of horseshoes on the cobblestone path approaching the palace.
Estel dropped from the tree, stumbling on the ground for a moment before running to meet whoever was approaching up the road. Legolas followed him, sliding out of the tree carefully so as not to disturb his arm.
Estel stood in awe at the woman who sat atop the horse in the path. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Despite living with Elves for most of his life, Estel had yet to see a woman as beautiful as she. Her hair was so long, it brushed the horse's back behind her, and was the most beautiful chestnut brown. Her eyes were green and settled nicely in her fair face. Estel couldn't help but think that she looked like Legolas, with her ethereal beauty.
When Legolas came to Estel, the first thing he did was smile wide. He then ran at the woman as she dismounted her silver horse. She took the little Elf up in her arms and gave him the most loving hug Estel could imagine.
"I have missed you, my Little Tree." The woman said, placing Legolas back down on the ground.
"I missed you too, Nana." Legolas replied with a smile. Estel grinned, realizing that he was looking at none other than Legolas' mother.
"Your Adar tells me you've made a friend." She said, holding Legolas' hand and approaching Estel. When she reached him, she bent down to his own level. "Are you Estel, Elrond's son?" she asked with a warm smile. Estel nodded, blushing terribly pink, though he couldn't explain why. Linwe laughed lightly.
"Estel and I have been doing all sorts of fun things. We had a sleepover and went to play in the forest and went to classes."
"What a wonderful friend." She said. "I am sorry to hear about your arm though, Legolas. It makes my heart sad to see you hurt." Legolas shrugged.
"I'm alright." He cooed.
"I am glad indeed. Show me to your Adar?" she asked, and Legolas lead her inside, followed by Estel.
Thranduil stood with a smile when his wife entered the gazebo he and Elrond were sharing breakfast in. Arwen snuggled into her father's lap, frightened at the new presence.
"I am glad you came on such short notice." Thranduil said, embracing his wife.
"I came as quickly as I could!"
"Indeed." Elrond said with a smile. "You've managed a three day's trip in only one!"
"A mother's speed is greater than that of any breeze or the swiftest bird when her child is in need." Linwe said, running her long, white hand through Legolas' hair. Arwen peeked around Elrond's shoulder to take a closer look at Linwe. She decided that she liked the woman, and decided to slip from her father's lap. She crept over to Linwe and tugged on her silvery dress. Linwe stooped to Arwen's level, sitting on her feet, kneeling.
"Hello, Little One." She said gently, taking Arwen's hand. "What is your name, Sweet?" she asked.
"…Arwen." She answered timidly.
"What a beautiful name!"
"Are you Legolas' Nana?" the little girl asked, playing with a strand of her long, dark hair, twirling it absently around her finger.
"I am."
"You are very pretty like he is." Arwen said. Legolas blushed a deep pink, and Estel laughed.
"Arwen," Elrond scolded, but Linwe came to her rescue.
"Thank you, Arwen! Legolas is very handsome, isn't he?" she smiled. Arwen nodded, not daring to look to Legolas.
"Arwen, you have the most lovely hair. Would you let me braid it?" Linwe asked. Arwen nodded with a smile.