Thank you so much to everyone who read/reviewed last chapter! Sending lots of love to guest reviewers (Ninde, Nina and Art! Thanks so much!). Thanks to awilliamsbbc.98 for editing this!

Summary: A baby's first sentence is a matter of joy… it is not really Legolas' fault he has bad timing, is it?

Characters: Legolas, Thranduil.


An Imitating Problem

The Valar were fair, that was something Thranduil had been told since he was born. The Valar were fair, Ilúvatar was judicious, and the world was balanced. As balanced as it could be, that is. But the King of Greenwood was starting to doubt that piece of wisdom. For, if Ilúvatar was as farsighted as they said He was, why didn't Thranduil have the patience of an Ent?

"Legolas, saes ion-nin, just wear the circlet."

"No!" The little Prince said, taking the object in discord off of his head and throwing it against the wall. Thranduil dropped beside his son, massaging the bridge of his nose as he reached for the circlet. He examined it closely, noticing the small dents, fruit of the many bangs this poor piece of jewerly had suffered.

"I swear, I never was this difficult," Thranduil muttered under his breath, reaching for Legolas and setting him on his lap. "Legolas, you are going to wear this, whether you want to or not, do you hear me?"

"No!" The Prince said again, making a face and twisting in his father's lap. Thranduil took his hands and stilled him.

"Legolas!" He called, "You are going to wear the circlet, and that is the end of it."

Legolas sobbed, trying to break free from his father's clutch. When he came to the realization that there was no way out of that one, he turned his eyes towards Thranduil with a pout.

"Oh, no," Thranduil said, "That is not fair and you know it. You are wearing the circlet."

Legolas' pout intensified.

"Legolas," Thranduil warned him.

A sniffle.

"Oh, vey well, you win." Thranduil took the circlet off his son's head, stood and returned it to the wooden box on the table. "You were going to take it off as soon as I walked out the bedroom, anyway."

Legolas chuckled, nodding and clapping as he watched the much hated circlet be put back where it belonged. There was then a quick rap at the door, and Thranduil turned to see Daeron enter the room.

"Good afternoon," the warrior merrily said, as he walked towards the King and reached for Legolas. "Alright, I've got him. You go and get dressed, we will wait for you at the yard. Elrond and the rest should be pretty near now."

"Yes, they should. Will you make sure he wears the cloak? It's cold today."

"Yes, of course."

"No!"

Thranduil and Daeron looked at Legolas, who was shaking his head.

"Legolas, I already let you welcome Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian without your circlet. You are wearing the cloak."

"No!"

"Yes! Legolas, yes!" Thranduil pointed at him with a warning finger. "You are wearing the cloak and I will not be hearing anything more about this. Make sure he does." He said, looking at Daeron, who chuckled and nodded. With a last admonishing look towards his son, the King shook his head and made for the door. "I don't have time for this."

It was less than an hour later that Thranduil, Enery and a restless Legolas were waiting for the Imladris family on the green. The King and Queen shared an amused look as they watched the toddler play with his toys on the grass.

"As soon as they arrive, you stand up from the ground, alright Legolas?" Enery asked her son, who nodded.

Neighs were heard soon after, and Legolas obediently stumbled up and joined his parents, nibbling on the paw of his stuffed dog as he intently watched the riders appear from the verdant grove.

"Welcome, my dear friends." Thranduil said, stepping forward and formally bowing his head before Lord Elrond and his family. "I trust the journey here was uneventful."

"Well met, my King. It was, thank the Valar." Lord Elrond answered, returning the bow. His eyes flickered to something behind Thranduil, and his lips twitched into a smile. "Oh dear, is that Legolas?"

Thranduil nodded, as he turned and motioned his son forward. Legolas shyly took a few stumbling steps towards them, eyes fixed on the ground.

"How much he has grown!" Celebrian exclaimed, approaching them with Enery by her side. "He is handsome, Enery. He is going to be a charmer!"

"He already is! He has Thranduil around his little finger," the Queen said, laughing, delighted at the flush that was now spreading across her husband's face.

"Well, it's not as if you were any better," he berated mildly.

Elrond knelt beside the little Prince. "Last time I saw you, you were this high," he told him, lifting his hand at the height of Legolas' waist. The Prince quickly checked it out, going back to studying the ground before him immediately after. If he didn't know any better, Elrond would think the elfling had never seen a leaf of grass in his life.

"Legolas, say 'hi' to Lord Elrond." The King encouraged, crouching beside them and gently patting his son's back.

Legolas looked askance at the newcomer, conscious of everyone's eyes turned towards him. Then he sighed dramatically, flushing a strand of hair back, as he babbled in a tiny, baby voice, "I don't have time for this."

Thranduil blinked at his son, gasping. Or, at least, thinking about gasping, he never knew if any actual sound came out of his aghast mouth. He watched Legolas turn and take small but decisive steps towards Daeron as he raised his arms in a silent petition to be picked up. 'Maybe they have not understood it,' he thought, 'it was pretty much baby talk. Maybe I misunderstood him and my son did not just say he did not have time for the Lord of Imladris.'

But one look at Elrond's face was enough to know that Legolas' words had been clear enough, and judging by the sudden burst of laughs the twins melted in and Arwen's snickering, it had not only been clear, but loud.

"If it is any consolation," the King gulped, "that's the longest sentence he's ever said."

XxX

Thranduil played with his food, staring disinterestedly at the perfectly cut tomato on his plate.

"Thranduil," Elrond brought his head out of the clouds, "Please, stop thinking about it. He is but a toddler, I don't think he even knew what he was saying. And besides, it is not as if he has thrown a fist of mud at me, like someone," he said, looking sharply at Elrohir, who hid behind his cup, "Did to you all those years back."

"That was pretty funny," Thranduil said, smiling fondly at the twin.

"Well, so is this! 'I don't have time for this' is a great first sentence. Think about how much you are going to be able to embarrass him in the future with this story."

"Yes, I suppose you are right," Thranduil chuckled, "I wonder where on Arda he has heard that sentence, anyway."

Enery chocked on her water, getting everyone's attention as she looked at her husband with an amazed expression. "You are kidding right? Where has he picked up that sentence?"

Thranduil frowned, nodding and reiterating his question. "Yes, where has he?"

"Obviously you, Thranduil!" She laughed, "'I don't have time for this' is your favourite expression ever! You are saying it all the time, Legolas is just copying you."

"No, I am not!" Thranduil said, as he turned towards Elrond looking for reinforcements. "I am not, right Elrond?"

"Well, you do seem to like that sentence, I'm afraid." Elrond shuddered.

"Just give up, melleth. You say it quite a lot, but there is nothing to be embarrassed about! You are a busy King." Enery grasped her husband's hand, squeezing it. "And Legolas is just trying to be like his father in every single aspect of his life, even if it means becoming the most sarcastic little elfling in all Middle-Earth."

Thranduil shook his head, smiling in spite of the situation. He sighed, turning his head towards the servant that had just entered the room and motioning him forward. The elf approached the table and whispered to the King and Queen, "He is crying."

Thranduil sighed, pushing the chair back as he stood. "I've got him," he told Enery. "Enjoy the rest of the dinner." The others smiled back and Thranduil left the room.

The King reached the dark wood door soon after, and pressed an ear against the polished surface. He picked up soft sobs coming from inside, and opened the door trying to prevent it from squeaking. The shadows danced around the candle Thranduil was carrying, and the King saw the shape of his son sitting up on the crib, with his stuffed dog clutched in one hand. He left the candle on the table and smiled down at Legolas, who stood up and leant on the slats. The King bent and picked him up, placing a kiss on top of the golden head.

"Why are you still awake, my little leaf?" He whispered, rocking him back and forth. Legolas made himself comfortable in his father's arms as Thranduil grabbed a chair and headed for the balcony.

The King sat with Legolas on his lap. "Look at the stars," he whispered, pointing at the sky. Legolas followed his finger and opened his eyes wide.

"Ooh," he said in amazement.

"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Thranduil chuckled, as he hugged his son closer when a cold breeze made the elfling shiver. Legolas then babbled something, looking at his father curiously. "The bright star over there?" Thranduil asked, and Legolas nodded. The King smiled, congratulating himself on having guessed his son's words once again. A true gift of his, he was the only one able to communicate with the elfling. It drove Enery crazy. "That is the Star of Eärendil, my little leaf, Elrond's dad."

Legolas blinked at him, confused.

"Never mind," Thranduil laughed. "That's a story for another time."

"… time?" Legolas repeated, tilting his head. Thranduil snapped his eyes back at him, chuckling in shock.

"Very good, Legolas! I guess you are repeating after me, aren't you? Even if you have no idea what you are saying."

Legolas giggled, clapping at his father's amusement.

"Alright, here goes nothing. Legolas, say: 'I am Legolas'." He pressed a finger to his son's chest when he said his name.

The elfling grabbed his father's hand, as he said, "I am 'Leolas'"

"That is very good!" Thranduil got his son's hands and clapped them together, as he rubbed his nose against his. "You are a clever, clever elfling. Now say: 'I love Ada'."

"I love Ada!" Legolas repeated, jumping in excitement on his father's lap. Thranduil hugged him closer, swaying merrily from side to side on the chair as he blew a raspberry on his son's neck, eliciting delighted laughs and shrieks. Legolas pushed his father's face away.

"I love you too, my little leaf!" The King said. Then, with a teasing glint on his eyes, he added, "Alright, what about this: 'I love…'"

"I love…"

"Ada…"

"Ada…"

"Better than Nana."

"Better than Nana."

"Why, thank you very much, Legolas! That is great to hear! Wait until your mother hears of this." He chuckled, as he cradled Legolas and hummed a lullaby. He rested his head on the wall behind, his mind wandering away and his gaze scanning the twinkling stars that kept vigil over them. Then, with a start, he looked down on his son and patted his tummy.

"Oh, oh, Legolas. Last one, please," he said. The elfling opened his eyes expectantly. "Say: 'Daeron, you stink.'"

"Daeron," Legolas sighed, his eyes drifting shut, "you stink."

"That's great, my little leaf." Thranduil said, kissing his forehead. "Oh, how much fun we are going to have, you and I."


I hope you liked it! I'd love to hear your thoughts!