Chapter Eleven

"Ada! I want my own horse!" Thranduil calls as Legolas sits him on top of Cyran.

"My prince!" Eomer comes down to us and has Arod trailing behind him. Arod goes up to Legolas and nudges his face. "He will not let no other man handle him nor will he bear them." Eomer explains and Legolas pets Arod's nose. "I give him to you as a gift and it seems just in time as your son said he wishes for a horse." Eomer states and Legolas's smiles.

"Yes it seems he does. When we visit I will entrust you with his riding lessons and whenever you may choose to visit." Legolas replies and Eomer bows his head.

"My prince, it seems I have become quite attached to your son and your company as well as Lady Elora's I would like to accompany you back to Mirkwood and remain there for a few years time." Eomer replies and Legolas looks to his father who gives an approving nod.

"You may come with us then Eomer, son of Eomund."

"Uncle Eomer is coming? Yay!" Thranduil states and I laugh merrily.

"Thranduil, just as you are too young for a bow you are too young for a horse. You will ride with uncle Eomer. I will ride Cyran while Arod will bear our belongings for the journey home." Legolas explains to him and Thranduil pouts.

"I want to grow up fast so I can have a bow and horse like you ada." Thranduil states and I smirk.

"Don't grow up too fast Thranduil, your ada might have a heart attack if you do." I tease and Legolas laughs along with the rest of our company.

"What's a heart attack?" Thranduil asks and I sigh.

"You will find out when when you're older a begin your studies." Legolas answers the smile on my face doesn't seem to want to go away. Ada and nana come down and it seems like all of Minas Tirith is here.

"Ada, nana." I greet them with a hug and then look down to my baby brother. "Eldarion." I greet him with a kiss on his forehead. He smiles and my eyes widen.

"Well someones loves his big sister." Ada points out and I smile.

"I will return as soon as I can or needed." I say to the tiny infant and he pulls at my hair. I smile and kiss his forehead one last time. I look between my parents. Ada pulls me into his arms.

"Don't you go and grow up on me Elora, you're still my baby girl." Ada says and kisses my forehead. I kiss his cheek. I go to nana, kissing her cheek.

"I will always be your baby girl." I state to both of them and they both hug me.

"Be safe lellig." Nana whispers and I look into her eyes seeing all the love she has for me. Ada goes over to Legolas.

"I will nana." I reply and she kisses my cheekbone.

"So you say but you're just as reckless as your father and always will be." Nana says and I laugh.

"I am my father's daughter." I state and I seem to say that a lot but alas is still proves to be true.

"Melamin, time to go." Legolas calls out. I head over and he helps me onto Loriel. Legolas mounts Cyran and off we go. I look back one last time at my parents. They smile and wave.

I refuse to let myself cry. I smile and wave back. Before my eyes a vision of ada, nana, and Eldarion, and a girl flashes. Eldarion looks about to be the age of ten and beside him a girl who looks impeccably like nana, more so than myself, stands at his side. She is about the age of five. My parents are both partially grey haired.

The vision fades and my parents and infant brother stand in the distance. I turn back to the front and happy tears stream down my face. "Legolas, times like this I appreciate my gift of foresight. I'll have a baby sister in five years time." I state and he turns to me and smiles.

"Ah, and I'll a brother in a years time." Legolas states and my eyes widen and a a laugh escapes my mouth.

"Well, it looks like things are starting to take a happier turn for once." I state and Legolas smiles at me.

"Yes, yes it is." I look at Thranduil who avidly talks to Eomer about fairies. He's fascinated with them.

Nightfalls and we stop to make camp. I am wary because of my son and I know there are still orcs out there and the lingering threat Elthalion made has me on edge. "Nana! What's that coming towards us?" Thranduil asks. My eyes widen.

"Orcs." I answer and hear swords being drawn. Legolas get's in front of Thranduil and I with his bow at the ready.

"Nana, what are orcs?" Thranduil asks, scared.

"Evil creatures that were once, a very very long time ago, elves." I answer keeping Thranduil close to me. He clings to my legs. I look and the orcs are becoming less and less, they keep falling.

"Ha haugh!" I hear a familiar voice shout and smirks crack both mine and Legolas's faces. "Finally I have outscored you elvish princeling!" Gimli states and I burst into laughter as our old dwarf friend approaches us.

"Gimli! Dear friend what brings you this way?" Legolas asks and King Thranduil looks on with distaste...he really doesn't like dwarves.

"Uncle Gimli!" Thranduil runs over to Gimli and hugs him.

"Ah! Young Thranduil! Where is your lovely mother?" Gimli asks and I step forward. "I see your pregnancy goes well. Where are you off to?" Gimli asks happily.

"We are traveling to Mirkwood, where we will live from now on." I answer and King Thranduil clears his throat.

"Ah! King Thranduil, and honour to meet you." Gimli bows respectfully. "I am Gimli, son of Gloin." Gimli adds and King Thranduil stares with an unchanging cold stare.

"He is a good friend ada and was a member of the Fellowship." Legolas informs him happily.

"Ah, well let us get some rest." King Thranduil turns away and heads back to the company.

"My apologies Gimli, my father is not found of dwarves." Legolas states and Thranduil goes over to Legolas.

"Ada, up! I'm tired." He says and Legolas lifts him.

"Aye, I know that. Was it not you who captured Thorin's company?" Gimli asks and Legolas's face falls. Seeing this Gimli quickly apologizes, "I am sorry I meant not to bring up memories." Gimli says and Legolas places a hand on his shoulder.

"There is no harm done and you are quite correct." Legolas replies and Thranduil pats his cheek. "What is it Ion nin?" Legolas asks gently.

"I want to go lay with annadar." He answers so Legolas puts him down and he goes over to where King Thranduil sits.

"I will take my leave now as I am on my way to visit kin in the iron hills." Gimli states. "I bid you two well. Farewell until we meet again!" Gimli calls over his shoulder as he joins the group of dwarves he was with.

"That was a nice little run-in." I state and take Legolas's hand. He doesn't respond. "Legolas?" I ask squeezing his hand and arm. I move in front of him and cup his cheek. "Legolas, look at me." I order softly, concerned. He looks down and his blue eyes show pain. "What is it that troubles your heart melamin?" I ask softly.

"A memory." He answers, putting his hands on my hips. "Tauriel loved a dwarf in the company, Kili was his name. He was young, one of Thorin's nephews I believe. While escaping from my kingdom he was shot in the knee by a morgul arrow. In Lake Town Tauriel had healed him. During the battle he sacrificed his life to protect Tauriel, she watched him die." Legolas says and tears slip down my cheeks.

"That is so sad." I point out and wipe away my tears.

"Melamin, you still amaze me. You have such a big heart, no wonder everybody begins to like you as soon as you say 'hi' to them." Legolas says and holds me close.

"I think you're exaggerating a bit." I reply and he kisses me. I think to myself while standing there in Legolas's arms. I wonder what Kili was like? What would have happened if he did not die? I ask myself those two questions over and over again until a cry pierces the comfortable silence. Legolas and I first turn to our son who is wide away and shaking in KIng Thranduil's arms.

"What in all of Arda was that?" Tauriel asks and I look around. It's pierces the night again and this time closer. My ears ring.

"What the.." I trail off and spot a figure in the distance. It's come toward us.

"Stop! Show yourself!" King Thranduil yells and the figure comes into the light of our fire, his face is hidden by the hood of his cloak. "Who are you?" King Thranduil asks as he hands Thranduil to me slowly. Legolas pushes us back to Tauriel and keep his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I am known as Thurindor, but Lady Elora would know me by my other worldly name, Lyndon." The man throws back his hood and the face I thought I would never see again is right in front of me.

"Lyndon! What in all of Arda?" I ask happily but surprised. He smiles, his green eyes shining.

"It has been long milady and I see you have grown! And what's this!? A beautiful child rests on your hip! I take it he is yours?" Lyndon asks happily and I nod.

"Yes, his father is Prince Legolas." I answer and Lyndon...or Thurindo steps back and bows respectfully.

"My deepest apologies, I was overjoyed to see an old friend I forgot my manners my lord." Thurindor bows respectfully.

I got up to Legolas and stand beside him. "Legolas, meet Lyndon, or I guess Thurindor. He was and is, one of my best friends." I explain and Legolas looks jealous.

"I do not mean to bring such a happy meeting to a low but I bring news from Rivendell, Elthalion had rallied a force of ten thousand remaining orcs before he died. They have been seen marching north from Dol Guldor, towards your kingdom my King." Thurindor explains and I feel Legolas tense beside me.

"Then we must return with haste. We must ride now." King Thranduil urges and Legolas walks after him. I watch and they seem to be arguing. Queen Arla goes over to them and I turn back to Thurindor.

"Hannon le Thurindor, but I must ask you to leave now, please." I beg and he nods in understanding.

"I hope to speak with you on better terms." He replies and begins to leave.

"You two! I said enough! What kind of example are you setting for Thranduil?" Queen Arla asks them and they look at her crossly.

"I will not make my wife ride through the night, she is pregnant and I will not force my son to..." Legolas argues and I sigh.

"Legolas Greenleaf! Your worry will be the death of you!" I state, interrupting him. He looks over at me no less angry than he was two seconds ago. "Legolas, Thranduil is already asleep on my hip and yes, I am quite obviously pregnant but I will be fine." I argue and he is about to argue but I continue before he has a chance. "I have gone days without sleep and you know that better than anybody else. Both you and your father need to stop this bickering! Now, Queen Arla, are we riding or no?" I ask, ignoring the two ellons who protest.

"Yes we are." She answers and both KIng Thranduil and Legolas stop talking. "Legolas, Thranduil, get on your horses we are leaving."

"Yes dear."

"Yes nana."

I hand Thranduil to Eomer carefully and head over to Loriel. Arms help me onto her back. "Hannon le, Legolas." He goes over to Cyran and jumps on without a glance at me. I sigh knowing I have angered him. We ride on in uncomfortable silence.

Mid afternoon comes by and the only voices that can be heard are Calaen's, Tauriel's, and Thranduil's. I look over at Legolas and he stares ahead of us. I look around and I recognize the land, we come to the forest line and if we travel through the night once again we shall reach the Halls of Thranduil by morning.

Legolas and I both jump when we hear our son's cry break the silence. "My prince! My apologies! I was going to let him ride with me but he jumped from lord Eomer's horse to mine and I did not quite catch him." Calaen explains and I slide of Loriel and pick up Thranduil. He cries and holds his arm.

"Thranduil! You should not be jumping horse from horse because this is what happens." I scold and inspect his arm. "I do believe you have broken it." I state and Legolas comes over.

"That was a reckless thing to do Thranduil." Legolas says and Thranduil looks down. Legolas takes a large piece of cloth and puts it on Thranduil, using it as a sling. I look up and Legolas sighs and pulls us both close.

"NO! I don't want to be held!" Thranduil squirms and jumps out of my arms and runs off.

"Thranduil Greenleaf!" Four voices shout, two of them being Legolas and I, the other two being King Thranduil and Queen Arla.

Legolas and I go in the direction our son went in. We find him crying under a tree, a giant spider is crawling down from the tree. "Thranduil!" Legolas yells and runs and grabs our son coming back over to me. He puts Thranduil down, Thranduil runs off again. I hear the dying sound of a spider as I turn after my son.

"Thranduil Greenleaf!" I shout and run my fingers through my hair.

"No! I don't want to see them!" I hear Thranduil yell and his grandfather comes over with him over his shoulder. Our company comes behind King Thranduil. Legolas walks over and takes Thranduil.

Legolas sets him down smacks him on the butt. Thranduil begins to cry. "You shouldn't have run off like that! It's dangerous out here Thranduil, you could have been hurt worse than you already are." Legolas scolds and I go over.

"Go away! I hate you!" Thranduil yells as he turns and sits down. Legolas looks very hurt and unsure about what to do. I go over and pick Thranduil up and turn him towards Legolas and I. "I hate you to!" He yells at me and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Thranduil Greenleaf you're grounded. No bedtime story and no dessert after supper." I state and he bursts into tears again. "Why did you run off?" I ask, picking him up and he turns away from my gaze.

"Thranduil, look at your mother when she is talking to you." Legolas says sternly.

"You and ada weren't talking!" He wails and buries his face into my shoulder and wraps his uninjured arm around my neck. His little shoulders are shaking with sobs. I turn to Legolas and he places a hand on Thranduil's back. "Don't fight no more." Thranduil cries and I kiss his temple.

"Thranduil, go to you father." I hand him to Legolas, he doesn't meet his gaze. He cries harder.

"I don't hate you ada! Please don't hate me!" He cries and Legolas rubs his back.

"I don't hate you Thranduil, just don't say that ever again." Legolas replies softly.

"I don't hate you either nana." Thranduil says turning to me. "Am I still grounded?" He asks looking at the ground.

"Yes, that is what happens when you do things like run off and say 'I hate you'." I answer and he sniffles. I look up into blue eyes and we share a knowing glance. This all happened because we weren't talking. Legolas wraps a free arm around my waist.

"Thranduil, you must also understand that for a while your mother and I may not be speaking, not because we are fighting but because I have to tend to my duties as a Prince, just as you will have to one day." Legolas explains and Thranduil nods.

We head back to our horses, Calaen takes Thranduil. Legolas comes over and helps me onto Loriel. "I love you Elora." He says and kisses my hand.

"I love you too Legolas." I reply and squeeze his hand, since I can't really lean down. He goes over Cyran.

As we begin to ride his words to Thranduil haunt me. I remember that time in Rivendell when he had been busy with 'business' and I was left to do my own thing. I felt so lonely then even though I had the rest of the fellowship around. How will Thranduil be without his father constantly around like he is used to? Stupid Elthalion, stupid jealousy, stupid orcs.