Legolas would be about the equivalent of 8 in human years.

Legolas burst into his Father's chambers breathlessly, gagging in his throat as he saw him break away from a kiss with Eleren.

Thranduil looked at his son irritably. "Do you need something, Legolas?"

Legolas nodded fiercely, gasping to catch his breath. "I found a- a squirrel!" he panted. "And his leg is broken! And Galion is trying to heal it!"

Thranduil raised an eyebrow and Eleren slid off his lap. "And?"

"Don't you want to see it?"

Thranduil was about to protest, but Eleren elbowed him in the ribs. "Of course. We would love to see it dear!"

Legolas' face broke into a wide grin, and he waved his arm out the door.

Thranduil decided he was very glad they were going to see the squirrel if it made his son this happy. Picking him up, he swung him onto his shoulders, listening to him jabber excitedly about the squirrel and all the fun they were going to have together. He hated to break to him that he would not, in fact, be able to keep it, but he would explain that later.

Legolas told him he had brought it to his rooms, so Thranduil stopped there, ducking a bit to fit both him and Legolas through the doorway.

"My Lord Thranduil and Lady Eleren!" Galion exclaimed, standing and bowing. The squirrel was curled in the crook of his arm, sleeping peacefully.

Legolas scrambled down to the ground and faced his father. "He's so cute! Can I keep him?"

Eleren was stroking the squirrel's head with her finger.

"Well," Thranduil began, bending down to Legolas' level. "I am not sure if that's a good idea. You see, one day, he is going to leave you, and you'll be very sad."

Legolas crossed his arms and pooched out his lower lip. "Beleg would never leave me!"

"Beleg?" Thranduil asked, furrowing his brows.

Legolas stopped pouting. "Yes! I named him after Beleg Cúthalion! I learned all about him last year, and he's my favorite person to learn about!"

Thranduil smiled faintly. "Well, I don't think you should get too attached to him, because despite how much he loves you, he is going to die someday." He hated talking about death to such a young child, but he would have to face the brutal reality some time.

Legolas frowned. "Why would he go to die? Where is die?"

Thranduil smiled. "'Die' is not a place. It is a thing. When a soul leaves the body, they have died and gone to somewhere else, away from Middle-earth."

Legolas frowned even deeper. "Will you die?" He placed two small hands on either side of his father's face.

Thranduil pulled him forward and kissed the top of his golden head. "It is to be hoped not."

Legolas sighed and pushed away, losing interest in the conversation. "Can I keep him?"

"Actually Legolas," Eleren said, tousling his hair. "It's a girl."

Legolas turned to look at her with wide eyes. "Oh," he turned back to Thranduil. "Can I still name him- her Beleg?"

"Legolas, you can't keep-"

Eleren stooped down and kissed him. "Of course you can dear. I am sure she will be as mighty as Beleg Cúthalion was."

Legolas beamed and threw his arms around her neck. "Thank you Naneth!"

Eleren laughed and narrowed her eyes at Thranduil before he could protest. "Just wait until she gets better to play with her."

Legolas kissed her on the cheek and ran out of the room, yelling something about blankets.

"Why did you tell him he could keep it?" Thranduil asked, looking at her incredulously.

"Because he wants to keep her, and he should be allowed to. And besides, it will help him understand things better."

"Like death?" Thranduil asked darkly.

Eleren nodded slowly. "He will learn what it is one day anyway."

Legolas hummed a tune as he stroked the squirrels back. It had been about a month since he found her, and she had recovered from her broken leg. The two were already attached. Eleren had estimated her to be no older than half a year.

"Beleg?" he asked, pausing his humming. Beleg opened an eye.

"Did you know that your name means 'mighty'?"

Beleg gave a small squeak, and Legolas took it as a 'no'.

"Well, that means we have to do mighty deeds together."

She squeaked again. She seemed more awake now.

Legolas smiled. "I'll take you to Imladris in a few weeks. We can see Dan and Ro, and when they try to annoy me, you can bite them."

Beleg squeaked louder and jumped onto his shoulder. Legolas stood up. "Let's go see Ada and Nana."

On the way to Thranduil and Eleren's room, Legolas bumped into Galion and Elros, who were deep in conversation, discussing wine shipments and such.

"Oh! Hello Legolas!" Galion said, smiling brightly. "I see you and Beleg are getting along well?"

"We're best friends!" Legolas said, turning to kiss Beleg on the head.

"I can see that!"

"Well, we're going to see Ada and Nana. Bye!"

Galion and Elros smiled and waved.

When they got to Thranduil's room, it was empty. "Hmm," said Legolas. "I wonder where they are. We might as well wait for them."

He flopped down on the bed and Beleg sat down on his chest.

Legolas though, being a young, energetic, and mischievous elfling found it hard to stay still for long.

Finally he got up and started looking around the room. He had been in there many times before, of course, but he had never explored.

He opened several drawers, mostly filled with clothing or jewelry, until he came to a locked one. His curiosity piqued.

Beleg jumped off his shoulder, and started running around the room. Legolas examined the drawer, wondering what was in it, and if he should even care. He was about to turn away and leave the room when Beleg reappeared on his shoulder, holding something in her paws.

"Beleg you wonderful thing!" Legolas squeaked. He grabbed the key and fitted it in the keyhole. It unlocked the drawer.

He swallowed, wondering if he would get in trouble, and if he did, just how much.

I doubt they'll mind. He told himself.

Slowly he opened it, wondering what great secrets it held.

Peering in, he held his breath... and let it out, huffing in annoyance.

"Bottles," he told Beleg. Pulling one out, he realized it was what he always saw his father drinking. "I think it is 'wine'"

He would have put it back, but Beleg grabbed the cork with her teeth and bit in, ripping it from the bottle.

"Beleg!" Legolas exclaimed. "Now Ada will know someone was in here!" He tried to grab the cork, but Beleg was making a feast of it.

Legolas groaned. To his great terror, he heard footsteps approaching. "Oh dear!"

He froze for a moment, but then realized he had time to run out if he acted fast. Gathering his wits, he shut the drawer, threw the key onto the desk, quickly and quietly opened the door, and fled. Beleg and wine in hand.

When he got to his room, he realized he still had the wine. He considered bringing it to Thranduil and confessing everything, but decided to act like nothing had happened and just dispose of it.

I wonder what it tastes like.

Thranduil opened the door to Legolas' room. He hadn't seen him all morning, and was beginning to worry about him.

His worry only increased when he saw him asleep on his bed.

"Legolas?" He walked to the side of the bed and placed a hand on the side of his head. He almost screamed when Beleg the Squirrel leapt onto his head and started squeaking furiously.

Grabbing and untangling her from his hair, he placed the frantic thing beside Legolas. He was starting to panic, what with Legolas not answering and his pet squirrel attacking him, until his eyes wandered to the floor, and he saw a bottle of wine spilling out everywhere.

His eyes went wide. Grabbing the bottle, he looked at it, then at Legolas, then back at the bottle. Legolas had faint red stains around his mouth. Beleg had red all around her chin and nose.

"ELEREN!" he screamed. "GALION!"

Eleren rushed into the room a moment later. "What is it dear-?" She gasped when she saw Legolas. "Has something happened? What happened?"

Thranduil explained what he had discovered in a rush.

"Oh Valar!" She groaned. "Our son is- drunk?"

Thranduil gulped and groaned himself. Galion ran in. "My Lord! You called?"

"My son is drunk."

"And Beleg." Eleren added.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed. If so, please leave a review and tell me your thoughts. I would love suggestions for other mischievous adventures for these two to get into:)

The next chapter will feature them in Imladris, which means twins, Erestor, and Glorfindel! Some of my favorite people to write!