#18 Count Up

One.

Silently slender fingers caressed the small, well rubbed and worn object held loosely within their grasp as Thranduil smiled and mentally thanked the trees for the hundredth time for their most welcome message.

Two.

Taking careful aim, glittering eyes lovingly watched their target move along the path beneath him, anxiously scanning the lithe form for signs of pain or injury. The kings heart began to race as he found he was almost unable to refrain from leaping out from his hiding place to gather the son he had thought never to see this side of the sundering sea again into his arms and never letting go.

Three.

With a wide smile the small projectile was launched towards its intended victim and as he watched its graceful arc through the air with gleeful anticipation Thranduil felt the years fall away as he remembered when it had been he on the receiving end of the acorn. He had never thought then that it would be so long before he would take his revenge.

Too long.

A loud dwarven curse split the air making Thranduil's grin even larger, he had managed to teach his son something after all, then he was down from the tree and sprinting like an elf possessed across to where Legolas was rubbing his forehead, a huge grin of his own bearing testimony to their shared memory. Gathering his victim into his arms as if he were an elfling Thranduil breathed in, inhaling deeply of the well known scent unique to his son, finally knowing for certain what his heart had been telling him was true.

His son was safe. His son was home, and woe betide anyone who tried to take him away again.


A/N This one is a short sister piece to Count Down ( Chapter 16 ) and will probably make more sense if you have read that one. :)

Please let me now what you think.

Lord Illyren - Glad the last one wasn't too fluffy. I must admit to having quite a soft spot for little Legolas and his father.