#34 A Book
"Then the dragon turned its head and for a moment the prince thought all was lost as it pierced him with its steely gaze and he stood, frozen to the spot. There was a blur of movement to his left as a voice shouted out a warning then something hard barrelled into him, knocking him off his feet, just as he felt the blistering heat from a wave of fire wash over his face and he fell to the rocky ground in a lifeless tangle of limbs."
There was a sharp intake of breath as the small figure beside him nestled closer and Thranduil looked down into a pair of bright green eyes grown as huge as water lily leaves.
"Shall I stop Ion nin?" He asked gently, smiling down in anticipation of the answer.
"Nay! Nay! Do not stop now ada." The elfling beside him protested. "You always want to stop here."
"But it is past time you were asleep and you know how the story ends tithen pen." Thranduil attempted a stern expression, knowing full well that he would be the one to give in.
"But how can I be sure it is the same ending if you don't finish the story." His small son pleaded. "It might change." He continued before his father could interrupt. "The dragon might gobble him up, or a nasty goblin might come and take him away to be a slave or…"
"Legolas, Legolas," the king finally managed to cut in. "I think you have too much imagination than is good for a young elfling." He smiled indulgently. " Alright, I will finish the story but you must promise me to go straight to sleep once it is done."
"Yes ada, I will." The youngster beamed up at his beloved father and nodded. "I promise."
"Very well then." Thranduil smiled back before looking down at the book held loosely in his hand and taking up the tale once more.
"Long it was until the Prince awoke, so long that the King and Queen had feared he may ever stay trapped between the worlds, half in this and half in the next but awake he did and…"
A/N
Hopefully this one is a little more straightforward than the last. ;)
Thanks for reading.
