*gives millions and millions of hugs to all the wonderful reviewers*

Hee hee.

Wow…but really…thank you so much, all of you!

*gives more hugs*

I do not have time to make comments on this post, since I have work to do, but I want to let you know how much I—and Emmithar—have enjoyed your reviews!  Thank you so much!!  They really do make a difference, and we both really appreciate them.

And I wasn't that mean, was I?

*impish grin*

"You told him what?" Thranduil demanded, somewhat startled. It wasn't the first time she had gone behind his back making promises to the young one without first getting his consent. And he was not willing to break the hopeful heart of his son.

Feaear nodded somewhat sheepishly, but her eyes sparkled with a familiar firmness and confidence that told the Mirkwood king that she was not going to give up until he gave in.

"It was the only way I could get him to promise that he really try to pay more attention to his lessons.  His eyes were so hopeful, and you know how much he's been craving to learn.  Why, you yourself have even told me how much you anticipated your first lessons, and how much they meant to you.  He has to start sooner or later, and in this case I would go with the former.  You never know when his skill might come in handy, and I am sure—"

With a sigh, Thranduil interrupted, "So be it."  A small smile was beginning to creep up onto his face, and his eyes shone with the recognizable mirth that often came after he gave in to one of his wife's requests.  "If that is what you wish, I will do it.  When do you want the lessons to start?"

   Feaear flashed him a brilliant smile, and as she began to leave the room, she stated, "As soon as possible, if you are fine with that."

Thranduil nodded reluctantly in agreement and was about to turn back to the work piled up before him on his study table when Feaear paused in the doorway.  Frowning slightly, he felt an odd but humorous irritation grow within him. He glanced at her slightly. "Is there more you wish to say, melamin [my love]?" But of course he already knew the answer, for now he could read it in her expression.

Her whole demeanor had turned serious abruptly, and she answered, "Only that you do not get impatient with him."  As Thranduil let out a frustrated sigh, she continued, "He is only a young boy, and the mind of a child is different than that of an elder.  He will think you do not love him, and his feelings will be hurt.  Iston [I know], Thranduil."

"I will try my best," he answered.

"That is what I wanted to hear."

Feaear kissed him gently, catching Thranduil slightly by surprise.  She straightened, and then swept out the door, giving him a smile before she vanished down the corridor.

Thranduil sighed again as he sat back down in his chair.  As he stared out the window situated just above his study table, he wondered, now what have I gotten myself into?

~*~*~

It was late when Thranduil finally put aside his work that evening. Feaear had already retired for the night, and he found the corridors casting an uncomfortable silence. Making his way down the hallway he paused slightly before the cream colored door that led into his son's room, resting a hand on the fine wood before going inside.

Legolas lay curled up on his side, his half-lidded eyes informing the Elf Lord that he indeed was asleep. Pulling a chair up he sat down besides the bed, stroking his son's golden hair. Time to time he found himself envying the bond his wife had with their son, but only then did he remind himself that it was his fault that the two of them weren't close.

He gave a hushed sigh. He could remember the time as if it was yesterday when Feaear had told him the news. Her eyes had sparkled like the evening stars as she drew him close and told it to him in hushed whispers.

"Thranduil, I love you more than words can say. From the first day I saw you, I knew we were meant to be together."

"I know of what you speak, for I too fell into the trap of passion and fondness when I saw you beneath the trees."

"Yes, and I have news for you," she had whispered silently, her warm breath brushing across his neck…

Thranduil shook his head, remembering his reaction toward the news, how crushed she had been. At that time he was convinced that it wasn't his fault. He wasn't ready to be a father, at least not yet. But as she grew, he began to become apprehensive.

When Legolas was born, he could remember the joy he felt, holding his first-born son. Then after that…after that not even he knew what had happened. He loved his son so much, but somehow he couldn't find the way to show it.

Rubbing his forehead he stood, only pausing to kiss his son, before leaving the room to go at last to his bed.

~*~*~   

Legolas glared darkly at the target and then at his arrow, which had landed a good many feet to the right.  Dropping his bow, he balled up his hands into fists and sat down, his scowl turning to the ground.

They had been outdoors for the past hour now, and it seemed to the young elf that he had gotten nowhere.  This wasn't at all like how he had anticipated it to be.  There had been excitement as his father showed him how to string the arrow, and the correct way to hold the bow.  Legolas had stood there, trying to imitate to the best of his ability the stance and position of the archers he had seen at the contest, and he had imagined himself scoring the target head on.

But not all had gone as he had planned. 

Thranduil sighed as he went over to retrieve his son's fallen arrow.  As he turned back to face his son, Legolas muttered, "You promised that you'd teach me how to shoot."

  Smiling slightly, Thranduil answered, "Now son…archery takes practice.  That was a pretty good shot considering that this is only our first lesson."  Thranduil's eyes turned thoughtful as he asked, "You want to know something?"

"Mani [What]?" Legolas muttered, still upset.  It had been his tenth try, and he seemed no nearer to making the target than he had on his first.  If anything, it was getting worse.

"I was a pretty pathetic shot at your age."

The young prince raised his eyes until they met his father's.

"Really?" he inquired, his face tinged with a hint of disbelief, "or are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

Thranduil walked over to his son and bent down until he was looking head on into his son's eyes.

"Really."

Legolas managed a smile and Thranduil continued, "And you are much better than I ever was when I was as young as you.  I could not even get the arrow to land more than several inches after my feet."

His son giggled.  It was hard to imagine his father not being able to make the arrow go far.  Thranduil straightened and remarked, "Now I believe that we have done enough for today.  We will continue with our lessons tomorrow.  I must go back inside for I have work to do, but you may stay out here for a while if you wish."

Thranduil squeezed his son's shoulder comfortingly and traversed back along the path that led to the palace.

Legolas sighed and stared at the ground.  He wished his mother had been there.  Maybe he would have been more fortunate.

His sharp Elven ears were then able to pick up the sound of running feet.  He tensed and his shoulders straightened as he caught sight of a rabbit scampering up on the path in the distance.

Maybe, just maybe…

With these thoughts in mind, Legolas strung his bow quickly and prepared to shoot.  Suddenly, he felt a hand upon his shoulder and he gave a cry of surprise.  He looked up to find himself staring into the eyes of his mother.  When he glanced back at the path, the rabbit had vanished, and he could hear it's footsteps receding into the distance.

He groaned softly and brushed away tears as he complained, "You made me miss!"

"Come, Elleeramin, let us go for a walk."

[Come stop your crying it will be alright,

Just take my hand, hold it tight.]

"Why did you have to do that, mother? I could of had my first kill. I was so close, " Legolas asked softly as they began to walk.

Smiling gently down at her son, Feaear told him, "It is very important that you never kill any living creature unless it is necessary."

"What about orcs and spiders?" Legolas asked, frowning.  "Father sends people out to kill them all the time."

Feaear laughed and answered, "I believe that I said only when it is necessary."

"I only wanted to practice," the young prince informed.

His mother knelt in front of her son and took his hands in hers.  She gazed fondly into his eyes and replied, sighing, "I know that; but even so, that little rabbit has every chance at life as you have.  You probably would not have shot him, but nevertheless, he had done nothing to harm you.  I know how important that life is to you, and it is just as important to that rabbit.  You must promise me that you will never try to kill an innocent creature, unless you really need to."

Legolas gripped his mother's hand tighter and answered, "I promise mother.  I would do anything you asked of me."

She laughed and ran her hand through her son's long golden hair.

"Thank you, Legolas."

She pulled her son into a tight, warm embrace before rising slowly to her feet, her hands still enveloping those of her son.  She gazed at him lovingly.  He was so young and innocent and blissfully unaware of the darkness and dangers that lay just beyond their realm and were forever rising.  How she wished she would be able to protect him forever; but she knew with a deep, burning regret in her heart that Legolas would grow, as would his interest in the outside world.

That time would come but it had not arrived yet.  Her son was still a child, and she was thankful for his young mind to divert her attention from the problems and toils that she faced in her daily life.  Feaear gazed down at Legolas again, and then she slipped her hand out of her son's and turned in the direction of the palace.

"Race you back?" she offered, her eyes sparkling.

Legolas' face lit up, and he broke into a run as soon as he turned.  Feaear followed close behind, and her laughter along with her son's filled the woods as they dashed back home.

~*~*~

Gripping his bow tightly, Legolas stormed off from his supposed friends, who had been teasing him once again about his size and his inability to shoot.  He brushed hot tears from his eyes and he blinked them rapidly as he tried to ignore their taunts.  Well, so what if he couldn't shoot yet, and his mother had told him he would grow.  She would never lie to him.  And when he got big and able to shoot, he'd teach them a lesson so that they'd never tease him again.

He resisted the temptation to take aim at another rabbit that scurried past his feet, remembering his mother's words to him the day before.  An idea struck him then, causing him to smile.  He could always pretend.

Legolas got his bow ready in the position that his father showed him and tried to stand as he often saw his father do before he went out on the occasional orc hunts that took him away from home.  He knitted his brows in concentration as he began to walk stealthily through the forest path, ducking behind trees and aiming at imaginary orcs.

"Beware of Legolas, mighty slayer of orcs," he declared to himself.  He paused as if thinking it over, and then shook his head.  It didn't sound right.  He continued to stalk and as he took aim at another one of the fantasy creatures, he stated, "I am Legolas, the most powerful orc slayer of all!"

"What are you doing?"

The voice startled Legolas out of his imaginary hunt, and he turned around and looked at her sheepishly.

"I was pretending that I was a mighty orc hunter."

Feaear laughed and ran her hand through her son's golden hair.

"Did you hit anything, my brave prince?"

Grinning, Legolas replied, "Oh yes, atara!  I have killed many of them."  His eyes sparkled and he stifled a giggle as he continued, "You can help me, mummy!  Come slay orcs with me!"

Feaear gazed at her son thoughtfully, hiding the pain in her eyes as she remembered her own past experiences with the foul creatures.  If only he knew the real dangers involved.  But he was innocent, and to him right now this was just a game.

She smiled down at her son, and responded, "Alright, my Legolas.  Do you know where some are?"

The young elf listened intently to the sounds of the forest, and then grabbed his mother's arm and began pulling her in the direction up the path which lead close to the palace.

"This way!" he cried excitedly, and Feaear followed him.

~*~*~

Unbeknownst to the two, a solitary figure had drawn back the curtains from his study window to watch them.  His eyes glistened with unshed tears and he smiled sadly at the pair as they chased each other through the trees, feeling strangely separated from them.  He sighed deeply and let the curtain fall, returning to his work with a heavy heart.

TBC