***For Disclaimer please see chapter one***

"I fell off this tree!" Legolas pointed to the huge tree in front of them.
"You fell off?" Elrond asked, it was rare that an elf fell out of a tree, even at a young age.
"Yup, I tried to catch a bird, so I jumped out and missed the branch and fell down," he recalled cheerfully, quite proud of his antics.
"Legolas is more careful now, because he learned his lesson." Thranduil raised an eyebrow at his son, who quickly nodded in agreement.
"No more jump for birds," he agreed. It was late in the afternoon, and Legolas had kept the two elf-lords entertained and exhausted. Kaimelar had not lied about his younger brother's riding abilities; he handled the horse masterfully, weaving in and out of trees, guiding the horse effortlessly. Elrond observed that the bond between the horse and the rider was strong; it was a pleasure to watch the site of the two.
"Ver said that I am so clever in the trees, I would make a very good warrior!"
"But that is far off yet," Thranduil interceded. He did not want his youngest running after orcs any sooner than he had to. Although he didn't want to, sometimes he proved to be overprotective of his last child.
"I know ada, I am little" Legolas said, shaking his head at his father's comment, how silly of him to think he would be a warrior now. Legolas began to gallop off in the opposite direction, but the two elder elves had learned they needed to be on their toes with the youngster, for he was constantly darting this way and that. "Lord 'Lron'" the little elf yelled when he did not see the elf-lord nor his father behind him. "Come quick ada, come now!" "We are here, Legolas, but you must learn to give us some notice before you go running off, we have not the youthful energy you do." Legolas nodded absently to caught up with the story that he was about to tell Elrond.
"When Legolas much littler, Kai took him here and put him in the top
branch and I stay there all night. Adar was very angry with Kai, but Legles no angry, it was fun. And then Kai bring me here again, but he stay with me and taught me to climb and to swing and we played. It was very much fun, you play with me later, after horses." Legolas retold, much to the two elves enjoyment. Thranduil still remembered that day, everyone searching for Legolas, till finally Kaimelar could take the guilt no longer and had cried to his father that he had left Legolas alone at the top of the great tree that they were all standing before. But as the two older elves were reminiscing about younger days, Legolas made a sharp turn and galloped off, a familiar sound catching his attention. The two elves started their horses and began to follow in the direction Legolas had run off in.
"Legolas slow down," Thranduil yelled, losing track of his son in the thick foliage of the trees and bushes. "Legolas!"
But far ahead, Legolas' attention was drawn to the laughter of two elves he could distinctly identify as Sildulin and Elladan. And if Thranduil had been a bit calmer, he too could have heard the voices, and assumed that his son was off in chase of his favorite sister.
"It's too bad we live so far from each other." Sildulin sighed, her hand in Elladan's as they walked through a path in the woods.
"You will come next summer to Rivendell with your father, right?"
"Of course, it's just." she started, but Elladan put his finger to her lips, and kissed her on the cheek.
"I know."
"Sil!" Legolas cried horrified; why did Elladan just do that? Sildulin was his sister, not Elladan's, only he and ada and Kai could kiss her on the cheek. Was Elladan going to steal her away from him to be their sister at their home?
Both Elladan's and Sildulin's cheeks turned bright crimson, and let go of each other's hand. "Legolas, you mustn't tell anyone what you just saw!" Sildulin pleaded. That confirmed it in Legolas' mind; Sildulin was going to leave them to be Elladan's sister. Without a second thought, he turned his horse and rode off in no particular direction, just away.
"Legolas!" she called confused.
"He's not going to tell 'Ro or Kai, is he?" Elladan asked frantically, he would be teased about this forever if Elrohir to find out, especially from Legolas.
"Not unless they are out in the middle of Mirkwood's forests." Sildulin cried, she noticed Elladan's blank look, "The palace is the other way, the gates to the city are the other way!"
"Sildulin," she turned and saw her father and Elrond on horseback.
"Ada, he saw me and 'Dan, and then just took off." She pointed in the general direction he ran off in.
"He just ran off, unprovoked?" Elrond asked, just as concerned as Thranduil to find the little one.
"Well, he seemed provoked, Adar, but not by us, well, at least not intentionally by us," Elladan offered, utterly confused by what had just taken place. He would never intentionally try to upset Legolas, and he berated himself at the idea that he might have. Valar only knew what was roaming in these woods, what could be out there; how would a little elf protect himself. He reached over instinctively and once again grasped Sildulin's hand, she squeezed his in return.
"You two go back to the palace, we will find Legolas." Thranduil ordered, not wanting to have to worry about the whereabouts of any other elves. Sildulin looked lost, watched blankly as her father and Elrond rode off, Elladan put his arm round her.
"I don't know what just happened. He never gets upset like this, and I've done it twice in so many days. I just don't understand it, what did I do?" she muttered, letting Elladan guide her back home.

Legolas had calmed down, and slowed his horse, beginning to pat her neck. He had never been so far from home with or without an adult, he could feel that his horse, Fea, was also frightened.
"Don't worry Fea, Ada take us home," he said, his voice slightly shaking; for some reason everything looked darker out here, and why did the trees look so big and menacing? Usually he found comfort in the trees, but all alone out here, even his dearest friends were found to be scary.
"Ada!" he called out, he couldn't hear anything. He stopped the horse completely; he would just stay still till help arrived. His blue eyes looked around for any sign of warmth or familiarity, but there were none. How could he have been so ridiculous as to think Sildulin would leave him for Elladan, but then why did Elladan kiss her? Maybe they were playing a weird new game they had invented, but Legolas decided he would not be playing a game like that anytime soon.
Legolas suddenly became rigid, his horse gave a shudder, above him the trees rustled, was something up there?
"Ada?" Legolas called apprehensively. It was not like his father to hide in trees, "Kai?"
There was no answer, for a moment everything was still. Legolas closed his eyes, tried to pretend he was back at home in front of their nice warm fireplace. There was the rustling once more, followed by a strange clicking noise. And though he didn't want to, Legolas opened his eyes and looked up, emerging from the branches were two black creatures, and upon closer inspection Legolas discovered they were spiders. He had heard tales and been warned about these creatures; this was not good, he decided, but remained frozen. His ada had to come, ada wouldn't let anything bad happen to him, right? Ada would come and protect him and Fea.
"Sh, Fea," Legolas tried to soothe his horse and figure out what to do, there wasn't much time, as the spiders crept closer to their prey. All he knew was that he couldn't stay there any longer, he gave Fea a nudge, and they galloped off, unfortunately the spiders would not give up without a fight and pursed the horse and its rider. The already spooked horse reared up as another spider jumped in front of her, knocking Legolas off her back. Any other horse might have run off to save themselves but Fea regained her composure and stayed next to her young master's side, as he slowly came back to his senses.
"Fea, I fall," he muttered, rubbing his head, forgetting his current circumstances. But one quick look around reminded him; there were three spiders slowly closing in , Legolas knew they were trapped, and the young elf decided to fight. He had watched the warriors train, but they had weapons, but that did not deter the little prince as he picked up a nearby stick and a rock from the forest's floor. He looked to his horse.
"Be careful Fea," he said as they prepare for battle against the assaulting spiders. Fea wasted no time and ran to the spider who had jumped in front of her, kicking at it. Legolas was unable to watch his horse magnificently fight the creature, as he began to fight his own. He threw the large rock at the one on his left, hitting it squarely, it backed off a bit, letting his partner continue the attack.
"Go away!" Legolas yelled, swinging his branch madly, making contact with the spider, which just seemed to provoke it more. And without warning, Legolas felt a sharp pain in his right leg, where the spider was able to sneak in and bite him. Legolas bit his lip trying not to show his pain, he would not give up now. But now the spider he had hit with the rock began to close in, aware its prey was weakened.
"Fea?" Legolas called, he began to feel dizzy; why was he getting so sleepy? Perhaps if he took a quick nap he would feel better. He lay on the ground, but became aware of something standing over him, "Fea?"
The horse approached the oncoming spider, growing confident after defeating her last opponent. Legolas struggled to keep his eyes open. He thought that peculiar, he never slept with his eyes closed, elves slept with their eyes opened. He seemed lost in a dream; what was all that commotion? Something was happening near him, but he couldn't quite remember what. Was he riding his horse? He tried to fight the fog encroaching upon his tired mind.
"Legolas! Fea!" a deep voice boomed. Was that his ada? He smiled at the thought of his ada, he liked him very much, maybe they could play. There were many more sounds now, there were hooves, and was that an arrow being fired? And who was picking him up, he tried to focus on the face.
"Legolas, can you hear me? Legolas?" For someone so close, the voice sure did seem far away. Focus Legolas, a voice from inside his head ordered. He blinked, staring at the face, he knew that face; now he remembered.
"Ada?" Wait, that didn't sound like his usual voice, why was it so soft? Maybe if he just went to sleep for a little bit, then everything would be better again.

"Elrond, his eyes, they are closed! Will he be okay?" Thranduil demanded, holding his unconscious son.
"Calm down, mellon nin, we have to get him back home. Come now, let me see him." Thranduil reluctantly handed Legolas to Elrond, whose voice had sufficiently calmed him, if anyone could heal his son it was Elrond. He watched as Elrond closed his eyes, and whispered a few words into his child's ear, a sound escaped from Legolas' lips, but besides that the young elf did not stir.
"Fea, you were a good brave horse, thank you for protected him." The horse nuzzled her rider's father, showing concern in her eyes for the fate of the little elf that she adored.
"Thranduil, come, we must get back to your home, now," Elrond called from his horse, with Legolas securely seated in front of him. Thranduil patted Fea's head once more before mounting his own, and the trio made their way back to Mirkwood's gates.

"Don't worry, he will find him. Besides, Legolas is strong and can take care of himself better than we all think he can, I'm sure," Kaimelar tried to comfort his sister.
"Kai, he is only three hundred years old. He is yet a baby, hoe could you think he could take care of himself out in the forest alone? Do you know what is out there?" Kaimelar gripped his sister by the shoulders.
"I am worried to. But there is nothing we can do but hope he is okay." Sildulin began pacing again, it had been too long. She tried to calm herself, telling herself their father would find him, but what if he didn't? What if Legolas would wonder alone, lost until he died, because of her.
"What were you two doing out there by yourselves, anyway?" Elrohir asked.
"Yeah!," Kaimelar agreed, "It is just as dangerous for you to be out there as it is for Legolas; being out there, so far, on your own."
Sildulin and Elladan looked at each other, perhaps they should just tell everyone and just get it over with, look at all the problems their little secret were causing. But, no, now was not the time, when they knew Legolas was safe, then they would confess to their brothers.
"Well?" Elrohir demanded.
"We were just walking and I suppose we went further than we thought we did," Elladan replied.
"That's safe," Elrohir muttered.
"Yeah? When had you all of a sudden become so concerned about safety?" Elladan retorted, Elrohir looked at a lost for words. He looked at each person in the room, trying to think up something witty or clever to come back with.
"Since now! So there," that was good enough for him, under the circumstances; Elladan just rolled his eyes.
"I just want to know why'd he run out like that." Kaimelar swiftly changed the topic back to something important. They were all silent.
"They found him! They're bringing him home," a voice yelled outside of the room, apparently it was a relief to more than just the four that the young elf was found and brought back. Sildulin was the first out the door, catching sight of Elrond carrying a limp Legolas in his arms.
"Sildulin, do to your Healing Rooms," he called, "tell them that Legolas has been bitten by a spider." She was running down the halls the moment he finished his sentence to help prepare the herbs and ointments required to tend to such a wound.
"Adar, what happened?" Kaimelar asked rushing to his father's side, peaking over Lord Elrond's shoulder to catch sight of his pale young brother. He did not look well at all, but hopefully they had found him in time to heal him fully, certainly Elrond had healed worse injuries of the twins, as well as his own.
"We found him, Fea was fighting the spiders, keeping them away from him, but he was bitten," his father was thoroughly shaken, it frightened Kaimelar to see his father in such a state. "By Valar, another attack, and on my own son."
"He will be okay?" Elladan asked, joining to conversation, for both he and Elrohir were concerned for the welfare of their little elf friend.
"Course he will. Adar can heal anything. Why remember the time you got an arrow right in the back, we'd thought you'd be dead, but here you are, healthier than ever." Elrohir rambled off. Thranduil merely nodded weakly and began to pace as they waited outside the door of the Healing Room for word. The door opened, and Sildulin stepped out, she smiled at the four male elves.
"He'll be fine. The venom had been extracted, and he is resting peacefully. He should be up and on his feet by tomorrow, knowing Legolas he'll try to be up and on his feet by tonight." It was as if a collective breath had been released in the hall.
"I told you he'd be fine!" Elrohir said, all the others looked at him, but were much too happy about the news to retort.
"May I see him?" Thranduil asked, like a small child asking if he could just stay up one more hour.
"In a moment, Lord Elrond just wants to double check that he did not miss any other injuries." She took her father's arm, "He is alright though."
Elladan and Elrohir backed off, allowing the family to have their moment, the scene was pleasantly by the warm face of Lord Elrond as he exited the room; being a father himself, Thranduil need not ask him if he could see his son, Lord Elrond already held the door open.
"You have a strong elf in that son of yours," Elrond said as Thranduil passed him.
"Thank you, mellon nin, I would not have children if not for your ability in healing."
"Well, your children keep my skills fine tuned." They shared a smile, as Thranduil entered the room his son was resting in. The four young elves waiting outside rushed around Elrond.
"Are you sure you got all the venom out?" Kaimelar asked, doing a wonderful impression of an overbearing, nervous parent.
"Of course he got all the venom out, Didn't you adar, tell him," Elrohir said, defending his father, Kaimelar gave a look of apology, not meaning to challenge Elrond's ability as a healer, his nerves just got the best of him. Lord Elrond nodded, up this close they could all see how weary the elf-lord was.
"Come Lord Elrond, I believe you need rest as much as my brother does," Sildulin advised, taking hold of one of his arms, beginning to guide him away.
"Let me help," Elladan offered, going to the opposite side of his father. He waved them off.
"I am not so tired, not so old that I need aid in making my way to my chambers," he said in a light tone.
"When did you become such a mother hen, 'Dan?" Elrohir asked, "I mean you and Sil are acting like his parents."
Elladan's face dropped; was his father laughing? He wanted to say something to Elrohir, but he was certain if he turned around his face would give him away.
"Is it so wrong to care about my father?" he said, his back to Elrohir, this comment caught Elrohir off guard. Was Elladan reprimanding him? This was most unlike his brother, next thing he's now Elladan would be nagging him to clean his room. Where did the fun loving, jesting brother he had grown up with gone?
" I care about adar! You know that, right ada? But I understand that he is a capable elf, not some little baby who needs to be coddled." Elrohir said defensively, perhaps with a little less humor than he originally intended. Elladan could no longer stand there and take his brother's jabbing, he turned to face his twin, arms crossed.
"Perhaps I should coddle you, since it seems as if you have not matured beyond the infantile stage."
Elrohir was confused and was presently becoming irked. Why was his brother acting so irrational, it was a harmless joke and now he was making this a serious argument. Ever since they got here he's been acting so strange; he and Sildulin's plotting.the plotting! That got Elrohir fired up all over again.
"At least Kai and I don't go running around all over scheming some great prank! You and Sil have been at it since we got here."Elrohir continued his rant, but Kaimelar had stopped listening, something had clicked in his head as he listened, 'you and Sil have been at it since we got here.' They had been at it, but at what; he and Elrohir assumed they were plotting but there was no evidence of any prank. And he looked at their faces, there was not guilt in their eyes at the mention of this so called prank, no their faces were red with embarrassment, Sildulin's eyes were cast down cause she was embarrassed.
"So don't go calling me an infant," Elrohir finished.
"Sil, no!." Kaimelar blurted out, his eyes wide with shock. She didn't need to reply, because there was the guilty look he expected with the mention of the prank. But there was no prank, in fact it was worse than any plot they could ever think up: Sildulin and Elladan liked each other. All of a sudden, Kaimelar noticed his sister was a girl, a pretty girl at that; all these years she had been one of them, the four of them were pals. How did this happen?
"What in the name of Valar!" Elrohir sighed as now he saw it too. "Hey! If you two got married, we'd all be family." Elladan raised an eyebrow, that did not sound like a taunt, perhaps worse, he used the "m" word; it would be a long time till Elladan ever wanted to think about that ever again.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kaimelar asked, not taking this news as well as Elrohir had, this was his little sister after all.
"Because we thought you would poke fun at us," Sildulin said. She looks so young, Kaimelar thought, she shouldn't be thinking of Elladan in any other way than friends.
"Well you thought right! I've poked fun at you for less than something like this!" Elrohir shot back gleefully, acting like a child who had just been given a new toy, "Kai, you should be happy, seems like you are off the hook now for getting us lost on the way to your home!" He patted Kaimelar on the back.
"No, I do not think there shall be any teasing, at least not for the rest of today. I am tired and do not wish to be disturbed by you four," Lord Elrond intervened, they had all but forgotten he was there.
"You have my word adar," Elrohir said, though his eyes were still lit with excitement.
"Now if you don't mind I will be going upstairs, unassisted."
"I will send someone up with some food, if you like Lord Elrond," Sildulin meekly responded, Elrond smiled and nodded.
"I would grateful if you did, thank you." Elrond turned, heading off.
"Night ada!" Elrohir sang happily, Elrond turned back sharply to look at the younger twin.
"You heard me Elrohir, not a word about this for the rest of this day." Elrond said firmly, Elrohir merely shrugged complying with his father's wishes. When Elrond was satisfied things were under control he turned and left, leaving the four elves in silence.
"Nice weather we've been having, eh?" Elrohir said breaking the silence, grinning from ear to ear.
"I think I'll go to the kitchens for Lord Elrond and adar something to eat. I doubt ada will leave Legolas' side," Sildulin spoke, giving Elladan's hand a squeeze before walking off. Kaimelar watched the gesture uncomfortably, this would take some getting use to.
"I think I'll go get him some blankets," Kaimelar said, turning to go upstairs, leaving the twins alone. They looked at each other, Elladan's eyes burning into the laughing face of Elrohir.
"You say one thing 'Ro and I swear I'll get you back," Elladan warned, fully aware had the roles been reversed he's be on Elrohir in a second.
"Wasn't going to say anything 'Dan, you heard father." Elrohir replied nonchalantly, he put his arm round his brother. "Besides what's really important is that Legolas is okay."
Elladan looked suspiciously at his brother, this wasn't right, "Yes, it is important."
Elrohir walked closer to Legolas' door, away from his brother, "But what I really don't understand is, what exactly did Legolas see when he ran into you and Sil alone." before Elrohir could finish his thought, Elladan went after him ready to kill.

Lord Elrond sighed in his guest chambers as he heard the sound of his son's running through the palace, at least, he sighed, they are not yelling.