Epilogue – Beech Trees and Squirrels

'Thranduil, have you seen Legolas? He disappeared after breakfast and I haven't seen him since. It's not like him to be gone this long without even a snack.;

Thranduil looked up from the parchment he was reading and shook his head.

'No, he's more than likely down in the glade watching the older boys climb trees.'

'I do hope he's not climbing them. He's much too young yet. He could hurt himself.'

'Athiel, the child's nearly twenty eight, stop mothering him. He'll take a few tumbles before he's fully grown.'

'I know, but it worries me that he hangs around with the older boys, they make him so reckless.'

'He's always been reckless, they just encourage him.'

She smiled and nodded with a sigh. Yes, Legolas was reckless. One day his recklessness would lead him into trouble, she was sure.

The quietness was suddenly broken by Perran, Legolas' best friend.

'Quick! You must come quick! Legolas has fallen out of the tree! He's not moving!'

Thranduil blanched and was up and after Perran within a second, not even pausing to take in Athiel's shocked gasp.

Running into the glade he was greeted by a large crowd all gathered around a small body lying on the ground.

'Hachon! Someone get Hachon!' he roared, pushing his way through the throng.

'I'm here! There's no need to shout! Calm down! The boy's fine.' Hachon was already kneeling at Legolas' side, making shooing motions with his hands to get everyone else out of the way. 'Just taken a bit of a bump on the head and cut his knee.'

'What happened?' Thranduil demanded, 'How did this happen?'

'He was climbing the tree, a squirrel jumped out on him, surprised him and made him lose his balance. He wasn't high, only a few feet,' Hachon explained calmly. 'Will you carry him back to his mother or should I?'

'He could have killed himself!' Thranduil was mortified. 'Are you sure no bones are broken? Is it safe to move him?'

'There are no bones broken and it is perfectly safe to move him. Look, he's beginning to wake up now.'

Thranduil saw that indeed Legolas' eyes were beginning to flicker so he gently scooped him into his arms and walked back to their apartments. He became aware that Legolas' eyes were now open, pale with fear.

'I'm sorry, Ada,' he said sheepishly. 'Nana keeps telling me not to climb the trees, but I wanted to prove to the older boys that I could do it. I would have, too, if it hadn't been for that stupid tree rat.'

Thranduil hugged his son close to him, he was only glad that he was going to be all right.

'Ada, don't,' the boy protested, squirming. 'All the others can see you! It's embarrassing!'

Depositing the errant child on his bed, he stood with his arm around Athiel as Hachon administered to the wounded knee.

'Now Legolas, I want you to try and have a sleep. You've had quite enough excitement in one day for so small an elf.'

'I'm not small!' Legolas objected hotly. 'I'm as tall as Perran and he's nearly thirty five.'

'Never mind that, denn[*],' Thranduil interjected. 'You will do as the healer orders. You've given your mother and I quite enough of a scare for today.'

'All right ada, I'll try.'

Hachon pulled the comforter up and rose to leave. Glancing back, he could see that the young prince's eyes were already beginning to glaze into sleep.

'He'll be fine, just make sure he keeps quiet for the rest of the day. Tomorrow he can come to my rooms and I'll re-dress his knee.'

Legolas opened his eyes and gazed around him. He could hear nana singing in the next room as she prepared his supper. She entered the room, her face radiantly serene and the voice gently chiding.

'Legolas, you should be sleeping. That was a bad fall you took from that tree- you are too young yet to play with the older boys.'

'But I want to be a hunter and warrior like then, nana!'

'You will cunnîn, you will.' She began to sing again, this time the special song that she always sang to him.

'Above you shines the brightest star,

A casting eye in midnight blue,

He smiles upon you from afar,

Earendil watches over you.

Hlasta! Lasto beth nana[†],

Earendil watches over you.'

'Nana, when I am grown will I be a warrior?'

'Yes you will be a mighty warrior. You will carry out many brave deeds and make many friends. Her loving hand stroked his head, taking away the pain.

He smiled as he drifted away in sleep. He was safe…he was home.

This was written as a challenge from Lady Rheena. She like me is fed up with Thranduil always being depicted as a less than nice person. I ask you, who but loving and caring parents could have produced such a son as Legolas.

Big thanks to everyone who reviewed. This potion is finished but who knows there maybe more tales from the young Legolas and his family yet!


[*] Young man, (literally young boy)

[†] Listen! Hear your mother's voice.