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Sorry everybody but this kinda just wrote itself- hope you like it

"We must return else your mother will have my hide, come on little-one"

Legolas spoke softly to the daughter he held in his arms, Eleni giggled in reply before yawning widely.

The prince made his way slowly down the halls toward the chambers that currently held a sleeping baby and an irritated woman.

He had purposely left the room over and hour ago to escape a tongue lashing from his wife. The four of them would be leaving the following morning to start a new life in Mirkwood. Unfortunately, it only served to made Thalia more irritable and Leoglas slightly fearful of her.

He winced slightly as Eleni grabbed a strand of his hair in her fist and put it in her mouth. A habit, which he disliked strongly, but it was the only way to get her to sleep, and at the moment getting her to sleep was a priority. For some reason the child was refusing to sleep at all. He looked down at her. Her eyes were glazed and half closed as she fought the onset of dreams with everything she had.

She yawned and squirmed as his arms tightened around her gently. He winced, knowing what was to come when her eyes opened fully and she took in a deep breath; a moment later a cry ripped from her throat, a pleading sound. She was not sure what she wanted and it made Leoglas all the more uncomfortable. He put her on his shoulder and patted her back, ignoring the pain in his ears. Her cries died down and he breathed a sigh of relief, but it was short lived when she resumed crying.

He placed her in the crook of his arm and rocked her gently in a last desperate attempt to cease her cries, but that too failed, there was only thing left to do.

He picked up his pace and hurried to their room hoping that Thalia was in a better mood than she had been for the past few hours.

"What!"

Her tone was sharp as she wearily eyed the father and daughter, neither of whom looked particularly happy.

Thalia growled low in her throat, irritated and fed up before throwing the washing that she held in her hands onto the couch and stormed over to them and taking Eleni from Legolas' grasp.

With a few quick motions she had her dress undone and was feeding her now quiet daughter.

Thalia' s eyes were veiled in anger as she looked down at the child in her arms. The strain of being a mother was beginning to get her, she could feel every muscle in her body aching and paining her. Her back was sore as was her chest. It seemed that the only thing that she was good enough for was to be a constant source of food for two children.

She shook her head forcefully, she knew that she was stupid, yet again and it would pass but for now she was content to wallow.

Legolas watched her with a deep frown she paced up and down the room muttering to herself as Eleni fed, her eyes were narrowed and showed the depths of her tiredness.

The nights since the twins had been returned home had been the worst that they had ever had to go through. Eleni would not sleep, instead she would cry to keep herself awake and Niall would soon join in the screaming because he couldn't stand the noise. But if they took Niall out of the room they screamed louder as they couldn't see each other.

The nights had been long and testing and both parents were suffering.

Thalia flopped down the bed not so gracefully and lay down on her side, still clutching Eleni. Legolas watched as her eyes began to close but were soon open once more. Sighing softly he rose from his seat and joined her on the bed, taking the now blissfully asleep child from her grasp and placing her beside her brother. He then turned his wife over onto her stomach and straddled her. She remained silent as he unbuttoned her dress. His hands slowly began to slide across her tired skin, soothing her muscles and relieving the tension that had built up over the past days.

Her small moans made him smile. She had been as restless as her children and it was good to hear something other than words of anger and frustration pass her lips.

Her skin felt like rose petals as his fingers worked her shoulders, she winced when he found a tender spot and squirmed under his grasp. He laughed and made his way down her back, brushing his hands down her sides tenderly.

She sighed and buried her head in the silken pillow, leaving Legolas to his work.

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I was glad to see that she had relaxed under my touch. I had felt a little wary of approaching her, the emotions radiating from her had been overpowering and it had made it difficult to speak with her. She had been abrupt with everybody including the children and living with her was unnerving.

Her muscles were solid with tension and I was not surprised when she cried out in pain a few times.

The air around me smelt of lavender, a soothing scent and one, which brought back many childhood memories. Memories of my mother especially. I can remember her sneaking into my room when a long dance had been held in the great hall, she disliked large gatherings, and whenever she began to feel uncomfortable she would come and talk to me or play with me. She would sing lullaby's to me and curl up with me in bed until I fell asleep. Adar was much the same. When he had the time he would play with me or read me stories, I even have vague memories of sitting on his lap during council meetings. At night I would sneak out of my room and see if Adar was still awake in his study and I would go and crawl into his lap and sit there until I fell asleep or he carried me out.

The nights when I would crawl into their bed were possibly the fondest memories. I'd curl up in between them and be content to sleep wrapped in their arms.

Perhaps that is why I like my own children to sleep with us. Thalia does not seem to mind, but it is hard to know what she finds acceptable at the moment. I can only hope that our arrival in Mirkwood will serve to soothe and calm her nervous energy.

I can feel my excitement growing and in some ways I feel like and elfling again, I wish to walk beneath the trees of my home and I wish to see my friends, but I am not eager to return to my duties as prince.

My father has said that he will be lenient with me and for that I am most grateful. My behaviour of late has been anything worthy of a prince and I hope that I too can rest under the protection of my home.

But that too is doubtful, there will be much celebrating, that I know and there will be no time for peaceful rest for a few days.

I cannot help but wonder about my children and how they will settle in a strange place. Will they be happy in a place, which they do not know?

Niall will perhaps accept it and will quickly adapt to the change, but I worry for Eleni. She is restless and I fear for her health if she does not change her newest habits. She refuses to sleep and she will not take milk from Thalia, as she should.

She refuses to see Elrond about it. I do not know why but lately she seems withdrawn from everybody. I am presuming that she is suffering with the recent departure of Katlin; it would be foolish to think that she would not care. But I do not know how to deal with it. It is confusing. I have never had to deal with this, being wed to somebody takes a lot of getting used to, it is hard at first and with Thalia illness we have not yet had the chance to fully discover our boundaries with each other.

Perhaps I worry for nothing, perhaps I should simply allow life to continue and follow the path that has been laid out for me.

I looked down and couldn't help but grin at the sight of my wife asleep.

Her hair flowed over the pillows in silver waves and her face was peaceful and calm. Tranquillity had settled about her. Being careful not to disturb her I got up and removed her dress. She would sleep for a while that much was obvious and sleeping in a dress would do her no favours.

I drew back the covers, settling her on her back so that she would be comfortable. I tucked the blankets around her and kissed her softly on the lips before making my way over to the babies.

Eleni was now awake; half an hour would not make up for the three days she had not slept. I sighed wearily. My body felt stiff and my clothes uncomfortable. I undid my tunic slightly before lifting my daughter from her crib. Niall awoke and looked up at me with bright blue eyes that were so like his mothers, he remained quiet, as if knowing that his mother was asleep. His expression changed and he relaxed, throwing his hands in the air, wanting to be picked up with his sister.

They were very demanding elflings, but then again I am told that I too was extremely demanding of my parents.

I smiled down at my children and left the room, the fresh air outside would do them some good.

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The night drew in and dinner came and went, and still Thalia slept on. The babies had been kept occupied all day by their father and the twins who had gladly helped out.

Legolas emerged from the bathroom carried two unhappy, freshly bathed elflings. He sighed and stripped himself of his tunic and leggings, replacing them with a loose pair of white silk pants and a loose robe over the top.

He pushed the table in front of the fire to the side and laid a blanket on the floor for the babies who were happy to sit with their father while he read for a while.

Thalia opened her eyes lazily. Her body felt stiff and heavy and she wanted to go back to sleep. She looked around the room from where she lay; the candle light flickered across the walls, giving the room, despite it's size, a homely feel. The feeling it gave her only served to make her sleepier. She relaxed and felt her body melt into the mattress. She lay there for some time, awake but unaware of her surroundings.

Legolas had felt her wake and had placed the quiet babies back in their cribs leaving them to go to sleep.

With a playful grin he made his way over to the bed and crawled over her, jolting her from her musings.

She smiled at him but then closed her eyes.

He slid the blankets down to reveal her naked body, she slapped his hands and turned over, ignoring him. His hands roamed and she quickly gave up and rolled onto her back. Her eyes took in his smooth, muscular chest and a flame ignited.

Legolas watched with appreciation as her eyes turned dark with desire. He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lip, waiting for her to tell him what she wanted from him. She pulled him to her and deepened the kiss, massaging his tongue with hers slowly.

Neither was in a hurry and they made sure that they spent their time wisely. By midnight the two lay, entangled and covered in sweat, but blissfully happy.

Thalia turned in her husband's arms and placed a kiss on his chest before settling once more.

"I can't stop smiling"

Her voice was slightly hoarse as she spoke and it made both of them laugh, the vibration in his chest comforted her, though she didn't know why.

He pulled her close, draping a leg over hers and kissing the top of her head. He too wore a smile and it would take a lot to remove it.

As if sensing their parent's peaceful moment the twins awoke, exercising their vocal chords.

But luckily their parents were in a good mood and quickly swept them up into their arms and onto the bed.

The twins were fed quickly and were content to be amused by their father who made faces at them and tickled them, making their giggles sound throughout the room.

Legolas sat with Niall in his arms smiling at Thalia who held Eleni, he marvelled at her as she sat with a happy smile on her face, a sheet draped over her form carelessly, as did he.

For the first time it seemed that they were a family, it was a perfect moment that was only spoiled by the need to change the babies, but even that couldn't spoil anything.

They played with the twins, who were now wide awake and it seemed like everything came into place and the jigsaw puzzle that had been their life, and had had one piece missing, finally made a picture. The answer had been there all along.

The very fabric of our lives revolves around our family and our friends and sometimes we can forget that the simple things are the things we take for granted and sometimes…we don't care. Sometimes we can hate our family but in the end it doesn't matter because a part of you will always love them.

No matter what there will always be somebody close to you and he or she should be treasured.

Through her suffering Thalia found that, and someday, if you haven't already…you will too, when you most need it.

Oh I've gone all philosophical and mushy

Hi everybody- so that's it we're done with 'Awakening', but I'll be back with the sequel don't worry.

Thanks as always to everybody who has read and reviewed this.

Much love

Miriellar xxx