Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chapter Five

Lomion sat watching as Legolas slept, he looked up as Elardion came back into the chamber to join his elder brother at the bedside.

Legolas has his eyes closed, lost in his drugged dreams, Legolas was unusual for an Elf as he slept with his eyes closed. He looked young and innocent, unlike the screaming Elfling of not long ago.

"You could almost forget what has happened, when you look at him. I can almost bring myself to think that this has all been a nightmare, that Naneth is still with us and not dead. He is sleeping so soundly, he just looks as if he is really resting and not drugged into sleeping. I have sent for Elrond." Elardion's voice was sad.

Lomion caught sight of something on the floor; leaning forwards he picked it up. It was a book, a beautiful book of Elven Fairy Tales. He smiled and looked up at his brother. "I thought this was for his next begetting day?" He tried to hide a laugh.

Elardion just shrugged. "I thought he would like it now. I could say the same for that Bear he has tucked under his arm. Do you know it was the only thing he did not throw and break during his hysterics?" He reached forward to stroke the Elfling's face, as if to offer comfort.

They both smiled. Elardion knew that there was a large risk that Legolas may never recover from the emotional torment he had been through...

"He is so young, so little. It hurts to think that he will have no real memories of Naneth when he grows. At least we all knew her well. He will miss so much…" Lomion's voice was just above a whisper.

Elardion looked at the Crown Prince and softly replied. "We will make sure he never forgets her, Lomion. If he does forget we will remind him. He may not have Naneth to carry on loving him, but he will be loved."

They both sat for a while, just watching Legolas sleep, finally they both gave him a gentle kiss and left him to sleep.

They passed Alcarnor and Nolvo outside the chamber. All looking sheepish at being caught looking in on their baby brother.

Nolvo sat down next to Legolas, gently kissing his cheek. He had to leave the room not soon after, tears falling once more. Alcarnor followed soon after that.

A while later the door opened once more. Drowlin moved into the room, he had been waiting to see the Brat; he had been beginning to think the others would never leave.

He looked down at the Elfling on the bed.

He hated Legolas, hated everything about him. Everything was his fault. Drowlin could remember when he had been the youngest brother. He had been doted upon by his brothers and his parents. Then Legolas came. Legolas was an accident, a 'miracle'. He had not been planned. He had always been an odd ball. He was the only brother that had blond hair and blue eyes, the only one who took after their Naneth.

There had long been rumours about his parentage, many Elves from Mirkwood and from surrounding colonies believed the gossip that Legolas had a different father because of his appearance and Drowlin could not help but wish that this was true.

Legolas woke slowly, bleary eyed from the herbs he had been given, blinking his blues eyes. Drowlin watched distastefully. This was another thing that no one could explain. Legolas had taken to sleeping with his eyes closed.

Like a mortal, Drowlin thought bitterly. He sleeps like a stinking mortal. Maybe that was who his true family was. Men or maybe even the dwarves, the runt was small enough to belong to that race.

Drowlin watched as Legolas came into wakefulness and looked up at him with bright blue eyes that made Drowlin feel sick.

"Hello, Legolas." Drowlin said coldly, glaring down at his brother.

Legolas looked up and yawned. His thumb slid automatically into his mouth, he froze then quickly took it out. He had to act like a Prince. That was what Ada had said. Did Prince's suck their thumb? He could not act like an Elfling. His heart sank as he realised that he could not do his normal things any more. No more sucking his thumb. No more naps after all Princes' did not need naps; did they? And no more bed time stories. Legolas gave a small sniff, he liked his bed time stories, but he wanted his Ada to love him again even more.

Drowlin smiled slightly at the sight of his brother trying to act grown up. "I need to make one thing clear to you, Legolas. If you ever tell any one that I told you about Naneth, I will tell them all about how it is your fault that she died. Do I make myself clear?"

A small, fearful nod from Legolas made Drowlin smile and he gently rubbed his hand across Legolas' pale cheek. "That is a good little Elfling. After all we would not want Ada to send you back to live with your real family would we?"

Legolas looked at his brother with wide curious eyes, but dared not say anything. His Ada had wanted silence, he did not know if he dare make him angry again.

A delighted laugh erupted from Drowlin. "But of course! You do not know, do you? You are not my Adar's son. No, you belong to another, different Elf. Adar only pretended to love you so that Naneth was happy. In truth he really hates you."

Drowlin bent forward so that his face was only centimetres away from Legolas'. "It is your entire fault. This family is falling apart and it is your entire fault. No one loves you. No one, understand?"

Drowlin spat at his brother before leaving the room, smiling at his own vindictiveness, it felt so good to let his hate out.

Legolas sat on his bed, clutching his bear close to his chest. Spit ran down his face, dribbling over his mouth to land on Growly's head.

Not daring to make a sound, Legolas stood shakily on his good leg and hopped across the room to wash his face from a cloth in the wash room. Once his own face was clean he shakily wiped Growly's, whispering so lowly no once could ever have a hope of hearing. "There, Growly, all clean. He should not have done that to you. I am sorry."

The room looked so big and so unwelcoming. He did not want to be here, his mind made up he hobbled off, using walls and doors to help him on his way, he went in search of his greatest protectors that he had had up to this point, his twin brothers.

Lomion sat in his room, talking to his brothers quietly. Drowlin was sitting on the bed with his head in his eldest brother's lap crying large fake, crocodile tears.

Sniffing, Drowlin tried as hard as it was possible to make all of his elder brothers comfort him. "And then when I saw little Leaf sitting there screaming… It just broke my heart." It took all his acting skills to use the hated endearment.

Lomion comforted his brother as best he could. "I know, Drowlin, I know."

All of their attention suddenly moved as the door was opened to show a shaking, pale Legolas, clutching the door frame.

Nolvo was the first to move, jumping up from his position on the floor he moved to his baby brother. Picking him up he hugged him. "Leafie, what are you doing up? You should be in bed; you need to rest your leg. It must hurt?"

A shaky nod of the head was all he got in reply. Elardion stood. "I'll get something to help you with that, little One." He gave him a kiss before he left the room. The other's gathered around him, fussing. No one noticed Drowlin as he left the room, his face like thunder. The Brat had done it again! Why could they not pay attention to him? Why the brat?

Elardion returned to the room a goblet of herbs in his hand. In the other hand he held Legolas' new book. "I promised you a story. Would you like it now?"

They were all amused as Legolas cautiously looked around the room before warily nodding.

"Well, let us begin…."

Hi! Okay thanks to all of you who reviewed. MCross and I are having great fun writing this story and I hope you like reading it.

angelbird12241: Thanks for saying that it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

ak-stinger: Thanks again. The plot kind of jus came to us. It is a story hat writes itself.

rogue641: Well actually Thranduil is not bad. He is sad and confused about his wife's death. We do not want people to think that he is evil cause he is not.

Gemini969: Opps sorry. (Look MCross we made someone cry.)

Pointy-eared-elf's: No this has nothing to do With Second Chance for Happiness. Legolas will not be hurt like I wrote in Second chance. These are different brothers. We just included Growly and knight Growly cause I loved the idea of Legolas having a teddy bear.

Thanks and please review. Also if you want to know what happens after this story please go read Happily Ever After and Not Perfect But Nearly by Meisalliam

Love to you all from

MCross and Meisalliam