The sun had not even begun to show her face, when Legolas sat up in bed. Why should he bother continuing in his quest for sleep? It was hopeless. All he could think about was what had taken place with Calaen, and all he had been able to do was lie in the darkness with so many confused thoughts in his mind. Sighing, the Prince climbed out of bed, and made his way across to the door.

As he crept down the dimly lit corridor, Legolas shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself, tearing his gaze away from the flickering shadows on the walls. Normally at night-time, he would have his woollen blanket with him. He was, after all, only an Elfling. But he was once again trying to stop using it, after a particularly scathing comment made by Calaen.

When Legolas reached his brother's room, he pushed open the door and tiptoed in. The Crown Prince lay in bed on his side, one arm serving as an extra pillow under his head. The other arm was stretched out, just inviting the child to crawl under it, and cuddle up to him. So, that is exactly what Legolas did.

Airëlus stirred slightly, but he was a heavy sleeper, and did not wake. Still walking the road of dreams, he pulled the Elfling closer to his body. Legolas smiled and kissed his brother on the cheek, before lying still to bury his face in the muscular chest. Comforted by the other presence, sleep found him. But, so did something else.

Legolas blinked as he realised where he was: at the top of a very tall and familiar tree. But when he saw who stood in front of him, he was overcome with joy, and a smile spread across his face as he cried, "Nana!"

Findilan inclined her head, and smiled gently. "Greenleaf, it does my heart good to see you again, after all this time. Did you miss me?"

"Of course I did. I missed you so much." Legolas made to go forwards to hug his mother, but hesitated as she stepped away. "Don't you want to see me, Nana? Why are you going?"

"I want to see you more than anything, but now is not the time," Findilan whispered. Even as she said the words, she moved further away. Yet, it seemed as though she was floating, not walking.

Legolas' eyes widened as he realised what was going to happen if he didn't do something. "Nana, you're going to fall off the branch if you don't stop moving. No, Nana!"

"I love you, Greenleaf," Findilan breathed.

Mother and son locked eyes for only a brief second, before the Queen took the last, fatal step. She fell. Legolas threw himself to the edge of the branch, screaming. Making a sobbing noise in the back of his throat, he closed his eyes tightly. He had lost his Nana. Again.

"No!" Legolas gasped, sitting up with a start.

His movement woke his brother, and it took all of Airëlus' power to keep from swearing violently as he also sat up. Pushing his hair off his face, he asked coldly, "Where did you come from?"

"I...I couldn't sleep, so I came in here," Legolas whispered, trying to still the trembling of his body. "I couldn't sleep."

"Well, just because you're suffering, it does not mean that everyone else must," Airëlus huffed, lying back down and pulling the covers over his head. Put one hundred Orcs in front of this Elf, he could handle it calmly. Wake him in the early hours...well, no-one did that.

"I'm sorry," Legolas muttered. "I had a dream."

Airëlus merely reached out one hand, and pulled a pillow over his already covered head. "Stay in here and have some more dreams if you must. But have them quietly, else I'll tie you up in one of these pillow cases, take you out to the forest, and leave you there. For ever. Now, goodnight."

Legolas watched the form of his brother for a moment, before making to get off the bed and leave. But then he stopped as tears stung his eyes. With a soft noise of despair, he pulled one of the pillows out from under Airëlus' head, and hit him with it. Hissing, the Crown Prince sat up and grabbed his brother by the wrist. Though, concern flitted across his face when he noticed the glistening of the child's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Legolas whispered, "but I just don't want to be by myself."

"Was it the dream?" Airëlus asked. When the little Prince nodded, he sighed, and flipped some more hair from his face. "Go on, then."

"I...I saw Nana," Legolas managed to choke out, before bursting into floods of tears.

Airëlus winced, and drew his brother close. "Oh Greenleaf, I am sorry for being so inconsiderate and un-thoughtful. Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"Nana fell," the Elfling sobbed.

"Alright, alright." Airëlus sighed once more as he stroked his brother's hair. "Ai Legolas, you are shaking. This cannot be the first dream you have had like this, though. In fact, I can remember that you used to have them."

"But I haven't had any for a long time, and this was the first one for a few months," Legolas whispered. "I didn't like them before, and I still don't like them now, because I have to see Nana falling all over again."

The Crown Prince frowned, and turned Legolas' face up to his. "And is there any reason why you have started having them again?"

"Yes, but I...no," the Elfling muttered.

"Legolas..."

"I think because I stopped sleeping with my blanket again, the one that Nana made for me. It always used to make me feel better," Legolas said shyly. He blushed, and turned his face back into his brother's chest.

"But why did you stop sleeping with it again? I thought Ada explained that while you had it near, you would not have these dreams," Airëlus said in confusion.

"Someone said that it made me look like even more of a baby than I already am," Legolas answered. "I don't want people to think that I'm a baby."

"Oh, you're not," Airëlus said gently. "Who told you that?"

"Legolas..."

"Can't remember."

"I'll tell Ada, and he can find out."

Legolas looked up, and sighed. "Don't do that. Do you promise not to get angry with the person, if I tell you? Promise, Airëlus."

"I promise."

"Really?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Alright. Well, it was...it was Cal," the Elfling whispered.

Airëlus inhaled sharply. "Calaen said that to you?"

"Yes, but you promised me," Legolas replied in alarm. "Please, don't be angry with him."

"Oh, I am not angry with him," Airëlus said grimly. He shook his head as the child's face lit up hopefully. "No, Legolas, I am not angry with him – I am furious with him. Just wait until I get my hands on him tomorrow. He'll wish that he never-

"No!" Legolas said desperately. "Airëlus, you told me once that you would never break a promise. Don't do that now, please don't."

The Crown Prince pressed a finger to his brother's lips. "Hush. Very well, if this is what you wish, then all I will do is have a few quiet words with him. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"If you say so," Legolas replied, though his expression was still one of great worry.

"I do." Airëlus smiled and lay back down, holding Legolas in his strong arms. "I must speak to Ada first thing tomorrow, but then I will see Calaen, alright?"

"Why do you have to see Ada?"

"It is nothing for you to worry about," the Crown Prince replied, though he felt sick even as he said the words. "Sleep now. I cannot promise you will not have any more dreams, but if you do, at least you will not be alone."

"Goodnight," Legolas said quietly.

"I actually think it is the morning," Airëlus replied. "A few hours after midnight."

"Oh."

The fair haired Elf stared up at the dark ceiling for a moment, and then closed his eyes in despair. He was nervous. In fact, he was petrified of what could be revealed when he spoke to his father. But it had to be done. He had spent the past few weeks living with the possible knowledge that.... Airëlus immediately cut himself off mid-thought. He did not want to think about it.

............................................................................................................

The next morning – or rather, some hours later – Airëlus was out of bed and getting dressed. As he did up the clasps on his tunic, he looked down at Legolas, who was still asleep. If what he had heard, and was even beginning to suspect himself, was true, then surely the family would be torn apart.

'We only just defeated the pain that came with Naneth's passing,' the Crown Prince thought bitterly, as he pulled on his leather boots and drew a brush through his hair at the same time. 'How can we possibly get through this? I can only pray that it is not true.'

Taking a deep breath, Airëlus left the room.

............................................................................................................

King Thranduil withdrew his hand from the book he had been reaching for when he heard a knock on his study door. "Come in," he called out, as he wondered who could want him at such an early time – it was only the eighth hour of the morning.

He smiled though, when he saw who it was. "Airëlus, what are you doing up? I expected you to still be in bed. After all, you only returned from patrol yesterday."

"I know, but I must speak with you right now, before Calaen and Legolas wake," the Prince replied. "I wanted to get this over with yesterday, but I was not given the chance. To be honest with you, I am afraid. I do not really wish to do this, but I know that I must, because I need answers."

"What's wrong?" Thranduil asked in alarm.

Airëlus leaned forwards, and rested his head in his hands. "You know that this past month, I was away with my patrol. Well, I heard things, Ada. Around the fire, when we made camp at night. There were whisperings between the other soldiers, rumours. They always fell silent when they realised I was near, but I heard all that was said. I did not want to believe them, but I cannot rest until I have your confirmation that they are not true."

"I am sorry, but you have lost me," Thranduil said softly. "What are these rumours that you speak of?"

This was it, there was no going back. Airëlus took a deep breath, and said, "Calaen is not your son."

The Elven-king's heart thudded painfully against his chest, and he could feel it quicken. But despite this, his face remained impassive. "Why should anyone think that?"

"The time for falsehoods is over," Airëlus replied. "If there is anything to know, I would hear it now, from you."

Thranduil held his son's gaze for a moment, and nodded slowly. "Very well. I will tell you all that I can. You must be prepared, though, for what you are about to hear."

"Tell me," Airëlus said in a low voice.

............................................................................................................

Calaen walked down the corridor to his father's study, carrying a book that he had finished, and had to return. It had been very interesting, actually, more so than he had first of all thought it would be. He had never been particularly keen on the history of Middle Earth, but had found the tale of the Fall of Fingolfin quite captivating.

'Of course,' the Prince thought, 'Fingolfin had no hope of defeating Morgoth. He must have known that even as he challenged him. But then, I suppose that-

He trailed off mid-thought as he reached the door of his father's study. His sharp Elven hearing caught what was being said inside, and as he heard his own name mentioned, and the words that followed after, Calaen's green eyes widened in horror.

............................................................................................................

Legolas-gurl88: Yeah, I have seen 'Westside Story'. I saw it in my music class when I was at school, and it was really fun because we had to get into groups and perform songs from it! Well, I am glad that you find my misfortune funny! Although, I would probably have laughed if it was someone else who had fallen over the vacuum cleaner!

Princess Vespa: Yeah, we have Halloween out here, but we don't celebrate it as much as people do in America. This one time, my friend dressed up as a pumpkin. It was so funny!

Lombadia Greenleaf: Hee hee, I'm playing evil mind games! Hmm, my computer doesn't recognise the word 'hee'. That's stupid. Stupid computer.

Jedi Gollum: Yes, I think that he is nice also. Most of the time, as you said. And yes, Cal is very mean. But I still feel sorry for him. How strange.

IwishChan: Oh yes, Airëlus will definitely keep on protecting Legolas! He's not mean, like Calaen!

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Thranduil isn't aware of what Calaen is doing, because when Calaen is alone with Legolas and when he isn't, it's like he is a different person. Or Elf. So, no-one except Legolas sees the real side to Calaen, because he is so good at hiding it. Also, it hasn't occurred to Thranduil that Calaen is telling a pack of lies. I don't think that any parent would want to think that of their child, especially one of Calaen's age, because they're expected to tell the truth. But Legolas is young, and although Thranduil is disappointed that he has been behaving in such a way, he doesn't think that it's anything more than bad behaviour. Whew, that was a long reply!

Elven Kitten: Hee hee, I had a really funny image of you whacking Calaen, and him going, 'hey!' Yeah, that would be funny!

Kel: Oh no! Legolas can't be eaten by Wargs! No, that would definitely not be a good thing.

Utsuri: Airëlus is very close to both of his brothers. Calaen, because they're quite close in age, and Legolas because he's so young. So, it will be very hard for him in the future, at times when he has to judge who has done something wrong. There will be times when he believes Legolas, but then, there'll also be times when he has to believe Calaen. And yeah, like you said, everyone will believe Calaen, because he's older than poor Legolas. And the answer to your question, is yes. If you think this is bad, wait until you read 'A Brother's Jealousy' and 'Captured by the Past'. Although I have to admit that although he stays as sadistic as ever throughout those two stories, something happens at the end of 'Captured'. I'm saying no more!

Halimanya: Thank you very much for your sympathy concerning the incident with the vacuum cleaner! It was very tragic, and I'm still getting over it. Right, ok. I'm not that sad!

Oh dear. Well, here it is. I know that loads of you have been waiting impatiently for this to happen, so you don't have to wait any longer. Well, I suppose you have to wait until, Tuesday to find out what happened. By the way, the whole of the next chapter will be set in the past. Thought I'd better tell you so you don't get confused.

Misto

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