Author's note: well this is my third hour of doing nothing (you know at school) and I'm bored so i thought I'd update.

Thanks again for those who reviewed,

And to answer grumpy's question Estel is roughly three years old or so.

(Disclaimer-see the first chapter)

Start a new, renew the old

Chapter Three: start a new

" Oh Estel, where are you? Your family worry for you" Legolas murmured, sighing exasperatedly he sat on the ground and leaned against a tree, he needed to rest, he didn't exactly plan to be spending the night looking for an infant.

Resting his eyes he grounded himself listening to the nature around him, oh how he missed this place, the elf mused, the ever growing darkness in his home kept him away longer than he was content with, luckily his last injury was the last straw of his father's nerves, and Thrunduil, Valar bless him, sent him to Imladris to, And he quotes, "Clear my head" and in case you were wondering "My" means the respected king's head.

As difficult and strict as Thrunduil is everyone who knew him in person knew that under the harsh exterior lay a good, gentle and a loving father.

Legolas smiled to himself as he recalled waking up in the healing rooms once again and his first sight as always was the dismayed yet relieved and smiling face of his father.

Later his Father's advisor and close (one of the few) told how the king sat by his bed the entire time he was unconscious from the moment he was brought to the palace.

He smirked at the memory of his one of his closest friends, Celylith, when he joked that the good king was a worse mother hen then Legolas, and 'like father like son' definitely applies in this case.

Sighing deeply, Legolas started humming an old tune of a song his mother used to sing to him when he was an elfling.

While humming, his eyes still closed, he felt a presence, eyes watching him, extending his senses, he smiled as he reached the conclusion he was being watched by the little infant everyone was looking for.

Still humming he slowly opened his eyes to find that slowly but surely the infant approached him and now stood but five steps from him.

Legolas looked at him, he seemed no more than three years old pale skinned, wide curious grey-silver eyes and unruly dark hair.

The boy stood in his pajamas and held the hand of a teddy bear that was dragged on the ground behind him.

The infant was looking intently at him, Legolas still humming the sweet tune, smiled kindly at him.

"Who you?" the boy finally asked.

"I'm Legolas" the blond elf replied still smiling "And who are you?"

"'m Estel" he shyly replied.

"Well nice to finally meet you Estel" Legolas smiled, and reached a long slender hand in a handshake, which the child took hesitantly. "Do not be frightened, little one, I will not hurt you, would you like to sit with me?" Legolas offered, at Estel's nod he extended his arms and the infant stepped into them, sitting in the princes lap.

"Tell me pen-neth" Legolas spoke as he leaned back against the tree, "How old are you Estel?"

"Thwee"

"And what are you doing here all on your own?"

The child shrugged

"Are you lost young one?"

A nod

"Well I happen to know that your Ada and brother are very worried about you and at this moments turning Imladris upside down to find you" The golden prince told him quietly, gently stroking his hair.

"L'las?" Estel turned a thoughtful gaze at the bemused prince

"Close enough" The elf chuckled

"Wan and 'Wo fwiend" He continued after a while.

Smiling fondly Legolas nodded "Aye I'm the twins' friend, have they told you?"

At Estel's nod he smiled whole-heartedly, it was comforting to know you were missed.

"L'las?"

"Aye, little one?"

"Song"

"You want me to sing to you?" the elf asked, a bit surprised but then again, the old tune was what drew the kid in the first place.

At the boy's nod, Legolas smiled and more than willingly obliged, he started to sing softly, soon lulling the infant into sleep his little head resting gently on Legolas' shoulder, amd the thumb of his free hand in his mouth.

Thirty minutes later everyone rushed outside the Hall of fire as the door leading to the gardens clicked open then quietly shut, but stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of the Mirwood's prince holding the missing infant snuggled, sound asleep, in his arms.

Smiling softly at them Legolas approached "Look what I found" he quietly commented good naturally.

"Oh thank you Legolas!" Elrond thanked him stroking the dark hair of his youngest son before taking him from the blonde's arms into his own.

"My pleasure" The youngest prince of Mirkwood smiled affectionately at the sleeping child.

"He's doomed!" Elladan muttered to his twin's ears only.

"Aren't we all?" Elrohir threw his own comment.

Estel was taken to his chamber his foster father decided to stay with him.

The three princes had a late night dinner before retiring to their own chambers for a good whatever left of the night sleep.

TBC….

Well that's it for now…

I really enjoyed writing this one,

I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Cya all next time,

Hugs

Lynn.