Chapter 53: Llama is gone

Some minutes ago, Legolas had been snuggled against Haldir's chest. Now, his head was buried in Haldir's chest, which was now soaking with a mixture of bath water, soap suds and elfling tears.

"There there Legolas. Do not be upset."

"But twig was my new llama! ... Mommy gave me him!"

Haldir rubbed the elfling's back and took a bite of his sandwich before continuing to speak with Legolas.

"I lost my horse Legolas. Rill was killed too. Your brothers and ada lost their pets too."

"Y-you mean... Galil is dead?"

"No. But Cield's horse is."

Tears continued to run down Legolas' face as he ate his sandwich. The warn tears splashed on the bread making it much to moist for the prince's likings and he tossed the sandwich on the floor. Haldir sighed and drew the prince towards him, cuddling him in his arms and kissing his time after time.

"It's alright Legolas, hush..."

The wailing was getting on Tonus' nerves, so he came in the bedroom holding something in his hands behind his back.

"Legolas, pick a hand."

Legolas sniffed and pointed to his brother's left arm.

Tonus threw what he held onto the bed and Legolas kicked Haldir until he was released, and he crawled over to the object lying on his bed and smiled at it. He looked up at Tonus.

"Yes Legolas, you can play with it... and keep it."

Tonus walked up to Legolas and brushed away the elfling's tears and kissed his brother's forehead. Legolas smiled and grabbed the object and rolled it across the bed. Then he shook it, turned it to the left, and turned it to the right. Soon the elfling was giggling and smiling.

"What on earth did you give him Tonus?" Haldir tried to look over Legolas' shoulder.

"A compass."

"And THAT is what is amusing him so much?"

"Ever since the little elfling found that compass in my father's study, he has had the time of his life, turning it and trying to figure out why the arrow stays in the same place."

Legolas looked up at the elder elves.

"Why does the compass' arrow stay in da same place?"

"Because it would not be a compass if it did not."

"Why?"

"Because that is what compasses are for."

"Why?"

"To help guide your way."

"Why?"

"So no one gets lost."

"Why?"

"Because without compasses, dwarves get lost."

"Why?"

"Because dwarves are stupid and go mining too deep."

"Why?"

"Because they want gold and mithril."

"Why?"

"So they can be rich."

"Why?"

"So they can buy things."

"Why?"

"So they can have pretty homes."

"Why?"

"Because if they don't have pretty homes then their homes will be as ugly as they are-

"And smell as bad as them." Tonus added.

"Why?"

"Because dwarves smell."

"Why?"

"Because they work too much over nothing."

"Why?"

"Why, is for another story. Now, I think I shall take you to town and buy you a new llama... I will be owing Thranduil so much..."

"Oh! Haldiw you'd really buy me a new llama?"

"Yes."

"Oh Thank You! THANKIES!"

"Go get your jacket, boots, hat and scarf. We shall be walking there. I, must get my weapons- WHICH YOU CANNOT TOUCH."

"Okay Hal!"

To be Continued...