Chapter 84: Rash
Thranduil entered his son's bedroom. The king was still limping, but using his staff to walk, and his leggings had been removed as the bandages around his left leg where incredibly thick. Legolas smiled as his father entered the room, and he quickly shed his blankets and ran over to his father, who sat down on the edge of his bed.
"So little Greenleaf, what is wrong? Where are you hurt?"
"I'm cold, my bum is sore and my legs are tired. But my bum hurts a lot, and bugs are up my leggings and they itch."
"Your legs just need some rest, but as for your backside..."
Thranduil smiled and gently ran his fingers down Legolas' blond hair, ridding it of twigs and leaves and snow. The king began to unbutton Legolas' tunic, but the little elfling began to unbutton Thranduil's tunic, Thranduil chucking and taking Legolas' hand away.
"What are you doing Legolas?" Thranduil laughed as the stubborn Legolas tried to continue to unbutton the tunic but failing as Thranduil held his chin.
"I am unbuttoning your tunic ada!"
"But why?"
"Cause you're unbuttoning mine."
Thranduil smiled and kissed his elfling's nose. Legolas giggled.
"Well, I am unbuttoning yours because I am going to heal you of any wounds, but you do not need to heal my wounds, so you should not unbutton my tunic.
"Okay."
Haldir was amazed that Thranduil had so much ease in teaching the elfling when not to do something, and most amazing of all, Legolas did stop, and just observed as his father removed his tunic, followed by leggings and undergarments.
"Well you are correct about the bugs ion-nin." Thranduil smiled, taking one off Legolas' ankle, another off his leg and the last one from his knee. The other bugs where still in the elfling's leggings which lay on the floor.
Once Thranduil was certain there where no more bugs or injuries, Thranduil turned Legolas over and observed the child. Legolas had not many injuries, but when observing Legolas' backside Thranduil noticed what had been bothering his elfling.
"A rash..." Thranduil muttered, then turned to Haldir.
"Watch Legolas and make sure he does not run off, whilst I prepare some ointment for him."
Haldir nodded as Thranduil rose and left.
Legolas sighed and drew his knees to his chest.
"Me no like rashes. They don't feel go on my bum."
"I know. I did not like rashes either, though the last I had one on my backside I was very young."
Legolas smiled at Haldir, who smiled back and gently ruffled his hair, but Legolas' smile faded as his father entered his bedroom. Thranduil carried in his hand a wooden bowl filled with light cream, which Legolas found smelt bad and was cold, as his father had used this on Legolas' rashes before.
"Turn over ion-nin." Thranduil tried to be as kind and gentle with Legolas as possible. Thranduil's trip to Lorien made him re-think about his parenting to Legolas, and he wished to make sure Legolas was happy and not scared.
Legolas nervously turned himself over on Thranduil's lap. Thranduil could feel the elfling trembling, and gently ran his hand down Legolas' back.
"Do not be so scared little one. Nothing is going to happen to you that would harm you, I would not let it."
"Will the cream be cold again Daddy?"
"Yes, just a bit."
"But you always say just a bit and it is really cold!"
"To you it is cold."
Legolas sighed again and held onto his father's arm, which was around his neck carefully.
"I'm going to put some of the cream on Legolas, so don't be surprised if you think it is cold. Ready?"
"Ready Ada."
Legolas yelped as his father gently placed some cream on his backside with his finger, and softly rubbed it around, covering Legolas' rash. Legolas complained of how cold the cream was until his father pulled his leggings back up, covering his backside. Legolas stood up.
"FREE!"
"Not yet sweetheart." Thranduil smiled, pulling Legolas closer. Legolas moaned as his father put his tunic back on, and then he was pulled into a warm embrace.
"You behaved whilst I fixed your rash Legolas. I believe someone could have some chocolate milk now, don't you Haldir?"
"But ADA! I want hot chocolate milk, I DO! Don't give my milk to Haldiw!"
Thranduil smiled and kissed the elfling's forehead.
"I meant you where going to get milk Legolas."
"Oh! Yay!"
Legolas snuggled up to his father's chest as he was carried from the room to the kitchen, our dear Haldir following as he felt neglected.
Thranduil prepared the warm chocolate milk for Legolas in a bottle and handed it to him. Legolas sat in Haldir's lap (and tended to crawl from Haldir's lap to Thranduil's lap, then crawling back to Haldir's lap often), as Thranduil and Haldir where discussing the matter of supper.
To be Continued...