Chapter 88: Cooing to Legolas

"Legolas, may I come in?"

Legolas heard Haldir's voice but was in no happy mood to answer.

Haldir peaked his head into the elfling's bedroom and sighed. Legolas sat on his bed. His arms where wrapped around his little toy dragon Tiske and Legolas had tears streaming down his face, occasionally sniffling or sobbing.

Haldir slowly walked into the room, and sat down on Legolas' bed. Haldir put his arms around Legolas' waist and pulled him toward him. Legolas was furious, flaming, vexed, indignant, chaotic, fiery and raging (I used a thesaurus). But the elfling looked up at Haldir for a few seconds then burst into tears and buried his head into Haldir's waist.

"What is wrong cherub?"

"Whats a cherub?"

"An innocent little elfling like you. Now, what is the matter?"

"Ada... took away... my... chewy cloth..." Legolas began crying again.

"Hush, hush." Haldir cooed, taking Legolas into his arms and rocking him back and forth, the elfling appreciating this, but still cried.

"Is the chewy cloth the little cloth you chewed when I slapped you?"

"Yef..."

Haldir rubbed Legolas' back.

"I know you must be gloomy, but, I cannot do anything about this. I love you, as does your ada, but you will need to wait to get the cloth back."

Legolas gave no reply, but cried.

"Listen, maybe I will give you a little surprise if you come with me to eat your supper – which is getting cold." Haldir cooed again.

"Okay!" Legolas smiled. Haldir gently wiped away the tears from Legolas' fair face, and carried the child to the dinning room.

"I have the elfling." Haldir smiled as he placed Legolas in his highchair beside Thranduil and himself. Legolas ignored his father.

Thranduil picked up a piece of bread and held it infront of Legolas' mouth. Miserably, Legolas took a bite, but refused any more.

"It hurts to bite because of my space."

"Do not be ridiculous, your teeth are beautiful and have no spaces!" Thranduil said.

"Did I tell you, my lord? Legolas lost a tooth whilst you where gone. I'd tell you tomorrow, but I find now would be better!" Haldir smiled. Thranduil dropped the piece of bread and stood up and walked to Legolas' chair. Thranduil tilted Legolas' head backward and opened his mouth. Legolas fought against it, but Thranduil saw the gap and smaller tooth growing in and smiled, kissing Legolas on brow and nearly doing the happy dance (nearly, not yet).

"This is wonderful Legolas! You are truly growing up." Thranduil smiled.

"I don't care ada."

"Why not? This is wonderful!"

"I got money from Carak fairy..."

Thranduil calmed down and sat down.

"You are still mad at me from earlier, are you not?"

"Yef."

"I had a gift for you Legolas, but I believe I will save it for another day, if you shall be acting like that." Thranduil said.

Tears gathered in Legolas' eyes, but before they spilt, Haldir tickled him under his chin. Legolas managed a smile as his took his bread. Thranduil expected Legolas to hand it to him, but instead, Legolas turned to Haldir and handed him the bread.

"Cut the crusties away."

"Okay Legolas... ehh... cut what?"

"The cru-

"Legolas means to say crust." Thranduil corrected his son.

"Yef."

Haldir smiled and did as he was told, and handed the bread back to Legolas.

"Adar, where is Cield?" Tonus asked as he swallowed some soup.

"On a date with lady Firelien." Thranduil said.

"Ah yes, Cield seemed to have a liking for her."

"How did this start, anyhow? Before I left I do not recall Cield behaving like this around Firelien."

"He has never. Cield was sent to Galion's house, and he met Firelien. He just fell in love!" Tonus could not help but smirk.

"Ya but Key hit me cause I was bad when he was with Firelien."

Thranduil raised an eyebrow.

"I will be having a talk with Cield about slapping you. He aught to know that will never attract ladies."

"That will be not the only thing you will be speaking to him of."

"What do you mean by that Haldir?"

"You will understand in time."

Thranduil nodded his head, and looked at Legolas who played with his food.

"Sweetheart, don't play with your food."

Legolas sighed and stopped.

"I am bored. Can I go now?"

"Legolas, be polite." Thranduil scolded.

"Can I be excused?"

"Yes Legolas." Thranduil muttered. The king was about to get up and aid Legolas from his highchair, but was too late. Legolas had thumbs and knew how to use them, so unbuckled himself from his chair and slid out of it, but landed harshly on his backside and began to wail.

Thranduil pulled the child into his arms and began to rock him, but it caused Legolas to scream. The little one reached out for Haldir, and Thranduil handed the March warden his son, and soon Legolas was quieter, but still tears ran down his face.

"Hush, Legolas, you just fell, you will be better..." Haldir cooed, the prince soon settling down and began to suck his thumb.

"Legolas, tis your bedtime." Thranduil whispered. Legolas sighed and ignored his father who was wishing to take Legolas to bed.

"Hal, come put me in bed..." Legolas begged.

Haldir carried Legolas to bed, but silently Thranduil followed. Tonus was left alone, so pulled out from inside his tunic a teddy bear and sat the bear on the chair beside him, and smiled.

"Hello Mister Teddy, would you like to finish Haldir's food? What's that mister teddy? You would? Okay." Tonus smiled, taking a piece of meat from Haldir's plate and placing it on his teddy's arm.

----In Legolas' bedroom----

Haldir tucked the elfling in bed and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

"Good night cherub."

"Are you always going to call me cherub?"

"Only if you like being called Cherub."

"Does it mean that you love me?"

"I do."

"Then I like being called cherub."

"Goodnight then Cherub."

"Hal?"

"Yes?"

"Does my Ada still love me?"

"Of course he does."

"But, Ada is being mean. He took clothy away and he's fussing over me. I do not like it when ada is fussy."

Haldir chuckled.

"Your father loves you with all his might Legolas. He is worried for you though. Your father wishes you to grow to be strong, handsome and have many great skills, as does he wish for you to be polite, well raised, obedient, and have matters like a prince should. He wishes to be proud of you, to feel pride whenever he says your name. But most importantly, he wishes for you to be happy."

"But if he wants me happy, then why he take the things I love? Like nana and Illiendal and my clothy?"

"Your father did not take away your naneth, and he would kill himself to bring your nana back. Illiendal is in Rivendell, so no worries about her. Your father took away clothy to teach you to be respectful, polite have learn matters. To behave like the royal prince that you are."

"Okay Haldiw." Legolas whispered, rubbing his eyes as he lay his head down on his pillow. He received a kiss on his forehead again from Haldir, and the march warden silently left the room.

Legolas lay there a few minutes, thinking Haldir was still there, as there where too many candles lit and he only enjoyed having one lit during the night, Then, Legolas was kissed gently on his cheek, but that kiss Legolas could tell was not from Haldir. Looking up, he saw Haldir no longer there, but could see his father leaving the room, and blowing out all the candles and making the room dark, despite Legolas' elven eyes.

"AHH!"

Thranduil swiftly turned around and ran to Legolas.

"What is wrong?"

"Dark..." Legolas whispered, tears in his eyes. Thranduil quickly lit a candle and placed it high above Legolas so the elfling would not knock it over.

"Goodnight Legolas." Thranduil whispered, bending down for a kiss.

"I'm still mad at you."

Thranduil sighed and walked to the door. He turned around once more to see his little child and shut the door, then headed to his own bedroom where he planned to read some time before sleeping.

Thirty minutes later, Legolas tiptoed out of bed, and pushed his father's bed door open and entered the room, where Thranduil say upright on his bed, with a book in one hand and quill in another.

To be Continued...