Chapter 121: The armoury
Legolas held his father's hand and stayed so close to Thranduil's leg that he almost appeared glued to Thranduil, but Legolas wanted Thranduil to be proud of him, and he wanted his father to let him stay in the armoury, unlike the last time he came in with his father, that time he had been sent out of the armoury for misbehaviour.
Thranduil opened the door to the armoury, and Legolas was about to walk inside when Thranduil put a hand out to stop him. Legolas looked up.
"Now be careful Legolas. There are many elves at work, and many sharp objects. I don't want you to get hurt." Thranduil told Legolas. "I will not get hurt Ada!" Legolas smiled as he and his father entered the armoury. Thranduil could see Galion and Aradol near a table of swords, talking. Thranduil silently approached them, and listened.
"Adar. Have you been here, to the Mirkwood armoury, before?"
"Yes, but not often. I got one of the swords you now own here, the one in the best condition, but that was many years back just before I went to fight in the last alliance of men and elves."
"Will... will Lord Thranduil truly give me a weapon? Truly let me be part of Mirkwood's armed forces?"
"Yes, and yes."
Aradol smiled and picked up a pair of blades from the table, removing one from it's sheath.
"This is beautiful... a great blacksmith no doubt crafted this..." Aradol murmured.
"You like these? For they can be yours, if you want them." Thranduil suddenly said, Aradol nearly dropping the two blades in shock.
"Yes, I like them, sir."
"Then they are yours." Thranduil smiled. The king gathered armour and handed it to Aradol. "It is very light, but it is also the strongest armour in Mirkwood, much better crafted than the armour we used in the battle of the last alliance." Thranduil told Aradol as the elf strapped the armour to himself. Soon Aradol had blades, swords and plenty of helms to spare.
"Lord Thranduil, I am at your service. I could not wish for anything better than this." Aradol bowed. Thranduil smiled. "It is nothing, Aradol Galionion. I am grateful that I could help... wait one minute... where is Legolas? Where is my son?" Thranduil suddenly noticed that Legolas no longer grasped his leg, and instead was playing with a knife far away on the other side of the armoury.
Thranduil ran across the armoury until his weak leg stopped him and he fell to the floor. Galion helped Thranduil to his feet, and the king, shaking, looked at Galion.
"Thank you but... I must find Legolas!" Thranduil said. Galion nodded his head.
"Aradol, come here and keep Thranduil on his feet. I will go find Legolas." Galion ordered. Aradol nervously nodded his head and switched places with his father. Aradol was extremely shy to be near his king, and held Thranduil whilst shaking.
Galion finally found Legolas playing with a knife. The elfling was spinning a small blade on his fingers. Galion was amazed Legolas had such talent, for Galion remembered that Thranduil was twenty eight in mortal years when he had finally been taught such skills and Thranduil's eldest sons had just learnt that skill two years back. Galion went and brought Thranduil to see. Legolas, of course, did not realise either where behind him, but when he did he screamed and dropped the blade. Thranduil carefully sat beside Legolas and took the elfling into his arms.
"Where ever did you learn to do that?"
"I watched you, Tonus and Cield doing it so I wanted to do it too."
"That was brilliant Legolas! And you are so young to be doing such a trick!"
"Sorry."
"No reason to be sorry ion-nin, for you have so much talent! I will of course NEVER let you back in the armoury until you can prove to me you will stay close and not wander off again and play with the weapons but I will get some wooden blades crafted for you to use. If you are able to do such a skill at your age, I will be amazed to see what you will be able to do when you grow up and make me proud!" Thranduil smiled. Legolas embraced his father as he was carried out of the armoury.
To be continued...