Disclaimer- I own nothing!!!

Gayahithwen- Thanks- no I haven't seen that- where can I find that? It seems like it could be of use.

Farflung- You like thunder?- you strange person- I like thunder but as long as I'm inside. I couldn't resist little leggy talking to his sister- it's just too cute.

Thanks to all my readers and reviewers as always- much love xxx

Authoress blushes and hangs her head- I sincerely hope that you can forgive me for such a dismal chapter- I have writers block. Sorry you guys

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"Atara"

Legolas cried with joy as his mother entered his room. He made his way over to the bed to join her, stumbling over the many toys that littered the floor as he went.

He bounced on the bed as he sat down next to her; his eyes were cloudy as if storms were whirling in them. Eloria sighed heavily,

"You have been lonely since the departure of the twins, have you not my son?"

She looked at her son with kindly eyes. She knew just how lonely he was. He spent his time in his room playing alone. He would rarely speak to anyone whom he did not know and that was highly out of character for him.

He nodded but replaced it with a huge grin.

"Where is Adar?"

Eloria sighed and shook her head sadly,

"Adar...is...busy"

Legolas' grin faded and he became sad at his mothers change in attitude. He moved towards her and sat in front of her with his legs crossed, his eyes pleading with hers, stirring the feelings that only a child can.

"I am sorry my little leaf. Adar will finish soon do not worry. He will come and play with you, I promise"

He nodded and sat up, his small hand touching his mother's cheek.

"Do not cry atara, Las will look afater you and baby. You will not be lonely"

A tear rolled down Eloria's cheek and she hugged her baby as tightly as she could.

The past few weeks had been hard for the family. The spiders in Mirkwood had been killing more elves; they had become more daring and were venturing further into inhabited parts of the forest. As king, Thranduil had had to spend more time with his council and less time with his family.

Legolas had missed his father. He only got chance to see him during dinner and now that was rare.

He had watched as his mother had become more and more withdrawn and anxious as the weeks had passed. He had not known what was wrong with her but he had been unsettled and had become quiet- thinking that he was the cause of her sadness.

"Now, what do you wish to do?"

Legolas face brightened and he jumped on the bed before sitting down once more, his face scrunched up as he thought.

He wanted to go riding but knew that his atara could not as she was too big and would be uncomfortable.

"Can we go swimming?"

Eloria smiled and nodded,

"Yes, but we shall go to the hot pool downstairs, I do not wish to go outside today"

Legolas nodded his approval and jumped off of the bed to go and find his bathing suit.

"Leaf, what are you searching for?"

He poked his head out through the doorway and frowned,

"My swimming suit"

She smiled and stood up,

"It is already down at the pool you left it there last week"

"Alright"

With a little difficulty she rose from the bed and followed her energetic son out of the room, laughing to herself as she saw him sprint down the halls; passing various members of staff who were just as amused.

"Atara, come on"

Legolas waved to her from a few metres in front of her, hoping from one foot to the other, impatient to get to the pool.

"Alright, I am coming"

Legolas opened the door and held it open for his mother before running to the cupboard and pulling out his bathing suit.

Eloria stood and rid herself of her dress, deciding to bathe in the thin shift that she wore underneath her dress.

She watched with sharp eyes as her son neared the water, his eyes shining with delight at the prospect of jumping in. Eloria, feeling a little more protective than normal stepped forward and grabbed her son's hand. Kneeling down in front of him so took his face in her hands,

"Do not jump in until I am in the pool. I mean it leaf, please listen to me"

Smiling he kissed his atara and hugged her as he nodded,

"I promise"

He watched eagerly as his mother stepped into the pool, she held her hands out for him and waiting for him to jump.

Excited, he ran back and took a running jump landing in the pool just in front of Eloria, sending waves of water over her head.

"Hey, what did I do to deserve that?"

Legolas giggled as he swam over to her, splashing as he went.

Eloria's eyes sparkled as she watched her son play with a ball in the shallow part of the small pool. It was the first time in weeks that she had felt at peace, a faint flutter in her large belly told her that her daughter felt the same.

Legolas seeing the smile on her face swam over to where she was sat and set himself on her knee.

"You know what would make you feel better?"

Legolas said secretively, Eloria shook her head,

"Sweets, whenever I get sad I eat sweets, they always make me feel better"

She grinned and tucked a tendril of wet hair behind his ear,

"I wish I could eat sweets leaf, but your sister does not like then, not at the moment, they make me feel ill"

"Why, will she never like them?"

Legolas asked, his eyes wide with shock,

"No, it does not mean that she won't ever like them, but she shares a body with me and sometimes it is difficult to reach an agreement on what I eat"

She smiled, hoping that the elfling would accept the over simplified explanation. Luckily he did, nodding in agreement with her.

"When will baby be here?"

With all the innocent curiosity of a small elfling, he laid his hands as gently as he could on her belly and waited to see whether his baby sister would greet him.

After a few short moments she kicked making her brother and her mother laugh happily.

"You see, she is just as eager to meet you are you are to meet her"

He giggled and hugged her stomach.

The two sat in silence resting and enjoying the hot water lapping softly at their bodies almost lulling them to sleep.

The door opened and Thranduil entered, his robes looking majestic but his face tired. His eyes were dull as was his hair, evidence that he had not been talking care of himself. Legolas slid of his mother's knee and went to sit in the shallow water.

Eloria watched as he husband rid himself of his clothes and got into the water.

Her anger at him had disappeared and was replaced with concern. He stood in front of her, his eyes hooded with exhaustion. Eloria stood and pulled him to her, cradling his head on her breast.

No words passed between the two for they were not needed.

Sensing the mood, the elfling sat quietly, his brow furrowed in contemplation; he did not know what was going on. He had thought that his mother would be happy when his father came to her, but she was not smiling and there were tears in her eyes, was she sad? And Adar, what was wrong with him? He was not smiling either, he was sad too.

Thranduil stepped back from his wife and with a true smile he opened his arms to his son who grinned, with a cry Legolas threw himself into the water and swam over to his parents.

The door was locked against the outside world; except the cooks, and that afternoon was spent joyfully playing;

As a family.