Hi, all. Thanks for the reviews, I can't respond to them right now because the internet is acting up... still. I'm also starting a new story today, or trying to, which means I have to rush and get goping before it freezes up again. Bye!

Chapter 26 Highly inappropriate

After the annoyance of not knowing where his son was when he sent for him, then to find him not in his room as suggested by the few servants who seemed to know anything about why Legolas wasn't with his patrol…

Well, he was annoyed.

Beyond annoyed, really, because Elleri had suggested Silrinil's room, hedging around any questions he was asked, and all but fleeing when finally dismissed in irritation.

The door had been locked, and no knocking had produced an answer…

But he'd gotten the feeling he might not get one.

So he'd ordered the elf who cleaned Silrinil's room be tracked down, and then ordered her to hand over the key… which she had only grudgingly done. A loyal elf, that one… perhaps too loyal, really. Perhaps he should rethink having a key for each lock in the halls made available to him alone. Now he jammed the blasted key into the lock on Silrinil's door, twisting almost savagely.

He did not like having to hunt his son down himself. None of the messengers he'd sent could find him, and weren't they supposed to know where people were? At least his children, anyway.

With a grumble he opened the door, eyes sweeping past the dying fire and empty chairs.

His gaze sharpened on a pair of haphazardly discarded leggings. Either Silrinil wasn't all that tidy, or she had a… visitor.

Unwillingly, unerringly, his eyes sought the bed, discerning two shapes upon it, covered by the dark blankets save for a tiny bit of one foot. Two entangled, utterly relaxed shapes. Through his disappointment, he had trouble deciding if he should go away and leave her be, or ask her if she knew where Legolas was, though that seemed rather unlikely.

Before he had made up his mind, one of them stirred. A silvery-blond head lifted slightly from the mess of covers, exposing a fair amount of her skin as he shifted, rolling over with a faint smile, pulling her along.

He saw the intruder's outline in the door and reacted quickly, drawing a blanket up over his lover before glancing sharply for his clothing, seeming dissatisfied with what he found. Or didn't find. "Well?" he demanded sharply.

"I think it is my place to ask questions, Legolas," Thranduil informed him stiffly, moving so the light of the hall no longer made him into a faceless shadow. He closed the door and picked a pair of leggings off the closest chair, tossing them at his son before seating himself without invitation, knowing one was not likely forthcoming.

Legolas picked them up, studying them for a moment, and then rested them lightly on the covers hiding the yet dozing Silrinil. "What can there possibly be to ask, Ada? I would think things self-explanatory."

"And I would think you'd have more sense."

Legolas stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Ada," he growled softly.

"She's Elleri's best friend, Legolas. You've never shown such an inclination before—she was practically a little sister!"

"Never," he hissed.

Silrinil took that moment to begin waking, stretching slightly. She tilted her head to Legolas, frowning, lifting a hand to run lightly over his bare back. "What's wrong?"

"Ada," he muttered.

"So, we'll tell him soon," she murmured quietly, leaning forward a bit, kissing his right shoulder, eyes still slightly glazed with lingering dreams.

"Not that, Linir," Legolas murmured softly. "He knows."

"Is that a problem?"

"It seems to be."

"Why?"

Legolas may have always admitted Elleri knew more about females, but he knew enough. He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to it. "He seems to view this as nearing on incestuous."

She sat up sleepily, resting her cheek against his back, her arms sliding around him. "That's ridiculous," she murmured, snuggling against him. "I barely knew you before joining the service."

He smiled absently, pulling the covers up again.

"I'm warm enough," she murmured, looking at him curiously for his insistence in covering her. "What's the matter?" she asked a moment later, lifting a questioning hand to his cheek as she blinked the last of sleep away.

He rested his forehead against hers, taking a long moment to kiss her gently. "Why don't you go soak for a while? I'll join you once Ada's left."

Her head snapped around to see the King in one of her chairs. To the surprise of both males, she didn't flush or move to cover herself. She took a moment to calmly study him and then shook her head. "No."

With a quirked smile for her stubborn defense, he kissed her lightly behind her ear. "Go, mate," he whispered.

She smiled up at him for the term and gave in to his wish, cupping his cheek, insisting on another kiss before she stretched, swinging her legs off the bed and rising, walking gracefully from the room.

Legolas wasn't aware he'd been staring until Thranduil cleared his throat. He looked back at his father, rearranging himself into a more comfortable position before speaking. "She's right, Ada. I had very little to do with her back then."

"And now she is a soldier in your command."

"You certainly had no problems with her position in the service before," Legolas murmured quietly.

Thranduil's eyes narrowed, sensing something in Legolas's mild tone that he knew he wouldn't like when fully explained. "Before you weren't her lover. It's highly inappropriate for you to remain her Captain. She shall have to report to another or leave the service."

"Why? Nothing has really changed."

"Are you saying your relationship changes nothing?" Thranduil asked, still floundering for solid ground.

"I'm saying it changes nothing that wasn't already in place when she returned."

Thranduil stared blankly at him. Then he shook his head. "Who will she report to?"

"Me."

"No, Legolas. I cannot allow you to have such a relationship with one in your command."

"As I'm crowned prince, doesn't that exclude all Mirkwood elves?" Legolas asked dryly.

"You know what I mean."

"Yes. And as I've said, nothing has changed since you agreed to allow her to enter the service… though really, it should have been my decision."

Thranduil frowned, the feeling of impending trouble growing more intense. "Why would it have been your decision, Legolas? I took her in when her father died."

"Yes. But as her husband, it was more my decision, wasn't it?"

For a long moment Thranduil wondered if this was what it was like to be human—forever doubting his senses. "You are not married."

"Not with sanctioned vows, Ada, true. But our souls were bound long ago."

Thranduil lifted a hand to his brow, long fingers rubbing at his temple. "So you did sleep with her before."

"Yes. Once. Our souls bound…"

"And?" Thranduil asked softly.

Legolas shook his head. "I'd have to speak with her about that."

"Then why not call her back? As she's been listening at the door, anyway."

Legolas half-smiled as she sighed, returning to him. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her so she was as covered as he felt she would allow, considering the lingering heat in the room. He kissed her shoulder. "What do you think?"

She hesitated, and he tightened his hold, sending calm and peace to her. She relaxed, resting her head against his. "And I conceived a child," she murmured at last, finishing Legolas's statement.

Thranduil sighed wearily, sure that sometime today, things were going to be normal. It just obviously wasn't going to be anytime soon. "Where is the child?"

She shook her head. "I was attacked, injured… It was lost before old enough for me to commune with, though I tried."

"Why did you leave?"

"A private misunderstanding, Uncle," she murmured.

He looked between them for a moment, and considered everything, mentally swearing as he figured out what Jarthey had seen. What Elrond had no doubt seen. It was also fairly obvious why they hadn't told him, at least before working things out. "Your souls were bound before you left?"

"Yes," she murmured, but tilted her head slightly.

Legolas kissed her neck before lifting his head, pinning his father with a look that allowed no questions. "I wasn't aware of it…"

She sighed, rubbing his arm.

He nodded slightly. "I wasn't aware of having bedded her," he admitted. "That was the last night I drank wine."

Her lifted brow told Thranduil she hadn't been aware of that, but she snuggled back into his hold contentedly. Thranduil took a few silent minutes to piece things together.

"What do you plan to do now?"

"Well, have the official ceremony sometime, but there's no real hurry, as it is just ceremony," Legolas murmured.

"And you're both going to remain in the Service?"

They both hesitated, pulling just enough apart to look at each other. "For now," Silrinil answered eventually. "But I certainly won't be going on patrols when with child, nor after the child is born. My own life is one thing, but to leave a young child without a mother is not something I'm prepared to do."

Legolas's eyes were dark as he thought things through. "When we take that step, I will step down as well, Ada. I will not worry her, will not upset our child."

Thranduil lifted a brow. He should really listen to Jarthey more often. "Perhaps you would take over for me as commander of the troops?"

Legolas relaxed slightly, nodding. "Of course," he murmured, but the pleased tone told the story.

Thranduil smiled slightly and shook his head. "I've forgotten whatever it was I was so desperate to talk to you about. It was quite annoying, being unable to find you."

"Now you know where to find me."

"Yes… Does Elleri know?"

"Yes. And Verine. I don't know about Morsallien."

"And your patrol? The other Captains?"

"No for the patrol, though they know we're friends. The Captains…" Legolas shrugged. "I can't say."

"Jarthey knows," Silrinil murmured. "I think she always has."

Thranduil shook his head slightly. Perhaps he should encourage females to enter the service once in a while. Of course, so far, they'd married other soldiers and left to raise families…

Except Jarthey, but that only because her intended had been killed while on patrol.

"When will the engagement be announced?"

"When we're ready to deal with the Wood," Legolas murmured.

"Really, Uncle. We've been parted for so long… what's a few months to ourselves?"

With a snort, Thranduil shook his head. "All things considered, Silrinil, I think it best you not call me 'uncle' any more. Ada or Thranduil will do."

She smiled faintly.