Disclaimer- I own nothing!!!

Sofia- no- you're not over analysing- you're onto something- it's nice to know somebody really takes notice and wants something from this. Thanks

Uh- well I couldn't pass that opportunity pass could I- it's too cute. Was it deep? Oh, well at least you like it. It took me five mins to write and it was very last minute. Thanks

Liz- wow- one sitting- I don't know how you do it- not even I can do that. Well done you and thanks I think I'll take it as a compliment.

Dazzler420- hope you like it

Lady K4- Thanks- I assure you that I will go back and fix that

Leggylover4ever- can't they just- thanks

And thank you to everybody to everybody else who had read/ reviewed- I appreciate it. xxx

"What happened today ? You seem upset"

Thalia asked her husband as she exited the bathroom. She threw her clothes over a chair and watched him as he combed his hair with vicious strokes that only served to knot his hair more. She sighed and approached him, gently taking the comb from his fingers.

As she combed his hair, Legolas felt the pent up anger and worry of the day melt into insignificance. He almost purred with delight as she ran her fingers through his hair even though she had finished.

He caught her wrist and pulled her round to sit on his lap. She complied but sat up straight, away from him. He did not want her to read his eyes but he let her all the same.

"Will you not talk about it?"

Her hand cradled his face as she looked into his tired eyes.

"I do not wish to"

Thalia nodded and kissed him tenderly as she snaked her arms around his neck. There was nothing sexual about it, it was just an embrace that let him know that she was there and she loved him, much the same as he had done for her so many times.

"Do you know what your problem is Greenleaf?"

She drew back and cocked her head, smiling,

"You don't have any fun anymore"

He laughed and placed his hands on her hips, letting his hands roam up her body.

"That cannot be helped"

He said, his voice heavy with regret and hope.

"Legolas, when was the last time that you spent sometime with the children, because let me tell you, it's been weeks since I've spent more than half and hour with them"

He smiled at her, sensing her mischief, she was up to something.

"I cannot think"

"What would you say if I asked Adar for a days respite and we spend the day with the children?"

She sat back, looking at him suspiciously,

"You mean it?"

He nodded and pulled her to him, capturing her lips with his.

His hands roamed, leaving a trail of fire across her skin. It had been days since either of them had been able to touch each other and there was desperation in their kisses that they had rarely felt. He picked her up and threw her on the bed, quickly covering her body with his. Clothes were torn off, literally and flung across the room as the pair were taken over by their desperation and need for each other.

The two lay spent and in a state of blissful peace, wrapped in each other's arms and a thin sheet.

The tell tale sound of a heavy door being pushed open alerted the parents to the presence of one of their children.

Elves were not ashamed of their bodies and over the years Thalia had become accustomed and content with dressing and undressing in front of her children.

Eleni looked at them from under her long hair, her face red and blotchy as if she had been crying.

Thalia sat up and opened her arms,

"Come here baby"

Eleni ran over to her parent's bed and launched herself into her mother's arms.

Thalia closed her eyes and rocked her daughter soothingly as the child began to cry. Legolas sat up and embraced them both, looking worriedly at Eleni who had her eyes tightly closed and looked to be in pain.

"What's wrong baby girl? What is it?"

Eleni sat back and pointed to her back,

"Hurts, nana, it hurts"

Thalia turned Eleni round on her knee and lifted the child's nightgown. Thalia's eyes widened and she looked at her husband in worry and panic.

"Legolas"

Legolas was in much the same state. The red, black mark where she had been bitten years earlier was clear, as if it was only hours old. He ran his fingers over her back just to satisfy his mind.

His blue eyes turned violet with ice and fire that sent chills down Thalia's back. She wanted reassurance that it was nothing and it would be fine, but he gave no such indication.

Eleni settled a little at the touch of her father but still clung to her mother. The child felt her parent's confusion and upset but did not understand.

"Legolas?"

Thalia's voice quivered and her eyes were wide as she looked at him. He sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment. He knew not what to tell her, as he had no idea what was happening. And he didn't wish to upset his daughter any more than she already was. He opened his eyes and gathered his child into his arms, rocking her and rubbing her back soothingly, it had the same effect on her as it did her mother and she was nearly asleep in a matter of minutes.

He lay down, pulling his wife down beside him. Her body was stiff and unwilling to relax as she lay there watching him. His hair glinted golden red as the candlelight hit it and his beautifully sculpted face seemed frozen in pain and despair.

"I should know what to do Lia"

He turned his head to looked at her, his eyes' searching her's frantically for an answer, he found something and was satisfied. The door to the other room opened once again and Niall came running into the room.

"Hi sweetie"

"Nana, where's 'Leni?"

His small voice echoed quietly in the large room.

Thalia sat up and patted the space in the middle of the bed. Niall took the invitation and slowly crawled up the bed and settled underneath the covers. His blue eyes looked at his father and sister.

"What's wrong?"

Thalia laid leaning on her elbow, stroking Niall's hair,

"She doesn't feel well honey, don't worry she'll be fine"

Niall nodded and scooted closer to his father,

"Adar?"

Legolas' eyes found those of his son and he smiled. He rolled over and settled Eleni before drawing the blankets over both the children. He leaned over and kissed Thalia before kissing Niall and Eleni.

Both the prince and princess remained awake, watching both of their children until the dawn broke over the land.

Thalia rose first, bathing and dressing before anybody else. She had just finished pinning her hair up in a bun when she felt a strong pair of arms slide around her waist and pull her into a firm chest.

She relaxed and leaned into the embrace, laying her head on his shoulder as he kissed her neck.

"I don't know what's wrong. I've seen anything like it. Spider bites, are relatively easy to treat and they never come back, never. So what's going on?"

She closed her eyes to keep back the tears that had begun to well in her eyes. Legolas felt her sudden urge to cry and tightened his hold as if somehow his embrace would save her from everything.

"Come on, we have to go to the healing wing"

She smiled weakly to herself and stepped out of his arms. She turned around and kissed him softly, her lips barley meeting his.

"I love you Legolas"

"I love you too Thalia"

She nodded and left him to dress. As she entered her bedroom her eyes fell on her children, who were still curled up with each other asleep. She sat down on the bed next to them watching as Niall sensing her presence turned over and found her dress and clung to it.

"Niall, Niall honey, wake up"

She whispered quietly so as not to wake Eleni, who needed her sleep. Niall shifted his body and slowly opened his eyes.

She picked him up, kissing his temple and went into his room to dress him for the day.

It wasn't long before the three of them were ready to leave. Thalia and Niall left the room, followed by Legolas who held Eleni, tightly. She seemed so small in the arms of her father who when he was in this mood could be very imposing.

The walk to the healing wing seemed agonisingly slow to the couple. Niall walked slowly beside his mother, confused by the sudden change in the routine of his usual days. He wondered why his sister hadn't woken up and why his nana hadn't dressed her.

His eyes studied his adar intently. His adar didn't look too pleased with something and he frightened him. He had rarely seen his father look so...upset. He never shouted at anybody like his nana did but just one look could make him want to crawl into bed and never come out again.

His naneth looked tired, she looked like she hadn't slept. She had big black circles under her eyes and her eyes weren't as sparkly as they usually were.

He was distracted when he heard his sister start to cry. He felt sick as her cries got louder and he felt his cheeks become wet with tears.

His naneth looked down at him and shook her head before picking him up and cradling him to her chest.

"Shh, it's alright baby, it's ok"

But he knew that everything was wrong, his adar was upset and his nana was angry and his sister was hurting.

He knew what everybody else was trying to hide and as he saw when they entered the healing wing, things were not alright.