Disclaimer- Refer to chapter 1.

A/N- Yes, I know that it has been awhile since I last updated… I'm sorry about that:( And on another note, if you want to read a story dedicated just to Tirnen as an Elfling, then you can go here: http/ www .deviantart. com/deviation/17668702/ He's such a little cutie:D but I must warn you… the story is kind of sad:(

Chapter 4- Home, Sweet Home

King Thranduil took the small child from the tall blonde haired Elf and held him as though Elvellon was own Elfling. "Not an Elfling?" Thranduil pushed some brandy hair off of the child's rounded ear and smiled slightly. Then turning to Gwelwen, he said, "No one else has to know that there is a human child in Mirkwood." He put the lock of hair back where it was originally and said again "Elvellon, do not worry. We will find your father."

"You will? Really?" Elvellon looked up hopefully to the king.

Thranduil smiled. "Of course we will. I will make sure of it."

"Ada?" The little Elfling Legolas tugged on his adar's robes. "Ada, my tummy hurts real badly…"

"Oh, ion-nin…" Thranduil set little Elvellon down and picked his son up. "Did you eat or drink anything unusual?"

Legolas shook his small head, "No, ada."

"What about that water that you drank?" Tirnen spoke up.

"What water?" Thranduil asked, a bit worried.

"It was real dark. And it made me sleepy when I drank it."

"The Black stream. Legolas, did you drink from the Black stream?"

"Yeah, I think so. Why? Was it a bad thing?"

"Yes, Legolas. It was a very bad thing to do." Thranduil frowned upon his son's action. "Did I not tell you earlier not to play in the stream, or even to go near it?"

"But, ada, I never played in it! I drank from it!" Legolas smiled proudly, thinking that he followed his adar's orders quite well.

"That is even worse than just playing in it!" Thranduil said harshly, "I do not know what will become of you now… all of the Elves that unknowingly drank the water of that accursed stream have either committed suicide, or else they have somehow disappeared…" He held Legolas tight. "Please do not perish on me, ion-nin…"

"Ada, I'm not going to die; I'm going to-" He was about to finish his sentence, but a violent cough cut off the rest of it.

"You need to see a healer." Thranduil wasted no time in getting him to one of his best healers.

The healer heard Thranduil's coming and he looked upon his king. "Yes, sire? What is it that you need?"

"Legolas has drank from the Black stream and he needs help."

"Set him on that bed there and I will get to him when I can."

"No. You will see to him now." Thranduil ordered solemnly.

The healer nodded and saw to the Elfling sitting on the soft feather bed.

After the examination, which Legolas found to be quite boring, the healer turned to Thranduil sadly. "I do not know what is wrong with him… but whatever it is, it seems to be clearing up…"

Thranduil smiled a bit after the last part of the sentence was said. He picked Legolas up and embraced him lovingly. "Whatever happens, ion, I will be there for you always."

The small prince smiled and coughed again.

"Is there anything that I can give him for that cough?"

"There is this herbal tea that will help soothe him." The healer gave Thranduil a bag of dried crushed herbs. "Give him one cup every night before he is placed down for bed."

Thranduil nodded his thanks and left the room with Legolas snuggled close to the king's chest. "Do you want a bath, Legolas?" Thranduil dared to ask. "You are very dirty after your little adventure."

At the word 'bath', Legolas's body went tense and he started to squirm, trying to free himself from his adar's grasp. "No, lemme down!" He shrieked loudly.

The king couldn't help but smile at his son's feeble attempts to free himself. He brought the young wriggling prince to the bathroom and locked the door, preventing any escape attempts from Legolas. He set the little Elfling down and began to draw the prince's warm bath.

Meanwhile, Legolas was doing everything that he could to escape his dreaded bath. He pounded on the door and shrieked loudly, hoping that someone would come save him from his bath.

Once the warm bath was drawn, Thranduil took Legolas into his arms and began to undress him. "Stop moving, Legolas… the more you struggle, the longer your bath is going to take."

Legolas ignored his adar's words and continued to squirm and try to get away from his undesired bath.

"Legolas, daro!" Thranduil became frustrated with Legolas's behavior.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the king got Legolas's clothes off and he put the little wriggling Elfling into the warm bath water.

There, Thranduil washed all of the dirt off of the Elfling before he took him out of the bath and wrapped a very soft towel around Legolas. He dried Legolas off and dressed him once again. "There," He said, "now do not get dirty again, lest you want to end up in that bath again." He opened the door for the little Elfling, but before he could get the wooden door completely open, Legolas had already bolted out of the bathroom and was heading towards the room where Tirnen and Elvellon were.

Tbc…

A/N- Well, I will try and not take as long to update from now on…

Responds to Reviews-

Jedigollum- Gwelwen was a character in my story "An Elfling Named Tirnen" story. He was just a random Elf in there, but I decided to give him another part in here:)

Xiaoweisan- Hehe! I'm glad that you laugh at that joke!

Haldir's Heart and Soul- Don't worry:) Elvellon isn't going anywhere!

DMH1973­­- I'll keep writing. I'm not going to give up on this story.

Silvia silver elf­- I know that I was taking forever… please bear with me on the times that I take forever…

Wolenczak2004- There's more:)

Yyunesprith- There you go:)