Mae Govannen!

This is my first Lord Of The Rings fic, which is strange; considering it's my biggest obsession (apart from Les Miserables). I've got a little writer's block at the moment, and I wrote this because I had no better ideas and I wanted to write something in which Thranduil is a GOOD FATHER!

I hope you like it. Any reviews would be gratefully recieved.

King Thranduil of Mirkwood descended the stone steps into the courtyard and gave a fond smile at the sight which met his eyes.

His youngest child, Legolas, was at the moment trapped the in the fierce embrace of one his five older brothers and was blushing scarlet at the thought of being seen by anyone.

"Gwador nin, please!" he begged. "Someone will see!"

"You vain little elfling!" scolded Adrahil, the eldest, as he let his brother go and ruffled his blond hair. "You're about to be parted with your family for a good while and all you can think about is your reputation!"

"No…I didn't mean it like that!" distress broke across Legolas's face. "Honestly I didn't."

"We know you didn't, gwador laes! He's just tormenting you!" laughed Aranwë, pulling Legolas into his arms. "We'll all worry about you though! Promise not to do anything stupid!"

"I'm not an elfling anymore!" said Legolas indignantly, struggling in Aranwë's hold. "You do not need to coddle me all the time!"

"That is the joy of being the youngest!" grinned Saeros, pulling his brother's braid teasingly. "You get to have us five watching over you all the time!"

Legolas sighed resignedly as he was hugged tightly by all five at once. He let his head fall onto Aranwë's shoulder. Though he would be slightly relived to be off on his own – being ever watched over by a worried father and five over-protective brothers could be tiresome – he was going to miss them all.

"You should let him breathe a little!" called Thranduil from the bottom of the steps, and he was met with five wicked grins and a fiery blush from Legolas.

"We are only bidding farewell to our little brother, Ada!" laughed Lindon gleefully. "And reminding him of how much we love him."

"Well, cease tormenting him, you've embarrassed him enough!" laughed his father in reply, receiving a thankful look from Legolas, who hurriedly wriggled out of his brother's embrace and came to stand before his father.

"Have you got the supplies you'll need?" asked Thranduil anxiously. "You're sure you would not rather be accompanied?"

Thranduil had lost his wife when Legolas was just an elfling and since then both he and his five elder sons had been inclined to be over protective of the youngest member of their family. And even now, Legolas was only the mortal equivalent of nineteen years old. And he really did have a habit of getting into trouble.

"You could send me instead, Ada." Daeron, the second eldest, piped up.

"You, Elladan and Elrohir in the same building?" asked Adrahil dryly. "Imladris would need centuries to recover from the havoc you'd wreak!"

"I will be fine alone, Ada." said Legolas, turning his sapphire eyes to his father's, which were the exact same colour and shape. "Please do not worry about me."

"Ion-nin, I will worry about you every day until you return." said Thranduil softly. "You are a capable warrior, but you will always be my Dian Las. I will always want to protect you."

A small smile crossed Legolas's fair elven face and he hugged his father tightly.

"Amin mela lle, Ada." he whispered, feeling his father gently stroke his hair.

"Amin mela lle, Legolas." replied Thranduil, before holding his son back to look into his eyes. "For Valar's sake, promise me you will be careful! It would break my heart if I lost you."

"I'll be careful, I promise." said Legolas earnestly. "I'll just deliver the message and return."

"Aw, look at that! Ada's little elfling doesn't mind being hugged after all!" called Aranwë mischievously, and Legolas looked up at his father helplessly.

"I think I understand why you wanted to travel alone, ion-nin." smiled Thranduil. "Living with this lot can't be easy."

"I know, Ada." smirked Saeros gleefully. "I honestly don't know how I manage it!"

Thranduil rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to his youngest.

"You'd best be heading off, and make the most of the daylight to get through the forest. Look after yourself, ride swift, and stay out of trouble!"

"I will. I promise!" said Legolas, embracing his father again. "Namaarië, Ada."

"Namaarië, tithen pen." Thranduil kissed his son's forehead and ruffled his hair. "Stay safe."

Legolas withdrew from his father's arms and made his way back to his brothers.

"Namaarië, gwadoriath nin." he smiled. "Tenna' ento lye omenta."

"Safe journey, little brother." said Adrahil, as they all hugged him again. "And let me warn you, if you return with as much as a scratch, you won't sit for a week!"

"All right! I'll be careful!" said Legolas with a laugh. "Look after yourselves. I'll be back before you know it!"

With that, he leapt up into his saddle and rode out of the courtyard with a final call of farewell.

His brothers waved until he vanished, then they separated and went back to their various activities. Thranduil stood at the bottom of the steps for a moment, his eyes absently focused on the direction his son had vanished in.

"He'll be fine, Ada." said Adrahil quietly, as he climbed the steps beside him. "He's young but he's capable."

"I know." replied Thranduil solemnly. "But I will worry about him nonetheless, the same as I worry about all of you. You'll understand one day, penneth. It's the joys of fatherhood."

Adrahil smiled his solemn smile and accompanied his father inside.

"Come back soon, little brother." he thought as he closed the door on the courtyard. "I don't think you realise how much you mean to everyone!"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ELVISH TRANSLATIONS

Ada - Father

Gwador nin/Gwadoriath nin - my brother/my brothers

Ion-nin - my son

Dian Las - little leaf

Tithen pen - little one

Penneth - young one

Gwador Laes - baby brother

Namaarie - farewell

Tenna' ento lye omenta - until next we meet

As I said, it's nothing spectacular - I know that myself. I'd still love to hear what you think of it, and whether or not you think I should continue with it.