Because he had to take it easy and couldn't be as active as he had been with the twins, Ingeras regressed into his melancholy. It was hard for the elves to watch the boy who had just begun laughing again to sink back into his grief. Of course, they weren't surprised. Grief is a painful, life-altering clash.

Aragorn tried to cheer Ingeras up by still taking him outdoors and teaching him to track like the rangers, when he was around to do it. Glorfindel trained him in sword fighting. Ingeras knew the basic skills, he'd learned them from Vlad. So, that made the captain's job a little easier, and he had Ingeras practice moves that would only require the use of his uninjured arm instead of both. Ingeras was relieved when his cast was removed from his arm. The first thing he wanted to do was climb trees, much to Elrond's chagrin.


It had been nearly three months since Ingeras had been brought to Rivendell. He was still grieving for his parents, especially at night. But elves were so kind to him, and the twins went out of their way to try to make some life fun for Ingeras again, and though his heart was heavy, he enjoyed their company and they managed to make him smile often.

"Aha! Found you, 'Ro!" Ingeras declared triumphantly. Elrohir looked at him in genuine surprise.

"How is that possible? You couldn't have!" He protested, huddling in his hiding spot behind one of the waterfalls.

"Oh. Oh, but I did." Ingeras smirked with his fists on his hips. Elladan strutted behind him, smiling evilly.

"But-'Dan! No fair! You can't help him track me. That's cheating!" Elrohir whined.

"Well, he said he wanted to learn from the best." Elladan said smugly, ruffling Ingeras's hair. "Naturally, that meant me."

"Don't go there." Elrohir warned his brother. "We're supposed to be setting a good example for the youngster. But right now I'm in the mood for some kin-slaying." Ingeras giggled at their argument.

"How did I do, 'Dan?" He asked.

"Excellent, penneth." Elladan clapped his shoulder.

"It doesn't really count as a success." Elrohir huffed, crossing his arms. "Not when he helped you."

"Don't be a sorehead, 'Ro." Ingeras said. "I'll race you back, through the trees."

"Now that isn't really a fair match." Elrohir straightened up, shaking his head. "To you!"Then he raced off, leaping into the trees. "Catch me if you can, shrimp!"

"Hey!" Ingeras shouted and ran after him.

Elladan coerced Ingeras to run along the paths, which helped them reach home before Elrohir did. The dark-haired elf gaped when he saw his brother and the little stinker standing there. "Wha-how? Cheaters!" He sputtered.

"What took you so long, dear brother?" Elladan asked.

"Don't you 'dear brother' me!"

"Can we come to a reasonable agreement, I hope?" Elrond asked as he walked up to the boys. "I am not pleased to find civilian bloodshed on my doorstep."

"Lord Elrond, I tracked down 'Ro and found him!" Ingeras announced proudly.

"Very good, penneth." Elrond nodded in approval.

"It wasn't exactly a fair win." Elrohir protested.

"Can we please not argue?" Ingeras groaned, hugging his middle. His stomach growled loudly. "I'm starving! All that running made me hungry." The elves all gaped at him in astonishment. They smiled widely. Ever since he'd come to Rivendell and had been going through the grieving process, this was one of the raretimes Ingeras had ever, ever asked for food! Recently he'd only eaten enough to for one meal and that was because he was ordered to, and told that he'd be too weak to train in fighting if he didn't.

"What did you say?" Elrohir sputtered.

"I'm really hungry." Ingeras replied.

"Did you hear that, Ada? He's hungry!" Elladan cheered.

"Well, I think we can fix that easily." Elrond smiled, leading Ingeras back inside.


Poor Ingeras had been starving himself for so long that he wolfed down all the delicious food offered to him and spent the next couple hours lying in bed vomiting and with a terrible stomach ache. "I don't understand." He moaned to the twins. "Is there something odd in your Elven food? Why do I feel like this?"

"Because, you silly boy, you ate too much too fast." Elrohir smiled down at him, ruffling his hair.

"Stop that. I told you, only Arwen is allowed to do that!" Ingeras scolded.

"Ingeras, you haven't eaten properly for ages. Your body needs to get used to it again. So that means we need to teach your body proper nourishment again in easy doses." Elladan added. "Next time, eat slower and less food. You don't want to end up with another horrible bellyache."

"No, I sure don't!" Ingeras groaned, curling on his side. "Oh, why did you have to mention it again? You make me feel worse."

"How about some sit-ups?" Elrohir teased him. Ingeras glared up at him.

"No!" He grumbled, snatching his pillow and thwacking the tall elf in the face with it. That was a mistake. "Ohhh!" Ingeras wailed. That sudden movement had triggered more stretched muscles.

"For a trained healer, you have a sorry bedside manner." Elladan told his brother.

Later that night, Ingeras's stomach had settled and he was fed dry but soft toast and tea. It helped calm his nerves and he slept peacefully. In the days that followed, Ingeras started eating again. He had to learn to eat very moderately at first, but food did help keep him focused when out training with the twins or Aragorn, or Glorfindel.


"Why are we having the guest room prepared, Erestor?" Ingeras asked.

"We have a guest coming." Erestor replied.

"Who?"

"You'll see. I think you will enjoy it." Erestor smiled, patting the boy on the head.

Papa? And Gandalf? Ingeras's heart lept with hope. Could it be? Had Aragorn found Vlad and was bringing him to Imladris? Ingeras hurried to the foyer as it was announced that the guest had arrived.

"Perhaps you'd like to be the first to greet him." Arwen suggested. Ingeras raced to the patio outside the front doors. At first, he felt disappointed when he saw the visitor and he started to cry. But he quickly wiped his eyes and nose and bravely went forward.

"Legolas!" Ingeras screeched gleefully and ran to the elf and sprang up into his arms.

"Well! That is quite a greeting, compared to the last time I saw you." Legolas grinned, catching the little boy, his accompanied guards laughing in amusement at the gushing display of affection from the young human.

"I missed you."

"Oh, I missed you too, penneth." Legolas said, lightly shaking the youngster in his arms. Ingeras giggled. "You've grown heavier, young one! What have they been feeding you?"

"Blueberry tarts, and sugar sprinkled biscuits!" Ingeras announced happily. "They're my favorite."

"Ahh, I see." Legolas set his young friend down. "You'd better watch that, my friend. Keep it up and you'll end up as stout as a greedy dwarf before you are fully grown." Legolas teased, poking Ingeras's belly, making him double over and laugh.

"'Dan and 'Ro and Aragorn and Glorfindel are teaching me to track, and sword fight, and shoot a bow, and..." Ingeras blurted out.

"Whoa, whoa, now! Slow down." Legolas chuckled. "I'm going to stick around for a while and you can tell me all about it." Ingeras hugged the elf tightly around the waist and wouldn't let go as they walked inside.

"How is Tauriel?"

"She is very well, mellon. And she sends her love."

"Legolas Greenleaf." Elrond smiled. "Good to have you here, penneth."

"I was most appreciative when I received the invitation! I've been waiting for an excuse to come here."

"Legolas, how long can you stay?" Arwen asked.

"Ada told me I could visit here for a month."

"Goodie! That means you'll be here for my birthday!" Ingeras cheered.

"Your birthday? Really? Ahh, then I am glad. It's been a very long time since I celebrated Estel's birthday. You see, we elves don't really do that."

"WHAT?!" Ingeras gaped in horror. "No birthday celebrations?! No presents, no friends to come over, no sweet cakes? Nothing?"

"We have a different day for that. We celebrate like that for our Begetting Day." Legolas explained.

"Begetting Day?"

"The day we were conceived from our parents' love."

"Oh. Well, at least you have fun that way, even if it is with a different name."


"He looks well, Estel." Legolas told his friend wistfully.

"Ai. Sometimes it is only a facade. I still find him crying or longing for his parents at times, especially at night." Aragorn sighed.

"Well, at least he's eating again." Legolas stated.

"Yes! He was starving himself to death, literally, for a long while. It's good to see him getting some nourishment."

"I was surprised but relieved when he wrote to me and explained things, namely his evasiveness while he was in Mirkwood." Legolas said.

"Mmm-hmm." Aragorn grunted. Suddenly, he was knocked down to the ground by a small pair of arms. He turned on his side to find a gloating little boy hanging onto his legs. "Ingeras, really? If you intend to be good hunter someday, I'm afraid you have a great deal more to learn about stealth."

"But you didn't know I was there, did you?" Ingeras smirked.

"Normally, I would. I suppose I was so grasped into our conversation that I didn't think to properly take in my surroundings."

"What do you mean, ganging up on my friend like that?" Legolas asked sternly, glaring down at the boy with his arms crossed.

"I was just practicing what 'Dan and 'Ro taught me." Ingeras shrugged.

"The perfect cover up. Blame someone else. Ahh, I see." Legolas huffed playfully.

"Humph." Ingeras huffed back.

"Oh! Going to be stubborn about it, eh?" Legolas smirked wickedly. He slipped his hands around Ingeras's waist and flung the boy upside down over his shoulder. Ingeras had squealed when Legolas placed his hands under his arms."Why, Estel, I do believe our little prince is ticklish!" Legolas grinned evilly toward Aragorn, as he gripped Ingeras who was trying to scramble from his arms.

"Aah. I have to agree." Aragorn smirked, narrowing his eyes.

"Are you, Ingeras?" Legolas asked.

"No! I'm not ticklish!" Ingeras laughed nervously, wriggling harder.

"Mmm-hmm. I believe you speak lies, little one." Legolas said with mock firmness. "And for that you are to be punished severely!"

"How?" Ingeras asked, wide-eyed with dread. Aragorn shifted closer with his hands raised, in claw shapes.

"Torture!" Aragorn smiled darkly.

"Oh no! Not that!" Ingeras shrieked in laughter and tried to run away, but Legolas only threw him over his shoulder and flipped him over backwards where his head and arms were hanging upside down over Legolas's chest.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, you little imp." Legolas growled playfully, holding Ingeras by his legs. "Just admit it, and we'll take it easy on you."

"Admit it, Your Highness." Aragorn added. "You're ticklish."

"N-n-no, I'm not. I'm not ticklish. So...you don't have to tickle me." Ingeras said nervously, struggling to protect his middle with his arms, but it was difficult while hanging upside down.

"Hmm. What do you think, Estel?" Legolas cocked his head. "Should we refrain from said torture? Or do you think he only speaks falsely, hoping we will forfeit his punishment?" Ingeras nodded quickly, as if to say, 'Yeah! That would be a good idea'!

Aragorn narrowed his eyes with his arms crossed. He pretended to be thinking very hard. "I don't know. There's only one way to find out." He stepped closer.

"What are you going to do?" Ingeras asked timidly. Aragorn poked his open armpits and Ingeras shrieked, trying to scrunch into a ball the best he could being suspended several feet in the air.

"Is that a 'yes'?" Legolas asked eagerly.

"That was a 'maybe'." Aragorn answered. He poked Ingeras in the middle of his stomach, and the boy could not strain himself from giggling. "All right. He's lying. Looks like we'll have to go through with it, Legolas."

"Oh no! Don't you dar-!" Ingeras hollered with laughter as not only did Legolas hold him upside down, but he also helped Aragorn tickle the youngster."Oh, please!" Ingeras laughed. "No! Please, not on my tummy! That's my worst spot!"

"Oh, really?" Aragorn cocked his head curiously and formed both hands into claws. Legolas set Ingeras on the ground, but jerked him off his feet before he could run away. "You'll learn that lying around here instead of being forthright has consequences." Aragorn said and started tickling again.

"Ohh! Legolas, help me!" Ingeras laughed.

"Nope." Legolas chuckled and tickled the boy on his stomach.

"Ohh! Enough, please! Please stop!" Ingeras begged. Legolas and Aragorn stopped and Ingeras sat up giggling against his will. "You two are dangerous."

"We know it." Legolas shrugged.

"At least now we know how to make you laugh." Aragorn said, reaching out his arm to poke his side again.

"Oh, no you don't!" Ingeras glared up at him. "And don't you dare tell 'Dan and 'Ro! Elves tickle worse than my papa."

"I'm assuming that is a compliment?" Legolas chuckled, helping Ingeras to his feet and brushing the dirt off his clothes. "Well, I am not repentant of my actions. It is the most I have ever seen you smile, let alone laugh, child!"

"He's right, Ingeras." Aragorn said, ruffling his hair.

"Stop!" Ingeras snapped.

"Oh, right. Sorry." Aragorn said innocently. "You'd best learn now, Legolas. Only Arwen has permission to do that. Everyone else is off limits, even Ada!"

"I shall restrain myself." Legolas bowed to Ingeras.

"Well, if you'll excuse me." Aragorn stepped back. "I'm sure you two have some catching up to do. So, I'll just leave you alone." He turned on his heel. Legolas whispered in Ingeras's ear and the boy gaped in astonishment. Then he threw himself at the ranger and knocked him off his feet again. "Hey! What's the big idea?" He grunted, flat on his back.

"You're ticklish too, Aragorn!" Ingeras smiled, sitting on his waist.

"What makes you think that?" Aragorn asked, trying to sound as disinterested as possible.

"Oh, no lies, Estel." Legolas warned him playfully, hovering over his friend with his arms crossed. "You know the penalty."

"You should talk." Aragorn glared up at the elf.

"Is it true, that you're ticklish?" Ingeras asked. Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"No, Ingeras. So just forge-aahhahaha!" Aragorn laughed as little hands tickled his ribs and sides.

"You lied." Ingeras said triumphantly.

"All right." Aragorn sighed but howled with laughter again as Ingeras tickled him. Legolas was no help, but stood there laughing evilly. Aragorn could have gotten up easily but would've hurt Ingeras with flipping him off. Besides, it was the most laughter he'd ever heard from Ingeras. So, as anxious as he was for the attack to stop, Aragorn barely fought the boy and lay there letting him tickle him silly until his arms grew tired.


That night, Ingeras wanted to spend time with Legolas, so the elf took him for a stroll around Imladris. "Is your papa angry with me for being afraid of him?" Ingeras asked. Legolas chuckled heartily.

"Of course not, young one." He grinned. "He was a bit taken aback by your letter about your true identity, but he understood your feelings once you explained them. And once he knew who you really were, he was very relieved that we had treated you as a guest instead of a prisoner while you were with us! So was I really."

"My papa will be very grateful to you all. If he ever comes for me." Ingeras said solemnly.

"I'm sure he will, Ingeras. He probably does not know where to find you, and that is probably the reason for his delay in reaching here."

"Or he's been killed. Like Momma." Ingeras said lowly. Legolas frowned sadly at the boy and rubbed his shoulders.

"I'm sure he hasn't, penneth." He said soothingly. Ingeras looked up at him thoughtfully.

"Legolas? I'm sorry about your mother." He said seriously. Legolas froze. He hadn't been expecting that! His features grew sad. "She died, like my momma. I know how you feel, and you didn't have any brothers or sisters growing up either. I'm sorry you lost her." Ingeras continued. Legolas's eyes welled up and Ingeras gripped his hand.

"I do not remember her." Legolas murmured dejectedly. "My father does not speak of it. There is no grave. No memory. Nothing."

"That's awful." Ingeras interjected. "You should be able to remember her!"

"I was an infant when she was killed. The grief was too heavy for my father. He cannot bring himself to speak of her. It hurts him too much." Legolas said, his voice starting to quiver. Ingeras wrapped his arms around the elf's lanky waist and hugged him warmly.

"When I'm really sad, a hug always helps." He said. Legolas smiled fondly and kissed the boy's hair.


The next day, Legolas, the twins, Aragorn, Arwen, and Glorfindel were all at the training grounds practicing. Elrond arrived to check their progress and make sure no one was seriously hurt, especially the child. Legolas had just finished practicing, or rather showing off his archery skills. And now Ingeras was trying to toss his large Elven knife Legolas had given him directly into the target but he missed. "Can I try it again?" He begged.

"Be my guest." Glorfindel said. "You can never get too much practice."

"Knock yourself out, penneth." Elladan smirked.

"No, no. That could actually happen!" Elrond warned them as he moved in closer.

"Lord Elrond, watch this!" Ingeras smiled.

"I am watching." Elrond nodded.

"Now remember, keep your eyes forward." Aragorn reminded Ingeras. Ingeras got into position, and aimed. His blade hit the target dead center!

"I did it! I did it! Yes!" Ingeras bounced up and down.

"All right!" Aragorn beamed.

"Excellent work, penneth." Elrond approved.

"That was wonderful!" Arwen cheered. Ingeras ran to retrieve his blade and Glorfindel patted him on the head.

"I'm going to go show Momma." He said happily. The entire group suddenly became extremely sullen, their bright smiles instantly gone. Ingeras had suddenly halted in his tracks. The weight of his words hovered painstakingly over the group of elves and the one other human.

"Ingeras, love..." Arwen murmured sadly. She, Aragorn, and Elrond slowly stepped forward to console Ingeras. He slowly turned, tears already in his eyes. Legolas gazed at him sadly. Elves were still not accustomed to death the way humans were, even though they knew the pain of losing someone, it was not a common feeling for them. Not as often as men did.

Surprisingly, it was not Arwen or Elrond that Ingeras rushed to for comfort. It wasn't even Aragorn. Ingeras winced and ran to the Mirkwood prince, burying his face in Legolas's rib cage, weeping. Legolas looked down at him sympathetically. He wrapped his arms around him and knelt down to his level, caressing him. Ingeras clung to him.

"Shh. I'm sorry, mellon." He whispered. "It's all right."

Legolas could not understand it. When Ingeras had first been brought here, he'd become Aragorn's personal leech and had hardly spoken to Legolas. He had instantly trusted Elrond and his household much quicker than he'd trusted the Woodland elves! This display of vulnerability and seeking out comfort from Legolas had surprised everybody. Maybe it was because they were on better terms now? Or maybe it was because Legolas shared a connection to the young human that the others could not. Legolas had lost his mother, and never grew up with any siblings of his own for company, just like Ingeras. Indeed, Aragorn had been orphaned when his mother died. But he'd lived with Elrond, thus gaining a new family of his own. Legolas? He'd had only his father, as now did Ingeras, and even that fact was not solid now, if Vlad was even still alive! While Aragorn had been able to win Ingeras's heart right away just by being of his kind, this was one similarity in their friendship that only Legolas and Ingeras could understand together.

Legolas kissed the boy's head and held him closely. He rocked him back and forth, pouring his energy into him as he could physically feel the boy's deep, emotional pain.