Bard watched as the Elvenking climbed up the long flights of stairs and as far away from all the death that one could get in these circumstances, it was probably proper to stand but Tilda was sleeping in his lap and he had no intentions of waking her.
To his surprise, the great Elvenking sat on the ground and swung his legs over the edge of the rooftop. Once he settled himself he passed Bard a thick blanket and gestured to Tilda, "I thought she might be cold."
Gratefully he wrapped it around his daughter, "Thank you."
The elf inclined his head and turned back towards the happenings below them. Bard had seen the king fighting a few times during the battle, and frankly had no intention of ever seeing it again. Had they not been on the same side, it was a good possibility he would run away screaming.
But he looked nothing like that now, he had cleaned off and changed into fresh clothes. Much plainer than Bard would expect, "Do you have any children, King Thranduil?"
The king smiled a little to himself, "Yes, I have a son."
"What's his name?"
"Legolas."
"What does it mean?"
The king gave him a sideways glance that Bard wasn't sure was a good thing or not, "Its means 'Greenleaf."
He wasn't sure if he should ask a question such as this but he did it anyways, "Is he here?"
He was still for a very long moment and the human was a little worried he had overstepped his bounds. It was hard to tell with elves. But then he lifted his arm to point to an elf in the camp below them.
Bard had seen him during the battle too and had been absolutely stunned to witness him use a bow, but like his father, he looked nothing like that now. Like the king, he no longer wore his dirty clothes yet there was something that looked suspiciously like blood in his hair, his face had been cleaned and somehow he was smiling with laughter.
He stood in the center of the square, directing those who needed it and answering all questions to the best of his abilities. In fact, Bard had been watching him direct the warriors left standing for most of this long night.
Now as the sun began to rise and there were fewer orders to give and things to do, he and some of his friends had begun playing a game with the children to give their parents time to rest.
"Greenleaf. It suits him."
The king smiled again, "Yes. It does."
And then he stood up and walked back down the steps.
…
It was past midday when Bard appeared at the king's tent to return the blanket, "King Thranduil?" The tent door was pulled open and so he stuck his head inside just in time to see the king's son startle awake from a cot that clearly recently been dragged in.
The king stood from where he was sitting behind a desk, on his way to the tent door he rested his hand gently on his son's head and said something in elvish Bard didn't understand. With a tired smile, the prince nestled back into the covers piled on the cot and murdered something back. After adjusting the blankets to his satisfaction, the king stepped outside the tent to speak with Bard.
"I apologize, I didn't mean to wake him."
He waved away the apology," He has already fallen back to sleep, unfortunately, it's been a very long few weeks."
"I can only imagine." In all honesty, the last thing Bard wanted to do at that moment was to try and imagine what happened in the depths of those dark woods. He had seen the way the elves fought.
Bard cleared his throat in an effort to dislodge the troubling thoughts, "I came to return the blanket, one of your warriors said you would be returning to your home soon."
To his surprise, the king laughed, "I appreciate that, but it will do you and your family far more good than any of my people. Besides, more supplies for you and the other people of Laketown are already on their way. Including more blankets."
"We're the people of Dale now."
"Yes, I suppose you are."
"Thank you, King Thranduil. For the blanket but mostly for everything else."
"Thank you for not letting a dragon burn down my forest. Healers will be back in a week to check any minor injuries healing here."
And then he turned around and went back into the tent.
…..
This totally goes against two of my others stories about what happened after the battle
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Thanks for the support guys, would love to hear from you!
