He was woken by ear piercing screaming, again.
How did such a small thing have so much energy? Where did it all come from? For the love of everything good and green on Arda, why did he never seem to sleep?
"Your son is awake, Thranduil."
Slowly and with a groan he rolled onto his side, pulling his wife closer and burying his face in the back of her neck, "Why is he always my son."
"Because it takes me three hours to put him to bed, and it takes you one." It was a gift it was true, but sometimes it did not feel as such, "Give him a kiss for me."
"I guess that means you'll have to give me one, to give him."
She sighed but he felt her laugh, "I'm sleeping."
But she rolled over anyways smiling warmly with soft eyes, catching him a bit off guard with the sincerity of the kiss. Pulling back he kissed both of her cheeks, "I'll be back."
….
"Ada!"
Thranduil was on his feet before he was even awake, halfway out the door by the time his eyes even focused. Seven steps into his son's room, where the terrified elfling pressed into the corner by his bed waited for be saved.
They had hardly slept in separate beds since the attack. Theoretically, Legolas was supposed to be getting used to sleeping alone again.
"Come here, little leaf." The elfling promptly threw himself into his father's arms, without even a thought Thranduil grabbed his son's favorite blanket and took him back to his own bed.
His voice was very small, and he nearly trembled, "I can't"
"You don't have to."
…..
A tiny hand knocked on his study door, without waiting for an answer the door opened and Legolas cautiously peered inside.
Immediately Thranduil stopped the letter he had been writing and turned to his son, "What's wrong, my sunshine? I put you to bed hours ago."
Legolas shrugged, coming to stand fully into the room, "I woke up, and I couldn't fall asleep again. I went to your room but you weren't there."
"I'm sorry, I was just writing a letter to Lady Celebrian. Just let me clean up and we can go read a few more chapters in your book."
….
It was a cold winter day when Legolas appeared in his study, not an uncommon orrucance by any means, but if it was in the middle of the day such as this he was either in a terrible mood or the weather was bad. Or both.
Thranduil looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, questioning which one it was.
With a smile Legolas held up a book he appeared to have stolen from the library, "It's incredibly cold outside and I figured if I was going to be read inside anyways I might as well do it here."
"Ah, well your couch is just as you left it."
Without another word Legolas nestled into his small nest of covers on his favorite spot near the fire and opened is book, leaving his father to his work.
Half an hour later Thranduil looked up to find his son fast asleep, the book closed on the table next to him.
…..
Galion came to fetch him a few minutes ago at near midnight, he was met with a scowling healer with crossed arms, "He is injured and needs his sleep But he will not. I don't want to give him more sleeping herbs with him still so weak."
Thranduil tried not to smile, sometimes it really was a gift, one he was now felt blessed to have.
After assuring the young healer that he would fix it he swept inside and to his sons bed. Legolas watched him approach, "Galion tattled on me?"
"Of course he did. If he said he would not and you believed him is your own problem."
Legolas really did not look well, at all. He looked better than when he had arrived three days ago but still by no means good. It broke his father's heart with every breath.
"Move over."
Obediently the prince shuffled to as close to the edge as he could get to make room for his father, who settled next to him. Almost immediately he yawned, "Can you tell me about Doriath?"
Both were asleep when Galion came to check an hour later
…..
He didn't care what the elf said, he might be human but he had grown up around elves. He knew how much rest they needed, and he knew that Legolas was not getting enough. Aragorn had thought his sleeping would get better once the war once done, but somehow he swore it had gotten worse.
It felt as if he had tried everything to try and force the elf to sleep, including a few attempted but unsuccessful druggings.
Now, he intended to inform the Elvenking of his sons behaviour as a last resort. He had been surprised and a bit terrified to hear that Thranduil had appeared in Gondor without a warning but he had been here nearly a full day and had shown no signs of hostility.
Rounding the corner he nearly stormed into the garden and stopped in his tracks under the king's piercing gaze. Thranduil appeared to be sitting contentedly with his own thoughts while Legolas nearly snored next to him, sleeping with his eyes closed like mortals.
Slowly and carefully he backed away.
….
"I see you have kept your gift."
Her voice was better than any music he had ever heard, and her smile brighter than the sun. Seeing her again was almost like being born again.
"My gift?"
She grinned and pressed her lips against his, because he was finally here with her again and she could, "Ten years Legolas and I have been here, and never once has he slept soundly enough to no wake at every single sound or voice. Not even for the dwarf. Yet here he is"
…
Exactly 1000 words.
Weirdly satisfying.
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