He was running as fast as his little legs could carry him, fully aware that his pursuer was hot on his heels. But he was small, and fear was far more motivating than anger.
If he could just manage to get down two more flights of stairs he might be close enough for his father to help him, and if not his father than perhaps Galion. If he could get to his father he would be safe, if he could get to his father it would all be okay.
In a desperate attempt to keep ahead, Legolas forsake the winding pathway he had been on and climbed onto the wall. Exactly like he had been told not to do nearly every single day since he could walk.
Making use of the incredibly open structure near the center of the mountain and he quickly managed to scramble down the two flights, something the librarian would probably never do.
For the first time in his young life, Legolas was glad his father seemed to have a supernatural power to sense when he was doing something wrong and yell at him for it.
"Legolas, what is it you think you are doing?"
Ignoring his father's demand, Legolas finished scrambling down the wall and dashed over to his father, "Ada please help, I spilled ink in the library-"
The sound of footsteps echoed down the from the stairs, and Legolas turned giant pleading eyes to his father. It was no secret the bone-chilling fear the head librarian struck into the elflings bone, it was a secret however that Thranduil had had a very similar fear in his own childhood.
Without thinking, the King snatched his son and hid him behind himself in the folds of his long robe, resting a hand over the tiny mouth to ensure silence.
Thranduil held up the papers in his hands and made a good show of being oblivious to his surroundings, just in time for the irate librarian to come charging down the last flight of stairs two at a time.
"My king, I don't suppose you have seen any elflings running this way? Somebody spilled ink all over one of my books and took off running."
"You think any elfling up to mischief would come running towards where I am known to be? No matter how many times we have tried to tell the otherwise the elflings tend to scale the walls, perhaps they went upwards."
The ancient librarian stared at Thranduil for a very, very long moment, "An elfling up to mischief would come running to you if it was your elfling, my king."
Legolas almost squirmed in his hiding place, but his father's hand kept him still, "You are correct, that is exactly something my elfling would do. However he has somehow convinced Galion to let him accompany him for the day, and I have just sent them both away with much to do."
The other elf narrowed his eyes in open suspicion but saw no room for an argument. Yet. "Of course, my king. I shall check upstairs then."
And with that, he was off searching once more, probably for Galion instead of another elfling.
Thranduil held absolutely still until he was certain they were alone again and then finally released the grip over Legolas' mouth. Motioning him to remain silent, the king took his son's hand and led him down the hallway and into his study where Galion was busy working.
"If anybody asks Legolas has been with you all day."
The attendant didn't even try to hide his grin, "Ohhhh, and what have you been up to today little prince?"
Legolas chewed gently on his lower lip, "I spilled ink in a book that wasn't mine. It was by accident! I didn't mean to!"
"Again?" Galion laughed, and Legolas winced. There was a reason he feared the librarian so much, this was not the first mishap the tiny prince had been the culprit of.
….
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