The library was hot and stuffy, "And so, Elu Thingol banned their language."

The sun is so bright and warm today, after so many days of rain.

Yes! Yes! Warm and light on our leaves.

So nice! If only we could stretch higher!

"They listened in public but not in private," The blue sky glowed through the window to the left of the board.

The creatures are about once more to tickle our roots and branches.

But our favorite is missing!

Yes! Yes! Come and play little prince! Come and play!

We will show you all kinds of amazing things!

And you will meet new friends!

Yes! Yes! New friends! Come and find them with us, little prince!

"Legolas!"

He jumped, eyes wide and obviously startled. "Wh-What?"

He stood purposefully in front of the window, "Were you listening to me?"

"They listened in public and not private."

Arms crossed, displeased, "That was six minutes ago."

Eyes downcast, "Oh."

"I will never understand why your mind is incapable of staying within your own head!"

"I'm sorry, Belroha."

"Stop apologizing if you don't intend to change your behavior."

Little hands fidgeted, uncomfortable, "I don't mean to do it! I promise! I don't even usually notice until people are yelling at me..."

We are sorry little prince.

It is our fault.

Very sorry! So sorry!

"Even now!"

"I'm sorry."

"Go, away with you. I'm done dealing with this foolishness for today, and I will speak with your father later tonight."

Shoulders slumped, "Yes, Sir."

Come outside!

Yes! Yes! Come!

We will ease your sorrows! Come, come little prince!

Come and play!

9o9o9o9o9o9o9o9o

Legolas didn't look up as his father showed Belroha out of their private chambers, or when he came to sit in the chair across from him.

For a while there was nothing to break the oppressive silence, "I'm sorry."

"Yes, you've said that."

"I don't know what else to say."

The stars are beautiful tonight, so clear and bright!

It is a good night for dancing and song. Good times for good cheer!

Yes! Yes!

"Legolas." At least his father's voice wasn't harsh like his teachers was.

Out of instinct he raised his eyes to his father's, briefly forgetting his shame, "Yes?"

"Did you hear my question?"

Legolas dropped his eyes, and shook his head, "I'm sorry."

"How about an explanation instead of so many apologies."

So many fireflies out tonight. They tickle our leaves and light the skies!

How pretty! Little stars, dancing among our leaves!

"Eyes, please, while you think."

He did as instructed and raised his eyes to meet his father's, chewing on his bottom lip as he thought it out very carefully. He had never attempted to put it into words before.

The voices said something but he did not register the words, for once, too focused on his father's eyes, "Sometimes, it's hard to hear the words on the outside because the trees are too loud on the inside."

"And that's why you can't pay attention in your lessons? Or, most other times."

Legolas nodded shamefully, "I try my best to pay attention, Ada, I promise. But I have to sit there for so long and do nothing but listen and the voices seem to get louder and louder the longer I sit."

He had been told his attention span was much too short, but this was his first year of lessons and it was harder than he thought it would be.

"Why didn't you say something, little sunshine?"

"I don't know. I didn't know it was wrong. And then when I did know, I thought you would keep them out of my head forever and I like them. They're my friends. They keep me from being alone. I don't like to be alone."

"Nobody likes to be alone," Legolas eyes darted to the window as he caught half a sentence from the trees, his father tapped his pointer finger next to his eyes and Legolas returned his gaze, "And while hearing the trees so well is not wrong, it is also not good if it's making it hard to pay attention to anything else."

"I'm sorry, Ada."

"Do not apologize. There is no sense apologizing for things you cannot control nor change. Yet."

"What are you going to do?"

His father folded his hands together on his lap, "What do you think might be a good way to solve this problem?"

He began to twirl the tips of his hair, a nervous habit, "I - I don't know. I don't know what could make this better." Disappointed in himself and assuming his father felt the same, Legolas dropped his eyes to his lap once more.

He heard his father stand up, but didn't raise his eyes from his lap. Still feeling like he ought to be in trouble. Knowing that he should be in trouble. It was rude not to listen to your elders, even if what they were saying during the lesson was boring.

Legolas jumped when he realized his father had come to kneel in front of him, swallowing both of his smaller hands between his own, much larger ones, "And what do we do when we don't know what to do?"

Legolas thought about it, his face all scrunched up, "We ask for help?"

"Yes, sweet one. We ask for help."

"Who can we ask?"

"Well, for starters Galion. And if he does not know, we have an entire kingdom out there who would love nothing more than to help their little prince. And in the meantime, how about we postpone your lessons?"

"Ada, no!" His father raised an eyebrow at him and Legolas continued in a more acceptable inside tone, "I like learning. I want to learn. I'm good and smart, I promise."

"This is not about me thinking you are not good or smart. We both know that you are. A compromise, then. You and I will work on your letters and reading after dinner every other day."

That seemed like it would be alright, Legolas thought. He would still get to learn and spend time with his father; and he would also get the benefit of his father's patience and wouldn't get yelled at.

"Agreeable?" His father asked after giving him a while to think about it, something Legolas always appreciated about his father. He was never rushed, in thinking, speaking, or even walking. One of his most comforting qualities. "

Legolas nodded a little, and said in a small voice, "Yes. That's agreeable."

His father let go of his hands and began to tickle him on his side's, "I'm sorry, little leaf, I didn't hear you. Did you say yes?"

Legolas squirmed at the assault and fought not to further react and swallow his laugh as he said, "Yes, Ada."

The fingers tickled faster, getting all of his worse spots, "I'm sorry I didn't hear you, what was that?"

Soon he had no option but burst out in laughter as the tickling continued, squirming like a worm on a hook, "Yes, Ada! YES!"