77 Half-Way.

"But I need to Ada! It is so long since I last went to see them!"

Thranduil noted the tiny frown formed on his young sons forehead, the set line of his pink lips and the scowl in his swirling eyes as he sighed and knelt down bringing himself to his sons level.

"I know little one."

"I am NOT little anymore!" Legolas interrupted with a stamp of his foot. "I must be 30 you know!"

"Yes Ion nin." Thranduil replied gently. "I know, but it is not your age that is the problem."

"Then what is it Ada?" The elfling asked with the glint of tears beginning to form. "Alagsir is allowed to go and I will be very careful."

"Ah, Legolas." The king reached out a slender finger to tenderly wipe away the stray tear from his son's cheek. "Does Alagsir go alone?" He queried softly.

"Yes." Legolas replied emphatically then wriggled on the spot as his father caught and held his eyes, remaining silent.

"Well," The young elf dropped his eyes at last and shuffled his feet. "He says he does."

"I think if we went to see his ada we would hear a different tale." The kings voice sharpened slightly. "Don't you?"

Thranduil could see the thoughts swirling around his young son's head. He knew Legolas was innately truthful and would not countenance deceit of any kind.

"Maybe he isn't alone." The child finally admitted "But he does go Ada, he really does. I know it."

Pleading eyes were something the king had no defence against, especially when they belonged to his beloved son and he knew he may as well give in now rather than prolong the agony for both of them.

"Legolas," he began quietly. "I know how important this is to you ion nin." He held up his hand to quiet the argument he could see was just about to burst from the child's lips.

"I know this is important but I can not allow you to go alone, it is too dangerous. You are yet very young even if you do not believe you are and even if you were older I should worry for your safety. The forest is becoming darker and fell beasts roam nearer to our home than ever before." His lips turned up in a sad smile.

Legolas stood as still as possible and listened intently. He knew his father had not finished and crossed his fingers behind his back against the next words.

"I feel that perhaps we should meet half way on this. How does that sound?"

"What do you mean Ada?" Legolas said nervously. "Going halfway would be no good! I would still not see them."

"Nay little one." Thranduil smiled. "I mean that we shall compromise. You want to go alone and I will not allow it."

"But A….!" Legolas erupted and was immediately hushed by his fathers glare.

"Allow me to continue." The king commanded forcefully then relaxed to fatherly tones as he continued.

"How would it be if I allowed you to go if you had company."

"Alagsir would be there." The young elf nodded, fairly vibrating with excitement.

"Alagsir is but a child also Ion nin." Thranduil said. "I meant adult company." He watched Legolas' shoulders slump slightly as he chewed his bottom lip.

"Not Galion Ada. Please not him, or Eriswen, she hates it when I get even the slightest spec of dirt on my clothes."

"Nay," Thranduil chuckled happily. "Not Galion, or Eriswen child. I was thinking of someone much closer to you than they."

Confusion made Legolas quiet. He had no idea who his father was thinking of sending with him and was beginning to wish he had not asked in the first place.

"Would you agree to me, ion nin?" The words were so soft and unexpected that the young elf nearly missed them and then gasped aloud as their meaning sank in.

"What would you say Legolas?"

"Oh Ada!" Thranduil collapsed under a heap of happy elfling as Legolas launched himself at his father in glee.

"Yes Ada, yes!" He squealed and revelled in the strong arms now holding him tight.

"Can we go tonight ada? Please."

"Yes ion nin, we can go tonight." Thranduil said kissing the top of his child's head. "We will climb the sentinel and see the stars together tonight."

A/N

I know this is rather long for a drabble but they just got away from me and I couldn't stop it! Thanks to those of you still reading and please just drops me a note to let me know if I should carry on with these.

To my reckoning 30 would be around 5 years old in human terms and of course, as elves take the day they were conceived as their begetting day Legolas is a little unsure of this due to the circumstances of his 'birth'. If you are unsure what I mean it is all explained in my story 'The last Green Leaf'