Ava craned her neck peering out the window into the garden. The chambermaid had told her Legolas was playing outside in the garden. Ava was trying to catch a glimpse of the child, her child, from a distance. She was very nervous, she felt like she knew nothing of being a mother. She had spent the night tossing and turning, anxious about what to do or what to say to the elfling.
"Nana?"
Ava whirled around to find a small child standing in front of her. The elfling was a toddler, with light complexion and blond hair. She recognized her own blue eyes, but his nose was inherited from his father. Her son was clutching a toy, a stuffed elk. Legolas broke into a wide smile and reached out his arms to her, expecting to be picked up. Ava swallowed hard. Her heart pounding, she gently picked up the child. Legolas responded by throwing his arms around her neck and burying his face into her neck.
"Nana! I missed you."
Slowly, Ava brought her hand to the elfling's back and began to rub him soothingly. His scent put Ava at ease immediately. Deep inside her, she felt her heart stir. She just knew she loved him and that she was his mother. She could feel their bond re-forging by the second.
"Nana? Are you still hurt?" Legolas asked, once he moved his head enough to face her. Ava gently touched her forehead. He smiled sweetly to the gesture.
"I don't want you to worry about that Legolas. Your job is to play and learn. You understand?" Her son nodded enthusiastically. "Who's this?" Ava asked, pointing out the stuffed elk.
"Gideon. Ada got him for me to keep me company while you were sick" the child said.
"You like elk?" Ava asked, confused at the choice of animal.
"Yea! Just like the one Ada rides. Nana, can I ride an elk too?" Legolas inquired hopefully.
Before Ava could answer, a voice behind her said "Legolas, you know you have to wait until you're older. We've told you many times you can start with a pony when you're 10."
Ava turned to find the King walking towards them. He had a soft smile on his face. She thought she detected a hint of relief in his voice.
"Alright" the Prince grumbled, disappointed his father had caught him trying to get one past his mother. He squirmed himself out of Ava's grasp and ran outside, shouting "see you at dinner nana!"
When Thranduil arrived at his wife's side, he appraised her for an inkling as to how the meeting had gone.
"I can feel it. I just know he's my son, and I love him with all my heart" Ava said, trembling. She was quite shocked by what she's feeling right now. Thranduil smiled hopefully.
"You carried him all those months inside you. You're his mother, it is natural your bond is so strong" he reassured her.
Thranduil allowed himself the smallest measure of hope that maybe, just maybe, Ava was finding her way back to her family. His hopes were further boosted that evening. Ava had joined Legolas and him for dinner in the family's private dining room. For the first time since the orc attack, they ate dinner together as a family. The child was scolded gently by his parents for pushing his vegetables around his plate rather than eating them; the husband looked lovingly at his beautiful wife.
The elfling was taken to bed by his chambermaid in the early evening, leaving his parents alone to finish their desert wine.
"Thranduil, how did we meet?" Ava asked.
The king's eyebrows rose, she hadn't shown any interest in their marriage before this. But clearly, this night, things were changing.
"You were tasked with showing me to my rooms after I'd arrived in Rivendell for a visit. Your father's punishment for being late to greeting visiting dignitaries. I believe you'd been out riding" he smirked. Ava laughed. She followed up with more questions. How long did we court for? When were we married? Her husband was more than happy to oblige with details about their life. Before either realized it, they were deep into the night.
"Walk me back to my chambers?" Ava asked. Thranduil smiled and offered his arm. When they arrived at the door, Ava hesitated.
"These are not really my chambers are they?" she asked. Thranduil frowned, not quite understanding.
"I mean, this room, it was our bedroom wasn't it?" Ava clarified.
"Yes, it was" her husband answered softly.
"Then, where are you sleeping now?" she asked, the question never occurring to her before.
"Ah," Thranduil responded, combing through his hair with his fingers, "I've taken up in the spare bedroom by my study."
It was Ava's turn to frown. "I'm sorry, it seems I've turned you out of your own bedroom."
Thranduil slowly raised his hand towards Ava's face. When she didn't turn from him, he grazed his finger affectionately down her cheek. His hand then reached for hers, he raised her hand to her lips and kissed the inside of her wrists softly. "I have no complaints. I'd do anything to make you happy Ava." His wife blushed in response. Before she could say anything, a chambermaid came running down the hallway.
"Your majesties, the Prince asks for you, he's had a nightmare and is inconsolable" the maid said breathlessly. Without a word more, the parents rushed towards their son's bedroom.
Legolas was sitting up in his bed, clutching his toy elk, crying hysterically when his parents found him.
"NANA, ADA!"
Thranduil rushed to the elfling's bedside, pulling him into a tight hug. Ava lingered in the doorway, unsure of what to do. Minutes went by and the child could not be calmed, and Thranduil was not able to get more out of him.
"Legolas, what did you dream of?" Thranduil asked desperately. The elfling had pushed him away when he tried to hug. Legolas' cheeks were flushed, tears streaming down.
"They hurt Nana! They hurt the trees! Nana, NANA!" he screamed.
Thranduil looked at his wife, pleading silently with her to help. Ava took a deep breath and walked towards her husband and son. She sat on the small bed and opened her arms to Legolas. The child did not hesitate and launched himself into her arms. She tipped back at the force of him holding onto her. She cuddled Legolas to her chest and rock and him back and forth. Slowly, his breathing began to slow. His sobbing ebbed until his eyes were finally dry and he began to hiccup. She planted soft kisses over his cheeks, he seemed relaxed by her touch.
"Legolas, I'm here. It's alright my love. You're safe" she said to him.
"Nana, they hurt you. I was so scared" came his reply, slightly muffled as he was still held tightly in her arms.
"You don't need to be scared anymore. Nana and Ada are here" Ava soothed.
Thranduil eased himself onto the bed as well and enveloped them both in his embrace. It felt good to hold his wife and son. Ava turned her head so that it lay in his arms, a small gesture of affection that caused his heart to leap. Eventually, in the early hours of the morning, the elfling drifted to sleep and Ava and Thranduil were able to settle him back into bed. When the parents emerged from the bedroom, the sun was beginning to poke through the horizon.
"You should get some sleep" Thranduil whispered.
"And you?" Ava asked.
"Ah, I must get started on the day's paperwork" he answered. "Will you be alright, do you want me to walk you back your room?"
"No, I can manage" she answered.
"Then I'll leave you here" Thranduil said. He placed a kiss on her forehead before walking away. Ava found she welcomed his affection.
Thranduil was halfway through his paperwork when he heard a knock on the door. Ava walked in, carrying a tray of coffee.
"I thought you'd like some refreshment" she said uncertainly, gesturing at the tray in her hands.
Her husband stood immediately, walked towards her, and relieved her of her burden.
"You did not have to trouble yourself with me" Thranduil said hastily.
"Can a wife not be concerned for her husband's health?" Ava said, pretending offence.
"I'd rather I worry for you" he muttered, though not quiet enough to escape Ava's attention.
The study was grand, with a fireplace and sofa. They settled the tray on the small table in front of the sofa and then made themselves comfortable. For several minutes, they enjoyed their coffees in silence.
"I must thank you for comforting Legolas last night. He's been having nightmare since the attack, they've been less and less. He sits with the healers once a week, to talk about it, which helps" Thranduil said gratefully.
Ava slowly lowered her teacup. She looked into her husband's eyes and saw an honest, kind and loving elf. It tugged at her heart.
"Thranduil, I meant it before when I told you I love Legolas. He's my son, mine to protect and comfort. I know I didn't welcome the news at first. But, when I held him yesterday, I knew that's what I was supposed to do" Ava said earnestly. "It can't have been easy for you, these last weeks, caring for him alone. I wish to help. Elflings need their mothers, even future kings."
"Our son is lucky, believe me, I know the pain of losing one's mother" Thranduil said evenly, refusing to let his own childhood pain surface. Ava seemed to see it anyway. It was as if she could feel his heartache. She pulled him into a hug. Eventually, they both succumbed to exhaustion. When Lord Wyrran arrived at the study for his daily audience with the King, he found the royal couple on the sofa fast asleep. Ava was curled up in Thranduil's arms. The advisor smiled and quietly left the room.
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