A week had passed since the birth of Níniel, and Legolas never left her side, he almost never left his room, if was his way to cope with the loss of his wife, he wanted to raise Níniel alone without any help from the female elves who already had experience, he felt if they helped him he was like replacing Cerylia.

Alone he had been learning some tricks for the baby, he had learned to make her sleep with him at night in his bed so if there was anything wrong with her she was right next to him.

It was daytime and he was playing with the baby who was in her crib while he stood next to it, he liked to lean over to her and watch her, he had noticed that the baby never looked him right in the eye, she tended to look at his eyebrows, his hairline or his moving mouth.

His way to play with her was to give her opportunities to study his features by looking at her up close, he moved his head slowly from side to side to see whether her eyes followed him, he laughed as the baby looked at him with crossed eyes.

Legolas liked to put his face close to hers and stick out his tongue or raising his eyebrows a few times and watching Níniel trying to copy his gestures, but sometimes she didn't seem receptive at all, but he knew that she had only have gotten sleepy or a bit overwhelmed and needed to take a break.

Another thing that he liked to do with her was tummy time, he laid on the bed and rested the baby on his stomach, he loved the silence when she was sleeping and her small chest breathing on him, it made him feel relaxed knowing that she was safe and breathing on him.

There was a soft knock on the door before it opened revealing his father, he entered in silent and carefully he closed the door behind him.

"She is not sleeping" Legolas informed him.

"How is she doing?" the father asked as he walked near the pair.

"She had just woken up," Legolas said smiling at his daughter.

Thranduil stood in silence watching his son with his newborn before asking hesitant, known his answer "Legolas, do you want to come to lunch?"

"Nay," Legolas said "I have to still change her, feed her and make her fall asleep again"

"Legolas, I hardly ever see you, you never leave this room" The king started "when was the last time you ate? The kingdom is worried about you"

"I can not leave her Ada," Legolas said finally looking at his father.

"Why don't you hand her to a nurse? So you can rest and eat something"

"Nay!" Legolas raised his voice in frustration, making Níniel starting to cry, he then sighed at picked her up and started to rock her.

Thranduil knew the real reason he didn't want anyone to nurse her, Legolas could be very stubborn when he wanted, and no one could change his mind.

"Would you like to bring her down?" Thranduil finally suggested "she can not stay in this room forever"

Legolas looked at the daughter in his arms unsure "will it harm her?" he then asked.

Thranduil chuckled "you have a lot to learn my child"

Legolas hesitated before replying "fine" he then rested the child on the changing table and began to undress her.

By seeing this scene the king decided it was the right moment to leave "I will wait for you at the table" and he left the room.

Minutes later Legolas exited his room, as he walked in the halls of the realms he couldn't not notice that the elves were watched the baby, he then remembered that the kingdom hasn't yet met their new princess.

Princess.

Legolas looked down at her, he had forgotten her title, in his eyes he was his daughter, a normal child.

He reached the dining hall where he found his father sitting at the head of the large wooden table, there was a spot for him too on the right side of the king as usual, and he sat there and put Níniel on his lap.

Thranduil watched him as he talked to his daughter "are you hungry iel-nin?" *my daughter* he smiled her and gave her full attention.

"Legolas" he called him but he was to concentrate feeding the baby.

"Legolas!" he called louder and finally got his attention "you should eat something"

Legolas looked at him before nodding and held the bottle to feed the baby with one hand while the other one grabbed the fork and then he began eating the salad.

"Haldir and the Lothlorien elves are leaving in an hour" Thranduil started a conversation "Do you wish me to send your farewells?"

Legolas forgot of his friend, he had been in his room for so long caring for the baby, he felt bad for him, he had made a long trip for help fight Mirkwood's shadow and he never thank him for it.

"I wish to tell him by my own" Legolas told him.

Thranduil nodded "very well" he then looked at his granddaughter, she was beautiful, every time he sees her it reminded him of Legolas when he was born.

"Elrond will come soon," he said "he wishes to see the new princess" when he said 'princess'.

His heart clenched, it was still unreal for him to have her here, alive and breathing.

"She has your eyes" Thranduil told his son who finally gave him his attention, Legolas never knew how to react when his father gave him a compliment, they stood in silent watching each other until Níniel made a noise, Legolas than looked at her, she had finished the bottle, he then hold her up and began rubbing her back.

Thranduil looked him proud, he had learned to be a father without his help and he was doing a good job, he had the courage to what he didn't, when his wife died he had closed himself for years, leaving his five years old son in the care of the nurse, he had been for him in his first five years and then he stopped, and missed those magical years where Elven babies were growing.

Elves grow like humans until they reach maturity, and in the meanwhile, they could get sick and they could get the most dangerous illness, they were so fragile.

About one hour later Legolas walked into the stables with his daughter still in his arms, he refused to let her go. There were the Lothlorien elves, packing to return to their realm, as he walked through them to search from his friend he couldn't not have noticed the curiosity on them, it wasn't common to see a baby elf, there was one every five hundred years or so.

When he arrived at Haldir he rested his hand on the elf's shoulder, it was their way to greet each other.

"Legolas," Haldir said surprised he didn't expect his friend to be there since he was unseen for the week "My deepest sympathy for your loss. Your wife was a wonderful lady and we will all miss her very much" he said looking hm with sad eyes "I wished to share my sympathy but you had ordered to no one to enter your room"

"Hannon lle, Haldir" Legolas forced a soft smile

The elf than saw the sleeping baby in his friend's arms, he lifted the blanket to see her face and then smiled "dark-haired" he told him "the first woodland elf to have it" he then looked back at Legolas eyes "what's her name?"

"Níniel" he told him as he looked at her as is was a treasure to protect.

"Níniel Legolasiel" Haldir raised his eyes back to his friend "daughter of Legolas"

"Thank you my friend" Legolas smiled at him as Haldir mounted his horse "May the paths be green and the breeze on the way back," Legolas told him

"Until next we meet" Haldir nodded and then rode where the rest of his troop were waiting.

Two days later Legolas was sleeping on his bed holding Níniel in his arms, Elves had different needs to Men in sleep. They could rest their minds even while marching along and so can be more alert when needed, but Elves do also need to rest their bodies as well as their minds to gain the greatest recovery possible but with open eyes, they would not go as deeply into sleep as Men.

Instead, children, elves slept into a deep sleep, they could dream, twitch and sometimes even talk.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Legolas came back to life, he wasn't up mentally, he hasn't slept in days for look after the baby who every night cried out loud, the night before was the worst night he ever had with her, she wouldn't stop crying, he did his best to calm her down, he tried to rocking her, feed her, change her and sing to her, in the end he left outside and made her see the stars, then finally when she fallen asleep he put her back to bed, but not even an hour she had wet it and he had to change the sheets and the baby, he had laid her on the bed next to him only to realize that she had learned to pull hair, after another hour he had to make her fall asleep again, and it was dawn the last time he looked outside.

He looked at the window, there was a bright light hitting his eyes, it looked like it was eleven, he heard another knock, he just ignored hoping it would leave, he feared that it would wake the baby up again, he looked down at the sleeping Níniel and couldn't help but kiss her chubby cheeks.

"Legolas" his father called and his heart had stopped, he looked back at the baby, she was still sleeping he gave a big relief sigh.

"Come" he whispered, and Thranduil slowly opened the door and entered.

"shh" Legolas begged his father as he put a finger to his lips as he closed the door behind.

Not a sound was made and Legolas gave another sigh and laid his head on the pillow again.

His father walked closer to him "Legolas, I have told you to be present in the morning" he said softly trying too to not wake the baby up" Elrond and his family had arrived, and they're waiting for you" he looked at Legolas who closed his eyes knowing his mistake "As a prince you had the duty to great our guests"

With a tired sigh he sat on the bed with still having the covers on, he had tangled hair, he never had hair so messy, not even when he goes into battles for days "I am sorry father" he told him as he attempts to fix his hair with his hands "Níniel kept me up all night"

Thranduil smiled "I see that you look terrible"

Legolas chuckled "she had learned to pull hair" explained.

Thranduil smiled and turned "We are awaiting you in the main hall," he said out loud as he was headed to the door "dress her up" then he stopped and gave him a grimace "and be presentable," he said disgustedly before leaving the room.

When he left Legolas threw himself back on his bed, he wanted to enjoy his last minutes of silence, seconds later he found the force to get out of the bed and decided to take care of himself first, he went to the bathroom in his room and trying his best to not make any sound, he powred the water on him, every time the water dropped his heart sank, hoping it didn't wake the child up, when he washed himself he got changed in a silver dress and looked himself in the mirror, he really looked terrible, he unbraided his messy hair and combed as soon he started to braid he heard her crying, he sighed and ran to her.

"hush iel-nin" *my child* he rocked her but the crying wouldn't fade, by now all the realm had heard it and silently curse the baby, he tried in vain to put the elven pacifier in her mouth but she didn't accept it he looked frantically around the room for a toy and grabbed a rattle and made it sounds but the child didn't care.

"Are you wet?" he then rested the child on the changing table and began to undress her "it is that why you're crying then?" he smiled and changed her, but the child never stopped crying.

"Uuma nalla Níniel-nin"*do not cry my Níniel* he said "Uuma nalla" and the child calmed s bit "Uuma nalla" he said softer and began to rock the baby.

Aragorn and his adoptive family had arrived in Mirkwood early that morning, they had travelled 3 days from Rivendell, they had received a letter from Thranduil telling that Legolas' wife had passed away during a premature birth and had asked Elrond to pay a visit to the newborn, he was the best elven healer in Middle-earth, he wouldn't ask anyone ales, when the news of the birth of the elven princess spread Aragorn couldn't not go, Legolas was his dear friend and he knew he needed him in this dark times for him, Arwen and her twin brothers came along, the birth of an elven baby was rare in these dark years.

When they arrived they had been brought to the throne where they found the king who apologized to the absence of his son. It was odd from Legolas to be late in any occurrence, Thranduil told them that he was going to call his son and left for a few minutes and when he came back he had told them how Legolas never left his room and he didn't want any help from the nurse, they all know it was his way to cope with the death of Cerylia.

Suddenly the halls of the realm had filled with an infant sterically cry, Elrond family smiled at each other as Thranduil sat on his throne rubbing his temples, he heard enough crying for the week.

After some long minutes, the cries ended and the realm falls into a silence.

The guests looked at the top of the staircase and saw Legolas going down with tNíniel in his arms.

Aragorn smiled, he wasn't the usual Legolas, he had an exhausted face, he wore a dress that he would never wear and most important, his hair wasn't braided and organized ad always, when he arrived at the end of the steps he spoked "I apologize for the delay" he then walked on a small throne on the right of his father, Thranduil began to speak, Aragorn could notice that Legolas was ignoring his father and giving all this attention to the baby, fighting for not making her cry.

"Legolas may I see the child?" Elrond asked Legolas didn't listen to the conversation, he looked up to his daughter and saw that Arwen and the twins were gone and everyone looked at him, waiting for him to give his baby to the dark-haired elf.

Legolas wrapped his arms around the baby protectively "Why?"

"Were you listening?" Elrond said "I wanted to check if the child doesn't have defects"

Legolas pulled his daughter to himself "she doesn't have any"

"It was born premature, it could have something," the healer said

"She" Legolas corrected him, everyone in the room started to feel the tension that Legolas had, he was growing overprotected over his baby.

"Sorry" Elrond "May I hold her?" Elrond stepped closer

Legolas looked to his father for help but he just nodded the same did Aragorn; Legolas slowly walked toward the elf and hesitated before handing Níniel.

Aragorn noticed that Legolas never took off his eyes on her and his hands were fists, providing anything that can go wrong.

The baby began to cry on Elrond's arms, but he kept studying the fragile body while rocking her to calm down.

Legolas couldn't bear to hear his baby cry, he waited before extending his arms and took her away from the healers, and turned around and started to speak to her "Uuma nalla Níniel-nin"*do not cry my Níniel* he said "Uuma nalla".

Aragon was surprised by the reaction of his friend, he never was so possessive, and he noticed that the kings were shocked as well but no one talked about it "Premature birth can lead to long-term intellectual and developmental disabilities. They can cause a person to have trouble or delays"

Legolas turned and hugged the crying Níniel in fear.

"She is very small for an infant, but she moves and that is good," he told him "She is fine with her body, but I do not know her mind, that only time can say"

"She is fine!" he stated.

"If you see something uncommon please tell me immediately"

"I have to take her in my rooms," he said softly.

"We will await you at the dining hall," the king said with his normal voice as he knew his son was suffering.

With a nod he left in his chamber, once he locked himself in the room he hugged tightly the crying baby letting tears roll his own face "Tell me what to do Cerylia" Even elves do stress out, he was tired of the screaming, crying and yelling, he never thought that he would be left to raise a child alone, he had planned with Cerylia to raise the child together and he didn't want any nurse to help him, she was his baby, he had to protect her, she was the only thing left from his wife, he didn't want to believe that she was going to have mental problems in the future, she was perfect and in his heart he knew she would grow normal.

Twice in the week he thought of leaving the baby in the room and go for a walk, she could be really stressing sometimes, but he had always stayed with her, smiling and staying patient. He stroked her dark hair on her delicate head then kissed her wet red face, somehow it had calmed her down, he kissed her again and she calmed. Legolas than wiped his tears, he was gone for too long, he looked himself in the mirror and hide any signs of cry then grabbed the bottle and returned downstairs.

As it was now routine to him he sat in his spot on the right on the King, on his side he had Estel, next to him Arwen, In front he had Elrond on his side the twins, Níniel, as usual, sat on his lap and while with a hand he was feeding the baby with the other one he was eating his vegetables.

"Kind of you having us for Lunch" Elrond started.

"You never here..." Thranduil replied.

The kings began to tell stories of their adventure they had in the last hundred years, Legolas silently sat Níniel in a more comfortable position and then began to fix her clothes, he knew by experience that she would spit on them than as the child was drinking she raises her hand and reached for Legolas hair, Legolas couldn't do anything because his hands had the moments where occupied once he was free he began the silent fight for his hair.

"Legolas, you look tired," said Elladan "you should rest"

"Does she keep you awake?" Elrohir joked.

Legolas smiled weakly "yes she does, she is quite stubborn when she has to sleep"

"I wonder where she got it from" Elladan joked making everyone in the table laugh.

"Father?" Legolas suggested making only Elrond laugh while the others fought to not show a smile

Legolas looked back at the child she had fallen asleep, it was common to her to do so, she was having a happy time while feeding, so he put his fingers under her finders gently and move it, trying to have her drink again, and she did, she was drinking, Legolas smiled at her and looked back at his friends.

"Where did you learn this tricks?" asked Arwen curiously.

"When you are a parent you learn by yourself day by day" Elrond answered for the prince.

"iel maer" *good girl* Legolas said softly as her removed the bottle form her and the baby began to cooing, Legolas smiled, it was the first time she ever made a sound, he looked her with loving eyes, she was calm laying on his legs, making little noises of effort as she tried to raise her hands, she than grabbed what she wanted, his hair and started to pull them "nay" he said release her hand from his hair, but she went again "nay" he pulled her away again, but Legolas knew it was a lost battle, so he let her do, he looked up at his friends and they been all watching him.

"Getting beat by an infant?" asked Elrohir receiving evil but a sarcastic look from Legolas.

Elrond then turned serious and began to talk "the danger in the forest is increased," he said "we had managed to kill a spider nest" Elrond was obviously telling that his warriors had killed them.

"The danger of spiders increased because the orcs are invading their territory," said Thranduil "they are protecting their territory from everyone, elves and orcs"

"They are helpful in a way" Elladan stated.

"In a way" confirmed the king.

The day Níniel's birth Orcs sent by Barad-dûr had attempted to enter the realm but the spiders had intervened causing a war, and as the war was heading to the elves territory some spiders had decided to attack them causing a battle of the three armies.

The elves were able to chase them away but not kill them, they were outnumbered and they had to retire.

Luckily Haldir and the Lothlorien warrior were there a week earlier by order of Galadriel.

After a long silence, Elrond spoke again "you must increase your troops, not hide" he said, "two attacks are not enough for you?"

Thranduil suddenly got up "DO NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" he yelled making Níniel cry.

Legolas looked up "what? There was another attack?" he said ignoring his daughter crying "why wasn't I informed?"

"Legolas-" the father warned.

"I am the head of the Mirkwood guard," he said "why you haven't told me?" raised his voice.

"Legolas-" tried to speak again

"I could have helped? How many did we lose?" he yelled worried.

"Legolas!" he finally got the attention "The baby!"

Legolas looked down at Níniel who was screaming hysterically in his arms, why didn't he hear her? He felt so bad, he made his daughter cry, and he was an awful parent.

He rested her on his shoulder and rocked her "Nae naa lhind" *it is fine* he whispered "dihena-amin" *I am sorry* but the child didn't stop crying, he got up and gave an angry look at his father before leaving without saying a word.

Once back in his room he rocked his daughter calming himself "dihena-amin can- amin" *I'm sorry I yelled* he then rested her on his bed, laying there with her "dihena-amin" *I am sorry* he cried "I don't know what to do, help me Cerylia" he said.

after a bit Níniel had calmed herself and looked at him with tears in her eyes, Legolas couldn't help but smile, she was so beautiful "Hannon lle Níniel" *Thank you Níniel* she had brought him joy when he needed, He couldn't handle the situation, his wife died, he was left to raise a baby alone and now his kingdom was under attack, he was exhausted and stressed.

"Come here little one," he said pulling her close to him and hugging her.

A few minutes later he had noticed she hasn't moved yet, he raised his hand to see she had fallen asleep with than he got the opportunity to rest too, he wrapped his arm around her and fell asleep.

He slept for two hours wrapped around Níniel, there was a knock in the room, Legolas heard it but decided to ignore it, then there was the noise of the door opening and some steps, Legolas listened carefully, there weren't soft as his father, it wasn't Elrond or any elves, the steps were loud like a man steps "Estel?" Legolas whispered and then carefully turned his head without waking Níniel.

Aragorn than realized that his friend had been sleeping, he bowed "sorry, I will leave"

"No" Legolas whispered before looking at the child hoping he didn't woke her up.

Aragon smiled at the infant lying next to the father, he looked in the crib, it was full of baby clothes and baby equipment in it, he raises an eyebrow and looked back at the prince "do you know what a crib is?" he joked.

Legolas chuckled "she does not like it" he then got serious "I'm sorry for before" he looked at him "my father should have told me about the second attack"

Aragorn sighed "he was trying to protect you and the baby," he said calmly.

"I know" Legolas looked at his sleeping precious "but he should have told me"

They both stood in silence, Aragorn noticed how his friend watched his daughter, it was so beautiful, he loved the baby with his life and he could tell that.

"Your father told me that you never leave her," he said.

"Why should I? She is small and needs me"

"You are tired Mellon-nin" Aragorn said "you sleep in every occasion, you do not even have time to cure yourself" he than sat on the feet of the bed "you need to distract yourself, go patrol" he insisted.

"I do not want to patrol" Legolas snapped in his low voice.

"The prince does not want to keep his kingdom safe?" Aragorn asked "Come with me, let's go together" Aragorn suggested.

Legolas looked at the sleeping baby again, sooner or later he had to let her go, Aragorn was right, he couldn't stand Níniel anymore, but he couldn't leave her, he loved her and he wanted to stay with her, but she was worse of the shadow of Mirkwood.

"Arwen, El and Ro can look after her" he smiled "I trust them and I know you trust them too"

"Arwen wants it, a child," Legolas said and looked at the confused face of Aragorn "At lunch she was staring at Níniel, that's why she has not said a word"

Aragorn looked at him, did she really wanted a child? They could never have a future together, he knew what they had now would not last long, she would sail to the undying lands and he could not follow her there.

"I do not want the twins" Legolas smiled "We should call Elrond," he said making Aragorn laugh waking up the child.

Legolas rolled his eyes at the now annoying sound of the baby; he reached his bottle on the table near his bed and feed her while they were still lying on the bed.

Aragorn got up "I will inform the troops of our arrival and will call Arwen and Ada" and with that he left the poor prince with his daughter.

Aragorn was right, stepping away from his child had helped him a lot, the first times it was hard for him to separate from her but when time had passed it came routine for him, he had learned to leave his baby with his father when he had to leave the realm for protecting it.

Some days Legolas came early from his work to find his father in his room reading stories to his Granddaughter, he never admit it to grow fond of her, but it was clear to Legolas that his father loved her as much he loved her, he often stayed outside the door to listen the magical tales he told her, and he had wonder if he had ever told them to him as a baby too, he had never had the courage to tell him that he listened him because he had feared that he would stop doing it thanks to his pride.

Níniel was six months old when she said her first word, Legolas was in his room with his father, he was combing and braiding his hair while Thranduil was picking some clothes for his granddaughter from the crib that was like a wardrobe for them, Níniel instead decided that it was a better idea if she crawled around the room, since when she started to move no one could stop her.

Nothing had changed since she was an infant, she still slept in the big bed with her father and refused to sleep alone, she cried for everything, Legolas thought she had a perfect name, Níniel, child in tears.

But since Aragorn left Legolas was able to ask for help, and Thranduil was more present for him.

"Legolas, where did you put your daughter's crown?" he asked while digging through the pile of clothes in the cradle, Legolas silence was enough of an answer for him "you should keep organized your room" he complained as usual.

"sorry Ada" Legolas said as he was braiding his last hair "but is not only my room" he joked happily, he was in a good mood today, as well many other elves in Mirkwood, because there was the Mereth Nuin Giliath, The Feast of Starlight, All light was sacred to the Eldar, but the Wood Elves loved them more.

Thranduil looked at Níniel on the floor, when had stopped crawling and sat on the floor examining a new strange toy for her and began to chew it, the king disgusted leaned and took it from her, surprise she didn't cry.

"Legolas, why was your crown on the floor?" he said annoyed and he dried the saliva off of it.

"Sorry Ada" Legolas replied from the bathroom connecting the room.

Níniel began to make sounds, talking in her own way, which Legolas loved hearing, he couldn't help but smile.

Thranduil looked rather annoyed by the sounds he rolled his eyes and when to do his search for the missing crown "Legolas have you done?" he asked, Legolas thought he was the only elf stressed when feasts came, every year he would panic and want everything under control and perfect.

Legolas finally came in, he saw Níniel smiling at him, she had a habit to give him a smile so huge that forced her to close her eyes shut, and showing the teeth she was growing, Legolas found it cute that she even tilted her head so he couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Will you help me find the crown?" Thranduil asked irritated and frustrated that he couldn't find it.

"Yes, Ada" Legolas stepped forward and walked to the crib next to the father.

"A-A-DA" Níniel babbled happily.

The father and son pair both turned around shocked, Legolas lowered in front of her "ped lle man?" *what have you said?*

He had carefully watched the child's mouth as she babbled sound "A-A" she started "ADA!"

Tears immediately spring to Legolas eyes; he crawled over to her and lifts her onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around her tiny body

Legolas closed his eyes, willing the moment to last forever. "ya mîr, maer dae, amin taw" "Yes darling. Very good. That's me," he said giving her another lovingly hug.

Legolas than looked at his father who was watching them proud, it was a huge joy when he heard his son first word and it was an honor to relive that moment, he was happy that Legolas shared his moment with him.

One year had passed from the birth of Níniel, she had started to speak more since the day she said her first word, not many words but Thranduil was happy because Níniel could say "aduadar" that mean "Grandfather", he was proud of her because it was a hard word to say but she had somehow managed to say it.

He sat on his throne having her crawl under him under his protective eyes.

Legolas rushed in, he had been in a patrol "no elf was lost" he said out of breath, he then forced a back a smile to Níniel who as usual smiled at him when she sees him.

"But...?"

"They are getting stronger," he said "we cannot go near a war every day, we are losing warriors"

Thranduil nodded "what do you suggest then?"

Legolas watched protectively Níniel who was trying to get helping herself with the throne; she had always tried to stand up put she always fell and hurt herself.

"I-I don't know," he said finally looking back to his father

"How many nests were on the east?"

"Three"

Níniel let go of the throne, she wobbled in place for a few moments before carefully moving one foot in front of the other.

Legolas looked at her and gasped and ran near her holding out his arms, waiting to catch her.

Thranduil watched surprised and enchanted Níniel's concentrated face set on Legolas.

She lasted three steps before she started to lose her balance, Legolas quickly scooped her up in his arms and started smothering her face in kisses.