-A/N Hello there! Thank you for the reviews, they made my day! I would like to ask you to tell me what kind of activity you would like to see for Thranduil and Legolas. Enjoy!-
Preparations for the Yule ball.
Two weeks had passed without anything special happened. No strange letters had sent with distributing news, no patrols had serious encountered intruders. Tegalad was busy with the preparations of the Yule festival.
Thranduil sat behind his desk when Hérion entered. In his left hand he had a stack of parchment while he carried a goblet of wine in his right. "These are the reports of all the warriors." He said and handed over quite a stack of parchment. "And I thought you might liked something to drink." He said as he set the goblet on the desk.
"That was not necessary but it shall not go to waste. Hannon-le, you may go now." Thranduil said after he took a nip from the Dorwinion wine. Hérion made a little bow before he left. Thranduil started to read the reports while he took an occasional sip from the wine. After a while a dull throb began to form behind his eyes. When he had read about the half of the reports he looked up to see what time it was. It was already past dinner time. A moment later a knock sounded from the door and Feren opened the door.
"Your majesty, do you want me to serve you dinner in here?"
"Aye, hannon-le." Thranduil nodded and only a few moments later Feren entered again, after a light knock, with a tray.
"Are you in need of anything else?"
"Nay, you may leave." Thranduil nodded and finished the other reports while he ate. He slowly chewed as his eyes flew over the lines of the reports. The reports did not tell him anything new, for they encountered nothing really special. The bears had gone into hibernation, the wolves came down from the mountain, well they even encountered a lone goblin that obviously was no match against a Mirkwood warrior. When Thranduil was finished reading the report it was about to get dark, so he made his way over to Legolas' quarters to at least wish his little green leaf a good night.
Legolas sat upon a little stool in front of Anameleth who was braiding his hair.
"Ada!" Legolas shouted as soon as he saw his father. He jumped from the stool ripping the braids from Anameleth's fingers, and ran to his father. Thranduil kneeled just in time to receive two arms full of elfling, giving back a big and tight hug. "I missed you at dinner." Legolas said when he managed to free himself from the hug.
"My apologies, ion-nin." Thranduil gently caressed the soft and slightly damp blond locks. Anameleth watched father and son interact with each other and she could not help but let a little smile play on her lips.
"Will you braid my hair?" Legolas asked while he looked at his father with his big blue eyes.
"Shall I, or shall I not?" Thranduil hummed while he stood again, picking Legolas up. "You are dismissed for today." He told Anameleth.
"Hannon-le aran-nin, caun-nin." Anameleth bowed before he quietly left the two royals alone.
"You braid my hair?" Legolas insisted.
"How are we supposed to ask things, Legolas?"
"Will you braid my hair, saes?" Legolas asked again.
"Only if you sit very still." Thranduil set Legolas back on the stool while he sat down on the chair Anameleth had vaccinated only moments ago. Legolas was very happy about his father complying with braiding his hair, for normally, father would only braid his hair if there was something special they needed to attend. And if father would be in a good mood while he would be braiding his hair, he would hum, and that is what he liked best. Legolas felt butterflies pop in his stomach when his father began to hum, he wished his father could do that always.
"Done." Thranduil announced when he had finished his last braid. "Would you like me to tell you a story?"
"Would you?" Legolas asked.
"Firstly dress for bed." Legolas jumped off the stool and went to change while Thranduil sat down on Legolas' bed, against the head board with his legs folded over each other. As soon as Legolas was dressed, he jumped on his bed and snuggled down in Thranduil's robe.
"Shall I start then?" Thranduil asked as he embraced his son with one arm.
"Wait! I'll get my fairytale book." Legolas sat up and started to scramble to the side of the bed. Thranduil tightened his embrace, effectively holding his little leaf against him.
"No need for your lovely book. I will tell you a story. A story about a little elfling." The throbbing behind his eyes had not lessened a little, so any more reading would not do him any good. "Once upon at time, long, long ago… Wait, it was actually not that long ago, there lived a little elfling in a very old and very big forest. The little elfling went out every day to play with his little friends; with a hare and some birds. Sometimes even a fawn would come by to what they were doing, just like a little brown snake." Thranduil started and proceeded to tell one of the adventures that the little elfling had.
"Can I go and seek so I can also play with the snake?" Legolas asked when Thranduil had finished his story.
"Maybe in spring, then we can go and look for it." He agreed. "Now go and sleep, penneth." Thranduil whispered as he stood and tucked his son in.
"Good night, ada."
"Good night, ion-nin." Thranduil kissed Legolas freshly washed hair before he softly left his room.
Thranduil sat upon his throne in the grand hall, listening to the audiences of his people. "Your majesty." Feren softy called as he held out a goblet of dorwinion wine.
"Hannon-le." Thranduil replied as he took the goblet and nipped from the wine. The dull throb behind his eyes was still present, and did not seem to go away anytime soon. He nipped again before he set the goblet aside as an elleth approached.
"Mae govannen, Aran-nin." She greeted as she kneeled.
Legolas giggled as he ran away from Anameleth. "Legolas!" She called as he disappeared behind a corner. When Anameleth came around the corner, Legolas giggled again and started running as fast as his little legs would carry him.
"Catch me first." Legolas yelled.
"Daro, Legolas!" Anameleth ran after Legolas knowing precisely where this hallway lead to. Legolas ran and ran up the steps leading to his father's throne.
"Ada!" Legolas yelled in his merit.
"Daro, Legolas, saes!" He heard Anameleth yell, yet he was to close to not go to his father now.
"Legolas!" Thranduil shot his son a warning look as he skipped up the steps.
"Ada?" Legolas asked as he came to a halt, almost at the top of the stairs.
"Legolas!" Thranduil almost hissed as the loud sounds bombarded his already throbbing head. Legolas shrank back at the glowering look he received from his father and slowly stepped back, down the stairs. Anameleth stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching the exchange of father and son. When Legolas stood beside her he looked up at her, his blue eyes had a sad sparkle.
"Goheno nin." Legolas whispered as he hung his head.
"I warned you." She scolded lightly. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder and guided him back to his rooms. "We have to go to the tailors in a moment." Legolas nodded and pulled his robe over the tunic and leggings he was wearing before Anameleth walked with him to the tailors station. Anameleth helped him out of his robes and tunic before he stepped on a stool, in front of the tailor.
"Try to stay still, then I will be as quick as I can." The tailor softly said. He picked up a large pile of folded fabric and draped it around Legolas before started pinning it correctly at his size.
Legolas tried not to giggle as the tailor placed a pin near his armpit. When another pin came Legolas tried not to giggle, and managed but wobbled.
"Saes, stay still for a little more. I am about to be ready." The tailor moved to the other arm. Legolas giggled as he pinned the last pin. "All done." The tailor gave Legolas a little smile and helped him out of the robe.
"Can I go and play again?" Legolas asked as he stepped from the little stool.
"You may do so, but you should dress before you leave." Thranduil said as he entered, while Legolas was already making his way out.
"Ada!" Legolas softly greeted and walked back to Anameleth who helped him get dressed again. When Legolas and Anameleth had left, Thranduil undressed and stood bare chest, with all his musceles in view, in front of the tailor who proceeded with the same procedure as his son.
"Hérion? I have a note here, from a falcon. It is about the Peredhel family, from hîr Elrond. They will at least arrive a week prior to the ball." Deawin said as he handed the note over to him.
"I have to agree that is was a wise choice to try and avoid most of the snow in the Redhorn pass." Hérion said as he finished reading the note.
"Should we go and tell Tegalad?"
"Firstly I would like to get together a party so they can prepare provisions for a little trip." When Hérion had informed three warriors they left for the grand hall.
"Tegalad! Tegalad!" They both called to attract the attention of the Chief councilor and scholar.
"I think he might be in his study." Deawin said and they made their way to his study.
"Come in." Tegalad voice sounded after a second knock on the heavy wooden door. "What do you want?"
"We came to deliver a message, we thought you might liked to know." Hérion handed over the note.
"There are so many things that have to be done yet before the first guests arrive!" Tegalad exclaimed. "Flowers have to be chosen, the food from Dale has yet to be brought in, the table cloths need to get it's embroidery, the garland has yet to be made, the banners need to be placed. Let us not speak of the horrible dwarves who yet have to deliver the new tableware!" He sighed as he sank back into his chair and rubbed his face. "Hannon-le for letting me know." He handed over the note again.
"I am sure the Peredhel family would not mind if it would not be fully decorated yet." Deawin tried to comfort the scholar. "I bet they would even like to help you decorate the halls."
"We are getting a party ready to receive the Peredhel family, good luck." Hérion said before they left the study.
Moments after Hérion and Deawin left, Tegalad went to the great hall to encourage the other elves to do a bit more their best, as he helped them put the banners on the ceilings, garlands on the wall, tasting the tries for dishes, going yet again to the tailors to complain.
Dictionary:
Hannon-le - Thank you
Ion-nin - My son
Ada/adar - Father
Saes - Please
Penneth - Little one
Mae govannen - Formal greeting
Aran-nin - My king
Daro - Stop!
Goheno nin - Forgive me
Hîr - Lord