Snowelves.

The next week passed rather uneventful, or what you could call uneventful with three elflings running around. All three of the elflings got in to trouble, more than once. Usually it was not something big, easily fixed with a time-out or an early bedtime.

Legolas had to look up quite a bit when all kinds of elves walked past him and his father. Ada had braided his hair nicely, and dressed him in his new robes. They had a nice silvery colour, just like snow under the moon, but they also itched a bit, and he could not play in them. Ada had also picked out a small mithril circlet. Sometimes, mostly elleth's, would kneel and ask him something or simply smile and pinch his cheek. He really did not like to have them pinch him, he just wanted to go and play with 'Dan and 'Ro. Ada had said he needed to greet the guests that were coming together with him, and that he had to behave like a good pinceling. He really did his best, but they were taking ages!

"Ada?" Legolas quietly asked and pulled at one of the folds on Thranduil's robe.

"Not now, Legolas." Thranduil gently said as he continued his conversation with an elf-lord from Ered Luin. When Thranduil finished his conversation with the ellon, Legolas pulled Thranduil's robe again.

"Ada!" Legolas almost whined. He wanted to go and play! He only received a sideways glance from Thranduil before the next guest stepped in for a small talk with him. When Legolas was about to protest again, Thranduil gently places his hand on his son's shoulder, holding him in place, as well as to silence him. Legolas huffed when he noticed that his father was still not paying attention to him.

It seemed like ages when finally the last guest stepped in front of his father for the welcoming part. By now, Legolas had a sore cheek, and wanted nothing more than to get out of the robes and play! All that time, Thranduil's hand stayed on Legolas' shoulder.

"Ada?" Legolas asked when finally the last guest walked away from them.

"Aye, ion-nin?" Thranduil asked as he scooped up his son.

"Can I go and play now?"

"Nay, Legolas. I am afraid that today there is little time to play."

"But, ada…"

"No 'buts', Legolas. In a little while we shall go and eat with our guests. When we are done eating, it will be time for bed." Thranduil tried to explain when they made it back to the main hall, where small groups of elves were scattered everywhere. He knew very well that the formal parts of events were the most boring.

"Will you read me a story before bed?"

"Goheno nin, ion-nin. I need to stay here at the feast. I am sure Anameleth would like to read you a story." Thranduil gave Legolas a small but tight hug. "I am very proud on how you behaved today."

"You are?" Legolas asked as he studied his father's face. Normally he would not broadly say such things, especially not on behaviour. Father expected him to behave like a prince, so normally he would not get such praise for it.

"Aye. I know it took very long, but you behaved very well all the time." Thranduil brightly smiled, making Legolas smile too. Soon enough it was time for the feast to start. Dish after dish was carried into the halls and was served. "Legolas? Do you see what I see?" Thranduil asked when they both had finished some bite size dishes.

"See what?" Legolas asked and squinted, trying to see what Thranduil just saw. He saw lot's of elves, some of them he recognised as servants, warriors or even some that lived here.

"Over there." Thranduil pointed with his chin while he hoisted Legolas a little higher on his arm.

"A group with three black haired, four blond haired and one ebony haired elf." Thranduil summed up while he slowly started to make his way through the crowd.

"That's 'Dan and 'Ro!" Legolas happily exclaimed when they were almost there. Elladan and Elrohir where held by Erestor and Glorfindel. Elrond did not deem it safe enough for the elflings to run around on their own, lest they would get lost again. Both Elrond and Celebrían were talking with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn who held his granddaughter in his arms.

"Legolas!" Both black haired elflings shouted as soon as the Mirkwood king and his son stepped into view. Glorfindel and Erestor stopped their bickering to see why both of them shouted, at the same time.

Thranduil and Legolas joined the circle. "Stay near, ion-nin." Thranduil said before he set Legolas on his own two feet.

"Aye ada." Legolas nodded before he hurried over to Erestor and Glorfindel. "Can I play with 'Dan and 'Ro?" Legolas asked while he impatiently yanked at both robes.

"Saes, can we play with Legolas?" Both of the twins asked as they kicked their legs, eager to be set down.

"I do not know if your adar would deem it wise to let you two loose." Erestor said with a frown. He really wanted to put them down on their feet, especially now that his arm slowly started to get numb, besides the kicking that was going on now.

"If you stay here in front of us, I will set you down." Glorfindel said, gently taking hold of Elladan's face so the little Peredel would look at him.

"Okay, Glo'findel." Elladan said, eager to go and play with Legolas. Glorfindel set him down, and Erestor followed a moment later with Elrohir. Glorfindel and Erestor went back to their discussion while Celebrían gently smiled at the elflings. Too much of everyone's surprise, the elflings played together, in front them, without actually getting into trouble. But alas, too soon for their liking, Anameleth showed her face.

"Legolas? It is time for you to go and sleep." Anameleth announced herself to the three elflings.

"I do not want to go and sleep yet! 'Dan and 'Ro do not need to go to bed yet!" Legolas protested, he was not even tired!

"I am afraid that counts the same for as well as Elladan as Elrohir. They need to go to bed as well." Celebrían said, before Anameleth could say anything.

"No fair!" Both of the twins exclaimed, but before they got a chance to get up and possibly run, Glorfindel both snatched them up on their collars. "Hey!" Both kicked their legs, but it was of little help.

"This might be a good new version for a workout." Glorfindel mused while he lifted his arm a couple of times, before he set the twins back on their feet. "You will go with your naneth at once." He ordered before he let go of the twins.

"Aye, Glo'findel." Both of the twins responded and hung their head. "Sleep tight, Glo'findel."

"Sleep well, troublemakers." Glorfindel softly chuckled and watched Lord Elrond say goodnight to his sons.

"Glofy seems scary." Legolas whispered in his father's ear.

"Well, big warriors sometimes need to be scary, right?" Thranduil gently said. Legolas nodded and pulled a sad face when Anameleth once again stepped into view. "Now be good for Anameleth. If you are, we might go and do something fun tomorrow."

"What are we going to do?" Legolas asked as his eyes grew as big as saucers.

"That, ion-nin, you will see tomorrow." Thranduil readjusted Legolas in his arms and hugged him. He buried his face a moment in the soft blond locks. "Have sweet dreams, penneth." Thranduil whispered before he set Legolas on the ground again.

"Nighty night." Legolas waved their friends goodnight before he followed Anameleth to his room. Anameleth made quick work with getting Legolas ready to bed.

"Sleep well, Legolas." Anameleth said before she blew out the first candle.

"Wait!" Legolas protested. "Ada promised me a story."

"A short one." Anameleth said with a little sigh and took Legolas' storybook. Before she started to read, she tucked Legolas back in. He snuggled in the blankets, tightly hugging his elky. Ha had to miss him all day, but now he could make up for that. Legolas let out a small yawn when Anameleth started reading. She let out a small chuckle when she looked up from her reading, just a couple of pages in the story, Legolas was already peacefully asleep.

"Are you ready for the surprise?" Thranduil asked as they finished breakfast.

"Aye! What is it?" Legolas asked as he almost bounced of his chair.

"Let's get dressed first, then you will see." Thranduil teased and as well as Elrond and Thranduil himself made sure everyone was dressed warmly before they went outside. (even though the winter would not nearly be cold enough to affect an elf)

"Snow!" Legolas shouted as he ran outside. One of Thranduil's councillors had informed him that the western wind would bring snow from the mountains. Also some of their guest made the notice that the wintery weather was on their way, glad to have arrived for the storm. Before Thranduil had retired last night, it was snowing quite a bit, and decided that playing outside in the snow would be a good reward for the well behaving elflings.

"I think we all should build some snowelves!" Elrohir suggested.

"That would be a good idea." Thranduil agreed and they all started building. Thranduil helped his son to build two snowelves, one big one, and one that was a bit smaller. Elrond had his hands full with trying to help his sons to build their snowelves. Elladan and Elrohir insisted that they also would build a snowelf for Celebrían and Arwen.

"How about a snow fight!" Legolas grinned as he thought for a little while what to do now, since they had finished their snowelves. They had given them stick arms and even dressed them in cloaks.

"Be careful, we don't anyone to get hurt." Elrond warned as he stepped aside. Thranduil walked away, in the hope he would find a servant nearby. With a grin Elrond scooped up some snow and made a firm ball from it, before he threw it at Thranduil. He let out a chuckle when the snowball hit its target right where he wanted. The snowball broke on impact with Thranduil's head, yet what he did not expect was that Thranduil simply toppled over, falling face first into the snow. Elrond waited a moment, sure that Thranduil played along.

"Thranduil?" Elrond called after a moment when the king did not get back on his feet. There was no way the snowball could have injured the king, could it?

Dictionary:

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Saes - Please

Penneth - Little one

Ion-nin - My Son

Ada/adar - Father

Nana/naneth - Mother