How to avoid councils? Prt 1.

"How are you ada?" Legolas softly asked when Thranduil was seated.

"Better, ion-nin." Thranduil gave Legolas a little smile. Thranduil stood again before he spoke. "Thank you for joining us tonight." Several other guests had joined them for dinner. "I hope you enjoyed the feast last night. Now that snow has come from the mountains, the Yule feast will be complete. Hannon-le Tegalad for all you hard work." Thranduil nodded to Tegalad who's cheeks turned a light shade of pink because of the attention. "And Hannon-le for everyone who stood by his side." Thranduil looked at his guests for a moment. "Enjoy." He sat back down and so the guests started feasting as the sound of laughter and silverware on porcelain filled the hall.

"How are you, aran-nin?" Cervus asked when he was near.

"Ah, Cervus!" Thranduil greeted the head healer. "I am well."

"Is your headache gone?" Cervus asked concerned. He had been there to take a look himself when Thranduil was still asleep. He had to agree with Elrond that there maybe was something more going on than the king let them see. Of course he could understand why he would do that, but that was also why he decided to keep an eye open for any possible signs that something like today would be happening again.

"Aye, the tea worked well." Thranduil nodded with a little smile. "A little too well for my liking." He muttered, for Cervus had to strain his ears to hear so.

"Kings do not mutter, all is well then." Cervus said laughing while Thranduil rolled with his eyes. "Elrond does what he thinks is best, and I am afraid that I had to agree with him."

"You are in the complot also? Why does Elrond turn everyone against me? Firstly Legolas, and now you? Who do I have left to turn to?" Thranduil quietly exclaimed and was awarded with the giggles, coming from somewhere behind his robes. Cervus softly snickered.

"I have not turned against you, ada." Legolas said as he held his arms up.

"Have you not then?" Thranduil asked while he scooped up his son in one fluid motion and settled him on his hip.

"Nay." Legolas shook his head. "But the yucky tea make the pain go away, just like me, when I had to drink it." Legolas shuddered at the idea of the foul tasting liquid, making Cervus laugh again.

"Well said, caun-nin." Cervus said while he brightly smiled. "Though I doubt that you will drink the tea willingly next time I need you to drink it." Now it was Thranduil's time to chuckle.

"That said, I think I still need to thank Elrond." Thranduil mused. "A good evening to you, Cervus." Thranduil said with a little nod.

"A good evening to you too, aran-nin." Cervus said with a bow. Thranduil turned around and before he disappeared through the crowd, Legolas waved at him. "Good night, Penneth." The healer called while he waved back.

"I think I forgot something." Thranduil said when he placed his hand on Elrond's shoulder.

"Thranduil!" Elrond smiled with a light surprised look on his face. "And what may that be?" He asked with a frown.

"Hannon-le." Thranduil softly said. "I did not have the chance to say so, yet."

"You're welcome, Thranduil. But I could not have done so without a little help." Elrond smiled as Legolas let out a small giggle. Thranduil mingled under the guests while Legolas was still on his arm, trying to stay awake.

"Sleep, ion-nin. I will tuck you in." Thranduil whispered in Legolas' ear. Legolas lifted his head and blinked a couple of times.

"Don't want sleep yet." Legolas slurred, making Thranduil chuckle.

"We shall see." Thranduil took Legolas back to his room and helped him dress for bed and tucked him in. "Sleep tight, ion-nin."

"G'night ada." Legolas whispered before he was already asleep. Thranduil smiled and kissed Legolas' brow before he left the room and joined the party again.

The sun was not up yet, but the sky in the eastern started to lighten when Legolas awoke. He yawned and snuggled down with his stuffed elk for a moment before an idea sprang into his mind. Legolas grinned at his 'Elky' before he scrambled out of bed and tiptoes over to his father's sleeping room and opened the door. He let the door open, just a little bit as he feared that closing the door would make too much noise and awaken him. Thranduil did not lay in the middle in his bed, just a bit more on the right side, so Legolas climbed into the bed on the left side. He crawled underneath the blankets and snuggled at his father's side. Thranduil stirred, but did not awaken.

Thranduil awoke a little after dawn, by the strange feeling of soft tugging on his hair. When his eyes properly focused, he noticed a certain elfling sitting on his right side. Legolas was so focused on trying to make a good braid that he had not noticed his father had already awoken. Not a moment later, there was a knock on the slightly open door and Thranduil felt Legolas stiffen next to him.

"Aran-nin? Are you awake?" The quiet voice of Anameleth sounded.

"Aye, enter." Thranduil said and propped himself up at his right elbow. "I have not seen Legolas." He said with raised eyebrows and twinkling icy blue eyes before the elleth could say something. Legolas shook his head, not wanting Anameleth to say something.

"Well, Then I shall go and see if the Peredhel family knows where he might be." Anameleth said after a moment and turned to leave.

"Anameleth?" Thranduil called before she closed the door. "If you are already there, please inform them that I will not be attending breakfast, and if you run in Tegalad by chance, tell him I shall attend the council as soon as I know Legolas is safe."

"Aye, I will. Aran-nin." She bowed before she closed the door behind her. She chuckled to herself as she slowly made her way over to the guest quarters. She should have said something, but rarely Thranduil would play such games. It was good that Thranduil would have some alone-time with his son. She would return to them after noon if Thranduil was not at his councils by then.

Thranduil let out a small sigh before he lied back down again, keeping his eyes closed. "Oh, Greenleaf, where are you." Thranduil whispered before he sat up again. When he did so, a small braid fell in front of his face, where Legolas had been working on only moments before. "I cannot remember braiding my hair last night." He stood and turned around, finding Legolas who tried to hide amongst the many pillows. "What do we have here?" Thranduil asked and gently but swiftly removed his son from the pile of pillows.

"Ada!" Legolas squealed and started giggling.

"Hush, ion-nin." Thranduil smiled mischievously. "As long as they are searching for you, I do not need to go to the boring councils, and I can play with you." Legolas nodded eagerly. "I guess this is your work?" He questioned as he pulled the braid from his face. Legolas nodded again.

"You like it?"

"it is far from a proper braid for a king, but you will learn in time." Thranduil gave him a little smile. "Shall we go and bathe, before we make some proper braids?"

"Okay." Thranduil called a servant and ordered that his bathing room would be readied and he liked to eat in his room while his bath got prepared. The servant hurried off, while soon enough breakfast was presented to him. Thranduil shared his breakfast with his son before he helped Legolas undress and undressed himself. Legolas followed his father into the bathing room and sat down at the higher steps so that the hot water reached no further than his belly button. Thranduil walked in further until the water reached his shoulder blades. The bath was more like a small pool, as at least six persons could be in there without feeling crowded. Legolas watched as Thranduil fully submerged himself and came up again a moment later.

"Now it is your turn." Thranduil gently encouraged after he wiped the water from his eyes. Legolas doubtfully looked at the deeper water before he looked back to his father. "There is nothing that could happen to you, I am right here." Thranduil made a few steps closer and raised his arms out of the water. "Or do you want me to get the cup?" Legolas shook his head. Anameleth still used the cup to wash his hair because his bath was too small to dip in, besides, cups where for babies, Legolas decided.

"I am coming." Legolas whispered as he crawled down two more steps before he had to stand to keep his head above the water.

"Good job. Remember to hold your breath and keep your eyes closed, aye?" Thranduil stepped close and gently held Legolas' upper arms to aid him.

"Aye ada." Legolas said, feeling a little better now that his father was a bit closer.

"When you are down, you must push off from the bottom really hard, aye?"

"Aye ada." Legolas replied again. This would only be the third time he would try. The first time he still chose the cup, it would be the second time he really would try to. The real first time had been really scary, and ada had held him long and sang him a song before they had continued washing.

"Ready, ion-nin?" Legolas nodded. "At three you pull in your legs and kick the bottom." Legolas nodded again. "Pen, tâd, nêl." Thranduil counted and gently pulled Legolas underneath the water before he felt Legolas trying to push from the bottom, pulling him up again. "Good job." Thranduil praised as he pulled Legolas in his hug and pulled all long blond strands from his son's face.

"Hannon-le ada." Legolas whispered as he tried to wipe off his face.

"That was very brave of you." Thranduil praised as he sat Legolas back down on the steps and picked up a small piece of soap. "Do you want to wash my hair first?"

Aye ada." Legolas smiled as he took the piece of soap and Thranduil sat in front of his son, on a few steps lower. Legolas soaped his hands before he proceeded to wash Thranduil's blonde locks. With the cup, Legolas rinsed out all the suds before Thranduil and himself washed their fair skins. When Thranduil was fully washed, as well as Legolas, Thranduil took his son on his lap and proceeded to wash his hair.

"Do you want to try again?" Thranduil asked.

"I don't know." Legolas said after a moment.

"I'll know something for that." Thranduil said with a little smile and sat a step higher so Legolas was almost out of the water.

"Ada?" Legolas asked confused.

"Just let me. I will make sure you won't get hurt." Thranduil turned Legolas sideways. "Go and lie down in my arms." Thranduil whispered and cradled his son in his arms before he slowly lowered Legolas' whole back in the water.

"Ada?" Legolas softly called while his eyes widened.

"Do not fear, ion. Ada is right here. Take deep breaths and relax." Thranduil softly smiled and kept his arm underneath Legolas back before he softly combed through Legolas hair to remove the suds. "Lower your head, otherwise I would still need to use the cup." Thranduil gently said and slowly Legolas let himself relax in his father's arms. They were strong, just like the rest of his father. Legolas thought and nodded before he lowered his head in the water. He hated the water that was now in his ears and would gladly plug his ears, so he would not need to feel so ever again. Thranduil now thoroughly combed through his hair and sat him up when he was satisfied all the suds were gone.

"All done now?" Legolas asked and eyed his father.

"All done." Thranduil smiled before he raised his wet hand out of the water and made small droplets fly at Legolas' face. It took only moments before Thranduil was soaked again, just like the whole bathing room. The water fight continued for several more moments before Legolas bust into a fit of giggles. "Look what you have done!" Thranduil said looking around the room.

"But you started." Legolas denied, even though he mostly splashed the water in all the effort to wet his father or to escape the water his father sent to him.

"Oh, now you are turning against me yet again?" Thranduil frowned before he lifted Legolas out of the water and dumped a small cup of cold water of him.

"Ada?!" Legolas yelped at the cold water, looking at his father while he dumped a whole bucket of cold water over him before he took some fluffy towels. Legolas looked a bit like a half drowned rat before Thranduil wrapped him in the towel and dried himself first.

"That should learn you not to turn again me, again." Thranduil chuckled before he helped Legolas dry himself. When Legolas was all dry and warm again, Thranduil dressed him in a spare leggings and tunic he kept at the bottom of his closet, for 'emergencies' just like today. Thranduil dressed himself in his own most simplest leggings and tunic, and slipped on some soft leather shoes.

"Hannon-le ada." Legolas whispered.

"What do you want to do next?" Thranduil asked with a mischievous smile.

-A/N I would be very grateful for suggestions of things you would like to read in this story! Thank you for reviewing!-

Dictionary:

Hannon-le - Thank you

Aran-nin - My king

Caun-nin - My prince

Penneth - Little one

Ion-nin - My Son

Ada/adar - Father

Pen - One

Tâd - Two

Nêl - Three