How to avoid councils? Prt 2.
"I think I want to eat something." Legolas said.
"How about we are going to get some strawberries?" Thranduil asked after a moment.
"With cream?" Legolas asked. Both Thranduil and his son have a something for strawberries, especially with some whipped cream.
"I think we can do that." Thranduil smiled. "But firstly we have to go and get to the kitchens, unseen." Legolas nodded enthusiastically. "Then go and see if the hallway is clear." Thranduil whispered and opened the door just enough for Legolas to have a look in the hallway. Legolas had not popped his head out before he quickly retracted again.
"There is someone." Legolas whispered.
"Then we wait a moment before you have another look." Thranduil whispered back and a few long moments later Legolas had another look.
"I think we can go now." Legolas whispered.
"Let us go then." Thranduil whispered back and they both slipped out of Thranduil's room. The first few hallways they did not encounter another elf, since they were still at the Royal family quarters. However as soon as they left it, almost every other hallway they had to hide, because of elves that passed. Soon enough they made it outside the kitchens without being noticed.
"I do not see any strawberries yet." Thranduil said in their hiding space, just outside the kitchens.
"We need to be in the kitchens first ada." Legolas said trying not to giggle.
"Go and take a peek then."
"There are people in." Legolas whispered.
"Do you think we can hide until they are gone?" Legolas nodded and cuddled up in Thranduil's arms, so they just sat in the shadow of a small set of stairs. With a bit of luck they would go unnoticed if they stayed still. "Shall we go and see if we can go in now?" Thranduil asked after a moment that a bunch of elves with dishes left the kitchens up the stairs.
"Okay." Legolas whispered back and the both of them made it into the empty kitchens. "I found them!" Legolas excitingly said. Legolas held a small reet basket in his hands, full with fresh crimson strawberries. Thranduil had been sure they would not find anything, for strawberries were a very delicate fruit. Besides they only grow in summer!
"Now the whipped cream." Thranduil whispered, hoping they had not been heard yet. Soon enough Thranduil found a small bowl full. Thranduil was about to bite into his third strawberry with cream when suddenly Tegalad appeared in front of him.
"And I was going to bring you some lunch and ask you if you already heard something." Tegalad scofted as he looked at both of the faces stained with whipped cream and some strawberry juice. "Are you going to explain yourself?" Tegalad asked, at the verge of yelling.
"Don't yell at ada." Legolas said after he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"Legolas?" Thranduil softly asked.
"I wanted to go and have strawberries with cream, and ada helped me find them." Legolas said. "Don't be angry at ada." Tegalad looked at the little princeling and then back at his king. Tegalad huffed before his face softened.
"Are you well, Legolas?" He gently asked.
"Aye." Legolas nodded. "Want to be with ada today."
"I am sure that we can discuss the more pressing matter tomorrow." Tegalad found himself say. He could not begin to say no against the little elfling. Legolas beamed up a smile at his father.
"Hannon-le, Tegalad." Thranduil nodded. "I shall be present."
"You better be." Tegalad muttered under his breath before turned on his heel, going back where he came from. When Tegalad left, Legolas bust into giggles, and Thranduil could not help but laugh himself.
"You saved my life." Thranduil seriously said after he finished laughing.
"I know." Legolas shrugged before he dipped another strawberry into the whipped cream.
"What has happened to you? Spent too much with those Noldors?" Thranduil laughed as he took another strawberry. "What do you want to do next?" He asked after he had finished the strawberry.
"I want to go and practise with the bow." Legolas said after he thought a moment.
"That is a good idea, but I do not think we can go and practise now. I shall ask Deawin to come and take you for your archery practise soon." Thranduil smiled. Only two springs ago Legolas had received his first 'toy' bow for him to practise so one day he also could become a warrior. Thranduil himself had given his son his first archery lesson. Now as often as Legolas was allowed, Deawin would teach him how he had to use his bow.
"No fair. What do you want to do?"
"I know what we can do next." Thranduil said after a moment of thinking. "We still need to braid or hair!"
"Can I braid your hair then?" Legolas cautiously asked.
"You may help me." Thranduil agreed. "But we must get out of the kitchens before the servants come back. Who is back first at my room?"
"Aye!" Legolas called when he was already at the door. Thranduil made a little sprint to get to Legolas before he easily could keep up with his large strides in comparison of Legolas' small ones. Even though Thranduil could go much faster, he almost slipped on the polished stone floors when he intended to quickly turn a corner.
"Not that fast, Legolas!" Thranduil said as he pretended he had a hard time keeping up. Yet Legolas small figure had an advantage over Thranduil's tall frame.
"I won!" Legolas cheered as he stood outside Thranduil's bedroom.
"Ai, ion-nin, you were too fast for me." Thranduil smiled. Legolas giggled as Thranduil scooped him up and turned a full circle.
"Are we going to braid our hair now?"
"Aye, sit still then we will be done quickly." Thranduil put Legolas on the stool in front of the dressing table and picked up the brush. He quickly brushed the soft locks and skilfully braided Legolas hair. "All done, now it is my turn." Thranduil smiled at the mirror image of him and his son.
"I'll help." Legolas jumped from the stool so Thranduil could go and sit. Legolas climbed on a chair as he took the brush Thranduil handed him. Legolas did his best to carefully brush his father's hair. "All brushed." Legolas announced when he was done brushing.
"Now keep a good eye on my hands, then I will show you how to braid. I shall help you the next time." Thranduil explained as he started to braid his own hair.
"There is still something missing." Legolas mused when Thranduil was done braiding his hair.
"What do you suggest that there is missing?"
"Flowers!" Legolas cheered.
Legolas put snowdrops and Holly leaves in the braids Thranduil had made. Soon enough Thranduil's head was adorned with white's and greens, enough that it could pass for a crown. "Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest elf of this hall?" Thranduil asked as he inspected his new crown in the mirror.
"I am going to be." Legolas giggled. "But you need to put snowdrops and holly into my braids as well."
"We shall see who is fairest when I am done with you." Thranduil grinned as he lightly tickled Legolas. Legolas' high pitched laughter filled the room.
"Goheno nin ada." Legolas said when he was able to breath again. "You are the fairest of them all."
"That was the only correct answer I expected." Thranduil replied seriously before he picked out several snowdrops and gently put them in Legolas' braids. "Who is pretty now." Thranduil whispered as hugged Legolas.
"We both are." Legolas grinned. "What are we going to do now?"
"I am going to put on my robes, and you should do so as well. Then we go and dine with our guests. If you behave well, you may go and play in the hall if you would like." Thranduil told him as he slipped out of the soft leather shoes and picked out a dark green robe with silver embroilment. Thranduil dressed himself before they made it over to Legolas' room where Thranduil dressed his son in a dark green leggings with matching tunic. "Ready to go and greet our guests?"
"Aye." Legolas nodded as he slipped his little hand in his father's big one as they walked though the many hallways before reaching the feasting hall. When they entered the hall, they were greeted with a happy chatter, as well as music and laughter.
"Good evening." Thranduil greeted as they approached a small group of elves.
"Suilad, Aran Thranduil." One of the ellons greeted with a smile.
"Ah, you have found your ion again?" Another one asked as his eye fell upon the little copy of Thranduil.
"Aye, I am glad that he is here with me." Thranduil smiled.
"It is all natural that they are curious, is it not? Mine has caused us enough trouble to scare us to the halls of Mandos quite a few times." An elleth said as merit sparkled in her eyes as she looked at her husband.
"Aye, more than a few times. I do not know how hîr Elrond manages." Her husband replied with the same merit. Their son was now a trainee with the Galadrim of Lothlórien. "He even does that to this day."
"He is still young and has to learn a lot." The elleth agreed. "He is training to be a warrior."
"I want to be a warrior too." Legolas piped up when he heard the word 'warrior'.
"I am sure you one day will be." The ellon smiled.
"I'll be big and strong, and I'll be as scary as Glorfy." Legolas told them while he enthusiastically nodded.
"Hîr Glorfindel you say?" The ellon asked with a frown, while Legolas nodded again. "I am sure you will." The ellon chuckled. "Have a nice evening, Aran-nin, caun-nin."
"Did you find me scary, penneth?" Glorfindel's voice sounded behind Thranduil and Legolas. Glorfindel had announced his presence a moment ago by gently touching Thranduil's shoulder. Legolas head whipped around while his grip on Thranduil's fingers tightened.
"Glorfy?" Legolas asked as he craned his neck so he could see the warrior's face.
"It is good we did not have to set out any search parties." The warrior said before he scooped up Legolas. Legolas did not know if he had to laugh or be afraid for the Balrog slayer. "But it appeared that some little bird had whispered in my ear that all was well."
"You can talk with birds?" Legolas asked full wonder.
"Nay, I cannot." Glorfindel chuckled.
"But then how do you know what the birds say?"
"It is mere a way of saying."
"Oh." Legolas still did not really understand what the golden-haired warrior meant, but he was not angry and that was good. "Do you know where 'Dan and 'Ro are?"
"Aye, I know where they are, for they are with their ada and nana."
"Do you know if I can go and play with them?"
"I am afraid that is not my call to make. Have you already asked your ada?"
"Aye, ada said I could go and play with them."
"I am afraid you are forgetting something, ion-nin. I said you could go and play with them after dinner, if you behaved well." Thranduil gently said, taking his son from Glorfindel. As on cue a clear bell rang through the hall, signalling dinner would be served.
"Well, let's go eat first then." Glorfindel said with a little smile as slowly all the elves made it over to large wooden table, set with painted porcelain dishes and silver silverware. Green banners and little flower pieces as well as candles decorated the tables as lovely smells rose up from the dishes that littered all that was not covered from the tables yet. A small party of elves sat in a well lighted corner of the hall, playing a lovely melody. Thranduil gently sat Legolas down on the first chair on the largest table in the hall.
"Good evening dearest mellyn. I hope you enjoy the feasting as much as I have been hearing here and there. Tonight we shall feast again, so let my words not hold you any longer away from the undoubtedly delicious dishes. Enjoy!" Thranduil spoke before he sat down at the head of the table and the feasting began.
-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
Goheno nin - Forgive me
Aran-nin - My king
Hîr - Lord
Suilad - Greetings
Caun-nin - My prince
Penneth - Little one
Ion-nin - My Son
Ada/adar - Father
Nana/naneth - Mother
Mellyn - Friends