-There we are again! Annem, I always need new ideas. They are always welcome! Enjoy!-

Time to say goodbye.

"Look who is pretty." Anameleth smiled as she gently brushed out a wrinkle in Legolas' robes.

"Can we go to ada?" Legolas almost whined.

"Nay, I am sorry, Legolas." Anameleth softly said as she picked up a brush. "Saes, sit and I promise to be quick." With a huff Legolas climbed on the chair. He wanted ada to do his braids! Anameleth gently brushed his hair before she put in the royal Mirkwood braids. It had taken her many tries before she finally managed to make a correct one.

"Can we go to ada now?" Legolas asked when he noticed Anameleth had finished braiding.

"Aye, we can now." Anameleth smiled as Legolas eagerly jumped from his chair and walked to the door. "Come!" Legolas urged her. She almost had to hurry to keep up with Legolas. "Suilad ada!" Almost shouted as he entered Thranduil's bedroom.

"Ai! Legolas! What did Anameleth with you that you are this cheery this morning?" Thranduil asked as he hugged his son.

"I'm happy to see you!" Legolas said in Thranduil's tunic. He was only halfway done with dressing himself. "You supposed to braid my hair." Legolas pouted.

"Goheno nin, Legolas." Thranduil softly said. "I had to see that every guest would be provided with a good filled provisions pack." Thranduil let go of Legolas and proceeded to dress himself in the robes' that matched those of Legolas. He watched as Thranduil braided his own pale-golden hair. "Ready for your circlet?" Thranduil said as his attention shifted back to Legolas.

"Nay. I do not want a circlet. Can't I have flowers in my braids?" Everything was better than the circlet.

"Nay, I do not think so." Thranduil stood and picked up the small mithril circlet and placed it on the dressing table. Firstly he placed his own great crown on his head before he proceeded to put the final touch on Legolas. "Shall we go and greet our guests?" Thranduil took Legolas' small hand in his own before they walked to the feasting halls. Merry chatter filled the hall as well as the smell of eggs and fresh baked bread. It made Legolas' stomach rumble.

"Shall we go and see if they left us anything?" Thranduil asked with a chuckle as he placed Legolas on the first chair on his right hand.

"I am hungry." Legolas confessed with a little nod.

"Good morning dear ellyn and ellith. Welcome at the last meal of the Yule festival in Mirkwood. I hope you all enjoyed they hospitality of my halls and my people. From what I have seen and heard, everyone enjoyed themselves. I wish to thank everyone who has lent a hand during the feasting. The citizens of Mirkwood shall continue to feast for many days after most of you have departed, but that makes no less that we will see to give you a hand at the travels back to your homes. Before you leave the halls to fetch your belongings, you may take provision packs that the cooks and their hands prepared for you this morning. May the pack last for many days now that the provisions in nature are scarce. But first we shall feast together for one last time!" The elves applauded before every single one of them started feasting of the delicious dishes.

"Well spoken, aran-nin." Tegalad said with a little smile between his sips of broth.

"Hannon-le." Thranduil offered him a little smile while he filled his plate with several things including honeyed bread and scrambled eggs.

"Hmm." Legolas hummed as he tore of a large piece of still warm bread.

"You know others can see you." Thranduil gently hinted at the craving of his son. Legolas merely shrugged at the comment, knowing better than to speak with an overfull mouth. "The food will not run from you, and we have more than enough." Thranduil continued.

"I am hungry." Legolas simply said when he had swallowed.

"Just take small bites. I have no need to you to choke on your food." Thranduil sternly said when Legolas was about to tear off another too large piece.

"I am a big elf. I can do it myself." Legolas protested when Thranduil went to reach for his food.

"Well, ion-nin. Then show me you can be a big elf. Take small bites, and go and sit nicely. Otherwise you will be seated in my lap and I will feed you, like a little elfling."

"Nay!" Legolas quickly shook his head.

"I am waiting." Thranduil warned. Legolas sat back down on the pillow and took a smaller bite from the bread. "Good." Thranduil softly said before he continued to eat. Legolas took a bigger bite when he thought Thranduil was too busy in a conversation to notice him. "Do you need another warning?" Thranduil asked softly but darkly. Legolas looked up to his father to see his father glaring at him.

"Sorry ada." Legolas shamefully whispered as he lowered his head.

"Come." Thranduil softly said when everyone had finished eating. Legolas scrambled from his chair and followed his father.

"Where are we going?"

"We are going to put on some warm outer robes before we go outside, saying our guests farewell."

"Oh." Legolas softly said. That did not mean he could get out of these robes could he? They were still very itchy, and he was not allowed to play in them. Thranduil held out a thick over-robe. Legolas looked at it before he looked back at his father. "Can I get out of these?" Legolas asked as he pulled on his collar and tried to undo several buttons.

"Nay, Legolas. You must keep them on."

"But Ada!" Legolas protested as he started to pull on one of his sleeves.

"Legolas!" Thranduil warned again. He let the item fall on the polished marble and pulled Legolas' hands away from the fabric before he could destroy it.

"Ada!" Legolas whined while he stomped.

"Stop this nonsense." Thranduil warned as he redid the buttons and pulled the robe right again. "Behave yourself."

"But..."

"Nay Legolas. You claimed this morning that you were a big elf, but now it looks to me that you are mere a little elfling." Thranduil proceeded to dress Legolas in the over-robe. Thranduil dressed himself in his over-robes before they mate it together to the courtyard. Two dozen of warriors stood next to their steeds lined up, ready for a command. It would be their job to protect their guests while they travelled though Mirkwood. Deawin was the very first warrior in line. He was easily to see that it was him since his helmet was adorned with several markings that indicated that he was the captain.

"Aran-nin." Deawin greeted with a bow.

"Hest." Thranduil greeted with a little nod. All the warriors bowed as Thranduil passed them, inspecting them on flaws.

"Behave yourself." Thranduil warned Legolas again before he took his place just before the stables where the stable master with his stable hands were still busy preparing all the horses of their guests.

The first guests that entered the court yard were the lords and ladies from Ered Luin.

"Aran Thranduil." Lord Círdan greeted with a smile. "I have enjoyed my stay here in the far east."

"I am glad to hear."

"Next time it will be our turn. I hope we may receive you and your son then."

"We will see how things will be fairing then." Thranduil said with a little nod. "I hope your travel will be swift without perils."

"Hannon-le." Lord Círdan bowed deeply before the stable hands handed over the reins of their horses. A party of six warriors departed with them. Followed after them were the lords and ladies from Eregion.

"Ada?" Legolas asked. His cheek was already getting sore, and the over-robe did nothing to decrease the scratching of his robe.

"Not now Legolas. We are almost halfway done." Thranduil gently said. He had seen Legolas fidgeting with his sleeves, badly trying to be a big elf.

"Hannon-le Thranduil." Lord Celeborn smiled as he walked up to the Mirkwood king. "We were happy to enjoy our stay at this still flourishing elven stronghold."

"It is great to hear that from you." Thranduil nodded.

"It was great to be able to spent some time again with my daughter and grandchildren. It seems to me that Elrond and Celebrían are very fond of the little Mirkwood prince." Galadriel smiled after she said her goodbyes to Legolas.

"It seems like that aye. I think that they are also happy with the good influence my son has since he is more behaved than as Glorfindel called them 'troublemakers'." Thranduil said with a chuckle.

"They have good in their hearts."

"I believe so." Thranduil nodded. "But for now I wish you farewell. Hope your travels will be swift and without peril."

"May you and your ion be blessed with many happy memories. I bid you farewell and till we may meet again." Galadriel put up a dashing smile.

"May it be under joyful circumstances." Thranduil bowed with his right hand on his heart on the same moment as Celeborn. He kissed Galadriel's hand. The stable hands rushed forward with the correct mounts for their masters as all the other Galadrims bowed before Thranduil and Legolas before they mounted. Last but not least, there were a collection of elves that came from the White mountains, south of the Gap of Rohan. These elves were even more resistant against the cold as it appeared that they were still dressed lightly. Thranduil wished every ellon and elleth a swift and save travel. All of them bowed and Deawin set out with five other warriors to see them home, and not only out of Mirkwood. The warriors bowed again before they mounted and lead their guests out of the courtyard.

"Ada!" Legolas whined while he impatiently yanked at Thranduil's sleeve. Thranduil blinked, for a moment he was lost in his own thoughts. "Ada!" Legolas called out again almost angry.

"Ion?" Thranduil turned to him. Legolas was almost halfway of undressing himself, again.

"Ada!" Legolas struggled with one of the sleeves.

"Legolas! Stop this instance." Thranduil called as he picked up the mithril circlet from the snow where it had fallen. Legolas stopped his struggling for a moment. Thranduil pulled the over-robe and robes back over Legolas' shoulders to have them almost immediately pulled down again by Legolas.

"Don't want it on again!" Legolas whined. Thranduil let out a little sigh. His headache was growing again and he had no energy for dealing with a grumpy child. He gently picked up Legolas and walked back to the royal quarters.

"Cease your whining, ion-nin. Sit still and I will help you out of the robes." Legolas ceased his whining and let his father help him out of the stupid robes, but Thranduil did not stop when he had removed his robes. He undressed his son completely and pulled on his nightgown.

"Ada?" Legolas asked confused when he stood in his night-time attire.

"I think you had too little sleep yesterday, and being up very early today, I think you are very due for a nap." Thranduil explained.

"I am a big elf. Big elves do not need naps!"

"Well, I think big elves listen when they are told to do something without complaining." Legolas huffed while he folded his arms. "Come, in bed with you, ion-nin."

"But I really do not want to." Legolas grumpily climbed in bed.

"Lie down. I will read you a short story." Thranduil tucked Legolas in and took his storybook.

"Okay ada." Legolas nodded as he watched his father take place on the nearby chair.

"Now go and take a nap." Thranduil softly said when the story had ended.

"Okay then, ada." Legolas said as he snuggled with his elky.

"Sleep well, penneth." Thranduil placed a kiss on Legolas' brow before he left him alone to sleep.

It was good that the Yule ball was finally over. Hopefully all the fuss would die down soon so they could return to the normal routine, or what supposed to be normal..

Dictionary:

Hest - Captain

Aran-nin - My king

Ion-nin - My son

Hannon-le - Thank you

Saes - Please

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Ada- Father

Suilad - Informal greeting

Penneth - Little one

Ellon - He-elf

Ered Luin - Blue Mountains

Ellyn - He-elves

Ellith - She-elves