-AN/ Hi There! I firstly want to thank you for all the amazing reviews I am getting! They really make me smile! The credit for this chapter goes to Dreamgoneby for the suggestion, thank you! I hope you will like it. Enjoy!-

Drawing.

"Legolas?" Will you play with us?" Elladan asked after they had finished breakfast.

"Okay." Legolas nodded and glanced over to Celebrían and Elrond.

"Go and play then." Celebrían dismissed them from breakfast with a smile and a wave of her hand.

"What do you want to play?" Elrohir asked once they had arrived at Legolas room, together with Anameleth.

"I want to draw." Legolas declared.

"I will go and fetch those things." Anameleth offered and returned several moments later. She carried several pieces of parchment and a small wooden box. The drawing supplies were very limited, but it was better than the mess painting would create, would it not?

The three elflings lay on their stomach's in the middle of Legolas' room. Anameleth sat near the window while she read a book while she occasionally glanced over to her three charges.

"What are you drawing?" Elladan asked after a while as he lent on one of his elbows to get a peek at Legolas' parchment.

"Ada and me." Legolas replied while he continued to draw one of the many flowers.

"I am making a drawing for ada and nana too." Elrohir replied as he looked up to his twin.

"I do not know what to draw." Elladan sighed as he rolled from his stomach to his back, now looking at the adorned ceiling of Legolas' room. Eventually Elladan decided to draw his toy horse.

"Shall we go and see if lunch is already served?" Anameleth asked as she watched over Legolas' shoulder.

"I am almost finished." Legolas said and Elrohir nodded.

"I am hungry!" Elladan jumped on his feet. Anameleth quickly readied a small basin with water and a washcloth.

"Let's clean you up before we go and eat, otherwise they might see you as dwarves."

"I am no dwarf." Legolas exclaimed before he let Anameleth wash his hands and face. Both Elladan's and Elorhir's face and hands were washed before they made it over to the dining hall. Both Glorfindel and Erestor were already present. Just when all three elflings were seated, Celebrían and Elrond arrived.

"What did you do all morning?" Celebrían asked with a smile.

"I made a picture!" Legolas proudly told her.

"That is wonderful!"

"I am going to give it to ada when I can go to him again."

"I am sure he will like it." Celebrían said and Elrond nodded.

"I thought it was a good idea to go and read something with you all." Erestor said when they had finished they lunch.

"You going to read us a story?" Elladan asked. This was better than to draw.

"I thought you could reach each other a story." Erestor nodded.

"I think that that is a very good idea." Elrond nodded. Staying in Mirkwood would be no excuse to delay any form of knowledge being taught.

Thranduil stifled a yawn. He had awoken from his nap not an hour ago. He still deemed in unnecessary that he needed to nap after lunch, yet now he had napped and was still tired.

"Aran-nin?" Tegalad softly asked in the half darkened room.

"Aye?"

"Would you like to finish this report, or would you wish that I leave now?"

"Finish the report." Thranduil nodded, otherwise he would have to listen to that all over again. After Tegalad had finished reading, Thranduil signed the report.

"Is there anything you need before I will leave you be?"

"Would you sent Legolas to me?"

"I shall send Legolas for you. Anything else?"

"Nay, hannon-le."

"Then I bid you a good afternoon, aran-nin." Tegalad bowed before he left.

"Tegalad, what can I do for you?" Elrond greeted as Tegalad entered the parlour they sat in.

"I came here with the request of aran Thranduil to fetch his ion."

"Legolas?" Elrond softly called the attention of the little Mirkwood prince from where he was playing with his sons.

"What is it?" Legolas asked as he stood next to Elrond.

"Shall we go and see your ada?"

"Can I?"

"Your ada asked for you." Tegalad confirmed.

"Can we go then?"

"Aye, we can go." Elrond chuckled as he arose. "Was there anything else?"

"Nay, hîr-nin." Tegalad bowed again and left together with Elrond who was almost dragged forward by Legolas.

"Slow down a little, Legolas." Elrond gently said as they turned to the corner where the royal quarters where positioned. Tegalad turned in another hallway, going back to his study.

"Ada?" Legolas softly called as he pushed open the door, not giving Elrond the chance to knock first.

"Legolas?" Thranduil softly asked as he heard his son's voice. Moments later he felt the mattress dip on his right side.

"Suilad Ada." Legolas softly said before he placed a small kiss on Thranduil's cheek. The scrapes from his latest fall were finally healed, but they had taken more than a week to heal, instead of only a couple of days.

"What is it, ion-nin?" Thranduil lifted his right arm, and not a moment later, Legolas was sprawled all over him in a tight hug. Thranduil gently caressed Legolas' soft locks.

"I missed you."

"I did too." Thranduil agreed. "Tell me, what did you do all day long?"

"I played with 'Dan and 'Ro. Erestor made us read small stories."

"Did Erestor? What were the stories about?"

"He made three little stories about a duckling, a horse and a squirrel!"

"Really? What did they do?"

"Well, the duckling went out swimming with his brothers and sisters while the horse... It was a Rohan horse who went out riding with its master!" Legolas enthusiastically told his father. "And the squirrel thought to be funny throwing nuts!"

"That must have been one naughty squirrel."

"It was!" Legolas giggled.

"What did you do else today?"

"I made a picture for you!" Legolas told him and after a moment his eyes grew big. "I forgot to bring it!" Legolas exclaimed. He scrambled from the bed and quickly made it out of the room. Elrond shared a smile with Thranduil. Only moments later, Legolas entered the room again, with a slightly crumpled piece of parchment in his hands. "Look!" Legolas said as he laid the piece of parchment on the bed before he climbed up there himself. "That is you..." Legolas pointed on the taller of the two figurines. "And that am I..." Legolas pointed at the other figure in his drawing.

"And what are they doing?" Thranduil asked as he looked at the pictures.

"Walking in the forest, watching the fireflies and flowers."

"That is a very pretty picture." Thranduil praised. He had taken Legolas on a warm summer evening back into the garden to watch the fireflies. Legolas had loved it, claiming that the stars had decided to come down to be with them.

"You like it?"

"I do." Thranduil smiled. He listened and enjoyed Legolas happy chatter, filling himself with the energy.

"Dinner will be served soon." Elrond said as he stood. He had also enjoyed Legolas happy chatter for quite a while. "I will go back to my family now."

"Do I need to come with you?" Legolas asked when he looked up to the Imladris healer.

"I think your ada wishes to dine together with you, am I right Thranduil?"

"I would like it very much if you would stay with me." Thranduil agreed with a smile.

"Okay." Legolas happily said.

"But if you are going to stay here with eating, you must go and sit on a chair." Elrond said and put the chair down next to Thranduil. Elrond gently sat Legolas down in the chair. "Anameleth will come for you when it is time for you to go and sleep." Elrond said before he left them alone. It did not take long before Feren showed his face.

"Good evening, aran-nin, caun-nin." Feren bowed before he actually entered. "I have come here to serve you dinner." He said as he placed a tray on Thranduil's lap. He also handed Legolas a smaller tray with his dinner.

"Hannon-le Feren." Thranduil nodded.

"Hannon-le." Legolas copied while he smiled at Feren.

"Is there anything else I can provide you with?

"I would like to have some wine."

"Very well." Feren bowed before he quickly disappeared, only to return a moment later with a pitcher and a goblet.

"Can I have some too?" Legolas asked as he watched Feren fill his father's goblet with a dark red liquid.

"You can have a little sip from mine if you would like." Thranduil offered.

"Saes."

"There you go, aran-nin." Feren smiled as he handed back the goblet.

"Hannon-le." Thranduil took the goblet and held the goblet as Legolas guided the rim to his lips. Legolas pretty face scrunched up in disgust.

"Jucky!" Legolas exclaimed as he swallowed. "Why do you like that ada?"

"Because I do not think that wine is jucky." Thranduil chuckled and took a sip himself.

"But why?"

"Because I am a big elf."

"When I am a big elf I will go and like that too?" Legolas frowned while Feren unsuccessfully hid a smile.

"I do not know. Maybe." Thranduil shrugged before he started eating. "You are dismissed, Feren. I will call for you if we require anything else."

"Good evening, aran-nin, caun-nin." Feren bowed before he left. The remainder of dinner passed quietly between father and son.

"I think it is time for you to go and sleep." Thranduil said after a while with cuddling with Legolas.

"I do not want to go and sleep." Legolas protested while he tightened his grip on Thranduil's nightgown.

"I do not think it will be long before Anameleth will be here." Thranduil replied as he cast a look outside.

"Can't I sleep here with you?"

"I think Elrond will get angry at me, besides, you are no small elfling anymore." When Legolas had been quite a bit smaller he had often taken him back to his bed, as Legolas had trouble sleeping. It also served well to help keep his own night terrors at bay. It calmed his mind to know that life was still worth fighting for, as well as to know that his only family was with him, safe in his arms.

"I am not such a big elf!" Legolas pouted. Thranduil let out a soft chuckle.

"Why don't you show me that you are a big elf?" Thranduil properly lay down. He was growing more tired by the moment. "Why don't you sing me a good night song? I am growing quite sleepy." He admitted with a sheepish smile.

"Okay ada." Legolas softly replied as Legolas tucked the blankets around Thranduil's shoulders and settled next to Thranduil's head. He gently kissed Thranduil's brow, just like Thranduil would have done if the roles were switched, and Legolas gently started to pet the pale golden locks. Thranduil let out a soft sigh, as he listened to Legolas' song.

"Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!

The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;

The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,

And bright are the windows of Night in her tower."

Legolas softly sang the first part of his favourite lullaby. Legolas widely yawned, earning a small smile from Thranduil. Anameleth had arrived as Legolas sang. She had not decided to knock, not wanting to distribute the lovely moment. She softly opened the door and stood there, watching Legolas battle his own weariness.

"Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!

Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!" Legolas yawned again.

"The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;

Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting."

Legolas had continued even slower and softer, now that he blinked rapidly, fighting to stay awake and finish the song.

"Sing we now softly, and dreams let us weave him!

Wind him in slumber and there let us leave him!

The wanderer sleepeth. Now soft be his pillow!

Lullaby! Lullaby! Alder and Willow!

Sigh no more Pine, till the wind of the morn!

Fall Moon! Dark be the land!

Hush! Hush! Oak, Ash, and Thorn!

Hushed be all water, till dawn is at hand!"

Anameleth softly sang as she walked to Thranduil's bed and gently gathered Legolas in her arms. She pulled away a stray hair from Thranduil's face. He was already deep asleep, his eyes closed and breathing deep. With Legolas safely cradled in her arms and the king asleep, she finished the song.

"Time to put you to bed, penneth." She softly said before she turned to leave. Legolas let out a soft sigh as he relaxed in Anameleth's arms, and let sleep finally overtake him.

-AN/ The verse used: Elvish Lullaby from The fellowship of the Ring- J.R.R. Tolkien.-

Dictionary:

Suilad - Informal greeting

Nana - Naneth - Mother

Ada/Adar - Father

ion-nin - My Son

Aran-nin - My king

Hannon-le - Thank you

Hîr - Lord

Saes - Please

Caun-nin - My Prince

Penneth - Little one