Family feeling

"Nay, I do not want you to bring Legolas." Thranduil said, his voice angry, but lacking the usual power.

"Legolas has not seen you in several days. He is very sad and worried." Elrond softly said. Elladan and Elrohir did their best to keep Legolas smiling, but they only could do so much.

"Nay." Thranduil firmly said.

"You know I cannot keep him away for much longer. He loves you Thranduil, that is why he misses you."

"I care not. I do not want him to see me like this." It hurt too much to not be there for Legolas, as well as the reminder of his beloved lady.

"Fine." Elrond sighed. "Then go and try to sleep." Thranduil huffed, but did not reply. It took Thranduil not very long to fall asleep. When Elrond was sure Thranduil would stay asleep, he left him alone and went to Legolas' room.

"Can I go and see ada?" Legolas asked as soon as he saw Elrond.

"I am afraid your ada is asleep now."

"Oh." Legolas said as his face fell. "When can I go and see ada? I really want to see him."

"Goheno nin, Legolas. I do not know." Elrond softly said. "Why don't you go and play with 'Dan and 'Ro?"

"I do not want to play anymore." Legolas softly said. "I want to cuddle with ada." Elrond gently scooped Legolas up and softly hugged him.

"I know your ada's cuddles are much better, but would you mind cuddling with me for a while?" As response buried Legolas his face in the crook of Elrond's neck. Elrond sat down with him and gently rubbed the elfling's back. Elrond felt bad for Legolas. He had to go and take Legolas to him, if he liked it or not. In the meantime, he hoped he could offer Legolas some comfort by simply holding him close.

.

"Shall we go and see if your ada is awake?" Elrond asked when they had finished dinner. "We shall be back soon." Legolas took Elrond's hand as they walked together to Thranduil's room. Elrond knocked before he entered the room, seeing that Thranduil was just awakening. "Good evening, Thranduil." Elrond softly greeted.

"Elrond?" Thranduil asked.

"It is I, aye. I brought Legolas with me."

"How is it that I was not clear to you when I told you not to bring him." Thranduil said with a cold voice.

"Thranduil, just let Legolas give you a hug." Elrond softly said.

"Nay." Thranduil simply refused. Legolas was not supposed to see how weak he felt. "I do not want him here." Legolas looked up at Elrond with his big watery eyes.

"Saes Thranduil."

"Ada?"

"Nay."

"I think we should better go." Elrond softly said as he picked up Legolas. "I am truly sorry, penneth. Wish your ada a good night, Legolas." Elrond held Legolas so that Legolas was able to kiss Thranduil's forehead.

"Good night ada." Legolas whispered while his voice softly quivered, while through the whole time, Thranduil kept glaring at the Imladris healer, not daring to look at his son.

"Good night." Thranduil said before Elrond left the room with Legolas upon his arm. The moment Elrond stepped through the door, tears started to stream over Legolas' cheeks. Both failed to notice that Thranduil's eyes were watery as well.

"Ai, penneth." Elrond softly whispered at a loss for words himself. It was outright rude of Thranduil to send his son away like that. Elrond walked to Legolas' room where he sat down with him on the large chair in one of the corners. He whispered nothings in Legolas' ear as his sobs did not seem to stop. Eventually, Elrond lost track of time as the voice of Anameleth shook him out of his musings.

"Hîr Elrond?" She softly asked.

"Anameleth?" Elrond asked as he remembered where he was.

"What happened?" She softly asked as she looked over Legolas' tear stained face.

"Thranduil sent him away without another glance. He did not allow Legolas to even give him a hug."

"Ai, poor Legolas." Anameleth softly said as she brushed the soft strands of hair out of his face. "Shall I put him to bed? You also have two elflings waiting for you."

"Hannon-le, Anameleth." Elrond offered her a little smile as he stood and carefully handed over a sleeping Legolas.

"Go and tend your elflings." She smiled as she cradled Legolas close to her.

.

It was already late in the morning when Legolas awoke. He rubbed his eyes before he got out of bed and dressed himself as best as he could. If ada does not want me, I will go. Legolas decided as he exited his room and went to his father's room. Legolas did not knock before he opened the door and glanced around. When he found Thranduil deeply asleep and no one there, Legolas quietly went inside. He climbed on the bed and softly kissed Thranduil's brow.

"Goheno nin, I will go now." As response Thranduil let out a soft sigh. Legolas briefly wondered why his ada's eyes were tightly closed before he scrambled off the bed and left the room again. He closed the door before he made it over to the dining hall, in the hope he would find someone there.

"Good morning, penneth." Celebrían greeted when she encountered the little prince in the hallway.

"Suilad." Legolas softly greeted as he walked to the parlor the Peredhel family normally sat in. There he found Elrond with Elladan, Elrohir and a very cheery Arwen. Arwen happily babbled away, happy with the attention she received from her brothers. Elladan and Elrohir sat on both sides of Elrond whose lap was occupied with the babbling bundle. Elrohir giggled as Arwen managed to grab his finger and tightly held on to it.

With a little sad smile Legolas left the parlor without making himself known to them. He returned to his room where he curled up on his bed, hugging elky. It was luckily not long before Anameleth came to check upon her little charge. She found it quite curious that Legolas was fully dressed while he lay on his bed.

"Good morning, Legolas." She softly said, not to startle him. Legolas slowly turned around, showing his tear-stained face to his nanny.

"Ai, Legolas." Anameleth softly said as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Is there anything you want me to do?" Legolas did not move, only the tears came faster down his cheeks. Anameleth gently picked up Legolas and sat him down on her lap.

"I want nana." Legolas managed to choke out between his sobs as Anameleth gently pressed him against her in her embrace. He felt alone, even though he knew he was never truly alone.

"Iston, penneth." Anameleth whispered in his ear as she gently started to rock him, hoping Legolas would calm down a little bit. "I know I am not your nana, but I will be always here for you." Anameleth started to hum a nursery song she knew Legolas liked.

"A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain

Softly blows over Lullaby bay

It fills the sails of boats that are waiting

Waiting, to sail your worries away

It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain

And your boat waits down by the key

The winds of night, so softly are sighing

Soon they will fly your troubles to sea

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain

Wave goodbye, to cares of the day

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain

Sail far away from Lullaby Bay…"

It took Legolas a good half hour before the sobs had turned into sniffles. Anameleth gently wiped away the tears with a handkerchief and let Legolas blow his nose. "Shall we go and have something to drink?"

"Aye." Legolas replied after another sniffle and a shuddery breath. She still tightly held Legolas as she made her way to the kitchens.

"What would you like to drink? Some milk, or tea? Or just some water?"

"Water." Legolas replied. As soon as Anameleth handed him the cup, he drained it quickly.

"You want some more?" She asked with a little smile.

"Saes." After he drained another cup, they went to visit Elladan and Elrohir so Legolas could go and play with them.

"I will go away." Legolas whispered to Elladan and Elrohir as they played in front of the fire.

"Why?" Elladan asked.

"Because ada does not want me here." Legolas said even softer.

"Really?" Elrohir asked confused.

"You can come with me if you want. I will go tonight." Legolas whispered even more softly, afraid that Elrond or Celebrían would hear them.

"You must not go alone. I will come." Elrohir said.

"Then I will come too." Elladan said a little less confident.

"I will come and get you when it is time." Legolas nodded and they all three went back playing with their stuffed animals.

.

"Legolas? Do you really think we should do this?" Elrohir asked as the silently made their way through the empty hallways.

"Ada did not want me." Legolas said while tears shined in his eyes. "He wanted me to go. Now I go."

"Why when it is dark?" Elladan asked. It was easier to go in the light, was it not?

"Because then no one will see us. If you don't want to go, then go back sleeping." Both twins shook their head.

"You are ought not to go alone." Both twins said.

"Then hush now." Legolas whispered as they walked past the servant rooms behind the kitchens. There was a small back door that he discovered when he had decided it was fun to let Anameleth chase him though the palace. Afterwards it had not been very fun since he got lost, but he remembered the way now. They slipped through the servants' door and immediately all three shivered because of the cold. Legolas ignored the cold as much as he could as he crossed the moon lighted courtyard. When they would have been older they would have blessed their elf abilities, so that they would not need to plough through the snow but simply walk over it.

"Where do we go?" Elladan asked when they had reached the tree line on the other side of the courtyard.

"Away." Legolas said as he continued walking, now entering the forest. The branches swayed in the wind and creaked like were complaining. Both twins closely walked together. They had never been in a forest at night, let alone without an adult. Legolas walked in front of them a few paces ahead.

"I do not like this." Elladan whispered after a while.

"Me too." Elrohir nodded while he looked around skittishly as there was yet another rustling noise.

"I think we should rest now." Legolas said when slowly the sky lightened in the east. They had walked over a path for quite a while before Legolas had decided that someone could easily see them if they were on the path, so they left it. For another while, Legolas sought his way through the threes, not sure where he would go. Dawn was near, as well as the discovery of their disappearance. Legolas climbed on a low hanging branch, helped by the tree it's self when it moved to hang a bit lower, so Legolas could reach it more easily. Once he was settled, he helped 'Dan and 'Ro on the branch as well. Elladan and Elrohir had climbed on threes. Back in Imladris, but usually a big elf would stand below so if anything happened they could get out without getting hurt. Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir sat close together against the trunk. Here they tried to nap for a little while, before Legolas decided to continue. Elladan and Elrohir had barely being able to take a little rest, as they were not so much on their ease in trees like Legolas was. Legolas had heard the slow whispers from the three they had climbed. He mostly heard snores, for the tree like bears would sleep most of the winter. No nice tree story. Legolas thought when he tried to make contact with other trees, but they seemed to be asleep as well. So they continued, slowly but steadily.

-A/N So I have a little thing planned for the end of the story as you might have guessed by now. I know this chapter was kind of sad, and it reflects a bit of my feeling I get when celebrating the holidays… Enough of that! The song I used, as I remember correctly, it came from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It is called Hushaby Mountain and I do not owe it or anything. I simply thought it fitted well as a reference to Ered Luin, as well as the desire to sail to Valinor. Okay so this author's note is getting way too long… Have a great day! Thank you for reviewing!-

Dictionary:

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Ada/Adar - Father

Penneth - Little one

Suilad - Informal greeting

Nana/Naneth - Mother

Iston - I know

Hannon-le - Thank you

Hîr - Lord

Saes - Please