AN: Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter, I really appreciate it! So to answer your questions, at the end of last/start of this chapter Thranadir looks like a one/two year old but his mind is far more advanced in the sense that although he cannot talk, he can understand to the level of say a three/four year old what is going on. This is what I personally think elflings would be like as elves are generally more adept than humans.
SpectralWolf3344, I dedicate this chapter to you, mellon.
Paddington Bear, hmm well I guess we shall have to wait and see what he is like and if you get your wish…
Legolas POV
The hour had grown very late as the Prince remained sitting protectively on the sofa next to his wife, son and Fin-galad. Quite content and deep in his thoughts, he had not really noticed the time passing until he had glanced out of the tall open window of their handsome chamber and seen the stars of Varda shining at their zenith. Legolas turned his gaze away from the window on his left and looked to his side where Fin-galad's young legs poked out from under a deep green embroidered blanket. The little chestnut elf had fallen into his waking dreams upon Tauriel's lap, with Thranadir likewise curled up next to him. Legolas gently extricated himself so that he was standing and tucked in those little feet and then reached over and kissed his son's silver locks. He smelt pleasantly of new leaves through the rain. Looking up, he saw that Tauriel had also leaned back onto the sofa into a relaxed position. Legolas felt very privileged to see this relaxed, untroubled side to Tauriel. Few ever saw the battle-hardened Captain completely off guard with her defences lowered.
My warrior Princess.
A lock of silky auburn hair had fallen in front of her face as she breathed deeply and evenly in her dreams, causing her silky green undershirt to subtly rise up and down. One of her slender arms was around Fin-galad in her lap, the other entwined in Thranadir's silver locks. Moving silently, Legolas moved to Tauriel and tucked her hair behind her ear before gently kissing the crown of her head. He caught one breath of the scent of sun-kissed petals, making him feel light-headed although not in a bad way.
He moved to his grand elm desk and settled down to compose a letter to his Father, penning briefly all that had occurred and enquiring after the King and the kingdom. He tapped the quill feather absently against the desk envisioning how nice it would be when Thranduil could receive letters from Thranadir. He turned to look at his sleeping silver son and put a hand over his heart.
I cannot wait to share our kingdom with you, my ionneg.
Fin-galad grew increasing restless during the week he stayed with Legolas and Tauriel. The few times Tauriel or Legolas took him to see his Mother and Father in the healing wing, the little elf would have a nervous breakdown at the sight of Serilla's unconscious body, despite assurances that she would awake anytime now. Legolas and Tauriel had quickly decided to stop these excursions and so they had been trying to distract Fin-galad by other means. Legolas knew that Éowyn had been encouraging Elboron and Eldarion to visit Fin-galad more often to play with him but despite his friend's efforts, Fin-galad more often than not turned them down, choosing instead to watch Tauriel practise with her daggers or have Legolas teach him to fletch arrows. Legolas had noticed that Fin-galad appeared to be trying to have as little contact with mortals as possible, with the exception of Gimli. It seemed, like his Father, Fin-galad could not deny his curiosity about dwarven weaponry.
'Why do you not wish to go with Elboron and Eldarion? The three of you used to be near inseparable?' Tauriel asked as Fin-galad had sulkily closed their chamber door on Elboron once again.
The little ellon turned from the door to face Tauriel's question and Legolas was slightly alarmed when he reached up to scrub away a tear. Fin-galad had the appearance of a six-year old mortal according to Faramir and in height he reached Tauriel's hip. His long chestnut hair hung neatly to just below his shoulders over his maroon robes.
'Well?' Tauriel waited for an answer although her features were more concerned than annoyed as she potted a willow sapling destined for Queen Arwen's baby daughter, Arthoniel.
'They are not like me.' Came the quiet reply and Legolas' suspicions were confirmed.
Legolas and Tauriel exchanged a look. 'What do you mean by that, little one?' asked Legolas.
'They are human. Elboron and Eldarion are getting bigger and older than me although I am actually older than Elboron. It confuses me that they are so similar to me but age faster. It scares me.' He looked away to where Thranadir was playing with a wooden elk toy, happily waving it around his head.
Tauriel frowned. 'Yes, they are mortal but that does not mean you should discount them from your life. They are both still young boys and they have been good friends to you. You owe them the same loyalty and respect. Some of Legolas' and my greatest friends are mortal.'
'Goheno nin. I will make it up to them.' The little ellon replied somewhat sulkily as he slunk past Tauriel to pick up a book of sindarin tales from the table she was working at to read to Thranadir.
Legolas secretly did not blame Fin-galad, for he also felt his throat constrict when he counted new grey hairs on his friend's heads.
I would never regret being their friend though. Aragorn and Gimli have saved my life countless times.
Still, it was hard to convey that to a young elfling whose greatest worry was deciding whether to play outside or inside.
So far, the most successful distraction method was encouraging Fin-galad to teach Thranadir his first words. Much to Legolas' pleasure Fin-galad absolutely adored rising to the challenge to teach the young Prince his words, with a lot of help from Legolas and Tauriel.
Tauriel POV
On the seventh day since the stampede, a messenger arrived at their chambers to inform them that Serilla had awoken and Ranadir had sent for Fin-galad.
Fin-galad was unusually silent as Tauriel walked with him to the healing wing. Legolas had decided that it would be best if he stayed behind with Thranadir so as to not overcrowd Serilla so soon after she had awoken.
Fin-galad hesitated outside Serilla's room. Tauriel reached down and took his hand.
'Your parents await you on the other side, Fin-galad.'
'But what if Naneth is not well still? I…I cannot.'
'Your Naneth is awake and asking for you, Fin-galad, and your Ada misses you.' She soothed.
Fin-galad glanced at Tauriel and nodded before opening the door.
'Fin-galad?' A soft voice emanated from Serilla who was propped up on pillows looking rather pale but otherwise hale.
'Naneth!' Fin-galad had dropped Tauriel's hand and ran forward to embrace his Mother who smiled serenely and stroked his hair.
'I am here too, ionneg!' Ranadir smirked from where he stood next to Serilla's bed. The chair behind him held deep impressions, like someone had sat there for a very long time.
Fin-galad extricated himself from his Mother and turned around.
'I missed you too, Ada.' Ranadir gratefully accepted the hug his son gave him before moving to embrace Tauriel.
'How do you feel, Serilla?' She asked the healer as Fin-galad moved back to sit next to his Mother.
'I feel a bit…well dazed and weak.' She caressed Fin-galad's chestnut locks. 'That is to be expected though, after all, I think I was kicked in the head.' Serilla scrunched up her nose at the unpleasant thought.
'Well, I am just glad that you are awake and on the mend!'
'We all are, little Tauriel.' Ranadir added with a smile.
Tauriel kissed Serilla's cheek, afraid to touch her more than that just yet. 'I will go and tell Legolas. He is waiting with Thranadir, he will be so happy that you will be well again!'
She turned to the door but was stopped by a small hand taking her own. She looked down questioningly at Fin-galad who blushed at his boldness. 'Hannon le, for looking after me, hiril vin, both you and Prince Legolas.' From the corner of her eye, Tauriel saw Ranadir beam a proud look at Serilla.
Tauriel squeezed his hand back. 'You are most welcome little warrior. You were very brave. Now go be with your family.'
Legolas was indeed happy and relieved and they spent time together talking of how lucky they had been before Legolas had to leave for his duties.
Legolas had gone out on a patrol with Aragorn and Gimli that evening so Tauriel was practicing battle stances in their chambers with Thranadir playing nearby on his green blanket.
'Naneth.'
Tauriel turned from practising her fighting stances. Thranadir had toddled over to her clutching his little wooden elk that Legolas had carved for him many moons ago. He was beaming up at her and had the elk outstretched in his little hand. Tauriel crouched down to his height and smiled at the offering.
Did I hear him correctly? Did Thranadir say his first word?
'Naneth!' He repeated the word more confidently and Tauriel laughed as Thranadir shuffled forwards and put the elk into her hand. She picked him up and whirled her son around.
'Yes, ionneg! Yes! I am your Naneth you clever little ellon!' She kissed his cheek and held him close. 'Naneth and Ada love you more than anything.'
I cannot wait to tell Legolas Thranadir is talking!
Legolas POV
In time Serilla healed fully and eventually was able to go back to her healing duties. Several years passed and although Fin-galad did spend time with Elboron and Eldarion, it was considerably less than before. As he grew in strength and ability, Thranadir was most definitely becoming Fin-galad's partner in crime. Queen Arwen gave birth again, this time to twin daughters, much to the delight of the Kingdom of Gondor. Legolas thinks that the celebration party lasted an entire week. The copious volume of elven wine Thranduil had sent made everything seem a bit hazy, although he remembers a furious Tauriel finding him, Gimli and Ranadir all wandering aimlessly in the woods singing merrily.
Thranadir grew into an exceptionally handsome young prince, even by elven standards, which Legolas credited entirely to Tauriel's fiery beauty shining through his sindarin stature.
One afternoon, Legolas ambled to the flowering fields where he knew Tauriel had taken Thranadir on a walk with Adrahin and he caught sight of her teaching their son to weave garlands out of the late summer flowers, the white stallion happily munching grass nearby. They greeted him happily as he approached and Legolas inspected the garland of small but bright yellow blooms bound around Thranadir's head.
'Well ionneg, I see you have found a crown worthy of rivalling King Thranduil's!'
Legolas bent down conspiratorially and lowered his voice. 'Do not tell him I told you so, however.'
Thranadir laughed in that innocent way young elflings had before turning to look at Tauriel and frowning slightly.
'Naneth is the Princess. Wait, she needs a crown too, Ada!' Thranadir picked up the crown of slightly clumsy blue flowers that he had managed to create a circlet of and stood to place it upon his Naneth's bowed head.
Tauriel sat regally upon the grass to show off her son's skills and Legolas grinned as the sun caught her hair and set it glimmering with its light.
No crown could match her beauty.
He could not help himself, he was so happy. Legolas pulled Thranadir onto Tauriel's lap and before the Captain could do more than grab her son, Legolas had scooped them both up into his arms.
'Ada!' Thranadir cried in joy as Legolas spun them both around, holding Tauriel against his chest under her shoulders and knees.
Tauriel laughed and her crown of blue flowers slipped down across her forehead. 'Legolas!'
'Faster Ada!' Thranadir cried from where he hung around Legolas' neck and perched upon Tauriel's waist.
Legolas obliged his son and span on the grass faster, one final time before tumbling them all onto the soft earth.
Legolas lay panting with Tauriel sprawled across his chest as Thranadir sprang up laughing from between his parent's limbs. Legolas tried to pull him back down for a hug but Thranadir dodged his arms and jumped free still laughing. They watched as he bounded off to go and sprint around Adrahin and weave between his tall white legs. Thranadir draped his crown of yellow flowers over Adrahin's ear causing him to whicker curiously. The young stallion played back with the elfling, carefully dodging and blowing air at the young elf, nuzzling him when he got too close.
Legolas grinned as his heart swelled with love for his son. He laughed along with Thranadir as Adrahin pranced and flicked his tail, just managing to stay out of Thranadir's reach.
Legolas suddenly thought how nice it would be to have two little elflings running and dancing with the horse and each other.
He turned his head to find Tauriel watching him with a shrewd expression and a small smile at the corner of her lips.
'I want another one too, Legolas.'
AN: As always, please follow and review! x