Feast Preparation

Thanks to SmileyXs Ice-Cream Sprinkles for being the first to favorite along with EnixSkye for being the first to follow. Thanks to Eleneryn Thranduiliel, duckreb, robynbateman for also following.

Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien. This is for fun and practice.

~ o0o ~

The Halls were positively brimming with life, servants were milling about arranging things to perfection, cooks hurrying about cooking and baking in abundance the various smells intertwining to create a mouthwatering aroma that drifted out into the halls, tickling many noses. An air of excitement buzzed in every corner of the stronghold, whispers passed between the elves anticipation for the many delights that were to come I the evening. This was after all the Autumn Feast, one of the most festive events of the year, where they would feast and merry-make under their beloved stars. Even with their high spirits they did not tarry, they still had their duties to attend to and they were not exempt from them even with the upcoming feast. That was fine for them, they were elves, and they were perhaps the most patient of races.

"Is it almost time now?"

However, like all races, their children could be the most impatient of all.

"Not until anor has almost left the sky, then it shall begin."

A small huff of breath escaped the Prince's mouth at the answer but he did not complain as other children might have, instead he turned his attention to his current activity. A small piece of charcoal was held in his small hand, faint smudges of black and grey evident on his white skin, of which he paid no mind to. His nanny however did, and knew that a bath would be in order later. Ignorant of this, the child continued on drawing his eyebrows knit in concentration, striving for perfection.

Tegaladwen could only watched her charge with amused affection, her young Prince was always so endearing even when he was not actively trying to be. When he was trying he was much too adorable to deny, so much so that he could often sweep over away on an imagined adventure with no complaints. At least the one he had dragged with him, many others – mostly those left to clean up – complained about the resulting trouble he always managed to cause. Thankfully it was only for those who were on trouble themselves, or had been sent to teach them a lesson so they were ignored more often than not. Though it always amused Tegaladwen how many Elven-Lords and Ladies crumbled at Legolas's wide eyes, no one was immune, not even the Elven-King. He was perhaps the one most affected by it, and none could blame him for giving in, but even more applauded him when he soldiered through if Legolas deserved a punishment. He was a good father not a spoiling one, he wanted the best for them and if that included having to be strict every now and again then so be it.

She respected him for it, she too knew how hard it was to resist, but she also had to admire her Prince's cleverness. He was unpredictable and he had slipped away from her when he was younger, before he had become fond of her. As one of the child's primary caretakers one would think that she would have a better understanding of how his mind and thoughts. Children, despite what many thought, were actually quite complex, their minds making connections and conclusions that an adult mind would find absurd or impossible. Children had such a large imagination and such creativity that adults no longer had, it was difficult to predict the actions for a mortal child. An elven child was infinitely more difficult. Their minds matured much more quickly than their mortal counterparts, but even if they could understand what mortal children could not they still had the personality of a child. Their judgement was often ignored for fun and enjoyment, the child may be elven but they were still a child, needing the guidance and love of a parent.

"I completed it! Would you like to see?"

Bright eyes looked up at her all but shining with earnestly. A smile lit his entire face as she carefully took his drawing and looked upon it with seriousness. Her admiration and complements was no lie or exaggeration. Legolas was gifted in capturing the life when he drew making it breathtakingly beautiful to any who saw his work. This one was no different and she was sure if he ever decided to become a maker of art instead of a warrior, as was his current wish, he would have no shortage of requests.

"Do you think Ada will like it?"

There was apprehension hidden in his sweet voice, he always wished to give only his best to his family, anything less was not acceptable. He should not worry even if he had not been gifted with making art, his brothers and father would have treasured it all the same. She said it not for her Prince only wanted reassurance, which she gave him, assuring him that King Thranduil would love it. A warm feeling blossomed in the Nanny's heart as she was answered with a blinding smile, dimples making the child's face that much more adorable.

She returned his smile with a soft, loving one before she shooed him away, "You may go play as your lessons have ended for the day. Do not go making trouble, everyone is rather busy with the last preparations for the feast. Understood?"

Legolas was quick to agree, excitably leaving his chambers off to look for a playmate.

Alone now, Tegaladwen took a small moment of peace, before she determinedly went to prepare her Prince's outfit for the feast. She would need to find his circlet, the right robe, the appropriate flowers, and prepare him a bath.

Now, where has he hidden his formal clothes?

~ o0o ~

The Elven-King's library, while not as vast as the one from Imaldris, was still very impressive with its extensiveness. Shelves upon shelves were filled with all manner of books, scrolls, tomes and maps that one could hardly see the walls. Plush chairs and sturdy tables placed statistically around for whomever decided to visit that particular day. The library itself was never cloaked in darkness, on the contrary it was lit with the natural light of the sun and moon making the room seems aglow.

The Library was a calming placed, somewhere one could read and just be in total tranquility. It was for that very reason that Calamaethor adored it so, from the smell of parchment and aged books to the total silence, making it one of his favorite places of the palace. It was here that he went when he could spare a moment for peace, rare though it was.

He did not complain over his workload, for he loved being a healer and his people and he would do anything required of him. If it meant that he had little time for himself he did not mind, he was well used to it. He was only glad that he was not the Crown Prince or the King, they had even less time than he. At times he was bitter over it, more so when he was younger always wondering why he had to study so much when others his age did not, but he had come to understand his duties as he grew. It had made him appreciate the time he did have for himself, and the time he had with his family altogether was precious.

A sharp wave of grief hit Calamaethor when his mind traitorously reminded him that not all of his family was with him. Oropher, Arbellason, and Laivelithaniel were no longer with them and it burned something inside him that he would not see them until he reached Valinor. His missed them, longed for things that had once been possible, Oropher's strong – yet gentle – embraces as he told them tales of his youth. His oldest brother's kind eyes as he played with them, making time for his younger brothers between all his duties. His mother's smile and laughter, her steady presence when they asked where were Grandfather and Arbellason. Her death perhaps devastated him the most, no matter how horrible he felt at the thought, her departure had hit them the hardest. With the Elven-Queen's departure a wave of grief engulfed the kingdom, leaving her husband and elder two sons but shells of their former selves. It had taken much for them to even begin recovering, their spirits having been brought low.

In the end their concern for their youngest member – he had been little more than a babe – and their duty for their people had given them a purpose, some thing that had distracted them for a time. The wound would never truly heal, it may scab over and scared, but they could once more find joy where before there was none.

Though it would always sadden him that his only younger sibling would never know their mother. Legolas was too young at the time to know what was going on, being only the young age of three, he had not understood where Naneth had gone asking daily when she was coming back. Until his inquiries faded and he remembered less and less of her, then his only memories of her being a vague remembrance of her face and a lullaby she sung to him. It was one of the reasons that they pushed passed the grief to speak of her, they wanted Legolas to know her if he could not remember her.

"Calamaethor, Is there something bothering you?"

Pushing away his thoughts of the past – it was difficult, many elves could get lost in time and memories – he turned towards the voice.

Blue eyes, identical to his own, were watching him in concern. It almost made him huff I n amusement Taurvantian was ever a worrier, quick to wrap you up if you seemed even the slightest bit, but he meant well. For that reason alone he endured his brother's worries and protectiveness.

"You should not worry brother, I was simply reminiscing. Though I will admit that I am feeling cautious…I hope there will be no difficulties later."

At Taurvantian's puzzled look, Calamaethor resisted rolling his eyes – a prince did not roll one's eyes, even as he was tempted to do so daily – honestly his elder brother could be so dense at times.

"Have you honestly forgotten what happened last year to our younger brother? While it was mildly amusing, I will admit, Adar looked ready to free someone's head from their shoulders."

Understanding was clear on the Crown Prince's face before he winced as he recalled last year's .. activities. A faint smile, however, broke through giving hum a rather odd expression. It has his younger brother inwardly snorting, outwardly his expression stayed much the same cold yet tranquil.

"Ah, that, yes that I remember. I had actually managed to forget, or rather purposely forgot, and I was glad to. It might have been amusing, at least for us, Adar on the other hand was furious. It almost made me pity the poor elves, they deserved their punishment full of wine or not, they are only lucky that Legolas recalls none of it."

"What do I not recall?"

Honey-hued hair whipped through the air as the owner almost violently turned to set his wide eyes upon his youngest brother. Who only stared up at him with wide questioning eyes from his place behind his chair. Legolas would not get his answer as Taurvantian only stared at him uncomprehending.

"How did you manage to sneak up on me!?"

Soft silvery laughter came from Calamaethor as he walked past his seated brother and stooped low to pick up his only younger sibling.

"An elven-warrior caught off his guard? My you really must start training more, especially if our honeg managed to startle you."

Turning away from his flushed brother, to turn to the innocent face of the other. Gifting the younger with a smile that was so very rare outside his family, the elf-child beamed back unaware once more of The Incident from the previous festivities.

"Was there something specific that you were searching for 'las? I would not mind helping you if you need it."

More so when I remember you trying to climb up the shelves to reach a book.

That had give Beridhren, a rather young library aide, quite a fright more so when he saw who it was climbing ever higher from the ground. The young – in his twenties at the time – Prince had been given a stern talking to and his dessert was withheld fro him for two days. For all that elflings mentally matured faster they were still very much children with all the mischief and worry that they inflicted on their elders. Legolas may have outgrown his need to climb everything but had now entered his independent phase, where he insisted he could do everything by himself.

They were all dreading his adolescent ages … wagers were already placed on who would lock their Prince in his room 'for his safety' first. Unsurprisingly Thranduil was in the lead.

"No, my studies were ended earlier as my tutors are busy for the night's feast. I was looking for someone to play with but everyone is too busy. I've visited the stables and talked with Ada's elk, and helped the cooks make tarts but they said they needed to make more complicated food and I left. Would you like to play with me?"

Green eyes looked into his own with hope, he loved those eyes even as they pained him to stare into them. The same was true for his father, and at times, his older brother.

The healer did not let this show on his face, it remained as impassive as ever, even as he denied being able to play with the child. His heart constricted at the utterly disappointed look – but he truly had no time his small break was almost over – instead he suggested Legolas ask if Tegaladwen if she would play with him.

Legolas merely nodded as he was set on his feet, silently leaving the library. His elder brothers watched him, their eyes unwavering in their intensity, their last sight of him being his golden hair as he rounded a corner of shelves.

~ o0o ~

Legolas very much disliked having to wear such formal clothing, if it had been a tunic and leggings he would not have minded overmuch, for at least then he would be able to run and climb freely. Instead he was fitted into a silk green robe, his golden hair was free from his usual braids and was twined with flowers – most being white – with a small circlet sat on his brow. The small elfling looked every inch an Elven-Prince – but he cared not for the clothing felt constrictive and there was no comfort wearing them.

He said nothing of his feelings for he was old enough to understand what was expected of him during these events. He dearly loved attending the Autumn Feast though he wished he could wear something less lavish for them, he'd much rather be it his favored green and brown garb he normally wore. In these events, however, he was a Prince first and must look like one.

So he endured, even ignoring his Nanny's cooing over him that was the other reason he disliked dressing like this. Everyone was always commenting over how 'pretty' and 'endearing' he looked. He disliked the attention and he wished they would cease voicing their comments.

"Come along my Prince, we do not wish to keep your father waiting."

Obediently following the elleth out of his bedchambers he was greeted to the sight of his elder brothers. Both were dressed similarly to their brother, with only a few differences between each.

As it was the Autumn Feast they were donned in their more simple formal attire. Each wore a green robe, Legolas' being the lightest and Calameathor's being the darkest, and though they looked simple they were made from silk and rippled with every step they took. Green gems circled the throats of the elder two, contrasting with their white skin. Flowers were twined in their loose hair, blue and purple were vibrant in Calameathor's silver locks, orange and green graced Taurvantian's honey-coloured hair, white and yellow sat proudly in Legolas's golden tresses. They each wore their circlets, all with leaves cunningly wrought, with the two eldest having a single gem in the center.

The royals had a look of shared suffering before they hid it away and donned their 'Prince' faces. Something that they had cultivated for infuriating diplomats, who even irritated their father daily. If King Thranduil could not stand them, having dealt with more representatives then they had, his sons had little chance of doing so. Tegaladwen smiled at the two older Princes before she bowed and departed, her own brown robe moving softly with her every step.

~ o0o ~

As they entered their sitting room – a mixture of Brown's, greens and whites – they were greeted with the sight of their Adar. Clad in garb identical to his sons with the only differences being that hid robe was layered with different shades of green making it seem to change with every step he took. Red and purple flowers stood out in Thranduil's silver locks, atop of which sat a crown that, like hid sons', had carved leaves with a single green gem in the center. Startling blue eyes swept over them critically, before a look of pride overcame his face.

"My sons, you all look wonderful."

They truly did, his children looked handsome in whatever they wore and he was only thankful that none had objected. He knew they cared not for their more formal wear, but he was glad that they had endured it, if for no other reason than for his approval and that it was required for the feast

"Come. Let me have a closer look at all of you."

Strong slim hands gently straightened Taurvantian's circlet, tucked a few stray strands of hair behind Calameathor's ear and smoothed down the front of Legolas's robe. Lowering himself to his youngest level he gripped his small shoulders as those green eyes looked at him questioningly. Love – and the accompanying pain – was familiar as he gazed into his son's – wife's – eyes with seriousness.

"Now 'las I do not want you to accept, or attempt to sneak, anything from the adult tables. No wandering off alone, and absolutely do not drink any of the wine. Understood?"

"Yes Adar."

Looking over his children one last time, and finding nothing amiss nodded his approval, and as one they left to join the feast.

~ o0o ~

Word Count- 3,109

This one, like my other story, will have elements of both the book and movie. I don't think I'll add Tauriel but who knows maybe I'll change my mind. I'm not really happy with this chapter, I've edited it multiple times and I'm still not happy. Tell me what you all thought, and hopefully my next update will be better. I love feedback and please give constructive criticism.

Thank you to everyone who read this.