It was late at night, and the stars shone through the treetops, and through the windows in the palace. Legolas was sitting against a wall down near Gollum's cell, bow in hand but not strung. The Elf had volunteered to do guard duty that night, for the chance to watch Gollum some more and think about things that kept him awake at night. Legolas watched as Gollum crept around the cell, alternately mumbling and glancing at the Elf. Finally Gollum went to the back of the cell, glaring at Legolas, and then the creature went to sleep on the small cot.

Legolas ran his hands along the long bow, thought and dream blending together. He was startled out of his reverie to find that he had been staring straight ahead for some time without knowing it. Such is the way with elves; it is a waking sleep for them. Gollum was standing up, hands against the bars, making faces at the Elf once again, and talking to himself. Legolas watched and something occurred to him. Gollum was not that tall. He stood at the height of… a Halfling? Eager to find out more on his discovery, Legolas sat up more, and began to talk to Gollum.

"Where are you from, Gollum?" the prince asked directly.

"Funny elves mustn't know. It's not their business," replied Gollum, turning his back to Legolas. The creature made a face as the Elf asked if he was a Halfling. After a few more minutes of questioning, and getting no absolute answers, Gollum started howling loudly as if he was being tortured. Legolas winced, and got to his feet. The terrible noise would wake many of the inhabitants in the castle. A guard came trotting down the stairs.

"Would you like me to take over, Prince Legolas?"

Legolas nodded in reply, picking up his bow and going back up the stairs.

Legolas was busy pestering his father with questions, mainly on the subject of halflings, just before the start of a council meeting. Thranduil took his seat at the head of the table, shaking his head at the prince, who was trying to weasel out the true answer of if his father had ever met a Halfling.

"Take your seat, Legolas," said the king, "To answer your question once and for all, yes, I have met a Halfling. Now keep silent."

Legolas opened and closed his mouth, stopping himself from asking more on the subject. The slow, boring voices started droning, and almost automatically Legolas sat frozen, eyes staring straight ahead, not listening or paying attention for the most part, but wrapped up in his own thoughts.

"Legolas. LEGOLAS!" The prince nearly jumped out of his seat. It was Thranduil calling him, and casting a stern glance his way. "Listen," said the king warningly as some boring reports were shown by one of the other elves.

The Elf prince shifted in his seat, nodding at something another elf was asking him. Legolas' gaze wandered to the window where he saw a horse being led out of the stables. Gandalf's horse. The prince badly wanted to run out of the meeting to bid the wizard farewell--and perhaps, ask a few more questions.

A few days later, Legolas stood at the base of a tree, watching as the guard cautiously let Gollum crawl up it. The creature giggled and gurgled various things, talking to himself in what seemed a happier tone than any of the Mirkwood elves had ever heard out of him. Legolas watched as Gollum scaled the tree, leaping excitedly from branch to branch and smelling and tasting various things.

"Not too high today," one of the guards shouted. They still had a rope anchoring Gollum's arm, not to mention many weapons with which Legolas himself had given the creature a warning. After a while, Gollum seemed content to sit among the branches, so the prince sat down on the other side of the tree, long knives in hand and his bow by his side, to wait until Gollum was ready to come down.

The elves simply couldn't bear to torture most creatures for long amounts of time; they were merciful to their prisoners, although having a good sense of justice. For that reason, and seeing how miserable Gollum was in his cell, from that day on they allowed Gollum to climb up a tree, sometimes allowing him to feel the wind in his face, and allowed him to walk (or crawl) about the grounds escorted by a few guards. Gollum seemed greatly improved by his daily adventures, but still could turn into the same old nasty creature if Legolas pestered him with too many questions about Halflings.

"I do think the trees and fresh air are doing a world of good for that Gollum, Legolas," Thranduil said as they walked down a hall. Legolas nodded in agreement.

"He has even admitted that he knows something about Halflings," said the prince, "Though he gets upset with me if I ask too much."

"Legolas, I've told you again and again, I do not want you to bother anyone about that subject. Your time will come to see for yourself, soon enough, my son," the king replied, turning the corner. Legolas continued walking down the hall on his own, realizing that his father had admitted to letting Legolas go to Rivendell in the coming months.

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