Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings story and characters do not belong to me. You can thank Tolkien for that.

Legolas is 9 human years old. I'm not sure what the elven equivalent would be. The age factor slightly confuses me. This is Thranduil's family oldest to youngest.

Thranduil

Anariel

Aranhil

Thalion

Gwestiel

Idhrenion

Elarinya

Legolas

Chapter 2

Later in the day when Legolas was away in lessons with his tutor, Elarinya went to the library to relax and read a book. As she entered she saw her twin brother Idhrenion inside reading as well. She went to go sit next to him. "How are you, muindor?" she asked him.

"I am well, muinthel." he answered without looking up from his book. He had just settled down and was slightly annoyed at the interruption. "Are you well?" he asked Elarinya. He glanced at her and then saw something wasn't right. He could sense some hidden emotion in her eyes. The grey orbs were seemingly clouded over in despair. 'What troubles you, Elarinya?" he questioned grabbing her hands. She was lost in her thoughts. "Elarinya!" he exclaimed. She snapped to attention.

"What!" she exclaimed coming off rude and cold to her brother. She realized how she sounded and quickly apologized. "I am sorry, Ren," she said using the old nickname, "it is not you. I am concerned for our little brother and Adar."

"What is so alarming? They have been the same for years and we can't expect anything to change now." he told her.

"How could you say that!" Elarinya nearly shouted. "Why is everyone losing hope. We cannot give up on them. I just want my family back. Why can no one see we are losing Legolas. He is slipping farther and farther from my reach daily and no one else even tries with him. He needs the care only a parent provides and we can't rely on Adar for it. I fear the worst. He is going to fade if we don't do something. I fear Adar is fading as well. I just want the days back when our halls were filled with laughter and joy. Nana would never have wanted things like this she would want us to stay strong and be happy. Why can't Adar remember how she always told us to stay a family if anything happened. I want my siblings back! I want my Ada back! But mostly I want Nana!" Elarinya started sobbing. Idhrenion's heart broke seeing his sister break down like this. She was always so closed off with her emotions and didn't let anyone see her. Idhrenion couldn't do anything, but hold her as she cried. He didn't realize that he had shed a few tears himself. Eventually both siblings were sobbing for all they had lost.

At the door to the library Aranhil and his Adar had frozen. They had been walking down the hall after the meeting and discussing plans when they both heard the sobs. Aranhil had run towards the sound and his Adar had tentatively followed. The sight had shattered Aranhil's heart. He was so used to everyone being strong and putting up barriers to avoid emotion. Then things got even worse when he heard what Elarinya was saying. He worried for his Adar who had heard everything.

Thranduil couldn't breathe. He felt as if his heart had stopped when he was his children and heard their words. He couldn't bear to see them so broken. This was his fault. He had done this, but he didn't know how to fix it. He couldn't believe that his greenleaf could possibly be fading. He was his last gift from his beloved Anariel. This couldn't happen. He had to get away. He started hastily down the hall away from the broken sobs. "Ada!" Aranhil called from behind. Thranduil ignored and continued on his way. Aranhil felt despair again. He had almost thought huis Adar was going to do something, but he was just as cold and emotionless as before.

Aranhil sighed. They had a long journey before they could be a family again. He wanted more than anything to save everyone from this hell they seemed to be trapped in. Aranhil looked back at his siblings one last time before heading on. He wanted to let them grieve in their own way without intrusion. He quickly went to find his Adar and continue their planning.

Elarinya and Idhrenion calmed down eventually. They sat in silence, arms still wrapped around each other both lost in their thoughts or memories. The silence was comforting for them. Finally Idhrenion spoke, "Come, Inya. Let us go for a walk among the gardens. You used to spend all your time out here with Naneth." Elarinya nodded and put her arm through her brother's as they headed out. They strolled around in the peacefulness fro a while. A sense of calm came over them.

Suddenly, Elarinya whispered to her brother "Let's get out of the palace." He nodded knowing exactly what she was thinking. They both followed a path they had discovered years ago that let them avoid all guards. They came to the entrance to their cove. It was impossible to find unless you had been there before like the twins. They entered the cove and felt a strong sense of sadness which was unlike this place. It was also alarmingly quiet.

"This silence is unnatural. I don't like it." Elarinya said. She walked over to the trees and placed her hand on one of them. She and her siblings had always been able to seemingly communicate with the trees and sense them. It was had come from their Naneth and was natural to them, but always threw others off when they saw it. She felt to life in the trees. This couldn't be happening her Naneth had put her life into the life of the forest and what little light it still had. She had always sensed the oncoming darkness and never let it take away what she treasured.

Elarinya's heart broke. The silence was heart-breaking. She had to fix this somehow. "Do you remember our adventures we had down here as elflings?" she asked Idhrenion.

"Of course, how could I forget the trouble we used to cause." he answered starting to grin.

…

"Idhrenion, let's play! Come on!" Elarinya exclaimed pulling her brother's arm. She was nearly jumping up and down.

"I'm coming. I'm coming." he said laughing at his sister's expression of impatience.

Elarinya suddenly darted out of the room. "Catch me if you can!" she shouted back to her brother giggling. Idhrenion and her squealed with laughter as they ran along. They weaved through the maze of hallways and carefully avoided all sharp turns still laughing with delight. The elves in the hallways dashed out of the way to avoid the rambunctious twins. Suddenly, they turned a corner and were stopped by strong hands. They looked up and saw the smiling faces of their parents. "Nana! Ada!" they both exclaimed.

"Well, if it isnt the craziest elflings in the whole world." said their Ada smiling.

"I think they need to be taught a lesson about running in these halls." their Nana said smiling at her husband.

"I agree." he said. Then they both started tickling the twins mercilessly. They squealed with delight as their parents laughed. They finally stopped and kissed them both. "Go, let out this energy outside." Ada said sending them on their way. They laughed the whole way outside to Naneth's gardens.

"Let's go the cove!" Elarinya suggested, Idhrenion knew they weren't supposed to go without someone older, but decided to ignore the rules anyways. Despite being so loud at times, the twins were also known for being extremely stealthy and hard to find if they wanted. The snuck to the edge of the woods and climbed up into one of the trees. The jumped around until they came to the cove. "We found it!" Elarinya said. "We can never tell anyone about the path we discovered." she announced to Idhrenion. He agreed.

"We can swim." Idhrenion suggested. Elarinya nodded eagerly. They ran towards the water not caring that they were fully dressed and jumped in. They swam and splashed each other for what felt like ages. They had exhausted themselves. They climbed out of the water and laid down against a tree. They could hear the trees whispering to each other in excitement. They talked until they could barely keep their eyes open.

At this point, the sun had settled and the moon was illuminating the cove. "We have to go back." Idhrenion said yawning. He knew their family had to be extremely worried. "Come on, Inya." he said to his sister. He glanced to her and saw she was fast asleep. He sighed. He was also very tired, but didn't want to get in trouble and face Adar's anger. He gave in and settled down next to Elarinya and they fell into a peaceful sleep. The tree they were laying against seemed to laugh at the elflings and made sure to protect them until morning.

…

"That was great fun!" Elarinya said smiling fondly at the memory. "Nana and Adar tried so hard to be mad at us, but couldn't stop laughing and smiling. Though we were confined to the inside for a long time.

"Those were the best days of our lives, Elarinya. I wish Legolas could have had a childhood like the rest of us. It's not fair he's burdened with all this darkness and the lack of loving parents. I know Adar loves him, but he wont show it." Idhrenion said sadly.

"We have to work together to bring back Legolas and Ada. I won't rest until its done. He needs to remember happiness and how to laugh and smile." Elarinya said with new found determination.

"Aye, I agree. We'll bring our family back to the light and the trees will be able to sing again." Idhrenion answered.

With this notion in place, they both leaned back against the same tree they had all those years ago. Elarinya rested her head against Idhrenion's shoulder and they drifted into a peaceful sleep. The tree could feel the love coming from the sleeping twins and couldn't wait to be able to sing for them again.

I'm still nervous posting my stories, but I'm glad people are liking them! It's so weird typing it up in my head its super long but when written its surprisingly short. I'm working unmaking the chapters longer not to successfully though.