Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

Warning: Legolas and Xena's son has not been named yet. I am open to suggestions. Let the best elfish name win!

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ CIX: What once was... Now is! ~

Imladris, 3021, September 29th

In the days that followed, Legolas, Xena, Gimli, and the unnamed son travelled toward Imladris in order to gather Xena's belongings and return to Ithilien, as said. Xena and Legolas had not spoken with one another since their discussion in Mithlond. Gimli and the newborn were the only sources of sound on the long voyage. Perhaps it was an attempt at vanity, but neither of them would have been near as interested in initiating a new conversation if they had not been so obsessed with their confusion. Each of them was thinking about new worlds they had created and anticipating potentially undesirable outcomes.

Prior to this, Xena had seen that the father of her son no longer braided his long hair and wore it lose the bulk of the time. Although he still carried his bow, quiver, and knives, he secured them against Ador most of the time. The colour he wore, a mixture of silver and grey, was the most exquisite combination of hues and textures she had ever encountered. Legolas's mind was wandering as he contemplated his son and his new identity as a parent, despite the fact that he seemed to be in good shape. Up until now, he had only seen the infant from a distance, fearing to approach him or his mother.

The tale of fatherhood was about every paragraph and word, not just the last page. It was about how feelings of love, protection, joy, and appreciation for the present were communicated. If he did not do that, if he did not care about the words, the book would manage itself. And for the last year and a half, he had missed his son's development. For this reason, he was still angry with her, but his surprise at having a son prevented him from approaching her.

The elf would sometimes whisper a few words to his horse, which would then listen, and they would modify their direction. Once they were close to Imladris, they set up camp and intended to resume their trek the next morning. It was the first time they had stayed more than three hours in one area, but they felt safe since they were on the outskirts of Imladris.

Xena sat in the shade of a tree under a tree trunk while embracing her son to protect him from everything and everyone. Though her urge to be held was greater than her son's, she was unable to think straight since his aroma stayed so near to her.

Gimli, exhausted from the long hours of riding after Legolas, was already sound asleep next to her. Even though the dwarf and elf had participated in several adventures together, the dwarf was unable to adjust to galloping behind Ador and preferred to go on foot. Now he was asleep and enjoying the tranquilly of the surrounding woods as well as the sound of the nearby river.

Legolas walked out under the pretence of scouting the region and returned later that night to find Xena still seated on the trunk with his son. Our son. Both his and her thoughts caused him to leap uncomfortably. A few days had passed since he learned he had a son and a few days since he was meant to have a partner, but he stood alone.

Legolas saw the beautiful image of Xena carrying the baby in her arms with his arms folded in front of his chest. It was difficult for him to adjust to the idea of having a son who was his biological offspring. Nonetheless, he seemed to have been aware of his presence from the day he was born.

Without thinking, he skipped next to Xena and sat a foot away from the tree trunk. He remained there for some minutes before he looked around and found his son seated so close to him. He recognised that he wanted to embrace and converse with him. However, he feared doing so.

He remembered how easily his dad was able to remove the baby from Xena since she did not object and the youngster did not protest. When his grandfather was holding and feeding him, he seemed to be chuckling joyfully. And he knew that Thranduil would have spent countless hours with him, but he was unwilling to even touch him.

"Do you want to hold him?" Her voice abruptly pierced the stillness and interrupted his thoughts. Xena eyed the elf, who was immersed in his own realm, sitting so near to her. She waited for him to reply, but Legolas seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, and she had forgotten the fury she had been harbouring for many days. She posed the inquiry in a normal manner and was astonished by his response. He was in awe of his son, and when Xena requested him to hold him, Legolas's fearful expression was evident on his fair face. Despite this, Xena turned slowly and gave him the baby.

Legolas opened his hands and carefully lifted him, and now he was holding him as though he might shatter with a single movement. She approached so cautiously and slowly that it caused her to smirk. It was maybe the first time she had seen Legolas unsure of what to do. And was afraid of his own acts, believing that a mistake may harm their son.

Xena rose up and skipped beside him as she carefully positioned the youngster into his arms. "As such," she instructed him, and Legolas nodded attentively over his son. She spoke quietly so as not to frighten the infant. "Legolas, you may put the baby on your chest and shoulder. Support his head and neck with your hand. Place your other hand under his behind"

Legolas complied with each of her instructions and had already made mental notes. She said, "Cradle hold and cross-cradle hold are the ideal methods to hold our son." She then walked two steps aside from them and remained there, seeing Legolas carrying the baby. Once again, this vision would remain in her thoughts, and she would not forget it. Because she never imagined she would be so fortunate to watch him hold his son.

"What have you called him?" Legolas asked her this when he gained confidence in holding the infant; he was still in amazement at the infant, who was chuckling and examining the new face for the first time.

Xena scowled hard before speaking "He has no name! I have not named him Legolas!" Then and only then did Legolas look at her with amazement and awe as he inclined his head in her direction. "I waited for his father and me to make a decision!"

Her response was one that he did not anticipate and caught him by surprise. Even while he was grateful, the fact that Xena waited for him to decide indicated that she made her own choices. "Did Thranduil consent to it?" Legolas questioned her while observing her with a raised eyebrow. He was aware of his father's obstinacy over a few matters, and he anticipated that the child's name would be one of them.

"You are fortunate to have dodged all the disagreements between Elrond and Thranduil on the naming of our son..." Xena inhaled deeply to calm herself as she remembered all the times her two grandfathers had driven her insane.

"I wish to know?" Legolas said as he continued to see his son's unsuccessful efforts to clutch Legolas' finger. Legolas wanted to play a game with the infant to see how quickly he would be able to hold his finger, despite the fact that the infant was still too young to have developed all of his senses.

"For example, their final disagreement was that Elrond should select his own name since he inherited his colours and appearance from your side, and your father countered that it was not your fault, but the fault of the charming sperm of your kin. And your father would give the baby a name!" Xena stopped to roll her eyes and did not want to recall these events further. "However, you already know how that discussion ended!"

"You would have broken their nose!" Legolas' smile elicited a frown from her, and she confirmed that she would have done so if the infant had not been there. Legolas shook his head as though anticipating a similar response from her. "However, my father was correct; our family has potent sperm."

"According to my recollection, prince, you have one son, as did your father and grandfather, but my father had four children and I had three." Xena fought with him until she realised she sounded precisely like her father and stopped.

Legolas responded, "For the time being, I only have one son, but that might change in the future, princess." He lowered his voice just enough for her to understand that this was a promise he might fulfil in the near future.

She said, "Not on my watch," while concealing a sneer behind her hand, and retreated a few paces as his odours became more familiar and menacing to her. She had to take a cold bath in order to avoid assaulting him in the wrong manner.

"I shall be waiting," Legolas said with a smile that nearly made her want to smack him. Although she has missed that aspect of him, she would rather have the proud, cheeky son of Thranduil around. That Legolas who grinned and smirked, she had missed.

"You have not yet won anything," Xena responded, her eyes tightening in opposition.

"My father taught me differently. We never lose, my lady!" Legolas cautioned her while sneering at her with an enticing grin.

Now the tree-hopper began to understand what the word seduce meant! Xena thought and scowled at him, "You are arrogant," only to see him smile even more at her impoliteness. However, she was always courageous.

"Do not forget who I am?" Legolas added, as he shifted his focus to his son and observed her out of the corner of his eye as she walked ahead of them, that she would leave him alone with his son. "Wait!" he cried out. "Where will you go? You cannot leave him alone!"

Xena paused, turned, and smiled as she saw Legolas with the youngster "Obviously, I can. You are his father, and I need to relax in a cool bath."

"I cannot be left alone with the infant, Ney!" Xena could see from Legolas's expression that he wasn't feigning his terror, as he said that it had returned. She assured him that he would be fine before leaving to find a place to clean up and see to her own needs. Legolas was left alone with his son for the first time, and he was afraid, just as any father would be upon first holding his child.

Xena, though, bolted and walked away, hastily grabbing a towel and bar of soap to get some time to herself. She visited the restroom first and then strolled to the bank of the creek. She removed her armour, took the bar of soap with her, and dived into the icy waters. After being in such close proximity to Legolas, the cool water helped her to calm down and relax as her burning need subsided.

Minutes later, she heard Legolas arriving and panicking since the son was sobbing and did not know what to do. "Xena, how can I turn him off?" he questioned as he held him tight and walked towards the water.

Legolas arrived as Xena was resting and hoped to have a few more minutes to herself after using all the soap and washing. Obviously, she had no idea what had transpired, and she stepped out of the water nude and approached the elf. "What's the issue "She questioned him anxiously as he handed her the infant.

"I do not know," Legolas said. "He began sobbing!"

Xena was aware that it was not his feeding time, so she examined his cloth diaper and determined that he need a change. "Bring me the huge satchel that is secured on Argo," she commanded Legolas, who nearly ran away before bringing her the bag. She laid the infant on a large blanket and then summoned Legolas to change his diaper. She taunted, "I'm going to have to start training you now!" before demonstrating the correct action.

Legolas sat on his knees and bent over his son before carrying out Xena's instructions. Though the elf abruptly froze and glanced at her, his cheeks flushing red, he could not tolerate her being so near and nude to him. "Please wrap this towel around yourself." His voice was low and abrupt as if he were pleading with her.

Xena hesitated and cocked her head in response to his answer. She smiled as she examined him observing the way he was staring at her and how his cheeks were beginning to heat up. "Are you now timid, knowing that you are no longer a virgin, prince?" she said in a serious tone.

"I know," he snarled feeling his needs build but happily Xena did not want to torment him any longer and wrap the towel around herself. And then began to demonstrate how to remove and replace the diaper. Legolas was following her instructions gently, and the infant was making pleasant noises while watching his parents change his diaper.

However, now that Xena was too near, she would touch Legolas' arm to catch his attention and give him more instructions. Her body would be in close proximity to him, and her perfume was reminiscent of luscious strawberries. Legolas felt his face burning, so he ultimately requested her to change. Even though she continued to mock him about his reaction, Legolas became more fond of her.

He came close to her ear and groaned, "Go change immediately, or I'll tear that towel off of you and have you right now!"

Xena chuckled at his response "Really, have you figured out how things work yet?"

Although she was astonished when he suddenly pressed his lips to hers and gave her a deep, magnificent kiss, he only stopped when he could no longer breathe "I have recalled that the Valar should cease tormenting me. Since seeing our son, most memories have returned. Please adjust, and we will discuss this once we reach Imaldirs."

Xena did not lie, and she was stunned when he asked her to confirm that his memories were returned. Nonetheless, she was pleased to learn that Legolas remembered. But how would she now approach him? What would happen next? As she changed into her armour and headed over to pick up her son, such ideas troubled her. Legolas skipped beside them, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into an embrace. Almost immediately, he kissed his son's forehead, followed by Xenas.

Mother and Father spent the night sleeping close by and taking care of the infant. In the morning they resumed the trek till they reached Imladris. There the twins found out that Legolas had found out about his son, and they were finally calm. Also, it appeared that Thranduil had assigned Nienna to take care of their son. They lingered long in Imladris and began their way to Ithilien a week later.

Along the journey, Nienna followed, but Legolas refused to let anybody take his son. He was holding his infant with him, and Gimli ended up travelling with Xena. It was becoming frustrating now since the father could not just let the mother nurse her son. But at least now they were in Ithilien and their lives would start there.

((Upcoming Chapter One-Hundred-Ten))

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