"Legolas? What're you- what're you doing?" Aragorn asked as he stared at the... pile. The elf laid wide awake against a tree with the four little hobbits laying semi around semi on him. The two twins cuddled up on his left and Frodo and Sam lay cuddled on his right. Each of them had an arm or leg thrown over him. Pippin had his head resting on Legolas's hip and Merry had an arm around the elf's middle. Frodo had a leg on top of Legolas's and Sam was laying back on the elf's side and arm.
"I did not do this! They just- they did this! Crawled over to me in the night! I do not know how to handle the little ones so I fret to move them." Whispered to the ranger. This caused one of them to move- Pippin- to roll and snuggle into the worn fabric of the elf's tunic.
By now Gimli had come over too and was stifling a laugh.
"Looks like you have some pups there huh? Mother goose and her ducklings!" The dwarf exclaimed oh so happily. The elf looked exasperated. Aragorn laughed a bit at this too.
"They like you! You should be happy!" Gimli said as the hobbits began to roll and wiggle into a more comfortable position. Meaning Sam now had his arm thrown over the elf's chest and had snuggled into his arm and Frodo now had Legolas's leg trapped between his two short ones and Merry laid his head on the elf's chest.
Aragorn and Gimli both couldn't help barking out a laughter at the sight. It really was a mother hen and her ducklings now. The white haired man looked down at the little ones with his mouth open in disbelief and eyes full of nurturing love.
"They are... quite light. Perhaps they got chills in the night. Searched out for my cloak for warmth." Lagolas thought out loud. He wondered what brought the halflings to him in the dark.
"Maybe they searched out a mother's hand!" Gimli laughed out.
"A mother's heart!" Add Aragorn.
The two started laughing again and to Legolas's secret dismay the hobbits started to move and awaken.
"Oh hello Legolas" said Sam as he stretched his arms.
"Hi" said Merry as he sat up and stretched his back.
"'D mornin" yawned Pippin.
"Good morning Legolas" finally said Frodo as he stood and pulled Sam up.
The hobbits went to their packs and got ready to make breakfast.
The Ranger and Dwarf both bid their good morn to the hobbits as they passed and then looked back at the wrinkled white haired man who was still laying against the tree. His cloak was spread out around him and his tunic and pants were wrinkled from sleep. He looked almost disappointed.
"What's wrong Elf? I thought you said you didn't bring them over here. What's got you glum?" Aragorn picked at him. Gimli was talking to the hobbits.
"What brought you over to the elf in the night?" Asked Gimli to the four little hobbits as they broke out all their supplies for making a hearty breakfast.
Pippin spoke first.
"Well I was homesick and he smells like safety and mother's cleaning solution! I thought he wouldn't mind and if he did I always could just come back to Merry."
Merry spoke next.
"Yeah and when Pippin left I got lonesome so I followed him and well... he's so gentle when he patted our heads and wrapped his cloak around us."
Next was Sam.
"Well I came over 'cause he kinda looks like a lady and well he's soft and gentle and stuff and I miss my bed. He was so welcoming when I laid next to him. He even kissed my forehead like my mama used to!" Sam was happy and well rested. He was thankful for the elf.
"How about you Frodo?" Gimli prompted. The ring bearer replied quietly.
"He's warm and gentle and will keep us safe in the night. I came to him because he will protect all of us in the dark. And he shared his cloak and hummed us a song." Frodo said solemnly but said the last part with a big smile. The rest of the hobbits nodded from where they were busy cooking.
Gimli smiled and nodded. He hid his laugher till he got back to Aragorn who was still picking at the elf. Legolas was now dressed with his quiver on his back.
Aragorn nodded at the dwarf as he walked up to them. Legolas looked even more exasperated now.
"Heard your givin out kisses now Elf. What 'bout you hum us a song?" Gimli barely got out before him and the Ranger started laughing jovially. They laughed barkishly like dogs and the poor pale elf was redder than a proper apple.
"You two will- will get NOTHING! I was simply... offering some comfort for the little ones. It's their first time being this far from their home and and I was helping! No thanks to you two! They were scared!" The elf was red and flustered. How dare these two men make fun of him! He was so angry.
The two men giggled a bit and stopped. The poor elf was so angry looking.
"Fine fine sorry. It's nice though. It's nice that your uh" Gimli said but couldn't think of the end.
"Mother henning them. I mean protecting them and looking after them. It's kind of you." Aragorn finished.
Before the elf could respond Pippin hopped over with a large bowl of... something that smelled divine.
"Here you go mama, brought you some breakfast! As a thank you for protecting us last night and being so kind!" The small one smiled greatly and when the ranger, dwarf, and of course elf looked over at the other hobbits they all smiled too.
Legolas look down at the bow- did this hobbit call him mama? Did- wh- no. Maybe. Maybe Legolas liked it. Maybe it warmed his heart. Maybe if he doesn't say anything the other two won't say anything about it.
Legolas bent down to be eye to eye with the halfling.
"Thank you Pippin. I appreciate this gift immensely."
The elf stood again to call to the other hobbits.
"Thank you, Merry, Sam, Frodo, for this wonderful meal." The elf smiled widely showing off his pearly white teeth.
The hobbits nodded and talked among themselves as Pippin returned.
Legolas dig into his food without looking at the Gimli or Aragorn. He heard the two walk away but not without hearing.
"Hobbit Mama huh? At least they'll find some comfort while we travel. Especially poor Frodo. Mama though.."
"Maybe it's the lack of facial hair or maybe it's the long hair and fair skin."