Chapter 6 is here! I hope you all like it cause honestly writing this chapter was like pulling teeth lol it just did not want to be written, every sentence was a struggle, but I think it came together nicely. This is mostly a fluffy chapter, just showing Harry settling in and his bonding with Legolas, enjoy

Chapter 6

Harry spent most of the next few days straightening and organising all his new things into his room. He wanted his room neat and tidy, and he wanted to make sure that he took care of everything that everyone had worked so hard to gift him.

Legolas had laid on Harry's bed, intermittently reading and watching the elfling in amusement. After the fifth time that Harry had pulled apart everything in his toy chest and then tried to put it all back in again neatly, the elf prince could no longer hold his tongue.

"Do not worry so, little one, just leave them on the floor."

Harry shook his head determinedly, "no. This is the first time I've had my own room and my own things to fill it. I want to take good care of everything."

Legolas's face fell at the reminder that Harry was with them now because his life had been full of sacrifices before. His heart clenched as he watched small hands try to place everything inside the box neatly. He slid off the bed and settled beside Harry, helping pack everything until it resembled something of order. Harry still didn't look happy, but he let it be and Legolas made a mental note to commission an even bigger chest to replace the one Harry currently had.

"Come, let us walk through the gardens" Legolas said, deftly changing the subject as he knew a walk through the gardens would calm the elflings spirit. He had taken an immediate and intense liking to the gardens, spending hours wandering through and tending to the plants, a look of wonder upon his face. Legolas tried his hardest to join him every day.

It was no surprise then, that Harry immediately nodded. He went over to his wardrobe and pulled out a new coat, in a dark burnt orange, before pinning his new pin to the collar and grabbing one of the wrapped seed cakes that had been sent for him.

Legolas didn't try to fight the fond smile that lit his face as Harry put on his new things. He'd taken Legolas' advice seriously and had been making every effort to show that the gifts that he had received were appreciated.

They passed other elves as they walked, an inordinate number actually, not that Harry noticed as he smiled shyly at all they passed, leaving a trail of giddy elves in his wake. Legolas couldn't blame them, he felt inexplicitly happy that he got to spend so much time with Harry.

Harry shared his seed cake as they walked humming in delight at the flavours.

"I can see why you enjoy this so much" Harry murmured, after a particularly big bite.

Legolas just hummed in agreement.

They entered the garden and Harry wandered, going further then he had before, until he settled on a line of azalea bushes. Kneeling down he began to push his hands through the soil, pulling out weeds as he went. Harry felt his body warm as he worked, a tingling that started in his hands then travelled through his whole body. He smiled over at Legolas as the other elf knelt down beside him and started working as well. They pulled off dead blooms and Legolas pulled out a knife and trimmed back some unhealthy-looking branches. When they were finished, Harry let out a sigh of relief, his whole body feeling relaxed and calm.

"They look beautiful, little one."

And Harry preened at the praise.

Harry began to feel tired as they walked back, so Legolas scooped him up into his arms and Harry surprisingly felt no qualms cuddling into Legolas's warm chest. He didn't even feel embarrassed that he needed to be carried like a child. It felt nice actually.

"Come, let me show you some of our training grounds" Legolas said quietly, as he changed his course, walking off down a wider path, a hand moving up to run through dark curls.

Harry perked up a bit when they came around a bend and he saw a line of elves, all with bow and arrow in hand. It was a large forest area and Harry could see targets hanging all over the place. High in trees and low to the ground. Half hidden in bushes and sitting out in the open.

"We practice here, as well as in the wider forest" Legolas explained. "There are many dark and terrible things in the forest that our people need to be protected from."

Harry nodded in understanding, he knew a thing or two about dark and terrible things.

Harry watched in awe as the elves started moving, running, leaping and diving as they shot at targets. It was impressive.

"Can you do that?" Harry asked only for a nearby elf to start laughing.

"He wishes!"

Legolas's own lips quirked up in amusement.

"I am not unskilled" and Harry had the impression that Legolas was just being modest.

"Harry, this is a friend of mine, Locan."

The elf bowed deeply to Harry and Harry not knowing what to do, nodded his head in return. A few of the elves who had been training started to make their way over as well.

"You did very well" Harry said sincerely causing a few to coo at him.

"Are you interested in learning?" one asked. "I'm sure you were a formidable fighter in your past life."

Harry felt himself freeze at the words. Had he been a formidable fighter in his past life? No, not really. He had mostly gotten by on sheer dumb luck and the amazing people around him.

"Not really" Harry said quietly, laying his head back on Legolas's shoulder and the elf looked stricken.

"I do apologise" the elf said earnestly, pushing his auburn hair behind one ear as he stared at Harry.

Harry blinked slowly. "There's nothing to apologise for. I wouldn't have made it as far as I did without the people around me. I'm sure you can say the same?"

The elf nodded his head in understanding and agreement.

"Well perhaps when you are a little bit bigger, you would like to train with us?"

Harry shrugged, feeling too tired to be indignant about the comment on his size, he wasn't sure if he liked the idea of more fighting again or not. "I'm not sure… but I would like to watch you train some time, if that's OK?"

All the elves started nodding their heads in agreement, murmurs of "yes" and "of course" and "anytime" reached his ears.

Harry let out a loud yawn, his hand fisting in Legolas' shirt as the elves looks turned soft.

"I think it might be nap time" Legolas said, as he adjusted Harry in his grip. "I will see you in the morning."

Harry felt himself start to nod off as they made their way home.

When Harry awoke Legolas was gone. He had become so used to the older elf's presence that it felt strange not having him there. Logically he knew that the prince had a life that he was leading before Harry came along, and that he had to return to it at some point, but still.

Since this was basically the first time he had been left alone in the week since he'd arrived, he decided some exploring was needed. So, he quietly left his room and began to walk. It reminded him of all the times he had crept out of Gryffindor tower, though hopefully this time would be less dangerous than his adventures at Hogwarts always ended up being. He didn't go in the usual direction that he took to get to breakfast and the throne room, but instead walked the other way. He walked down corridors and past rooms; he opened a few doors but found them mostly empty. Eventually he opened a door and found it mostly empty like the rest, though a strange shimmer on the wall caught his eye and instead of closing the door and moving on he made his way inside.

Harry gasped softly as his eyes grew accustomed to what he was seeing. Trees. All over the walls but they weren't actually trees, they seemed to be paintings… or perhaps carvings. They glimmered and glowed like nothing Harry had ever seen before. Light flickered in through windows that stood high on the walls, obviously designed to catch the early afternoon sun. The light hit the shimmering trees and small rainbows bounced around the room. Harry was mesmerised. He made his way further into the room, spinning to see that the whole room was lined in these silvery white trees.

He's not sure how long he stood, staring, eyes flickering as they took in the scene before him. He knew that at some point he had lowered himself to the ground and was reclining back, when loud voices seemed to shake him from his stupor. An echo of his name and footsteps had him calling out in return.

"Legolas!?"

The footsteps sped up until the door flew open and Harry stumbled back a few steps in surprise from where he'd climbed to his feet.

"Harry!" Legolas cried as he ran into the room. "I've been searching everywhere for you!"

Harry ran his hand through his dark hair sheepishly.

"Sorry, I woke up and you weren't there, so I decided to go for a walk and look Legolas…" Harry said rushing forward and gripping the blonde elf's hand. "Look how beautiful this room is."

Harry waved his hand around at the beauty that surrounded them, and Legolas's eyes turned soft.

He scooped Harry up into his arms and Harry shot him a startled look at the movement. More voices sounded in the hall.

"I've got him" Legolas called out, as several more elves rushed into the room and Harry blushed at the fuss he had caused. The elves stopped as they realised where they were, bowing to Legolas and retreating back out the way they'd came.

"This was one of my mothers' favourite places" Legolas explained softly as he slowly turned Harry around the room. "My father had it built for her, the trees are made of mithril, a dwarf would give half his beard for a chance to even glimpse this place" Legolas chuckled.

Harry wasn't exactly sure what a dwarf was but being used to all sorts of different creatures he just nodded solemnly.

"I can see why your mother loved it" Harry said quietly, resting a hand on Legolas' arm that was currently wrapped around Harry.

Legolas blinked, seeming to come back to himself. "You are welcome here any time, it would make her glad to know that someone is enjoying this place."

Harry nodded, understanding the gift that he had been given.

"But, for now, your new tutor is waiting to meet you" Legolas said as they walked out of the room, slowly closing the door before heading off to the library.

"You've found me a teacher already?" Harry asked in surprise, causing Legolas to laugh.

"Found!? We had elves throwing themselves at us for the chance to teach and guide you."

"Oh. You should probably know that I'm not very…smart. I hope they won't be too disappointed."

Legolas came to an abrupt halt and Harry swore he heard an elf behind them hiss.

"If this elf ever makes you feel like you are unintelligent you are to tell me immediately" Legolas growled and Harry just stared for a moment, taken aback by the outburst. "There is no time frame, you will learn as slowly or as quickly as you like, and you can keep learning for the rest of your life if that is your wish."

Harry wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just nodded, watching as Legolas struggled to get a hold of himself before they started walking again.

Harry stayed quiet, thinking as they walked along. It was a novel way to look at things… no time frame… he supposed that when you lived indefinitely there was no point rushing things. He couldn't help but feel a little relieved at the reassurance, he didn't want anyone to have unrealistic expectations about what he could actually achieve.

It was only as they entered the library that Harry realised that he was still being carried by Legolas. He blushed hotly, causing Legolas to look at him enquiringly.

"I'm sorry I made you carry me all this way" Harry said quietly, and Legolas laughed.

"Made me? Like I could put you down, you are quite simply the most precious creature I have ever beheld."

Blimey, what did someone even say to that? He didn't try to get down though. Allowing Legolas to carry him over to a tall dark-haired elf who was reclining in a large, comfortable looking armchair.

"Jaida, this is Harry" Legolas said as he put Harry back on the ground. "Harry, Jaida."

"Harry, it is lovely to meet you" the elf… Jaida said. He stuck out his hand toward Harry to shake, but didn't stand, remaining in his chair so Harry and he were of a similar height. "I of course have heard much about you from, well… everyone." The elf laughed lightly but Harry couldn't hold back his grimace. He still hated being the focus of gossip, even if he knew, logically that they meant no harm by it.

"Well, I hope you will get to know me personally and not rely on the words of others for your information" Harry said, and Legolas and Jaida shared a look.

"Of course not, I'm very much looking forward to getting to know you personally" Jaida said warmly, and Harry found himself slightly mollified. "I thought we would start with language, reading and writing lessons. See what you know and what gaps we need to fill in and then we can go from there. How does that sound?"

"Good" Harry said, feeling suddenly shy. "It might take me a while."

Jaida just smiled kindly at him, "well thank goodness we have all the time in the world then" and Harry couldn't help but smile back.