Legolas's Christmas

Bundle Up!

Legolas was startled awake (again) by a voice calling his name.

"Legolas, love..."

He woke quickly this time, not being as deeply asleep. He slowly stretched up from his sitting position. He blinked his eyes open, only to be (again) blinded by unnaturally bright sunlight.

This day just kept repeating itself.

Legolas's eyes finally adjusted, and he blinked up at the tall form crouched over him.

It was King Thranduil, his Ada. He was kneeling on the floor in front of the hearth where Legolas had fallen asleep, his hand on his son's shoulder.

"Happy Day of Creation, ion [son]," Thranduil said, smiling gently.

Legolas's eyes widened in shock as he remembered that yes, it was the Day of Creation! A huge smile broke out across his face and he launched himself at his Father, grabbing him round the neck and squeezing in the hardest hug a 32-year-old elfling could manage.

Thranduil rocked back from the force of the jump and he laughed as Legolas practically assaulted him. "Careful little leaf," He cautioned the tiny form.

Thranduil tightly hugged his son back, then pried the arms off of his neck.

Legolas allowed himself to drop into his Ada's lap. He looked around curiously, noticing something. "Where's Tauriel? And Calair?" He asked.

"I sent Tauriel off withCalair, actually," Thranduil responded. "He is going to watch her until lunch, when she will join us." Thranduil suddenly swept Legolas up into his arms and stood. "So until then, it is just you and me, ion."

Legolas giggled as he was carried towards the door. But as they passed the windows, he remembered something. "Wait! Ada, wait!" He cried.

Thranduil immediately stopped. "What?" He asked worriedly.

"Did you see?" Legolas was really excited now. "Did you see it all?" He pointed at the windows. "It's snow Father, it's snow!"

Thranduil looked out of the window, a pensive expression crossing his face. "Yes, I saw. It has been a long time since there was snow in the Greenwood." Then he realized something. Two things, actually. He looked down again at his little child in revelation. "You have never seen snow, have you, ion?"

Legolas shook his head firmly, making a silly "Nuh-uh!" sound.

"That is why Tauriel woke you, is it not? Because she has never seen snow either."

Legolas nodded, making an "Uh-huh!" sound.

"Well, then there is nothing else to do: we are going outside."

Legolas took a second to actually register what his Father had said, but when he did, he was confused. "What?" He squeaked.

Thranduil started walking again, this time with a purpose. He carried his son to Thranduil's own chambers, where he set the again-squirming Legolas on the large bed.

Opening the wardrobe, Thranduil began digging around at the back. He soon emerged with a tiny white fur coat just Legolas's size. "This was mine when I was your age," Thranduil explained as Legolas put it on. "But now it is yours." Thranduil dived back into the wardrobe and emerged with matching pants, hat, and a pair of thick-soled snowboots. The boots were just a tiny bit too big for Legolas, but after he stuffed a sock in each one they fit snugly.

Thranduil himself bundled up in his fur robes, white staff in hand. They made a matching pair, father and son, ready to face the cold.

They went out the gate, Thranduil carrying Legolas until they were a fair distance away. Legolas immediately ran ahead, jumping in the snow drifts and sticking his tongue out to catch snowflakes. Thranduil strode along behind him, carefully keeping him on the path.

Eventually they came to a clearing. Thranduil sat down and Legolas came over to sit in his lap. They both looked up at the treetops, which were coated in a thick laying of pure white snow. It seemed almost surreal to the both of them: Legolas, in awe of his first snowfall, and Thranduil, reminiscing of the last winter storm in Mirkwood.

"I was just a little older than you," Thranduil started. He still stared up at the sky, his voice having a wistful tone. "The first day of winter, storm clouds overtook the woods. We feared it as a bad omen, but before we knew it, it had started to snow. My Father had seen it many times before, but it was the first time I had. I reacted much the same as you--though I must admit, I stayed out until my fingers turned blue." Thranduil smiled as Legolas laughed.

"The snow stayed for the entire winter, until one day, when the clouds cleared and the sun melted it all away. It has not snowed here since." Thranduil finally looked down at little Legolas, who grinned up at his Ada. "Until now."