Broken (sequel to Caught)

Children

"Okay...I think I understand," Elrond said, having gone back into his own mind. "I need to do a little research, but we should be able to do it soon."

Legolas gave a relieved smile, and Thranduil shared it. Elrond stood and his sons did as well.

"The twins, Estel, and I will go to the library to research," Elrond said. "I assume you want to stay with Legolas?"

Thranduil nodded and Elrond smiled, leaving the room. His sons filed out after him.

The two royals sat in contented silence that Thranduil interrupted after a few moments.

"Legolas, if this works...are you planning to...stay?"

Legolas looked up at the question and blinked. He hadn't thought about that.

"I think so," he said, loving the way his father's face brightened when he said it. "I promised to stay until Estel's...demise, and Ithilien needs someone to colonize it."

"Thank the Valar," Thranduil sighed. "I thought you might've wanted to leave anyway."

Legolas smiled a small, sad smile. "I would never want to leave if not for it."

Thranduil also gave a pained smile and sat down to Legolas, who had begun to close his eyes again. They snapped open after a few moments.

"Ada, oh Valar Ada I forgot to tell you...Cyras is alive!" Legolas said, his voice holding a panicked edge that Thranduil did not fail to notice.

"I know, ion-nin. He is alive and locked in the best-guarded cell in our dungeons," Thranduil said. Legolas sputtered in disbelief.

"What...how? Explain," Legolas said, sounding vaguely like he had when he was a demanding little elfling.

"Well...what I say must not leave this room, alright?" Thranduil said, and Legolas shrugged and nodded.

"It must be bad, then," he mumbled, and Thranduil shot him a dark look, which he laughed away. Though Thranduil had always hated the way he did that, he couldn't help but love it.

Thranduil explained what had happened, and he felt the familiar stab of guilt as Legolas turned away when he told him of what had happened. Thranduil's voice drifted off when he saw his son's shoulders shaking slightly. Ai, Valar, he had made his son cry!

"Legolas, Legolas, I'm sorry—" he said, turning Legolas around to face him. But there were no tears on Legolas's face, and he was grinning. He had been shaking with silent laughter.

"What's so funny?" Thranduil said, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. He had no idea what his son thought was so hilarious, but this was a serious matter.

"I have no idea...it's just...so absurd. You kissed, Cyras, Ada!" Legolas said, before falling into a laughing fit again. Thranduil himself didn't see what was so funny, but he allowed himself a small smile. Even if it meant being humiliated, it was good to hear Legolas's laughter again. Looking back, his halls had been awfully quiet the last few years, since Legolas had returned from the Quest.

Legolas's laughter was interrupted by the door opening, revealing two small faces peering in.

"Mister Legolas!" Allenda squealed, jumping up onto the bed and into Legolas's awaiting arms as Thranduil watched closely. It had been many years since he had seen his son with any children.

"Hello, penneth," Legolas said, directing his greeting to both of the children. Darean looked unsure, but Legolas took one arm off of Allenda and used the other to continue holding her and opened the other one wide. Darean ran into Legolas's embrace, and Legolas held the two children close to his chest, burying his face in their hair. The two small heads' hair, both dark brown, was tangled together from being in such a close proximity.

"I'm sorry," Darean sobbed into Legolas's shirt. Legolas seemed startled at the tears at first, but he began to stroke the boy's hair, whispering to him as he continued to cry.

"Shhh, Darean, you did nothing wrong. You did absolutely nothing wrong."

"They told me that they thought it was me, but it wasn't! I promise it wasn't! I didn't mean to do anything bad..."

Legolas pulled back from the two, and Allenda looked on, startled, as the elf spoke to the young boy. Her big brother never cried, even when he hit his head on the kitchen table really hard!

"I know it wasn't you, little one. It wasn't your fault. It was never your fault. I never blamed you," Legolas said, and Darean gave a small sob and latched onto him again. He continued to hold the child close.

Thranduil watched in near fascination. Though just days ago he had said that Legolas was an elfling still, he was of an old enough age to be a father himself, had he married early. The realization hit the king hard, and he continued to watch the trio so closely that his eyes were pretty much popping out of his head.

"Ada, why are you staring?" Legolas said quietly as he continued to hold the children, and Thranduil blinked for the first time in a few minutes.

"What? Oh, nothing," he said, and Legolas gave a small smile before looking down at the two again.

Legolas shifted to move slightly away from Darean, hoping to get him to look him in the eye, but Darean clutched even tighter at his tunic, which someone must have put on him while he was sleeping.

"Don't leave me," Darean whimpered.

"Darean, can you look at me?" Legolas said, and Darean looked upward slowly, still grasping at Legolas's clothes.

"I won't leave you. I promise. I will always be here for you," Legolas said, and he looked at Allenda as well. "And Allenda, too."

"Thank you," Darean whispered, drying the tears off his face with his palms. He sniffed. "I'm sorry, I don't cry a lot, but—"

"It doesn't matter, penneth," said Legolas and he pushed a stray curl behind the boy's round ear. There was blessed silence for a few moments.

"Mister Legolas?" Allenda said tentatively, and Legolas looked at her. She blushed and pulled out the green leaves from her pocket. They were slightly wrinkled, and she tried to smooth them out a little before holding them out to Legolas. "We got you some leaves from the big tree that you talked to."

Legolas, touched by the gesture, smiled at Allenda, who beamed at the approval.

"Did you know that the meaning of my name is actually green leaf?" Legolas asked, and Allenda grinned even wider.

"No. But it's cool that it worked out that way."

"Yes," said Legolas. "Yes it is."

"Can we go outside?" Allenda asked, and Legolas nodded, moving to get up. Thranduil immediately jumped up, supporting him as he stumbled slightly.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered to Legolas, and Legolas nodded.

"I wanted to get up anyway," he replied, and Thranduil rolled his eyes. Of course he did.