Flight Of Fate

Chapter Fifteen - Blast From The Past

The next few days followed uneventfully.

Thranduil went in to work for a few hours each morning, returning around lunchtime and spending the rest of the day with the two females in his life.

Legolas made a point of dropping round frequently, finding one excuse after another to be around and gush over Eden. The little one adored the attention, and was clearly smitten with her brother. As soon as she clapped eyes on the blonde, her face lit up and she squealed in excitement.

Legolas found it amusing, commenting along the lines of how females were naturally in awe of his presence.

His father had made a noise which was a cross between a snort of disgust and a cough.

Kira found herself drawing closer to the younger Oropherion as she discovered he was very like his father in nature. He handled his baby sister with care and tenderness, and it was blatantly obvious she had him wrapped around her little finger as she cooed and blew bubbles at him. Several times she would cry solely to be held by him, and her mother smiled as she observed how her child instinctively knew how to get what she wanted from him.

Thranduil would also smile discreetly as he observed the interaction between his two children. The connection between brother and sister warmed his heart. Legolas had grown as an only child and although he'd provided everything he could for him, he knew that not having a sibling had resulted in losing out on the experience most of his friends had. Having the companionship and closeness of a brother or sister could never be bought; he knew this from being an only child himself. His gaze frequently settled on both offspring as he watched them bond and connect, and it warmed his heart.

A choice selection of friends visited to meet Kira and the Oropherion baby, all bearing gifts for the youngster. His head accountant, Thorin, arrived with a beautifully hand-stitched quilt, embossed with characters from various nursery rhymes and glittering stars. He was one of the first to appear in the guise of offering his congratulations.

Kira suspiciously thought he was being nosey, but kept her thoughts to herself.

"I have to say Thranduil – none was more surprised than I when I heard you'd become a father again," the bearded well-wisher said.

Thranduil merely smirked as he handed him a glass of wine. "I always keep my private life just that – private," he reminded him.

Thorin eyed him as he accepted the glass, putting two and two together in his rapid processing mind. "This is why you were so low after the plane crash," he said softly.

The blonde darted a glance in his direction, and Thorin could see in his eyes that he'd hit the truth.

"Yes," he said, almost in a whisper. "I lost Kira for an entire year. I did not know if she was even alive after what we'd come through together." His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply. "It is a blessing that she came for an interview, otherwise I still would not have known."

"I like her," Thorin said. "She clearly dotes on the little one, and from what I can see, she's madly in love with you, even after all this time. You must have made some impression on her."

The much taller blonde smiled. "I guess I did," he agreed. He lowered his tall frame to sit on the couch opposite his colleague and friend, crossing one long leg over the other. "As she did with me. I was completely smitten."

Thorin smiled. "I see a difference in you."

"In what way?"

"You seem more relaxed, more settled...more at peace, I suppose," he replied. "And Eden is your absolute double, man. I don't think I've ever seen father and daughter look so much alike."