Eldarion ran up the steps of the White Tower. A wide smile played across his face as he finally reached the top.
“Ada! Ada!”
Aragorn emerged from his study and his face lit up as he saw his son. Eldarion ran strait unto his father’s arms and giggled.
“Guess what, Ada?”
Aragorn smiled and lifted his son up.
“What’s that, Ion nin?”
//My Son\
“Teacher said she’s gonna tell me all about Middle Earth!”
Aragorn smiled and carried his son into the study and sat down, Eldarion on his lap.
“What about it?”
“All the other places! Like Rohan, and The Shire, and Bree, and where Naneth was from, Rivendell! That is what I want to learn about!”
Aragorn chuckled.
“What’s so great about Rivendell?”
Eldarion giggled.
“You know, Ada! The elves live there! Teacher says it’s the best elf city in ALL of Middle Earth!”
“I beg to differ,” a voice suddenly interrupted from the doorway. Both father and son turned to face the source. Eldarion immediately leapt off his father’s lap.
“Uncle Leg’las!”
Legolas smiled and bent down, eyelevel with the young prince.
“So just what makes Rivendell so much better than the other elven cities?”
Eldarion smiled and shrugged Aragorn stood up and walked over to the other two.
“Teacher didn’t really tell us about the others. Did you come from Rivendell like Naneth, Uncle Leg’las?”
Both Aragorn and Legolas chuckled. Eldarion glanced between the two of them until Legolas shook his head.
“No, Tithen pen. I am from what is now called Eryn Lasgalen.”
//Little One\
Eldarion smiled excitedly.
“Teacher told us about that place! She said it use to be called…”
The child’s brow creased with thought. Legolas and Aragorn both exchanged smiles.
“Mirkwood!”
Legolas nodded and Eldarion smiled with pride at having remembered. Legolas stood and glanced over at Aragorn.
“Actually… That is why I came.”
Aragorn’s previous smile faded and he glanced over at the elf with worry. Legolas smiled and shook his head.
“No, no. Nothing like that, mellon nín. I simply wished to go home for a few weeks. I have been gone for some time now.”
Aragorn smiled and put a hand on Legolas’s shoulder.
“You know you needn’t ask, my friend. I agree with you.”
The two friends were interrupted when Eldarion started tugging on Legolas’s arm wildly.
“Uncle Leg’las! Can I come too?!”
Legolas looked to the child and shrugged, as he looked up at Aragorn.
“*That* Tithen pen, would be up to your Ada. It would be fine with me, but I don’t think he will want to be away from you that long.”
Eldarion looked up to Aragorn with wide, excited eyes.
“Please, Ada? Uncle Leg’las said it was okay!”
Aragorn glanced over at Legolas.
“Han aen trasta?”
//It is no trouble?\
Legolas chucked and shook his head.
“Aniron car, Aragorn. E tha milha.”
//I wish to, Aragorn. He will love it.\
Aragorn thought for a moment and glanced down at his son. Eldarion was looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. The King sighed and smiled.
“All right, Ion nin”
Legolas’ eyes widened as the child leapt into his arms.
“Yea! Come on, Uncle Leg’las! Come on!”
Legolas chucked and picked up Eldarion and looked over at Aragorn.
“Are you sure this is all right?”
Aragorn nodded and smiled.
“As you said, mellon nín. He will love it.”
Eldarion tapped Legolas’ shoulder with impatience.
“Can we go now, Uncle Leg’las?”
Legolas shook his head and the child frowned.
“Not yet, Eldarion. You still need to get ready. Besides, I’m not much up for traveling tonight. I just traveled here from Ithillien. I haven’t seen your Ada for a while either.”
Eldarion sighed and reluctantly nodded. Legolas bent down and set the child on the ground.
“You should probably go tell your Naneth.”
Eldarion smiled and nodded before he hurried out of the study and down the hall. Legolas rose and shook his head with a sigh.
“Poor child.”
Aragorn’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he glanced up at the elf.
“Why’s that?”
Legolas looked at him with a smile.
“He reminds me of you. That means I may have my hands full.”
Aragorn shook his head and was prepared to say something when Legolas cut him off.
“No, Aragorn. I didn’t mean it like that. I simply meant if he is as much trouble as you were than I will have to keep a close eye out.”
“I wasn’t THAT bad…”
Legolas raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the king, whom only grinned in response. He chuckled and shook his head.
“Do I need to mention all that you did? What about that time with the wargs in Rohan, or all your pranks you have played on Elladan, Elrohir, and me? Not to mention our paybacks. And what about your little incident in Mirkwood …”
“All right! That wasn’t my fault!”
Legolas rolled his eyes.
“Oh, it was and you know it. You know how many weeks I had to take night watch for that?”
Aragorn looked at him with faked guilty eyes.
“I told you I was sorry…”
Legolas groaned.
“Don’t even start, Aragorn. Your pity party is not going to work on me.”
The man smiled and raised an eyebrow.
“Really? I believe it has already.”
“Believe what you wish, Aragorn. Doesn’t make it true.”
Aragorn grinned and glanced over at Legolas.
“You just don’t want to admit I’m right.”
The elf sighed and nodded reluctantly.
“That too.”
The two fell to silence for a while before Aragorn finally spoke again.
“Come, mellon nín. You have traveled for a while and I am sure you are ready for a meal and some sleep.”
Legolas nodded and the two friends left the room, walking down the hall side by side.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email