Legolas walked through the halls reading the newest report from the patrol in the northern part of the forest. His pale blue eyes were unreadable as he scanned the pages. Evening was nearing Mirkwood and it wouldn't be long before the dinner bell rang through the caves. He had been so busy throughout the day that he had barely had the time to eat.

Anyone who saw him coming through the halls would without doubt recognize the perfect control he had over his emotions and the air of pride, formality and calmness around him. His emotions were once again in need of tight control after a meeting he had had with his father.

When the queen had died giving birth to her third child, Legolas and Hithel's little brother Kirion, King Thranduil had changed. The loss of his wife had been too much for him to bear and his sorrow had taken form as anger. The change was not obvious to his people because it had not affected the way he ruled his kingdom, but it was his family that felt the harsh change. Legolas, as the elder brother, had taken the responsibility of handling their father onto his shoulders and was often target to his father's wrath.

"My Prince." Iôlon called out from the other side of the hall and walked towards him. Iôlon was one of Mirkwood's advisers, and by far the most tolerable.

Legolas inclined his head only taking his eyes of the rapport for a few seconds. "Lord Iôlon. Walk with me."

Iôlon matched his tempo to Legolas' and walked beside him, but still slightly behind him. He watched as Legolas read the report with a slight crease between his eyebrows. After some moments he looked up and turned his unreadable eyes to Iôlon's.

"Have you heard of this yet?" Legolas asked while waving the report slightly.

"Of course not my Prince." Iôlon answered. "You are the first to get this kind of news."

Legolas arched his eyebrow slightly, but then relayed, "The patrols in the northern part of the forest have run into orcs and were forced to pull the border back slightly. There are some injured currently being brought back here and they request assistance to force the orcs back once more. How are our supplies at this moment?"

"I know not my Prince, but I will find out and pass you a message." Iôlon said. "This is grievous news. Hopefully there will be no fatalities."

Legolas nodded once again looking down at the papers. "I want a report of our supplies and our warriors, both here and on patrol, tonight. Tell the necessary people that I will hold a meeting tomorrow midday about this."

"You will get it." Iôlon agreed. "Is there anything else you require?"

"No, that will be all Lord Iôlon."

Iôlon drew away from Legolas and walked in another direction while Legolas continued his trek towards the royal wing. As he walked into the hall he passed the two guards watching the entrance. They inclined their heads to him as he walked by.

It seemed quite empty in the household now after his sister Hithel had been bonded. She had found love with the elf Gwaur and despite Thranduil's attempt to break them apart they had stayed strong. She had not been able to bear staying there with Thranduil as he was, so she had left.

He felt happy for her and, although he knew she felt guilty for leaving him with the whole burden, he did not blame her. She was his little sister. He wanted her to be happy and continue to show her feelings openly instead of forcing herself. If she was happy, then he was happy for her.

Legolas stopped before the door that led to his little brother's room. He calmly folded the report and pocketed it before knocking and walking into the room.

"Legolas!"

Legolas felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth as Kirion ran towards him and flung himself into his arms. He chuckled and spun Kirion around some times before setting him back down on the ground. Kirion was barely half his height and had slightly darker hair than him. His eyes were green, just like their mother's had been.

Legolas felt a pang of sorrow at this, but kept it from his expression. He knew that even though Kirion had never met their mother, her fate rested heavily on his shoulders. Their father had taken to blaming him and Legolas had to keep watch of him constantly to make sure that their paths never crossed.

"Legolas do you know what Damon is teaching me?" Kirion asked with a large smile on his face.

Legolas looked up and saw Damon sitting by the table that Kirion had just vacated. It wasn't long since Legolas had changed Kirion's teacher to Damon, because their father had too easily influenced the former. When it came to his brother Legolas didn't want anyone, he didn't trust somewhat, alone with him.

"I apologize it seems I have disrupted your class." Legolas said.

Damon shook his head and stood up. "There is no need my Prince. We were just about finished after all." He walked up to Kirion and crouched down before him. "Remember to read the pages I told you for the next lesson my Prince."

Kirion nodded and said, "Bye Damon."

Damon smiled and straightened out. He looked questionably at Legolas knowing that if anyone was going to make sure he did read, it was Legolas. Legolas inclined his head slightly.

"Until we meet again my Princes." Damon said and bowed gracefully.

Kirion smiled to him and hugged him. "See you tomorrow Damon."

Damon smiled and ruffled Kirion's hair. "See you tomorrow my Prince."

Legolas smiled at the exchange. He hadn't regretted even once that he had replaced Kirion's former teacher with Damon, in fact he was rejoicing it. After bowing his head once more Damon exited the room, leaving Legolas and Kirion alone inside.

"So what did he teach you?" Legolas asked as he picked Kirion up and set him down on the bed. He sat down beside him and watched as Kirion's expression once again turned eager. He listened as Kirion rapidly told him everything that he had learned.

Afterwards he made Kirion read the pages out loud so he was sure he understood everything. When Kirion stumbled on a word he didn't understand Legolas was quickly there with the answer.

"Only two more pages to go." Legolas encouraged.

Kirion groaned, "But this is so boring…"

Legolas chuckled inwardly and said, "If you finish it then maybe we can go outside before dinner."

Kirion began reading with renewed vigor and as soon as the two pages were read he slammed the book closed and bounced up and down on the bed eagerly. Legolas shook his head and stood up. He used a few minutes finding Kirion's cloak and putting it on him, then he hefted Kirion to his hip and walked out the door.

"Can we go to the training grounds Legolas?" Kirion asked.

Legolas arched his eyebrow at this and answered, "You know you're not allowed down there yet." Kirion's face fell. "But I guess we can watch from a distance." Legolas added with a smile. Immediately the smile found its way back onto Kirion's lips.

He wriggled a bit in Legolas' arms and Legolas, knowing that he wanted to be put down, allowed his grip on him to slacken and gently lowered him to the ground. Kirion took his hand and skipped beside him as they neared the front doors of the house. Once they were outside Kirion let go of Legolas' hand and ran around motioning for Legolas to hurry.

Legolas smiled, but kept walking in the pace he had before. Kirion pouted and took Legolas' hand pulling him towards the training grounds, where they were going to watch from a 'distance'.

When they reached the spot Kirion lay down into the grass and looked absorbingly at the warriors though they were so far away he could barely see them. Legolas grinned and immediately started tickling Kirion. Soon the elflings giggles were heard throughout the garden.

"Legolas stop!" Kirion shrieked between laughs, "Stop! Legolas!"

Legolas had mercy on him and stopped. Kirion laid on the grass trying to regain his breath, but there was still a grin on his lips.

"I hadn't thought it would be this soon I would see you two again my Princes." Damon said from behind them.

Legolas had noticed him come towards them, but first now gave any indication of it. He smiled to Damon and was about to say something when a voice rung out through the gardens.

"LEGOLAS!" Thranduil bellowed and made his way towards them.

Legolas watched as his father moved towards them, his expression was almost dark with anger. Warily he got to his feet, picked up Kirion and handed him to Damon, who hefted him against his side.

"Keep him with you." Legolas said to Damon a completely serious tone dominated his voice and sent a shiver down Damon's spine; he tightened his hold on Kirion. Legolas nodded and then turned around and headed towards his father intending to intercept him before he came too close to Kirion. He could see even from that distance that Thranduil had barely contained anger in his eyes.

"Yes my King?" Legolas asked formally.

"What is this that I've been hearing?" Thranduil snarled, "Have you assembled a meeting without even consulting in me first?"

"I was planning to inform you of the meeting as soon as I had the chance, but it was a meeting that needed to be held so I didn't want to bother you." Legolas said emotionlessly.

"Bother me!" Thranduil snapped, "I am the king, you're not granted to make these decisions and I choose whether or not it is necessary."

"Have you read the report my King?" Legolas asked his eyebrows slightly creased. "It's clearly necessary to hold a meeting about the information in it. If the patrols in the north get pushed back then more orcs will enter this land."

"That is irrelevant to the fact that you had no right to call any meeting." Thranduil barked.

Legolas arched his eyebrow and willed himself to control the irritation that rose inside him. "Whether or not I made the decision of calling a totally relevant meeting won't matter to the elves that are currently dying trying to protect our kingdom. They need help as quickly as they can get it, therefore it was necessary to call a meeting as quickly as possible."

Legolas saw the dangerous glint in his father's eyes and knew that he had said something that maybe wasn't all that clever. As his father raised his hand and it flew towards his face Legolas swiftly took a step backwards to avoid the blow, his honed reflexes coming to good use. Legolas' eyes hardened.

"I am king!" Thranduil shouted, "This is my kingdom and you have no right to decide anything!"
Legolas knew that this wasn't really about the meeting. Thranduil wasn't angry with the meeting because he would have made the same decision if Legolas hadn't made it first. What he was trying to do was to show Legolas again that he was under him, lesser than him. It seemed as though this had become more important for him to underline it after the first half year where Legolas had taken over the rule of Mirkwood.

Thranduil grabbed Legolas' tunic and hauled him close. Growling in anger as he stared into the cool eyes of his son. He raised his hand once more, but then a voice cried shakily.

"Don't hurt my brother!"

Legolas' eyes widened and he snapped his head towards the sound. He saw Damon struggling to hold his brother and Kirion had tears down his cheeks. His eyes were trimmed with red and his gaze was a mixture of fear and determination.

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Thranduil growled, "You demon!"

When he let go of Legolas' tunic and began walking towards Kirion, Legolas knew he had to do something. He grabbed Thranduil's arm, but Thranduil just wrenched it out of his grip. Legolas gritted his teeth and then tackled his father to the ground and held him down.

He turned his unreadable eyes to Damon, who was still holding Kirion. "Get him out of here."

Damon hurried off, knowing that the elfling in his arms shouldn't have to see something like that or have the king as his father. He was worried a bit about Legolas, but he knew that he was strong and capable of defending himself.

As soon as they were out of view he let go of his father and stood up. He stepped back slightly and watched as his father came to his feet with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"I apologize my King." Legolas said calmly. "I do not think it would be wise to let your temper get the best of you. Kirion is still an elfling he does not know better. Damon was not at fault either, clearly he didn't know what else to do than to take his orders from me."

Thranduil backhanded him harshly across the cheek and this time Legolas did not avoid it. He knew that it would pass sooner and that Thranduil wouldn't do anything to anyone else if he just allowed himself to take the blow.

"How dare you!" Thranduil snarled. "How dare you lay a hand on your King! You should be joining me in this fight! He killed your mother! Did you not care for her?"

"He did not-!"

All the wind was pushed out of Legolas' lungs when his father slammed his fist into his ribs. Legolas coughed and leaned over, but refused to fall to his knees.

After he had regained his breath he straightened out and looked his father in the eyes. "She would have loved him no matter what. It was not his fault that she died. She was just too weak to carry a child and then give birth once more. It was unfortunate, but Kirion had no saying in the matter and there was nothing he could have done to prevent it."

The next punch sent Legolas firmly to his knees gasping. When he opened his eyes next his gaze was drawn to a point behind Thranduil. Some of the guards who had probably been down at the training grounds were standing there with a look of shock in their eyes.

Legolas shifted his gaze to his still fuming father. "You have an audience." He said calmly and watched as Thranduil snapped his head around to look behind him. "What are you going to do now?"

Thranduil growled to Legolas and snarled, "You're going with them to push back the orcs!"

Legolas smirked and said, "Actually that was already my plan."

Thranduil glared at him and walked off, back towards the house. Legolas watched him leave before standing up. He brushed the dirt casually off his knees, not really because he minded, but because he wanted something to do with his hands. While he figured out what he was going to say to the guards who were at that moment making their way towards him.

He looked up when they were almost before him. Their brows were knitted and concern showed in their eyes.

"Are you all right my Prince?" One of them asked. "What happened?"

Legolas smiled ruefully, "Just a small dispute, nothing to worry about." Everyone in Mirkwood already knew of his fathers 'violent tendencies' although he wasn't sure if any of them had actually believed that he would hit his sons before this. "Has there been more news from the north?" He asked trying to spin the conversation away from what had just happened.

The guards seemed to notice, but nevertheless answered, "No my Prince. Not a word since this morning."

Legolas nodded thoughtfully and then said, "I would be thankful if this episode was kept between us." Even it was said lightly the guards heard the underlying command in his voice and nodded. "Good, have a nice day."

He turned and walked towards the house. When no one was watching he would periodically massage his cheek and ribs. He knew that he was going to be sporting some new bruises come morn, but he didn't really care. The only thing that was important to him at the moment was that Kirion was all right. That was why he didn't stop walking until he was before Kirion's doors. He heard crying from inside and vaguely Damon's voice.