Prologue

A horrible howl filled the air. The scream was a high pitched shriek. Sharp was the sound and near deafening.

The Elvenking sat, alone in his dimly lit chambers. His fingers curled around a wine glass while his pointer finger and thumb held his head. Memories, guilt and loneliness filled him. He should have never allowed the Queen to go. He should have insisted she stay behind and care for their young children. He should have...His eyes closed in regret. Such thoughts and feelings, no longer mattered. She was gone. His lovely wife and best friend was gone.

The loss weighed heavily on his heart. He felt it shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. The pain of loss was sharp, like a sword, quick and smooth. The pain, that seemed everlasting. He found it difficult to eat, sleep and breath. His thoughts were constantly focused on her crystal-clear eyes, gentle smile. He missed her spunky yet refined demeanor. A small tear threatened to leave his eye when that sharp banshee-like scream brought him out of his thoughts.

His head snapped up as he looked towards the door. He inhaled a deep breath as he realized his daughter was in for another long night of screaming. He shook his head slightly. If Elowyn were here, she'd know what to do for her. She could calm their child with ease and grace. The wet nurse he had ordered to look after their child, while kind, she did not possess her mother's touch.

He listened to the crying a moment more before he finished his wine and stood from the chair. He stood there in thought before he slowly left the room. Thranduil made his way to the nursery, where that horrid howling erupted from. It wasn't a sound he had heard when Elowyn, his wife and Queen, was alive. In fact laughter seemed to fill the air most nights when she was still by his side. Now, instead of laughter it was this terrible scream that filled the Woodland Realm.

"Be still." Thranduil heard the red haired elleth gently try to comfort his child. Her back was turned to the king. She did not realize he had entered. He watched from the door frame as she rocked the small babe back and forth "You're alright. Shhh."

"Nana...Nana." the young ten month old girl whimpered. She was calm for a moment before she began to cry and howl once again. Large tears left the young elleth's eyes and she continued to cry for her mother. The wet nurse then turned. Her eyes quickly met Thranduil's.

"My King." the wet nurse, an elleth named Amariel, surprised the king was standing before her. "I'm so sorry the princess is..She..."

"She wants her mother." Thranduil finished the elleth's sentence. His eyes looked from the wet nurse down to his young child. Her grayish-blue eyes met his and the howling pause for a moment. The child watched him with curious eyes. She knew her mother was always close behind if he should appear.

"When will she need to eat again?" The Elvenking found himself asking as he debated what to do. This intensive crying could not continue. It wasn't healthy for his daughter nor those around her. He knew this.

"Not for a few hours more." the wet nurse answered as she continued to lightly bounce the babe, hoping the movement would calm her. Thranduil remained in his thoughts as he watched the upset child. She didn't understand why Elowyn wasn't here. While the minds of elvish children developed more quickly than mortal ones, she was still far too young to understand death.

"Where is Legolas?" he questioned as he noticed his son was not present. It was strange for him not to find all the members of his family in this room.

"The maid is helping him with a bath. They should return shortly if you wish to see him." Amariel commented. The king nodded as he tried to gather his thoughts. That was hard to do with a babe's high pitched cries.

"Give Irowyn to me." The ElveKing's arms suddenly extended out for the babe. "I will care for her during that time." Thranduil found himself surprised by his words and actions. Taking care of the children was more in Elowyn's area of expertise than his own. He could run his kingdom with ease, he knew how to command legions and could keep the peace between his people and others. Taking care of his own children should be a simple task yet he found himself somewhat intimidated by it.

"My Lord I assure you I can..." The wet nurse began, a bit flustered by his request.

"She is my daughter." Thranduil interrupted. His eyes darted quickly from the babe to the elleth in front of him. She knew better than to talk back to him. "I wish to spend time with my children. Come back when she needs to eat. You are dismissed." Amariel stood there a moment, confused. Carefully she placed the child in the king's arms and left the room. Leaving the father and daughter alone.

"I know I'm not your mother." Thranduil began as the child looked up to him with her big eyes. A large tear ran down her cheek while she sniffled. "But I am your father and I do want to help you."

Often at this time of day, he would find her in the nursery. She'd have Legolas on her lap and Irowyn in her cradle. He'd listen to her sing or read to them. Occasionally she'd play a game or simply talk to them. Elowyn's voice always seemed to calm their children.

Carefully he sat in the rocking chair, he had specially made for his beloved. Gently, he placed Irowyn on his chest and rocked back and forth. He gently rubbed her back and softly chanted in Sindarin. Upon hearing the soft flutter of his heartbeat and feeling the soothing motions of her father's hand, the child began to calm. A final tear left her eye before the babe nuzzled further into her father's chest.

Thranduil continued his soft chant. He remembered seeing Elowyn do something similar to this when Legolas was a newborn. It pleased him to know it soothed their second child as it had their first. A soft smile formed on his lips as he hugged her closer to him.

A moment of peace passed before the door opened and in walked the nursemaid. Her eyes were lowered to the child that walked next to her. Thranduil watched the two enter. Not a second passed before his son spotted him. The child's eyes seemed to light up and quickly he let go of the nursemaid's hand. He ran over to the King as fast as his little legs could take him.

"Ada?" the young child asked as he looked up to the king. His arms outstretched. His blue eyes were wide with hope while his lips curled into an extra large smile. Thranduil moved the baby girl more towards his right. Once she was settled there, his hand extended to help his son onto his lap. They were both so small, surely they could both fit in his arms. As soon as Legolas was on his father's lap, he wrapped his arms around Thranduil's neck in a tight hug. The king paused a moment before he returned the motion.

"My King...?" the nursemaid began to question when Thranduil held his hand up.

"I will care for the children tonight." The Elvenking said to her surprise. "You are dismissed until the morning." The nursemaid stood there a moment more before she bowed and left the room. Once the family of three was alone Legolas eased his grip on the king and leaned back. The smile never left his face as he seemed to study his father's face. He could see the sadness in his father's eyes though he didn't understand why.

"Ada?" he questioned after few seconds passed. Thranduil nodded to his son, letting him know he could ask his question. "Where is Naneth?" Thranduil's heart turned. A sickening feeling came upon the king as he realized he'd have to explain his wife's death to his son, though he had instructed the nursemaid to do so. Legolas watched as a great pain overtook his father's eyes while the Elvenking remained silent and deep in thought.

Neither would remember much of their mother. Thranduil knew that. His heart ached as he realized they wouldn't even have a grave site to visit. Legolas understood more than his sister, that was to be expected. Still, his young and innocent mind may not fully comprehend death. Legolas only, being five years old simply watched his father as he patiently awaited his answer. It was rare for elves to have children so close together. Hoping they would have a close relationship, Elowyn insisted her children be slightly closer together in age.

Thranduil looked into his young son's eyes. He felt his heart break once again as he thought of Elowyn, the life they had promised to share together and the life he would now have to live without her by his side. Gently his arm tightened around his son.

"Ada?" the small elf questioned, confused by his father's actions. Legolas returned the hug and nuzzled his head into his father's neck.

"Naneth," Thranduil whispered as he chose his words carefully, "can no longer be with us. She was killed."

"What's killed?" Legolas questioned as a soft snore was heard from sister. She had drifted peacefully to sleep by this point. A small tear threatened to leave Thranduil's eyes but he wouldn't allow it. He was the parent. It was not up to his child to comfort his grief.

"It means, she wanted to be with us but she can't. I...I'll explain it more when you're older, alright?" Thranduil questioned. The topic of death was not something a young elf should speak about. They were immortal, his son shouldn't have to know about this. Legolas stared intensely at his father for a moment before nodded and a smile again appeared on his face.

"Ok, Ada." he answered. A smaller, sad smile formed on Thranduil's lips. He nodded and gently helped his son of hifs lap. Carefully he held the sleeping babe to him as he stood from the chair and made his way over to the crib.

Irowyn's crib was elegantly carved. Much like her brother's bed and father' throne, it had antlers on the sides while other smaller details were carved around the edges. Once he deemed the babe would stay asleep he turned to take care of Legolas when he felt a small tug on his tunic. He looked down to find the small child tightly held a book in one hand. Legolas held it up with his big happy grin.

"Ada, will you read to me?"

...

~Author's Note~

Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out my new story! It's going to be a little different than I usually write but hopefully it'll still turn out alright.. Just a few quick notes, I am an amateur writer. I am still learning. My writing will be speckled with mistakes though I do my best to fix them as I spot them. I will update this story probably every 2-3 weeks, usually Sundays or Mondays in the evenings. Also, I've only read the Hobbit a couple of times so I'm not a Tolkien expert. If I get things wrong just tell me and I'll fix it the best I can. :)

Feel free to leave a review, if you are so inclined. Constructive criticism is always welcome! Thanks for checking out this story. I hope you'll stay tuned for chapter 1! Thanks again!-Lin

Random Notes:

If you're reading Ghost of A Rose, look for an update tomorrow or Tuesday. It's finally almost ready for publishing.

If you're reading The Black Bear expect the next update, next Sunday or Monday.

Disclaimer: I do not own Thranduil, Legolas Bard, Tauriel or any other character from The Hobbit books or movies. I only own Irowyn. Nor do I make any money writing this story. It's purely for fun, entertainment and practice.

Translations:

Nana/Naneth: Mom/Mother

Ada: Father