~

A young Thranduil stood beside his father, looking around him at the great city Lothlorien. The beauty of it carried in the elves around him. He may prefer the great forest, but for something outside of his father's realm, he admired the strength and beauty in Lothlorien. As he wandered about with his friend Celeborn, it was there that he met Miríel. Her red hair flowing around her like a waterfall, her smile like a star of the sky and her warm eyes full of life. The two grew fond of each other's friendship, which quickly turned into a love that was remembered always. A love so great, it stood the test of time.

Thranduil's POV

I paced back and forth as I waited in the hall. Inside the room laid Miríel, groaning and in pain. As another groan came, my feet stopped and breathed a heavy sigh. My heart raced, hoping all would go smoothly. As a cry filled the air, my heart jumped to my throat, I went to the front of the door and a maid opened it. I quickly walked towards Miríel. She looked up with a tired smile and I returned it with a soft one. I stared down at the extremely small child in Miríel's arms, the babe full of life. 

"It's a son." She whispered and handed him to me, I quickly took him, gently cradling his tiny frame. I studied his blue eyes as he yawned. A love wrapped itself around my heart, one that was different, it was new and I felt a fierce desire to protect him, no matter the cost.

"Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha," I whispered every so softly and he closed his eyes, his head falling to the nook of my arm. I looked up to Miríel with a smile of love.

"I was thinking of Legolas for his name." Miríel spoke and I nodded my head in acknowledgment.

"Legolas...It fits him." I answered and sat besides her, she rested her head on my shoulder and I kissed her brow softly. The two of us staring down at the babe. We had both waited for this for a long time, Miríel very much and now he was here. Born during the blossoming of spring and into a great kingdom, he was ours to keep.

~~~

9 Years Later

"Thranduil! Thranduil! Where's Legolas? He's run off again!" Miríel shouted from the hallway, her voice slightly worried.

I stood up from where I had been writing a letter and before I could go find Legolas his two tiny arms wrapped around my leg. I looked down and the boy smiled up, his sharp blue eyes flashing mischievously. He was more than once adventuring away and doing something new.

"Ada, love." He said in his young voice and I smiled lovingly at him. He raised his arms up then, "Ada up," he spoke and I willingly picked him up.

"Now Legolas, you know you're not supposed to leave Naneth when Ada works." I spoke to him gently and despite his age he understood very well. His little blond head dropped a little and he said sorry. I smiled and kissed his forehead, "you're forgiven, now let's go surprise Naneth." I whispered with a smile and he brightened up, giggling. I took the little boy and placed him on my shoulders, we waited at the door and jumped out as Miríel came. "Rawrrr!" Thranduil shouted and Legolas did the same, Miríel yelped for a second before she realized who it was.

"Thranduil! You know how I hate it when you do that and you know-" I stopped her mid-sentence with a sudden kiss, she was shocked but responded in a short time. We parted for air and her blushing look made me smile. 

"Here he is, he just wanted a little Ada time" I spoke with a grin as I handed her Legolas. "You should wear your hair like that more often along with your nightgown and robe, it looks exceptionally beautiful on you" I teasingly told her as I walked into the office with a smile, her face was red and dazed, Miríel collected herself and turned away talking quietly to Legolas. I watched her leave thinking to myself, she was the best mother to Legolas and I loved observing her be one. I watched them longingly for one last second before I returned to my work. Despite my responsibilities being highly important, I would much rather spend time with Miríel and Legolas. I resumed writing my letter to Lord Elrond and turned my thoughts to my work. As the day drew on I finished any parchments that needed attending to and I went to retrieve the reports of yesterday from our captain of our guards to ensure Greenwood's safety.

Afterwards I made my way to the nursery where Legolas was putting on a show for his mother. I leaned against the doorway watching him. He ran around the room, with his 'sword' in hand, making noises that sounded jumbled. When he spotted me he jumped excitedly, shouting "Ada!" I laughed and picked him up as he came running over.

"Is my little Greenleaf defending his people against evil invaders?" I asked and he nodded his head violently. "Good, now how about if Ada comes play with you?" I asked and his face lit up with even more excitement. It warmed my heart and I joined in on his play. The evening passed with frolic and enjoyment, Miríel even joining in at times, playing as a maiden who needed saving from the evil Morgoth. 

As I put Legolas to bed, I studied him as he slept peacefully, he looked very much like his eithweg, I wished they could have known each other, he would have loved his grandfather. I walked away and into the next room where I found Miríel already asleep, I slipped into bed and put my arm around her waist, resting my head near hers.

"Is he asleep?" She asked and I smiled.

"Yes, he is, and now we can have our alone time." I said and kissed her cheek. Even though we had been married in the beginning of The Second Age, every moment with her was never dull, always full of life and joy.

~~~

The next morning I woke to Legolas nestled in between the two of us, sleeping soundly as his mother. I smiled softly and carefully slipped out, Legolas stirred but didn't wake up. I silently prepared myself for the day. Today Celeborn was coming to discuss some plans, I put on a dark green robe with hints of brown, as I was finishing Legolas had quietly come up and I took him out with me after I wrote a note. I left the note beside Miríel's bedside and told the maidens to not disturb her. I carried Legolas down the hallways, who cheered with excitement. We went to eat breakfast first and I then dressed him in something presentable. Afterwards we started towards the guard's keeper, but our captain, Foron informed me Celeborn had just arrived. 

"Thank you Foron; Legolas why don't you go and run along with Tauriel." I told him, the boy smiled and squirmed down, making his way over to the captain's daughter. The two smiled and ran off to their heart's content, I sent a maiden to keep an eye on them. I returned my attention to Foron and we both made our way to the throne room. Celeborn stood there and I smiled, he had been a longtime friend ever since we were young men. "Celeborn, I hope you had safe travels?" I asked, bowing my head in unison with his.

"I did, it was fairly quick as well. I trust your family is in good health?" He replied and I nodded.

"They are and yours?" I asked and looked at him, he smiled slightly.

"They are well, now about the letter." He replied, I nodded and we went to a private room with Foron and Celeborn's head guard to discuss business. At the end of it a knock came from the door. I opened it to find a displeased Miríel with a very dirty Legolas and Tauriel. Celeborn was talking with Foron and his captain, so I stepped out of the room and raised my eyes, trying my best to not laugh at their muddied looks. 

"Please explain to me why I found these two in the garden, rolling around and making mud pies." She asked with a straight face, her lips in a straight line. 

"They were playing and they happened to choose a muddy place in the garden," I answered, holding back a smile. She read my face, her mouth tightening and her eyes narrowing. 

"Thranduil Oropherion, don't you dare play games with me. I am serious, he ruined one of his best outfits and Tauriel's father I am sure will not be happy." She spoke quickly and I cleared my throat and looked down at the children.

"Tauriel, Legolas, you know very well that you should not be playing in the mud, go with Eregel and get washed up," I told them, when they left I held my lips together to keep myself from laughing. When she uncrossed her arms and was satisfied she turned to leave but I caught her hand and became serious with her. "Melamin," I whispered, staring into her soft hazel eyes, she looked at me and I smiled to myself as her breathing seemed to quicken. Our foreheads were almost touching and I stared at her, before she had a chance to pull away I softly kissed the bridge of her nose. "Do not be upset at them, for they are only children for a small time," I whispered to her before returning to Celeborn. 

In a few minutes Miríel came in and Celeborn greeted her fondly, for he loved her as a sister and she returned his favor in the same way. I smiled as she came over to stand by me and she stayed for a bit of small talk, but soon she pulled away to go and keep a closer eye on the children. The day passed without any troubles and Celeborn stayed for the night, we had a wonderful evening and it was a relief that Legolas had made Celeborn laugh, seeing the troubled look in his eyes. Once Miríel left with Legolas to put him down I turned to Celeborn and looked at him.

"What troubles you, my friend?" I asked him. The elf was silent for a few moments before speaking. 

"There has been a growing of the evil, it is small and silent, but Galadriel has seen something she has been troubled by, it is not far, but in these coming years we must be sure to find ourselves ready and equipped for battle." When he was finished I heeded his words and thanked him, I felt there was something else but I was not going to press him for it. The night passed by and in the morning he departed, leaving a letter from Lady Galadriel with us. 

                                                                                      ~~~

6 years later...

As I watched Miríel prepare for the day, I noticed she had a spring to her step and she seemed, if it was possible, even more cheerful than most days. She hummed a small tune and as I watched her, I wanted to join in but something weighed on me. Once she was ready, I shook it off and the three of us went to the stables, I carried Legolas on my shoulders and walked by my side, when we arrived I set Legolas on Loboron, he hugged the giant elk affectionately and I smiled as Miríel greeted him and he nuzzled her. I stroked the magnificent beast and soon we started out. The path we took was a well worn and a well guarded one. "Legolas, will you sing for your Naneth and I?" I asked him, glancing behind me up at him.

"Of course Ada." He cheerfully responded and he sprang into Song of New Hope.

"Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising 
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended;

over death, over dread, over doom
lifted out of loss, out of life, unto long glory. "

His sweet voice rang out and as he finished, I smiled. "That was wonderful Legolas, thank you," I told him and turned to Miríel, she was about to speak when a call of orcs rang out, arrows suddenly fired and Miríel had already shielded Legolas. The guards had instantly sprang after the orcs but I looked to Miríel who appeared to be in pain, I ordered a guard to watch Legolas and my heart dropped as I saw an arrow in her chest and abdomen. I quickly picked her up and climbed onto Loboron. Legolas sat in front and I held her close, I was determined to not lose her. "You will be alright, melamin." Immediately Loboron lurched forward and traveled back to the castle. 

Everything happened in a blur as we arrived at the palace. I carried her tightly and swiftly, not wanting to lose a moment, I held back the fear that tried to grip my heart. Laying her on the bed, I stood beside her as Elegorm brought cloths and hot water, along with herbs. I looked at Miríel as she struggled to breathe and she looked back, we both knew. The past month had been like this and I closed my eyes not wanting to let her go. My thoughts whirled in my mind and my heart rapidly picked up beat. 

Her hand met mine and everything just stopped. I ordered everyone out of the room in a firm voice and finally opened my eyes, my robes and crown were cast aside and I knelt down beside her. Tears formed in my eyes as she put her hand on my face. "Do not cry, my love," she whispered in a raspy voice, I saw the struggle and pain for her to breathe, my hand met hers and I kissed it tenderly. It was a gift that all the elves could heal rapidly, but when it was fatal, death was certain. The two of us stared into each other's eyes, words not needed to express the emotion we felt. Everything being spoken within minutes.

"I-" she paused to take a breath and then continued, I wanted her to save her breath, but I sensed this was important. "I wanted to tell you something earlier, but I hadn't been able to tell you. Thranduil, Legolas was going to be a big brother. Tell him I love him and know that I love you. You will meet this child and-" she took another shaky breath as she looked at me, "and remember that this is not the end. I will see you in The Undying Lands one day." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. I pushed my own back and I stared at her, taking in all the life she had left in her. "Aa' i'sul nora lanne'lle," she whispered before her last breath was breathed. My heart felt a sudden hollowness as she departed and I bowed my head against her lifeless body. 

~

The great king knelt there, tears racking his body. The night drew on but the king never departed from the love of his life, a numbness surrounded him that day, walls surrounded him that would guard him from the pain he felt. The great king's sadness was never forgotten, the wound in his heart-baring a physical ache that never ceased, for his heart wept with great sadness that day.

Cormanin niuve tenna' ta ela lle au'

My heart shall weep until I see you again ღ

First, I want to thank my dear mellon @airwren who has helped very much and encouraged me with writing this story, thank you so much! This short story is entirely dedicated to her. As for the story, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I had the enjoyment of writing it. 

The name Miríel is a female Sindarin name that means Jewel and I chose her name for that very reason. Thank you for any votes, shares or comments! They are appreciated. :)

As a side note elven ages are different than human ages, which is why it was a bit longer, around 9 years for an elf is around the age of 3 and 15 is around 5.

Sindarin Elvish Words:

Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha - May the leaves of your life tree  never turn brown

Ada - Dad/Father

Naneth - Mother/Mama

Eithweg - Grandfather (This is actually one that may not be completely correct, there is not full information or full clarity on this word, but this would be the closest translation into Modern Sindarin (This is spoken in the Third Age) and if you do not know everything in what I am talking about, then I would suggest doing research a bit on it :))

Melamin - My love

Aa' i'sul nora lanne'lle - May the wind fill your sails

*Disclaimer - I own none of these characters except my own OC's, all others are owned by Tolkien