Chapter Text
Legolas had been uncontrollably excited the whole week. A week ago, his father had broken the news that Lord Elrond and his twin sons were coming for a visit. It was the best news he had received in recent memory.
He didn’t have many elflings his age to play with; most were either too boring or too scared of King Thranduil to involve Legolas in any real fun. Legolas had broken his arm while playing with his friends a year prior and he and his friends received such a scolding from Thranduil, one that none of them would ever forget it as long as they lived. As a result, his only friends that knew how to have fun had begun avoiding him like humans avoided the plague.
He had never met the twins, but their reputation preceded them. From what Legolas had heard, they were as mischievous as they were unabashed in their mischief. They sounded like his ideal playmates. They were a few years older than him, but that wouldn’t be a problem. He was an excellent rider and had no doubt he could keep up with them. Legolas had already planned out all the dangerously exciting places he would take them and all of the clever white lies he would tell his father when he asked where they had gone that day.
He tried his best to keep his excitement hidden from his father. If he showed too much excitement, Thranduil would know he was up to something. He had to be careful not to give anything away.
When a messenger interrupted his and Thranduil’s dinner to announce that Lord Elrond and his retinue had entered the forest and would be arriving late the next day, Legolas couldn’t contain himself anymore.
“You seem very excited, tithen las,” said Thranduil, suspicious of Legolas’ unbridled enthusiasm.
“I’m just a little excited, Ada. I’m excited to meet Lord Elrond and his sons. They’re our kin, are they not?” Legolas tried his best to sound nonchalant. The last thing he needed was for Thranduil to become suspicious and put his foot down before they even arrived.
Thranduil smiled at Legolas. It was good for Legolas to meet his kin. He knew that Legolas craved more family; he didn’t have siblings, close cousins, aunts, or even a mother anymore. It didn’t escape Thranduil’s notice that Legolas was a relatively lonely child. Sometimes Legolas’ only companions were his father and his “uncle” Galion. Thranduil hoped that Legolas would befriend the twins and become a sort of surrogate brother to them, but that hope came with worry. If they did become fast friends, there was no telling what mischief the three of them would get into together. He knew the twins had a penchant for pranks and liked to court danger, and he knew all too well Legolas’ thrill-seeking ways. It was a potentially lethal combination.
“Yes, you are right. They are our kin. Lord Elrond is my distant cousin and a very old friend of mine and he was an even older friend of your mother’s.” Thranduil paused for a second. The wound of his wife’s death was still fresh; it would be a long time—if ever— before he’d be able to think of her without his heart breaking a little. Thranduil recovered quickly; he didn’t want Legolas to be sad, especially when he had just been so excited.
“Now, when they arrive I want you to help me show them around and make them feel welcome, but I don’t want you getting into any danger with Elladan and Elrohir. I don’t know what you’re planning, but I already don’t like it. You are not to pull off any dangerous stunts, Legolas. Am I making myself clear?”
Legolas rolled his eyes. “I never get into danger, Ada!”
Thranduil rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I need you to promise me, Legolas. Promise me that neither you nor Elladan and Elrohir will get into any danger while they’re here. If you don’t promise me, I will send them away as soon as they arrive!”
“Fine, Ada! I promise! I promise! Please don’t send them away! I’m looking forward to meeting them!” he yelled frantically with tears welling in his eyes.
“Ok, ionneg. Don’t forget your promise, because I won’t,” he said as he ruffled Legolas’ hair. Legolas continued eating his dinner while telling Thranduil about his day. Thranduil, on the other hand, remained concerned. Promise or no, Legolas was going to need extra supervision these coming days. He resolved to assign Legolas a guard first thing in the morning in the hope that it would be enough to deter the mischievous elflings.