Opening the door to his father’s study, his eyes suddenly went wide at the object in his father’s hand, his heart seemed to be pulled into his throat by an invisible hand and held there fluttering rapidly like a wild bird imprisoned in a cage. He shook his head believing he wasn’t seeing what he was seeing and that shaking his head would make it go away. His breath caught in his throat causing the young elf to gasp so he could get air anyway he could. Knees and legs that felt as though they could be lapped up suddenly grew strong turning the youth so that he could flee towards his room.
Golden hair streamed behind him as he sprinted to his room, heart pounding frantically in his chest. Upon reaching his room he flung the door open, slammed it shut behind him and leaned with his back against it for a moment, a shudder running through his body, then straightened on shaky legs, and ambled over to his bed. He lie down on the plump mattress and curled on his side in the fetal position, his head towards the door. His hands balled into fists as he tucked them against his chest. He lie there trying to remember how to breathe, but it was as if his body wouldn’t listen and continued to give short quick breaths.
The door to the room opened quietly a few minutes later and two green eyes took in the sight of his son lying trembling on his bed. He could see the shivering of his son’s back and knew it wasn’t from the cold. Very slowly the king walked into the room and called to Legolas not wanting to startle him further. “Ion-nin, what’s wrong?” He asked as he crossed the floor to the bed. He sat down on the edge and slowly eased his hand down to stroke his child’s golden head. The king noticed with dismay that the trembling his child was doing became worse. “Ion-nin? Talk to me please. Tell your Ada what has you so frightened.” Thranduil said stroking the golden hair of the young prince, who was trying hard not to cry.
The feel of his father’s hand settling on his head and flowing down over his hair and onto his back began to have its effect on Legolas. His ragged breathing began to calm, the shudders that rippled down his back began to fade. Tears slipped down his cheek but no sound came from his throat except for slow steady breathing. He slowly straightened his body out and turned a little to look at his father. When he saw the love, concern and worry all for him in his father’s eyes, the prince knew he had been foolish with his thoughts. “Ada, I’m sorry. I’m not s-scared anymore. I was being foolish, I should’ve known. I’m sorry Ada. I’m sorry” Legolas said his voice still thick with emotion and sounding not quite right.
Thranduil felt the tears form in his own eyes as he heard his child apologize profusely, though he didn’t know why. He wrapped an arm around his son drawing him up a little to hold and comfort him. He held him so that Legolas’ left arm was under his own, as he wrapped his left arm around the front of his son and placed his hand gently at the base of the prince’s neck and began to lightly rub. His other hand went instinctively to the back of his child’s head. He didn’t stroke the golden tresses at all he just held him and placed a gentle kiss to his child’s forehead and began to rock slightly trying to ease his son’s pain. “Oh my little Greenleaf you haven’t done anything to apologize for. Settle down my elfling. Everything is alright, your ada will fix things.” He said quietly.
Legolas melted against his father’s embrace. He clutched his father’s sleeve and closed his eyes to the feel of his father’s hands on his neck and head. When he felt his father’s tender kiss to his brow, he felt even guiltier for not trusting his heart. “Ada, I did do something wrong, I believed something I heard about you today instead of trusting my heart. I’m sorry Ada.” He said softly as he buried his face against his father’s shoulder and began to silently cry.
“Oh pen-neth, it’s alright. Why don’t you tell me what happened today when you’ve calmed down a little more.” Thranduil told his distraught child as he began to stroke the golden hair to calm and reassure his young one.
Legolas continued to cry into his father’s shoulder till he finally went quiet. He let his father’s hand flowing through his hair sooth him even more before speaking. “Ada, I feel so horrible thinking you could do such a terrible thing to me.” He went to say more but was stopped when he felt his father’s finger on his lips once more.
“Hush elfling. Why don’t we start with you telling me what happened today and go from there. I’ll decide if you were terrible or not.” King Thranduil said as he smiled down at the teary blue eyes staring up at him. When he saw Legolas nod his head he moved his hand and began to stroke his child’s golden hair while he waited for Legolas to begin his tale.
Legolas walked down the hall a look of pure annoyance on his face. He halted quickly, when Jolvin, the captain of the guard, came around the corner. “Captain Jolvin, forgive me. I was thinking about something else.” Legolas said, his cheeks growing pink.
Jolvin chuckled warmly at the young prince. “It’s quite alright pen-neth. I take it the scowl is because you are on your way to lessons?” The captain asked as he placed a gentle hand on Legolas’ shoulder.
The pink on Legolas’ cheeks turned a shade redder as he nodded. “Aye and if I’m late again, my tutor and Ada have both made it clear on what will happen. I’m sorry I must take my leave if I am to get there on time.” Legolas said side stepping the captain and starting down the hall again this time at a quicker pace. He had wanted to tell the captain what was going on hoping he would be able to get word to his Ada, but figured that the captain would believe he just wanted out of his lessons like his Ada.
The captain regarded the youth a moment noticing a look of distress that seemed to flit across the prince’s face before disappearing. He was concerned with it for a moment then figured it was because the young one wasn’t thrilled with going to lessons and pushed it to the back of his mind. He watched the young elf stride quickly down the hall towards. Jolvin wondered if the teen was late and decided to go and make sure and smooth things over if he was.
Dalwin glared at the teen as he entered the classroom. “Late again I see Prince Legolas. Well let’s hear your excuse this time. I’m sure it’s as interesting as your other excuses.” He said with a raised eyebrow as he crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the desk and waited.
Legolas closed his eyes and wondered if his tutor would believe the truth. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. “ I was talking to Captain Jolvin in the hall. I was on my way here and almost ran into him. We talked a moment then I came directly here.” Legolas said staring at the tutor.
“I see. I’m disappointed Legolas. I thought you’d have a better excuse than that. It wasn’t even a very good one. I shall be notifying your father of your lateness once again.” He was about to say more when there was a knock on the door. “Enter please.”
Jolvin entered into the room. “Master Dalwin, I couldn’t help but over hear your reprimand of young Legolas here and I wish to verify his claim that he was indeed speaking with me in the hall, had I let him continue he would’ve made it in on time. There is no need to reprimand him or talk to his father for he was not at fault.” Jolvin said as he regarded both elves in the room.
Legolas sighed softly and stared down at the floor as he was scolded. He didn’t think his tutor would believe him and this scolding proved it. He had hope though that he would be able to talk to his Ada before Dalwin got to him and tell him exactly what happened. When he heard the knock on the door, he looked up in fear and relief. He was afraid it was his father and that he wouldn’t be able to speak with him before Dalwin, but was relived as it cut the scolding short. When he saw that the one entering was the captain, he perked up a bit more. As he listened to the captain defend him to his tutor, Legolas relaxed his stance and chanced a glance at his tutor wondering what his reaction was to the situation now.
To say that Dalwin was annoyed with the captain would be an understatement. He was quite livid and said as much. “Captain, I will thank you to keep out of matters that don’t concern you. Now if you will take your leave of us, we have lessons to get to.” Dalwin replied curtly.
The captain raised his eye at the tutor then looked at Legolas. He nodded to both of them, turned on his heel and left the room. He stood out in the hall a moment and then decided to go talk to his king a moment. There still didn’t seem to be something quite right about the situation.
Legolas was uneasy with the silence that now filled the classroom. He looked at his seat and decided that sitting would be a good option. He walked a few steps over to his desk and went to sit down.
“So young prince, you think that just because the captain came in here means you’re off the hook. Don’t you? Well it doesn’t change anything, you were still late and you will still be staying after and writing lines for me. We will then go see your father, whom I’m sure will love to hear your excuse plus the fact that you conned his captain of the guard to cover for you as well. I believe last time he said that should you be truant again he would make sure his displeasure was known and he would do so in front of me this time to make sure that I knew you were punished for your transgressions and that you had a very clear reminder of what happens to young princes who do not take their lesson time seriously.” Dalwin said calmly as he studied the youth before him.
The young prince blanched at the thought, but instead of trembling in fear or begging for his tutor to keep silent, which he had a feeling his tutor was hoping for, he straightened his posture, squared his shoulders, lifted his head and said, “I will explain to my father what happened and Captain Jolvin will back up my story. My father will believe me and he will understand.”
“I stand corrected. Forgive me your highness. I guess the conversation I overheard the other day wasn’t about you and your behavior. Come, let us get on with your lessons.” Dalwin turned knowing that curiosity would get the better of the young prince eventually. He set about putting problems on half of the chalkboard for math and put a paragraph on the other side.
The golden haired prince chewed gently on his bottom lip and slowly sat down when he realized that his tutor wasn’t going to say anything else. He began working on the math problems given him, though he looked up every so often at his tutor wondering about the conversation he overheard.
Dalwin sat at his desk going over the next day’s lesson plans and notice the blue eyes sneaking another glance at him. He had known that the prince wouldn’t be able to contain his curiosity for very long. He looked up with a frown as the young prince looked up again. “What is it Legolas? Do you need something?” He asked with annoyance.
Legolas’ cheeks heated up as he was caught and quickly looked down. “No sir.” He said quietly and went back to his math problems. His curiosity was still gnawing at the back of his mind but didn’t look up again.
When the end of lessons came, Legolas began readying himself to leave when he heard Dalwin clearing his throat sharply. He looked up slowly. “Yes sir?” Legolas asked a completely confused look on his face.
“What do you think you’re doing young prince?” Dalwin asked a little surprised at the prince’s actions.
“G-getting ready to leave sir.” Came Legolas’ bewildered reply.
“I believe you have forgotten that you were told you’d be staying after to write lines for me. Sit back down elfling. Now.” The tutor ordered. His green eyes followed Legolas’ movements till the teen was sitting back in his desk. He pointed to the paragraph on the board and said, “ You will copy this fifty times and neatly. If it is not neat then you will write them over again and again until they are perfect. Understand?”
Fire filled Legolas’ eyes at the tutor’s words. He stood up and threw his quill across the room, then walked over and erased the paragraph from the board. He then proceeded to smack the eraser against the board sending puffs of smoke to cover everything, including himself, in a thin layer of chalk dust. “No! I will be here all night because it will never be good enough. You will keep me here till my father has no choice but to look for me. You think me stupid Master Dalwin but I know what you are doing. I will go inform my father now of my lateness and my reason.” Legolas said after he had finished his small temper tantrum then turned, opened the door and was about to leave when he heard his tutor speak to him.
“You do that young prince. I’m sure your father will understand completely and disregard using that item that he finally received from Lord Erestor today.” Dalwin said as he looked up. He kept the grin off his face when he saw Legolas pause in the doorway.
Legolas turned and shut the door. “What item would my father want that Lord Erestor has?” He asked asking the first question that came to mind. He had another question he desperately wanted to know the answer to.
“It was actually an item he asked Lord Erestor to find for him. I only caught a glance of it, but it’s a very long switch.” He stretched his arms to show the size of the switch, then his eyes got a very serious gleam in them. “Have you ever had a switch used on you elfling?” He asked well aware that Thranduil had never used anything but his hand on the young prince.
“N-no.” Legolas said, nervousness creeping into his tone. His eyes widened when he saw the length that his tutor said the switch was and hoped Master Dalwin was exaggerating. His stomach began to flutter and ache and his heartbeat increased as he thought about his father using something so large on him. “W-what happens, w-when one is used?” He finally asked softly.
Dalwin kept his features schooled but couldn’t keep the evil gleam from his eye. “It isn’t pleasant. First you will be told to lower your leggins then you will be required to lay yourself over your father’s desk…”
“Over his desk? B-b-b-but, he’s always done it over his lap.” Legolas interrupted. He could feel a tingling sensation in his bottom as though it was about to happen. Legolas swallowed hard as he tried to regain his composure. “I-I’m sorry Master Dalwin, please continue.”
The dark haired tutor nodded and said, “As you wish your highness. You will go over your father’s desk for it is a better position for the switch to be used. He will then start at the top of your backside and work his way down leaving large red welts in his path. Should he happen to cross strokes he will break the welts open and should he cross them enough, he will leave your backside a raw bloody mess.”
Legolas had lost all color in his face and was now getting up on shaky legs. His breath was coming in short quick pants and his heart was hammering hard against his chest like a herd of wild horses had taken up residence there. “E-excuse m-me M-master D-Dalwin, I-I…” Legolas sprinted from the room and made it to the nearest bathing chamber before releasing the contents of his stomach on to the floor. He had a brief fleeting gratefulness that his braids kept the rest of his long hair from his face as he retched again. A few moments later he arrived in his room, poured water into a basin and bathed his face. He took a few deep breaths then exited his room, informed one of the passing maids that the bathing chamber down the hall needed to be cleaned, and made his way to his father’s study.
“And that’s w-when I started to come in to y-your study Ada.” Legolas said his voice trembling slightly as he repeated his tutor’s words. He laid his head on his father’s shoulder basking in the strong loving presence of his father.
Thranduil stroked his child’s golden hair as he listened to what had happened. His anger grew though he didn’t let it show as he comforted and held his child. When he heard of Legolas’ temper tantrum, he shook his head slightly. When he heard his child’s voice tremble as he repeated Dalwin’s words of what would happen to him, Thranduil’s arms tightened around the young elf trying to soothe him. “Oh pen-neth, I see now why you were so frightened. I’m sorry he said such things to you my Greenleaf. I will deal with him, I promise you this. Now ion-nin, we have another matter to discuss.” He said knowing his little prince would not be pleased with the last part.
“W-what do you mean Ada?” Legolas asked as he lifted his head and pulled away. He looked at his father as his mind worked rapidly to think of what he had done.
“What I mean ion-nin is that we need to discuss your rather childish temper tantrum you had in the classroom today.” Thranduil said his voice a mixture of love and sternness.
“Oh, but Ada…He-he he was being cruel.” Legolas said finally.
“Legolas, true he was doing it to goad you, but you acted exactly as he wanted you to. He did it to get you to react the way you did so he could have a legitimate reason to come to me. He knew that with Captain Jolvin to back you up on your tardiness, that I would see no reason to punish you, so he goaded you and as a result you threw what sounds like a very impressive tantrum.” Thranduil explained calmly to his child.
“I-I’m sorry Ada. I-I didn’t…I was angry with him and…I’m sorry.” Legolas said as he thought about what his father said and hung his head as he realized his father was right.
“Shh pen-neth. I know that if you had thought about it you wouldn’t have acted as you did, but the fact is you did, and you have to answer for it now my young prince.” Thranduil said as he reached down and lifted Legolas’ head. He was a bit startled at the huge, frightened, blue, eyes of his child staring back at him. The king released his child’s chin to gently stroke the tear stained cheek. “Oh tithen-pen, he truly terrified you with what he said, didn’t he?” He asked, tears forming in his own eyes.
“A-aye Ada.” Legolas said softly, then in an even quieter voice he asked, “Ada…W-what are you… you-you’re not going t-to use…” His breath was coming in short quick spurts.
Thranduil clenched his teeth, closed his eyes and silently began to count. He held Legolas to him and began to gently stroke his child’s hair with one hand, though he slightly clenched his hand every so often, and with the other hand he rubbed Legolas’ back trying to ease the trembling the teen prince was doing. Once he felt like he could speak without shouting, he eased Legolas up to face him. “Master Dalwin was wrong to say those things to you, just as you were wrong to do what you did, but you did nothing so wrong that you need to fear what will happen to you tithen-pen. You’re punishment will be the same as always. I think it best that we get to it now so you do not fear what shall happen any longer ion-nin.” Thranduil explained as he eased Legolas up and then helped him off the bed to stand next to him.
“Ada, do we…” Legolas started, but was unable to finish as his father’s finger was placed gently over his lips.
“Do not ask me that Greenleaf. I would like nothing more than to pull you back into my arms and hold you for as long as you like, but this must be done first even though it will pain me as much as it will you.” Thranduil stated, then sighed sadly, patted his child’s thigh and said sadly, “These come down pen-neth.”
Legolas’ eyes widened a little and his mouth opened to protest but found he couldn’t. Finally he nodded, closed his mouth, loosened the ties on his leggins, pushed them down to his knees, took a deep breath, and then laid himself over his father’s lap. The tension drained from his body as he felt the firmness of his father’s legs against his stomach. He gathered a handful of his father’s robes in his hands and rubbed it against his cheek reveling at the softness, that was the robe and at the scent, that was his father.
Thranduil watched his child, tears forming in his eyes as he flipped up the back of Legolas’ tunic. He placed a gentle hand on his child’s head and let it glide gently down till he reached the small of his son’s back, rubbed it gently then pressed down to hold him in place. He placed his other hand on the pale white bottom and asked solemnly, “What is this spanking for ion-nin?” He closed his eyes as he waited for an answer.
“F-for throwing a fit in the classroom.” Legolas answered his voice trembling only slightly at the beginning. His father’s hand being placed on his backside had actually calmed his racing heart.
Thranduil nodded. “That’s correct ion-nin.” He said quietly then lifted his hand then brought it down sharply eliciting a small whimper from the young one over his lap. He hardened his heart as he rained down more swats just as sharply as the first one. He then shifted his son forward, exposing the untouched underside of the elf teen’s bottom and steeled himself to finish the spanking.
Tears flowed freely down the prince’s face as his bottom was heated. When he felt himself being tilted forward he knew what was about to happen. He squeezed his father’s robe in his hands and buried his face into it.
A smile sad smile graced the king’s face when he realized that his child was trying to be brave. He raised his hand and brought it down ten times on the pale undercurve turning it a bright pink. Thranduil stopped then, lifted the young prince’s leggins, covering the freshly spanked bottom, then turned and lifted his child into his arms, removing his robe from Legolas‘ hands. “There now ion-nin. Shh pen-neth. It’s over with now,” Thranduil said softly as he stroked his sobbing child’s hair and rubbed his back. He began to rock slowly from side to side adding to the comfort.
Legolas melted into the comforting arms as he continued to softly weep on his father’s shoulder. His tears began to slow and soon became small hiccups and sniffles. His arms were now around his father’s neck. “Ada, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” He was silenced once again by his father’s finger gently placed against his lips.
“Hush my Greenleaf, you are forgiven and there is no more need for apologies. It is over…alright?” He asked smiling gently at his son.
“Alright Ada. Ada? Did Lord Erestor really send you a switch?” Legolas finally asked as he peered up at his father through wet long blonde lashes. There was a hint of fear still in the blue eyes as he regarded his father carefully.
“No tithen-pen. Lord Erestor did not send me a switch. If you come with me to the sitting room, I will show you what he sent to me. It is quite beautiful. Come ion-nin I will show you.” Thranduil eased Legolas from his lap and then stood himself. He wrapped an arm around Legolas’ shoulders and guided him from his room to the sitting room.
Legolas tensed as they got closer to the sitting room and began to try to slow their pace. “A-ada I-I’ve changed my m-mind. We d-don’t need to go s-see i-it. P-please A-ada.” Legolas said his voice trembling and becoming more broken at the end.
“It’s alright tithen-pen. I promise. You’ve been punished already ion-nin, nothing else is going to happen to you, I promise. Come on Greenleaf I promise you nothing bad is going to happen tithen-pen.” Thranduil said coaxing his child closer to the sitting room. Once they arrived he could feel the tension again in his child’s shoulders. He opened one of the doors and gave his child a gentle nudge inside. “Here sit down pen-neth.” He said guiding his child to one of the large comfortable chairs in the room. He walked over and picked up an object and brought it over to his child.
Legolas’ eyes widened at the object in his father’s hand. It wasn’t as long as Dalwin had said it was, but it was still long and looked like it could do a lot of damage. He began to breath heavily and his heart began to race. “No. It’s…Ada no please. You…you…”
“Shhh. Ion-nin, look at it. You’re not seeing it. You’re seeing what you think it is and not what it really is. Look at it ion-nin.” Thranduil said quietly trying to calm his child. He watched and waited to see if his child would indeed calm down enough to see what was really in front of him.
Legolas closed his eyes and took a deep breath then opened them and looked at the object trying to calm down and see what was really there. Suddenly the image changed and Legolas finally saw that it wasn’t a switch at all. “A flute Ada?” Legolas finally asked, his voice calm.
“Aye ion-nin a flute. Beautiful isn’t it? The designs on it are very nice aren’t they?” Thranduil asked as he held out the flute to his child.
Legolas took the flute and turned it a couple of times staring at the intricate patterns and designs on the instrument. “Aye Ada it’s very nice. Does it sound as nice as it looks?” He asked handing the flute back to his father.
“I don’t know ion-nin, let’s find out shall we?” Thranduil sat in a chair across from his son and begin to play a very soft slow melody. When he looked up and noticed his child fighting sleep that was trying to claim him, he continued the soft tune till he had lulled his child into reverie.
Thranduil loomed behind his desk as the raven-haired tutor entered the study. “Yes Dalwin, what is it?” He asked sharply. He studied the elf before him noticing with hidden amusement that he was fingering the sleeve of his robe much like a nervous elfling waiting to have his misdeeds laid out to him.
“Ah well you see sire, the young prince was late once again to lessons. I informed him he would stay after and copy a sentence from the board fifty times, but when his lessons were over he got up to leave. I asked him where he thought he was going and he told me he was leaving. I informed him once again that he was to stay after and copy a sentence fifty times for his tardiness. He threw a fit sire. He threw his quill, overturned his desk, flung papers off my desk, erased the sentence from the board and then proceeded to beat the board covering my entire room, plus myself in chalk dust. I have cleaned up since then, but I left the room as he left it in hopes that he will clean his mess.” Dalwin said calmly.
Thranduil raised a brow and frowned at the described temper tantrum. Legolas had said nothing of turning over his desk or shoving papers off Dalwin’s desk. He couldn’t help but wonder if Legolas had deceived him. An idea struck the king just then, and he looked at the tutor with stern green eyes. “I would like to see the damage done.” He said standing up. He watched as the tutor seemed to calm almost immediately and appeared to be grinning. King Thranduil chalked it up to the negative picture his child had painted of the tutor, and dismissed the sudden suspicion.
“Of course your highness.” Dalwin said as he headed for the door anxious to show the king the trashed classroom. He was quiet as he led the way down the hall to the schoolroom.
When Dalwin opened the door, Thranduil noted that it was just as the tutor said. Trashed. Not the mild tantrum that Legolas had said he had. The king looked around the room and couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong. He could see the quill laying on the floor at the other end of the room, he could see where the chalkboard had been erased, it was hard not to notice the parchment scattered around the room nor the over turned desk. Something wasn’t right though, then slowly it dawned on the king. He turned venomous green eyes on the tutor and said in a very calm and controlled voice, “Go to my study, I will retrieve my son and meet you there.” King Thranduil turned, stormed from the classroom to his child’s room, which was the opposite way.
Upon arriving at Legolas’ door, Thranduil had to force himself to calm down before entering. Once he was as calm as he was going to get, he opened the door slowly and peered in. A smile graced his face as he saw his child still asleep on the bed where he had been placed earlier after falling asleep in the sitting room. He walked over, sat on the edge and began to rub Legolas’ back while speaking softly. “Ion-nin, come pen-neth. Time to wake up.”
Legolas opened one eye and smiled up at his father. “Hi Ada. Is it time to eat already?” He asked sleepily then yawned.
Thranduil smiled and brushed the hair out of his child’s face. “No ion-nin, but I need you to come with me right now. I’ve been talking with your tutor and I’m afraid some interesting new things have been brought to light.” He said as the smile faded from his face only to be replaced with a very solemn look.
“A-Ada? What’s wrong?” Legolas asked his voice trembling slightly. He sat up on his bed wincing a little at the slight sting still in his backside. His tutor had been mentioned and he wondered what else he had done. He began to rack his brain trying to figure out if he had left something out of his story.
The king watched as his child began to puzzle over the situation. “We will find out in a moment ion-nin. Master Dalwin is waiting in my study I don’t wish to keep him waiting any longer.” He helped Legolas to stand next to him then draped an arm around the young prince’s shoulders and guided him from the room. As the walked along the corridors, Thranduil noticed that Legolas chewed on his bottom lip and looked more puzzled and confused than scared. When they reached the study, he could feel his son’s shoulders stiffen with tension. The king pulled his child closer and began to rub his arm as he spoke softly into his ear. “Shh, be at peace pen-neth. All things will be revealed in time. Come, let’s not keep your tutor waiting any longer.”
Legolas looked up at his father and became nervous as the smile rapidly disappeared from his father’s face, the arm slid from around his shoulders and his father’s hand became a firm grip on his arm.
Thranduil opened the study door and walked Legolas in. He left him standing in front of his desk as he went around and sat in his chair. “Dalwin come up here as well.” The king noticed with hidden amusement that both his child and the tutor quirked an eyebrow at him at the same time. He noted though that Dalwin did as he said. “We seem to have a situation here and I wish to go over it one more time, just to be sure of what happened. I have heard your version already Dalwin, I wish to hear yours now ion-nin.”
“V-version of what Ada?” Legolas asked, unsure what was going on and his father’s flip-flopping mood was confusing and making the elf teen rather nervous. He began to absent-mindedly pick at a loose thread on his sleeve.
“Of what happened in the classroom Legolas.” Thranduil said as he watched his child pick at his sleeve a moment then gave the elf teen a look. When he looked at Dalwin, he saw that the smug look, that he had thought he saw on the tutor’s face earlier, was there again and this time it was no illusion.
Legolas opened his mouth to ask why he had to repeat it again, but stopped at the look given to him. When he realized the reason for the look, he dropped his hands to his side, then clasped them behind him. “I-I threw my quill across the room, then erased the paragraph…” Legolas started, but was immediately interrupted by his tutor.
“I beg to differ young prince but it was a sentence, true it was a long one, but it was a sentence none the less.” Dalwin said as he gave the king a look that seemed to say “see what I have to put up with”. He was confident that the king believed him especially since he had proof.
“It was a PARAGRAPH!!” Legolas shouted unable to hold his temper. He glared at his tutor his hands at his sides, clenched tightly. He would’ve said more were it not for someone clearing their throat expectantly. Legolas slowly looked towards his father and blushed at the raised eyebrow in his direction. “I’m sorry Ada, I-I didn’t mean to shout.” Legolas said softly, his eyes downcast and his arms hanging loosely at his sides.
Thranduil nodded at his child and said, “I’ll over look it this time ion-nin. Please continue pen-neth. Dalwin I will ask you to keep silent. You have had your say, my son will now have his.” Thranduil nodded to the prince once again encouraging him to continue.
The golden haired prince nodded and spoke calmly, “As I said Ada, I threw my quill across the room, erased the paragraph, and hit the chalkboard with the eraser till everything was covered in chalk dust myself and Master Dalwin included.” He made sure to emphasize one word in particular.
“I see, so you didn’t over turn your desk nor push all the parchments from your tutor’s desk?” Thranduil asked looking first at Dalwin and then at Legolas.
Legolas’ eyes widened at the question. “N-no Ada. Of course not. It never crossed my mind to do that.” He answered and wondered where his father had gotten such an idea. Legolas started to dart his eyes towards his tutor, but stopped and looked at his father.
Silence filled the study for several long minutes as the king contemplated things. He thought about what each elf standing in front of his desk had said about the temper tantrum that had happened in the classroom. Thranduil closed his eyes a moment trying to remember the trashed classroom, then looked at his child and the tutor once again. “I believe we need to go look at the room again, there is still something that puzzles me.” Thranduil said finally as he stood up. He beaconed Legolas and Dalwin to follow him.
Once out in the hall Dalwin easily caught up with Thranduil’s quick stride. Legolas strode quietly behind them both. He wasn’t sure he would be welcome at his father’s side. His father’s mood today was confusing to him. He seemed angry with him one minute and gentle with him the next. Suddenly he bumped into someone and stared into his father’s amused green eyes. “I-I’m sorry Ada. I-I wasn’t…” Legolas started, then found his father’s finger at his lips.
“Shh pen-neth. I know, you were lost in your thoughts. Come we’re almost there and I want you to be there to view the damage at the same time as your tutor and I do. He stoked his child’s golden hair, and stared into puzzled blue eyes. “Like I said tithen-pen, all will be revealed soon enough.” Thranduil said then draped his arm around his son’s shoulders and led him to where he had left the tutor a few paces ahead.
Dalwin arrived in front of the classroom, and was confused as to why Captain Jolvin was standing in front of the door. “Captain Jolvin, what is the meaning of this? Remove yourself from in front of that door this instant.” He ordered sharply.
“I was ordered to let no one past unless King Thranduil, Prince Legolas and you were all present together at the same time. I will remain here till they are here as well.” Captain Jolvin said as he stood proud and tall in front of the door.
“I order you to move at once Captain Jolvin. This is my classroom and you have no right to keep me from it.” Dalwin growled as he tried to push past the captain. He was rather surprised though as the captain stood firm and two guards grabbed him from behind. “Captain Jolvin! What’s the meaning of this!” Dalwin roared with anger.
“You may release him. I thank you Jolvin for keeping watch till my son and I arrived. I will ask that you please remain outside the door, for I am certain that I will need your assistance once we are through.” King Thranduil spoke as he eyed the irate tutor.
Jolvin nodded and bowed to the king. “As you wish sire.” He stepped from in front of the door and gave a quick wink and a small grin to the young prince. He stood with the two other guards and awaited their next command.
Dalwin grabbed the door and went to storm into the room, when he was stayed by the king’s hand on his shoulder.
“Nay I will open the door, and we will just step into the room and go no further. Heed me Dalwin, for if you do not, I’m sure Captain Jolvin will be more than happy to make sure you do.” Thranduil said calmly. Once he received a nod from the tutor, he opened the door to the disheveled room.
Legolas gasped as he saw the state of the room, then turned a fearful face towards his father. “A-ada, surely you do not believe that I did this. You don’t, do you?” Legolas asked as he pulled his bottom lip into his mouth.
Thranduil smiled at his frightened child and shook his head. He led the two into the room and they looked around. “There is something here that had me puzzled at first and that is why you were made to give your explanation again ion-nin. Your tutor added the parchments and over turned desk to the mix, but there is one thing that falsifies his story and validates yours, do you know what that is pen-neth?” The king asked as he smiled at his son.
Blue eyes darted around the room, then closed for a moment as the prince thought of something, then opened and slowly looked around the room this time. When his eyes lit upon the board and then the parchments on the floor once again, he knew what his ada had spotted. “Aye Ada, I know what it is you spotted now. If I had pushed the parchment on the floor it’d be covered in chalk dust, like everything else, but it’s not!” Legolas exclaimed at the end, sounding very much like a small elfling. He looked at his father with a pleased expression on his face.
A smile appeared on the king’s face as his child explained what he had spotted and gave the same reasoning Thranduil himself had come up with. “Yes ion. That’s what I noticed as well. Dalwin you are relieved of your duties as my son’s tutor. When you have finished cleaning here, Captain Jolvin and his guard will escort you to your new quarters in the dungeon.” Thranduil said as he turned to his son, placed an arm around his shoulders and led him from the room. “Come ion-nin, let us go. The evening meal will be announced soon and it wouldn’t be right should either one of us be late.” He patted Legolas’ arm as they headed down the hall, both relieved that the day had ended.