Yule Challenge FIC
Will the Snow Elf still Come?
By Enelya
Dedicated to: Holly
Bright blue eyes watched excitedly as preparations for Yule began. Three of the staff carried in a large evergreen bough and held it up in front of the mantle at the ends and in the middle while another attached it firmly in place and added three large red bows to cover the nails.
There were several large crates in the corner opposite of the mantle, awaiting the Yule tree that would be brought in later today. The thought of helping to string berries to place around the tree, and putting the special glass ornaments on the tree made the elfing creep forward a bit more.
His eyes were drawn towards the large dining table in the middle of the room. It was covered with a dark green table cloth with silver leaves and vines decorating the edges of it. On the table were light green candles in golden holders. The table was set with golden plates and cups. The centerpiece on the table was a large basket filled with apples and white flowers placed in the spaces between the apples.
Legolas turned towards the kitchen and watched the kitchen staff busy cooking a multitude of things for Yule. He watched as venison, goose and duck was prepared along with numerous other dishes and desserts. The mixture of sweet and savory smells tickled the elfling�s nose and made his mouth water as he took a tentative step inside.
�Prince Legolas. There you are.� A warm friendly voice called out.
Legolas was startled and whirled around at the voice. A large smile broke out on his face when he saw the captain of the guard. �Captain Jolvin. You were looking for me?� He asked.
�Of course elfling. Your Ada and I thought maybe you�d like to come with the patrol to get the Yule tree.� Captain Jolvin said.
�Oh yes. Let me go get my cloak.� Legolas said excitedly as he raced to his room.
On his race to his room, he almost collided with his Ada. �Greenleaf, are you supposed to be running down the halls?� Thranduil questioned his offspring. Legolas shook his head as he bit his bottom lip. �No sir. I�m sorry Ada. Captain Jolvin asked me to go get the Yule tree with him and the patrol and and�� He stammered.
�And you got excited. Is that right my Leafling?� Thranduil asked a smile forming on his face.
�Aye Ada. I�m trying to be good, you don�t think the Snow Elf will pass by because I ran� do you?� He asked as he looked up his Ada worried.
�Nay elfling, I don�t think one small slip up will cause the Snow Elf to pass you by.� Thranduil reassured his elfling.
�I�m glad because I really want my pony.� Legolas said as he began to shift slightly eager to get to his room to get his cloak, now that he wasn�t in trouble.
�Your pony?� Thranduil asked.
�Ada,� came the whine. �You know I�ve been wanting a pony for Yule this year. You said if I was really really good, the Snow Elf would bring me what I truly want and I want a pony this year. I�ve been really good�well mostly but you said he wouldn�t pass me by so I should get my pony. Right?� He asked
�Well we shall see elfling. Now I think you�d better get your cloak, you don�t want to keep Jolvin waiting any longer do you?� Thranduil questioned as he watched his fidgety child.
�No sir.� Legolas exclaimed. He bid his father goodbye then went to his chambers as quickly as he could without running and returned to where he had left Jolvin. �I�m ready Captain.� He said with a smile.
�So you are, I was afraid you weren�t going to come at first, but the king informed me he had caused you to take a little longer than was necessary. Well young prince shall we go?� Jolvin asked as he scooped the elfling up and let him ride atop his shoulders outside. �There we go young prince, you may ride in the cart till we get the tree then you may ride with whomever you wish.� Jolvin said as he plopped the elfling into the cart and piling some extra furs in with him to keep him warm.
Legolas burrowed into the warm furs , while his eyes glowed at the transformed forest. There was a blanket of snow that covered the ground and trees. Icicles shimmered on the branches of the trees that lost their leaves. The horse pulling the cart snorted softly and shook his head and that�s when Legolas heard the bells. He stood up and saw the horse had small bells attached to it�s bridal and a few red bows in it�s mane. He settled back down in the cart under the furs and waited till they reached the grove of trees they used especially for Yule trees.
The cart stopped a short time later and Legolas looked about at the magnificent trees and began to decide which one would be perfect this year. �Well tithen-pen, have you decided which one it will be this year?� Jolvin asked.
The little prince looked carefully at all the trees. He was glad that once Yule was over the tree would then be planted with the other past Yule trees. The ones he looked over now and been lightly planted and now whichever he chose would be dug up, gently wrapped with damp sacks, and taken back home. Inside it would be placed into a decorative pot for all to enjoy. �That one Captain.� Legolas said pointing to his choice this year.
�Ahh that�s a perfect one. Well now, let�s get you out of there and onto one of the horses while we load the tree on. Who will you be riding home with this year?� Jolvin asked.
Silence filled the air while Legolas thought. He finally smiled and asked, �Could I ride home with you this year Captain?� He asked with a smile.
�Of course tithen-pen.� The captain said and lifted Legolas out of the cart and onto his own mount. He wrapped some of the furs around him to keep him warm while the tree was loaded onto the cart.
When they were ready to go, the captain and his patrol mounted and began the trek back to the palace. Jolvin kept Legolas pulled close against him to keep him warm and when they arrived back at the palace, he handed the elfling to his ada.
�Ada wait,� Legolas cried as he was carried back in. �I wanted to help them with the horses and bring the tree in.�
�Pen-neth, you may help decorate but the tree is too large for you to help bring it in just yet, perhaps when you are older my heart.� Thranduil explained gently to his elfling as he brought him to his chambers. �Now why don�t you take a bath and get ready for this evening�s meal, tomorrow we will decorate the Yule tree.�
Legolas nodded. �Alright Ada.� The elfling said as he took off his cloak and began to pull out the clothing he would wear to the evening meal.
The next afternoon Legolas and a couple of the guards elflings, Jolvin�s included, sat stringing berries for the tree. He glanced over at the large tree from time to time wondering how many berries it would take to circle the entire tree. The last time he looked over, he felt something brush against his leg. It startled him and he stood with out thinking sending the bowl of berries flying. Berries went everywhere, the floor, on the other elflings, under tables. He looked around at the mess he had made and began to try to clean up. He and the other�s began to pick up the berries that hadn�t squashed on the floor. Legolas picked up one and saw a foot near the berry. He looked up slowly into his Ada�s stern expression.
�What happened here Legolas?� Thranduil asked.
�It was an accident Ada. We�ve cleaned up the best we could.� Legolas informed his sire.
� Yes so I�ve noticed, but I think a bit more clean up is in order. Go ask cook for a bucket of water and a few rags so that you all can clean up the splotches on the floor. I think you also need to take a bath before the feast tonight.� Thranduil informed his child.
�Yes Ada.� Legolas sighed as he turned and went to get the bucket and rags. He and the other elflings went to work cleaning up the rest of their mess, then Legolas, tired from cleaning up, went back to his room and went to his bathing chambers to take a bath. When he was finished bathing, he wrapped the towel around his shoulders and walked back into his chambers. He was surprised to see some clothes already laid out for him.
Entering the great hall, Legolas� breath caught when he saw the tree decorated with the berries he and the other elflings had strung. There were tiny candles on the tree, small glass figures that had been bought over the years and a delicate glass star on the top of the tree.
�Oh Ada it looks great.� Legolas said as he stared at the tree. He forgot how the tree twinkled and glowed during Yule and stared at the tree like it was the first time.
Thranduil smiled and led his child to the table. �Well Leafling are you excited about Yule?� He asked knowing the answer perfectly well.
�Of course I am Ada. The Snow Elf will still come right? I mean because of what happened with the berries?� Legolas asked hoping he could be really good tomorrow and not have anything happen on the day before Yule.
�I�m sure he will Leafling. What happened with the berries was an accident and I�m sure the Snow Elf knows that.� Thranduil promised his child.
The day before Yule, Legolas was more excited than usual. He knocked his cup of milk over at breakfast and ended up under foot in the kitchen and in the great hall until finally Thranduil said, �Ion-nin, why don�t you go outside for a bit and play in the snow. Don�t forget to dress warmly before you go out pen-neth.�
Legolas nodded and scampered off to grab his warmer cloak and then headed out into the gardens in the back. He had tried to get the other elflings to come play, but they had other things to help with that day. He sighed and was about to go back in to play in his room when there was a glint beckoning to him near the back of the garden. Legolas hurried back and found the small pond that was back there solid with ice.
He tested it with his foot and found it to be solid enough for a little elf to stand on. His small mind began to think of a way to be able to play on it and finally took his cloak off, laid it on the ice, then stepped back a few paces, ran up and tossed himself stomach down on his cloak so the he flew across the ice to the other side on his cloak. Laughter filled the gardens as he continued the fun.
Suddenly something happened that the little elfling hadn�t planned. All the sliding he�d been doing had warmed the area he�d bee sliding on and on his way across the ice the final time, the ice cracked under him and Legolas fell in. His panicked shrieks filled the gardens, bringing out every elf within hearing distance.
Thranduil was the first to reach the ice passing all others with speed even the king himself didn�t know he had. He pulled his cold, wet, shivering child from the icy pond and immediately wrapped his cloak around him. Maeglin, the healer was right behind him and as soon as Thranduil was on his feet, they rushed Legolas to the healing wing.
Legolas soon found himself quickly stripped of the wet clothing and bundled into a thick warm night shirt then tucked into a bed and under two thick blankets. He wrinkled his nose at the concoction Maeglin handed him, but one look from her and he took a small sip. His eyes widened in surprise when instead of some foul substance, he found himself taking another sip of warm apple cider.
Thranduil remained close to his child�s side during everything and once he saw that Legolas was quite fine, his face and voice became stern. �Ion-nin, what were you doing out on the ice?�
�I-I was just having some fun Ada. There was no one to play with and I was b-bored.� Legolas said as he stared down at the blanket and picked at invisible fuzz on it.
�Bored? You could have froze or drowned if we hadn�t heard you my heart.� Thranduil said trying to be calm while anger and fear still gripped his heart. He would not deal with his child�s actions till he was calmer, he silently promised himself. �Leafling, I�m going to leave you in Maeglin�s care for a bit till you are warmed up and ready to leave the healing wing. When Maeglin gives you leave to I want you to go to your room and climb into bed until I arrive. Is this clear pen-neth?� Thranduil asked as he stroked his child�s cheek.
�Aye Ada. I understand.� Legolas said looking up at his father.
Thranduil nodded, tucked a strand of hair behind his child�s pointed ear, then kissed his forehead and said, �I love you ion-nin. I couldn�t bare a day without you my heart. I will see you in a little while.� Thranduil kissed his child on the head once more before standing and leaving the healing wing.
Two hours later, Maeglin deemed Legolas rested enough to return to his own room. The little elfing was carried back by the healer herself and deposited in his large bed. She tucked the blankets around him and set a tray of food, that had been brought in right behind them on the young prince�s lap while one of the others stoked the fire that had been started an hour ago to warm the room up for the young one.
There was a knock on his door ten minutes later and Legolas bid them to enter. Seeing his Ada, he knew the time had come to pay for his misdeed.
�How are you pen-neth?� Thranduil asked as he sat on his child�s bed and placed a loving hand on his child�s leg. He looked at the tray of food that had but a few pieces left on it and was glad that the impending punishment had not lessen his child�s appetite.
�I am well Ada, but�� Legolas paused and his cheeks colored slightly.
�But?� Thranduil prodded.
�But I expect part of me will not be soon.� Legolas said forlornly.
A sad smile formed on Thranduil�s face at his child�s remark. �Aye Leafling, part of you will not be happy. Shall we get it over with?� He asked. Upon seeing the nod from his child, he moved the tray to the table by his child�s bed and helped Legolas out from under the covers. He pulled him into his arms for a brief hug and relishing the warmth that now radiated from his child, before laying him over his lap and lifting the nightshirt to expose his child�s pale bottom.
�Do you know why you are being punished my heart?� Thranduil asked as he placed his palm on his child�s upturned backside.
�Aye Ada, because I was playing on the ice and I shouldn�t have.� Legolas said squirming slightly.
�Aye and it could�ve cost you your life my sweet one.� Thranduil said as he raised his hand and brought it down on his little one�s bottom. Each swat that he landed brought a small cry or whimper from his young son and tore at Thranduil�s heart. Landing a final swat, Thranduil covered the now heated backside of his child and lifted him in to his arms. �Shh, there now my heart, your Ada is here. All is forgiven pen-neth.� Thranduil soothed his child as he stroked his child�s hair with one hand and rubbed his back with the other.
Legolas wrapped his arms around his Ada�s waist and buries his face against his chest as tears spilled down his face. He sniffed and tried to gulp down his sobs, but was unable to at the moment. The fall into the icy water had terrified the elfling and he was just now coming to terms with that. He started to shake against his Ada at the memory falling through the ice and going under before finally emerging.
�Thranduil held his child closer when Legolas began to shake and then stood grabbed the large quilt from the bed and wrapped it around both of them. �Shhh, Ada is here tithen-pen. You are safe my heart.� Thranduil said as he pulled the quilt tighter around them and walked over to the large chair by the fireplace. He sat there soothing and comforting his child until Legolas finally quieted and drifted off to sleep. He held his child until he too drifted into a light sleep.
A while later Legolas began to stir and when he opened his blue eyes, he stared straight into his Ada�s green eyes. �Hi Ada.� He said and smiled.
�Hello my sweet one. How are you feeling now?� He asked slightly concerned.
�I�m good Ada. I-I was scared earlier. When I fell in, I-I was scared nobody would hear me in time.� Legolas said his voice trembling a bit.
�It�s alright my heart. It�s over with and you are safe. You are quite loud when you want to be tithen-pen.� Thranduil said with a small chuckle.
Legolas looked up with a worried expression on his face. �Ada? Do you think the Snow Elf will still bring my special present that I really want?� He asked.
�We shall see my heart, but I�m sure he will. One misdeed does not stop him from bringing you what you wish.� Thranduil told his child.
The rest of the evening was quiet as ada and ion spent supper in the family quarters and Legolas, despite his nap went to bed fairly early.
Thranduil on the other hand stayed awake till he was informed that the patrol that had been out had returned. Everything was well and he checked in on his sleeping child, smiling at the small form beneath the covers in the moonlight that outlined his child.
The next morning Legolas opened one eyes sleepily, then realization hit the elfling and he sprung awake immediately. He leaped out of bed, opened the door to his chambers and raced down the hall to the main hall. His eyes widened at all the gifts under the tree. His little face fell slightly as the one gift he wanted the most wasn�t there, then an idea came to him, perhaps he had interrupted the Snow Elf, if he went back to bed, maybe the one thing he wanted the most would be there. He crept silently back to bed and laid there, a little grin on his face as he fidgeted with excitement.
He decided it had been long enough a little while later and got out of bed once more, he crept down the hall to his Ada�s room and opened the door quietly. When he saw his Ada still in bed, Legolas slipped quietly in then knelt down by the head of the bed, crossed his arms on the bed and rested his chin on them inches away from his Ada�s face.
Thranduil had stirred slightly when he thought he heard someone enter his room. Now he had the very uneasy feeling that he was being watched. He popped one eye open startling both himself and his watcher. �Legolas, what were you doing pen-neth?� Thranduil finally managed to ask once he realized who else was in the room with him.
�Watching and waiting.� Legolas state as he stood and began to fidget excitedly.
�For?� The king prompted.
�For you to get up. It�s Yule today Ada.� Legolas said trying to keep the impatience out of his voice.
�Ahh so it is. Well I suppose you�d like to go and see if the Snow Elf left you anything correct?� Thranduil asked with a grin.
�Well I checked earlier and there are lots of presents. Can we go now saes Ada?� He asked tugging on his Ada�s sleeve.
Thranduil chuckled at his child�s enthusiasm, lifted the elfling into his arms and headed for the main hall. Sure enough, just as Legolas predicted there were numerous presents.
A short while later, Legolas had opened all his presents. He excitedly showed anyone who was near him the current present he had opened, be it one of the staff, the guard or his own Ada.
Thranduil winced a bit at the squeal that came from his child when he opened a child sized bow and arrow set. He smiled fondly though as his child flung himself into his ada�s arms.
�Oh Ada. Isn�t it great!� Legolas exclaimed though his heart wasn�t totally into the exclamation.
�Is something wrong tithen-pen?� Thranduil asked.
�Nay Ada. I�m fine.� Legolas answered immediately. He didn�t want his Ada to think he didn�t like all the presents he had received from the Snow Elf. He decided that the Snow Elf didn�t think he had been very good and didn�t deserve the one thing he wanted the most, despite what his Ada thought. He remembered the past few days, the running down the hall, the incident with the berries, and yesterday when he fell through the ice he had been playing on. Yes, he hadn�t been very deserving of a pony and finally conceded to the fact that he wasn�t getting one this year.
Thranduil had noticed the downtrodden expression on his elfling�s face and a small smile graced his face. His Leafling was trying so hard to conceal his disappointment, but hadn�t fooled his ada one bit.
When the breaking of the fast was over, Thranduil looked at his child seated next to him and asked, �Well my heart, what do you say to a morning Yule ride?�
Legolas looked up a little surprised at the question as he tested his still slightly smarting bottom. Yes it still hurt, but he was sure he could ride with his Ada, especially if he was sat just so in front of him where his backside wouldn�t take any of the numerous bounces. �Aye Ada I would love to.� He said with his blue eyes shining brightly.
Leading the way out to the stables, Thranduil stopped and let his child enter the stables first. He smiled when he watched Legolas stop in front of the stall next to his father�s horse and then look at his father quizzically. �Ada, do we have a visitor today?� He asked unsure of who had come to visit them on Yule.
�Nay pen-neth we do not. Why do you ask?� Thranduil asked as he walked over to his child and glanced at the pony occupying the stall.
�Well I was wondering who�s pony this was? Do-do you think perhaps one of the other elflings got a pony for Yule?� He asked his eyes starting to fill with tears as he thought of the pony he had wanted. This one was beautiful. It was red in color with a black mane and tail. There was a white tear drop shaped patch on the pony�s forehead, which Legolas reached up to pet.
�She is quite beautiful, is she not little one. I am definitely sure she is for and elfling who wanted her very much. What shall we caller her my heart?� Thranduil asked as he watched his son continue to lovingly stroke the pony�s head.
�I would name her Nieninque, because it means snow drop and that�s what the white patch on her head looks like.� Legolas said sadly as he sighed and finally stopped stroking the little mare.
The mare was having none of that though and began to nudge Legolas so that he would continue to pet her.
�Well then that is what we shall name your pony ion-nin. It is a very pretty name for her.� Thranduil said as he waited for his words to sink in.
Legolas started to stroke the little mare again when his ada�s words registered in his head. �M-mine? You mean she�s my pony? The Snow Elf did bring my pony?� He asked looking back and forth between his ada and the pony.
�Just as I said he would tithen-pen. One misdeed will not cause the Snow Elf to over look a elfling�s special wish.� Thranduil told his child as he smiled and watched Legolas hug the pony around the neck.
�Are we still going riding Ada?� Legolas then asked looking up with a grin.
�Aye Leafling we are. Let�s get your pony ready.� Thranduil said as he took a canvas off a small pile near the stall revealing a bridle and saddle big enough for the pony.
Once saddled and bridled, Ada and ion went for their morning ride. The elfling having completely forgotten about his sore bottom being so happy that the Snow Elf had not forgotten his special wish.