They made it to Rivendell fairly quickly, the hobbits practically having heart attacks when Glorfindel told Aragorn about the wraiths chasing them to the river. They, the hobbits, were not supposed to be listening of course but can a little overhearing be helped if you're simply standing by the door? That's what I thought you'd say.

***

Legolas smiled as Aragorn showed them around the last Homely House. It was very nice indeed. Though some of the stares he was on the receiving end of were very unnerving, like he was a bug that shouldn't even exist in this glorious haven. He asked Aragorn about it.

"They've just never heard of an Elf living with hobbits before, and I'm sure word has spread quickly about your power – Glorfindel never was one for secrecy. Now," the ranger smiled at the three hobbits and the Elf. "I've a surprise for you. The Lady Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter, has set up a meeting with someone I'm sure you'll all be interested in meeting…and then we will go see how Frodo is doing." They rounded a corner and Legolas whooped in joy, which earned him a few more stares as he tore over the old hobbit standing up from his bench.

"Lee, my boy! How are you?"

Legolas grinned down at Bilbo. "I'm fine Uncle Bilbo…we've been on the run from these ring wraiths for the last few days, Uncle Frodo is in bed. He got nicked by one of them. Merry and Pippin are absolutely insane and eavesdropping everywhere they can, and Sam refuses to eat until we've been to see Frodo and I've been freezing people left, right and centre!" The Elf said cheerfully finally stopping for breath.

"Oh my dear boy it's been absolutely dreary without listening to your babbles!" Bilbo chuckled. He then considered what he just heard and demanded an explanation to "freezing people left, right and centre". They introduced Bilbo to Aragorn who helped Legolas explain, well to the best of both their knowledge which wasn't much to begin with, and the five of them sat for an hour talking before Glorfindel came to find them.

"He's awake now. Lord Elrond says you may see him." Cheered by that thought they all followed the blonde Elf to the healers.

***

Tensions ran high in the large room and Frodo stared up at the mix of faces and expressions which ran the gamut from `Joyful' (Bilbo), `Apprehensive' (Sam) and there were happy faces and expressionless faces and there were some guilty and some worried and – Guilty??

"Lee?" Frodo asked with a slightly disapproving tone. Bilbo chuckled at the mother hen voice. Legolas immediately launched into the speech he had been preparing in his head.

"I *swear* it wasn't my fault, it was an accident! No better yet!" he spun and pointed at Glorfindel. "It was *his* fault. If he hadn't jumped out after an attack from those wraiths I wouldn't have done it – and it's not like I was really *trying* to anyway – okay so maybe I was that time but he froze and then Aragorn wanted to unfreeze him and know what I did and then we couldn't get him to move again but then he moved on his own and fell and I swear it wasn't me who set that wraith on fire!" the speech ended on a desperate note and Frodo coughed to hide a smile both at his `nephew' and at the looks Lee was getting for his babble.

"Actually, I'm pretty sure it was you who set the wraith on fire, he was just to far away from the torches for anything to happen. I'm going to have a talk with you later but!" he said anticipating the young Elf's next words. "I am not upset with you. I think you should go with Gandalf and ask him to explain things to you – the man always knows more then you think he does, then you can explain it to me." He frowned when Legolas didn't move. "I meant now!" Legolas nodded and darted out of the room in search of Gandalf. Aragorn and Elrond quickly followed.

"So Bilbo?" Merry asked happily as the four other hobbits climbed into the bed with Frodo. "How far are you in your book?" The elder hobbit's eyes lit up and the five of them piled over the book that was now in Bilbo's lap. Never went anywhere without it, you know.

***

"Legolas, may I speak with you for a moment?" Lord Elrond called to the retreating Elf. Legolas stopped, turned and slid back to the small group.

"Yes?"

"We just wanted to speak with you about a few things, mainly about your Uncle Frodo. I wanted to explain to you the care you may need to take with him from now on."

"But he'll be alright won't he?" the Elf asked worriedly.

"Yes, yes, he'll be fine." Elrond assured, leading Legolas to his study.

Legolas sighed with relief at the news that Aragorn and Lord Elrond had just given him. Frodo would be fine, the poison was out of his system. The wound would never heal properly, being made by a Morgul blade, but he would be hale, hearty and whole soon. Lord Elrond smiled that strange smile at him again for the third or fourth time in an hour and he gave up.

"Why do you keep smiling like that?" He demanded. The smile faded quickly replaced with a scolding frown on the Lord's face.

"If you had been raise in a proper Elvish household you would know better than to talk to your Elders like that," Elrond told him sternly. This was probably true but Legolas was tired of being looked at strangely. Every Elf he'd come across in this city of Elves so far had given him either a wide berth, a strange stare, some not unlike the ones Aragorn gave him (though he didn't seem to mind when Aragorn gave them) or gave that damnable smile, like a cat that's caught the canary, and is planning on a dessert of cream.

"Yes, well I wasn't raised as an Elf, but Uncle Bilbo did all he could to teach me their – your ways, that doesn't mean they are mine!" He snapped before stomping out of the room. He would go check on Frodo and then find Uncle Bilbo. Maybe Merry and Pippin had filched more apples from the Orchard out back. He was ten paces away from the door when he heard his name mentioned in the room.

`Eavesdropping is bad Lee,' he counselled himself even as he stepped back to the door, standing a foot away to look inconspicuous, close enough for him to hear perfectly.

"I think you should talk to him Estel, do anything you are able to, with him on our side Sauron will never raise an army great enough!" there was excitement in Elrond's voice. Worry in Aragorn's which for some reason comforted the young Elf.

"Why? He is just a child, even to your people, he is not made for a war he doesn't even understand. In reality he is – an overgrown Hobbit, and I will not send him out to do what you and your council is afraid to do."

"You speak madness! He is almost full grown, true he is young but we are all young to begin with and we – need – him. Why do you not understand this. If he is truly the son of Thranduil as Gandalf would have us believe, it is the only way. It is either use your little friend or use the ring. We are damned either way. Why not damn simply him then create a new dark lord, a new pestilence and evil to rule Middle-Earth." There was incredulity in Aragorn's voice.

"I cannot believe this. Are you truly my foster father? The man who raised me to fight for those who were weaker than me, to treat all as equal so that when I am King of Gondor I can impart this to my people?? You speak madness. I would not risk him were he a five thousand year old Elf and there were dozens who were like him who went with him. It is lunacy!"

"Mind what you say Estel, you are still my foster son, and I am still master of this household. I want to know exactly where Legolas' powers lie, what he can do, and how we can use these powers to our benefit. It is not for you to decided the fate of the known world over a boy you've only known for a few days. No matter how much you seem to fancy him." Elrond spat out angrily. Aragorn muttered something that Legolas couldn't make out and the door creaked open. The Elf quickly ducked into an alcove and the Ranger didn't even notice him as he strode by angrily.

Deciding it would be best to go with his original plan Legolas quickly sought out his Uncles who were in bed with the other three hobbits telling stories. He caught Bilbo's eyes and waved him over. Bilbo smiled as he joined him in the hall.

"Lee, what is it my boy? You look worried."

"I am Uncle, I was talking to Lord Elrond about Frodo and he was staring at me strangely and I finally had to ask why and he was upset that I had `no manners' compared to other elves who live here. I think I may have upset him…"

"Not to worry, not to worry," Bilbo said with a grin, clapping Legolas on the back. "Lord Elrond will understand soon enough that you are no ordinary Elf." A dark expression appeared on Legolas' face, which worried Bilbo greatly. He'd never seen this sort of reaction from his young charge.

"That would be the problem Uncle. Apparently word has spread quickly about what I did to Glorfindel, no matter how much it was an accident and when I left I heard them talking – I know I shouldn't eavesdrop!" he blurted quickly at the look Bilbo gave him oblivious to startled eyes behind him. "But he was saying that it was either me or the ring that he would use to defeat Sauron and that he wanted to exploit my powers and I think Aragorn fancies me!" Legolas blushed all of the sudden, realising what he had just said. He quickly buried his face in his hands. The eyes behind him had a certain quality of embarrassment in them that was echoed by the blush spreading across cheekbones

"Why, oh why does that always happen?" he muttered. "I can't keep anything in, if I spill something I spill everything." Bilbo grinned at his charge.

"If it's any consolation my dear, I think he fancies you too." Lee never noticed the wink directed over his shoulder at a certain ranger standing a ways away in the corridor wearing a guilty expression and a considerable blush.

"I think though, Lee, that you should perhaps talk to Gandalf like Frodo said. He should be able to explain things more clearly, that man really does always know more than he says he does, and it's high time someone told you what's going on. It certainly won't be me though, because I never found out." And in a hobbits amazing ability to avoid uncomfortable questions and situations, Bilbo quickly found his way back into Frodo's room and back onto the bed to resume the storytelling.

Legolas set out in a quest for Gandalf.

***

"So do you?" Legolas demanded. He had cornered Gandalf outside on one of the many balconies the Last Homely House boasted. Gandalf quirked an eyebrow.

"Do I what Lee?" the boy sighed in exasperation.

"Do you know about my powers, my past." A second later he poked the wizard in the stomach demanding again. "Well?? Do you???"

"Ah the impertinence of youth" Gandalf muttered. The Wizard led Legolas over to a bench and sat him down. "Let me tell you a story, that happened long ago. I was visiting King Thranduil, an old friend and King of the Elves of Mirkwood, which you are as I'm sure young Aragorn has told you, and he, Thranduil that is, was in a spot of trouble.

#########

Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, had done everything he could think of. Re-read the stars, scrolls, and bones. He prayed to Elbereth, he'd begged the Lady of Lorien, Galadriel, for a chance to look in her mirror and all that had led him to the same conclusion – his last and youngest son would die on the eve of his *very* first birthday. As all of his other children were at least 2000 years or more, Thranduil resolved not to have another child. After all, no child meant there would be no death for said child, right? Fate it seemed was against him and there now lay, in a cradle of willow bark and oak branches, his youngest son, Legolas, who would be turning one year old in just two fortnights.

The prophecy Thranduil fought so hard against was set out:

"On the eve of the light of Elbereth
Born to the Greenwood's King and Queen
The beautiful light of their youngest son
On the night marking his first year
Must be extinguished, left for dead intelligence
Or death to the King and Queen shall come
The destruction of Greenwood not far behind"

It was either leave his son, whose light and beauty surpassed the Evenstar herself and whose smallest smile brought happiness to all who gazed upon him, to his death… or be responsible for the destruction of his kingdom.

The day Gandalf the Grey heard of Thranduil's plans to follow through with the obscure prophecy was the day the Istari scoffed at `the wisdom of elves.'

It was then that he made his way to Mirkwood, which had been `Greenwood' when the trees were young and so were the elves that called the forest home. And it was with relief that King Thranduil accepted the Wizard's offer and trusted him to see the prophecy through.

######

"Thranduil, my friend, I have heard some very strange news…about a prophecy?" Gandalf was sitting across from the King of Mirkwood in Thranduil's study.

"So you have heard – which comes as something of a relief to me despite this whole situation. If I don't kill my son, Mirkwood will fall, if I kill my son, *I* will fall, my love, my wife, sailed for the west just two days ago. She does not want to be around for this. If death comes to her, she says let it come but she does not want to be here to watch her son die. I could use your counsel in this my friend, I do not think I have the strength in me to do this task."

"What would you ask of me?" Thranduil looked at the wizard carefully.

"As I have said, I can not do this myself, but I can not let Mirkwood fall, our position means too much, Orcs will take over and we are barely holding the borders against them as it is. Mirkwood needs to be here, we can't let the burden fall solely on the shoulders of Gondor to defend Middle-Earth from Sauron's forces even though Sauron himself is no longer here in flesh."

"His spirit lives on, unfortunately." Gandalf sighed. It bothered him to see this and he wondered why this prophecy had come up. What possible power could one small child hold over the fate of an entire people?

"I think I can help you my friend. I can have someone take care of this for you." A great sigh of relief broke free from Thranduil and he closed his eyes briefly.

"I will take you to the nursery." Gandalf followed Thranduil out of the study and down a long corridor to a set of doors. These opened into a beautiful room that looked as though it flowed in from the forest itself. The floor seemed to be covered in grass, while along the walls and across the ceiling grew trees with large, green leaves. Once in a while, one leaf would fall ever so gently down to the floor. "It's quite beautiful in here," Gandalf remarked as he was led to a small cradle.

"Yes, but it's strange, the forest seemed to grow itself in here over night. Legolas loves it though." Gandalf looked down at the child with carefully hidden surprise. It had been hundreds of years since a child, and Elf, had been born with powers. Another piece to the puzzle it seemed. Gandalf took Legolas out of his father's arms.

"I will take him now, no point in delaying the inevitable hum?" Thranduil gave a shaky sigh and kissed his youngest son good bye.

######

The Istari took the infant to the woods, to a Ranger, with very specific instructions and a letter to give to an old friend by way of explanation.

He returned to the palace of Mirkwood a week later saying that it had been done. He told a grandiose tale to Thranduil and the members of Legolas' family. He had taken the child to a Ranger, the Ranger had left the child in the woods and not ten minutes had gone by before the poor dear had been attacked by Wargs. Animals such as they preyed on the weak.

The Kingdoms of Mirkwood, Rivendell and Lothlorien grieved for the loss of such a light

#########

"So he is my father?" Legolas asked softly. "And he didn't want me? He wanted to kill me?" the young Elf's eyes were filled with tears.

"No Lee – It's not that at all. When you were born Mirkwood had fallen on black days. Orcs were attacking more frequently. Times were extremely rough and then out of nowhere a prophesy is brought out saying that if Thranduil kills his youngest child then everything will work out. I knew it was a false prophesy, but even if I told your father the prophesy was false, the people would not have believed it – there would have been anarchy. But what was I to do Lee? Let you die? Let your father's kingdom fall to civil war?"

"No," the word was whispered so softly that Gandalf almost didn't hear it. "Tell me about why I can do these things—" Gandalf smiled softly.

"That my dear boy is a mystery of itself. Elves have long had the ability to – talk to trees as you do, and they make the forests and flowers grow as you can, but taking you away from them and letting you grow, letting your abilities grow unhindered by the society you would have lived in. I believe this let them advance, hence your bedroom turns into a forest without you noticing. Flowers grow where you step when you are incredibly happy.

"It is said that when Beren and Luthien died, the Elves mourned their loss so greatly that the skies opened up and poured rain to mourn with them. And when you are sad, there is always rain and when you are angry you can whip up an incredible storm."

"But what about the freezing and the fires?? How did I do that?" Legolas demanded. Bilbo had long ago told him that he probably only did the other things Gandalf mentioned because there had been no one to teach him not to do them. Of course at the time Legolas had thought it was just another way to avoid a question.

"There is magic in the Line of Orophor, and every few generations there is a child of that line blessed with such magic. It last surfaced in a great-aunt of yours who has long since left for the shores of Valinor to be with her people in the undying lands. And it has passed on to you, it is one of the reasons I could not let you be killed. You have to much potential to do good, to help. We will work on training you to use this magic to your advantage."

"You took me away from them,"

"I knew you would be special Lee, and so I took you to the one place I knew you could grow up nurtured and cared for and grow into your own person. And you have. And I am so very sorry if I have done wrong by you."

"No, no you didn't. You kept peace with the Elves of Mirkwood, and you kept me alive and I have Bilbo and Frodo and Merry and Sam…and to a certain extent you and…" Gandalf quirked his eyebrow again, Legolas decided that was one of the most hated expression the wizard bore.

"And?" He prompted. Legolas stood up abruptly.

"I have to go talk to someone." He said before walking away quickly.

Elrond moved out of the shadows a few minutes later standing behind Gandalf. "Did you really have to try to get them romantically involved?" Gandalf chuckled at the Elf's words. "You are a meddling fool sometimes, Istari."

"And you were on a power kick. He was like the ring for you wasn't he? It was a good thing that only Aragorn was there to hear you." Elrond glowered at the wizard but made no comment.

***

Legolas took a deep fortifying breath as he lifted his fist and firmly knocked on the door.

"Come in," He opened it and stepped inside, carefully not looking at Aragorn sitting there at his desk. "Lee," he says surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I – came to talk to you. I had a talk with Gandalf and I just need to sort some things out but first I…"

"Yes?" Aragorn asked as Legolas trailed off into silence.

"You look at me the way some of the elves do, and I…I think that you mean something by those looks but I just wanted to be sure before I did anything I might – regret." Legolas finished. He looked up to see Aragorn blushing slightly.

"What do you mean, are others looking at you." Aragorn was unable to help the sharp jealousy that curled into his stomach. He forced himself to release it. Legolas was smiling now.

"What?" he asked. Legolas tried his best to look innocent.

"Nothing, you just looked a little…jealous." Aragorn blushed a little darker but stood up so he was eye level with the Elf.

"I wasn't," He stuttered.

"Not even a little bit?" Legolas asked, deciding to fall on Frodo's advice from when they were tramping through the swamp, he batted his eyes slightly and almost couldn't contain the snicker at Aragorn's reaction.

"Well," The ranger said at length with a smile of his own, realising what Legolas was doing. "Maybe just a little bit." He leaned down and captured Legolas' lips lightly.

"And now?" Legolas asked when they pulled apart for breath.

"Oh definitely jealous, I should just lock you up in here and make sure no one looks at you ever again." Aragorn said, directing Legolas towards the bed, capturing his lips again.

Part 5