Of Maids and Babes 
Author: jenolas 
nbozovic@optushome.com.au

PG - General/Humor 
DISCLAIMER: Jrr Tolkien owns everything connected to LOTR. I claim nothing





"Come, friend Gimli" Legolas urged his companion, "the sun shines, the birds 
sing, it is a day to be outdoors and I am sure you are eager to show me how your 
restoration work progresses!" The dwarf looked at his friend with a mischievous 
gleam in his eye,

" Are you sure you want to?" he asked. "You know as well as I what will happen."

Legolas sighed, he did know, all to well. Although the citizens of Minis Tirith 
were, by now, quite accustomed to seeing the unusual pair walking the streets, 
it seemed such was not the case with the maidens of the city, all of whom were 
apparently totally enamoured with the handsome Prince of Mirkwood. Whenever he 
found himself out and about, he could feel eyes upon him, and his elfish hearing 
did not fail to hear the comments.

".. ooh he's so handsome"

".You are certainly not his type"

".Such soulful eyes"

".What gorgeous hair"

Such remarks made Legolas feel uncomfortable, and this amused Gimli immensely.

" Well, I have no intention of staying indoors, I will just have to ignore the 
consequences," he turned towards Gimli and smiled, " perhaps you are just 
jealous that you are not the subject of every available maid's attentions?"

" Humph" was the response as they made their way out of the palace.

They spent several hours touring the city, and although he would never admit it 
openly, Legolas found he was impressed greatly with the work of the Dwarves. Of 
course, he felt it did not compare to the light he had brought once again to 
Ithilien. Every now and then a group of maidens would stop their work look 
towards him then whisper to each other. Occasionally he would see someone peer 
at him from behind curtains. He stoically ignored the looks and whispers. Many 
years of being introduced to 'suitable' elf maidens in his father's court had 
enabled him to become immune to the effect he seemed to be able to produce on 
them. It was not that he was not attracted to the fairer sex, it was just that 
he had not yet met his soul mate.

Finally they decided to head back to the palace, the day had become warm and 
refreshments were in order. As they walked through the cool hallway, Legolas 
suddenly stiffened. He had heard a muffled cry of pain.

" Come, Gimli" I heard a noise from further up the passage, "it came from the 
nursery" he added, breaking into a run. Eldarion, the child of Aragorn and Arwen 
was but a few months old and at this moment had no fiercer protectors than the 
elf and the dwarf. Legolas burst into the room to find nothing amiss, save for 
the child's nurse, Mariel, sitting on the floor, holding her hand to her chest. 
The young prince was sleeping peacefully in his crib. Legolas walked over to the 
girl, who recognised the friend of the King. "What is troubling you," he asked 
as he gently lifted her hand away from her chest.

"'Tis nothing, my Lord. I was tending the fire and have accidentally burnt my 
hand," she replied, the tears in her eyes told Legolas that it was a painful 
injury. He turned to Gimli, " would you be so kind as to help Mariel to a 
healer, this needs to be tended' he said indicating the burn.

Gimli nodded, " of course, come with me child."

" But I cannot, my Lord, who will look after the prince. Lady Arwen is taking a 
rest and I have only just managed to get the babe to sleep." she protested.

" Fear not," responded Legolas, " I will stay with Eldarion until you return." 
He looked towards Gimli to see his friend smiling at him, as Mariel thanked him 
with, to Gimli's eyes at least, a look of utter devotion.

"Not another one," Legolas thought as the two left the nursery, " am I safe 
nowhere?"

*******

Legolas looked around the nursery and saw a wall lined with books. He selected 
one and made himself comfortable on the window ledge, and was just about to open 
the book when Eldarion awoke, crying. Moving quickly to the babe's side, he 
picked the child up,

"What troubles you, young prince?" he asked softly.

It had been many centuries since the last elf child had been born in Mirkwood, 
or Middle Earth for that matter and Legolas had never before held a child this 
young. However, elves value all children above all else and he was amazed to 
realise that he knew exactly how to hold him and what he needed to do to placate 
the still crying child. He moved to the large chair by the fireplace and sat 
down, cradling the child to him and singing softly. The sweet voice of the elf, 
and the comfort of the arms surrounding him soon had Eldarion quieted and he 
wrapped his small hand around Legolas' finger, causing the elf to smile. The 
elfish lullaby he was singing was old, one of his mother's favourites. He closed 
his eyes and he felt as if she were there, singing with him. So absorbed was he, 
that he had not heard the door open. Arwen moved to his side and joined him in 
the song, the sweet sound of elfish voices filling the room. Gently she released 
his grip on Legolas, and lifted him from the elf's arm and placed him lovingly 
in his crib. Legolas rose and moved silently towards the door, still singing 
softly.

Arwen joined him for a moment and kissed him lightly on the cheek, " thank you, 
Legolas."

"It was my pleasure" he responded. Truly a child was a precious gift, more than 
he realised, and for a brief moment he thought that perhaps he would take more 
notice of the maidens his father wished him to meet. 

  


Chapter 2

Early the next morning a messenger brought Legolas a letter bearing the seal of 
the King of Mirkwood.

"My dear son,

Your presence is required at the palace next month. I am holding a banquet in 
your honour.

I have not forgotten my promise.

I look forward to seeing you, (I don't suppose you have a lady friend to 
escort?)

Your loving Father

Thranduil"



His eyes widened in disbelief as he read the message and the less than subtle 
hint. It had been many centuries since Thranduil's last banquet and the memory 
brought a smile to his face...

.... Elves from all the realms had gathered in their finery. A banquet at 
Thranduil's palace was not an event to miss. There was always plenty of good 
food and wine and plenty of singing, dancing and merrymaking. It was also an 
excellent opportunity to reacquaint with friends from afar.

Legolas and Estel were standing at the back of the large ballroom, trying to 
blend in with the magnificent tapestries, which hung on the wall behind them. In 
fact, Legolas was trying not to be noticed and Estel's attentions were fixed on 
the beautiful elf being escorted by Elrond, his daughter Arwen. She looked 
towards him and smiled, promising him an enjoyable evening with her eyes.

"My father has outdone himself this time. Look at all the maidens," sighed 
Legolas, knowing he would be expected to dance with them all. " I wish he would 
understand how uncomfortable this situation makes me."

"What? Oh, sorry Legolas, what did you say?" asked Estel, tearing his eyes from 
his beloved.

" I said, all these maidens vying for my hand in marriage makes me 
uncomfortable" he said with exasperation.

" I'm sure Thranduil just want to see his son happily married" Estel replied.

"Marriage is not in my plans at present, I am not in love. Besides, I have 
plenty of time" he added with a grin. His human companion chose to ignore the 
barb as Elladan and Elrohir approached making no attempt to mask their interest 
in several of the young maids.

" Well, young Prince" said Erohir with a smile, "you have certainly a large 
selection to choose from tonight. After the last banquet, I would not have 
thought there was a single maid in Middle Earth to whom you had not been 
introduced."

"Yes," agreed his brother " but what I want to know is, are you willing to 
share? Several have caught my eye already." They all laughed as the tips of 
Legolas' ears turned pink. He drew himself up regally, looking every bit the 
prince he was and replied,

"Be my guest, I am sure both your reputations with the ladies precedes you, so 
it might be more difficult than you think to charm them all."

"You have much to learn, my friend," commented Estel. " Neither of them have any 
trouble with the ladies" he added.

" First, let us eat," suggested Elrohir as the servants entered and began 
serving the meal. They found themselves seated at Thranduil's table and although 
Legolas was forced to engage in small talk to the two ladies he was seated 
between, he still managed to enjoy his meal. From the corner of his eye he 
noticed that Elrond and his father appeared to be in a somewhat heated debate 
which resulted in Thranduil's wine glass 'accidentally' tipping into Elrond's 
lap. Elrond arose, graciously excused himself from the ladies at the table, all 
the while looking thunderous at Thranduil, and left the room. His sons made to 
follow but he stopped them with a slight shake of his head. The twins looked at 
each other and anyone who knew them well would see the unspoken message that 
spelled trouble. " I wonder what they are going to do?" Estel whispered into 
Legolas' ear.

Suddenly the scene was forgotten as the room was filled with the strain of 
lively music, inviting everyone to dance. The leader of the orchestra had seen 
many similar incidents whilst in Thranduil's service, and considered it his duty 
to help defuse the situation.

The dancing was merry, and the twins danced with as many of the maidens as they 
could. It was not until later that Legolas realised that the ladies were paying 
far more interest in Thranduil than in himself. It did not bother him, but it 
did puzzle him until he saw the smirks on Elladan and Elrohir's faces. He walked 
casually over to them and asked,

"What have you done?"

"Nothing" came the innocent reply. Neither of them looked the least bit innocent 
and it was obvious that they were doing their best not to laugh.

"You know what a sensitive soul Elrohir has," explained Elladan "he could not 
bear to see you fight off any more unwanted advances. He suggested, and I 
agreed, that the only way to free you to really enjoy yourself would be to let 
the ladies think that it is not you that Thranduil is seeking to find a match 
for, but himself!"

"As desirable as the ladies no doubt find you, Legolas" added Elrohir, "I am 
sure that the KING would be a better catch!"

...Legolas laughed as he remembered how the next day his father had approached 
him and promised that there would be no more matchmaking banquets in his palace.

There was a happy light to his eyes as he sat and composed a reply:

"My father,

I will be pleased to attend your banquet. I have missed you and look forward to 
wandering among the beloved trees of our forest.

NO, I do NOT have a lady friend! Do you?

Your loving son Legolas"