Harune shook his head. "No. I had written to her. I-I thought it was time to stop hating her for marrying the one she loved, even if that one was a dwarf."

"Well, I am glad to hear that. What is the problem? Did she write back saying there was no longer room for apologies?" Thranduil took a bite of apple.

"Ah, no. She—she—um—" Harune broke off nervously.

Thranduil draped an arm around Harune's neck. "What in Middle Earth is bothering you, ada? What is there that you cannot tell me?"

Legolas came to sit down on Harune's other side. He munched his apple and looked at Harune curiously.

Harune cleared his throat. "I was wondering if I might be granted three months leave to go see my daughter, my lord?"

"Well, surely you did not have to be so reluctant to ask for that! Of course you can go see her. She is your daughter, ada! Where does she live? Did she invite you to stay?"

"Yes. She wrote in answer to a letter I sent her three months ago, asking me to come stay with her in the Iron Hills."

"Three months ago?" Thranduil was aghast. "Why did you wait this long to tell me?"

Harune's shoulders slumped. "I was going to tell you but then Legolas turned up so I waited for a more calm moment to ask you. And then Legolas had the dream about being raped and you were upset about your father and I-I realized you still needed me for a bit."

"That was very considerate of you, ada. But I think I can survive without you for a few months. When are you leaving?"

"With your permission, in three days," Harune answered, straightening up. "Thank you, my lord."

Thranduil smiled. "You are most welcome, adar. You must inform me of the habits of half-dwarven children upon your return. It should prove to be most interesting."

Harune looked relieved. "Yes, I would imagine so." He reached across Legolas's head to hug his son.

"Are you going away forever, daerada?" Legolas asked anxiously.

"No, Legolas," Harune said, patting Legolas on the cheek. "I will come back."

"When?"

"In three months. Go pick us some cherries."

"Okay." Legolas jumped up and ran to one of the cherry trees.

Harune flopped down on the blanket. Thranduil lay down next to him. "I am glad Legolas trusts me enough to ask for help."

Harune ran a hand over Thranduil's smooth, silvery-blonder hair. "Yes. Elflings that have been hurt sometimes find it very hard to trust anyone again. The number of times Legolas has been lied to is probably uncountable! I am glad you could help him. How is your scar?"

"It never hurts," Thranduil said with satisfaction. "Legolas truly healed me. I should have listened to your advice sooner."

"I do not blame you for hesitating to show Legolas your pain."

Legolas came back with a basketful of cherries. He sat down next to Harune. After a moment he snuggled up against Harune's left side and looked across Harune's chest at his father. Thranduil took his hand and held it. They were the perfect family . . . . . until a barrage of water bombs fell on them and the pack of attackers fled from the royal family, laughing and yelling.

Harune sat up, shaking water out of his hair. He looked at Thranduil and grinned. Thranduil grinned back at him. Legolas looked at them both, wiping water out of his eyes. "Do they hate us, ada?"

"No, Legolas. They are just playing. It is a hot day; no one minds getting wet."

"Okay. Can I go join them then?"

"You should," Thranduil said.

"Would you get mad if I shoved you into the river, ada?"

Thranduil pretended to think about that. "Hmm. I do not know. Maybe you should try it and find out. Can you swim?"

"No," said Legolas, flushing uncomfortably.

"Many people cannot swim, ion-nin," Thranduil said kindly. "Come; we will go to the river and me and Harune will teach you to swim."

"Okay," Legolas said happily, skipping ahead of his ada and daerada. But as soon as they reached the blue water, Harune caught up his son and threw him out into the middle of the river. Several elves in the water looked at Harune playfully.

"My land, look at that! Someone is mistreating the king! Shall we avenge him? Perhaps we should throw him in to! He is too dry for this hot day!"

"Ada!" Legolas yelled worriedly. He did not see Thranduil anywhere in the water. "Ada! You killed ada!" He glared angrily at Harune. "I hate you!

As Harune started to explain he was just playing and that Thranduil was all right, several elves caught hold of Harune and shoved him into the river, laughing. Before Harune could warn them that Legolas could not swim, they tossed him into the water to!