Legolas was lying at the bottom of a ditch, to scared to move. He had chased after a pretty butterfly, tripped, and fallen into the ditch. His leg hurt. He had tried to move but pain had forced him to lie still again. Legolas thought his ankle might be broken!

Legolas did not want to yell for help. Thranduil would find him. Thranduil would be angry and scold him for his carelessness. Tears filled his eyes. He hated making ada angry. He hated being yelled at. He hated making mistakes and provoking people to yell at him. Being yelled at made him feel small and helpless and afraid. He did not want to be afraid of ada. But he could not lie here forever. What if no one found him? He would die. Wolves would eat him!

But if someone found him, he would be taken back to ada anyway. And ada would be upset and yell at him there. Legolas cringed. The thought of anger made him think of being beaten.

Legolas thought of ada holding him and tucking him in at night. Ada's hands were gentle. Ada had never hurt him. What if . . . An impossible thought occurred to Legolas. What if ada was not angry that he had fallen and broken his leg? What if ada did not yell at him? What if ada helped him instead?

The thought was almost inconceivable. Legolas had been beaten and yelled at all his young life. The thought of not being punished for a mistake or an accident was almost beyond belief. Legolas decided to take the risk. He was beginning to feel sick now. He opened his mouth and screamed, "Adar! Adar! Help! Please help me!"

And Thranduil was there in almost an instant.