Thranduil sat slouched on his chair, barely listening to the discussions set forth by his kingdoms council members. They were arguing about empty lands near their borders. How beneficial it would be if the kingdom acquired such lands.

His fingers tapped on the table gently, trying to focus. It was a futile attempt but the rest of the elves in the room didn't seem to notice. His eyes turn to the reason for their lack of interest in him.

Legolas sat on his right, his posture almost rigid and his expression serious. He was the one handling the meeting right now and Thranduil could not help but feel a swell of pride watching his son taking kingdom matters into his own hands. A small fleeting smile spread across his lips as Legolas argued, explained and discussed. The way the others hanged on to his every word and gave approving nods was enough to make Thranduil hand over the crown right then and there.

But he knew, deep in his heart, Legolas did not want the crown. He knew for a long time now. Legolas belonged to their people in a different manner. His son had dedicated his life to this world and all those who may yet see tomorrow. Despite the sadness he felt, Thranduil was still proud. He could not believe how Legolas had grown so well despite his many shortcomings as a father.

Then his thoughts drifted to an image of a small wooden crib beside the bed he shared with Mantheniel. The small fingers that clasped around his tightly and the bright eyes that seemed to steal all his sadness and worries. Ah, how much he wanted to leave this meeting and go to her.

"Adar?"

Thranduil refocused on Legolas who was staring at him with a curious look. Had his son asked a question? He blinked, trying to gain his composure when Legolas shared a knowing smile.

"It would seem my father is quite tired," he explains to those around them. "I wish for him to rest if there is no one among you that would contradict my word for his?"

"Of course, Lord Legolas," one answers immediately. Thranduil remembered him as one of those who also advised and convened with his father. "The king would wish the same. Will he not?"

Thranduil stared at them a moment before, "Yes, of course. He is very much capable as I am to rule this kingdom. I apologize for my lack of responses. It seems my mind no longer wishes to discuss such matters for it is always busy worrying about other trivial things."

"Ah, we all worry over our little elflings," one of the four ellith in his council says cheerfully. She flashes him an understanding look. "Especially one so young. A daughter needs the presence of her father as much as a mothers."

Three of the council members share a laugh, their eyes filled with that same look. They all have little elflings of their own.

"Legolas will be fine," one chimes in, sharing a glance with the one beside him. "We promise not to stress him too much."

"I'll try to be as patient as my father," Legolas says with a laugh. They all chuckle and Thranduil could not help but feel he was the topic of some inside joke. He shook the thought away and proceeded to stand, prompting all of them to stand with respect.

They bowed as he turned to Legolas, a hand on his shoulder. "Do as you wish. Don't scare them too much."

"I'll try," Legolas bows to him as Thranduil made his exit. As he passed through the doors he could hear Legolas' firm but calm voice.

"We do not touch those lands..."

He sounded very much like him, causing Thranduil to chuckle as he made his way to where he might find his wife- and with him, their princess.

---

"Gaaaah!"

Lorelei jumped from mixing her herbs as the queen rushed into the room, the princess in her arms. The baby held strands of Mantheniels hair in one hand and in the other, the milk bottle.

"Oh, Lorelei, would you please help?"

Lorelei couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips as she pried the princess off her mother. Not a second later, the baby began to cry, reaching out to her mother.

Mantheniel let out a frustrated breath, pushing the strands of her hair away.

"I am a terribled mother," she began as Lorelei tried to soothe the child. "I do not think I will get the hang of this, Lorelei! How does my husband do it? How is he that good with children? Being all emotionless as he is!"

She plopped down on one of the wooden chairs meant for patients as she buried her face in her hands.

"Thranduil has had experience," Lorelei explained. "Despite being forced into such circumstances. Do you think he got it right the first time? He was practically running around the palace asking people what to do with Legolas because the poor boy wouldn't let him go."

"He could not go to his meetings without a little elfling hanging on his chest," Lorelei was practically beaming now. "You should have seen him with the boy. Tragic, but beautiful all the same."

The old elf smiled at her now. "You cannot expect to know these overnight, my queen."

She seemed to slump down further in the chair as Lorelei handed her back the squirming princess. Once in her arms the princess seemed to relax, until it tried to pull her hair again. Mantheniel groaned in defeat as she stood up and was half pushed out by Lorelei.

"You can do it, your majesty," she tells her as she ushers the queen out as if she was just another patient. "You managed to get Thranduil to listen to you. A baby is no different."

Mantheniel walked the halls, her hair tangled in the arms of her child. She loved the baby to death but wished it could already speak so they could further understand each other. She opted to go to the gardens while conjuring up an image of Thranduil carrying a tiny Legolas into the meeting rooms. She stifled her laugh. Ah, but Thranduil looked exceptionally handsome carrying a baby and taking care of it. Perhaps it was the sensitive side of him that made Mantheniel smile wider.

He was adorable-

"Ah!" She wrapped her hands tightly around Annuniél, afraid she might drop her as she collided with the familiar hard chest of her husband. She turned to glare at him as Annuniél squealed happily at the sight of her father.

"Why are you rushing about in the halls like that?!" She demanded but Thranduil couldn't care less. He smiled, then laughed at the sight of her. His queens hair was in tangles. Their daughter squealing in delight. Mantheniel continued to glare at him and he did what he had wanted to do all day and kissed her, much to Annuniéls delight. She pulled on his hair, entangling both their strands. Mantheniel grumbled but Thranduil chuckled lightly, gently prying the baby's hands off their hair.

Then he pulled something out of his robes pockets. It was a small wooden toy. Mantheniel recognized it as one of the toys Legolas had placed in Annuniéls play pen in the library. It was worn out and has seen many winters. That is when it finaly dawned on her. This was Legolas' toy. Annuniél immediately liked it and started to pull on it instead.

"How do you do it?" She almost whispered as she watched Annuniél suddenly transfixed by the toy dangling from her husbands hand.

"Hmm?"

Sighing, Mantheniel proceeded to hand their daughter over. She happily clutched on to the fabric of his robes as Mantheniel tried to compose himself. Thranduil looked over at her, saw the worry in her eyes and proceeded to help her arrange her hair. He pushed it back, clasping it in the golden brooch with his free hand.

"You are worrying to much, my little dragon flame," he said gently. It has been long since he had addressed her as such. With the funny nickname, but it still managed to warm her heart. She smiled at him, a tired one before glancing at the baby obedient in his arms.

"She never stays still with me," she says half heartedly. "She's so energetic I do not know how to calm her down like that? Meleth nin, I will be a horrible mother."

"She is only like this because she has your blood running in her veins, meleth nin," he says teasingly.

She raises an eyebrow as they walk together towards a balcony by the gardens. "Does that mean I am never calm? Or that I am horrible mother?"

"Neither," he says as they sit side by side and watch as the flowers glide and sway with the wind. "It just means she will be very much like you, and will own every bit of my heart. My stars."

She leaned on his shoulder, feeling the weight of it all but thankful for having such a shoulder to lean on.

"I am glad you are here," she says quietly. "I will never know why I deserved you but thank you-"

"What is this all of a sudden?"

"I am afraid I will never reach her as you have," she admits quietly. "I have grown up with no parents, just many people who have taken care of me. I will only know how to raise Annuniél as a soldier. You did good with Legolas. He is practically running the kingdom himself. He is so strong and so gentle. I was never like that? How will I be able to raise a princess?"

"Just as how you were raised," he explains. "Strong willed, compassionate, selfless, stubborn- but I would not have anyone else. Mantheniel, I found the rest of eternity in you. I would love our daughter to be just the same."

"Even if she annoys you from time to time?" She asks and Thranduil merely gave her a loop sided smile before claiming her lips once more.

--

It was not long after that Thranduil had been summoned again, much to his reluctance. He leaves Annuniél in a rather distressed looking Mantheniel as he goes to attend to matters.

When they were alone, Annuniél simply stared at her and she stared right back.

"You have an amazing father, you know." She tells the infant, still clutching the wooden toy. "You are very lucky."

Annuniél smiles and giggles as she cuddles closer to her. Mantheniel liked the feeling as they both sat on the grass, the sun sinking in the horizon.

"Sunset," she half murmured. "How beautiful they are."

Annuniel continued to stare up at her expectantly she grew worried. What would Thranduil do? A memory flashes in her head the night she found Thranduil awake by the foot of their bed with Annuniél in his arms.

He was singing a lullaby. Mantheniel remembered crying at the scene, and trying not to alert him that she had woken up. He was so gentle, so loving with Annuniél that if people ever found out he was like that with Legolas they would have never called him cold or heartless.

Mantheniel cleared her throat and glanced around her.

"I do not normaly sing," she says to Annuniél. "But perhaps I can make an exception with you. This was something Lord Ellithior usually sang to me when I was afraid. He always told me that if I ever lost my way that I should let the stars guide me back home."

Then she began to sing, softly at first like she wasn't surr of her voice until it gradually became louder. Then Annuniél smiled, curling up against her chest and listened.

--

Thranduil was tired as he rounded the corner back to the gardens only to find some of his kingdoms staff and Lorelei lounging about the halls. He stepped next to her and was about to ask her when a voice filled his ears.

"Bless her," Lorelei had said as Thranduil continued to walk towards the voice. A voice he knew by heart but never really heard her sing. He found her by the grass, singing peacefully to an already sleeping Annuniél.

He decided to wait until she was finished.

"May it be the shadow's call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utulie (Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way

Mornie alantie (Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now..."

He waited a beat before noticing Mantheniel had also fallen asleep. How could she sleep so fast? The staff watched along, ready to run if Thranduil ever turned to them but much to their surprise he sat next to his wife and daughter, removed his robe and gently wrapped it around them.

He carefully placed Mantheniel's head on his lap as Annuniél curled against her. It was not long before Legolas had joined them in their impromptu camp out under the stars. He raised an eyebrow at his father before sitting next to him.

Thranduil smiled.

These three were the only stars he needed to be home.

--

Authors note: im so happy about the positive feedbacks everyone!! Huhu as promised, here is the second chapter. Hope you enjoyed it!! Next up, some little father daughter moments.