Disclaimer: I do not own Thranduil, Legolas, Gundabad, or anything else. In fact, I don't even own Caiwen. Her name is the courtesy of a random elf-name generator. All the mistakes are mine. I promise.

"Legolas." Thranduil called out to his son. He could not let him go without telling him the truth, a truth he had never dared to tell. "Your mother loved you… more than anyone, more than life."

His son froze in his footsteps, then turned. Thranduil could see that he fought back tears. They bowed and Legolas left.

Thranduil stood alone in the dwarven chamber for a moment, remembering the past.

"My little elfling!" Caiwen stood in the sunny halls of their home in Lindon, holding baby Legolas to her breast. "My little Legolas Greenleaf."

"His name is Legolas Thranduilion, for he is my son." Thranduil put his arm about his wife's shoulders and leaned forward to view his son. The grey-blue eyes stared up into his own, as if the smart child already recognized his father.

"Do not forget, he is mine as well." Caiwen faced him. Their kiss lingered for some time, but when they parted, Thranduil found a crying babe in his arms. "But you can change his diapers."

He looked down at the babe, whose scrunched nose and red face told him Caiwen had spoken truth. "Here, you…" he lifted his son to hand him to her, but she was gone.

He groaned. How did she always manage to do that?

"Even the king of Mirkwood can change diapers." She had told him so many times. She never would listen when he told her he was not yet king. "But you will be," she insisted.

"Caiwen!" Thranduil shouted as he rushed to her slim form on stony ground of Gundabad. The last of the sun's rays fell upon her face. "Beloved, awake!"

She opened her eyes, dimly. All strength was gone from them. Thranduil could see that her end was near. Tears pooled from his eyes. He wiped a blood-crusted strand of hair out from her beautiful eyes.

"Beloved." Her voice was scarcely a whisper. "Care for our son."

"No…" Breath came in gasps as he realized she would be lost to him forever. "You cannot die. You shall not."

"Care for my little Greenleaf," she whispered, and smiled.

And Thranduil had done as he had promised. He had watched over their son. Headstrong he was, like his mother, and fearless. Perhaps it came with the name, for since his mother's death he was known as Legolas. Legolas Greenleaf.

Author's Note: This is completely wildhorses1492's fault. Blame her for it. (Love you, Windy!)

Trivia: Caiwen is a Sindarin name meaning "hedge maiden."

Comments? Questions? Criticism?