AN: So this is just a little gen fic I've been working on. Please note, I'm not a Tolkien scholar so I am sure can find lots of faults with that side if you are very familiar with the universe and sindarin. Anyways, I love to hear any help you can offer on that account but don't expect me to become magically better next day - it's too vast a universe for that and I don't know the Silmarillion by heart. ^_^
I imagine Legolas to be around the size of a 7-year old here - don't know what exact age that translated too in elvish years but you are of course welcome to imagine him how you like! I hope you enjoy this!
The water below seemed to chuckle as it moved through and over the rocks. It drowned out the the sound of the little one's humming as his boots dangled dangerously above it. Legolas adored the sound of the creek and seeing the silver and grey fish that occasionally moved through the shallow water. He loved the light of the forest and the feeling of the bark against his fingertips when he made his way up the old willow he was currently sitting in.
"What do you want to do?" Asked Braigelen, who was twirling a rather dull dagger around. Legolas turned to the slightly older elfling with a questioning look.
"Where did you get that?"
"My Adar gave it to me," the older one replied nonchalantly though Legolas seriously doubted it. His own father would not even let him touch such things - let alone get one. And even though Braigelen seemed to get away with a lot more, Legolas did not think he would be allowed a dagger before he was too old to consider playing with it. Legolas did not voice such concerns. There was something about Braigelen. Legolas was adventurous on his own but he dared a lot more with his friend beside him. He had such good ideas and seemed to come up with stuff Legolas could have never imagined. But most importantly, he stuck up for the little prince. Once they were found or went back there was sure to be some music to face but Braigelen always had good excuses and all Legolas needed to do was nod along. True, it did not always work - for Legolas at least, but it had managed to convince his tutors before.
"Can I see it?" The young prince asked excitedly. He tried to move a bit closer and had to take care not to fall out of the tree as he did so.
"It's not a toy," Braigelen said with an air of importance even though he had just been playing with it. "It's mine - so I can train to be a warrior!" The elfling emphasized this by stabbing the air a few times.
"You're not training yet! Give it to me!" Legolas insisted with a hint of jealousy caused by the mere possibility that Braigelen would be allowed to begin so many years before Legolas.
"Nuh-uh!" Braigelen held the dagger out of Legolas' reach by rising and standing carefully balanced on the branch. "It's deadly sharp, you know! My Adar has killed hundreds of orcs with it!" Said Braigelen as he stabbed the air a bit more, now with accompanying sounds of exertion. "And he says I can come with him next time he goes out and we can fight the serpents together!"
"Liar! You're such a liar!" cried Legolas, clearly agitated.
"Am not!"
"Are too!" Legolas insisted. He was different than the other elflings in Eryn Galen and he was made to feel it too. 'Your highness must understand that...', 'Your highness cannot possibly...' and even 'Because you are my son, Legolas' echoed in his brain. He liked Braigelen because he did not care that Legolas was a prince and never acted like he was but what Legolas didn't like, and Braigelen knew this, was being reminded of all the things he was not allowed to do because he was who he was. Unfortuanately, Braigelen could not resist bragging or pretending to be more adult than he was. Braigelen huffed, his auburn hair whirling around his face as he stuck the dagger in his belt and jumped out of the tree. The elfling let out a squeal as he hit the ground. He had been too high up and instead of landing on his feet he rolled dangerously close the the edge of the cliff the tree was overhanging. The shallow creek below would not have softened the fall.
"Braigelen!" Legolas cried as he clung to the branch, hoping to learn that his friend was all right.
"What?!" The other elfling snapped. There were tears in his eyes as he held his knees. Legolas carefully began to descend from the tree. The dirt on the older elf's knees and hands suggested to Legolas that he might have scrapes now. Legolas reached out to help his friend up.
"I'm fine!" Braigelen hissed but he took Legolas' hand none the less. The redheaded elfling enjoyed playing an adult but what he loved more was the look of envy in Legolas' eyes when he managed to make the prince believe him - even if just a little. He most certainly did not appreciate it when his friend called him out and shattered his feeling of superiority. Legolas was a prince - but luckily he did not quite seem to get that, Braigelen thought. Or at least he did not act like one.
"Do you think we could get down there?" said Legolas and pointed to the creek below. Grateful for the change in topic, Braigelen straightened and his eyes shone with interest.
"Yeah, but we need a rope! And supplies!" he explained.
"What do you think is over there?" Legolas smiled. He loved an adventure and with his friend there he was never afraid.
"Orcs," replied Braigelen. "And trolls too!"
Legolas did not think his father had ever mentioned trolls this close to them. "Really, trolls?"
"Mhmm! I've seen one!" said Braigelen excitedly. The prince doubted this but did not mention it as he would not upset his friend further. "We could do this tomorrow! Unless you're scared?" Braigelen taunted.
"Am not!" Legolas insisted just as a sound was heard though the trees. Both elflings spun around in the direction it had come from with wide eyes. It was something far scarier than orcs and trolls - it was an elven hunting horn! It sounded again, moving closer. The little ones ran as fast as they could. They could not very well tell Master Feladir that they had been playing hide and seek in the palace caves if they were caught in the woods by a group of hunters first. Of course two small elflings were no match for horses and so they dove into a large shrubbery and sat there with their eyes closed as the heard horses moving through the wood quite near them.
"D-do you think it's safe to go on?" said Braigelen with an uncharacteristically small voice.
"Maybe if we hurry back nobody has noticed we're gone?" suggested Legolas as he trying lay rose from the ground. It was not uncommon for Legolas to prove the braver of the two in actions even if Braigelen was in words.
"Maybe," said the other elf and the two of them made their way home through the woods, following the tracks of the horses until they neared the entrance to the city in the caves. They could not simply wander through the main gates so they headed towards one of the smaller entrances which opened out to the river and was used by elves fetching water for the kitchens. There was nothing but water beyond the door but an elf - or indeed two stealthy elflings could climb or slide down the rocks to the small platform from above. You could not leave the castle this way and you could get up above the door without first crossing a guarded bridge but they did not attract much attention having been preceded by the hunting party. They slid down upon the platform and knocked upon the locked door. A young elf opened and smiled at them. While Braigelen pushed past her, Legolas sent her a smile. The kitchen staff rarely ever told on them and he appreciated that.
"Alright, so here's the story..." said Braigelen as they left the kitchens and entered the corridors beyond.
"I'm waiting to hear it," a stern voice spoke not far behind them. Both elflings turned around to find Master Feladir standing there, cross-armed and ominous.
"Umm," Legolas began, having turned pale as ice.
"Your highness, how times to I have to tell you that you may not leave the supervision of your guards and tutors at any time?" The teacher's voice was steely and Legolas bowed his head. He knew this but it did not make it fair. It was no fun playing when adults were watching. He did not know what to say. He had never been very good at excuses.
"We just wanted to see the horses," Braigelen said.
"For two hours, Tuilinnion?!" Master Feladir demanded. The elflings shared a look. Neither had realized how long they been out. The angry tutor turned to Legolas. "And you can consider yourself lucky I found you for you missed Master Thalion's lesson as well, your highness!"
Legolas gulped. He did not share all his lesson with the other elflings for Legolas had more than they did and in fact his father was not even that fond of him having any with them. He faired far better alone with a teacher where there were no other students to get distracted and silly with. But Legolas hated being taught alone and had asked to stay in the shared classes. Master Thalion was an old elf who was not as lenient as the young Master Feladir nor as patient. His classes were a chore to get through.
"We forgot what time it was," said Legolas quietly. That was not a lie.
"Be that as it may, you should never have skipped class in the first place. It's the second time this month! Tuilinnion, I would advise you to be on your way. Your Naneth is looking for you. I expect you early tomorrow for a discussion."
"You told our parents?" Braigelen exclaimed with a scandalized expression. Legolas' blood ran cold. Sure, Braigelen complained but he really had nothing to lose - all he might get was told off. Legolas might very well get pulled from the shared classes if his father heard about this.
"Will I have to escort you?" Feladir threatened and Braigelen was on his way faster than a dragon could fly. Then the teacher turned to the frozen prince and placed a hand on his shoulder. He learned down a little, and his red locks swayed in front of Legolas. "The Aran has heard nothing from me, your highness. Though I cannot guarantee that Master Thalion has not sent word of your absence."
Legolas nodded slowly. He was grateful, truly, but he knew that Master Feladir's patience was stretched thin. "I'm sorry," he said, lowering his head.
"You're a good student. I would hate to lose you," the older elf cautioned. "Come, I shall return you to your chambers and then I shall find Master Thalion and reassure him that his student is still in one piece." As the teacher gently guided the prince to his rooms, a red-eared Legolas silently swore that he would never skip another lesson. But then, he had promised himself that many times before.
TBC
