Legolas ran up the stairs and down a long hall, his bare feet slipping on the shined floor.
An elf guard dipped her head to him as he neared the end of the hall and he skidded to a halt, returning the gesture awkwardly before continuing. He adjusted his grip on his bow as he sprinted, holding his arm up slightly so it didn't drag on the ground.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry Legolas?"
He bit back a frustrated breath and turned around, looking up, to see Alok walking up from behind him. The 'Spider chaser', as Legolas liked to call him, had his head tipped to one side questioningly but his hazel eyes sparkled with friendliness as he looked down at the young elven prince.
"I'm going to see my Dad." Legolas replied.
Alok smiled as the gold patterned bow slipped from his hand and Legolas bent down to pick it up, trying to look dignified.
"Your father might be busy dealing with the spider raids." The tall elf reminded him.
"No he's not." Legolas said, proud that he knew something Alok didn't. "Roshia told me he's not going with them on an attack today."
Alok grinned, crouching down and ruffling Legolas' hair. "Nothing gets past you does it."
"Nope." Legolas tucked a loose strand of his pale hair behind his pointed ear.
"Alright, off you go then." Alok straightened up and stepped to the side, permitting him to continue.
Legolas cats him a quick grin before setting off again, skidding around a wide column and leaping up the stairs to his father's throne. Relishing the way his hair streamed behind him, Legolas chuckled and bounced up the last few steps, stopping in the centre of the throne room.
Thranduil was sat on his throne, a crown of leaves and branches atop his long blonde hair. He turned his intense gaze on his son as Legolas halted in front of him. Legolas dipped his head slightly to his father, flashing a quick glance at his mother, Keishara, who stood beside her husband's throne. She smiled down at him, her midnight blue eyes were so soft they looked like velvet, her glossy, black hair in the usual elvish style; two thin plats from the front of her face tied together at the back of her head.
"Look, I can shoot things! Roshia taught me how." Legolas announced, holding up his bow, looking pleased with himself.
He was referring to a female silvan elf, mother of Legolas' best friend, Tauriel.
Thranduil gave a rare smile. "Let me see then."
Legolas took an arrow from the quiver on his back, notching it in his bow. He drew it back to his jaw, narrowing his eyes in concentration. Loosing it, (even though his bow was almost the same height as him) Legolas managed to hit the arrow right in the middle of a shield, propped up against a column at the edge of the room. Keishara smiled and walked over to her son, her blue robes, matching her eyes, sweeping behind her. She picked him up in her arms and carried him over to Thranduil, sitting him down on his father's lap.
"I'm going to kill so many Spiders when I get older." Legolas promised, looking up at the elven king. "I'll make you proud of me."
Thranduil stroked a hand to his head and raised the corner of his mouth in a smile. "I'm already proud of you."