Chrysalis

By

Crys Ritter

I don't own any of the recognizable characters but I'll take Legolas if they wanna give him up! Eärerion and Eladien are mine; based on people I know and love!

Have you ever wondered how Legolas got that cute little crescent shaped scar on his right cheek?

***

Legolas grinned at his brother; "I told you I could beat you with the bow and arrow."

Eärerion snorted, "I don't care how good you are with the bow, you're still a mouthy little shrimp."

"Am not!" Legolas argued.

"Are so!"

"Am Not!"

"Are So!"

"I AM NOT!" Legolas yelled.

"YES! YOU! ARE!"

"Children!" A voice shouted from the garden.

Legolas and Eärerion immediately ceased their arguing.

"Yes Mother?" They called, meekly.

"Enough!"

"Yes Mother." Both boys said.

"Are too." Eärerion whispered.

"Am not." Legolas hissed.

"Chipmunk."

"Moose."

"Mouse."

"Trout."

"Coward."

Legolas began to loose his temper, "You take that back." He growled past gritted teeth.

"Make me." Eärerion dared.

Legolas dropped his bow and arrows and leapt at his brother. Although Legolas was the elder of the pair, Eärerion was taller and heavier, it didn't take long for Eärerion to pin his brother to the ground and sit on him.

"Hah!" Eärerion gloated.

Legolas fought back the tears that threatened to spill. "I'm not afraid of you."

Eärerion raised his fist as if to strike Legolas in the face but his elder brother never flinched. "I'm bored of this game." He got up, punching Legolas in the chest as he did so. "I'm going swimming." Eärerion started to walk away but paused to throw one last taunt over his shoulder. "Are you coming or are you too scared?"

Legolas sat up, rubbing his chest; "I'm not a coward." He said evenly.

"Then why won't you swim at the falls?"

Legolas looked away, "I just don't want to."

Eärerion turned to go, but Legolas still heard his brother's final whispered word. "Coward."

Only when his brother was out of sight did the young Elf let the tears fall. "I'm not a coward." He whispered. "I'll show you." He wiped away the tears and dusted his clothing off. Legolas dredged up a smile and went to the garden, hoping that his mother wouldn't notice how red his eyes were.

Lady Eladien was sitting by the small creek that ran through the garden, when she saw her son she laid down the book she'd been reading.

"Legolas, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Mother, I just got some dirt in my eyes."

"You boys play too rough." She scolded lightly.

"Mother, can I go and visit Elrond and Arwen?"

"May I." she corrected.

"May I go visit Elrond and Arwen?"

"What brought on this sudden urge to travel?"

"Nothing. I just thought since I haven't seen them in a long time it might be nice to go for a visit."

"Has Eärerion been tormenting you about the falls again?" She asked gently.

"You know Father forbid him to."

Eladien reached for her son's hands and pulled him down to sit beside her. She resisted the urge to pull him onto her lap; Legolas didn't like to be babied anymore. "You can't lie to me." She smiled, "I'm your mother and I know when you aren't telling me the truth."

Legolas ducked his head, trying to avoid meeting her eyes. "What makes you think I'm lying?"

Eladien lifted his head with a hand under his chin. "Because you won't look at me."

"Can I go?" Legolas asked, trying to change the subject. "Please?"

"Of course you can go." She squeezed his hands in hers, "Githranduil can take you."

"But Mother, I'm old enough to go by myself." Legolas tried not to whine as it annoyed his mother greatly. "I know the way and it's not dangerous."

Eladien studied her son for several minutes, trying not to smile at his wide-eyed pleading look. "I suppose we'll have to let you go by yourself sometime."

"Thanks Mother!" Legolas hugged her.

"But not..." she began,

"Pleasepleaseplease?" He interrupted.

"As I was trying to say," she squeezed his arm, "but not until I help you pack."

Legolas threw his arms around his mother and laughed.

***

Legolas let his mother pack his travel bag as he stood staring out the window hardly daring to breathe lest she change her mind about letting him go.

"How long to you plan to stay?" Asked Thranduil, his eyes twinkling in amusement, "Until you are old and grey?"

"I want to be prepared." Legolas smiled back at his father's teasing as they walked together to the stable.

Eärerion glowered from the stable door, mumbling something no one could quite catch.

Legolas ignored his brother, not even looking at Eärerion as he led his pony out of the barn.

Thranduil patted his son on the shoulder and Eladien kissed Legolas on the forehead.

"Safe journey my son." She said.

Legolas mounted his pony and at last turned to his brother, "See you later little brother."

Eärerion started forward as if to attack but Thranduil caught his son by the collar, laughing, "I know you hate to see your brother go Eärerion, but it is time for him to leave."

The look Eärerion gave his brother could have withered an oak but it only served to lighten Legolas' heart.

"I love you Mother and Father. I'll be back before you know it." He spurred his pony and galloped off into the wood.

"Should I send Githranduil to make sure he gets to Rivendell all right?" Thranduil asked his wife.

"Legolas is quite capable with his bow," she leaned against Thranduil's shoulder and smiled at her younger son, "I think he will be just fine on his own."

Thranduil smiled indulgently as Eärerion stalked away, "I think I'll send Githranduil ahead to let Elrond know that our son is on his way."

"I'm sure Githranduil will prefer to take the southern pass to Rivendell." Eladien suggested.

"I'm sure he will."