A/N: This story takes place a looooooooong time before FotR. Elf-ages are confusing to me, so I don't know how old they are, but Legolas looks about 9. And he has a sister named Celede And a big brother named Ural. Celede's the oldest. Have fun!!

URAL

"Prince Ural of Mirkwood, may I present to you Vedith, Princess of Dadroc."

"Welcome, Vedith," I said, pretending to be glad. Inside, however, I was very frustrated. The last thing I wanted to do was marry this stuck-up princess. I had never met her, but I knew she was just like the others. By the looks of her, she was worse than the last one.

Ah, the last one. Fiwen of Lankrod. She had been a true beauty. Darker skin than what was typical of most elves which matched her brown hair and brown eyes. It was too bad that she had to take my prank so seriously and leave so suddenly.

"My home is much more lovely than this," Vedith said with a hint of disgust.

I gritted my teeth and decided that she was definitely worse than Fiwen. And uglier, too.

"Can I show you to your room?"

"No thank you, I'll manage."

She looked at me expectantly and I returned the same look. Finally, she sighed. "My clothes, Prince Ural. Take in my clothes."

"Excuse me. I am your future husband, not your future attendant."

" 'Tis not the work of an attendant," Vedith said, picking up a case and handing it to me. "It's the work of a gentleman."

"If we're going to be married for eternity, you need to realize something about me," I replied. "I listen to one person: my father. And even then I don't always yield."

I set her clothes down on the ground and headed back into the castle. I heard her yell after me, "How dare you! You're insufferable!" I smiled to myself.

~*~

Later that night we all sat around the table for dinner. Legolas, Celede, Vedith and I were on one side of the long table, and mother, father, and Vedith's father on the other side talking.

"Fiwen was prettier," Legolas said, breaking the silence at our side.

Celede seemed more offended than Vedith. "Legolas! Apologize now!"

I could tell Legolas was about to, but I didn't want him to. He should be able to speak his mind. "But it's true," I agreed. Vedith glared at me.

"Not only is your kingdom ugly," she said. "But it holds the rudest elves I've ever met."

"We're not rude," I said. "We're honest. Is that such a bad quality?"

"Why, I should-"

"Ural," Celede cut in. "Mother and father will be furious with you if-"

"I don't care about them," I replied.

"You should."

"Yes, Prince Ural," Vedith agreed. "A citizen's best quality is loyalty to it's Lord."

"You are confusing a citizen with a prince."

"I am confusing a citizen with a rat!" she spat. Then she stood. "Excuse me, I'm not hungry anymore." She stalked away.

"Are all princesses as sensitive as her?" Legolas asked. "It will probably only take one trick before-"

"She isn't leaving," Celede said. "This one is for sure, no matter how many tricks you pull or how much she wants to run away. Father said so. No more princesses getting sent over here for visits. Vedith is the one."

I smiled. Legolas was right. It wouldn't take more than two pranks to send her home. And if father seriously meant no more, then I would never marry. That would increase my chance of accomplishing my dream.

"I do tire of these arrogant princesses," I said. "I'll be relieved when it's over."

"This is childish, Ural."

"Childish?" I demanded. "Of course not. Don't be absurd."

"It is!" Celede insisted. "As a princess, I've experienced what she'll be going through. You think you're the only prince in Middle-Earth that plays these games?"

Legolas's eyes lit up and he was suddenly interested again. "Princes play jokes on you?"

Celede rolled her eyes. "Uncountable times."

"Like what?" He was excited now.

"That doesn't matter. Now, finally, I've found a nice, mature Elvish prince that I will marry."

"I have no pity for you, sister," I said.

"You should! It's torture, each trip."

"Don't yell at me, please. You remind me of Vedith, and I'm desperately trying to forget her."

Legolas chuckled.

Celede shook her head and stood. "I must talk with her."

"Wait!" I said quickly. "What are we to tell mother and father?"

Celede was angry now. I could tell by her face and her forceful voice. "Tell them that you offended yet another princess and that I went to apologize on your behalf."

"But Celede, father'll be furious with me."

"Maybe you deserve it."