Hi everyone!

Here is the next installment, and since this chapter was long, we have divided it up into two parts, so this is part one. Sorry for the slight delay, I've had finals all this week and haven't been able to get the next chapter up. So I hope this satisfies all of you. We really love your feedback!

Pyromanic firework: You can't take him home…at least not yet. LOL. But he is cute, isn't he?

Insane One: Glad you liked it! Your little short was cute too. Hope to see your others soon! I'm known as a criminal stalker in some cases…..heh heh.

Erhothwen: If you couldn't control the review board, it would be a pretty dangerous place. *grin*

Caledo: So glad you enjoyed it! And yes, when I have some more time on my hands, I will go and check out your story. It would be my pleasure.

And to everyone else…thank you! *gives reviewers many hugs*

Hope you all enjoy this!

The first couple of days after he made the promise had been fine, for he had been determined to keep it. The young prince had been extremely attentive and had earned himself much praise from his instructor for his improvement. The excitement had quickly worn off, and now he was beginning to regret it. The sun looked so inviting, and the day seemed so beautiful…the last place the young prince wanted to be was cooped up in a room and listening to lectures that didn't interest him. Legolas stared at the paper he held, the words flat and lifeless before him. He gave a quiet moan as he turned toward the window. He knew that he had promised his mother that he would work harder at his lessons, but it seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't do it.

He could see his mother outside, walking along the garden path. Oh how he wished he could be with her. He glanced up quickly. Ellecora the instructor was still in the adjoining room, busy with something. Nervously he glanced back out the window, then making up his mind he closed his book and slid out of the seat, tucking his work under his arm.

"Legolas, where are you going?" Malelee, another young Elf who was studying also, questioned as Legolas headed for the door.

"Out," Legolas answered hastily, glancing up worriedly to see if Ellecora had been aroused by their conversation.

"You can't leave. If you go I'll tell on you," the other Elfling warned. Legolas just scrunched his face up and stuck his tongue out at him before exiting the room. He grimaced as he heard Malelee calling Ellecora. He kept a hurried pace; it wasn't the first time he had left class during session, but this had been the first time since his promise, and that made it worse. However, the idea of being with his mother gladdened him, and for a brief moment thoughts of punishment evaded the young prince's mind.

Opening the door he slipped out into the warm summer air, hurrying along the garden path. He stopped, looking around, his forehead crinkling in confusion. He had just seen his mother a moment ago…where was she?

"Legolas? What are you doing out here?"

The young Elfling jumped at the sound of his mother's voice. He turned around smiling, but it quickly vanished when he saw the look on her face.

"Legolas, I asked you a question," she reminded him sternly.

Legolas cast his eyes downward, trying to think of something quick. He couldn't tell her that he had left class, for that would make her so disappointed, and he hated upsetting his mother. It might jeopardize his archery lessons too, and he was really improving. He had come so close to hitting the target yesterday.

"Umm…we were learning about the gardens…and Ellecora said to come outside to study," he fibbed, looking up at his mother with hopeful eyes. Feaear knew her son too well, and she wasn't about to fall for that kind of response.

"Wrong," she answered him, "Try again Legolas."

Legolas frowned, "Well…"

"Lying will only get you into more trouble my son," she warned him.

"I left," he whispered quietly, and had Feaear not possessed the hearing of the elves, she would have missed his answer.

Feaear let out a sigh, kneeling down so that she was eye level with her son. "Why Legolas? I thought we had a deal."

"I know," he responded mournfully, thinking now that surely his archery lessons were doomed. "But I don't like my lessons," he whined.

"I don't expect you to like them my son. You will have to do many things in life that you don't like, but they are important, and both your father and I expect you to do them."

Legolas nodded guiltily, for he knew his mother was right.

"Well, let's go then," she informed quietly, slipping her hand into his.

"Where are we going mother?" he wondered, glancing up at her for an answer.

"Back to your lessons," came the ready answer.

Legolas stopped in dread, tugging on her arm. "Oh please atara! I don't want to go back. Don't make me go back, I'll get in trouble," he was whining now, obviously distressed.

Feaear stopped, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Please atara. Don't make me go back. I wish to be with you," he implored, his eyes large.

Feaear shook her head, knowing that she could not. She frowned inwardly. She had a soft heart she knew, and she had the ever so slight feeling that one day it would work against her. She sighed. "All right Elleeramin, what do you think we should do then?"

Legolas looked at her with questioning eyes, "What do you mean mother?"

She gave him a gentle smile, "Well, you did break our promise, so what do you think should happen?"

Legolas glanced downward, kicking the ground with the toe of his shoe. This was new to him. Never before had his mother let him decide a punishment. He thought deeply for a moment, which for his age was a rather extraordinary sight. He looked up to where his mother was watching him.

"I guess I need to practice my lessons really hard," he finally admitted, keeping his eyes pinned upon the ground.

"And when do you propose to do that?" she questioned him.

"Tomorrow?" he asked, but she shook her head.

"Tonight?"

Feaear nodded. "Instead of your archery lessons."

Legolas gave a heavy sigh. "Okay mother, if I have to."

She smiled, kneeling down in front of him as she gathered him into a hug. "Thank you Legolas. In making that decision you acted far above age and I'm proud."

Legolas smiled, his face hidden in her long golden-brown hair. It was worth it, even if he had to miss an archery lesson. He had made her proud, and that alone was enough to brighten even the darkest of nights.

~*~*~

"Well…if it isn't the little prince."

Legolas gripped his bow tightly in his hands as the others approached.

"Let's see what you have there," the leader of the group, Tel'raa, taunted. Legolas had never liked Tel'raa. The larger Elfling was intimidating to him, and for one reason or another he enjoyed picking on younger Elves.

"Nothing that concerns you," Legolas answered, keeping his voice steady.

Tel'raa was near a decade older than he was, and Legolas always tried to avoid him at all costs. Nothing good ever came after an encounter with him. He had been to see his friends, and it turned out that Tel'raa had already been there

"I don't know about that Elleeramin," he sneered, stressing the last word.

"Don't call me that," Legolas told him fiercely.

"Why not? That's what your mummy calls you," Tel'raa laughed. The others behind him snickered. //Some friends// Legolas thought dully.

"Let me see that pathetic thing you call a bow," he sneered, extending his arm towards the weapon.

Legolas pulled back until he was just out of his reach. "Leave me alone," he cried, starting to regret ever coming here.

Tel'raa growled. "Give me some help here," he called back at the others. They quickly came to his aid, surrounding Legolas as the young Elfling tried to get away. The five of them grabbed a hold of his arms and legs, pinning him against the tree as Tel'raa snatched the bow from his clutches.

"Give it back!" Legolas cried, practically near tears. The one thing that was keeping them in was the thought that the last thing he wanted to do in front of his supposed friends was to cry and show them weakness. "Give that back to me, let me go!" he tried to struggle against the hold, but the five of them were bigger and stronger.

"Look at this," Tel'raa remarked, holding up the small black bow so that the sun danced off of it. "Let's say we see how well it works?"

"No!" Legolas yelled as the unwanted tears were beginning to well up under his eyelids. "Please don't!"

The others just laughed as Tel'raa drew out one of his own arrows, notching it on the string and pulling it back. The bow was too small for him to handle his strength, and he knew it. With a wicked smile he gave a forceful yank and the bow suddenly snapped, breaking in half.

At first Legolas was in shock, trying to convince himself that it had not happened. The others laughed as Tel'raa threw the bow to the ground, snickering.

"What a useless piece of junk."

Legolas shook his head in disbelief as the others finally let him go. He could feel the tears running down his face as the others mocked and taunted him, and only because he was the prince. He found himself wishing that he was just a normal elf, and that his father was not the king. Then, at least, he'd be spared this teasing and would be able to fit in.

Slowly with shaky hands he picked up the two larger parts, still trying to comprehend what had happened. His bow was gone. The bow his father had spent hours making so that it would suit his small size. The one that he and his father had painted together. Now it was just gone.

"What's the matter? Can't the poor little Prince handle this?" Tel'raa mocked, rubbing his hand through the young elf's hair.

Legolas pulled away, trying to ignore the taunts from the Elves he thought were his friends. Gathering the rest of the pieces in his arms, he stood and ran away from the group, tears blinding his vision.

"That's it," Tel'raa scoffed, "go run to mummy. She'll take care of everything."

Legolas shook his head. He would show them, he decided silently as he ran through the forest.

~*~*~

Night had settled in, and Feaear walked down the halls quickly. Once again she checked the rooms, and once again she found them empty. She frowned, shaking her head. //Where was he?//

She paused by Thranduil's study; her husband was sitting in the chair, dozing. She hated to wake him, but this was important.

Thranduil saved her the trouble by waking when she entered, but his gentle smile disappeared when he caught sight of the look on her face.

"I can't find Legolas," she informed worriedly. "All I know is that he went off to play. I haven't seen him since, and it's getting cold out."

Thranduil felt his own worry rise. He stood, taking a hold of her hands. "Uuma dela [Don't worry]," he whispered. "We will find him. He probably went farther than he realized and is taking a little longer to get home," he reassured her.

"Thranduil, I don't want him to be out there all alone," she murmured, "He's so young and small, and if anything happens to him…" she didn't finish, she couldn't.

"Nothing will happen to him. Come, we will go find him now," he told her, trying to lighten her heart.

She nodded and grabbed an overcoat in his study as she headed out into the corridor. Thranduil followed her out of the room a moment later.

TBC