Okay, this is my first story I am actually writing to share, not just for me. So please bear with me. All constructive criticism is welcome. ~Elenya

Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Tolkien except Laurelin, Helenna, Andrahil, Ivrinereth, and Tarsil.

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Not a sound was made as I slowly crept through the forest undergrowth. The birds still twittered in the air, and off to the side there was the cutest rabbit munching happily on a patch of grass. I quickly bypassed the rabbit and continued on my goal. There, through the leaves I spotted it. This was almost too easy, not even making a sound I crouch in readiness. Now to wait for the perfect time. I was very patient for being so young. Yet it didn't take long for the perfect opportunity. The figure I gazed upon stopped talking to his friend and threw himself on the ground to doze. The other boy joined him on the far side of me. I waited there for perhaps another half hour. Then I silently left my cove and took out the little package I brought with me. I withdrew a little bottle that normally resided in the laundry room. It held the dye that created the green of the forest that was imprinted in the cloth of my cloak. I was ever so cautious as I released the cork and dripped the contents upon the hair of the sleeping form. I made sure to cover any spots of blonde the still peaked through and kept any of the evidence off my hands. It was too bad I couldn't get to all of it, I thought to myself wistfully. But I guess I would have to leave the back of his head normal.

I withdrew as silently as I came, holding down the fit of giggles that threatened to erupt. As soon as I was a safe distance away I let the laughter pour forth in a display of unbridled glee. Too bad Ivrin couldn't see this. I twirled in the meadow that ran just to the Southeast of my home, it was only about a mile away. Around and around I swirled. The glee rising in me. At last I had gotten him back. A childish prank to be sure but he deserved it. And after all, despite my many years I am still a child. For I was a daughter of the firstborn and proud of it. That meant I had years in which to play and be carefree before I took my place in the world. It was far better than being a filthy mortal. I still danced around the meadow in triumph. My hair was flipped here and there in my happiness. It was of the warmest gold, and shimmered in the late after noon sun. It rather matched the rest of me. I was unlike any other elf that has been seen in these woods. I had dancing sapphire eyes that could look black when I was in a foul mood. My skin was far from the typical elven pale, instead it was a little gold that hinted at a tan but was somehow purer than such mortal things. And for that reason I was called the golden child.

I finally noticed the sun start to head to it's resting place. I gaily waved it farewell. "Until tomorrow!" I cried out and the rays of brilliance. I then hurried back towards my house. I scampered in just in time to not receive a scolding. I had plenty of time to dress for supper and my forest adventures did not make me dirty. A surprising thing for a young elfling such as myself. Unfortunately my nurse, Helenna, made me wear a formal dress. I didn't like the thought of dresses at all, but I could deal with the simple ones.

"Why must you make me wear that thing?" sighing loudly, nearly resigned to my fate. Enna could be dragon when crossed too many times. Yet I still insisted on struggling against my doom.

"Because child, the King wishes it." She replied as she pulled the fancy gown over my head. Darn! She always knew how to get to me. The King had taken me in when I appeared in the forest fifty years. I knew nothing of my own family. King Thranduil was the only father I had ever known and Enna was my only mother. I loved them both with all my heart. "The King would like to know what the prince did this time." I snapped my head up. Uh oh, I didn't count on that rotten boy to wake up so soon.

"Is he mad?" I carefully asked Helenna. She turned to fetch my shoes before answering. Ugh, it had to be the dainty slippers. I hate fancy things!! Give me my worn hunting clothes and old cloak any day.

"No child, he knows you only act under provocation." A giggle escaped her mouth at the sit of the enraged prince, his face a dark red in complete opposite of his bright green hair. But quickly she regained her composure. "However he does wish you would refrain from terrorizing the boys in this way."

That got me mad. "I only do it because it's the only way I can fight back! They tease me all day and but I can't fight them or challenge them to archery competitions in order to show them up. I'm not allowed to be taught archery or sword fighting because I'm a girl! And still they tease me. What else can I do?" Enna thought on this a moment. There was truth to what the girl was saying. The boys teased the poor elfling from dawn until dusk and she could see the hurt it was causing her. Then a thought came into her mind.

"Hmm, perhaps you should ask the King to let Andrahil teach you to use the bow after all." The girl looked up from where she buried her head in her hands in frustration. It was then that Enna noticed the sheen of tears glisten in her eyes. Despite all the hurts this little girl had receive in play, or no matter how scared she had been of nightmares in the dark, she had never seen her cry. "Don't fret child. We will sort this out. You will show up the boys and once you come of age they will see what fools they were to treat you so." With those comforting words Enna enveloped the child in a hug and rocked her back and forth.

The young prince was not receiving the same tenderness however. After waking to find his hair in such a state, he ran back to the palace in a fury hearing Laurelin's laughter from the meadow as he ran past. His face had indeed turned a deep crimson to reflect his rage. ^She did it again! I can't stand that little brat!!^ Not that Laurelin had ever dyed his hair green before, but she had done similar things. Now he was standing in front of his father who was just as mad as he was. He always took her side. So what if he had hung her precious doll over the stable door to lie in the manure pile? She turned his hair green!

"Legolas! Are you listening to me?" The King's loud voice boomed into the ears of the young prince and he involuntarily shuddered.

"Yes, father." He managed weakly. He had hoped, as always, that because Laurelin had played a prank on him that the original transgression would be forgotten. It never was.

"You will apologize to Laurelin tonight before dinner and you will spend the day tomorrow mucking out the stables."

That was too much. "But father!" the little prince protested. The stables. Yuck!

"Do as I say young man or you will regret it. Do you understand me?"

A large sigh escaped Legolas' mouth. "Yes, father." And with a defeated slump of his shoulders he turned and walked out of his father's study to wash the dye from his hair. He fumed at Laurelin. She was always pulling pranks and never got yelled at because of course, it was never her fault. And she was always the first to apologize. It was infuriating! Now he had to cancel his archery lessons and it was all her fault. Noisily he stomped into his room and saw Tarsil ready to help him with is hair. Most people knew already as he brushed passed many in anger to find his father and complain about Laurelin. They all held back their laughter until Legolas had passed out of earshot. Even the King gave into the laughter at the sight of his green headed son as soon as he left the study.

"Well, I see you are really green with envy." Tarsil greeted the prince, his eyes dancing in merriment.

"It's not funny!" The enraged prince yelled. Tarsil just grinned and pulled the tunic over the little elf's head. And turned to prepare more water for the hair. "I hate her!" the prince continues in his ranting. "It's always poor little Laurel. Be nice to Laurel. I can't stand her!" He continues as Tarsil dunked his head forward in front of a basin of water to tend to the abnormal hair. Tarsil had been tending to Legolas ever since his mother had left for Valinor. Soon, he would no longer be needed, as Legolas would come of age in about 100 years. But none the less held great love for the prince and knew him better than most. In time Legolas would see what his actions really meant.

The hair successfully rinsed free of color, Tarsil directed Legolas in to the warm tub. After thoroughly washing the abused hair, he left Legolas to dunking his head underwater to get all the soap out. He handed him a towel and went to pick out his clothes for dinner. Much to Legolas' dismay Tarsil laid out his good tunic and breeches. The stiff ones with the tight collar. The moment he saw them Tarsil knew what the reaction would be.

"Why do I have to wear this? I hate dressing up!" Tarsil just held out the clothes to him and insisted.

"By your father's request." He was in trouble with his father enough already so he grabbed the finery and proceeded to dress.