Ip Vi: Concerning Repairs

"That Amyndra...I thought she said she would find a place for them to live. And do it tomorrow! But no! I get called down to see Ada and she kills them all..." Legolas mumbled as he made his way through the courtyard toward the stables. The various Elves and Men that he passed greeted him with calls of "good afternoon your highness." Legolas answered them respectively and for once refrained from demanding that they call him by name. He was only 37 years old and already he was tired of the strict formalities that many insisted upon using. He arrived at the horse barns and silently entered through the back, unseen. He silently made his way to the end of the darkened barn where Fing was being kept. At the sight of the little boy the horse's eyes flashed with fear and it moved back to the far corner of its stall.

"Shhh, Fing. I won't hurt you." The little boy answered, pulling a carrot out of his bag and offering it to the horse. The horse did not budge. In a soft voice Legolas began to sing. The horse's eyes drooped and slowly it made its way toward the young Prince.

"There you are. Good boy." Legolas said, handing the horse the desired treat and stroking its nose. The horse leaned into his touch, perfectly calm. Legolas continued to sing as he crawled into the stall and pulled the rest of the items from his bag. He nimbly climbed atop of Fing and, sitting backwards laid out his tools.

"Your highness! What are you doing?" A voice outside the stall called. Legolas sighed and turned to look at Mebririon who was in charge of the stables.

"Fixing Fing."

"Fixing him? How the Valar do you think you can fix him?" Mebririon asked, leaning upon the rail. With a large smile Legolas help up his tools, pleased with himself. Mebririon began to laugh.

"What do you plan on doing with those?" he asked. Now Legolas frowned. *If Mebririon really is this dense perhaps he should not be in charge of the horses, * Legolas realised.

"It's really quite simple; I just need to patch the hole that I put in his bum...I mean flanks."

"And you think those tools will help you?"

"Of course. I just place this peace of leather over the hole my arrow caused," Legolas explained as he did so, "then I just need to fasten it down."

"And what do you plan to fasten it down with?" Mebririon asked, amused.

"Paste, of course. It is not as if I could hammer it into him." Legolas answered as if any imbecile should know such a thing. Mebririon began to laugh again.

"Come down from there, your highness. Your paste and leather will not work."

"Then perhaps I should use a needle and thread?" Legolas suggested remembering the time that he had watched Mebririon sew up a horse's wound.

"The horse's would shall heal on its own."

"But he has a big hole in his bu-flanks."

"Yes he does, courtesy of your poor shooting skills. But it will heal in time. As long as no one messes with it." Mebririon answered pointedly. Legolas bowed his head. He had messed up again.

"Come now, your highness. Perhaps if you go into the kitchen Radriewen will give you something to eat before dinner." Mebririon held out his arms and the little Prince allowed himself to be picked up and placed on the ground.

"It is Legolas."

"What?"

"Legolas. Call me Legolas."

"Very well, Legolas. Let us go see what Radriewen has been cooking."

Disclaimer:

~ I do not own Legolas or Thranduil or any other characters of The Lord of the Rings that I decide to put in this story. I'm just using them for my own twisted pleasure.

I *do* own the dust bunnies: Glithiel, Sebrimir, Elrildur, Rioclya, and Amaran, the spidies, the nursemaid Amyndra, and Hilmar.

~ I also am the owner of Delaril and that stable boy, if I ever decide to give him a name.

~ And I have just added that poor little horse who still has an arrow stuck in his bum to my list of assets that shall be passed on to whoever the bloody wants them after I'm gone. Also the poor, poor imbecile who's job it was to teach our young Legolas how to shoot! Though neither of them have names just now.

~ No new assets, but that horse did finally get a name: Fing!

~ Hehe; I've gotten two new Elves to torture now; Radriewen and Mebririon.

A/N: Wow, this thing is a lot of fun to write. I'm debating whether or not to bring Arwen and the twins into it. And maybe Aragorn. He wouldn't be born yet though, would he? Ah, I'll think about it. Meanwhile Legolas and Mebririon will be in the kitchen. Where they can't get into any trouble. Right? :)