Cutheniel walked through the edge of the forest, bow in hand. She heard footsteps following behind her and she whirled around. There stood Legolas, but he looked different, familiar, but still different.

'He looks younger,' Cutheniel thought. She glanced down at her bow in her hand, then glanced back. It was smaller. She whipped out her knife and stared at her reflection.

"I'm younger," she whispered in awe.

She was back in the times which she had longed for. The days in which she was allowed to roam with her friend. Cutheniel smiled, she wished she could stay in this time period forever.

She looked back at Legolas from the corner of her eye, trying hard to remember what she felt for him when they were this age. Then it came to her, she had not felt anything for him until she had come to be trapped in the palace. 'Yes, we are too young right now, if I remember correctly I'm now only a little above 150.'

"Cutheniel," Legolas called from behind her. "Race you to the top of the trees!"

Cutheniel smiled as she watched the young Prince dash up the tree. She remembered the contests they had such as this long ago, constantly trying to prove who was best. "You're not going to win, Legolas," Cutheniel shouted as she jumped into the next tree and nimbly climbed up, hoping to catch up with her dear friend.

The branches and leaves wooshed past her face and the air roared through her ears. Cutheniel rushed faster as her ears picked up the sound of Legolas in the nearby tree climbing to the top.

"Here," they called in unison when they reached the top.

"Why do we always tie!" Legolas exclaimed throwing his arms in the air, then quickly returning them to the branches to keep his balance.

Cutheniel giggled and began to descend to the ground. Legolas did the same and they brushed themselves off as they landed on the ground. Cutheniel stared at Legolas as he brushed the leaves off his tunic. 'He's grown so much since now, I'm mean then, or... never mind,' she thought smiling.

"What?" Legolas asked seeing that she was not only staring at him, but smiling at him as well.

Cutheniel snapped back to her senses. "Nothing," she replied staring away.

"Cutheniel, Legolas!!!!!"

The two looked in the direction of the palace, where the call had come from. Cutheniel looked at Legolas confused, Legolas just shrugged and signaled for them to head to the palace.

"Last one there is a yrch!" he called as he raced through the trees.

"That would be you!" Cutheniel called as she ran after him.

She skidded to a halt as she came into the clearing in front of the palace.

"I won," Legolas said as she caught her breath.

"You had a head start."

"Cutheniel," a deeper voice said.

Cutheniel turned around and was surprised to see King Thranduil standing before her.

"Yes your highness?" Cutheniel said bowing her head and curtsying with an imaginary skirt that she was supposed to wear.. She glared at Legolas who was chuckling at the sight of her curtsying with leggings on.

"When will you stop wearing those breeches Cutheniel? They are not meant for girls," King Thranduil said disapprovingly.

"Well...," Cutheniel began.

King Thranduil interrupted, "But that's what I want to talk to you about Cutheniel. You should be around young maidens like yourself, not tramping out in the forest."

"So you mean you want me to stay in the palace?" Cutheniel asked worriedly.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. I'd like to introduce you to your handmaiden, Arethirien."

Cutheniel looked at the lady coming forward from behind the King. 'Who is she?' she thought, then she remembered, 'Yes she came before Maliana. I can barely remember her.'

"Saesa omentien lle- Pleasure meeting you," Cutheniel said holding out her hand.

Arethirien shook it and replied," Quel re- Good day."

"Well come on Cutheniel, come inside," King Thranduil said putting his hand over her shoulder and guiding her towards the palace. Cutheniel slipped from under his arm and held her ground.

"I don't want to stay inside the palace. I want to play outside with Legolas like I do everyday," Cutheniel said pouting.

"Well I'm sorry Cutheniel, but things are going to change," he said taking hold of her wrist gently and walking her to the palace gate. Cutheniel dug her heels into the ground and looked back at Legolas in horror. " Tua- Help," she mouthed.

Legolas ran up to her, grabbed her other wrist and pulled her away from his father.

"Legolas," his father said turning to face him, his voice gentle, hoping that the two would understand. "Things have got to change. Cutheniel has to learn that it is dangerous for maidens to roam around in the woods." He peeled his son's fingers from Cutheniel's wrist and swung Cutheniel over his shoulder like a baby, patting her back comfortingly.

"No!" she screamed, pounding her fists on to King Thranduil's back. Her eyes grew wide with horror and she gave up her tantrum. She stared sadly at Legolas who was waving back at her equally depressed. "No!!!!!!!!!!!!" she screamed again, resuming her tantrum, pounding her fists and thrashing her legs. " Let me go! Let me go! I don't want to stay in the palace!"

"Kasumi," a disembodied voice called, "Kasumi, wake up!"

Kasumi's eyes came into focus from her dream to find Manwein hovering over her with a worried look etched on his face.

"Are you okay? You were just dreaming, everything is fine," he said comfortingly.

"It was just a dream?" Kasumi asked rubbing her eyes.

"Yes, everything is fine, you were having a tantrum," he said putting his hand on her shoulder.

Kasumi sighed. 'It was a dream,' she thought, 'Just a dream.'

"Do you feel okay Kasumi?" Manwein asked still worried.

"I'm fine," she said dismissing her tantrum with a wave of her hand.

"That's good," he said getting up from her bed. " Now rest some more. Tomorrow I think you'll be strong enough to get up."

"Quel du- Good night," Kasumi said slipping back under the covers.

"Tenna' tul're san' - Until tomorrow then," Manwein said exiting the room.

"I wonder how Legolas is doing?" Kasumi whispered as she looked out the window before she slipped into dream.

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Well I know nothing really happened in this chapter but I thought it would be better if you knew more about Cutheniel/Kasumi's past. Well next chapter will be set many years from the time this chapter is in. I don't feel like writing everyday of Cuth/Kasumi's life. Especially over a long time period. Well review please! Namarie- Farewell!