As the door closed behind Airëlus, King Thranduil turned back to Calaen. "What else happened between you and your brother?" he asked, ending the sentence in a deep sigh.

"No, there was nothing else," the Prince replied. "I said or did nothing to provoke him, so I do not understand why he got so angry at me."

"Then you see why I also am having trouble understanding it," Thranduil said. "Legolas is not like that. He does not fight unless he has to, or if he has been provoked. Calaen, are you sure that you did not-

The dark haired Elf looked up angrily. "Do you really think I would say something to hurt him? Why would I do that to my own brother?"

"No, I do not think that you said something to hurt him," Thranduil replied. "Do not jump to conclusions. All I am saying is that this is not like the Legolas I know."

"I suppose you will let him get away with this," Calaen said, working hard to keep the sullenness from his voice.

Thranduil sighed deeply – he despised having to punish his children. "Of course not. He needs to know that what he did was wrong, and I will make sure that he does. But you also need to know that you did not act correctly."

"Then, how should I have acted?" Calaen asked, throwing himself sullenly into a chair.

"You are a lot older and stronger than Legolas. He may have started the fight, but he came out of it worse than you did," Thranduil replied. "You should not have retaliated. Why did you not come to find Airëlus or I? This could all have been avoided."

"Airëlus would not listen to me. He is the same as everybody else, Ada. He is fooled by Legolas, and thinks he can do no wrong." Calaen laughed humourlessly. "It seems as though I am the only one who can see him for what he really is."

Thranduil held up a hand to cut his son off. "You are angry, so I will let these comments pass. Try and stop thinking such things – you will only regret them later."

"Yes Ada," Calaen muttered. Sighing, he reached over to the bed and picked up the bow, pulling at the snapped string.

"Do not worry about that," Thranduil said, as he went over to the door. "It can easily be fixed."

"Yes Ada," Calaen repeated.

As the Elven-king left the room, the dark haired Prince threw the bow to the floor in fury. Legolas may still be Thranduil's blue eyed boy. But not for long. That would all change. It would change drastically.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thranduil stood outside Calaen's room, and grimaced as he heard the Prince throwing something violently to the ground. He raised his eyes to the ceiling and counted to ten in Quenya, in an attempt to calm himself, before going down the corridor to Legolas' room. Airëlus was standing outside, leaning against the wall. He inclined his head briefly at his father.

"Has Legolas calmed down?" Thranduil asked.

"I would not know," Airëlus replied dryly. "He ignored me when I tried to speak with him. Then I tried to follow him into his room, but he slammed the door in my face. Something tells me he is not very happy."

Thranduil sighed as he pushed the door open. "Thank you. You may go now, Airëlus."

Inside the room, Legolas was sat on his bed, knees drawn up to his chest. When the door opened, he looked up to see who it was, but immediately turned his face away again. He remained silent – he wanted to wait and see what other lies Calaen had been spinning about him.

"You want to hear what your brother said about you," Thranduil said. He knew from many past experiences what Legolas did in these situations.

The Prince shrugged. "I suppose."

"Tell me your side of the story," Thranduil said sharply. "Then you can hear what Calaen had to say."

Legolas shrugged his shoulders again, and flicked his eyes to the other side of the room. He brushed the back of his hand across his split lip, grimacing at the taste of blood in his mouth. Many times had he fought with Calaen. He should have become used to it by now. But he hadn't. He doubted whether he ever would.

Thranduil reached down, and turned Legolas' face towards him. "You really have emerged from the fight worse off than Calaen did," he said softly, wiping some blood from his son's cheek.

"He knows how to fight," the Prince said shortly. "He is good at it."

Thranduil nodded, and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I want to hear your side of the story."

"Calaen did not tell me that someone had damaged his bow," Legolas sighed. "He accused me of doing it, so I denied it, because I did no such thing. We….we just started arguing after that, and it led to a fight. That's all there is to it."

"Were you the one who dealt the first blow?" Thranduil asked in a low voice.

Legolas lowered his eyes. "Well…."

"I asked you a question," the Elven-king snapped. "Were you the one who dealt the first blow? You are trying my patience, Legolas. Now, answer me!"

"Yes, it was me," the Prince said quickly. "I was so frustrated by his accusations that I lost my temper. He made me angry, and I-

"That is no excuse!" Thranduil yelled, slamming a hand onto the desk. "You should not have done it, and that is all there is to it!"

Legolas flinched, and looked up at his father helplessly. "I'm sorry, Ada, I really am. I did not mean for it to go that far."

Thranduil made no reply as he went to a basin at the side of the room to dampen a cloth. Legolas watched him in silence, waiting for some kind of reaction. The King was unpredictable; sometimes he would be cold and quiet, and use the 'I'm-very-disappointed-in-you voice'. At other times, he would just explode. The Prince wondered what was going to happen today.

After a minute of tense silence, he came back to the bed and sat down once more, holding the wet cloth. Still without speaking, he leaned forwards and touched it to one of his son's injuries. Legolas hissed and drew back slightly at the sting. Thranduil looked at the Prince in what seemed to be sympathy.

"Sorry," he said softly.

Legolas nodded, and held himself still to let his father treat the wounds. "I am sorry for what I did. And I am sorry for what I said to you. I really did not mean it."

"What you said to me does not matter any more," Thranduil sighed. "I am more concerned about what you did to Calaen. How is it that something so trivial could ignite such fury in you?"

Legolas' eyes hardened as he recalled his brother's words. "I do not know what happened. There is no use asking me why I did it, because I will not be able to answer you. All I can say is that I was angry."

"Have it your own way," Thranduil said. "But I would rather you tell me the truth than lie through your teeth."

"I am not-

The King threw the cloth down onto the desk "Legolas, as a Prince, you should know how to conduct yourself. Obviously you do not know, and that is disappointing. I expected better of you."

"Ada-

"Clean yourself up, and then go to Calaen. You owe him an apology. When you have done that, you can come back here and finish that work you were doing," Thranduil said. "Where is the…?" He trailed off as he caught sight of the book lying on the floor. "What is it doing there?"

"Calaen took it off me," Legolas replied. "He-

"Alright, I have had enough of your excuses," Thranduil snapped. "How many pages have you been told to write?"

"Three," Legolas sighed.

The King nodded, and threw the book onto the bed. "I want six pages done by tomorrow. If you fail to do so, then you are banned from the archery fields for a week."

"But-

"Maybe this will make you think twice before behaving in such a way again," Thranduil said coldly. With that, he turned on his heel and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Legolas sighed deeply, and continued to wash the blood from his face. Although he had no reason to believe Calaen's words – that he was despised by his father and eldest brother – he still felt slightly fearful. What if there was some truth to it? What if he really was blind, and could not see what everyone else could?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thranduil and his two elder sons looked up as the door opened. Legolas glanced across at his father first of all, and at a nod from the King, turned to his brother. "I am sorry, Calaen, for what I did to you," he said shortly. "I know that it was wrong of me. It will not happen again."

The dark haired Prince nodded. "That is alright, Legolas. But I was not accusing you of damaging my bow. I was merely asking if you knew anything about it. You are far too quick to judge. You would do well to listen to what others have to say, before jumping to such conclusions."

"I will remember that," Legolas said softly. Despite his calm manner, he was seething inside. How dare Calaen speak like that? He was the one lying!

Thranduil smiled briefly at his second son. "You at least have shown some maturity during this, Calaen. Legolas, you can go back and make a start on that work now." With that, the Elven-king turned, and left to go back to his study.

"You should do what he says, Legolas," Airëlus said, smiling gently at his youngest brother. "He told me what you have to do. It is a harsh punishment, I think."

"Then, what would you have Ada do instead?" Calaen asked sharply.

Airëlus turned his gaze upon the dark haired Elf, a cold glint in his eyes. "It takes more than one person to start a fight, as well you know. To have one punished, and not the other seems unfair to me."

"Yes, maybe to you," Calaen sneered.

Airëlus merely rolled his eyes in irritation. He had just come off patrol, and had no wish to deal with two temperamental brothers. He turned sharply on his heel and left the room without saying another word. Legolas made to follow, but Calaen grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him close.

"You remember what I told about everyone despising you for what you did? Well, I meant every word of it," he hissed.

Legolas glared at his brother as he wrenched his wrist away. "Say what you want. I can tell Ada."

"Yes, that's right – take the easy way out," the dark haired Prince said. "Oh, I forgot. That's the only way for you, isn't it?"

Legolas looked up into the malicious green eyes in front of him for a moment, before turning and leaving the room. Calaen watched him go, a smile playing on his lips. When the door slammed shut, he laughed cruelly.

………………………………………………………………………………………………