Chap3

The next day, to be on the safe side, Legolas didn't do anything that would give away the fact he had faked the fall. He mainly did archery practice with his friends. Aros wanted to join the important hunts when he was older so didn't mind practising. Balar was desperate to get his warrior braids as early as he could and Earelen wanted to do better than her sister, Lothriel, at something. Lothriel didn't want to be an archer so this was Earelen's best chance to shine at something her sister didn't.

"The brave warrior of Mirkwood strikes again," Legolas teased, "along with his friend the great hunter."

"Shut up you or it'll be your head in the centre of my wall rather than Nimrais*." Aros said warningly."

"Save me, please. Someone, the big scary hunter's coming to get me." Legolas retorted sarcastically.

"No fighting now." Earelen said stopping the boys in mid tease-fight.

"Does anyone else feel this isn't challenging?" asked Balar in a depressed voice.

"How about moving targets?" Legolas suggested.

"I'll get the A.A's!" (Annoyance Arrows) Earelen said excitedly.

Ten minutes later the foursome were hiding in various places around a garden path waiting for someone to come by. Legolas was hiding in a position that wouldn't give away that his ankle wasn't really hurt, Earelen was on a porch roof, Aros was on the main roof and Balar was in a tree. The first person to come by was Astaldo, the gardener. Not knowing that Legolas and his friends were there, he sat on one of the benches to wait for Mithril, his wife. Earelen realised that Astaldo was waiting for someone and signalled to the others to wait. Five more minutes went by before Mithril arrived and when Astaldo stood to greet her each of the young ones began to fire at them.

"Ow! Oh! I know your there little caun!" Mithril said angrily; she had been subject to these attacks before, "You just stop it right now or I'll-"

Astaldo, who had also been a previous victim, cut her words short.

"Mithril!" he called, "Come on, let's get out of the line of fire!"
The four little ones kept firing until the older elves were out of reach and then went to collect their arrows. They were all laughing happily as they talked about the results.

"I got Astaldo on the cheek!" Aros chortled, "you should have seen his face!"
"I got Mithril on the nose!" giggled Earelen.

"I got her in the ear." said Balar, when he could stop laughing.

Legolas grinned evily as he said, "Well I got Astaldo in the centre of his forehead."

They soon went back to their hiding places and got several more victims before Dimrost caught them when they were picking up the arrows. The master archer found it very hard not to laugh as he took them inside.

"Come along Legolas," Dimrost said impatiently as the young elf kept lagging behind, "You can't get away today, even if your Adar isn't here, he can still be told."
"But I can't," Legolas complained, "I fell over yesterday and hurt my ankle."
Dimrost raised his eyebrows and Balar said,

"It wasn't too bad, but he can't do anything too, well, you know what I mean, exuberant, until it's less sore, but at this rate of improvement I think Legolas will be back to his old self the day after tomorrow."

When the four little ones reached the great hall they found everyone who they had shot standing in there. Balar gulped, this was not good. Dimrost smiled and turning to the four young ones said,

"I think you have something to say."

"Sorry." Legolas mumbled with his head down and hand behind his back so that only his friends knew he had crossed his fingers.

"Sorry" the other three said, also crossing their fingers.
Earelen traced the pattern on the floor with her foot and she and the boys kept their heads hung, as if in shame. They looked so pathetic that all the victims of the A.A's felt all anger melt from them and said things like,

"It's OK."
"They are only children, they were probably just bored."

"Go on you four," Dimrost told them, "Out and play."
When they were out of earshot of the Great Hall they sighed with relief.

"Well," said Legolas, "Getting in trouble won't matter so much. At least we got Arhivil before we were caught."

"And got a laugh at their faces." added Aros.

A/N- *Nimrais means white horns, it is the name of the white stag of Mirkwood (my own creation)

*A.A - Annoyance Arrows. They are like arrows but instead of a point the have a small bundle of leaves and grass tied in a piece of material that is attached to the end of the arrow where the point would be. (Also mine)

Translations

Adar - father

Caun - prince

REPLIES TO REVIEWS

SiriusBlack: Thanks. I'm glad you like the use of Elvish. There may be a few mistakes but I try to be as accurate as possible. Glad you like the story.

tbiris: Well I'm glad you find it funny. I thought it was too actually, anyway, glad you like it.

TreeHugger: Yeah, I guess I would stick to 'Poor Arhival' as well. Yes, I think a scamp is a good way to describe the little pesky prince. You say he knows all the tricks in the book? Well of course he does! This is me writing here, I mean, look at the pen name. Anyway, glad you like it and find it funny.