Author's Note: Well, here I am, back with the prequel to 'A Brother's Jealousy'! I have to apologise for the delay in putting it up. See, I went to Gran Canaria for two weeks, and then I went to Portugal and only got back today. So, for all of you who have been waiting for this, here it is!

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The sun had already risen high in the sky, and every single inhabitant of Mirkwood had been awake for just over three hours. Or rather, nearly every single inhabitant. A golden haired Elfling still slept deeply, his corn-coloured tresses covering his face. It was none other than little Prince Legolas, youngest son of King Thranduil and Queen Findilan.

The door to his chamber slowly and quietly opened just then, though the sleeping child remained in blissful slumber. The newcomer crept over to the side of the bed and looked down at the Elfling for only a brief moment, before pouncing.

"Ahh! Ada! Nana! Ada! Na-!" Legolas was cut off as a hand was placed over his mouth. He looked up with fearful blue eyes, though he relaxed when he saw who his attacker was.

"Good morning," said Calaen cheerfully, pulling his hand away.

The middle Prince of Mirkwood could not be any different from Legolas, even if he tried. With hair the colour of midnight, and eyes of a deep emerald colour which sparkled if he was happy or flashed if he was angry, Calaen was thirteen years old – mortally speaking, of course – and was often looked upon with wonder in Mirkwood. After all, there were not many Elves in that Realm who had his darker colours.

Legolas stared up at his elder brother for a moment, before narrowing his eyes. "I was asleep."

"Yes, because you are lazy."

"I am not," muttered Legolas. "I was tired. I still am."

Calaen smiled, though now it was grim and without humour. "Hmm. I actually came in here because I want to talk to you. What did you do last night?"

"I...I don't know," Legolas replied. "Why?"

"Just try and remember."

The Elfling reached across and absent-mindedly began playing with his brother's hair, as he always did. ""Well, I was in the family chambers with Ada and Nana, and they were talking and I fell asleep because it was boring. Then Airëlus came in and brought me back here."

"How about if I rephrase the question? What did you not do last night?" asked Calaen.

"I don't..." Legolas trailed off as realisation dawned. "Oh."

Calaen nodded slowly. "Yes. Oh."

"But I was too tired," protested the Elfling, backing away to the corner of his bed. "I was falling asleep again even as I got changed. No, don't!"

Legolas' defence against himself did not go accordingly, though, for Calaen lunged forwards and held his brother's wrists up above his head as he started the attack. The child screwed up his eyes and tried not to make a noise, though he couldn't help crying out.

"Cal, stop tickling me," he breathed. "Please, stop!"

The dark haired Elf merely shook his head and moved one hand down to his younger brother's chest. This was an especially sensitive area for Legolas, and tears of laughter fell from his eyes as he tried to pull away from Calaen.

"What is going on in here?" came a sudden demanding voice from over in the doorway.

"Ada!" cried Legolas, rolling out from under his brother's body, and leaping over into his father's arms.

"Calaen, what in all of Arda have you done to my Elfling?" asked Thranduil, staring at Legolas' flushed cheeks and untidy hair.

Still on the bed, the Prince rolled onto his stomach, and laughed. "Greenleaf normally comes into my room before he goes to sleep so that we can spend some time together. We talk about what he did in his day, and I tell him about my weapons training, and the things that he is yet too young to do."

"Yes, it is the only time that we get to spend alone," Legolas added.

"Indeed," said Thranduil. "But that does not explain why you were trying to kill him, Calaen."

"Ah, I was not trying to do that, Ada," protested the dark haired Elf. "It is just that he did not come and see me last night, and I was sat up for a whole age and a half waiting for him, though he had better things to do, like satisfying his laziness, so I...I tickled him to get him back for keeping me awake."

"Ai, Elflings," Thranduil muttered.

"Ada, I am no Elfling," Calaen said hotly. "Just because I act like one, it does not mean that I am one."

"Is that so?" asked Thranduil, arching an eyebrow as he sat on the bed. "Well, you could have fooled me. And half of Mirkwood."

Calaen merely laughed good-naturedly. "You were a child once."

Legolas snapped his head up, and stared at the King in wonder. "Ada, is that true?"

"Well, of course it is no lie. Everyone has a childhood, ion-nin," replied Thranduil, concealing a smile. "Why did you ask that?"

"I just cannot imagine you ever being the same size or age as I am now," said Legolas. "Was Nana an Elfling?"

"Yes, as were Airëlus and Calaen," replied Thranduil. "In fact, Calaen was an Elfling not that long ago, if you can believe that."

A distant look came into Legolas' eyes, as though he were trying to imagine the rest of his family as mere children. Calaen: that was not hard. He was still a child, really, compared to other Elves in Mirkwood. Airëlus: possible. His parents: no, definitely not. It was quite impossible to imagine something like that.

"Calaen, I don't suppose you could leave us for a while, could you?" asked Thranduil. "I wish to speak with your brother."

The Prince nodded, and leapt off the bed. "Of course. I will see you later, Greenleaf."

"Get changed into your day clothes," Thranduil said to his youngest, whilst his middle son left the room. "You have been wearing your night-tunic for quite long enough."

Legolas slid from his father's arms and over to his oak wardrobe, where he began sorting through various items of clothing. Thranduil watched for a moment, before beginning to pick up toys and garments which littered the floor.

"This is not the room of a Prince. It looks more like a battle field," he muttered. "Valar, I fear that the next tunic I lift up will reveal a baby spider."

"No, I moved the spider into Airëlus' room the other week," said Legolas seriously. "I had to make room."

"For what, exactly?" Thranduil asked, not quite sure whether he actually wished to know.

"The baby Orc," replied Legolas, fumbling with the clasps on his tunic.

The Elven-king blinked in surprise and stared at the Elfling in wonder for a moment, before shaking himself mentally. He also had to try and shake away the dismay he had initially felt at Legolas' comment. "Come over here and let me help you with that. Well, at least you have actually managed to do up the tunic."

Legolas looked down at himself, and smiled at the clasps which were in all the wrong holes. "Oh. Ada, you won't step on the Orc, will you?"

"Step on the...? No, there is no Orc," said Thranduil, as he re-dressed the child.

"Yes, I saw him last night when Airëlus brought me in here," said Legolas.

"You were very tired, so it is more than likely that your eyes were tricked," Thranduil explained, as he turned his son around and began to deftly braid the golden hair at the back of his head.

"No, it was there," remarked the young Prince. "Ada, please do not step on him or kill him, will you? He is too small."

Thranduil narrowed his eyes at the words. He was not angry because of what Legolas had said. Of course the child was allowed an imagination. The fact that Mirkwood had become so dark that even his youngest son knew of Orcs, was what bothered the King. However, it was also slightly disturbing that they were spoken of with such lightness.

"Ada, you won't kill it, will you?" Legolas asked again.

"No, because there is nothing in this room which needs to be killed," Thranduil said forcefully. "You will not speak of those creatures again. Clearly you do not understand what they are and what it is that they do. If you were aware, I am sure you would think before opening your mouth."

There was silence for a moment, before Legolas said quietly, 'Please do not be angry."

Thranduil let the comment hang in the air whilst he both tied off the braid and calmed himself. Calaen and Airëlus had seen Greenwood, and had lived with its beauty. The Elven-king wanted only the best for his children, all of them, but he knew that Legolas would never have what his two elder brothers had.

"Ada?"

"I am not angry with you," sighed Thranduil, drawing the Elfling close to his body. "Do not think that my anger is always directed at you."

"I don't."

Thranduil sighed again, and moved his son to sit beside him on the bed. "However, there is something I would discuss with you. Your tutor came to speak with me yesterday, when you had finished your lessons."

Legolas lowered his eyes down to the floor. He had been having the Valar-forsaken lessons for just over a month, and although he tried hard to do as his tutor, Ameldir, asked him, he just could not. His mind would wander and he often found it so hard to do whatever tasks he was set.

"Ameldir told me that yesterday, he left the room in the middle of your lessons to find a book," Thranduil continued. "Apparently, he left some important papers on his desk, and when he got back, they were gone. Do you know which papers they would be?"

"Were they...work for me?" asked Legolas quietly.

"Yes. Surprising, hmm?" Thranduil replied. "That is quite coincidental, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes," Legolas said, his voice no more than a whisper.

Thranduil nodded slowly, and watched as his son bit down on his lip. "Bring out the papers, Legolas," he said, gently but firmly.

The Prince hesitated only for a moment, before dropping down to the ground and reaching under the bed. As he pulled out the work and got back to his feet, he swallowed nervously. He held it out to Thranduil, but the King merely shook his head.

"I do not want this."

"But you asked me to-

"I am perfectly aware of what I asked you to do, thank you very much for your help," Thranduil cut in, holding up a hand. "Now, do you remember what we were going to do today?"

"We were all going to go out to the green parts of the forest," sighed Legolas. "Me, you, Nana, Calaen and Airëlus."

Thranduil nodded, his expression a regretful one. "We will not be doing that today. Instead, you will go back to Ameldir and do all of this work. If he is satisfied, then we can go out into the forest tomorrow. But only if he is satisfied."

"I understand," said Legolas quietly. "But you and Nana, Calaen and Airëlus can go without me. I don't mind."

The Elven-king picked his Elfling up once more, and went across to the door. "No, it would not be complete without you there. Just go and do this work for Ameldir, alright? I know you dislike having lessons, and you would rather be doing something else. However, work has to be as much of your life as play."

"Alright," said Legolas. Yes, he hated his lessons with a passion, but at least he could play in the forest tomorrow.

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Wow, its so weird writing Calaen after doing 'A Brother's Jealousy' and 'Captured by the Past'. Anyway, for those of you who have read those two stories, you all know what happens in the forest, right? Chapters will be up every other day, so I'll see you on...Monday. Had to think about that one!