"Legolas! Where is that black-haired little devil? This is the second time he's disappeared without telling anyone! Do you know what Galadriel would do to me if he was killed or injured?" Thranduil looked perfectly furious and Legolas knew that his father was worried about the imminent arrival of the White Council and what Galadriel would say if her adopted son was not there to meet her.

The day Hanath had come back and told Thranduil that he would be overseeing the training of Rhovanion when he turned three hundred, Legolas had just been sent on a trip to Rivendell for his father. Glee had been his first reaction to the news when he arrived back home, and for the first time in his life, Legolas thought time went by very slowly.

All the elves of the Greenwood had turned out to see the procession of Lorien elves arrive in the palace hoping to have a glance of the fabled dark-elf. They had all gotten their wish, for the lad was tall and stood straighter than any elf there, and all could see the light of Lothlorien in his gaze. He had stared at them all with an amused interest and a grin. His bronze skin came as a shock to many, and his dark green eyes held a humor that none could boast of.

Now another three hundred years later, Rhovanion had caused more mischief, laughter, and groans from the wood-elves than Legolas could have even dreamed of. The loudest groaner was none other than Lady Lindwen herself, who seemed to be the target for most (she swore it was all) mischief. For of course, Orophin had told Rhov to keep an eye on the Lady for him. Rhov had kept this promise with deadly accuracy and the Lady had not seen a great feast since Rhov's arrival, for he feared she would be courted by many of the ardent young wood-elves.

As Legolas stood and watched his father bluster, memories of the time before Rhov entered his mind, and they all seemed very boring now. Granted, it would be nice to see some of the wisdom and solemnity that Galadriel swore he had, but all in all, Rhov had become laughter and a light of sorts to many of the wood-elves. And though Thranduil would never admit it, he was extremely fond of the young elf.

"Well, my lord. I can't help but think he's gone to see if there are any dwarves at Beorn's yet. Supposedly, Gandalf set out with a company of dwarves not to long ago from Rivendell, and I dare he's extremely excited to see Gandalf again, and to finally see a dwarf." Legolas grinned at the look on his father's face.

"What would Gandalf be doing with a bunch of dwarves? Ugly things they are and temperamental too I might add. Why would Rhovanion want to meet one of them?" Thranduil had lived long enough to have a lingering loathement of dwarves. Legolas didn't like them much either, but as his best friend was Rhov and had been ever since the two had met, he would stick up for him even if his likings were slightly strange.

For instance, Rhov liked battling the spiders more than going hunting for stags or goblins. He said that spiders were far more entertaining and slightly humorous in there own way. Legolas had shaken his head and gone along with his friend, but he was doing his best to turn Rhov in a more constructive way.

Thranduil laid his head in his hands and said through muffled fingers, "Be a good lad and bring that boy back here if you please. And if there are dwarves at Beorn's, don't speak to them and get Rhovanion out of there as soon as possible."

Legolas nodded, bowed, and departed from the throne room in a high state of elation. His princely duties had kept him from getting out of the palace as much as he would've liked, and now he was going to be able to travel all the way across Mirkwood to Beorn's. Of course, the best thing to do when he found Rhov, would be to tie him up in a sack and carry him back to the Elven Palace otherwise they would be gone for a long time. Longer than Thranduil would like, and sooner than either Rhov or Legolas would.

Several days later, Legolas arrived at the edge of Mirkwood into the bright, brilliant sunshine of the plains between the Misty Mountains and the Greenwood. He blinked and stood immobile soaking up the warmth of the sun that rarely penetrated the thick branches of the forest.

"Hail my friend! What brings you to this lovely land? Your father perhaps?" Legolas jumped and turned around. Leaning against a tree with a smirk on his face and hood over his eyes, was Rhov. "Fancy meeting you here, and I dare say you look awfully pale in the sunlight. You should get out of Mirkwood more often, you're beginning to look ill." He sniggered and threw back his hood, revealing his dancing green eyes.

Legolas glared at his friend but couldn't hold out for long. No one could. He laughed and hugged Rhov and then they stood back and looked at each other for a while. Rhov was the first to break the congenial silence.

"It is good to see you again my friend. A fortnight and I've missed you more than I can say and all hat I can say is that you should never marry."

Legolas chuckled, "And why did this very random comment about marriage come from? I don't believe I've ever heard that disastrous word ever leave your mouth without a snort of derision right afterwards."

Rhov lifted himself loftily and using his finger he turned his nose upwards and sniffed, "Because if all elf women are like Lady Lindwen, it's no wonder I was the last elf babe in Middle-Earth history." It was Legolas' turn to snigger. "How did this interesting subject enter your mind? Have you talked to my sister recently?"

The irrepressible elf grinned and explained, "I was in the palace when your father sent you off on that crazy expedition to find me, and away you went and I decided to follow you because you seemed to be exceptionally lonely. I came back earlier than expected for Beorn had nothing interesting to tell and his mood at the moment is so very dangerous that I didn't dare speak a word about dwarves or wizards for that matter."

Legolas grinned and clapped Rhov on the shoulder. It was good to hear his friend's voice again for it made one so light-hearted there was no room for moodiness or trivial wrongs. Rhov had a large heart and none of it was filled with darkness for light had dwelled in it from the start, even before he was taken to the Lady of Light or so he swore upon his everlasting honor. Legolas was quite sure that the mischief took up three-quarters of his heart and it had to be some kind of black.

Rhov glance at Legolas and then reached up with his hand and waved it in front of his friend's eyes. "Where have you drifted my friend? You've been doing that an awful lot lately and really it gives you a very vacant, sleepy look."

Legolas' eyebrows contracted and met in a straight line across his forehead while frown marks appeared. "Most have said that it makes me look very princely and mysterious."

"Then I dare say you've been listening to that flattering Erulissë or perhaps it's because you look sleepy all the time and your vacancy is a nice change from the usual?" Rhov ducked as a dirt clod flew past his head. The Moriquendi ran off as fast his swift feet could carry him closely followed by the growling Laiquendi.