Disclaimer: Tolkien's works are his, and his alone. I do not own them. He would likely be rolling around in his grave just to see what I have done. I still write though, only because I'm bothered by some ways in which Mirkwood's dear prince is mistreated and am trying desperately to write a story about Mirkwood in which Legolas's character isn't too severely mutilated.

Additionally, perhaps a beta could help me out a bit. Edit, make sure it follows canon, and among other things- motivate me!

That evening as he stood before his mirror in his chambers, Legolas finally understood what Tirnion's nasty prank had been. In horror, he ran his tongue along his teeth- the wine Tirnion had passed around had dyed his teeth black. He should have seen it coming.

Legolas sat back on a bench and fidgeted with the browned parchment. On that parchment, just about every one of the great escapades of Legolas and Tirnion were recorded. The last event on the parchment was marked two hundred years ago- 'Legolas and Tirnion caught trying to lure spiders into feast.' Legolas had received such a punishment that his friendship with Tirnion had been put on hold. Tirnion had considered the catastrophe to be just a minor detour. Legolas took it as a sign he had finally gone too far. He sighed. Two hundred years ago was now coming back at him. The mischief had been a way of life.

A knock at the door made him fumble the paper. "Enter," He said collectively, placing the parchment aside. He clamped his mouth shut, remembering how black his teeth were.

It was Galion, who seemed quite put out. He peered around the door. "King Thranduil wishes to speak to you."

Legolas nodded dumbly, wishing not to open his mouth.

"He asks that you meet him in his chambers," Galion continued.

Legolas nodded again in response, and waved his hand as if to dismiss Galion. Galion understood this, and with a curt bow, he was gone.

Legolas grimaced, again turning to the mirror and showing his teeth. They were still horrifyingly black. It seemed the ink was resistant to the rinsing he had done. He could only hope that the feast had not put his father in such high spirits that in response to the prank he would receive a round of hearty laughter.

He sighed. There was nothing for it. He'd have to go as he was. After a short time he had walked out and stood before the double-doors of his fathers chambers. He gave a small knock.

"Come in," came the smooth voice- a voice brought on by the presence of too much wine.

Legolas opened the door to find that Thranduil was not within the chambers, but out on the balcony off of the chambers.

"Legolas, good! Come here, it's a fine evening,"

Legolas noted that Thranduil's facial expressions had been slightly masked by the lack of light, but he doubted it to be enough to hide his own dirtied maw. He stepped out on the balcony where a few stars peered their way through the loose canopy above.

Thranduil did not look to Legolas, but instead was looking out into the forest. "I hope that you found the evening pleasurable."

"Yes father," He answered unconvincingly.

"The music was exceptionally good tonight. Even that rascal, Tirnion, received much laughter for his little joke." Thranduil turned to beam merrily at his son who did nothing but nod and tightly clamp his jaw. "Oh come now, word is all around that you were involved. Let me see just how bad it is."

Legolas opened his mouth in an unhappy sneer.

Thranduil chuckled, and moved into his chambers, removing two flasks from a drawer. "I suppose that you might want to get rid of that." Thranduil passed the first flask to Legolas. "It won't remove the ink completely, but it will help," He said. "It is the best I can do, at least. Time is the best cure."

Legolas took the flask, and looked at the clear liquid slosh around. "I thank you, father."

"Of course," Thranduil said with a grin. "But there's just one more thing before you go." Thranduil offered Legolas the other flask- this one of dark green liquid.

"What is this?" Legolas looked to the jar inquisitively.

Thranduil patted Legolas on the shoulder, and pushed him to the door. "It has been a long time since Tirnion has been subject to a joke. Lets see if he grows green with envy when his weekly prank is outmatched by another."

"You're not suggesting that I-"

"Revenge is sweet. I know you desire it," Thranduil grinned playfully as he guided Legolas out the door.

Once back in his own chambers Legolas shifted the water basin before his mirror, and sat beside it upon a stool. His first task would be to see what could be done for his teeth. He drank the clear liquid. It had a bitter taste, but if it could undo the ink, he would just have to put up with it. He sloshed it around has mouth for a bit more. When he spit it back out, the clear liquid had turned black. He opened his mouth to the mirror hopefully. His teeth had faded to a purple tint. It was an improvement from the black, no doubt, but the more he thought upon it, the more some payback seemed necessary.

He and Tirnion used to try outdoing each other all the time. This would be like old times. Anyways, Legolas had gotten permission to do something from his father, of all people. Indeed, the king must have drunk an exceptional amount of wine that evening.

At this, his attention switched to that second flask his father had handed him. Gently, Legolas uncorked the flask, and let a drop of the green liquid dribble on his hand. It had no particular smell, and seemed harmless enough, but when he went to rinse the drop off his hand, he found its color was left behind and would not rub off.

Legolas smiled pleasantly, his purpled teeth unabashedly beaming out. His mind was already formulating a plan.