Disclaimer: I'm out of songs. They ain't mine, although I'm working on a top secret plan to get Legolas and the twins.

AN: Goodness, this one took forever! My bad…

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Wake up!" Elladan threw open the curtains cheerfully.

Legolas moaned and burrowed deeper into his blankets. "Go 'way."

Elrohir shook his head sympathetically. "I told you that was too much wine. Get up, you're going to be late."

The prince pulled his pillow over his ears muttering, "I'm never late."

Needless to say, the twins did not see the point in answering that ridiculous statement with an answer. Making an unspoken agreement, they sauntered across the room toward the door. "Shall we just tell Valamas that you'll be late then?"

What had seconds before been a groaning, half-asleep elf became a frantic whirl-wind of a being. The twins had to stifle their laughter as Legolas hopped up and down pulling on a boot, only to discover he had put it on the wrong foot.

Letting loose some creative curses, he sat down on the ground with a thud and fixed his wayward boot. Dashing for the closet he grabbed one of the first items he saw, a dark blue tunic with a frayed hem, perfect for working with weapons; it allowed a full range of movement, and was old enough that it did not matter if it was torn.

"What time is it?" he asked as he pulled the tunic over his head.

"Oh, 7:30."

Legolas stopped dead. "What did you say?" He fixed unfortunate Elrohir with a fiery, baleful gaze. A very pale tinge of pink spread across his face, a sure sign that very soon, something would be broken.

"Well," Elladan piped up cheerfully, grasping his twin and edging toward the door. "we'd best be going now. We've been offered a spot to watch the training classes today. Oh, and Legolas?"

"Yes, Elladan?"

"First of all, you should not grind your teeth like that, it's bad for them. Second, I'm only warning you of this once, and only because I don't want to see you in trouble, again. Never, trust Elrohir or myself when you want to know the time. Always look at a clock." The door swung shut behind the departing Noldor.

Legolas sat on his bed, working through this last statement. It took him a bit (since he was battling a rotten headache) but when it finally penetrated the fog, he leaped straight up and raced across the room to his window.

Craning his neck, he could just barely see the large sun dial in the center of the courtyard. As he stretched out, trying to see the time upside-down, he thought to himself, I really need to ask Ada for a clock. Let's see it was nine… forty-five!

Letting out a yelp of surprise, he leaped for the chair where he had thrown his weapons the night before. Daggers slipped into hidden sheaths, his bow and quiver were slung over his shoulder and his two knives went into the sheaths on his back.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he appraised his appearance carefully. Valamas liked his students to be well groomed, and no one had the courage to say other wise. Several minutes later, he flew out of his room, fingers nimbly finishing the last braid.

He was going to be late.

Maids and servants ducked into doorways and dived aside as he flew down the halls and out into the sun. The guards at the gate saw him coming and just barely managed to get the door open in time. A rushed "Hannon le," was barely heard before he disappeared into the forest.

Pushing himself to the greatest speed he could muster, the prince practically lifted off the ground, all the while swearing vengeance on the twins and his Ada. He would like to get Valamas, but he was too fearful of the consequences. Now let's see… I could tamper with their food, that's always fun… or somehow combine water and flour… or steal their clothes… Such were his thoughts as he skidded onto the wide field where other elves were already practicing with swords, scimitar, knives, and daggers.

Legolas heard very familiar laughter, and turning his head just so, could pick out the twins, seated on the edge of the field. Elrohir waved cheekily and Elladan just grinned.

He flashed them a very rude gesture and scanned the field for Valamas. A whistle behind him was the only warning he received as a scimitar flashed over his head.

Legolas' hands went to his knives, unsheathed them in the blink of an eye and spun to parry his attacker. The elf was nearly driven to the ground by the force of the blow. He knocked the scimitar to the side in a desperate sweep and rolled backwards out of range.

His attacker, another blonde elf with a calm, completely blank face dove forward, blade raised, and sliced downward with almost unnatural strength. Legolas continued his roll and sprang to his feet; knives ready to block the scimitar's upswing.

The nameless blonde elf swung his weapon up and brought it around in an arc. Legolas knocked the blade to the side and danced backwards, knowing that this particular elf was too strong to parry with.

Other action on the field stopped as the elves turned to watch the battle. It went on for a good two minutes before one of the combatants missed a block due to his quick glance behind and up.

In an instant, Legolas was on the ground, tip of scimitar at his throat. He dropped his knives and said, "Well, how did I do? Weapon's master?"

Valamas let the prince up, sheathing his scimitar to cheers from the other elves. "On a scale of one to ten, six."

"Six?" The forced smile on Legolas' face disappeared.

"Yes. Minus one point for foolishly leaving an opening, minus another point for taking your attention away from the battle, minus the third for the roll at the very beginning, I could have taken your head off if you had knocked my blade away with even slightly less force. And minus the last because of your annoying habit of bringing both blades to one side, when I have expressly told you not to do so! Go and sit by your wide-eyed friends, I'll come deal with you in a moment."

The weapon's master stalked off, leaving an exasperated prince standing there with blades itching to dig into something. Sheathing them in annoyance, he walked over to the twins, and hoisted himself into the tree above their heads.

"He's not very… pleasant, is he?" Elrohir inquired after watching Valamas roughly correct a young elf's hold on his bow.

Legolas could not hide a smile. "Actually, that was quite pleasant. I think he is in a good mood today."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Valamas stalked back over to the waiting friends, noting with some satisfaction the severely annoyed look on his prince's face. "Well? What do have to say for yourself, elfling?"

Legolas stood holding the weapon's master's eyes coolly. "First of all, I am not an elfling any longer. I have been of age for fifty-two years, and a warrior for two of them. Secondly, I only glanced away to help gain a certain advantage. Thirdly, you are a complete—"

Elrohir leaped to his feet and clamped a hand over Legolas' mouth before the prince could end up diced in a dozen pieces.

The blond-haired elf twisted out of Elrohir's grip with surprising strength. His mouth under his control again (barely), he folded his arms and glared, unknowingly looking more like his father in a rage than he knew.

"That's right. Next time, keep your mouth shut. Now, while we are on the subject, I will call you an elfling whenever I like, seeing as you are small enough, and you certainly still act like one. Get your blades. I am going to teach you once and for all not to bring both blades to one side."

The twins stared open-mouthed as their friend's jaw worked, but no sound came out. His pale face tinged a slight pink as his anger level rose. Slender hands clenched and unclenched at his side.

Drawing his knives, Legolas stalked forward gracefully, looking every inch a dangerous opponent who had nothing more on his mind than beating a certain arrogant elf.

The clang of metal rang out across the field, and Elrohir sat back down next to his brother and exchanged a what was that about kind of look.

Several seconds later, another elf stopped and took a seat next to the twins. "Mae govannen, sons of Elrond. I am Nethidal, son of Kalir. I thought maybe you could help me out."

"With what?"

"I have a score to settle with dear Prince Legolas. I heard that you two are friends with the rotten being." The elf gave a cocky smile and added, "Although, I am surprised that there are two other elves that can put up with him."

The twins exchanged a second glance, this one more cautious. "What kind of score?" If this elf was plotting some attack, Elladan wanted no part of it.

"See, before I left on patrol six days ago, I discovered that some mysterious being had rigged my room with a large amount of paste, confetti and also managed to switch all my furniture around.

"So, by the time I got out of the room, I was extremely multi-colored and nursing a large bruise on my already-hurt rear end. I am still picking off bits of pink and purple confetti. That elf and his horse will be the death of me yet. I want to get him back."

Oh. That kind of score. The twins grinned, a sight that sent even the most hardened warrior of Imladris running for cover. "Deal."

A grunt of surprise pulled the new comrades' attention back to the fight. Legolas had blocked a particularly hard blow, something Valamas had not expected, and the seasoned master had to quickly skip back in order to avoid being slapped in the side by a knife.

Easily gaining control over the situation, Valamas slipped comfortably back into a defensive rhythm, biding his time.

Nethidal let out a sigh. The look on the Prince's face told him all too well what had happened. "They're at it again?"

Elladan looked over. "Again? Does this happen often? And while we're at it, who spit in the weapon master's oatmeal?"

"Not too often lately. I'll give you the whole story later, if he doesn't tell you first. Legolas has never beaten that elf, as a matter of fact, I don't think anyone has. Everyone is always secretly rooting for someone (else, preferably) to take on Valamas and win. It hasn't happened yet. Hey, where does he think he's going?"

Legolas had suddenly spun on his heel and darted for the forest. Valamas was right behind him. Racing straight at a tree, Legolas literally ran several feet up the trunk and leaped for a branch.

Using the young tree's springiness, the prince bent and catapulted back onto the field, throwing Valamas off balance as he too tried to leap. The weapons master's balance was supreme though, and in seconds he was after his quarry.

His quarry, on the other hand, was not to be scared off. Blades clashed again and again, until Valamas ended the match with a brilliant offensive attack ending with his foot against the back of Legolas' knee, forcing the prince to fall heavily to the ground.

"Better."

The weapon's master sauntered away, making it clear that the lesson was over.

Legolas rolled to his feet and, rolling his eyes, made his way back to his friends. "I almost had him! Almost!"

Nethidal laughed. "Mellon nin, you say that every time. And how long exactly have you been trying? Fifty years, maybe more?"

"Shut your overly large mouth, Nethidal, or I shall tell Ada 'twas you who dropped the dropped the milk on his head from the balcony." Said elf grumbled but subsided. "How was the patrol?"

"Oh, it would have been much better if everyone had stopped pointing out how ridiculous I looked with blue and purple confetti pasted on my face."

"Who would do a thing like that?"

"I wonder."

Abruptly the two stopped talking and got very tense. Legolas whipped his bow off his back and had an arrow fitted in the blink of an eye.

Now what? Were the identical thoughts of two very confused and newly alerted elves.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

AN: HEY YA'LL! I'm baaack! Finally. Rotten me. I hate to say it, but updates may become even more erractic, seeing as volleyball just started and practice is four and a half hours—every day. (Except Sunday) My legs will never be the same. Actually, that will give me an excuse to sit in front of the computer more… maybe updates will be more often… it could go either way. Send a prayer to the Valar in hopes that by the end of the season my legs will not be ground down. Oh and btw, are my chappies long enough? If you want tell me in a review and i'll make them longer.

Author thanks:

Romen: Yes indeed he does. More on the way too…

NuEvil: I know, Legolas is so mean! But he's so fun to write! Flower petals, mother hen, I love the twins too!

Aurehen: Free commercial, that's right! I figured you weren't getting the attention you need. Oops, that kinda makes you sound like a puppy huh? Can't wait for your next update!

Arialas: Yay, that's great to hear! Makes me so happy! Actually, yes, procrastination is a huge flaw of mine, it really stinks doesn't it?

Haldir's Heart and Soul: Ya, ouch! Scary… I thought about doing it, but that would have interrupted my line of coming chappys.

Illeanah: Thanx!

'Maze: You're right, this is much easier.

Aranna Undomiel: Heh heh, my favorite part too… They're gonna wish they had listened to him!