Stealing

Eleniel: 15

"Give that back!" Eleniel shouted as she stood up, reaching for the bracelet an ellon maybe about one year older than her had snatched from her wrist.

The older elf sneered at her. "Why should I?" he asked, before smirking and turning to his three friends stood behind him. "Do you think I should?"

The elves laughed maliciously. "No," said one, "I think we should steal it away from her and keep it for ourselves. It is very nice, and looks really expensive… is your adar a warrior? They get a lot of money."

"Please don't keep it!" the elleth all but begged, "my naneth gave it to me before she sailed."

The ellon seemed undeterred by this comment, and smirked. "Maybe we should smash it on a rock."

"Don't!" Eleniel said pleadingly, unconsciously stepping forward. "Don't break it!"

The older elf stuck his bottom lip out. "Aw," he said, "is the little elfling going to cry?"

"No!" the Peredhel insisted, standing tall. "I just want my bracelet back. Please."

But the elves in front of her did no such thing, instead throwing the band of silver to each other and laughing while Eleniel stood there, on the verge of tears despite all she had said about not crying.

"What is going on here?" came a firm - yet familiar - voice, and the ellyn stopped what they were doing, immediately turning around to face the newcomer.

"P-Prince Legolas!" the oldest of the group stuttered. "We did not see you coming!"

Legolas rose an eyebrow. "No, indeed," he said sharply, "for I have been watching you from a distance, and can clearly see that you are bullying Eleniel, here."

"Y-you know her?" the young elf asked, briefly flicking his attention to the elleth standing a way off to his left.

The Prince chuckled, though it was obviously humourless. "I do. In fact, I know her very well, and I believe it would do you some good to know who she is, too. Eleniel is Lord Elrond of Imladris's youngest daughter. They are guests of the King here in Greenwood, and I will not under any circumstances tolerate this bullying." Here, he stepped forward, and the elf cowered under him. "If I see you so much as look at her again, I will personally be speaking to your parents, do you understand?"

The elves frantically nodded their heads. "Yes, Prince Legolas. Sorry, Prince Legolas!"

Legolas shook his head. "It is not I you should be apologising to."

The elves turned and threw rushed apologies at Eleniel, who nodded slightly before dropping her gaze to her boots.

Legolas looked at the young ellyn. "Now," he said, "I suggest you give that bracelet to me and run off to play elsewhere, otherwise you will be in a lot of trouble."

The group nodded before the oldest thrust the bracelet into Legolas's hands and ran off, his friends in tow.

He frowned at their departing backs and turned to Eleniel. Tears were streaming down her face, and he found himself striding up to her and swinging her into his arms. The elleth's head immediately went to rest on his shoulder, and her arms wrapped around his neck. The two stayed silent as they walked, soon reaching a wooden bench. Legolas placed Eleniel on it, and then sat beside her, drawing her close to his side with a strong arm.

"Here," he said gently, handing the bracelet back to her. "Are you alright?"

Eleniel slipped it onto her wrist, pushing it up so that it was hidden under the sleeve of her tunic. "I am fine. Thank you for getting it back for me."

"You do not need to thank me. Did you expect me to just sit there and watch those brats torment my little sister?"

At this, Eleniel smiled, gazing up at the Greenwood elf with blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Love you," she whispered, before climbing a little awkwardly - no matter how much her family detested if, she was growing - onto his lap. She silently watched a bluebird in the tree opposite as she fed her babies, and then drifting into a sleep, not even waking when the Prince placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and then slowly carried her inside, humming a tune which helped her into the land of happy dreams.