OoOoO

To describe the contrast between a human youth in the flourish of early manhood and an elvish prince not millennia old yet is actually harder than one would think. For the differences in physicality and in years, some things are common to the young males of all races. Whether their ears are rounded or pointed and their chins are bearded or smooth, there are certain characteristics that are universally the providence of early male adulthood.

A desire to prove oneself certainly falls under that category. When Legolas and his Dunedain opponent came together in their impromptu wrestling ring, it was with the unspoken agreement that there would be no holds barred. Even if his three friends had not been sitting nearby on the river bank cheering him on, Andris's pride would not have permitted anything less than a victory over this slim-shouldered elf.

Legolas likewise did not need a supporting audience to demand a triumph over this mortal, whose bravado had interrupted an otherwise perfectly enjoyable swim in the river. Moving with the quick grace of a cat, he ducked around and below Andris's swiping arm. Catching his opponent's elbow as he passed, Legolas jerked the offending limb up between the youth's shoulder blades in a simple yet devastating pin.

Andris was hardly helpless yet though, and with surprisingly flexibility twisted about to face Legolas. Now the elf's arm was the one stretched at an awkward angle, and the ranger took advantage of that to hook one of his legs around and behind Legolas's knee.

If he had been expecting that to topple Legolas, he had much to learn about elves. Standing balanced on one leg, Legolas used the failed manoeuvre to wedge his knee forward into Andris's kidney. They were still on their feet, and so it didn't do as much as it could have if gravity had been on the elf's side. Still, Andris let out a huff of air and turned the delicate shade of purple of one quite winded.

Now with the upper hand, Legolas was quick to press his advantage. As the onlookers shouted in protest, he followed the crook of his arm around Andris's back to once again place himself behind the ranger. This time he was able to kick the youth's legs forward and out from under him. The bought had taken less than a minute, and already the Dundedain was flat on his face on the riverbank.

Pleased to note that he hadn't even broken a sweat, Legolas was about to turn a prideful smile on the other three when he caught their expressions. Consternation mixed with irritation was plastered across all of the young men's faces; even if it was a fair fight they didn't like to see their friend so thoroughly trounced. Watching as Andris rolled himself heavily up onto one elbow and held his already bruising side, Legolas couldn't help but wonder how that would sting his own pride to be to looking up from the ground.

"Here..." Not entirely sure why he was doing so, the prince extended a hand to his fallen opponent. "You have some skill, there is no denying that. I am afraid though that you caught me on a good day."

With a dubious expression Andris eyed Legolas through the walnut-brown curls which had fallen across his forehead. Then, after a moment of awkward tension, he reached up and took the offered hand in a firm grip.

"I should have known. All you elves fight the same; quick as cats and just as hard to get a grip on!"

A sudden glint in those green eyes was all the warning that Legolas got before the young Dunedain jerked on his hand hard enough to pull him straight forward off his feet. Completely unprepared, Legolas stumbled forward to land sprawled on top of Andris. His only consolation was that his quick elvish reflexes brought his elbows out to bear straight down into the impudent youth's ribs.

Now there was laughter echoing along the riverbank as Andris's friends all leapt up from their seats on logs and stones. The mortal may have lost the match, but that didn't mean he didn't intend to exact some revenge for his embarrassment. Surprisingly quick, he managed to get an arm around Legolas's neck in a headlock and proceeded to rub clay from the riverbank into the elf's silky blonde hair.

"There, serves you right for always looking so clean and tidy!"

"Watch it Andris, he's going to get loose!"

" Thiach uanui a...naneth lín le hamma!"

"What'd he say?"

"Throw him back in the river then!"

Thinking mortals both thoroughly uncouth and ridiculous by this time, Legolas made a mental note to devise something particularly unpleasant to pay these four back. Despite being unfairly outnumbered by now Thranduil's son made a point of never taking teasing lightly. For Eru's sake though, this entire ordeal was so childish! Therefore it was entirely involuntary when a grim smile quirked the corner of Legolas's mouth as he was busily digging his thumb into a pressure point on the clavicle of the nearest available mortal.

"A-hem!" The sound of someone clearing their throat thinly veiled amusement/inquiry was unmistakable. Instantly Legolas's 'captors' froze, all of them looking even younger with the chagrin painted all over their faces. Looking up from within the jumble of hairy human limbs, Legolas couldn't decide if he wanted to crawl into a hole of maybe just die when he saw Strider standing on the trail with arms crossed and eyebrows raised.

"Will you four kindly explain why you saw fit to disturb our guest in such a manner?" Strider spoke in a stern voice, but the explosive laughter twinkling behind his eyes could not be hidden.

Instantly Legolas found himself able to breathe again, with all of the rangers up and on their feet in deference to their captain.

Andris was the first to find his tongue, and by now Legolas confirmed his suspicions that he was the ringleader of this little group. "We were having a friendly bout of wrestling my lord, and Legolas accepted our invitation willingly."

'My lord?' Thought Legolas to himself. 'Now that's a useful bit of information...' He didn't suppose it was common human custom to address even the leader of a town of Dunedain as a lord. Silently standing, Legolas did his best to compose himself. He still wasn't sure just why his cheeks were burning from the effort to keep from smiling.

Strider for his part was doing an admirable job of keeping a straight face as well. "I see. And were the terms of this match that it would be four against one?"

"...No my lord. Technically the match was already over."

"Ahh..." Strider said sagely. Letting silence hang poignant in the air, he stared down his men with a grey-eyed intensity that Legolas couldn't help but credit the younger rangers for not quailing under. Finally, he spoke again. "Seeing as you all have time to harass our guest, you certainly have time for more constructive projects. I do believe the stable masters could use some help cleaning out the stalls after the winter."

Legolas couldn't have imagined a sweeter justice himself. Anyone who had ever worked with stable animals before knew that the first thorough cleansing of spring was always the hardest and worst. Still, Andris and company took their fate bravely.

"Yes my lord. We'll report to Master Hillen right away."

The four of them gathered up the rest of their clothes quickly, heading back to the trail with appropriate silence. Legolas noticed a couple of them glancing at him sideways with barely concealed mirth. He didn't know what was so funny, but he hoped they still found it amusing while they were shoveling muck.

Once they were alone, Strider tossed his cloak back over his shoulder and shook his head. Something halfway between a sigh and a laugh escaped him.

"I do apologize, Legolas. They are young, and did not mean any offense."

Deciding to be the bigger man...elf in this, Legolas inclined his chin regally in acknowledgement. "No offense was taken, but I thank you for interrupting what was left of our 'bout'". Turning back toward where he had left his clothes and knives, a sudden clearing of Strider's throat gave Legolas pause.

"Yes, Strider?"

Finally it seemed his host could stand it no longer. A broad grin cracked his cheeks, and Strider pointed toward his own head. "You may wish to consider taking another brief dip before returning to the village." With that he turned and left Legolas to himself, although the elf's sharp eyes could pick out his shoulders shaking with silent laughter even at a distance.

Reaching up, Legolas's eyes narrowed and he bit back a curse. From the feel of things, his fine silvery-gold hair was absolutely caked straight through with river mud. Perhaps shoveling out the stables was too light a punishment for Andris and his friends...

oOo