The young ones ran and ran, collapsing with helpless giggles when they felt their lungs were on the brink of bursting.

Lying back on the mossy ground, Legolas could not help but beam as he felt the sun's warm rays falling on his face. Closing his eyes, he waited for his breath to return.

"Lass, you are in such trouble!" Esendri gasped.

Another fit of giggles ran through Legolas, who was reliving the enraged shouts and threats that had erupted from Felnor as the branches closed around his arm. Esendri spoke the truth, but he was past caring about such mundane matters. Not when the weather was so brilliant, and such adventure was to be found under the bright sun.

"Which is why I fully intend to stay out for a few days. By that time, my father would have had a few days to worry over my disappearance, and would most definitely be relieved beyond measure when I returned, all thoughts of punishment long banished!"

"Ai, Legolas, we would be able to stay awake all night under the stars!" Esendri too had picked up on the excitement of their latest adventure. They would be living among the forest beasts and birds, surviving off the wood, like real Hunters!

"It is a pity I had not the time to bring my bow!" Legolas said and sat up, absently twirling his ink-spotted golden locks. "Maybe we can make one?"

"Make a bow?"

"Yes, it is easy to procure wood from the forest! The wood of the oak should work, for it is supple enough!"

"And string?" Esendri said, cross with Legolas's haughty tone.

Legolas produced some bowstrings from his pocket, viable albeit stained black by the earlier misadventure. Esendri muttered a brief complaint, but was spluttering away as Legolas launched himself onto him, landing hard on his stomach.

After a while, Legolas decided against any further torment, and jumped aside, squealing with mirth before dashing off into the foliage.

"I shall beat you one day, Legolas!" Esendri cried, and gave chase.

Eventually both ran out of steam and collapsed in a pile of arms and legs, empowered by their newfound freedom. It was wondrous to be out and about on a day such as this, and both planned to make full use of the glorious weather. This was a part of the woods not frequented by Elves - ideal for their purposes.

"Look, Sen, the very branch we seek!" Legolas pointed, and Esendri's attention was drawn to a branch sticking out from under a tree that had fallen in the previous night's storm. "It is still fresh!"

Legolas jumped up and ran over. He attempted to drag the branch out from under the tree, but found that it was pinned to the ground. Try as he might, he could not get the trunk to move. Esendri laughed, but was over by his side when Legolas threw him a glowering look.

Much to their annoyance, the fallen tree refused to budge in spite of their efforts.

"Lass, will not another branch do?"

"I shall have that branch and no other," Legolas said. His face lit up as he spotted something in the distance, and he ran over to it.

"Look, Esendri! Bears in the area!"

Esendri rolled his eyes when he saw that Legolas was pointing to a pile of excrement. Fawns and birds were one thing, but bears were another. Both Elves had managed to communicate with the tamer inhabitants of the forest, but bears were way out of their league. While they had wrestled with many a cub before, fully-grown bears, like that indicated by the droppings, were best avoided. It was just like Legolas to go for a head-on confrontation with something that much larger and more powerful than himself.

"How should we lure it out?" Legolas said.

"Mayhap you should smear its scent all over yourself. With your frightful state, you could easily pass off as a cub!" Esendri said, scowling.

Legolas paced the area, scanning the surroundings.

"Come, Esendri!"

"Where head we now?"

"Hush, Sen, trust me and keep up! Hurry!"

Legolas found what he sought after fifteen minutes, and looked up into the trees, his face flushed and excited. Esendri baulked at the sight, past memories coming back.

"No, Legolas, not again! Have you not forgotten the last time we tried it?"

"I shall proceed with or without your approval. If you are not up to it, I suggest you return to the safety of the palace grounds!" Legolas said, already starting to scale the tree.

Scrambling after Legolas, Esendri called, "Your father will have me banished from Eryn Galen if he knew I failed to stop you in this mad endeavour!"

"Then he shall not find out about it!"

As always, Esendri was torn between his enjoyment of danger and Thranduil's commands. As usual, all reason was soon abandoned, as the thrill of adventure rushed through his body.

In a few moments, Legolas reached his prize, and beamed as he saw thick syrup dripping out of the large beehive that was a buzz of activity. Their last attempt at a similar exploit had ended in disaster, with the pair finding themselves in the houses of healing for a week, covered in nasty stings. Far from discouraging Legolas, that little encounter, only further strengthened his desire to triumph over the bees someday.

Esendri too reached the hive, and winked as he produced a thin stick, causing a wicked glint to appear in Legolas's eyes.

"I will be the diversion, this time!" he mouthed.

Legolas nodded before retreating into the leaves, heart beating with excitement.

Esendri waited till Legolas was hidden, before plunging the stick into the heart of the nest. A loud cry escaped him, and he bounced down the trees, making his escape.

Legolas watched as the almost instantaneous counter-attack launched by the bees. He reached into the unguarded hive and made off with a few large honeycombs before the remaining few insects had any idea what hit them, before he too went crashing down the tree, falling more than climbing, and took off like the wind. His flight proved to be unnecessary, as he turned and found that his pursuers had chosen to remain at the hive to guard against further intruders. Dropping his pace, he found his bearings and headed back to the fallen tree, a smugness in his step at having defeated the insects.

Once he arrived, Legolas stuffed the honeycombs through a tiny hole into the hollow of a trunk the fallen tree was blocking.

Legolas was sitting high upon a branch and licking his sticky fingers when Esendri returned, unscathed, save for a few minor cuts and bruises.

"Esendri!" Legolas cried, delighted at seeing Esendri.

Joining Legolas on the branch, Esendri beamed and started some berries he had managed to procure.

"A good thing I noticed the pool nearby on our way, where I hid until the bees left!" Esendri said. "I see you succeeded!"

Legolas winked and produced a honeycomb. He did not mention that he himself had not had one, for Esendri would have insisted on him taking this.

"What do you plan to do now, Legolas?" Esendri said, after he managed to unstick his teeth from the lovely syrup that now filled his mouth.

Legolas pointed out the small hole blocked by the fallen trunk.

A broad smile spread across Esendri's face as the plan dawned upon him. "Ingenious!"

"Now we wait!" Legolas said, and began playing with a leaf, watching a caterpillar crawling across it, while Esendri busied himself with the honeycomb.

The afternoon wore on, and the heat of the sun started to send the little ones into a drowsy stupor. Legolas soon fell asleep, nodding away in his perch high above the ground.

A loud cracking roused him from his slumber. A quick look told him that Esendri too had fallen asleep and was stirring. Both peered down and saw a brown figure lumbering about through the leaves. Their bear had been drawn by the scent of the honeycombs, and had decided to search them down, for honey was bears' favourite snack.

With bated breath, they waited and watched as the bear came to the base of the tree, and sniffed at the hole. A frustrated growl escaped it as it realised that the honey was out of reach. It pawed at the hole, but it was no use. The smell was driving it crazy.

Just as Legolas had anticipated, the intelligent creature discovered that the entrance to its treat was blocked by the fallen trunk. It batted at the trunk, before exerting a little more strength, and started pushing the trunk with concerted effort, filling the air with grunting.

In minutes, the fallen tree was out of the way, and the beast attacked the hidden prize with gusto. Legolas almost squealed in excitement at the success of his plan, and slithered down the tree without thinking.

His movements were not unnoticed by the bear, which spun around, half a honeycomb still stuck in its mouth, eyes wild and startled. It hesitated, shocked by the appearance of the strange Elfling before him. Legolas paused too, and backed away, movements deliberated, afraid of startling the beast further, wondering what had possessed him to confront the huge creature weaponless.

A large twig hit the bear's head from behind, and it snarled, whipping about, forgetting about Legolas. Seizing the chance, Legolas grabbed his branch and bounded up the tree by the time the beast recovered and launched itself in his direction.

Esendri cheered, and the frustrated roars of the bear were left behind as they made the break to safety for the third time that day, bounding through the trees.

*****

A/N: I admit that I am born and bred in a city, and have never seen a real, wild beehive before in my life. As such, my knowledge is confined to what Winnie the Pooh teaches us. Forgive me, and try not to rail too much at me about the inaccuracies in this chapter! ;)