Hi there! Remember me? Like I've promised, I'm back! With another story of the manyan series. I hope you'll like this one like the previous two. Enjoy!

P/s : The reviews I've got for 'The Evil Bride' and 'Traps In the Woods' are so nice. Thank you!

It was a glorious sunny noon. The winter had just passed; the wonderful spring had arrived, bringing touches of merry and cheerfulness as riot of colors sprang forth with the blooming of flowers.

Legolas, the beloved younger prince of Mirkwood, were lazing himself in the sun, dozing. He lay on his back, his hands clasped over his chest, his ankles crossed, and his head pillowed by the comforting velvety body of a tiger that was resting on its side. The magnificent animal was snoring softly, deep in slumber, just like its master.

Ironically, the tiger was called 'Tiger'. Prince Legolas was not known to be creative in naming his pets. Once, he had had a pair of ferrets he called Foolish and Idiots. Not very suitable names for such adorable animals, but in their case, it was appropriate enough. The ferrets had created such havoc to the realm, turning it upside down with their many antics. Now, they only lived in everyone's memory. Hunting traps had killed them five years ago. Thankfully, Tiger's presence had cured the great heartache that Legolas had suffered after their death.

The beast and its master were resting near a pool of stream, not far from the royal garden. It was a slow day. Legolas took the opportunity to bask in the sun after being cooped up in the confining walls of the palace for the whole season. Even Tiger had gotten bored. He nearly preyed upon the Mirkwood elves, just as the king had feared the day when Legolas brought him home when Tiger was just a tiny cub.

The sound of a fish jumping in the pool woke Legolas up. His eyes cleared as he stared at the water, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. He sat up, stretching and yawning. The water was beckoning him. Swimming sounds so good in this hot day.

Getting up to his feet, he called out, "Wake up, Tiger. Want to swim?" Tiger opened one eye, before closing it again. Legolas was taking off his soft boots and tunic. He laughed to see Tiger's uninterested reaction. "Okay. It's your lost. The water looks so cool and inviting. Sure you don't want to join me?"

The animal only growled in return. Chuckling, already stripped to the waist, Legolas dove gracefully into the crystalline water. It felt so good against his skin, not too cool and not too warm. Floating on his back, he tread water lazily, closing his eyes, letting the sun ray beat the fairness of his skin. The prince started to sing the song of Mirkwood in spring, his fine wonderful voice carried away by the wind into the woods. Hearing that, the trees whispered together, adding their own mystical sound like a symphony.

"You look like a mermaid."

That sudden voice startled the elf prince. He stopped singing and turned. His brother, the crown prince Keldarion, was standing at the bank, grinning from ear to ear. Slightly embarrassed to be caught daydreaming, Legolas scowled. "Have you seen a mermaid?"

"No. But they told me mermaids have long blond hair and the tail of a fish instead of legs, always basking in the sun in the water…just like you're doing right now."

"Very funny." Legolas swam to the center of the pool, and dove under. The glen was about ten feet deep. Its depth was filled with sand and interesting living things. The water was so clear, even at the bottom of the stream. The prince stayed under water for a whole minute before he broke the surface. His brother was still standing at the bank, in the middle of a glaring contest with Tiger.

"Legolas, will you get out of the water now? We have a guest." Keldarion was still glaring at the beast, a little intimidated by its sharp eyes. "I swear your pet wants to have me for his next meal. Ever since I accidentally stepped onto his tail last year, he can't stop staring at me with that hungry look!"

Legolas laughed. "No, he doesn't. He likes you."

"Yeah, right."

"He really likes you, Kel. Why can't you be nice to him?"

"Be nice to him? Can you tell him to be nice to me?" Keldarion glowered at his brother when Legolas can't stop laughing uproariously. "Right. Laugh all you want. The next thing you knew, I will be inside his stomach, digesting!"

"Ugh!!! That's disgusting! I'm sure he'll never…Kel! Look out!!" Legolas's eyes widened when he saw Tiger advanced towards his brother from behind.

"Huh? What…?" Keldarion turned but not fast enough to dodge Tiger's lunge. Caught unsuspected, Keldarion lost his balance and he fell backwards into the water with a loud splash. He came to the surface, sputtering and splashing about. Legolas nearly drowned in the water for laughing so hard. His brother's face was so comical; he'll never forget that look, ever!

"That does it!" Keldarion fumed, looking down at his soaked richly garbs, his raven hair plastered to his head. He then glared at Legolas who was still laughing, and laughing…and laughing! Tiger was looking down at the two brothers, smirking.

"You'll pay for that, you imp!" Keldarion growled, grabbing his brother and pushed him under water.

"Hey! I'm not the one who…!"

So, like it usually happened with the two royal brothers, a round of wild wrestling erupted. They grappled in the water, trying to dunk each other, howling with uncontrollable and hysterical laughter. Tiger roared appreciatively, enjoying the sight of the two elf princes fooling around in the middle of the pool.

The wind blew, carrying their loud mirth all over the realm. Everyone who heard it couldn't help but smiled in pleasure. The princes were at it again, they thought. It was nice to know them so happy, especially after a great tragedy that had happened several years ago, just before the death of Foolish and Idiot. The Mirkwood kingdom had been taken over by an evil witch; the king and his family had been thrown into the dungeon, Legolas nearly died from the torture and abuse. But its all in the past now. Even Legolas had gotten over the hellish experience, no more bad dreams troubling his sleep. Everything was back the way it was before.

The sound of someone clearing his throat caught the brothers' attention. They turned and saw the king watching them from the bank, arms crossed over his chest. Thranduil raised his eyebrows. "Kel, didn't I ask you to fetch your brother? Why do I find you in the water instead?"

Keldarion winced. "This is your fault," he whispered to his brother.

"Me?" Legolas eyes widened. "I'm not the one who pulled you in!"

"Legolas, haven't you had enough? Get out of the water now, both of you, before you turn into prune," commanded Thranduil, shaking his head at his sons' childish behavior. "They are here, my friend!" he called out. "Giving me headache. Like usual."

Legolas was puzzled at first when he heard Thranduil calling out like that, but then a familiar figure came into view. "Mithrandir! Gandalf!"

Gandalf smiled widely to see the state the brothers were in. "Hello, Legolas. Good to see you in happy spirits. When you agreed to get your brother, Keldarion, I never expected that you're going to join him for a swim."

"I didn't join him. I was pushed!" Keldarion said, climbing over the bank, wringing his damp hair. "By that beast!" he added pointed at the bored-looking Tiger. Legolas knelt down by his pet, brushing down Tiger's beautiful black and white coat. "Well down, my friend. Well done!"

Keldarion glared at his brother. "Traitor!"

"Chicken!"

"Boys! No insults in front of the guest!" Thranduil jumped in, before the brothers could start another wrestling match all over again. The princes grinned back at their father, their face all innocence. "Go change now. Meet us at the reception hall after that. And do not make me come after you once again!"

Laughing, his two grown sons rushed away to the palace, with Tiger following in their wake. Thranduil glanced at Gandalf and shrugged helplessly. "Can't live with them, can't live without them."

Gandalf smiled. "You have wonderful sons, Thranduil."

"Yes, I know. But I wonder where they got that wild streak of theirs?! I swear my hair is turning white very fast!"

TBC…