This is not an elfling tale, but you could say that it is a Legolas-as-scamp story. In it Legolas is no longer a youngling or an adolescent, but he is still youthful in the eyes of his people and although a dedicated warrior he is quick to indulge his mischievous side.

The idea for this story comes out of an earlier, elfling tale, "Number Nine," in which Legolas—as Anomen—trails Gandalf to Mordor. There, in the course of making their escape from Orcs, Gandalf orders Legolas to hide behind some rocks but by no means to ascend some stairs up the side of a cliff—stairs that lead to Shelob's lair. In a review of one of the chapters of "Number Nine," Joee hinted that it would be really interesting to see what would happen if Legolas did climb those stairs, and Joee has mentioned that prospect in at least one other review. In this story, then, Legolas does return to those stairs, and maybe, just maybe, he will climb them.

Beta Reader: There will only be a few chapters, so I'm doing without a beta reader.

Chapter 1: The Charge

"My dear Mithrandir," Elrond was saying in his most placating tone. "My dear Mithrandir, I meant no offense by my suggestion."

"Hmmph," the wizard snorted in reply. "I would have you know that I have been at this business for several centuries now—and I have done very well at it, thank you very much!"

Smoke poured from the Istar's nose as he puffed furiously on his pipe, and Elrond thought the old wizard bore more than a passing resemblance to an irascible dragon whose hoard had been rifled. Yet the elf-lord was undeterred by this fearsome spectacle.

"Mithrandir," he said mildly. "It is of course true that you have been at this business for many a century. It is also true that your endeavors on behalf of Middle-earth have won from us not only our respect but our affection. You cannot fault us if, in our love for you, we are moved by a wish that you might be spared unnecessary risk."

"I take no unnecessary risks," grumbled Mithrandir.

'Ah', thought Elrond, 'so that is the sticking point—what is an unnecessary risk?' Aloud he said, "Say not unnecessary. Say rather unmitigated."

"How do you mean?" asked Mithrandir suspiciously.

"'Tis true you must take risks. It is your charge that you act on behalf of the Free Folk of Middle-earth, and you could hardly accomplish that task without taking risks."

"Ye-es?" said Mithrandir, his suspicion unabated.

"On the other hand, it is needful for you to safeguard your person, for how could you fulfill your charge if you were ill or injured?"

Mithrandir knew that Elrond had a point, but he was not about to admit it.

"Therefore," continued Elrond, "the need to take risks must be balanced by the need to stay alive and unharmed—hence the risks, although necessary, must nonetheless be mitigated."

Mithrandir puffed even more furiously than before, and Elrond expected that smoke would momentarily pour from the wizard's ears. Still, the wizard remained silent.

"I do not ask," Elrond went on, "that you give over your latest project. I merely request that you allow Legolas to accompany you. You must concede that his vision and hearing far exceed your own, and that you could only benefit were your wisdom augmented by his strength and agility."

"I must concede nothing," grumbled Mithrandir, at last breaking his silence.

"Oh, yes, you must," retorted Elrond.

"Must not."

"Must."

"Excuse me," said Glorfindel, sticking his head in at the door, "are Elladan and Elrohir within, quarrelling?"

"They are not!" Elrond and Mithrandir replied as one.

"Odd. It certainly sounded as if they were."

"Elrond and I were merely having a discussion," said Mithrandir indignantly.

"Oh, a discussion, was that what it was!?"

"Glorfindel," Elrond appealed, "don't you think it would be wise for Mithrandir to be accompanied by Legolas on his journey to the borderlands of Mordor? It is only a month since Mithrandir has been up and about since his skewering by that Orc."

"That's true," said Glorfindel, "and as Aragorn is away in the Northern Waste, you had better have Legolas instead."

"Nonsense! Such an arrangement would be insupportable! Aragorn doesn't mind my pipe, but Legolas is forever wrinkling up his nose at it."

"Mithrandir," chided Elrond, "that is hardly a reason to turn down an offer of aid!"

"You are mistaken, Elrond. It is a very good reason to avoid having that scamp as a traveling companion. Given half a chance, Legolas will steal my pipe weed and throw it into the nearest ditch—you know he will!"

'Good for Legolas', thought Elrond. Aloud he said, "Mithrandir, I shall extract a pledge from Legolas that he leave your pipe weed unmolested. Will that do?"

"I suppose so," grumbled Mithrandir. "Make it a binding pledge, mind you—don't leave him any outs!"

"I will have him swear upon the star of Eärendil," promised Elrond.

Mithrandir looked mollified at that, and the conversation turned to other matters.

"Mithrandir," said Glorfindel, "the scouts have returned, and they report no sign of foes between here and the border of Dunland. If you are resolved on this journey, you should set out at once."

"I am resolved," replied Mithrandir, "and I can set out upon the instant. You know it will not take me long to pack!"

Elrond and Glorfindel both smiled. Mithrandir was famous for traveling light, bearing little more than a bag that he could sling over his shoulder upon a moment's notice. Elrond arose.

"I will go to Legolas, then, and tell him to pack his kit."

"While you are at it," harrumphed Mithrandir, "tell him that this time he needn't pack a gross of combs. One will surely do."

"Mithrandir," objected Glorfindel, "you know very well it was Elrohir who put those combs in Legolas' pack. The lad is not as vain as all that. And it was a score of combs, not a gross."

"Well, if I catch him fussing over his hair, I shall see him as shorn as a sheep in spring."

"Legolas comes by his tidiness honestly, Mithrandir," Elrond interjected. "Thranduil has always impressed upon him that, as Prince of Mirkwood, he is a representative of his father's realm and must therefore bear himself with great dignity. Were it not for that, Legolas would let his hair down, as Men say."

Mithrandir snorted.

"Let his hair down! Let his hair down! Elrond, you talk about as much sense as a Troll with a toothache—one who has wrapped his jaw all about, mind you."

Elrond smiled but said nothing. Instead, he went in search of Legolas and found him in the stable currying his horse.

"I am glad, Legolas, that I find you combing your horse's mane and not your own."

Legolas looked puzzled. "Why do you say that, Elrond?"

"If I were to tell Mithrandir that I found you dressing your hair, it would give him an excuse to be smug."

Legolas chuckled. "Elrond, when has Mithrandir ever needed an excuse to be smug?"

Elrond laughed his agreement. "In any event," Legolas continued, "I have told Mithrandir that when I accompany him I needs must be tidy because someone must make up for the unfortunate impression he makes upon folk. If he wants me to spend less time on my appearance, he must spend more time on his!"

Elrond shook his head in mock reproof. "Mithrandir is right. You are too much the scamp, Legolas. I think someday you really will provoke Mithrandir to cast a spell that causes your hair to fall out."

"Oh," said Legolas blithely, "I have lost my hair for worse causes—as you very well know."

Elrond did know, as most of the depilatory episodes had taken place during the years when Legolas had been fostered in Rivendell. For several years it seemed as if Legolas was forever either being deprived of his hair or depriving others of theirs. Elrohir and Elladan had of course played major roles in each hirsute happening.

Elrond's thoughts were interrupted when Legolas spoke again.

"I assume that Mithrandir has agreed to my accompanying him, else you would not have sought me out."

"Yes, Legolas, he has indeed agreed—albeit most unwillingly and under the condition that you not utter a word of protest over his use of pipe weed."

"Very well. I will not utter a word," said Legolas with a straight face.

Elrond looked hard at him. "Nor a phrase, nor a clause, nor a sentence, Legolas. Nor a sentence fragment," he added hastily.

"I believe the latter would have been covered under 'phrase', Elrond," Legolas said loftily.

"Nor," continued Elrond, ignoring the gibe, "are you to indicate by expression or gesture your distaste for his smoky habit. Nor are you to meddle with either his pipe or his pipe weed."

Legolas looked chagrined. "You are making my life difficult, Elrond. I shall have to be more than usually clever in my campaign against his foul habit of puffing upon that filthy pipe. No! no! I am only joking," he hastened to add as Elrond's eyebrows shot up and the elf-lord opened his mouth to chide him.

"I suggest you give over joking until you and Mithrandir have returned unharmed to Imladris," Elrond said sternly. "Your cleverness will be ill-spent on anything other than securing your safety and his. You do understand, don't you, that he means to journey to the very borders of the realm of the Dark Lord?"

"Of course, Elrond. Mithrandir has been quite forthcoming about his plans to spy out the enemy's domain."

"Not entirely forthcoming, Legolas. I suspect he means to cross into Mordor itself and not merely remain upon the border. He will not confess that this is his intention, but I hardly think he would travel all that distance and pass up the opportunity to slip into the midst of our enemies in order to gauge their strength. I remember well how, against all advice, he insisted on penetrating the devices of the Dark Lord when He dwelled in the Tower of Dol Guldor."

"And for us it proved fortunate that he did so," Legolas reminded Elrond, "for that which he learned was that which in the end allowed us to drive the Dark Lord from His stronghold."

Elrond sighed. "True, Legolas, but remember this: The Dark Lord has since grown more powerful. Hard as it was for Mithrandir to slip into and out of Dol Guldur, it will be even harder for him to enter and escape from Mordor. Again I say unto you: Save your cleverness for the task at hand."

Suddenly somber, Legolas said nothing, merely inclining his head in acknowledgment of the charge that had been laid upon his shoulders: to accompany Mithrandir to Mordor and see him home safe again.