Are you not? [ accompanied by a cocked brow as he steps to the side of maia, waits for him to turn to follow. there are only so many little hide-aways here, and he can guess where maia might have sat. ] Your ears are like mine, and your hair is like mine, and you call yourself an elf. You will forgive my old eyes if I notice no difference. Unless I have given offence, and ruling makes you other?

[ his skin was more blue dark than brown dark, but thranduil had less thought for that than the joy of seeing an elf with long hair and proper display of it. and with proper attire, and a hood- bless the usefulness of hoods- he could pass as well as thranduil. perhaps even better, given his height. ]

You do not do your own braiding? [ they are edging into a conversation that ought not be held in public, but he supposes it of the same nature as the talk given to elflings that they mustn't fuss with their hair in public after a certain age. disapproval sours his smile for a moment. ]

If you would accept help, I would gladly offer it.

[ what parents did not teach their elflings how to braid? really. a gesture to his own hair. ]

I am afraid I do not look it, but I assure you, I know how.