Summary: Where has all the wine gone?
Disclaimer: I know I've not updated in a while, but that was because I was very ill. It was not because I was off owning the Hobbit.
"Ada?"
Thranduil turned his head almost like an owl to find his son standing behind him. "Legolas, what ails you? It looks as if you've seen a ghost."
Legolas gulped. He hated disturbing his father when he was tending to his precious Elk, but this was important. "I was sat outside with Galion discussing certain arrangements. And our wine... disappeared."
Thranduil gave an amused smile. "Are you sure you did not drink it?"
"I think I'd notice."
"I wouldn't be so sure." The King laughed.
"This is serious!" The prince yelled, before blushing. Quietly, he added, "It is not just the wine. There were shadows-"
Thranduil nodded once. "Aye, my son. When an object blocks the light-"
"Ada! This isn't funny. There were occasionally more shadows than elves present."
The King paused for a moment, deep in thought. "So... you've seen a ghost."
"Ada!" Legolas scowled.
"Legolas," Thranduil laughed, unable to take the subject seriously, "your eyes must have been playing tricks on you. Shadows do not go wandering around any... old... forest... Alright, bad example. But you know what I mean. You must have been mistaken."
"I saw food floating around mid-air." Legolas added seriously. "And I am not hallucinating."
Thranduil took a deep breath, placed a hand on his son's shoulder and guided him towards the palace. "Legolas... Wine does not just disappear and food certainly does not levitate-"
"Really? I thought this was an everyday occurrence. I KNOW it's strange, that is why I am telling you!"
Thranduil placed his other hand over his son's forehead. "Hmm, maybe I should take you to a healer."
"Ada."
"Maybe I should send Elrond a message."
"There is nothing wrong with me!" Legolas yelled frustrated.
"There is nothing wrong with him." Elrond told the king. He didn't mind the week and a half journey to Mirkwood just to discover there was nothing wrong; he had much to tell.
"I told you." Legolas muttered.
"I am deeply sorry for dragging you all the way here." Thranduil apologized softly.
Elrond smiled. "Oh do not apologize. I am glad you did, for I have much to tell you. Not to mention you have given me an excuse not to... well... clean Rivendell."
"Oh?" Thranduil returned the smile, hoping the tale would be a good one. Coming from Elrond meant it probably would be. "Why? What happened?"
"There was recently a food fight in the Valley of Imladris." Elrond replied.
Both Thranduil and Legolas blinked a few times, processing what the half-elf had just told them. "I'm sorry?"
"We made the mistake of entertaining thirteen dwarves. It did not go down well. They bathed in a fountain and threw our food at each other; though they did introduce Lindir to a new style of music which he has, unfortunately, grown to like."
"Well... it seems there is never a dull day in Rivendell." Thranduil commented with a smile. "What about this... ghost?"
"Don't say it like that." Legolas muttered.
"I would be more than happy to help you find this... ghost." Elrond offered his assistance.
Galion and a few other elves were going through the barrels sent up to them, digging through the straw used to ensure the goods would not be damaged.
"So..." One of the elves began. "...What say you about all of this?"
"What say me about what?" Galion asked as he continued searching through the barrels. "Oh fresh fruit."
"The King... and those dwarves." The same elf elaborated, wondering if he was pushing his boundaries talking about his King like that. He knew that if he did, Galion, good friend of the King's, would surely inform him.
Galion took a while to reply. He stopped his work, laying his hands on the top of the barrel. "They were trespassing." He finally replied simply.
"Is that it?" A second elf asked. "Is that all you have to say on the matter?"
"It is all I am going to say." Galion replied harshly, before softening up only seconds later. "I've found the wine!"
The other elves eagerly went over to help Galion.
"So what is this celebration for, exactly?" The third elf who hadn't yet spoken asked.
"You know, I cannot for the life of me remember." Galion replied truthfully.
"Erm, Galion..." The first elf gasped as he turned around to return to his own work, his eyes setting on the goods Galion had previously unpacked; or rather the lack of. "You all saw the fresh fruit here, did you not?"
The three elves then joined the first, sharing a gasp.
Galion gasped as he turned a corner and ran into another elf, who fell to the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry." He offered a hand to the fallen elf.
"Why so hasty?" The elf asked as he allowed the King's butler to help him up.
It was only at this point that Galion realised just who he had run into. At this point, he wanted nothing more than to run and hide in a corner. "L-Lord Elrond... I-I did not know you were here... Forgive me."
Elrond smiled as he assured the younger elf in front of him. "Oh Galion it's fine... And no, I was asked to come because... well, it is a long story. You have not answered my question."
"Oh sorry, erm..." Galion blushed as he spoke. "What was the question?"
"Why so hasty?" Elrond repeated.
"I was looking for the King." He replied honestly, before taking a deep breath. "This may sound strange... But we were looking through supplies sent to us and we found some fresh fruit which we put aside, but when we turned back they were gone. We didn't hear or see anyone. We were the only ones there."
"That does not sound strange at all."
"It doesn't?" Galion asked, confused.
Elrond shook his head. "Come, I will explain."
This was going to be an update to my Hobbit/LOTR Spoof Fanfiction but then I felt like making this into a chapter fic.
