A/N The result of watching foxes on youtube being dorks and making squeaky noises. It was an idea for a while (among twenty thousand others...), and was planning on making a mini teaser, but decided to just go ahead and post it and see what happens, and depending on reception (and writing motivation), will expand on this when I can. But for now, I hope this will catch your interest. :)
The twins are 216 years old in this story, and Arwen is 104. Tarcil is a canon character, Aragorn's ancestor when the North Kingdom still existed: Think him as grandpa Aragorn since Aragorn won't be alive for another two milennia. He is 66 years old, after staring at a timeline and doing math.
This is a character development sort of thing in which the twins are mischievous and pranksters, but matured and reigned it in and settled for good comedy/humor (to fit their War of the Ring personality in my canon).
Tathardes at the moment is the only OC I can lay claim to and creative license. Everything else, is not mine.
Elladan and Elrohir can be like foxes. They are sly and fair, but when they want to, they can catch you at unawares and take delight in it. This was so during their youth, and they got a title to fit their reputation: Foxes of Imladris. They probably were not expecting to claim that title literally in every sense of the word, but some individuals learn the lessons they need to learn in more unique ways. And with the Prince of Arnor coming to visit and the Spring Festival around the corner...they got quite the adventure to be had, and a memorable one at that.
Year 346 of the Third Age…
"Ryscedh! Rysc! Once more you strike from the shadows and take joy in your mischief…You will regret this one day!"
Elladan and Elrohir held back their laughter from their tree. Of course their latest victim would start cursing to the high heavens for this last humiliation. A simple prank, really: a lot of honey and plucked chicken feathers.
No, it was no one of importance…well, if you consider Lindir unimportant. But all elves are important.
The poor elf huffed and tried removing the stickiness from his clothes and body and all the feathers in vain. "Oh, if you want a war, then you will get a war: I will write you the most shameful song in existence to your name!" After that final vow Lindir stormed off to bathe.
"Too much?" Elladan asked as he leant back against the trunk, now finally able to get his breath.
"Maybe." Elrohir answered.
"We better be watchful about that song he threatened to write."
"We are not stealing." Elrohir warned.
Elladan raised his hands. "No, we would not stoop that low, brother. We have our honor to maintain after all."
Elrohir snorted as he dropped down to ground level. "Yes, whatever we have left to salvage of it, of course."
"We have plenty! We are fine!"
"What is the next thing then? We have so much left to do before the morrow comes: the second of April."
Celebrían quietly held her composure as she listened to the poor minstrel, recently out of a bath, rant to her. She mentally let out a breath as she heard Lindir's words.
"…you must forgive me for my harsh words, my lady, but they do this every year on this day! It is no special holiday, is it, at least not established by elf or man? So many of us tire being subject to their mischief. It becomes so wearisome. Worst yet they will not listen to our requests!"
"I understand, Lindir, and I am sorry that this has happened to you…again."
Lindir bowed before the lady of Imladris and went off to his business. When the elf-maid was alone she let out a frustrated noise.
Oh, she loved her sons dearly with all her heart, but she did not like their tendency of being irresponsible and a bit arrogant. The twins were very young by elven standards and quite the example of reckless youth (barely having surpassed their second century). They were courteous and noble when the situation and station calls for it…but other times, they had to be little elflings again and let that extra energy out.
Those situations consisted of a shortage of honey in the kitchens, the coop being strangely clean of feathers, furniture that is not functional at all but not broken (dysfunctional could be considered broken though) …
And the worst of it all were their crude jokes.
Celebrían blamed it on their mannish heritage. She reckoned that blood expressed itself a lot more than their father. Still, they had tried almost everything they could think of to discourage this behavior: Glorfindel exhausting them in training, their father giving them more responsibilities to fill up their daily schedule, even gone to the extent of having Erestor beat them with his sage staff, which he respectfully refused to do.
The lord and lady tried an intense talk about their behavior…The twins cut back on their habits for a short period of time before reverting to their former ways. The twins seemed to turn deaf.
The lady thanked Eru for Arwen, who is a few years over a century of age, and she herself maintained her childish ways at times, but not to the extremes as her brothers were.
Celebrían marched over to her lord's study. When she entered the room, she was not too surprised to see Elrond had faceplanted onto the desk from frustration. She came to his side however.
"More reports of deceit and mischief?"
"Sadly, yes." Elrond lifted his upper half off the desk and stood up to face his wife. He had one of his strained smiles: a 'I still love them to death, but sometimes I want to kill them' sort of look. "We have no way to overwork the bees, which would not be a good idea to begin with…so I fear sweet things will be lacking for some time. The carpenter is frustrated that his work has been destroyed again by removal of the seat part of the chair, slanted legs, and wearing the table surface's wood thin."
"And poison ivy dropped in Erestor and Tathardes' bed." Celebrían pitched in.
Elrond waved a hand at that comment. "They will live…they have had worse mishaps before."
Celebrían sighed. "What else could we try to sway our sons from their destructive tendencies? I do not wish to rob them completely of their innocent fun, but they may lose the satisfaction in these simple games…"
"Bribe Erestor to beat them with the staff, but beyond that…" Elrond also exhaled and shook his head. "Another severe talking is all that is left."
Celebrían walked over to the window and looked out it. Moments later, the aforementioned elf entered the study holding a scroll in his hand, while simultaneously scratching his arm with his free hand.
"A message bearing Arnor's seal, master Elrond." Erestor stated calmly even though he was going to give himself scabs later from all the itching.
Elrond raised a brow and took it; Celebrían watched; Erestor fidgeted.
After a few moments of reading the message, the master of the vale looked at both elves.
"Prince Tarcil is making his way to visit us. His father wishes to revisit some agreements, though is unable to make the journey himself."
"So he sent the prince instead?" Erestor asked.
"Correct."
Celebrían seemed happy with this news and she smiled. "A perfect time to do so. The weather is fair and the spring is progressing wonderfully. I am sure he will enjoy his stay."
Erestor cleared his throat to get their attention.
When the lord and lady turned to the green-elf, Erestor began speaking with careful approach. "If I may be bold to suggest: have your sons go out and visit neighboring settlements, see if they can acquire anything for the spring festival." He slowed down a little bit before adding, "I say this because they are in one of their…phases, again."
Elrond frowned at this, getting the underlying message, before he looked at the parchment again. After a moment's pause… "Perhaps we should send them away for a time…maybe they can bring the prince here."
"No!" Erestor and Celebrían simultaneously cried.
Elrond blinked at both of them with the still arched brow.
Erestor resumed his itching after going back to his place by keeping silent. It was Celebrían who came back to Elrond's side and whispered quickly to him. "We cannot do that! Of course Elladan and Elrohir are very noble and well behaved when they want to be…but what will happen if they get too comfortable around Tarcil? We know not what will happen or how the prince will respond."
Elrond considered this, giving a sound of resignation. "Fair enough. We will not risk it. But we cannot keep them away forever."
"Do what Erestor suggested: send them to neighboring villages or on a treasure hunt."
The lord and lady looked to the itching elf then, who was still miraculously keeping his peace even though he probably wanted to complain loudly right now.
"Is Tathardes making the remedy for the ivy?" Celebrían asked softly.
"I do not know, but my wife could have gone to the healing ward to get it. That, or we ran out of the cream again."
The parents groaned audibly.
Erestor's patience began to wear thin at last. "Do you need me for anything else?" It was not a snippy tone, but just slightly off key to let them know he did not want to stay here for much longer.
"Have Glorfindel find the twins and send them here…" Elrond answered. "We will go through with your idea."
Erestor nodded, too quickly, and left, too quickly.
Celebrian and Elrond shared glances with each other and waited.
"You want us to…leave, for a while?" Elladan asked slowly.
Elrond nodded. "Yes, and check the conditions of near settlements in the meantime. The woods and fields ought to be quite lovely now. You should see it while it lasts."
Elladan and Elrohir gave him a blank stare. Elrond returned the look neutrally. Celebrían had a calculating, expectant expression as she watched.
"Is this punishment for what we did today?" Elrohir questioned abruptly.
Elrond kept his expression. "Maybe."
The twins looked pouty.
"Adar-" Elrohir began again.
"No. Do not try to defend yourself." Elrond sighed. "And we are not going to lecture you again, since your ears decidedly go deaf whenever we do."
"But we did nothing that caused extreme damage!" Elladan exclaimed.
"Is hurting people's dignity among minor damage?" Celebrían questioned them readily.
The twins would not dare lie to their parents, so they stayed silent, which of course is as good as being truthful. Almost.
"And what is this new title you have gained for yourselves?" She continued. "Foxes of Imladris…both flattering and a bit shameful, if I say so myself."
When she mentioned shameful, Elladan and Elrohir went red in the face from embarrassment.
Elrond allowed Celebrían to speak her questions before he continued his own speech. "You need a bit more restraint in your indulgences concerning playing pranks on our people. You give yourself a neutral reputation among our kin by your dual personalities: fair and generous one day, mischievous and disastrous the other."
"Not everyone dislikes what we do." Elrohir said in a low voice.
"Not everyone has the same tolerance level either." Elrond placed a couple of fingers to his forehead. "No matter, I said we are not going to lecture you, and I will keep my word on that. However," he said sternly. "If this worsens over time, do be warned that it will be dealt with, and you will not like it."
Elladan and Elrohir both flinched at their father's tone, displeasure and a mildly rebellious look crossed their identical faces. They both frowned.
Celebrían sighed sadly.
Elrond closed his eyes and waved a hand. "You are dismissed. You are allowed to return in two weeks."
Elladan and Elrohir gave forced bows before departing.
"They need to sulk." Celebrían shook her head. "If they do not like the chastisement then eventually they will stop."
"We can hope." Elrond replied quietly. "But it better happen soon, or else it will never go away."
Celebrían gave a small smile. "I am sure they will learn soon. They will be fine."
A/N Famous last words...
Ryscedh! Rysc!: "You foxes! FOXES!" In Sindarin.