Hey everyone! Yup, here you go; the next instalment of 'The Nilmé Series'! ^_^ I've decided this story will be a few chapters long, but maybe not as long as 'An Inseparable Duo'.

In this one, they're a year older than in 'Duo', so that makes Estel... *quick maths bit* 12 and Legolas... *harder bit of maths here!* well I believe he was 639 last episode... so he's now 640! There we go...

On with the story then! This is just gonna be a short chapter to get the ball rolling- enjoy!

.:Chapter 1:.

Tebridë hummed tunefully to herself as she rolled the pastry flat with her wooden rolling pin. It was in the dying days of summer, nearly autumn, one of the best times of year for apples, and the ones going into her pie were no different.

As she picked up the first red fruit, she heard something outside of the door. It sounded like a crash.

Frowning, she walked over to the door, wiping her hands on her slightly floury apron. She opened the heavy wooden door and looked out into the hallway. Seeing nothing to her left, and nothing to her right, she looked down.

"Estel!" she gasped, surprised at the boy's state. The young human had the remains of an expensive looking vase around him, some bright red flowers lying limply in small puddles of water.

"Hello Tebridë," he smiled nervously. The Elf shook her dark head, laughing slightly.

"Are you alright?" she asked him. She noticed a small cut on Estel's right hand. "Here," she said, taking the mildly injured limb. "Let me wipe that up for you."

She took him into the kitchen and ran some water. Looking behind her, she saw Estel standing innocently, large grey eyes looking up at her. She smiled and turned back to the sink, soaking a cloth underneath the pump that she operated with her free hand.

"How did you manage that then dear?" she asked, not turning. If she had, she would have noticed something else...

Estel looked behind him and winked silently to the small blonde that poked his head around the doorway. Legolas nodded back and tiptoed into the kitchen, keeping flat against the wall.

"Well, I, erm..." began Estel, watching Legolas intently. The young Prince snuck up to the bright red apples that still lay on the worktop, the sun coming in through the window and making them look even more appetising.

Tebridë was about to turn around. Estel choked down a gasp and ran to her side, making her look down in the other direction. Legolas watched this, ensuring it was safe to continue, before rising up on his tiptoes and rolling the apples one by one into the pouch he had made with the front of his baggy shirt.

"I tripped." said Estel to the older She-Elf. "That's all... just, tripped!" He smiled a huge false grin, his eyes darting over to his best friend before returning to the nanny. Legolas was just headed out of the door.

"Well, thank you very much, but I believe I hear Ada calling me!" he blurted out hurriedly. Legolas managed to get out of sight around the doorframe as the young human backed away towards the door, the fake smile still plastered across his features.

Tebride shook her raven head as he left. "Strange child... lovely, but strange..." She turned back towards where she had left her apples, and got a shock a she was greeted with an empty basket.

"What the-?!" Then she worked it out. She bolted towards the door in time to see two little figures running as fast as their legs could carry them, laughing as they went. "Come back here with those apples!!!" she screamed after them.

"Thank you Tebridë!" Legolas called back, before taking a bite out of his own. His eyes brightened up immediately. "Ooh, they're good! Here, catch," he said to Estel, throwing one of the fruits to the boy...

~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, Elladan wandered down one of the halls, his nose stuck in a book. He thought that A Brief History of Trees was rather interesting, but his twin Elrohir branded it really quite boring, so had gone off to the gardens to re-string his bow. It was one of the rare moments when they were separated.

He was just getting to his favourite chapter; Different Styles of Bark, when a previously unseen force slammed into him and sent him flying. Apples and pages flew high into the air, before the book came to rest comically on his head, covering his eyes.

"What in the world?!" he thought, before hearing the childish laughter. "Oh no..."

"Oh, hello there Elladan!" giggled Legolas, picking up some of the apples that rolled around the floor. "Oh drat, this one's bruised..." he mumbled to himself.

Estel beamed at his older brother. "Sorry Dan, we were running. You know, you should really look around corners before you turn while you're reading; you might have hurt someone!"

~*~*~*~

Elrond read the letter and smiled grimly. He knew the day would come, and in some ways he was glad it had, but in other ways...

Greetings Lord Elrond!

I hope this letter finds you well! I will take this time to thank you greatly for caring for my son this past year. Both Sólia and I have appreciated the break! However, we look forward to having him home.

Elrond sighed. He should have known that taking care of the Prince, trying though he could be at times, would have had this affect. The Elfling was rather adorable at times... but he had to go home.

I was thinking though, to return the favour, your boys should come and stay for a while here in Mirkwood. I hope you will consider this.

Yours gratefully, King Thranduil.

Elrond smiled. Yes, he would let the boys stay in Mirkwood for a few weeks... what harm could it do?

So, there's the first chapter done! ^_^ I hope you liked it, please R&R!!!