Young Elrohir, Irime, and Elladan sat perfectly still behind a hedge, holding their breaths. They awaited the scream that was inevitable. A small giggle escaped Elladan's lips, causing his two companions to glare at him malevolently.

Then it came. "ELROHIR!" At that cue, all three sprang out from behind the hedge and began running for their lives. They knew what happened when somebody pranked Erestor, but they never learned not to. The youngest twin, Elrohir, tripped and fell in the dirt. Irime grabbed his arm and hauled him up.

"Quickly! If we are caught he shall turn us into orc meat!" Then she sprang after Elladan who was rapidly putting distance between himself and the more than slightly disgruntled Erestor. Of course, the whole prank had been Elrohir's idea, Irime had been the one to put it all in place, and Elladan stuck around to do what he did best, be the scapegoat for the other two. Not just that, though, he also had an incredible gift of making the adult Elves forgive him. So every time there was a prank, Elladan got them out of the mess they had gotten themselves into, only so that they could do it all over again.

Elrohir raced into the woods, with his two accomplices on his heels. Then found what he was looking for, a giant hollow oak tree that they used to hide in, and as far as they knew, no one else was aware of its existence. He was halfway inside when Irime and Elladan collided with him, slamming the peredhil into the back side of the hollow tree trunk.

All three were panting, they felt as though they had never run so hard in their lives, yet had all had, rather often really. Elrohir sat, rubbing his head. "Next time you decide to come barreling in like two mumakil, give me some warning." The dark-haired Irime tried to hold back a laugh, but it was to no avail. "Sadist." Elrohir growled, causing the elleth to fall over backwards laughing. "Nessi . . ."

Then they became rigid, they could hear someone approaching. "Erestor." Elladan whispered.

"I know that you are here! Elohir, come out from where you are hiding and bring the rest of your clan of miscreants with you." Elrond's advisor said calmly, even though he was dripping with unidentified slime. He knew how to handle this, it had become a routine.

Elrohir nodded to Elladan, who carefully climbed out of the tree trunk. He approached Erestor with a smug look on his small face. "Lord Erestor." he bowed. "It was I that poured the slime on you, and I take responsibilities for my unlawful actions." Being a son of Lord Elrond, he had a gift with words, though Erestor was not fully convinced. "You see, Lord, the reason you thought that it was Elrohir that had committed the crime is because we look so much alike. Do not blame my twin for something I did."

Erestor sighed, "I forgive you. Just do not ever do it again, young master, do you understand?" he scolded lightly.

Elladan bowed, "Yes, I understand and I will never" he put emphasis on the word, "Do that again."

"That's a good lad, now run along."

Elladan began walking back into the woods and when he was sure Erestor had turned back towards the city, he whirled around and stuck out his tongue before he skipped off to Elrohir and Irime.

Lord Elrond and his wife Celebrian sat in the study with Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien. The Lord of Imladris was considering sending his sons, particularly Elrohir, to live in Lothlorien with their mother's kin for a few years. There they would be able to become warriors if they so wished or lore-masters like their father. He knew it would a good experience for both of them, allowing them to mature. The only thing holding him back was the idea of having them away so long. Though his wife also knew that she would miss the twins, even if they did have a mischievous side, but she had agreed to do what ever Elrond thought was best.

After a long silence, Elrond spoke. "They will go to Lothlorien."

Celeborn nodded, he too knew that it was a wise decision, albeit a hard one. He still grimaced at the memory of having had his quiver hung on random towers on occasion. It would be good for the brothers. Now the only thing left to do was to tell them, and no one knew how either would react, but chances were that whatever the reaction of one, it would be the same as the other.

Elrohir, Irime, and Elladan crept quietly back to the city, making sure not to alert anyone of their presence. They slipped in and out of the shadows, and before long they came to the large network of buildings where the twins would be awaited by their atar. There they parted, the twins sneaking inside while Irime ran towards her own home.

She belonged to the family of a craftsman, she had known the twins since birth, but even so their friendship was unexpected. She was a commoner while they were the sons of a great Elven Lord, and wielder of Vilya.

Irime could see many candles burning inside of her home, her parents were probably waiting on her. She opened the door and went inside, her naneth, atar, and older brother sat on a cushioned sofa, their faces were grim.

"Naneth? Atar? What is the matter?"

Her mother motioned for her to sit. "Irime, Lord Elrond has informed us that he is sending his sons to live with their mother's kin in Lorien until they are grown."

The shock in Irime's eyes told her mother that she had not even had the slightest clue of their departure.

"He told us to tell you that you will probably never see them again." She continued, and there was sorrow in her voice.

Tears welled up in Irime's blue eyes, "They can't be leaving, I just spoke with them not a lumenn' ago!" She sounded distraught.

"Lord Elrond had not yet informed them. Irime, listen, it is for the better."

The tears spilled down the young Elf's cheeks, "No, they cannot go, they are my best friends." she choked.

"Meldanya, you must understand."

"Understand what?" she nearly yelled.

Then her father spoke, "Irime, did you really think that you be with them forever?"

She nodded, "It always happens in the tales that Lord Elrond tells us."

"Not always will you get all that you wish for. You have to choose your own path."

Then Irime ran out the door, despite her parents calls. She had to find Elrohir, he would know what to do, he always did.

Elrohir didn't want to leave, Imladris was his home. He would miss everything, especially his friends and parents. The young elfling was only seventeen years old, he had not yet even come to adolescence, as the Eldar reckon. He didn't want to go and live far away from everything that he knew.

He was suddenly brought back to reality when he heard frantic knocks on the door. It was probably Elladan, "Come in."

Irime rushed in and jumped on Elrohir's bed. "What are we going to do?"

The Elf wanted to help his friend, but he was just as lost and confused as she was. "I don't know."

It was morning and Irime had still not come home and her parents were worried. Finally they decided that the only other place she could be was with Elrohir. They went to Lord Elrond and he told them that both were in Elrohir's room sleeping soundly. Though he also knew that he would have to wake Elrohir and Elladan soon so that they would be ready to leave within the day, they would be traveling with their grandfather, Celeborn.

No one was glad to see the twins leave, for everyone in Imladris had taken a liking to the brothers.

When it was time for the sons of Elrond to depart, Irime had stayed in her bedroom, crying. Neither of the twins wanted to leave without saying goodbye to their friend, but she would not leave her quarters and she let no one in. So they left without a word of goodbye and heavy hearts. Their lives were changing rapidly before their eyes. Though maybe their paths would cross again in the future.