Habit
The night was calm and peaceful as darkness settled over the elven refuge of Imladris. Earendil shone brightly in the heavens, bestowing its beautiful light upon the fair folk.
As many settled down for slumber, the twin sons of Elrond strode through their father's gardens, admiring the brilliance of the stars.
Elrohir glanced at a certain balcony and a wide grin spread across his features. For the first time in three years, a lamp's glow spilled across the carved railing down onto the grounds.
"It is good to have Estel back," Elladan remarked, his thoughts paralleling his twin's.
"Yes," Elrohir agreed, his grin broadening. " In one piece, for a change."
"Incredible," Elladan murmured. " He traveled from Mirkwood to Imladris, in the company of Legolas, and yet he appeared with nothing more than ordinary cuts and scrapes."
"I cannot recall a time when I have seen Ada more shocked," Elrohir remarked dryly.
"Indeed," Elladan chuckled as he pushed strands of raven black hair behind his ears. Abruptly, he froze. His eyebrows drew together in confusion, and then his nose wrinkled in disgust. " Do you smell something?" he asked, grey eyes turning toward his twin.
"Now that you mention it." Elrohir wrinkled his nose as well. " It smells like someone is burning wet stink weed." he wafted a hand in front of his face in a vain attempt to dispel the stench. " Or something even more foul."
"Estel's room must be on fire," Elladan joked as he turned his head toward his youngest brother's balcony. " Perhaps..." the words froze in his throat as a horrible sight met his eyes.
" Elladan," Elrohir said quietly. " Please tell me that is not smoke coming out of Estel's room."
Elladan could not reply, he could only think how much the Valar must truly hate him.
" Go fetch help!' Elrohir shoved his twin back towards the house. " I will get Estel!"
The younger twin leapt forwards, thanking Elbereth that a tree grew alongside Estel's balcony. The dark-haired elf scrambled up the trunk and climbed swiftly upwards. He gagged. Valar, the stench grew stronger the higher he went.
There! The railing was within reach! Elrohir leapt, catching the rail with one hand and vaulting over easily. landing on a very surprised ranger.
" Estel!" Elrohir yanked the winded Dunadan to his feet. " Your room is… not on fire," He suddenly realized.
" No!" Aragorn yelped, his hands beating at the front of his shirt. " But I am!"
Elrohir stared as the young human dashed past him towards a basin used for washing. His shirt was indeed smoldering. " How did you manage to set yourself on fire!"
" I!" The young man's voice rose an octave. He looked as though he wished to say a good deal more, but decided his smoking clothing was more important at the moment.
As Aragorn emptied the basin over his head, Elrohir noticed a scattering of what appeared to be some kind of burning leaves littering the balcony. The faint sputtering sound of his younger brother attempting to clear the water from his nose and mouth barely penetrated his senses as his eyes surveyed the still smoldering particles before coming to rest on a very strange object. " No," he murmured, his grey eyes narrowing.
Elrohir rounded on his brother who was shrugging out of his singed shirt. " Estel!" He cried in a horrified voice.
Aragorn glared at the elf through a dark curtain of wet hair. " What?" he ground between his teeth.
" Tell me you have not…not… " Words failed Elrond's younger son and he could only gesture to the curiously carved object, his fair, elven features crinkling with distaste.
A dull flush crept up Aragorn's face. He quickly strode out onto the balcony and scooped up his pipe. " It was a gift from Mithrandir," he grumbled, as he tried to push back past his brother into his room.
Elrohir's hand snaked out, catching the human by his shoulder but just as quickly released his hold as Aragorn drew back with a hiss of pain. " Estel." he began worriedly, but was cut off as the door flew open with an explosive crash.
Elladan and several other elves charged into the room, then slid to a halt, disoriented. Elladan carefully set down the bucket of water he was carrying and allowed his gaze to scan the room, coming to halt on his younger brothers. " Elrohir," Elrond's eldest stated. " There is no fire."
" That is not entirely true, brother," Elrohir said, his tone layered in disgust.
" Quite so," Aragorn mumbled so softly that Elladan had to strain to hear him. " My shirt still smolders."
Elladan raised an eyebrow, causing him to resemble their father to such a great degree that Aragorn nearly quailed. The elf sighed, then turned to his companions. " Thank you my friends, but I do not believe we will need your assistance after all." The elder twin ushered out the other elves and closed the door behind them.
" Now," Elladan's eyes narrowed dangerously. " What happened?"
" Do not ask me," Elrohir shot a look at his human brother. " Estel is the cause for this commotion."
" Estel?"
Aragorn casually slid his pipe into his pocket. " It is nothing, Elladan, simply a misunderstanding."
Elrohir's eyes widened. " On second thought, ask me."
" Elrohir!" Aragorn hissed, " It is nothing. At least nothing important."
The younger twin stared at him in disbelief. " Oh, you lie!"
Elladan's eyes flickered between his brothers, at a momentary loss. His gaze fell on Estel. and the burns that were beginning to show up rather nicely against his skin in the starlight. " Estel!" He darted forwards to examine his brother. " What happened!"
Aragorn clamped his mouth shut, refusing to answer.
" They are obviously burns," Elrohir prompted.
" How did you set yourself on fire?" Elladan eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
The young human's face turned a color of red that the twins had never seen before in the man.
" I did not set myself on fire!" Aragorn bellowed. " He" Here he jabbed a finger at Elrohir. " Tackled me on my own balcony, causing me to upset my…" with a snap, the ranger clamped his lips together, realizing what he had just been about to reveal.
" Your…pipe?" Elrohir asked with the innocent air of one who is simply trying to help.
It did not fool the young human. " Thank you, Elrohir," He snarled.
" His pipe?" Elladan stared at the two uncomprehendingly. " What were you doing with a pipe...No." The elf shook his head vehemently. " Please, Estel. Tell me you have not taken up that loathsome habit."
" Recall the stench in the garden, brother," Elrohir said darkly, " and you will have your answer."
" Valar!" Elladan threw his hands up in the air. " Are the halls of Imladris ever to be haunted by the lingering fumes of that ghastly plant!"
A slow smile started to touch the corners of Aragorn's mouth. Carefully, and deliberately he pulled his pipe out of his pocket, and filled it with pipe weed from the small pouch at his belt. He was about to light it when.
" And what will ada say?" Elrohir asked.
The ranger dropped the pipe as if it was a particularly hungry, poisonous snake.
" Elrohir is right," Elladan said, grinning evilly. " We need to go see him now anyway, those burns look like they could use attention."
" No." Aragorn quickly backed away from his brothers.
" Oh yes," Elrohir's grin was quite nearly as evil as his twin's. "Ada will need to treat these."
" And then he will ask how you received them." Elladan picked up where his twin left off.
" I'm sure I can think of something," the young ranger looked around desperately for some means of escape. Unfortunately, the twins stood between him and the entrance to his room. Perhaps he could make it over the railing. It wasn't too far to the ground.
" And deny us entertainment?" Elrohir's hand snatched the human's elbow before Aragorn could proceed with the attempt.
" Nay, brother," Elladan quickly seized Aragorn's other elbow. " We will make sure Ada knows the full tale."
" Elladan…Elrohir...please." Aragorn looked at them both, his silver eyes wide and pleading.
" No!" Elladan quickly turned his face away, not trusting himself to remain firm. " Not the look!"
Elrohir groaned as the ranger turned his gaze towards the younger twin. Estel had been using this face for years. Ever since he was five and the twins had been so incredibly stupid as to tell him that they felt like giving him anything he wanted whenever he brought it into play.
With a snort of self-disgust, the elf released his younger brother. " Oh, very well."
Aragorn breathed a deep sigh of relief as Elladan also loosed his grip.
" We will not tell Ada," Elrohir continued, " provided you only smoke the vile substance outside. No exceptions."
" What if it is winter?"
" Then you will be cold," Elladan observed.
Elrohir reached towards the human's injured shoulder. " Now about those burns."
" I will tend them!" Aragorn quickly brushed away his brother's hands. " I am a healer after all. Besides, they are not serious."
Elladan raised his eyebrows, taking in the blisters that decorated his youngest brother's right shoulder. " Very well," he said finally. " Take care when you go to fetch your bandages though." The grey eyes twinkled mischievously as he exchanged looks with his twin. " Elrohir and I will not tell Ada, but that does not mean we will hinder him from finding out all on his own."
The two young elf lords turned and left the room, leaving behind a very relieved ranger.
Disaster had been averted.
At least, for the moment.
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Ada-father(daddy)
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