The King's Vacation
by Fairy Laughing
Chapter II: The Solution
Three days after the plan had been planned, whispered in the wine cellar, and disrupted by a maid who had found it rather disconcerting to find the four elves huddled in the grimy cellar in the wee hours of the night, the plan was set into motion. Over dinner that night, which consisted of a huge array of different platters and seemed a feast, though it was normal fare, the twins had suggested the idea of a trip into the wilds to Elessar who had shaken his head and obstinately insisted that Gondor needed her King. This having been said, the after dinner wine was brought into the room by Elrohir, returning from a momentary departure after he had spilt some sauce on his tunic. Elessar had at first refused the wine, claiming that he had work to do that night, but Elrohir was persuasive in that he should try it, for it was very good, and Elessar could not be rude with the look Arwen was giving him. So he drank it, and immediately afterwards felt woozy. Shrugging off the tiredness as excitement from having his visiting friends, he excused himself to his study and continued planning the sewage channels for the new section of Gondor; there were problems with his plans, and he was trying to find some way to bypass populated areas.
Alas, his eyelids started drooping as they became heavier and heavier, and the words before him began to blur.
"Agh.." Elessar tried to blink away the tiredness, berating himself for feeling so sleepy. "Gondor needs her king!" he reminded himself aloud, earning a few hushed snickers from... his closet? Elessar stood up to investigate, but before he could reach the closet door (made from Ent managed forests naturally) he fell against it and onto the floor, snoring loudly.
Elladan and Elrohir came out of the closet, both smirking as if they were immensely pleased with themselves, and they were. For lying on the ground was Elessar, sleeping deeply and muttering something about Arwen (which they honestly did not want to hear).
Legolas came into the room, dressed in travel gear and bearing their packs, followed by Arwen, baby in arms. She bent down and kissed her husband on the forehead, brushing his hair aside and telling him to relax.
"He cannot hear you."
"Which is why I expect you to take good care of him." She instructed, turning to Legolas and the twins with a look that could melt a glacier.
"Yes milady." All three replied in unison, suddenly fearful of the she-elf's wrath. Her baby girl cooed quietly and Arwen's gaze softened as she looked down.
"We must leave before the drug wears off." Elrohir said, watching Elessar groan and shift in his sleep, still muttering.
Elladan nodded and put his arms beneath Elessar's shoulders, grunting as he lifted. Elrohir took his feet, grumbling, "You have put on much weight Estel!"
Legolas, meanwhile, went ahead to open doors along their planned escape route to the stables, where they set him down in the hay. Moments later, there was an argument.
"There is no way!"
"But Elladan, you are his brother." Legolas argued.
"You are his best friend!"
"It is nothing you have not seen before!"
"Nor you!"
Elrohir sighed, "Be at peace, both of you, I shall change his clothing if it means so much." Then Elrohir changed Elessar's kingly attire to something more suitable to days of riding, and smeared his face with a bit of soot for that fully rangerly appearance. A dark cloak completed the effect, and efficiently hid his visage for the time being.
"There now, it shall be like old times." Elrohir said, wiping the soot onto his tunic.
"He never had a potbelly then." Elladan said.
"Nor grey hairs." Added Legolas.
"Shush, he will loose that we hope.
The stables were dark still, and empty as they had planned. Within the dusky interior horses brayed, and the sweet scent of hay and oats filled the air. Already four strong horses had been saddled, and packs made. For the moment, they set the dozing Elessar on Legolas' horse in front of him, a position that they had taken many times before. If the potion worked as it was supposed to, he would sleep for two days, and by that time they would be well outside of the main part of Gondor and deep in the countryside. They could only hope that they would need to tie Elessar down then, but Legolas had some strong elvish-made rope in his pack should the need for it arise.
"Well, off we go then!" Elladan cried, spurring his horse forth. Legolas followed on Arod, with Elessar before him, and then Elrohir with the stubborn mule-of-a-horse Elessar was to ride tied next to him, resisting the departure. This would, no doubt, prove an interesting vacation.
To be continued...
