Disclaimer: Not mine. *pouts and sighs* Ah, well, at least I still get to play with them!
Chapter One: Of Libraries and Vendettas
"They know."
Legolas looked up from his book to see Estel, pale and shaken leaning against the doorway to the library. The young human's dark, shoulder-length hair had fallen into his eyes. His breath was coming out in gasps, and his voice shook when he spoke again, "They know I told you where they would be, and now they're plotting revenge."
"What is it they're planning?" the Mirkwood prince asked nervously, knowing Estel would not be the only victim of the twins' retribution. Estel shook his head as he walked forward, "I don't know. I was passing by their room when I heard my name, so I stopped by the doorway to listen. Elladan was saying that I was the only one who knew where they had gone; therefore I was the only one who could have told you where they were. Then, Elrohir started saying something about how their revenge on both of us would be 'swift and terrible'. I didn't hear the rest of the conversation, because I heard them walking to the door, and I ran like mad to find you!"
Legolas nodded and put down his book; he would have done the same, "If what you are saying is true, then we need to deploy some defensive strategies, soon. The twins are known for their swift retaliation…" Estel's silver-blue eyes widened in worry, "Couldn't we- couldn't we try reasoning with them?"
Shaking his head at Estel's naïveté, Legolas replied, "Reasoning with them? Ha! In a situation like this, they are about as easy to reason with as an Orc. No, the most we can do is set up defenses to protect ourselves."
Estel shot him an "are you completely daft?" look, "And how do you suggest we do that? You know as well as I do that the twins plan for everything. If Elrohir misses a detail, Elladan catches it, and vice versa. We have no hope!"
Legolas grinned mischievously, "What do you think 'Estel' means?"
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An hour later…
"You do realize that this could go terribly, terribly wrong, right?" Estel asked, looking around skeptically at the clearing in the woods Legolas had brought him to. "It could have gone terribly, terribly wrong last night," the elf replied, smirking and picking up an overturned bucket which sap was slowly seeping from.
"So, this was what you did to them?" Estel gestured to the fragments of a net that rested on the forest floor, imagining his brothers dangling in the air and raining curses down upon Legolas. The thought brought a smile to his face, and he had to resist the urge to laugh. Legolas nodded and replied, "Yes, it is, but it wouldn't have been possible without you, mellon nîn, even if you did it to avoid the same fate."
"I barely had anything to do with what they did to you!" Estel protested indignantly. Legolas arched an eyebrow and scoffed, "Who replaced the things I wash my hair with with honey? They had no time to do it. I was with them the entire day!"
"I do not know, Legolas, but it wasn't me. They refused to tell me anything they were planning," the human stated, inwardly pouting at his exclusion from the prank. Legolas rolled his eyes, not believing Estel's story, "Of course. Either way, we have what we need." He picked up the bucket, still half-full of sap, and shoved it into Estel's arms. The Edain sighed and followed the prince back to Imladris.
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Later that night…
A hushed cry broke the stillness of the library. "Ow, Estel, that was my ear!"
"Goheno nîn, Legolas, but perhaps if it wasn't so pointy…" A loud thud ensued, followed by, "You can do it by yourself. I am perfectly capable of finding a hiding place in the woods."
Estel picked himself up off the ground and crossed his arms, gritting his teeth he replied, "I am sorry. Now, will you please help me?" Legolas sighed and crouched down, slipping the handle of the bucket of sap onto his arm and indicating for the younger individual to climb back up onto his shoulders.
"Can you reach the top of the door?" the wood elf asked once he stood with Estel upon his shoulders. Seeing that the door was level with his eyes, Estel replied, "I can reach it, but-" He was cut off by Legolas handing him the bucket, "Just balance it on top of the door. That's all you have to do, and we should be safe for the night. You're certain there is no other entrance to the library, correct?"
Estel nodded and quickly finished his job before jumping off of the Eldar's shoulders. "I checked everywhere. There is no other way to access this room. I'm sure of it…"
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"I checked everywhere. There is no other way to access this room. I'm sure of it…," Elrohir mimicked in a high-pitched voice. His mirror image snickered quietly to himself, "That's what you think, gwador nîn." The diabolical duo were crouched side by side in a hidden passage to the library concealed by the painting of a majestic waterfall, taking in every word Estel and Legolas said.
"I think we're safe… Well, at least for the night…" Legolas' voice drifted through the wall. Two identical wicked grins broke out in the darkness, and Elladan repeated his statement, "That's what you think…"
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A/N: Oh, no! Will Estel and Legolas be the victims of yet another wicked scheme concocted by Elladan and Elrohir? Find out in the next chapter, which shall be up soon if I get reviews!
Translations:
Mellon nîn: My friend
Goheno nîn: Forgive me
Gwador nîn: My brother