A/N: This is ridiculous.

Warnings: NONE

Title: Plan B

Prompt: "Give it"

"What am I doing with my life, Galion?" Elros asked half seriously. He didn't expect an answer from his companion, but nonetheless was given one by the small butler.

"You are a Keeper of the Keys. I thought it was a very honourable station, honestly. You should be grateful," Galion said, not taking his sparkling eyes off his own dark leather boots. They crunched over dirt and rocks with a delightful sound.

The two ellyn were walking a small trail, taking a weekend stroll to one of their favourite places to meet. An evening planned with many games of cards and much snacking was in store for the two. The sun rode low in the sky. She was not so far down to alight the firmament with her usual spectacular display, but still gave off a wonderfully rich hue that saturated the lush forest of Greenwood the Great.

Elros replied, "I know… I am," he added hastily. Taking a deep breath Elros stretched his arms to the blue sky and flashed a grin. "I am very happy. I suppose it was merely musings."

Both ellyn stopped dead in their tracks when a sharp snap was heard. The sound echoed far in the woods, seemingly coming from the south.

"What was that –" Galion began but his voice was cut off by a loud, clear whiny. The sound was definitely coming from the south. It didn't sound terribly far away either.

"It came from that way," Elros said, gripping his silver sword pommel and taking off at a light run in the indicated direction.

"Oh, wait for me!" Galion called, starting after his friend, the guard, and regretting not bringing a knife on the excursion like Elros had always pestered about. Oh, well it is probably not anything too dramatic anyways, he thought sourly as he ran.

Elros' swift footsteps took him quickly over the terrain. He did not draw his sword though he kept his hand firmly on the hilt even as it jarred and swayed against his thigh while he ran. The horse belted forth another loud cry. It did not sound frightened or in any kind of trouble… His run came to an abrupt halt after the guard vaulted over an ancient, fallen tree and saw what exactly had been making that sound. It hadn't been a horse after all…

There standing right before the dark-haired ellon was a shimmering white steed sporting a beautifully shaped, spiralling, glimmering, sparkling, pearlescent white horn which protruded out from its forehead. Elros knew what this was… It was a unicorn. The sight of the magnificent animal, standing proud in the midst of a ring of gnarled alder trees stopped Elros dead in his tracks.

The guard was vaguely aware of Galion skidding to a halt beside him, but Elros' gaze was presently transfixed. Suddenly, the unicorn reared as if to dare the gaping ellyn closer… The pull of the beast's piercing glance was almost palpable hanging in the atmosphere.

Finally, after a few seconds, Elros snapped out of the daze he had entered and the sheer weight of their discovery hit him like cold water. They had found a unicorn and he was standing here gawking?! Very cautiously, the ellon took a couple of slow steps forward. He wished to touch it. Every movement of his exuded bursting excitement, but Elros kept a calm outward demeanour as he came closer to the unicorn.

The white creature merely stood where he was not moving. Its gaze bored into the ellon approaching.

Galion stood back, not daring to follow Elros. He had not in his wildest imaginings thought that today he would be able to see a unicorn. He hadn't even known they actually existed… The stray thought that this could be an elaborate prank by some distasteful co-worker crossed his mind.

Elros was nearly within arm's reach of the beast. He tentatively stretched out his hand, realising that, despite his efforts, he was shaking with excitement or fear he did not know. The animal had something like an aura of splendour about him that made the guard certain this unicorn was truly genuine. The elf had never felt this way before. He felt dwarfed in its magnificent presence. Hesitantly, he spoke a greeting, "Hello there… um… Miss Unicorn." His words came pitifully uncertain and Elros cursed himself for sounding so naff. "I mean. Greetings, my" -

"I'm not a girl," the unicorn said dryly.

Elros' eyebrows shot to the sky and his face straightened instantly. "Uh… I'm sorry… You look" – Elros caught himself before saying that. "Forgive me, I was mistaken."

The unicorn gave a harsh snort. "Yeah, well. I get that a lot," he said turning his head to watch Galion slowly approach. He regarded both the ellyn one at a time before finally settling his multi-coloured eyes (his eye, really… he only had one rainbow orb per side of the head) on Elros. "Congratulations, by the way you found me. I never thought I would be caught by a…"

"I am the Keeper of the Keys for King Thranduil," Elros supplied. The ellon had to put some effort into maintaining a level voice because, on the inside, he was screaming in delight. This was bloody AMAZING!

"Keeper of the Keys and..." the unicorn studied Galion, who had a face of sheer disbelief. "What are you?" He asked.

Galion narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Usually Elros was the sceptical one… the butler couldn't help but think that Elros must have been rubbing off on him more than he realised… Galion cleared his throat and straightened his back. "I am a butler to King Thranduil."

The unicorn nodded. Vala, he nodded! Elros thought. His mind was racing even as the unicorn continued talking, "Hm. Well, I suppose it is nice to meet you. I never thought I would be found by a key keeper and a butler so this is an interesting day. Wait a minute, are you two virgins?"

The question surprised both ellyn.

"Elros most certainly is not," Galion said wryly, giving his friend the most teasing of looks.

Elros' dark eyes widened. He at least had the grace to blush. "That is personal!" He said gruffly. "You most certainly are not either," he finished accusingly.

Galion sniggered not taking the comment seriously. He turned to the unicorn as the single-horned magical creature spoke up again. "I thought only virgins could find me… this isn't right," he mulled.

"I don't think it matters. Whoever started that ridiculous rumour was wrong," Elros concluded, happy to be moving off the subject.

Galion added his bit to further the conversation. "Do we get any reward for discovering the unicorn?" He asked curiously.

The unicorn stretched his long white neck. "I am to pledge my undying service and loyalty for ever and eternity to the one who finds me," The unicorn proclaimed, not completely stoked about the issue.

"Really?" Elros commented raising an eyebrow and bringing his hand to his chin in a thoughtful gesture. "I saw you first; does that make me your new master?"

Galion felt his jaw drop a considerable length. "Elros, you have no need or means to keep this unicorn," Galion began.

"I saw him first and who is to say that I cannot keep a unicorn?" Elros asked to no in particular. His mind was wandering with images of him and his unicorn riding to and fro within the realm… This could be wonderful. He could become Warden of the Sky… no wait, Pegasus's flew, not unicorns… oh well, he could easily come up with a more fitting name for himself. He could be the head guard of the palace, riding side by side with the king on his very own valiant steed. An elk and a unicorn ruling the galaxy together with an iron fist! He pulled his thoughts off that line… whoever heard of a "galactic ruler"?! It must have been from a dream or something.

Elros came back from his daydream with a slight shake of his head. He felt his face flush red but chose to ignore it. He had a better idea than ruling side by side with King Thranduil… This idea was far more realistic as well. "I have decided. You shall accompany Galion and I to the palace where I will be your master," he declared.

"Elros" —

"Don't worry, Galion. I know exactly what I am doing," Elros interrupted the butler.

With that, Elros turned and began the journey back to the palace. Galion quickly moved to follow the guard. The unicorn also followed, though at a further distance, bobbing his head slowly up and down. As he fell in step with the ellon, the butler lowered his voice to a whisper, "Elros, are you sure of bringing this creature to the palace? What if Thranduil finds out?"

Elros kept up his nonchalant attitude but replied with an equally quiet response, "Thranduil doesn't need to know Galion. And even if he finds out about my unicorn… I can always turn it around. It is fun to have a unicorn, indeed. However, if you are correct and Thranduil sees my unicorn and likes it and takes it, I can say that I found it for him and he will be so happy that he will give me a reward!"

Galion fixed his friend's chocolate irises with a dubious look. He supposed it wasn't the worst idea and Elros didn't have much to lose with the plan… It could work. "What about me? I helped you. What do I get?"

Elros shrugged, happy that the butler was not disagreeing with him. "You can have half," Elros said covertly.

The butler mulled it over, fighting the urge to glance back at their following unicorn. "A brilliant idea, mellon. You do have some dull note of cunning in you. We can make you a treacherous one with practice."

Elros chuckled, a light twinkling in the depths of his gaze. "Teach me, oh guru," Elros teased.

Galion screwed his face into a tight grin whilst staving laughter. "Valar, I have never been called a guru before," Galion chuckled out loud.

XxX

Some time later at the palace

"This was a horrible idea, Elros," Galion ground out through clenched teeth. "I think we are just going to have to go with plan B and give the unicorn to Thranduil."

"Yes, please. Any owner is better than you," the unicorn said heatedly.

Presently, the trio were riding over a narrow stone bridge that led to the Guard's Stables on the westward facing side of the palace. The sun was finally coming down in all her glory behind the line of tree canopies, filling the sky with the gorgeous pinks that Elros had been waiting for. Except, Elros wasn't enjoying the sights at this moment. Instead he was fretting about the situation the three of them were entering.

Elros sat on the bare back of his white unicorn (who looked lovely in this lighting by the way). Galion, after much persuasion, was riding behind Elros and now mumbling obscenities about the how the plan was not going to work. The unicorn was disguised as a regular horse wearing a long red scarf on its head, courtesy of Galion.

"Galion, don't you ever wear anything but red?" Elros said, trying to change the subject and put on a less nervous display.

"Don't you ever wear anything but brown and green?" Galion countered.

Elros was going to respond with something snarky when a cheery voice called from the watchman's booth. "Evening Elros! How's it all?"

Elros faced the watchman, pasting a bright smile on his face. "It is all good, mellon nín. Hopefully today has treated you well," Elros said.

The ellon nodded, his auburn hair shimmering in the final rays of the sun. "It has…" His voice faltered as the three ellyn neared the watchman. "What do you have here, if I may ask?" The watchman inquired, motioning with his hand towards the beautiful stallion before him. His eyes held a tinge of suspicion now, as if he suspected that Galion and Elros were up to some bad business.

"This is my horse," Elros chirped, trying hard not to sound forced. This may not be the best idea after all, he thought… perhaps though he could turn it around. Of course, he could turn it around. Plan B had been better from the start.

"Ah, your horse…. He is wearing something new today," the guard continued obviously not convinced.

Elros swept his gaze around the area to see if anyone was close by enough to hear them. It didn't really matter but he had to keep up some sort of façade. I hope this works. "Yes, Sorrel is wearing something different, indeed, and he dyed his hair white. Do you like it? Kind of reminds me of Thranduil!" Elros said aloud in case anyone he could not see was listening, but the guard quickly lowered his voice and spoke directly to the watchman, "The horse is a gift for King Thranduil."

The watchman's brow furrowed. "What kind of gift?" He asked uncertainly.

"A surprise," Elros answered equivocally.

Galion decided this was his time to corroborate Elros. He was glad Elros had not wished to keep the unicorn a secret for the rest for their career. "It is a special surprise. Elros and I wish to present it to the king in the morning."

The watchman did not appear convinced but the trio had no more time to attempt assuring the ellon. A deep, luxurious voice sounded from behind the watchman. "I heard my name?"

Elros' dark eyes snapped up in surprise to meet the ice blue irises of his lord and king. Thranduil must have been coming from his elk's, Gladford, stall.

Galion felt his draw drop. How?! Every single time! The butler thought incredulously.

The king eyebrows twerked upwards and he almost let his smirk show. "Am I mistaken? Because I know I am not."

Elros swallowed over the fear rising like a tide within him and gave the king his sweetest smile. "Indeed, you did hear your voice, my lord. We were just discussing something concerning you." The guard could see out of the corner of his eye Galion nodding in agreement with that fine statement.

The watchman was wisely staying silent.

"I see…" Thranduil took a step forward, reaching out a perfect hand to stroke the unicorn's pink nose. The unbelievable fact that this animal was an actual unicorn was mind blowing but the king could not allow that to show on his face. No, he had to remain collected. "Tell me Elros, what is this and how did you find such a creature."

The realisation that Thranduil knew was not lost on Elros nor on Galion. "I found it, my lord, in the forest merely standing around. It is a unicorn," Elros began while swinging himself off the unicorn's back. "It said that I was its master because I found it, but I thought that I was not worthy. I meant to give it to Galion, my friend instead, but the butler is quite a stubborn elf and thought that I should give it to the most worthy of ellyn in all of the planet. That is you." Elros concluded with a flamboyant bow.

Thranduil merely listened to the ellon's story. Whether or not it was true didn't matter, but this unicorn was a remarkable discovery. They probably wanted a reward he supposed… His mind went through all the possible things he could give these two elves. It finally rested with the one thing he had endless amounts of: time. Thranduil schooled his face into one of slight admiration. "Well done, then. I will accept your gift."

Elros nodded, daring to give the king a hopeful look. The guard would never have asked straightaway for a reward but he could hint.

"I think I will reward you for this feat. I grant you both three day's extra leave from your duties. Put my new pet in a stable separate from Gladford. That is all." With that, the silver-haired ellon turned to leave.

When the king was very far away, Elros let his excitement show. Galion laughed, slapping the guard hard on the shoulder blade. "You bloody dog. I cannot believe he allowed you to get away with that," Galion said excitedly.

Elros chuckled, smiling and pleased with both the praise and the look of respect on the watchman's face. He felt his face turning red again. "Let's get you into the stables, unicorn," Elros said, leading the way towards the mentioned location.

"Thank the Valar," the unicorn muttered, accepting Elros' lead gratefully.

Galion happily followed his friend. His grin widened with Elros' next words. "After we get unicorn into his spot. We can celebrate in Elsador's Halls!" Elros exclaimed, pumping a fist at the twilight sky.

Galion raised an imaginary glass. "Cheers to that!"