Summary: These are a series of drabbles written for the Mellon Fic 100 Challenge on the mellon chronicles group.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, sue me and find yourself poor as well.
A/N: The majority if not all of these drabbles will be AU.
Chapter 25 (Smell)
Aragorn and Legolas tiptoed through the front door of the Last Homely House. They were supposed to have been home the day before, but had found that the thrill of the hunt was far more important.
It was now they realized their mistake as they walked up the stairs and came face to face with Glorfindel. The seneschal was looking anything but happy, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyebrows scrunched in anger.
"Where have the two of you been? Your father has been expecting you Estel, and might I add that he has been worried sick that you were somewhere slain in a field."
"I ..., I mean we got held up."
Glorfindel walked down the few stairs till he stood next to both of them. "I assure you that I see no injuries on either one of you. That would explain your lateness. As you are both well, and in good health I can only assume that you simply did not mind us worrying about your safety. I shall therefore have to tell your father about this."
Estel's eyes grew huge then. "Glorfindel no! Ada will not let me go back to Mirkwood with Legolas if you tell him that."
Glorfindel paused for a moment, then turned to Legolas. "Estel, I can understand, but you as well strolled about the forest, no thought of time. Perhaps the two of you will have plenty of time to think about it in your rooms."
Legolas and Estel spent the next hour being lectured as if they were children from Lord Elrond. Just as Glorfindel had said Elrond told them he would have to consider whether Estel could travel back to Mirkwood with Legolas or not. Estel and Legolas glared at Glorfindel who stood in the doorway, a smug look on his face.
"It is not fair!" Estel ranted, pacing the floor in his room. "Glorfindel didn't have to speak to Ada. He told us himself that Ada had gone to bed early, and wouldn't have known we had just come in."
"There is nothing we can do about it now Estel. Your father has gone back to bed, and so has everyone else. All we can do is wait till morning."
"How can you just wait Legolas?" Estel asked pacing the floor in front of the bed again.
"Because Glorfindel has agreed to stand guard at our door Estel."
"I have a plan," Estel said, his eyes glowing with mischief. "Lay down Legolas, and close your eyes."
"Why in Valar's name would I do that?" It then dawned on Legolas what Estel had in mind. Normally he would balk at such a plan, but he too hated being confined.
Estel called Glorfindel. "Glorfy, come quick! Legolas is sick!"
Glorfindel opened the door, and walked inside. "If this is some trick Estel, you will regret it." It wasn't until he saw Legolas laying with his eyes closed that the seneschal began to worry, but before he could ask any questions, he was flat on the floor, knocked out by Estel.
"Hurry up before he wakes up!"
Legolas grabbed Glorfindel and both of them stepped into the hallway. "And just where do you plan on hiding him that no one will think to look?"
Estel's eyes lit up like it was Yule morning. "Follow me Legolas, and if you even think about commenting on the smell so help me you will be next prissy elf."
The next morning ...
"It is good to see you both up and promptly at breakfast." Elrond commented to them both. "I have thought long and hard about what to do Estel, and should you not get into anymore trouble before tomorrow morning comes, you may then go to Mirkwood."
"Hannon le Ada. Legolas and I will simply spend the day with the elves on the archery field."
Elrond finished his breakfast and went about his duties. By midday his stomach was protesting the earlier second helping of coffee. He made his way to the loo, and closed the door behind him. This was not his favorite room to begin with. As an elf he liked to be near fresh smelling flowers not this place, but necessity meant you had to bear such things.
Just as he finished, he thought he heard noises, but again thought nothing of it dropping his piece of stained cloth. Elrond left the room, and went back to his everyday work.
At dinner Elrond questioned both Erestor and his son about Glorfindel. "I just do not understand where he could have gone. I saw him last night, and now he is no longer there."
"You know Glorfindel Ada. He probably is hunkered down somewhere, enjoying the quiet of someplace dark." Legolas almost choked on his food at that statement.
Before his father could ask anymore questions, Estel and Legolas left the table. They spent the rest of the day outside, away from everyone. They had moments of doubt about what they had done, but then the image of Glorfindel standing atop the stairs, the smug look on his face, quickly made them forget it.
Nightfall fell on Imladris, and everyone slept soundly, all but one. It was then that Glorfindel fought back the smell and began his twentieth attempt to get out. After three hours his hand had gripped the edge of the seat, and he was about to pull himself up, when something sat down atop his fingers.
The scream was instantaneous. Glorfindel was now only hanging on with one hand, but his other was beneath Erestor. There were screams from both now, but Glorfindel cared not about the advisor. Grabbing ahold of Erestor he pulled himself free, and stood before the advisor who promptly fainted.
Estel and Legolas heard the screams, and knew they were about to be found out. As fast as they could they grabbed their gear, and climbed down from the balcony.
Elrond laid in his bed, dreams of a past Yule where family and friends had come together. He shifted underneath the sheets a pungent smell assaulting his senses. He tried to continue his dream, but it was as if someone had left a carcass of some rotting creature in his bed, and as he opened his eyes he saw the creature standing at the foot of his bed.
Elrond screamed, jumping for his weapon. It wasn't until he looked closely that he noticed the splotches of blond hair beneath the layers of filth. "Glorfindel?" he asked, lowering his sword.
"Your son ... must kill him ... threw me in the hole ... seen things ... wishes to die," Glorfindel muttered.
Elrond was in shock, and opened his mouth to yell. "Estel, Legolas! get in here."
"Run!" Estel yelled to Legolas as they made their way towards the gardens, but their path was cut off by a very angry looking Erestor.
"You look upset Erestor," Legolas offered, but soon the advisor grabbed him and Estel by the scruff of their necks, and led them back inside.
Standing in the foyer was Lord Elrond, and next to him was what appeared to be Glorfindel. Hands lunged for both of them, but each one stepped back quickly to avoid them.
"What is that smell?" Legolas said, crinkling his nose in disgust.
"Smell! How dare you!" Glorfindel ranted. "You shoved me in the loo, and when I wouldn't fit the elven Prince there tried shoving me through the hole with his boot. I have seen things no elf nor man should see. And even if I live a thousand more lives I will never erase the visions from my mind!"
Again Glorfindel lunged for the pair who now were shrinking back, but Elrond stopped him. Turning his seneschal around Elrond held a tissue to his nose. "Punishments shall be severe but first you must bathe, for I can no longer stand the smell of you."
Glorfindel headed towards the stairs, but was snatched back by Elrond. "I think not my old friend. I am afraid you shall have to wash in the courtyard."
"All done Glorfindel!" Estel called."
"Not quite," Glorfindel said and then showed them to one place they had missed."
Screams echoed through Imladris then, and Estel and Legolas were now a lovely shade of green.