"Are they here yet?" Alasse asked excitedly, trying to climb up the rail on the balcony so she could see over it.

"Not yet." Tatsu shook her head, smiling. Legolas had been sent out to meet their guests and escort them safely through the gate. Thranduil was finishing up some paperwork before greeting them.

Lord Elrond of Imladris, his wife Celebrian, and their daughter Arwen were coming! And Glorfindel, Rivendell's captain of the guard. Elladan and Elrohir had remained behind in the Hidden Valley this time to practice being lords of the house in the absence of their father, under Erestor's sharp eyes. Legolas was disappointed they couldn't make it.

Alasse hadn't seen Arwen for a long time, and she was enormously excited. Fluffy sat beside Tatsu, listening intently to the winds and the trees. "I can't wait to show Fluffy to Arwen. She will like him, I know it."

"Let's hope so, Tithen pen nin." Tatsu shrugged.

Another half hour passed, and nobody had returned to the palace yet. Alasse was very growing impatient. She'd double-checked on Arwen's presents, making sure they were all intact. She browsed through her favorite books to pass time and brushed Fluffy. Still, no Legolas and no Arwen. "Oh, Fluffy. Where could they be?" Alasse groaned, sitting on her floor. "You'll like Arwen. She's my friend. I do hope they arrive soon! We're going to have so much fun!"

"Are you now?" Thranduil asked behind her.

"Ada!" Alasse rose to her feet. "Are they here yet?"

"Bah. A fine way to greet your ada." Thranduil rolled his eyes. "No, 'hello', or 'I'm so happy to see you'. Only overly concern for the uninvited visitors invading my palace. Thank you very much." Alasse frowned, confused.

"But, Ada, we did invite them here, didn't we?" She asked innocently. "And, don't people attack when they invade?"

Thranduil stared down at her blankly. Alasse gulped, afraid she'd spoken out of turn. Thranduil shook his head, chuckling. "Nothing humbles one faster than their own offspring." He sighed dramatically.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Ahh, you are right, penneth." Thranduil said. "They are our guests, and will be treated as such. But I only command one thing from you."

"What is it?"

"A kiss." Thranduil knelt down to her level. "Once your silly friend arrives, you will think of no one else and shall completely forget about me."

"Arwen is not silly, Ada!" Alasse scolded him coldly. "You shouldn't say things like that. It's not nice. You might hurt her feelings."

"True enough." Thranduil winced. "Does that mean I do not get a kiss?"

"I do not know. I don't think you deserve one." Alasse crossed her arms, pouting. She was using the words she always heard the grownups use, especially Legolas, when she'd been naughty. It felt good to turn the tables for once!

"Ohh...bold one, aren't you? I suppose I had it coming. You will not tell Arwen I spoke such things. That is a command."

"Yes, Ada."

"Good. Now, about that kiss."

"You didn't say you were sorry." Alasse warned him. It was all Thranduil could do to keep a straight face. His children always had mysterious powers over him, coercing him into saying or doing things he never would with anyone else! He supposed his late wife had a hand in it, persuading the Valar that her husband would need it to stay in line after she died on him.

"Oh." He grunted. "I am sorry?" Alasse cocked her head, creasing her brows the way she saw Legolas do when he was thinking very hard, or debating in his mind which option was for the best.

"I suppose that could be acceptable." She mumbled. She gave him a very light, very short kiss.

"Humph. That is all I get?"

"Alright." Alasse giggled and kissed him very hard on the cheek.

"Ah, much better." Thranduil smiled warmly. "Now try not to entirely overlook my existence while Elrond is here, will you?"

"What?"

"Err...do not forget me."

"That's silly, Ada. I could never forget you!"

"Good." Thranduil nodded. Fluffy strode up to him and licked his face. "Now, now. Did I summon a kiss from you?" Thranduil glowered. Fluffy barked, wagging his tail. Thranduil stood up. "You are hopeless, furry one. I will never understand how you are never perturbed by anything I say! I suppose my conniving daughter has put a spell on you too, no?"

"Ada! I can't put spells on people." Alasse argued.

"Ohh, but you do, little one. You do indeed." Thranduil said smoothly.

"I do? What does conniving mean?"

Just then, Legolas's horn rang out across the forest. "Ahh. Seems your brother is back."

"Legolas! They're here!" Alasse cheered. "Come on, Fluffy!"

"It's a great pity how parts of the forest are growing dim. But I have not forgotten how beautiful this Wood is." Celebrian murmured as they ventured closer to the palace gate.

"Are we almost there?" Arwen groaned, looking back up at her momma.

"Ai, dear one."

"How much longer?" Arwen flailed her legs.

"Oh, I'd say about ten moments longer from the last time you asked that question." Elrond teased her.

"Arwen, you may have wished you had stayed home altogether." Legolas shook his head, sounding regretful.

"Why?" Arwen asked.

"I am afraid Alasse has a new playmate." Legolas answered. "I am not keen as to whether he will be willing to share Alasse with you."

"But...but...that's not fair!" Arwen gasped. "We have been planning this trip for many weeks. Alasse knew I was coming! Oh, no. Has she forgotten about me?" Arwen asked, close to tears. Elrond threw Legolas a deadly glare. He sensed the young upstart was teasing his daughter, but that didn't make it right for him to make her cry.

"Of course not, Arwen love." Glorfindel called back. "Legolas knows better than that. Alasse has not forgotten you."

"How do you know?" Arwen shot back, her lip trembling.

"Enough already, young one." Elrond scolded Legolas. "Arwen, Legolas is merely teasing you. I would've thought that by now, you would pick on that from living with your two, terrifying brothers."

"Legolas," Arwen asked darkly, "Are you teasing me?" Her big, boorish brothers loved often pushing her buttons. She was partly used to it by now, but in her defense, she was still a child. Legolas felt guilty when he saw Arwen's nearly red eyes and the way she stared at him, a very portrait of Elrond himself when he chose to do battle merely by looking unfriendly.

"Of course, Arwen." Legolas said lightly. "Alasse would never forget you. Why, she has spoken of nothing else since we learned of your arrival."

Arwen's jaw dropped so hard the grownups couldn't help snickering. "That is not nice." Arwen told Legolas icily.

"My apologies." Legolas bowed his head, not sounding sorry at all.

"You really scared me!" Arwen continued to list his wrong doings.

"I meant nothing by it, I assure you."

"Forget those two evil double heads. You are as bad as they are, on your own!" Glorfindel told Legolas.

"It's not my fault, Glorfindel." Legolas said casually. "Can I help it if I am stuck with only a little sister of my own, and no kindred male companionship to quell my problems?"

Arwen squirmed like a breathless fish until they finally passed the gates. "At least." Elrond sighed with relief. He looked on to see the Woodland King standing on the steps of his front doors, tall and grand, and seemingly impenetrable as always. A bubbly little elfling jumped up and down like a rabbit next to him, and beside her sat an enormous canine of the wolf variety.

"Who is that?!" Arwen blurted out when she laid her eyes on Fluffy.

"That, my dear, is the new playmate Legolas enjoyed stirring you up about." Glorfindel smiled, then narrowed his eyes at Legolas. "Unless I am mistaken?" Legolas shook his head.

"Ohh, Legolas! You...you..." Arwen huffed.

"Arwen!" Alasse waved.

"Nana, let me down! Please!" Arwen begged. Glorfindel dismounted and helped her down, and she ran to her friend. Alasse flew off the steps.

"Alasse! A princess does not..." Thranduil tried to protest. The two little girls hugged and squealed as Fluffy trotted after them.

"You're here! You're here!" Alasse exclaimed.

"I've missed you!" Arwen replied.

"This is Fluffy! He's my new pet." Alasse said. "Fluffy, this is Arwen."

"Ohhh." Arwen grinned nervously. "Hello, Fluffy." She held out her hand and whispered an Elvish greeting to him. He stepped toward her and kissed her hand. "That tickles." Arwen giggled. Thranduil marched passed them to greet the adults.

"Thranduil, old friend." Elrond bowed his head.

"Elrond." Thranduil said flatly. "You've aged."

"I beg your pardon?" Elrond frowned.

"You looked much more healthy the last time I saw you. Raising children too daunting a task?" Thranduil teased mercilessly. Celebrian stepped in front of her husband.

"Thranduil. I have missed you." She said sweetly.

"Ahh, Celebrian." Thranduil said fondly, kissing her face. "As beautiful as ever."

"Even if your sense of humor is frosty." Celebrian beamed.

"Still have your wits about you, marriage and motherhood have not changed that." Thranduil blushed.

"Ada!" Alasse interrupted, tugging anxiously on his robe.

"Alasse." Thranduil muttered sternly. "Where are your manners, young elleth? I am speaking to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrian."

"I'm sorry, Ada. But Legolas was being mean to Arwen!" Alasse crossed her arms.

"Oh? Legolas?" Thranduil cocked his head. Legolas bit his lip, trying not to laugh.

"He made her cry!" Alasse continued.

"Well, nearly." Elrond coughed. Thranduil narrowed his eyes at his son. Then turned back to his daughter.

"Ahem. Alasse, are you not going to say hello to Elrond and Celebrian?" Thranduil suggested.

"Oh, yes." Alasse curtsied quickly and greeted them in Elvish.

"Hello, Alasse." Celebrian smiled and kissed her.

"Alasse, you are growing, child." Elrond said.

"Did you bring me a book?" Alasse asked him hopefully. She loved his library back in Rivendell.

"Alasse! Honestly, how rude." Thranduil scolded.

"I cannot say, little one. Perhaps. Perhaps not." Elrond said, pretending to be thinking.

"I hope so! Ada, can we go play?" Alasse asked.

"What about me?" Glorfindel pouted. Alasse giggled and hugged him. "Now can we go play, Ada?"

"I suppose." Thranduil sighed. "As long as Legolas goes with you."

"Nooo!" Arwen and Alasse groaned.

"What?" Legolas gaped at his father, petrified.

"You have been rude to our guests, Ion nin. As penalty, you shall be in charge of the girls for the rest of the day." Thranduil smirked. Legolas put on his best puppy dog face.

"Have fun, penneth." Glorfindel grinned sweetly, happy that for once he was relieved of the responsibility. Not that he detested children, he loved them. But looking after energetic elflings was tiring even for the reincarnated balrog-slayer. Legolas glowered at him sourly. Fluffy bounded after them.

"I see you have an addition to the family, Thranduil." Elrond quirked an eyebrow.

"Don't pass that patronizing look on me, Elrond. Trust me, it wasn't my idea!" Thranduil said defensively.

"Where did the wolf come from?" Celebrian asked curiously.

"Legolas and Alasse found him in the woods, wounded. They brought him home for treatment, and...well, he found my company too irresistible to retreat to his own." Thranduil said cockily.

Glorfindel pretended to gag as he burst out laughing.

"Oh, mellon, that is the most pathetic lie you have ever concocted." The captain said mirthfully. Thranduil have him the look.

"Will the girls be safe with the creature along?" Elrond asked with concern.

"Perfectly safe." Thranduil assured him. "He is an Elven wolf, after all. And he is remarkably fond of the little ones."

While Legolas tried to content himself with sharpening his knives, he was undoubtedly imprisoned by the girls' play. They put flowers in his hair and braided his tresses in what he thought were ridiculous styles. Too make it more embarrassing, Fluffy licked his face and the girls said it was because he thought Legolas was so sweet, like a dessert. Legolas sat there, miserably resting his chin in his fist resting on his knee. What did he do to deserve this? If only the twins were here, at least they could all endure the torture together! But he was on his own. Alasse and Arwen gleamed in delight, getting some sweet revenge on one of their brothers, for once.

While Elrond, Thranduil, Celebrian, Legolas, and Glorfindel spoke of the matters about Middle Earth, Arwen and Alasse played and played.

One afternoon, they were giving poor Fluffy a bath. Begging Legolas to drag the animal to the water, he'd obliged, but then told them they were on their own. Fluffy sulked with his large head drooping as he was fussed over and cleaned. Legolas pitied him, a little. After all, the dog had embarrassed him when he already thought it could not get worse! Arwen and Alasse sang and laughed as they 'tortured' Fluffy. When he was finally let up to stand, he wagged his wet coat hard, spraying water on the two elflings. They howled in protest then Fluffy saw his chance at escape and took it by bounding out of the bathing chamber.

"Fluffy, come back!" Alasse commanded, running after him.

"You're still wet!" Arwen called, grabbing a towel.

Thranduil was walking through the halls and heard two familiar, high-pitched squeals. "And they're at it again." He sighed. Fluffy came trotting near him. "Poor fellow. You have my sympathies." Thranduil grinned. Fluffy halted and braced himself. Thranduil's eyes widened. "Oh, no you don't-" Too late. The dog wiggled his sagging body, water flying everywhere. Thranduil's pale robe was now splattered and clinging to him with water, and he had an important meeting in five minutes! Fluffy fled.

Arwen and Alasse came running in after him but stopped short when they saw Thranduil standing there, glaring. Alasse and Arwen giggled hysterically. "Ada, Fluffy got you wet!" Alasse pointed at him.

"So it would seem." Thranduil said dryly, completely unamused.

"You look funny!" Arwen laughed.

"I would be seeking out your drenched, four-legged companion if I were you." Thranduil said, holding his head high.

"Let's get him!" Arwen declared, racing down the winding halls.

"Wait for me!" Alasse yelled.

Thranduil stood there, brooding. He did not have time to change before the meeting, so he would have to endure a cold robe through the council. As king though, he had complete leisure to walk around rather than sitting. He squared his shoulders then started for the council chamber when another glum-faced figure came to meet him. Thranduil almost grinned when Elrond trudged beside him. He stood there, his black hair shining with water droplets, and the papers-the papers he held in his hand! They were hanging limply, wet and some of the ink was beginning to weep.

"The fiend found you too, did he?" Thranduil rose his eyebrows.

"This is turning out to be a most trying council, Thranduil. And we haven't even started yet!" Elrond grumbled.

"I suppose you think you are informing me of something entirely new." Thranduil retorted back.

After Fluffy had been caught and dried by the servants, Celebrian and Tatsu had changed Alasse and Arwen into dry clothes then took them on a stroll through the gardens to calm them down. Fluffy was tired out from his ordeal and slept peacefully in the throne room. Elrond and Thranduil managed to survive the council, though their fellow advisers were snickering at them through it.

It was a lovely afternoon in the Woodland Realm. Legolas was on patrol, and Glorfindel was accompanying Tatsu, Alasse, and Arwen for a stroll. They were going to the shallows by the riverbank to play. Thranduil granted them permission as long as Glorfindel and Fluffy were with them. Celebrian said she would join them in a short while.

As the two elflings waded and splashed in the water, with Fluffy, Tatsu was on the bank preparing towels. Then she removed her shoes and stockings to stick her legs in the water too. Glorfindel watched them happily, but then a sense of foreboding hit him and his senses told him trouble was near. The captain climbed up the hill and scan it out. What the heck?! He saw dark shapes slipping into the forest! How? How had they gotten in?

"Tatsu!" Glorfindel yelled from the hill. The maiden glanced up at him, alarmed at the urgency in his voice. "Get the children out of the water and make for the palace!" He called.

Tatsu's heart pounded. Something was really wrong! "Alasse, Arwen. We need to leave." She told the girls.

"Leave?" Alasse replied.

"Just do as I say!" Tatsu told them. Fluffy's ears were perked and he was growling.

"Tatsu, what is happening?" Arwen asked as they struggled to climb up the bank in their wet clothes. Tatsu was about to answer when she flinched, wide-eyed. "Tatsu?" The nursemaid couldn't answer and she dropped to the ground, out cold.

"Tatsu!" Alasse cried, shaking her nursemaid. "Tatsu, wake up!" Fluffy roared and charged toward the other side of the hill. "Fluffy!"

"What do we do?" Arwen asked. They looked up and saw Glorfindel battling big, black monsters.

"Tatsu, come on!" Alasse begged. Tatsu did not move. The girls quickly covered her with the towels, hoping to hide her from the Orcs. "Ada! Ada!" Alasse screeched.

The yelling got the Orcs' attention and they descended after the elflings. Alasse and Arwen screamed, unsure of what to do. "Glorfindel! Glorfindel!" Arwen cried out. The closer the Orcs came, the harder it was to make themselves run. They were paralyzed with fear. "We gotta get help!" Arwen wailed.

"They're gonna hurt Tatsu!" Alasse shrieked and hurried over to protect her nursemaid.

"Alasse!"

"Leave Tatsu alone!" Alasse shouted at the Orcs. They grinned with ugly smiles and charged at her. Fluffy lept in front of them, standing over Tatsu and snarling viciously. Without warning, the wolf attacked the hideous creatures with almost rabid teeth. Being an Elven wolf, his natural speed exceeded that of normal wolves so that the Orcs didn't realize what was happening until they felt the grueling sentiment of the wolf's teeth. In all of this, not one had a chance to mangle Tatsu.

"Run!" Arwen grabbed Alasse's arm and they elflings ran.

Glorfindel had tried to hold the Orcs off from getting down the hill but he wasn't able to kill them all at the same time. Some had gotten passed him! He watched on in horror as he saw Tatsu lying on the ground and the girls running away! He quickly blew his horn, signaling for help.

Bard the bargeman from Laketown was down at the dock on the border of the Woodland Realm, waiting for the empty barrels to arrive so he could take them. The elves, for all their wisdom, were not always punctual, so he'd learned to be patient while on these trade routes. He only hoped he could get them back and get his family some food before nightfall.

He'd been waiting for an hour. The bargeman leaned against the boat, crossing his arms. Then he smelt something, something like decaying flesh. His nostrils grimaced belligerently as the odious scent hit him. Cautiously glancing around and grabbing his bow, he stepped up from the dock to check out the terrain. Something evil was about. He was no elf, but one didn't have to be to sense the sudden, eerie feeling hovering in the air.

Bard slowly looked around, keeping his sharp eyes alert for any movement. Then he saw them! Large, charcoal colored creatures that reeked, and were rushing through the trees, toward King Thranduil's home!