"I still really think they are making an outlandish hero of me that I shan't be able to live up to, though I do rather enjoy a merry gathering." Bilbo remarked as he prepared for the feast.

"Nonsense, Bilbo." Dori smiled. "You did a grand thing."

"No more than any of you." Bilbo said. "In case you've forgotten, Thorin was the one who made the choice to help! He's the one they should be honoring, not me."

"You are much too modest, Master Burglar." Dori patted him on the back.


Thranduil waited outside Alasse's door to escort her. She finally burst out with Fluffy at her side. "Here I am, Ada!" She cheered.

"What kept you so long, Iell nin? I was beginning to think you were going to make us late for the feast." Thranduil chuckled.

"Oh, no! Come, Ada. Let's go." Alasse eagerly tugged on his large hand.

"We must wait for your brother." Thranduil reminded her.

"Aww." Alasse groaned.

"By the way, you look lovely." Thranduil cocked his head. Alasse beamed and twirled around happily in her silk purple gown.

"Will you dance with me tonight, Ada? Please? Please? Please?" Alasse begged.

"Of course. I would never pass up the chance to dance with my favorite princess."

"But...I thought I was your only princess." Alasse frowned.

"That's what I mean," Thranduil smirked.

"Well, shall we go?" Legolas asked as he appeared, wearing a shiny sky blue tunic.

"Yes. Let's go!" Alasse agreed. "You look handsome, Einior muindor (big brother)!"

"Why, thank you." Legolas said cockily.

"And what of me?" Thranduil 'pouted' sternly. "You didn't mention how handsome I look. I am wounded."

"I'm sorry." Alasse's face fell. Thranduil grimaced. Sometimes she took his teasing much too literally.

"Ada's making a joke, silly." Legolas teased her.

"Oh."

"Come, my children. The festivities await!" Thranduil led the way with Alasse skipping along, holding Legolas's hand.

"By the way, Alasse, who do you think is more handsome? Me or Ada?" Legolas grinned evilly. "Say me!"

Thranduil let out a hearty chuckle. "I am sorry, my son. But it isn't a fair contest to you, really. There is no doubt of the answer to that question." Thranduil teased.

"Alasse, say me!"

"Nay, Iell nin. Me!" Thranduil chided, enjoying their little game.

"Me!"

"Say me!"

"No, me!"

"ME!"

Alasse giggled. "You two are funny!" She exclaimed. "I don't know." She shook her head.

"What's there to think about?" Legolas huffed. "It's me, obviously."

"Don't flatter yourself, Legolas." Thranduil protested. Legolas knelt down behind Alasse and whispered in her ear.

"Say it's me or I'm gonna send the Tickle Monster to get you!" He threatened gleefully.

"Ah, ah, ah. No cheating, Ion nin." Thranduil said.

"Legolas." Alasse answered quickly.

"Aha! I knew it." Legolas smirked at his dad.

"Alasse..." Thranduil drawled dramatically, "You don't think I'm handsome?"

"Oh, I do! I do, Ada! But...you...you look more scary than Legolas does." Alasse said timidly.

"You told her to say that!" Thranduil narrowed his eyes.

"I did not. Honest." Legolas said. Thranduil rolled his eyes.

"Come along." He muttered. Alasse grabbed his hand.

"I do think you're handsome too, Ada. I really do." She insisted. He looked angry, and he was scary when he was angry. She was very sure she'd hurt his feelings. Thranduil furrowed his brows at her, snickering.

"Don't worry about it, my love." He chuckled. "I was only giving your brother a hard time." Alasse was confused.

"I will never understand grownups." She muttered. Legolas took her other hand. He and Thranduil swung her through the air between them as they made their way to the Hall of Fire.


The dwarves hadn't brought proper celebration clothes in their journey, for their plans had been to travel over the treacherous Misty Mountains. They weren't expecting a party! The twins did their best to fit the dwarves with some of their older clothes when they were smaller, although the stunted folk still looked kind of funky in them. Even Thranduil had to give credit to the dwarves: at least they'd bathed and groomed their hair properly for the party!

Thorin still wasn't sure about this, neither was Thranduil. They both felt so awkward being in mingled company. They gave each other a wide berth, and kept suspiciously glancing at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking with a you're-not-there-it's-not-like-I-see-you-there look. They regarded one another with a calm but heavy unwritten but understood message between them: stay on your side of the room!

"Fili! Kili!" Alasse squealed when she saw the two young princes.

"Your Highness!" They both smiled widely. Before Thorin could stop them, they hurried over to the Mirkwood elves. They both bowed before Alasse. "My lady, Prince Fili and Prince Kili. At your service!" Alasse giggled in delight.

"You're all dressed up!" She pointed out.

"Oh. Well, yes. Mr. Balin thought it was only fitting and proper." Kili shrugged. "He said we didn't want to appear ungrateful to our host."

"Pfft." Thranduil rolled his eyes.

"And you? You don't look half bad, Prince Legolas." Kili said. "You look a lot friendlier when you're all dressed up!" Fili nudged him in the side. "What?" Fili grimaced. Sometimes his younger brother could be so impetuous!

"That's alright, Fili." Legolas said. "You don't look so much like a mangy mongrel pup now, yourself." He teased Kili. Thranduil grinned.

"I beg your pardon." Kili glared. "My lady, you look absolutely stunning!" He turned to Alasse.

"Oh, thank you." Alasse said bashfully, trying to hide behind Thranduil's robe.

"Ahh, Your Majesty." Balin bowed to Thranduil. "Your highness-es. It's quite an evening, isn't it?"

"It is." Thranduil replied evenly.

"Alasse!" Estel strode over. "Allow me to escort you to your seat. Well, if your father doesn't mind?" He looked up sheepishly at Thranduil.

"She has an escort, young Estel. Scram." Thranduil said coldly. Estel nodded meekly, his lip nearly trembling.

"Ada!" Alasse tugged on his robes. "Now you hurt his feelings."

"Go ahead, Estel. I was only fooling with you." Thranduil grinned. "I'd be happy if you acted as Alasse's escort." Estel looked up at the tall, foreboding king warily.

"I don't think he believes you, Ada." Legolas said.

"Would you two just run along and play, already?" Thranduil huffed at Estel. Estel nodded quickly.

"Come, Alasse." He said, offering his arm. Alasse held her head up high, trying to be ladylike and took his arm.

"We shall act as chaperons." Kili said, following the youngsters with Fili.

"Them...chaperons." Thranduil glowered. "Puh. Estel and Alasse may just need those. But those two...they don't need chaperons. They need a dog leash!"

"Ada..." Legolas gritted his teeth.

"Alright, alright." Thranduil sighed.

"At least I have better manners than you." Legolas boasted. Thranduil watched him go, sneering.


Estel brought Alasse to Elrond who was standing with Gandalf. "Master Elrond." Alasse said, curtsying. "Thank you for the party!"

"You are welcome, child." Elrond smiled warmly. "I'm glad you recovered in time to join us. And don't you look lovely tonight?"

"Gandalf, will you be showing us some of your fireworks later?" Estel asked eagerly.

"Please, please, please?" Alasse begged.

"Yes, Gandalf. Really, you must!" Kili insisted. Gandalf chuckled heartily.

"Of course, of course, young ones." He agreed.

"Oh, goodie!" Alasse clapped her hands. She could hardly wait.

"Ahh, yes. Gandalf's fireworks are indeed magnificent. Worthy of a wizard." Bilbo said.

"Bilbo!" Alasse greeted him.


Thranduil sat at Elrond's right, next to Legolas, and the twins were next to him. Then Alasse, Estel, and Glorfindel. Gandalf was on Elrond's left, with Bilbo at his side, then Thorin, Balin, Fili and Kili. The rest lined up the long table. Elrond finally stood up.

"My friends, tonight we are gathered together to commemorate the bravery of a mingled party that has not allied for many an age." Elrond began with his hands folded. "Circumstances brought their paths across one another's. But when it came down to sparing innocent lives, courage and loyalty stood up, in place of any personal differences. Tonight, we honor that plight." Then he sat down.

Legolas stood up. "I know, this is rather awkward for most of you. I never imagined I would be standing here, speaking these words, in the presence of this company!" Legolas said. "But, here we are. I would like to personally thank Thorin Oakenshield and his company of stout dwarves for freely aiding me in finding my family, when our people have been at such animosity with each other. Truly, I could not have done it without you. I thank you." Legolas bowed with his hand over his heart. Thorin and Balin bowed their heads.

"Gandalf, you took care of my sister through our perilous journey." Legolas continued. "Without your magic, things would've been much worse. And thank you, Oin for tending someone not of your own kin.

'I nearly lost the only family I have! But thank Eru that has not happened! And you, Bilbo Baggins...you are stout of heart, master hobbit. It was you who snuck inside the lair and found my little sister when we all may have overlooked her location! I am not sure how you did it, but I thank you. And you were the perfect distraction to the fiends, giving us all a chance to move in. There truly is more to you than meets the eye!

I just want to express my gratitude and how thankful I am on this fine night, to be reunited with my father and my little sister.'" Legolas bowed and sat down.

"Thank you, Legolas." Elrond nodded. He turned to Thranduil, waiting. All eyes were suspiciously on the Elvenking. Thranduil tried to ignore them, but they were all waiting with baited breath. Thranduil sighed and stood up.

"I believe Legolas speaks for me as well." He said. "Truly, I was not thrilled at the prospect of being imprisoned with and then rescued by dwarves! However...even I cannot deny that they have demonstrated true honor in their deeds. A deed that shall not be forgotten" Thranduil looked right at Thorin who met his gaze. "No matter how much I try." Thranduil whispered with a huff. The occupants at the table laughed. "If not for our friends gathered here, neither Alasse or I would be with you all tonight at this fine party. And..." Thranduil turned toward his daughter, "Alasse, my sweetness...Legolas is right. I have you to thank, Bilbo Baggins, for finding my little girl! And Legolas, my son...you are so brave. You took initiative when you were afraid. So proud of you, Ion nin. I say, let's celebrate." He sat back down.

"Ahem! May I say something?" Kili raised his hand.

"If you wish to, Prince Kili." Elrond shook his head in amusement. Dwalin cringed. Kili stood up on his chair so everyone could see him better.

"I just want to say, it was pretty awful being kidnapped and held hostage." Kili cleared his throat. "Of course, I was sick through most of it. But, two things I do remember. Fili was there with me the whole time, through the whole mess. He never gave up on me! And..." Kili smiled across at Alasse, "this fair elf maiden, this small princess...when she was in the room, it lit up, even in that dank prison they kept us in! She showed us nothing but kindness when we were down. She gave us hope." Kili smiled.

Alasse stared down into her lap, blushing. Even Thranduil couldn't hide his smile this time.

"Fellas? The elves...ahh, I know they're a little rough around the edges," Kili shrugged, "but...eh, they're not all so bad. Just wanted you to know that. Uhh...thank you!" Then he dropped back down into this seat.

Fili rose next. "My brother is right." He said solemnly. "He was dying and there was nothing I could do to help him. But King Thranduil's daughter...the princess, she kept encouraging us not to give up. There was nothing she could really do, not even offer us a proper gulp of water! But, what she did was better. She was kind and compassionate, and so brave. It burned me when she was hurt at vile hands! I can just say how glad I am to dine with her tonight. And her brother.

'Prince Legolas commanded that one of his kin's own steeds carry me and my brother here to Rivendell when Kili was dying, so we would get here that much faster! Thank you, Legolas! I am proud to count you as a friend.'" Fili bowed as did Legolas then he sat down.

"Fili is right." Thorin said in his deep voice. "The prince did go out of his way to help my own. Kili might have died if the Elven horse hadn't gotten him here just in time. Prince Legolas performed a deed that left me befuddled. Thank you does not come close enough, but for now, it is all I can say, Prince Legolas." Legolas nodded. "As for King Thranduil...while our politics and kingdoms may butt heads for eternity, he has given his children courage. I have seen it. Remarkably so in two so young, and in such a vulnerable fix as they found themselves in." Thorin nodded then sat down. Thranduil gaped at him.

"Well, I didn't really do all that much. But can I just say how delighted I am on this night to dine in harmony with both dwarves and elves!" Bilbo announced. "It shall long fester inside my chamber of memories."

"Don't forget Glorfindel!" Alasse hollered. The whole room erupted in laughter. Glorfindel blushed, chuckling. "No, it's true!" Alasse protested seriously. "When those bad people tried to hurt me and Ada, Glorfindel protected us. And then he got hurt! He was very brave."

"Thank you, penneth." Glorfindel patted her head.

"The lass is right. So was King Thranduil." Fili said. "He was chained against the wall, helpless to do much. But nothing stood between him when it came to the safety of his child! While he puts his people before anything else, it is plain to see where his true heart is."

"You're embarrassing me, Prince Fill." Thranduil said in a warning tone. "You did not ask my permission to shower me with such praise."

"Alright." Elrond interjected. He stood up. "My friends, please eat!"

"Wait! Can I say something?!" Alasse begged.

"Of course, little one." Elrond smiled. Alasse stood on her chair like Kili.

"I, just want to say...to everybody. Th-thank you!" Alasse curtsied. "Thank you for saving Ada and me. Oh, and Fili and Kili too!" Everyone-including Thorin and Dwalin-laughed and clapped as Glorfindel pulled her back into her chair.


Bilbo didn't feel so out of place anymore, not surrounded by good food, friends, music and dancing. He was thoroughly enjoying himself. It was clear to all that Alasse was the belle of the ball tonight. She danced beautifully for such a young elf. She danced with Legolas, the twins, and even Fili and Kili. She laughed herself silly dancing with them!

Thranduil finally made his way to the floor and took her in his arms, twirling her around as she hung onto his neck. She loved it when Thranduil held her up like this. She was so high, on top of the world in her eyes. Her daddy was so strong, and she squealed when he swung her around and sometimes dipped her where she clung to his neck for dear life. Finally, the music quieted down and Alasse lay on Thranduil's shoulder, clearly winding down from all the excitement.

"My lord Elrond, shall I have the maids clear the dishes?" Lindir asked.

"Yes, Lindir." Elrond nodded. Lindir nodded to the elf maidens.

"Nonsense, lassies!" Bofur told them, shuffling between them. "Leave it to us."

"It's the least we can do." Fili smiled, taking a plate from the long table. "Oi, Kili! Catch!" And with that, he tossed the plate through the air! Kili caught it and passed it to Dori. One by one, cups, plates, saucers, and bowls went flying in all directions.

"Oh, dear l-! Not again!" Bilbo, hiding his face. All that beautiful, Elven cutlery being thrown about like toss balls, and in front of these graceful elves!

The elves were so stunned. The dwarves cheerfully hummed and merrily sang as they gathered up and volleyed the party dishes around. The elf servants protested and tried to stop them. Elrond stiffened, brooding. Legolas stared, wide-eyed and holding his breath. Erestor looked away, unable to wait and see the damage. Glorfindel charged at the dwarves but they ignored him and went about their task. Elladan and Elrohir were mortified. Of course, they'd done the same when they were little, but now the knew better! Estel raced over to join the fun. Poor Bilbo looked positively scandalized.

Thranduil? Thranduil's face said it all: he looked ready to commit murder! His soldiers were only waiting for the signal!

Gandalf? Gandalf just stood there, smoking and giggling.

"Enough already!" Glorfindel hollered, with smoke nearly coming out of his ears and nostrils. He rushed out of the Hall of Fire and followed the little scavengers as they made their way to the kitchens. How dare these little ruffians disrespect his lord and his hospitality!

He stopped short at the sight before him in the main kitchen. Piled high and perfectly on the large table, not a chip or crack to be found, was every single dish, fork, knife, and spoon from the party. The dwarves were laughing and cheering while the servants puffed in tremendous relief.


Poor Lindir had fainted dead away on the marble floor of the Hall of Fire. The entire ordeal had been too much for him to bear, being such a timid soul and all that.

Alasse looked up groggily from Thranduil's shoulder, hearing all the commotion. "Did I miss anything?" She asked Thranduil.


Well, at least this time they didn't throw their food around!