Chapter 18 - Here We Go Again!
"I really should tell him. Really, I ought to just tell him. How much treasure could he possibly want? Greedy Elf King!"
Thorin Oakenshield sat in the dimness of his prison cell muttering to himself. It had been a dismal time for the proud dwarf, the son of Thrain. Sitting in the dark brooding and bored was beginning to eat away at even his hardy, stubborn spirit. He would rather be out fighting Orcs as he had in the Battle of Azanulbizar, though that battle had been costly indeed. But what was this costing him? He moaned, feeling very sorry for himself. Yes, the elves feed him, gave him wine to drink, and attended to his needs, but sitting here day after day, not knowing what had befallen his companions -grieving for them and cursing them in turn - was slowly driving him mad.
"Such a simple thing!" he hissed. "Just tell that blasted Thranduil what he wants to know. How hard can that be! Such a simple thing. A simple thing."
But it was not so simple. To tell the elf what he wanted would be to admit that an elf had defeated him. And that would never happen! No elf would ever defeat a dwarf! Never! He pouted, now sitting with his arms folded over his chest. But, oh! He had never thought to be so tired of sitting in a stone room. He stood and began to pace.
"I really should just tell him!"
Outside his cell, two elves shook their heads.
"What is he saying now?"
"I know not. The same thing he has been saying for days now. The dwarf's language is so coarse and uncouth it begins to hurt my ears."
Laughing lightly at their poor prisoner they continued up the hall.
"How fares he?" the guard who sat outside one of the other dwarf's cells asked, as they came into sight. "Still grumbling to himself?"
"Aye! It never ceases now. I wish King Thranduil would just let them go! They are quite a nuisance."
The guard laughed merrily.
"I think our good and wise King has had other things on his mind of late!"
The others laughed as well.
"It certainly has been entertaining! Were you here the night that . . . !" He snorted with delight. "That Legolas the Sparkly Green made his appearance?"
"Nay! I wish I had been. Cuil and Calenthar told me all about it. I was down with that other one. I always seem to miss the fun! I could have been here watching the performance, but no, I was down in the "deep dark" with the growling Dwarf."
"He is still growling in the "deep dark". I almost feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for myself anyway, having to listen to his moaning and cursing. At least I think it is cursing. It is hard to tell."
Hidden in a shadowy corner, Bilbo felt a jolt of excitement. Was it possible that Thorin was indeed here? He had managed to locate the other eleven cells containing the remaining dwarves since the night that Gloin had sung his duet and received a rather priceless gift from an elven prince, but he had despaired of ever seeing Thorin. Now a glimmer of hope shone through. Perhaps his luck wasn't going to let him down after all! Silently he crept past the guards and headed down the torch lit corridor.
He heard Thorin's low muttering ere he saw the great oak and iron barred door. The leader of Thorin and Company was growling in Dwarvish so Bilbo couldn't understand what he was saying, thought the Dwarf's voice seemed despondent and defiant by turns. He moved to the door and whispered in the keyhole.
"Thorin! Thorin! Can you hear me?"
The Dwarf's voice faltered and he paused in his pacing. He stared wide-eyed at the door.
"Who is there?" he called. "Who is out there?"
"It is me! Bilbo Baggins! Thorin, are you well?"
The dwarf stared at the door.
"Bilbo? The Burglar? No. That cannot be. Bilbo is far from here with the others. They have left me suffer this misery alone. Mahal curse them!"
"Thorin! Bother! Of course it is Bilbo! The others are here as well. We have been for quite some time, you know." The hobbit glanced about, making certain that the guards weren't returning yet.
"Bilbo? Is it really you?" Thorin ran to the door wishing that he were tall enough to see out the bars near the top. He spoke into the keyhole. "You are all really here! All of you!"
His voice sounded so jubilant and pitiful that Bilbo felt quite sorry for the rather proud Dwarf.
"We are all here. Never fear. We had quite an adventure, too, I can tell you." And he did. Thorin stood at the other side of the door, ear pressed to the keyhole listening in stunned amazement at the things that had befallen his companions after he had been taken by the elves.
"You are quite a clever and resourceful fellow, Burglar Baggins." he said when Bilbo's tale - a rather longer one than Thorin thought was necessary - was finally finished. "I have a message that I need for you to deliver to the others. You must tell them that they are not - under any circumstances - to tell that Elf king anything about our errand here and they will be sorry if they even contemplate telling him about it!" He felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he said this, but no one would ever know of his own wavering.
"They wouldn't do that. They are doing quite well, actually. All except poor Gloin, that is." Bilbo shook his head remembering his last whispered conversation with that dwarf. All that concerned Gloin was the fear that the elven maiden would be in trouble for giving away a lock of her spun gold hair. "I fear he will never be the same."
"Well, tell them that we are not going to give that King Thranduil one small jewel if we can manage to help it. You will figure some way to get us out of this. I know you will. Then we won't have to share our treasure with him."
Bilbo sighed.
"It would be so much easier if you would just tell him and promise him a share," he said, knowing that it would fall on deaf ears.
"Never!" Thorin muttered. "He will never get anything from me, not after this shameful treatment."
"Very well," Bilbo sighed, in a rather resigned voice. "I will think of something, and I will tell the others what you have said." As he moved away, back up the corridor, he said quietly to himself, "I would be glad to give him *my* share of the treasure if only it would free us from this place." But well he knew that Thorin would never agree to that either.
So it was that the dwarves agreed with the message Thorin had sent to them, and very relieved they were to learn that he was alive and well, and here with them. Their spirits rose and they began to be hopeful.
"Gandalf always said that there was more about you than we knew," Balin told Bilbo happily. "And that we would find that out before long. And well, by Aule, we have! Soon we will be sitting in our own halls of stone beneath the mountain, surrounded by our treasures from ages past. It will be wonderful . . . . " He paused deep in thought. "Who knows," he continued quietly, "perhaps one day Khazad-dum will be ours again as well."
Bilbo shook his head as he thought on this. It seemed that was all these dwarves thought of: reclaiming their lost treasures and glories of old.
"I will be content to be in my own chair in my own hole again, with a full pantry and the kettle singing merrily about tea time. And a pipe of Old Toby or Longbottom Leaf." At this thought the Hobbit laughed silently. "Poor old Legolas. I doubt he will ever forget any of this and will be quite glad to see us gone! But I, for one, shall miss that merry prince." He shook his head and returned to his little storeroom where he had spent the majority of his time in the Gladaran Thamas.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the fifth day the penitents were released from their punishment. They managed to look quite repentant while Thranduil inspected box after box of glittering gems and jewelry. Finally he pronounced himself satisfied with their work and dismissed them, telling them to go and prepare for the feast the following night. The king had decided to throw another one, since the last ones had been interrupted by the dwarves.
"And Legolas," he called after their departing forms, Tanglinna standing at his side. "See if you can find your brother, Aralith. He seems to be nowhere about."
Legolas nodded and went in search of his brother. When he, Tavor, and Brethil inspected his room, he was not to be found. It was Tavor who noted the spider hairs on the bed cover.
"You don't suppose . . . ?" he began with a glance at Legolas. "I mean, you had mentioned that Gwibess had said something about other spiders wanting masters."
Legolas shook his head.
"I know not. I was not myself at that time," he added wryly. "She said that she had tried to stop them, but I don't know who they are." He shrugged. "He will show up.
"We should go and check on poor Gwibess. She must be quite distraught by all this," Brethil said, shaking his blonde head. "I still say you should at least have let her help us. She would rather have enjoyed it I think."
"Undoubtedly," Tavor snorted as they left Aralith's room. "Only she would have pocketed a few things on the way out and we would be wearing child's braids. That would be too humiliating, especially since your father is so graciously throwing another party. He probably would have made us sit with the children at their little table away from the adults. I couldn't survive that."
Brethil and Legolas looked at one another and grinned. Tavor took himself and his position in Mirkwood society much too seriously.
"Perhaps we should let Gwibess chose something from the Gem room. She did try to warn me after all," Legolas said, moving swiftly down the hall. "Adar was surely exaggerating when he said he knew exactly how many jewels he has."
"And where he got them and when," Brethil added, trotting at his side.
"And in which box," Legolas finished.
"No!" Tavor called, hurrying to catch up to them. "You are not serious, are you Legolas? Please tell me you are not serious! Ai, ai! Legolas! No!"
Brethil and Legolas broke into a run, laughing. Tavor stared after them, a look of horror on his fair face.
"Your father is going to kill us! Truly, kill us! Legolas! No!" He ran after them, dread welling in him. "I wish I was in Mandos Halls," he muttered. "At least you can't get into trouble there . . . at least I don't think so . . . not if you two aren't there . . . . Wait!"
At that moment Aralith crept down the dim hall to the Gem room, a giant spider trailing him, hissing happily. The Elf prince trembled with fear, shuddering with horror. His life was shattered. The spider trailed him everywhere and his Magic Spider Spray was missing.
"I will get them for this!" he whispered. "I know Legolas, Tavor, and Brethil took it and set this spider on me! I will get them for this!"
Remmith stayed practically on his heels until they arrived at the room, occasionally reaching out a long let or two to stroke the elf prince's long golden hair, causing Aralith to shudder and moan. The prince unlocked the door with the keys he had stealthily borrowed and opened the door. The spider took one look inside and began to dance with joy as Aralith opened box after box of newly polished gems. Remmith had never seen so many sparkly things in his life. More even than Gwibess had!
Aralith moaned and backed out of the room.
"P. . . Please, put them back when you are done," he told the spider. "And. . . and trouble me no more! Take what you want and leave! Please!" He fled down the hallway, leaving the spider happily pawing through the jewels looking for the perfect ones.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that day King Thranduil, accompanied by Tanglinna who had been ordered not to leave his side for some time to come, came to the Gem Room to pick some appropriate things for the feast. The king shoved open the door, only mildly surprised that it wasn't locked. When he glanced inside though he stopped dead in his tracks. Several of the boxes lay open on the floor, their contents spilling across the stone floor.
"What is this?!" he yelled, stamping into the room. "Who has been here?!"
Tanglinna felt his brave heart quail.
"Oh, no," he breathed. "This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening!"
Once more the foundations of the grand hall of Thranduil shook.
"LEGOLAS! ! ! !"
TBC
Response to Reviewers
Lakergurl13 (16) - Scared your dog, did you?? Poor dog! Our pets have to put up with quite a bit of craziness from us, don't they!! As far as Legolas' braids go, he had only 3 to begin with and I doubt that he will be willing to part with any more of them. He already feels bad enough. You had better talk to Gloin about the one he has! But I don't think he will surrender it just yet! Tavor does seem to have an obsession with the Halls of Mandos, doesn't he!
Karina - I am glad you enjoyed the punishment. It seemed very appropriate to me, too. The king is definitely wise and good! I like Brethil, too. And his running tongue seems to have affected Tavor. Too much prolonged exposure over the years I guess. Though you think he would know better!! And Karina! Why did you have to mention my other stories! Ai, Valar. They are too depressing for me to contemplate! That is probably why this one is so lighthearted, to counteract what I did before! Who knows! I really do like Brethil!!
Lady M - Thranduil is learning some control at this point, and he does feel for Legolas! What parent wouldn't. Tavor, Brethil, and Legolas are great, true friends and have had many "adventures" together. They are indeed, the best of friends because as you said, this sort of thing happens quite a lot!! Only in Mirkwood!!
annakas - Wow! I am sorry to say this, but this story is just about over! "I am so sorry," to quote Brethil. But I am sure there will be more "Zany Adventures in Mirkwood".
Rings of the cosmos - I would hate to be in their shoes, too!! I prefer to just watch from a distance!
Katharine the Great - 5 reviews!! Woohoo! (to quote Nancing Elf) Queen of Funny, huh? I can live with that! Thranduil as Tammy Faye Bakker?? (screams with laughter) I hadn't thought of it that way, but it definitely works!! And he has to be loud to keep his throne! (heehee) Kisses my feet.well.okay. Thanks for your own gush!
Silvarn Vilya - You reviewed, you Rivendell Elf you?? I can't believe it! Well, if Aralas were there he would be in trouble, too. But not as much as Silvarn I am sure!! And hey! Back off Aralith!! He isn't that bad in this one!! (grins) I am just commenting.
Irena - I love you too, Irena! But , Ai, Valar!! What are you leading up to!? You are scaring me mightily!!
Nancing Elf - Polishing is tedious work indeed. And yes, Bilbo and the Dwarves have some barrel riding to do yet. I thought it was time for Tavor to do something absolutely stupid and boy! He did! Sorry about not posting yesterday. My schedule got messed up slightly. Was feeling mopey about what I did in my other fics, too. It has been great fun to see them this way. I will have to write some more of their fun stories!
Anonymous - Wow! What a long review!! I loved it!! I am glad what I said made sense. Sometimes I wonder about myself!! So.you have a wicked sense of humor like Tanglinna and a mouth like Brethil's! You must be something else!! I don't approve of what Tanglinna did either - it was mean!! - but it was sure fun! (grins) Maybe I have a wicked sense of humor, too! Brethil is really a rather likeable Elf! He is a lot of fun to work with! You have really put a lot of thought into this, I see. That is really very cool!! The Wood Elves in the Hobbit are quite different from LOTR (though I admit the zaniness is mine) I don't know what Master Tolkien would think of me!! And be Brethil all you like!! I loved your review!
JastaElf - Polishing gems seemed like rather poetic justice for all that had transpired. And Brethil doesn't get a break, poor thing. (looks mopey again) Tavor definitely thinks of the Halls of Mandos too much (looks really mopey and groans) Tanglinna certainly deserved his punishment. He was not playing nice at all! (moans again, because I didn't play nice with them!) Sorry. I actually thought that the spiders would be a big help, too. But (grins) I wouldn't want to be the one to explain that one to the king!! Would you?? And poor Aralith must learn to conquer his fears! (laughs at herself for shrieking at a really large spider this morning!) It is too bad that Mithrandir isn't around, but then maybe he is off enjoying a good laugh at all this! And I love all your ideas for him to come up with! They made me laugh!!
Artanis - Yes! I know what that means! Thank you ! Spiders and roaches!! Eughhhh! Is too right!! Especially if they are way too big!!!
"I really should tell him. Really, I ought to just tell him. How much treasure could he possibly want? Greedy Elf King!"
Thorin Oakenshield sat in the dimness of his prison cell muttering to himself. It had been a dismal time for the proud dwarf, the son of Thrain. Sitting in the dark brooding and bored was beginning to eat away at even his hardy, stubborn spirit. He would rather be out fighting Orcs as he had in the Battle of Azanulbizar, though that battle had been costly indeed. But what was this costing him? He moaned, feeling very sorry for himself. Yes, the elves feed him, gave him wine to drink, and attended to his needs, but sitting here day after day, not knowing what had befallen his companions -grieving for them and cursing them in turn - was slowly driving him mad.
"Such a simple thing!" he hissed. "Just tell that blasted Thranduil what he wants to know. How hard can that be! Such a simple thing. A simple thing."
But it was not so simple. To tell the elf what he wanted would be to admit that an elf had defeated him. And that would never happen! No elf would ever defeat a dwarf! Never! He pouted, now sitting with his arms folded over his chest. But, oh! He had never thought to be so tired of sitting in a stone room. He stood and began to pace.
"I really should just tell him!"
Outside his cell, two elves shook their heads.
"What is he saying now?"
"I know not. The same thing he has been saying for days now. The dwarf's language is so coarse and uncouth it begins to hurt my ears."
Laughing lightly at their poor prisoner they continued up the hall.
"How fares he?" the guard who sat outside one of the other dwarf's cells asked, as they came into sight. "Still grumbling to himself?"
"Aye! It never ceases now. I wish King Thranduil would just let them go! They are quite a nuisance."
The guard laughed merrily.
"I think our good and wise King has had other things on his mind of late!"
The others laughed as well.
"It certainly has been entertaining! Were you here the night that . . . !" He snorted with delight. "That Legolas the Sparkly Green made his appearance?"
"Nay! I wish I had been. Cuil and Calenthar told me all about it. I was down with that other one. I always seem to miss the fun! I could have been here watching the performance, but no, I was down in the "deep dark" with the growling Dwarf."
"He is still growling in the "deep dark". I almost feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for myself anyway, having to listen to his moaning and cursing. At least I think it is cursing. It is hard to tell."
Hidden in a shadowy corner, Bilbo felt a jolt of excitement. Was it possible that Thorin was indeed here? He had managed to locate the other eleven cells containing the remaining dwarves since the night that Gloin had sung his duet and received a rather priceless gift from an elven prince, but he had despaired of ever seeing Thorin. Now a glimmer of hope shone through. Perhaps his luck wasn't going to let him down after all! Silently he crept past the guards and headed down the torch lit corridor.
He heard Thorin's low muttering ere he saw the great oak and iron barred door. The leader of Thorin and Company was growling in Dwarvish so Bilbo couldn't understand what he was saying, thought the Dwarf's voice seemed despondent and defiant by turns. He moved to the door and whispered in the keyhole.
"Thorin! Thorin! Can you hear me?"
The Dwarf's voice faltered and he paused in his pacing. He stared wide-eyed at the door.
"Who is there?" he called. "Who is out there?"
"It is me! Bilbo Baggins! Thorin, are you well?"
The dwarf stared at the door.
"Bilbo? The Burglar? No. That cannot be. Bilbo is far from here with the others. They have left me suffer this misery alone. Mahal curse them!"
"Thorin! Bother! Of course it is Bilbo! The others are here as well. We have been for quite some time, you know." The hobbit glanced about, making certain that the guards weren't returning yet.
"Bilbo? Is it really you?" Thorin ran to the door wishing that he were tall enough to see out the bars near the top. He spoke into the keyhole. "You are all really here! All of you!"
His voice sounded so jubilant and pitiful that Bilbo felt quite sorry for the rather proud Dwarf.
"We are all here. Never fear. We had quite an adventure, too, I can tell you." And he did. Thorin stood at the other side of the door, ear pressed to the keyhole listening in stunned amazement at the things that had befallen his companions after he had been taken by the elves.
"You are quite a clever and resourceful fellow, Burglar Baggins." he said when Bilbo's tale - a rather longer one than Thorin thought was necessary - was finally finished. "I have a message that I need for you to deliver to the others. You must tell them that they are not - under any circumstances - to tell that Elf king anything about our errand here and they will be sorry if they even contemplate telling him about it!" He felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he said this, but no one would ever know of his own wavering.
"They wouldn't do that. They are doing quite well, actually. All except poor Gloin, that is." Bilbo shook his head remembering his last whispered conversation with that dwarf. All that concerned Gloin was the fear that the elven maiden would be in trouble for giving away a lock of her spun gold hair. "I fear he will never be the same."
"Well, tell them that we are not going to give that King Thranduil one small jewel if we can manage to help it. You will figure some way to get us out of this. I know you will. Then we won't have to share our treasure with him."
Bilbo sighed.
"It would be so much easier if you would just tell him and promise him a share," he said, knowing that it would fall on deaf ears.
"Never!" Thorin muttered. "He will never get anything from me, not after this shameful treatment."
"Very well," Bilbo sighed, in a rather resigned voice. "I will think of something, and I will tell the others what you have said." As he moved away, back up the corridor, he said quietly to himself, "I would be glad to give him *my* share of the treasure if only it would free us from this place." But well he knew that Thorin would never agree to that either.
So it was that the dwarves agreed with the message Thorin had sent to them, and very relieved they were to learn that he was alive and well, and here with them. Their spirits rose and they began to be hopeful.
"Gandalf always said that there was more about you than we knew," Balin told Bilbo happily. "And that we would find that out before long. And well, by Aule, we have! Soon we will be sitting in our own halls of stone beneath the mountain, surrounded by our treasures from ages past. It will be wonderful . . . . " He paused deep in thought. "Who knows," he continued quietly, "perhaps one day Khazad-dum will be ours again as well."
Bilbo shook his head as he thought on this. It seemed that was all these dwarves thought of: reclaiming their lost treasures and glories of old.
"I will be content to be in my own chair in my own hole again, with a full pantry and the kettle singing merrily about tea time. And a pipe of Old Toby or Longbottom Leaf." At this thought the Hobbit laughed silently. "Poor old Legolas. I doubt he will ever forget any of this and will be quite glad to see us gone! But I, for one, shall miss that merry prince." He shook his head and returned to his little storeroom where he had spent the majority of his time in the Gladaran Thamas.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
On the fifth day the penitents were released from their punishment. They managed to look quite repentant while Thranduil inspected box after box of glittering gems and jewelry. Finally he pronounced himself satisfied with their work and dismissed them, telling them to go and prepare for the feast the following night. The king had decided to throw another one, since the last ones had been interrupted by the dwarves.
"And Legolas," he called after their departing forms, Tanglinna standing at his side. "See if you can find your brother, Aralith. He seems to be nowhere about."
Legolas nodded and went in search of his brother. When he, Tavor, and Brethil inspected his room, he was not to be found. It was Tavor who noted the spider hairs on the bed cover.
"You don't suppose . . . ?" he began with a glance at Legolas. "I mean, you had mentioned that Gwibess had said something about other spiders wanting masters."
Legolas shook his head.
"I know not. I was not myself at that time," he added wryly. "She said that she had tried to stop them, but I don't know who they are." He shrugged. "He will show up.
"We should go and check on poor Gwibess. She must be quite distraught by all this," Brethil said, shaking his blonde head. "I still say you should at least have let her help us. She would rather have enjoyed it I think."
"Undoubtedly," Tavor snorted as they left Aralith's room. "Only she would have pocketed a few things on the way out and we would be wearing child's braids. That would be too humiliating, especially since your father is so graciously throwing another party. He probably would have made us sit with the children at their little table away from the adults. I couldn't survive that."
Brethil and Legolas looked at one another and grinned. Tavor took himself and his position in Mirkwood society much too seriously.
"Perhaps we should let Gwibess chose something from the Gem room. She did try to warn me after all," Legolas said, moving swiftly down the hall. "Adar was surely exaggerating when he said he knew exactly how many jewels he has."
"And where he got them and when," Brethil added, trotting at his side.
"And in which box," Legolas finished.
"No!" Tavor called, hurrying to catch up to them. "You are not serious, are you Legolas? Please tell me you are not serious! Ai, ai! Legolas! No!"
Brethil and Legolas broke into a run, laughing. Tavor stared after them, a look of horror on his fair face.
"Your father is going to kill us! Truly, kill us! Legolas! No!" He ran after them, dread welling in him. "I wish I was in Mandos Halls," he muttered. "At least you can't get into trouble there . . . at least I don't think so . . . not if you two aren't there . . . . Wait!"
At that moment Aralith crept down the dim hall to the Gem room, a giant spider trailing him, hissing happily. The Elf prince trembled with fear, shuddering with horror. His life was shattered. The spider trailed him everywhere and his Magic Spider Spray was missing.
"I will get them for this!" he whispered. "I know Legolas, Tavor, and Brethil took it and set this spider on me! I will get them for this!"
Remmith stayed practically on his heels until they arrived at the room, occasionally reaching out a long let or two to stroke the elf prince's long golden hair, causing Aralith to shudder and moan. The prince unlocked the door with the keys he had stealthily borrowed and opened the door. The spider took one look inside and began to dance with joy as Aralith opened box after box of newly polished gems. Remmith had never seen so many sparkly things in his life. More even than Gwibess had!
Aralith moaned and backed out of the room.
"P. . . Please, put them back when you are done," he told the spider. "And. . . and trouble me no more! Take what you want and leave! Please!" He fled down the hallway, leaving the spider happily pawing through the jewels looking for the perfect ones.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that day King Thranduil, accompanied by Tanglinna who had been ordered not to leave his side for some time to come, came to the Gem Room to pick some appropriate things for the feast. The king shoved open the door, only mildly surprised that it wasn't locked. When he glanced inside though he stopped dead in his tracks. Several of the boxes lay open on the floor, their contents spilling across the stone floor.
"What is this?!" he yelled, stamping into the room. "Who has been here?!"
Tanglinna felt his brave heart quail.
"Oh, no," he breathed. "This cannot be happening. This cannot be happening!"
Once more the foundations of the grand hall of Thranduil shook.
"LEGOLAS! ! ! !"
TBC
Response to Reviewers
Lakergurl13 (16) - Scared your dog, did you?? Poor dog! Our pets have to put up with quite a bit of craziness from us, don't they!! As far as Legolas' braids go, he had only 3 to begin with and I doubt that he will be willing to part with any more of them. He already feels bad enough. You had better talk to Gloin about the one he has! But I don't think he will surrender it just yet! Tavor does seem to have an obsession with the Halls of Mandos, doesn't he!
Karina - I am glad you enjoyed the punishment. It seemed very appropriate to me, too. The king is definitely wise and good! I like Brethil, too. And his running tongue seems to have affected Tavor. Too much prolonged exposure over the years I guess. Though you think he would know better!! And Karina! Why did you have to mention my other stories! Ai, Valar. They are too depressing for me to contemplate! That is probably why this one is so lighthearted, to counteract what I did before! Who knows! I really do like Brethil!!
Lady M - Thranduil is learning some control at this point, and he does feel for Legolas! What parent wouldn't. Tavor, Brethil, and Legolas are great, true friends and have had many "adventures" together. They are indeed, the best of friends because as you said, this sort of thing happens quite a lot!! Only in Mirkwood!!
annakas - Wow! I am sorry to say this, but this story is just about over! "I am so sorry," to quote Brethil. But I am sure there will be more "Zany Adventures in Mirkwood".
Rings of the cosmos - I would hate to be in their shoes, too!! I prefer to just watch from a distance!
Katharine the Great - 5 reviews!! Woohoo! (to quote Nancing Elf) Queen of Funny, huh? I can live with that! Thranduil as Tammy Faye Bakker?? (screams with laughter) I hadn't thought of it that way, but it definitely works!! And he has to be loud to keep his throne! (heehee) Kisses my feet.well.okay. Thanks for your own gush!
Silvarn Vilya - You reviewed, you Rivendell Elf you?? I can't believe it! Well, if Aralas were there he would be in trouble, too. But not as much as Silvarn I am sure!! And hey! Back off Aralith!! He isn't that bad in this one!! (grins) I am just commenting.
Irena - I love you too, Irena! But , Ai, Valar!! What are you leading up to!? You are scaring me mightily!!
Nancing Elf - Polishing is tedious work indeed. And yes, Bilbo and the Dwarves have some barrel riding to do yet. I thought it was time for Tavor to do something absolutely stupid and boy! He did! Sorry about not posting yesterday. My schedule got messed up slightly. Was feeling mopey about what I did in my other fics, too. It has been great fun to see them this way. I will have to write some more of their fun stories!
Anonymous - Wow! What a long review!! I loved it!! I am glad what I said made sense. Sometimes I wonder about myself!! So.you have a wicked sense of humor like Tanglinna and a mouth like Brethil's! You must be something else!! I don't approve of what Tanglinna did either - it was mean!! - but it was sure fun! (grins) Maybe I have a wicked sense of humor, too! Brethil is really a rather likeable Elf! He is a lot of fun to work with! You have really put a lot of thought into this, I see. That is really very cool!! The Wood Elves in the Hobbit are quite different from LOTR (though I admit the zaniness is mine) I don't know what Master Tolkien would think of me!! And be Brethil all you like!! I loved your review!
JastaElf - Polishing gems seemed like rather poetic justice for all that had transpired. And Brethil doesn't get a break, poor thing. (looks mopey again) Tavor definitely thinks of the Halls of Mandos too much (looks really mopey and groans) Tanglinna certainly deserved his punishment. He was not playing nice at all! (moans again, because I didn't play nice with them!) Sorry. I actually thought that the spiders would be a big help, too. But (grins) I wouldn't want to be the one to explain that one to the king!! Would you?? And poor Aralith must learn to conquer his fears! (laughs at herself for shrieking at a really large spider this morning!) It is too bad that Mithrandir isn't around, but then maybe he is off enjoying a good laugh at all this! And I love all your ideas for him to come up with! They made me laugh!!
Artanis - Yes! I know what that means! Thank you ! Spiders and roaches!! Eughhhh! Is too right!! Especially if they are way too big!!!