------------CHAPTER THREE------------
The rest of that day was spent playing together while the older elves had their own activities. The three little elves sat together in Arwen's room plotting the day's endeavors.
"So do we wait until he's asleep?" Legolas asked. "Or do we put the water in his bed while he's gone so he'll get into it?"
"While he's gone- there's not much else to do while all the grown ups are busy!" Haldir exclaimed.
They giggled amongst each other.
"Okay, we'll wait a little while before we get ready." Legolas frowned. "But what do we do until then? There's not much going at the festival right now, and Arwen only has girl things to play with." He scrunched his nose at the girl, and she folded her arms, pouting.
"What do you do for fun?" Haldir asked Arwen curiously.
Under his breath, Legolas added, "'Sides girly things."
Arwen stormed over to the blonde elf. "Do you even know what 'girly things' you're talking about?"
Put on the spot, Legolas stammered. "Y-yes. They're… well, you know what you do!" He looked down, silent.
Arwen smirked, and Haldir laughed at his friend.
"Oh, be quiet, you don't know what she does, either!"
Haldir became silent, and shuffled his feet.
Arwen walked over to her door. "As a matter of fact, my brothers and I like to cook!"
Since neither of the blonde boys had ever really cooked before, they shrugged and walked with her out of the room and towards the kitchen once more.
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Once they had begun to cook cakes-- which they all decided would be both appetizing, and would work as dessert for the ball that was to occur very soon-- everyone seemed to really get into it. And two hours later, Haldir and Legolas were still going strong. Arwen, however, was getting tired of cooking.
"We have three plates full, let's stop, okay?" She sat down, and yawned. "Besides, I have to get ready for the ball."
"Why do you have to be there? You'll be one of the only kids there!" Haldir looked disappointed at losing Arwen to a dance. "Besides, how will we finish these without you?"
"I thought you didn't like girly things," she taunted pointedly at Legolas who bit his lip. "And I have to go because it's Daddy's dance, and since I am his daughter, I have to be there, as well as Elrohir and Elladan. And you two really should be there since, especially Legolas since he's Prince of Mirkwood."
"I am not going to a silly dance, Prince or not." Legolas was disgusted at the very thought, having had to attend a few dances in Mirkwood just as Arwen was going to. "People spinning around, acting strange around each other like everyone's best friends. All the boys are going to be pretending to be your friends, Arwen, how can you stand it?"
"I can't! But I don't have any choice." The girl showed signs of sadness, but quickly covered it up. "You boys can finish up the last few cakes and put them out with the rest of the food at the ball. I'll see you two afterwards, and then we'll… get to work." She winked at them, and ran off to her room.
There was a moment of silence as the two boys watched her run off. Then Legolas was the first to initiate the conversation.
"Cake time!"
By the time all the cakes had been finished, the ball had started. Haldir and Legolas, not wanting to be seen, decided to sneak in unnoticed.
"Remember," Haldir warned his friend. "If you are seen, they'll draw you in and you'll be stuck here."
Legolas nodded in understanding. "Let's go."
Creeping silently into the large room full of nicely-dressed elves, they made sure to appear inconspicuous. They hid behind trees, various elves, and tables. Then they finally made their way to the dessert table and slid the three plates of cakes onto it. They waited for a second, then made a run for it, and decided to wait for Arwen in her room.
A tall elf approached the dessert table and smiled as he came upon the cake trays. He looked at his wife standing next to him, dressed in an elaborate and glowing blue gown. "These look delicious." He handed one to his wife, and tried one himself. They attempted to swallow it, but couldn't get it down, and elegantly as possible, they spit it out into a napkin and disposed of it.
"Unfortunately they do not taste as well."
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Once the ball had finished, Arwen dragged her feet tiredly all the way back to her room. She jumped when she saw two figures asleep on her floor, but breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was just Legolas and Haldir. They were both snoring softly.
She went into her bathroom, changed into more comfortable clothing, and walked over to the sleeping boys, kicking them lightly. "Wake up! We have to keep up the plan!" She kicked them again. "Come on!"
The two figures groaned and shifted, still not waking up.
Arwen sighed, and pinched Haldir's nose, and covered his mouth, until he sputtered awake in confusion. He relaxed when he saw it was his friend.
"Why couldn't you just have shook me or something?" He rubbed his nose as Arwen turned to wake up Legolas in the same manner.
He reacted differently, grabbing her arms and throwing her over him and pinning her to the ground. He was breathing heavy, and dropped his shoulders once the light shone in her face. "Valar, Arwen…" He got off of her, and helped her up.
She stretched, and glowered at him.
Haldir broke in. "Are we going to go now?"
The other two nodded, and seemed to forget the previous incident.
They got up, and grabbed some containers to put water in, then ran outside to the water where they filled their containers to the brim and snuck back inside, seemingly unnoticed.
Trying to contain laughter, they made their way towards Elrond's room, who was outside overseeing the end of the ball.
When they were in the hall of his room, Arwen whispered to the other two, "This is where we have to be the quietest. We don't know who's watching us."
They tiptoed closer, and a couple steps before the door, two figures jumped out in front of them, making loud noises.
Haldir, Legolas and Arwen cried out in surprise, almost falling over, and nearly spilling the water, but each catching themselves in time.
The twins laughed at their trick, unable to speak through the peals of laughter.
Legolas almost threw his water at the boys, but thought better of it and instead stayed back.
Haldir fumed but did not act either.
Arwen, on the other hand, walked over to her brothers and threw her water at them.
The two boys sputtered and wiped the water off of their faces.
"Why did you do that?" Legolas cried. "Now we don't have much water left!"
"Yeah well, I think my brothers needed the water more than the bed." She spit her tongue out at them.
"No, no!" Elladan said, still wiping water off of his face. "We want to help you!"
"Auta miqula orqu!" Haldir spat, heart still racing from the surprise.
Elrohir shrugged. "Fine, but you're going to need more water than that…" He trailed off, smiling knowingly.
Haldir looked at them suspiciously.
"… And we just happen to have brought more," Elladan finished.
The three conspirators paused and looked at each other, huddling up. The twins exchanged pleased glances as the others whispered amongst themselves.
"Fine," Legolas acquiesced when they had reached their decision. "You two can help us."
The boys opened their mouths to cry out in joy, but stopped short, biting their lips. Arwen nodded her approval.
"Well? Where's your water?" Haldir was still unhappy with the new recruits, and showed it, but the elf did want to see- or hear, as it may be- Elrond's reaction as he got into his new 'water bed'.
Elladan looked at his brother, gave a quick nod, and they both opened a door that seemed to lead to a closet, and pulled out two large buckets that were almost too big for the boys to carry. They slid them across the floor, sloshing pools of water onto the ground as they went.
"Right here!" Elrohir answered with a toothy grin.
"Valar… Those are huge!" Haldir squeaked in surprise.
The twins seemed thrilled with themselves.
"What are we waiting for?" Arwen demanded impatiently. "Let's get started!"
So they set off to work, first helping the twins push the buckets into their father's bedroom, then pooling together using the strength of all five of them to lift up high enough to pour into the bed.
"A little higher…" Legolas groaned against the weight of the bucket. "There! Now pour!"
They let it go, quietly giggling as they grabbed the second bucket and poured it as well.
Once the bed was drenched and dripping, the five elves prepared to run away, but stopped when they heard footsteps coming.
"Quick, into the closet!"
The five of them quickly hid in Elrond's closet, and listened with their keen hearing.
"It is Elrond…" Haldir whispered. "He cannot find us in here!" He sounded terrified.
"It is no different if he should find us in Arwen's room," Legolas noted, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "But he will not find us in here. Then he will have no way to prove it was us."
"Besides, now we will have an up-close view of his reaction," Elladan whispered, trying to lower his smile unsuccessfully.
They waited anxiously, trying not to laugh, until Elrond, looking weary with frizzed hair and half-open eyelids, entered his room.
Not bothering to change, he went directly for his bed and sunk into it. There was a second of silence, and the kids assumed he was busy fuming before he let out a loud yell. He grudgingly got out of bed and stormed off, more than likely to Arwen's room.
The elves jumped out of the closet and took a different hall to her room, making it in before him. They feigned sleep, except for Elladan and Elrohir who went to their own rooms.
When the door was opened roughly, the kids had to try hard not to jump, to remain in their pretend state of sleep.
"What is the meaning of soaking my bed, hm?" Elrond's voice boomed like thunder against the previous silence. Which said a lot, since Elrond was not usually quick to lose his temper. He was Lord of Rivendell, he had dealt with much, and in a tactful manner, but these children were able to easily get on his last nerve.
He watched the three little ones yawn and slowly sit up, rubbing their eyes.
"What do you mean, Atar?" Arwen asked innocently.
"You know what I mean. I am tired, Arwen. I cannot deal with your antics, not now."
Still maintaining naivety, they all shook their heads.
"We would not want to add any unnecessary stress to you, Lord Elrond," Legolas assured with childlike diplomacy, an attempt to show off what his father had taught him.
Haldir, still trying hard to look tired, agreed. "You know, you give us far too much credit. We're only children."
Elrond looked less than pleased. "Mayhap you did not do this. On the other hand, tricks such as these seem only to appear this time of year, when you boys come." Before he left, he stared straight at Legolas and Haldir. "I will be watching you two…"
They all looked solemn until the door was closed. Then they all let loose, laughing until tears came to their eyes.
"Go to sleep!" Elrond yelled from the hallway, and their fits grew even more.
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Translations
-Auta miqula orqu= Go kiss an orc