A/N: Well, this is it. The final chapter. It was very tough to write, for
whatever reason, thus the delay in posting it. So we're crossing our
fingers with this one. :)
------------CHAPTER FIVE------------
"Ai, Haldir, you must have done great!" Arwen was grinning as the three little elves walked back into her room.
Haldir shrugged modestly, though he was still smiling.
Legolas patted his friend on the back. "Let us celebrate- our time here is almost up, so we should do something memorable."
"Like what?"
"I do not know, but I know who would." Legolas smiled mischievously as they ran to the twins' room.
-----------------------
"So you have come to us for help, have you?" Elladan tapped his fingers together, as he sat in a chair with his back to the three elves that had just come in.
"You are the best," Arwen praised her brothers.
Elrohir nodded, his back also to them. He looked at his brother, and they both got up from the chair simultaneously and walked towards the others.
"You three are looking for a prank to surpass all other pranks?" Elrohir went to look out his window as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think we can help you."
"You've come to the right place," Elladan added. He stood next to his brother and they whispered to each other while the others watched from another side of the room.
After a few minutes they turned around and spoke to the anxious group.
"We have devised a plan that we feel will outdo any others to this date."
Haldir's eyes glistened with excitement.
"But since tomorrow is the final day of the festival, we need to carry it out tonight." Heads nodded as Elrohir continued. "Good. Come with us- the day is ending and we still have much preparation."
The twins grabbed some things from their room, and all five of them helped carry them out.
"We'll need two of you to go outside and get a few items. Arwen, come with us- Legolas and Haldir, here is what you will need to do." Elladan leaned in and whispered the rest of the plan to the two boys, who laughed, and ran off to carry out their part.
They split off into two groups, Elrond's children running to their father's room to prepare, and the others outside to gather some berries.
"This is going to be great," Haldir whispered to his friend as they ran out into the forests of Imladris.
-----------------------
By the time Elrond made his way to his bed, he was once again exhausted, and not thinking of his children, though he ought to have been. He slid the covers of his bed back and climbed in. As his body pressed down onto the mattress, a spider was lowered by a string just above his face. Taken off guard, the Lord of Rivendell sat up, startled, and the spider flew back up from where it had come from.
But as it raised, another part was set off, and a thick purple juice poured down onto him. He sputtered and tried to wipe it off but he quickly found that it had stained his skin and hair.
"Arwen! Boys!" he cried out, trying to control his frustration.
Before he could stand, his mattress tipped over, and he flew out of his bed.
From the other side of the bed, Arwen and the twins laughed, and ran off before they could be seen.
Everyone met in the twins' room, knowing that Arwen's was where Elrond would search first. All five elves had trouble controlling their laughter, and were rolling in fits.
"Absolutely perfect," Legolas gasped between snickers.
"Why is it so much fun to torment your father?" Haldir asked, tears rolling down his face.
His answer came in three shrugs. "He gets so angry. That is our reward."
Arwen's ears perked up. "He is coming. Quickly, under the bed!"
Legolas shook his head. "No, he will suspect us if he cannot find us anywhere." He wrapped a piece of fabric around Haldir's eyes. "There. If we are playing a game to 'celebrate Haldir's victory'."
Everyone caught on, and twirled Haldir around, who was frowning and wanting to play a different game. As soon as Elrond burst into the room, the game had already began, and they pretended to be indifferent to his entrance.
"Suilad, Atar," Elrohir said innocently, dodging Haldir as the blonde, unable to see, ran towards him. Haldir instead ran into Legolas, who grumbled.
"You are the one who joined in the hunt. Why do I have to be 'it'?"
Haldir took off the blindfold. "Because you are lucky. Now put on the blindfold."
"Stop right now!" Elrond boomed.
Everyone seemed to notice at that instance that he was purple. While they were all secretly congratulating their success, they put on a shocked face.
"Why are you purple, Lord Elrond?" Elrond simply glared at Haldir, who's eyes widened in fear. "Lord Elrond? I did not. no, please!"
-----------------------
The following morning was to be the final banquet before all the elves returned to their homes. The finest foods had been prepared, and nearly everyone was looking forward to it.
Except for five children who were sulking in Arwen's room.
"Well, at least the trick turned out as planned," Haldir offered helpfully, scrubbing at his face with a cloth.
Legolas moped on the bed, rubbing his face roughly with a piece of his tunic. "Yes, but looked at how it ended."
Arwen was staring into her mirror sadly. "We have to attend the banquet like this."
Elladan and Elrohir were splashing water onto their skin, whispering angrily to each other in elvish.
"We should be going to the breakfast table now or we will miss our last meal together for the rest of the year."
Everyone looked sad at this thought, but quickly put smiles on their faces.
"Last chance to have fun," Legolas said, wagging his eyebrows, and making everyone chuckle. "Come on- purple or not, let's make this the most memorable banquet yet." He pumped his fist in the air goofily, and led everyone out, each with their own set of purple handprints on their faces.
As they sat down, all eyes seemed to be on them, which was understandable. They took their seats silently, trying hard to stay serious with all the attention on them. Even funnier, however, was when Elrond attempted to get everyone's attention, and they all realized that his entire body, except for his robes, was purple as well. Nothing was said about it, and they all reverently looked to him as he began to speak to them.
"I thank you all for attending the festival this year, and while I am filled with sorrow that this may be our last meeting for an entire year, it seems unlikely that we shall meet again before then. I believe the hunt was far beyond successful, thanks to our two award-winning hunters," he smiled at Haldir and then at Nelleda. "In conclusion, if you enjoyed yourselves half as much as the little ones here did, then this was indeed quite a festival."
Then, after the applause, he sat down, the food was brought out and everyone began to eat, making the most of their time together.
The twins leaned over Arwen to look at the other boys. "You two should come over more often," Elladan told them, trying to stay out of Arwen's food. "Do you really need to wait for the festival?"
Legolas picked at his food. "My father is teaching me to be king. 'There is never time for playing', he always says." He munched on some vegetables.
Haldir was enjoying his food. "Lord Celeborn is going to train me when we return to Lothlorien. I doubt I will get a chance to come down and see you."
"Stop pestering my friends," Arwen retorted, pushing her brothers back to their seats. When they would not lean back, she took a handful of food and smashed it into each of their faces. Taken aback the boys slid back into their seats, all eyes once again on them. Their mouths were opened wide in shock, and they quickly threw food back. Soon everyone was throwing food, and Rivendell's biggest food fight ensued. The five little elves were proud of this, but Elrond was trying very hard to salvage what little festival time they had left.
Before he could shout for everyone to stop, his face was pummeled by various dishes of food, and he sat down, defeated.
-----------------------
All the children stood together as all around them elves were gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.
Arwen sniffed, and stared at the ground for a moment. Everyone was silent, as if their silence would prolong their departure. But when it didn't, Legolas was the first to speak.
"It is not as if this is the last time we will see each other. Right?" He tried to sound cheerful. "There is always next year. And we shall cause even more havoc than this."
At the last statement, the small group laughed, cheering up.
"Right! We could switch condiment labels in the kitchen and ruin the dinner!" Elladan and Elrohir piped up.
"Or we could sabotage the hunt!" Haldir suggested.
"See?" Legolas patted his friends on the back. "We have next year to look forward to. And we will have fun planning until then."
They all nodded, thoughts already coming into their minds.
The twins gave sad smiles and gave Legolas and Haldir their final farewell, then headed back to their home to clean up any mess that had been left.
Arwen approached her two friends and embraced them tightly. "Namárië, Haldir ar Legolas. I will miss you both." She let them go, turned to leave, but quickly swiveled around and gave Haldir a kiss on the cheek, then ran after her brothers.
Legolas waited until she was gone and then burst out laughing. "I knew it!"
Haldir pouted and wiped his cheek. "Stop!"
"Okay. There is not much time anyhow." He paused in front of Haldir, then with a sad face he hugged him. "I cannot believe it will be a year before I see you again."
"You say that every year," Haldir replied, forcing a smile. "Time passes quickly, remember? Besides, you will be training to be king. You will not even remember me until next year."
Legolas scowled as he pulled back. "And you will be training with Lord Celeborn. But you will still think of me."
They bother were serious for a second, then cracked up.
"True." Haldir turned his head and saw the 'Lorien elves beginning to leave. "Well, I suppose I will see you in a few months- it sounds better than 'year'. Namárië, Legolas." He ran to catch up with those that were leaving.
Legolas waved goodbye, and instead of looking sad, he smiled, because he was already thinking about how he would be tormenting Haldir and Arwen this time next year.
*~i methed~*
- Suilad= Greetings
------------CHAPTER FIVE------------
"Ai, Haldir, you must have done great!" Arwen was grinning as the three little elves walked back into her room.
Haldir shrugged modestly, though he was still smiling.
Legolas patted his friend on the back. "Let us celebrate- our time here is almost up, so we should do something memorable."
"Like what?"
"I do not know, but I know who would." Legolas smiled mischievously as they ran to the twins' room.
-----------------------
"So you have come to us for help, have you?" Elladan tapped his fingers together, as he sat in a chair with his back to the three elves that had just come in.
"You are the best," Arwen praised her brothers.
Elrohir nodded, his back also to them. He looked at his brother, and they both got up from the chair simultaneously and walked towards the others.
"You three are looking for a prank to surpass all other pranks?" Elrohir went to look out his window as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think we can help you."
"You've come to the right place," Elladan added. He stood next to his brother and they whispered to each other while the others watched from another side of the room.
After a few minutes they turned around and spoke to the anxious group.
"We have devised a plan that we feel will outdo any others to this date."
Haldir's eyes glistened with excitement.
"But since tomorrow is the final day of the festival, we need to carry it out tonight." Heads nodded as Elrohir continued. "Good. Come with us- the day is ending and we still have much preparation."
The twins grabbed some things from their room, and all five of them helped carry them out.
"We'll need two of you to go outside and get a few items. Arwen, come with us- Legolas and Haldir, here is what you will need to do." Elladan leaned in and whispered the rest of the plan to the two boys, who laughed, and ran off to carry out their part.
They split off into two groups, Elrond's children running to their father's room to prepare, and the others outside to gather some berries.
"This is going to be great," Haldir whispered to his friend as they ran out into the forests of Imladris.
-----------------------
By the time Elrond made his way to his bed, he was once again exhausted, and not thinking of his children, though he ought to have been. He slid the covers of his bed back and climbed in. As his body pressed down onto the mattress, a spider was lowered by a string just above his face. Taken off guard, the Lord of Rivendell sat up, startled, and the spider flew back up from where it had come from.
But as it raised, another part was set off, and a thick purple juice poured down onto him. He sputtered and tried to wipe it off but he quickly found that it had stained his skin and hair.
"Arwen! Boys!" he cried out, trying to control his frustration.
Before he could stand, his mattress tipped over, and he flew out of his bed.
From the other side of the bed, Arwen and the twins laughed, and ran off before they could be seen.
Everyone met in the twins' room, knowing that Arwen's was where Elrond would search first. All five elves had trouble controlling their laughter, and were rolling in fits.
"Absolutely perfect," Legolas gasped between snickers.
"Why is it so much fun to torment your father?" Haldir asked, tears rolling down his face.
His answer came in three shrugs. "He gets so angry. That is our reward."
Arwen's ears perked up. "He is coming. Quickly, under the bed!"
Legolas shook his head. "No, he will suspect us if he cannot find us anywhere." He wrapped a piece of fabric around Haldir's eyes. "There. If we are playing a game to 'celebrate Haldir's victory'."
Everyone caught on, and twirled Haldir around, who was frowning and wanting to play a different game. As soon as Elrond burst into the room, the game had already began, and they pretended to be indifferent to his entrance.
"Suilad, Atar," Elrohir said innocently, dodging Haldir as the blonde, unable to see, ran towards him. Haldir instead ran into Legolas, who grumbled.
"You are the one who joined in the hunt. Why do I have to be 'it'?"
Haldir took off the blindfold. "Because you are lucky. Now put on the blindfold."
"Stop right now!" Elrond boomed.
Everyone seemed to notice at that instance that he was purple. While they were all secretly congratulating their success, they put on a shocked face.
"Why are you purple, Lord Elrond?" Elrond simply glared at Haldir, who's eyes widened in fear. "Lord Elrond? I did not. no, please!"
-----------------------
The following morning was to be the final banquet before all the elves returned to their homes. The finest foods had been prepared, and nearly everyone was looking forward to it.
Except for five children who were sulking in Arwen's room.
"Well, at least the trick turned out as planned," Haldir offered helpfully, scrubbing at his face with a cloth.
Legolas moped on the bed, rubbing his face roughly with a piece of his tunic. "Yes, but looked at how it ended."
Arwen was staring into her mirror sadly. "We have to attend the banquet like this."
Elladan and Elrohir were splashing water onto their skin, whispering angrily to each other in elvish.
"We should be going to the breakfast table now or we will miss our last meal together for the rest of the year."
Everyone looked sad at this thought, but quickly put smiles on their faces.
"Last chance to have fun," Legolas said, wagging his eyebrows, and making everyone chuckle. "Come on- purple or not, let's make this the most memorable banquet yet." He pumped his fist in the air goofily, and led everyone out, each with their own set of purple handprints on their faces.
As they sat down, all eyes seemed to be on them, which was understandable. They took their seats silently, trying hard to stay serious with all the attention on them. Even funnier, however, was when Elrond attempted to get everyone's attention, and they all realized that his entire body, except for his robes, was purple as well. Nothing was said about it, and they all reverently looked to him as he began to speak to them.
"I thank you all for attending the festival this year, and while I am filled with sorrow that this may be our last meeting for an entire year, it seems unlikely that we shall meet again before then. I believe the hunt was far beyond successful, thanks to our two award-winning hunters," he smiled at Haldir and then at Nelleda. "In conclusion, if you enjoyed yourselves half as much as the little ones here did, then this was indeed quite a festival."
Then, after the applause, he sat down, the food was brought out and everyone began to eat, making the most of their time together.
The twins leaned over Arwen to look at the other boys. "You two should come over more often," Elladan told them, trying to stay out of Arwen's food. "Do you really need to wait for the festival?"
Legolas picked at his food. "My father is teaching me to be king. 'There is never time for playing', he always says." He munched on some vegetables.
Haldir was enjoying his food. "Lord Celeborn is going to train me when we return to Lothlorien. I doubt I will get a chance to come down and see you."
"Stop pestering my friends," Arwen retorted, pushing her brothers back to their seats. When they would not lean back, she took a handful of food and smashed it into each of their faces. Taken aback the boys slid back into their seats, all eyes once again on them. Their mouths were opened wide in shock, and they quickly threw food back. Soon everyone was throwing food, and Rivendell's biggest food fight ensued. The five little elves were proud of this, but Elrond was trying very hard to salvage what little festival time they had left.
Before he could shout for everyone to stop, his face was pummeled by various dishes of food, and he sat down, defeated.
-----------------------
All the children stood together as all around them elves were gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.
Arwen sniffed, and stared at the ground for a moment. Everyone was silent, as if their silence would prolong their departure. But when it didn't, Legolas was the first to speak.
"It is not as if this is the last time we will see each other. Right?" He tried to sound cheerful. "There is always next year. And we shall cause even more havoc than this."
At the last statement, the small group laughed, cheering up.
"Right! We could switch condiment labels in the kitchen and ruin the dinner!" Elladan and Elrohir piped up.
"Or we could sabotage the hunt!" Haldir suggested.
"See?" Legolas patted his friends on the back. "We have next year to look forward to. And we will have fun planning until then."
They all nodded, thoughts already coming into their minds.
The twins gave sad smiles and gave Legolas and Haldir their final farewell, then headed back to their home to clean up any mess that had been left.
Arwen approached her two friends and embraced them tightly. "Namárië, Haldir ar Legolas. I will miss you both." She let them go, turned to leave, but quickly swiveled around and gave Haldir a kiss on the cheek, then ran after her brothers.
Legolas waited until she was gone and then burst out laughing. "I knew it!"
Haldir pouted and wiped his cheek. "Stop!"
"Okay. There is not much time anyhow." He paused in front of Haldir, then with a sad face he hugged him. "I cannot believe it will be a year before I see you again."
"You say that every year," Haldir replied, forcing a smile. "Time passes quickly, remember? Besides, you will be training to be king. You will not even remember me until next year."
Legolas scowled as he pulled back. "And you will be training with Lord Celeborn. But you will still think of me."
They bother were serious for a second, then cracked up.
"True." Haldir turned his head and saw the 'Lorien elves beginning to leave. "Well, I suppose I will see you in a few months- it sounds better than 'year'. Namárië, Legolas." He ran to catch up with those that were leaving.
Legolas waved goodbye, and instead of looking sad, he smiled, because he was already thinking about how he would be tormenting Haldir and Arwen this time next year.
*~i methed~*
- Suilad= Greetings