Author's Note - Enedbal means periwinkle.
Chapter 2 - Enter The Twins
"What is that?!"
Elladan had choked this question out in a high startled squeak, turning to stare at his twin who had jumped slightly.
"I know not. Let's go find out."
They turned as one, striding down the hallway, completely in step with one another. They were in the part of the palace where the family quarters were, hoping to find Celebross, Aralith, or Legolas, but the sound of the shrieks had drawn their attention, and they hurried back the way they had come.
At that moment a door opened in front of them, banging smartly into Elrohir who had the misfortune to be walking on the wrong side of the corridor.
"Ouch!" he yelped, falling to the floor, his hands clamped over his face.
Aralith emerged, for it was his room they had been passing, and he stared at them in amazement.
"Elladan? Elrohir?"
"Oh, Aralith!" Elrohir moaned, eyeing the Mirkwood prince resentfully as Elladan grasped one of his hands, and pulled him to his feet. "Why did you do that to me?"
"I . . . didn't know you were out here. I didn't know you were here at all," he said his eyes darting from one to the other. They were not dressed identically for once, but he had no way to know who was dressed in burgundy, and who in blue. "I am sorry. I heard Laerlend screaming, and-"
"Your sister has a most piercing voice," Elladan said with a smile, realizing instantly that the young Mirkwood warrior didn't know who was who. "Even more than Arwen's."
"Is my nose swollen?" Elrohir asked, his fingers gingerly touching his face. "That was very rude, Aralith! I thought that your father would have raised you better. Shoving doors onto people! How rude!"
"Ella- Elro-" Aralith stammered, his eyes continuing to dance from one to the other, hoping to see some little difference that would help him decide which was Elladan, and which Elrohir, but nothing showed itself. He shook his head in frustration. "Which ever one of you this is, I didn't know you were there!"
Elrohir merely stared at him, while Elladan manipulated his nose, pushing it back and forth.
"I think you will live, gwador(brother)," he finally pronounced with a nod. "I am fairly certain that you will not be disfigured . . . well, not for very long. Aralith is truly sorry. Aren't you, Aralith?"
"He is not disfigured!" the prince protested, studying Elrohir's face. "It is just a little red. And I already apologized!"
"You didn't sound very sincere," Elrohir sniffed indignantly. "You have ruined my beautiful face, Aralith!" He turned away suddenly, burying his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.
"Now look what you have done," Elladan sighed with a reproving glance. "Don't cry, mell gwador (dear brother). Adar might be able to fix it." He laid a comforting arm about Elrohir, patting him in reassurance.
Aralith stood staring at them, mouth agape. Had he truly hurt Ella - Elro - that badly?
"I. . . I am very sorry, Ella - Elro - I . . . I didn't realize it was that bad," he stammered, feeling very ridiculous and embarrassed. "Is there anything I can do? Should I go and fetch your Adar? Or mine? Just tell me what I can do for you!"
"I don't know if there is anything you can do," Elladan said sadly. "You know he is very taken with his face. He has a really fine nose. Or that is, he *did* have. This might just start a war between our families. The Valar know feuds have been started over less. Imagine! Our first day here, and already you have hurt my brother!"
Aralith gazed at him, wondering if they were teasing him, or if he really had hurt Ella - Elro that much. What would his father think? This was not good. Elrond seldom traveled here, and now that he came visiting, Thranduil's son had carelessly broken the nose of one of his sons.
"I . . . I. . . "
"There is one thing you can do," Elrohir said straightening slightly.
"What? Anything!" he said eagerly. "I will do anything that you ask!"
"Well," Elrohir heaved a wounded sigh, "only if you are certain that you want to."
"What? Whatever it is I will do it!"
Elladan struggled to keep a straight face as Elrohir suddenly leapt about, and grabbed Aralith's arm, his face beaming.
"Take us on a spider hunt!" he declared. "I have always wanted to go on one . . . especially with you!"
Aralith stared at him dumbfounded, but then he realized that they had set him up quite nicely. He glared at them, his violet-flecked blue eyes narrowed dangerously. He still did not know which was which as he shook off Elrohir's hand, and now he didn't care.
"Leave me alone," he muttered, moving past them, every line of his body telling of his anger and indignation.
"That is not what you said when you were visiting us," Elladan called, winking at his brother. "As I recall you said, and I quote "Oh, please, mell gwanur (dear twins). Please don't leave me!" I think it was El," he winked at Elrohir as he used their common nickname that kept everyone in the dark about their identity, "that said, "We will never leave you. Do not fear, Enedbal." That really is a cute name, Aralith. I really like-"
"Shut up! Don't ever call me that again! And I *never* called you "mell gwanur!" Aralith was even more enraged to feel his cheeks redden at the mention of the nickname they had given to him. It appeared that these two never forgot anything.
"Oh, Enedbal! You are breaking my heart with your harsh words!" Elladan called after him.
"He has already broken my nose," Elrohir added.
"Did you notice, El?" Elladan asked as they quickened their pace. "He hasn't even asked how we are. I am truly crushed by his cruelty."
Aralith growled under his breath, and ground his teeth together when he felt them each grab a warrior's braid in their slim fingers, yanking playfully.
"Have you worn any periwinkle crowns since last we saw you?" Elrohir quipped.
"You looked so sweet! Even Arwen has never looked that nice."
"I think I looked that nice once." Elrohir chimed in again.
"No, that was I. Don't you remember?" Elladan said with a grin.
Aralith tried to break away from them, but they twined their arms through his, keeping him firmly caught between them.
"So where is your screaming sister?" they asked simultaneously as they ushered him toward the palace doors.
"Are you taking us on the spider hunt after we see her, Enedbal?" Elrohir queried. "You did promise, you know."
"Perhaps it is a spider that is menacing his sister, and made her scream so. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Then let us hurry! We don't want it to escape!"
Aralith felt a wave of fear shudder through him, making him momentarily forget his annoyance at the twins.
~Not a spider! ~he thought. ~Anything but a spider! ~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What is that!?"
Elrond glanced over at Thranduil, setting his wine glass on the small round marble topped table between them. Thranduil stood, instantly on the alert, his golden brows furrowing.
"It is Laerlend. Now what has happened?"
The two elves moved swiftly across the room, both thinking, "What have my children done now?!"
They hurried to the garden where the child was having her tea party. The scene that met their eyes was not unexpected. Most of the guests had fled home, screaming and crying, only Mirithil, Arwen, and Sellond remained, and they were trying to comfort the still shrieking princess. Laerlend's face was a brilliant shade of crimson, her fists were balled at her sides.
"What is going on here?" Thranduil demanded, bending swiftly to pick up his daughter. Her slim body was rigid, whether from fear or anger he couldn't ascertain. He felt it was more from the latter. She was indeed too much like him at times.
"Arwen," Elrond said moving swiftly to his daughter's side to make certain that she was unharmed. He touched her arm, worry knifing through him, but when she turned and smiled at him, her blue eyes dancing with amusement, he sagged in relief. "It wasn't Elladan and Elrohir, was it?" he asked in a low voice. "If they have done something already I will-"
"Nay, Adar," she reassured. "It wasn't my brothers that brought this about . . . not this time."
Elrond heaved a relieved sigh. He didn't think they had been here quite long enough for the trouble to begin, but one never knew with those two.
"Thank the Valar for that," he murmured. "What did happen? Is she going to be alright?" He gazed over at where Laerlend had buried her head in her father's shoulder. The tall elf king was gently stroking her back, and murmuring quiet words to her.
"Something frightened her, that is all," Arwen said with a smile at Mirithil.
Thranduil turned to look at the two elf maidens, who were looking much too amused to suit him.
"I take it that it wasn't Orcs then," he said to them, raising one brow.
"It was, Ada! It was! They were ugly, and the smelled BAD!" Laerlend protested, feeling her indignation rising as she realized that her ada didn't believe her. "They scared everyone away!"
"Laerlend, why don't you go with Sellond? You need to change your dress, it is rather messy."
Sellond reached out and took the child, who was pouting furiously, her lower lip thrust out, brows furrowed.
"They were Orcs, ada! Ugly, smelly orcs!"
"Yes, I am certain that they were. Sellond, why don't you go see about getting her dress changed? I need to speak with Mirithil and Lady Arwen."
At that moment Tanglinna came sprinting into the garden, his bow in his hand, arrow already at the string.
"What is it?!" he gasped out, his grey eyes quickly assessing the situation. "What is going on?"
Thranduil shook his head as Laerlend tore out of Sellond's arms, and ran to the Master Archer.
"Oh, T'linna! There were horrible orcs here! They smelled real bad, and they ruined my party!" She threw her arms about the archer's legs, sobbing into his waist.
Thranduil sighed, and watched as Tanglinna turned a somewhat bewildered face to him. He knew that Tanglinna wasn't quite certain how to react to Laerlend's emotional outbursts. Another time it might have been amusing to watch his Master Archer squirm, but not today. He motioned for Sellond to take Laerlend in, and the elf maid nodded and moved to pick up the child. She headed toward the palace already trying to soothe Laerlend with promises of hot bathes, clean clothing, and another tea party some day soon. The little princess was having none of it, and sat stiffly in her nurse's embrace, her arms folded over her chest.
"Get them for me, T'linna!" Laerlend called. "Get them!"
When they had disappeared, Thranduil did turn to Arwen and Mirithil, a knowing look on his face.
"Which ones was it?" he asked calmly. Then he smirked, turning to Elrond. "Was it yours or mine? Or both."
Elrond smiled and chuckled.
"I am glad to say that it was not mine . . . this time," he said with a bow.
"Hmph. That is what I was afraid of," Thranduil sighed. His eyes slide over Tanglinna who was scowling fiercely. It seemed he had already decided what had happened. Thranduil shook his head, and gazed at Mirithil once more. "Well? Was it Legolas?"
Mirithil laughed slightly, curtseying to the king, and looking over at Tanglinna from beneath her long lashes.
"I could not really tell, your Majesty. They were rather. . . er. . . dirty. They did smell rather foul as Laerlend said."
Thranduil shook his head, his fingers straying to his temples. Tanglinna snorted and muttered, "I thought so."
"Little Greenleaf," Thranduil sighed. "Where did they go?"
Arwen chuckled, and looked over at the hedges.
"They went through those bushes, but as to where they went after that, I know not."
Elrond was trying to look sympathetic, but his lips quirked slightly.
"You find this amusing do you, Peredhil?" Thranduil said, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I assure I was merely thinking that Celebrian must be enjoying the peace and quiet in Imladris just now. And I was thanking the Valar that my sons were not involved in this.
"This time," Thranduil countered sourly. The king of Mirkwood sighed. "Well, there is nothing that I can do for the moment." He sent a sharp look at Tanglinna who frowned looking as though he were ready to sprint after the culprits. The Master Archer merely tipped his head in acknowledgement of the king's words. He could wait. "I am certain they will show up later, trying to look as innocent as lambs and failing miserably," Thranduil continued. "Laerlend is not going to be happy when she finds out that it was Little Greenleaf, and not orcs that ruined her party. I almost think she would prefer the orcs."
"LITTLE GREENLEAF???!!!"
They all turned about to see Laerlend standing just a few feet behind him, her eyes blazing with fury.
"LITTLE GREENLEAF!!! I WILL GET YOU FOR THIS!!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas and Tavor were laughing helplessly as they flopped on the grass, delighted with their prank. Brethil sat quietly nearby smiling. It had been rather funny, though Laerlend had looked very frightened.
"I have never heard Laerlend scream so loudly," Legolas giggled as he squirmed in the grass. The mud was dry now, and starting to feel rather itchy.
"Did you see the look on her face?" Tavor commented, collapsing into another fit of laughter. "I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head!"
Brethil listened to their chatter, occasionally feeling the giggles building up in his own chest. She had looked rather silly.
"Did you hear her scream for your ada?" Tavor asked, sitting up, his teeth flashing white in his mud-coated face. "She will be louder than him one day."
"She already is!" Legolas crowed, thumping his heels on the grass as he laughed again.
"Do you think this mud will come off?" Brethil asked, scratching at his arm.
"Of course it will. We will just have to scrub extra hard. Don't worry."
The three were too filled with their own merriment to notice the three pairs of eyes watching them.
"It is not a spider," Elrohir said with a sigh of disappointment. "I guess that means you owe us a spider hunt, Enedbal."
Aralith turned to glare at him, but said nothing for fear that the relief he felt would show all too clearly in his voice.
"I feel rather sorry for them," Elladan commented with a sigh and a shake of his dark head.
"Why?" Aralith asked in amazement, turning to look at him. It still irked him that he could not tell who was who, but he wouldn't let them see how much it bothered him as they would derive entirely too much entertainment from it.
"Well, I am certain they always get caught, and well, *we* always get caught . . . eventually. Just once I would like to see someone get away with a prank. Wouldn't you, El?"
Elrohir gazed over at his twin wondering what he was really thinking. He saw the mischievous glint in Elladan's blue eyes, and grinned.
"You are absolutely right, gwador (brother). We should help them."
"Yes, we certainly should. What can we do, I wonder?"
Aralith suddenly shook his head, and slowly began to back away.
"Oh, no," he said. "I am *not* getting involved in this."
"Whatever do you mean, Enedbal?"
The twins turned as one to stare at him, twin smiles of amusement on their lips.
"You two are up to something, and I am not getting involved in it! Go ahead and have your fun. I am not going to be a part of this!"
Before they could protest, he leapt into the trees and vanished.
"That was rather rude, don't you think?" Elrohir said, still staring after him, his hands on his hips.
"Very. We must teach him some manners."
"Yes, we shall. But first let us see what we can do for these three little mud monsters."
"I have just the thing." Elladan turned to gaze at his brother. "Gwaur Gludh."
"You brought some? Really? That is just the thing! You go talk to them, and I will go and fetch it. You are very resourceful, El."
"I know," he said with a wink.
As Elrohir trotted back to the palace, Elladan made himself known to the trio, and grinning widely he told them that he had the perfect solution for their mud removal problem.
TBC
Thank you to everyone who reviewed that last chapter. Let me say that you made MY day, and made me laugh. I was highly amused by those of you who expressed dislike for Laerlend, whom I admit is NOT my favorite OC, so perhaps that is why I make her, to borrow Ithilien's word, "priggish." As Jay has said she would rather play with Barbies than play with her brothers in the mud. I was a child who did both, but I admit that I remember with more fondness the times that I got wet and muddy more than those spent dressing Barbie. For those of you who do not like the prancing princess . . . well, wait and see. ;) Also Jay, you may have Brethil visit you whenever you wish. He said you were a good hostess, and he enjoyed his last romp at your place.
Also I am not responding individually this chapter as FF.net is going to shut down soon, and I wanted to get this chapter up ASAP. By the time it comes back up, I hope to have the third and final up, or at least have the third up, and the final fourth started. It always takes longer to tell things than I think it should. But never fear. This one is outlined front to back with one minor, but fun addition that some of you Laerlend dislikers . . . new word for the day ;). . . inspired. She is a brat, and well, I do not know how I will "redeem" her in "Bells of Silver," but I will have to try.
A note on the nickname the twins have given Aralith . . . that story will show up in Elrond's Most Forgettable Birthday. Remember ladies, that this Tricksy Tale is rated G, so if you were thinking anything. . . other than G rated thoughts about the dialog between the twins and Aralith . . . Shame on you! ;)
I drew all of the pictures on my bio page, and yes, this one came out smaller than I had hoped when I posted it. Legolas is lighting a firecracker, one with Gandalf's symbol on it.
Again thank you for the wonderful reviews! I hope you enjoy the rest of this Tricksy Tale.
Chapter 2 - Enter The Twins
"What is that?!"
Elladan had choked this question out in a high startled squeak, turning to stare at his twin who had jumped slightly.
"I know not. Let's go find out."
They turned as one, striding down the hallway, completely in step with one another. They were in the part of the palace where the family quarters were, hoping to find Celebross, Aralith, or Legolas, but the sound of the shrieks had drawn their attention, and they hurried back the way they had come.
At that moment a door opened in front of them, banging smartly into Elrohir who had the misfortune to be walking on the wrong side of the corridor.
"Ouch!" he yelped, falling to the floor, his hands clamped over his face.
Aralith emerged, for it was his room they had been passing, and he stared at them in amazement.
"Elladan? Elrohir?"
"Oh, Aralith!" Elrohir moaned, eyeing the Mirkwood prince resentfully as Elladan grasped one of his hands, and pulled him to his feet. "Why did you do that to me?"
"I . . . didn't know you were out here. I didn't know you were here at all," he said his eyes darting from one to the other. They were not dressed identically for once, but he had no way to know who was dressed in burgundy, and who in blue. "I am sorry. I heard Laerlend screaming, and-"
"Your sister has a most piercing voice," Elladan said with a smile, realizing instantly that the young Mirkwood warrior didn't know who was who. "Even more than Arwen's."
"Is my nose swollen?" Elrohir asked, his fingers gingerly touching his face. "That was very rude, Aralith! I thought that your father would have raised you better. Shoving doors onto people! How rude!"
"Ella- Elro-" Aralith stammered, his eyes continuing to dance from one to the other, hoping to see some little difference that would help him decide which was Elladan, and which Elrohir, but nothing showed itself. He shook his head in frustration. "Which ever one of you this is, I didn't know you were there!"
Elrohir merely stared at him, while Elladan manipulated his nose, pushing it back and forth.
"I think you will live, gwador(brother)," he finally pronounced with a nod. "I am fairly certain that you will not be disfigured . . . well, not for very long. Aralith is truly sorry. Aren't you, Aralith?"
"He is not disfigured!" the prince protested, studying Elrohir's face. "It is just a little red. And I already apologized!"
"You didn't sound very sincere," Elrohir sniffed indignantly. "You have ruined my beautiful face, Aralith!" He turned away suddenly, burying his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.
"Now look what you have done," Elladan sighed with a reproving glance. "Don't cry, mell gwador (dear brother). Adar might be able to fix it." He laid a comforting arm about Elrohir, patting him in reassurance.
Aralith stood staring at them, mouth agape. Had he truly hurt Ella - Elro - that badly?
"I. . . I am very sorry, Ella - Elro - I . . . I didn't realize it was that bad," he stammered, feeling very ridiculous and embarrassed. "Is there anything I can do? Should I go and fetch your Adar? Or mine? Just tell me what I can do for you!"
"I don't know if there is anything you can do," Elladan said sadly. "You know he is very taken with his face. He has a really fine nose. Or that is, he *did* have. This might just start a war between our families. The Valar know feuds have been started over less. Imagine! Our first day here, and already you have hurt my brother!"
Aralith gazed at him, wondering if they were teasing him, or if he really had hurt Ella - Elro that much. What would his father think? This was not good. Elrond seldom traveled here, and now that he came visiting, Thranduil's son had carelessly broken the nose of one of his sons.
"I . . . I. . . "
"There is one thing you can do," Elrohir said straightening slightly.
"What? Anything!" he said eagerly. "I will do anything that you ask!"
"Well," Elrohir heaved a wounded sigh, "only if you are certain that you want to."
"What? Whatever it is I will do it!"
Elladan struggled to keep a straight face as Elrohir suddenly leapt about, and grabbed Aralith's arm, his face beaming.
"Take us on a spider hunt!" he declared. "I have always wanted to go on one . . . especially with you!"
Aralith stared at him dumbfounded, but then he realized that they had set him up quite nicely. He glared at them, his violet-flecked blue eyes narrowed dangerously. He still did not know which was which as he shook off Elrohir's hand, and now he didn't care.
"Leave me alone," he muttered, moving past them, every line of his body telling of his anger and indignation.
"That is not what you said when you were visiting us," Elladan called, winking at his brother. "As I recall you said, and I quote "Oh, please, mell gwanur (dear twins). Please don't leave me!" I think it was El," he winked at Elrohir as he used their common nickname that kept everyone in the dark about their identity, "that said, "We will never leave you. Do not fear, Enedbal." That really is a cute name, Aralith. I really like-"
"Shut up! Don't ever call me that again! And I *never* called you "mell gwanur!" Aralith was even more enraged to feel his cheeks redden at the mention of the nickname they had given to him. It appeared that these two never forgot anything.
"Oh, Enedbal! You are breaking my heart with your harsh words!" Elladan called after him.
"He has already broken my nose," Elrohir added.
"Did you notice, El?" Elladan asked as they quickened their pace. "He hasn't even asked how we are. I am truly crushed by his cruelty."
Aralith growled under his breath, and ground his teeth together when he felt them each grab a warrior's braid in their slim fingers, yanking playfully.
"Have you worn any periwinkle crowns since last we saw you?" Elrohir quipped.
"You looked so sweet! Even Arwen has never looked that nice."
"I think I looked that nice once." Elrohir chimed in again.
"No, that was I. Don't you remember?" Elladan said with a grin.
Aralith tried to break away from them, but they twined their arms through his, keeping him firmly caught between them.
"So where is your screaming sister?" they asked simultaneously as they ushered him toward the palace doors.
"Are you taking us on the spider hunt after we see her, Enedbal?" Elrohir queried. "You did promise, you know."
"Perhaps it is a spider that is menacing his sister, and made her scream so. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Then let us hurry! We don't want it to escape!"
Aralith felt a wave of fear shudder through him, making him momentarily forget his annoyance at the twins.
~Not a spider! ~he thought. ~Anything but a spider! ~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What is that!?"
Elrond glanced over at Thranduil, setting his wine glass on the small round marble topped table between them. Thranduil stood, instantly on the alert, his golden brows furrowing.
"It is Laerlend. Now what has happened?"
The two elves moved swiftly across the room, both thinking, "What have my children done now?!"
They hurried to the garden where the child was having her tea party. The scene that met their eyes was not unexpected. Most of the guests had fled home, screaming and crying, only Mirithil, Arwen, and Sellond remained, and they were trying to comfort the still shrieking princess. Laerlend's face was a brilliant shade of crimson, her fists were balled at her sides.
"What is going on here?" Thranduil demanded, bending swiftly to pick up his daughter. Her slim body was rigid, whether from fear or anger he couldn't ascertain. He felt it was more from the latter. She was indeed too much like him at times.
"Arwen," Elrond said moving swiftly to his daughter's side to make certain that she was unharmed. He touched her arm, worry knifing through him, but when she turned and smiled at him, her blue eyes dancing with amusement, he sagged in relief. "It wasn't Elladan and Elrohir, was it?" he asked in a low voice. "If they have done something already I will-"
"Nay, Adar," she reassured. "It wasn't my brothers that brought this about . . . not this time."
Elrond heaved a relieved sigh. He didn't think they had been here quite long enough for the trouble to begin, but one never knew with those two.
"Thank the Valar for that," he murmured. "What did happen? Is she going to be alright?" He gazed over at where Laerlend had buried her head in her father's shoulder. The tall elf king was gently stroking her back, and murmuring quiet words to her.
"Something frightened her, that is all," Arwen said with a smile at Mirithil.
Thranduil turned to look at the two elf maidens, who were looking much too amused to suit him.
"I take it that it wasn't Orcs then," he said to them, raising one brow.
"It was, Ada! It was! They were ugly, and the smelled BAD!" Laerlend protested, feeling her indignation rising as she realized that her ada didn't believe her. "They scared everyone away!"
"Laerlend, why don't you go with Sellond? You need to change your dress, it is rather messy."
Sellond reached out and took the child, who was pouting furiously, her lower lip thrust out, brows furrowed.
"They were Orcs, ada! Ugly, smelly orcs!"
"Yes, I am certain that they were. Sellond, why don't you go see about getting her dress changed? I need to speak with Mirithil and Lady Arwen."
At that moment Tanglinna came sprinting into the garden, his bow in his hand, arrow already at the string.
"What is it?!" he gasped out, his grey eyes quickly assessing the situation. "What is going on?"
Thranduil shook his head as Laerlend tore out of Sellond's arms, and ran to the Master Archer.
"Oh, T'linna! There were horrible orcs here! They smelled real bad, and they ruined my party!" She threw her arms about the archer's legs, sobbing into his waist.
Thranduil sighed, and watched as Tanglinna turned a somewhat bewildered face to him. He knew that Tanglinna wasn't quite certain how to react to Laerlend's emotional outbursts. Another time it might have been amusing to watch his Master Archer squirm, but not today. He motioned for Sellond to take Laerlend in, and the elf maid nodded and moved to pick up the child. She headed toward the palace already trying to soothe Laerlend with promises of hot bathes, clean clothing, and another tea party some day soon. The little princess was having none of it, and sat stiffly in her nurse's embrace, her arms folded over her chest.
"Get them for me, T'linna!" Laerlend called. "Get them!"
When they had disappeared, Thranduil did turn to Arwen and Mirithil, a knowing look on his face.
"Which ones was it?" he asked calmly. Then he smirked, turning to Elrond. "Was it yours or mine? Or both."
Elrond smiled and chuckled.
"I am glad to say that it was not mine . . . this time," he said with a bow.
"Hmph. That is what I was afraid of," Thranduil sighed. His eyes slide over Tanglinna who was scowling fiercely. It seemed he had already decided what had happened. Thranduil shook his head, and gazed at Mirithil once more. "Well? Was it Legolas?"
Mirithil laughed slightly, curtseying to the king, and looking over at Tanglinna from beneath her long lashes.
"I could not really tell, your Majesty. They were rather. . . er. . . dirty. They did smell rather foul as Laerlend said."
Thranduil shook his head, his fingers straying to his temples. Tanglinna snorted and muttered, "I thought so."
"Little Greenleaf," Thranduil sighed. "Where did they go?"
Arwen chuckled, and looked over at the hedges.
"They went through those bushes, but as to where they went after that, I know not."
Elrond was trying to look sympathetic, but his lips quirked slightly.
"You find this amusing do you, Peredhil?" Thranduil said, narrowing his eyes.
"Well, I assure I was merely thinking that Celebrian must be enjoying the peace and quiet in Imladris just now. And I was thanking the Valar that my sons were not involved in this.
"This time," Thranduil countered sourly. The king of Mirkwood sighed. "Well, there is nothing that I can do for the moment." He sent a sharp look at Tanglinna who frowned looking as though he were ready to sprint after the culprits. The Master Archer merely tipped his head in acknowledgement of the king's words. He could wait. "I am certain they will show up later, trying to look as innocent as lambs and failing miserably," Thranduil continued. "Laerlend is not going to be happy when she finds out that it was Little Greenleaf, and not orcs that ruined her party. I almost think she would prefer the orcs."
"LITTLE GREENLEAF???!!!"
They all turned about to see Laerlend standing just a few feet behind him, her eyes blazing with fury.
"LITTLE GREENLEAF!!! I WILL GET YOU FOR THIS!!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas and Tavor were laughing helplessly as they flopped on the grass, delighted with their prank. Brethil sat quietly nearby smiling. It had been rather funny, though Laerlend had looked very frightened.
"I have never heard Laerlend scream so loudly," Legolas giggled as he squirmed in the grass. The mud was dry now, and starting to feel rather itchy.
"Did you see the look on her face?" Tavor commented, collapsing into another fit of laughter. "I thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head!"
Brethil listened to their chatter, occasionally feeling the giggles building up in his own chest. She had looked rather silly.
"Did you hear her scream for your ada?" Tavor asked, sitting up, his teeth flashing white in his mud-coated face. "She will be louder than him one day."
"She already is!" Legolas crowed, thumping his heels on the grass as he laughed again.
"Do you think this mud will come off?" Brethil asked, scratching at his arm.
"Of course it will. We will just have to scrub extra hard. Don't worry."
The three were too filled with their own merriment to notice the three pairs of eyes watching them.
"It is not a spider," Elrohir said with a sigh of disappointment. "I guess that means you owe us a spider hunt, Enedbal."
Aralith turned to glare at him, but said nothing for fear that the relief he felt would show all too clearly in his voice.
"I feel rather sorry for them," Elladan commented with a sigh and a shake of his dark head.
"Why?" Aralith asked in amazement, turning to look at him. It still irked him that he could not tell who was who, but he wouldn't let them see how much it bothered him as they would derive entirely too much entertainment from it.
"Well, I am certain they always get caught, and well, *we* always get caught . . . eventually. Just once I would like to see someone get away with a prank. Wouldn't you, El?"
Elrohir gazed over at his twin wondering what he was really thinking. He saw the mischievous glint in Elladan's blue eyes, and grinned.
"You are absolutely right, gwador (brother). We should help them."
"Yes, we certainly should. What can we do, I wonder?"
Aralith suddenly shook his head, and slowly began to back away.
"Oh, no," he said. "I am *not* getting involved in this."
"Whatever do you mean, Enedbal?"
The twins turned as one to stare at him, twin smiles of amusement on their lips.
"You two are up to something, and I am not getting involved in it! Go ahead and have your fun. I am not going to be a part of this!"
Before they could protest, he leapt into the trees and vanished.
"That was rather rude, don't you think?" Elrohir said, still staring after him, his hands on his hips.
"Very. We must teach him some manners."
"Yes, we shall. But first let us see what we can do for these three little mud monsters."
"I have just the thing." Elladan turned to gaze at his brother. "Gwaur Gludh."
"You brought some? Really? That is just the thing! You go talk to them, and I will go and fetch it. You are very resourceful, El."
"I know," he said with a wink.
As Elrohir trotted back to the palace, Elladan made himself known to the trio, and grinning widely he told them that he had the perfect solution for their mud removal problem.
TBC
Thank you to everyone who reviewed that last chapter. Let me say that you made MY day, and made me laugh. I was highly amused by those of you who expressed dislike for Laerlend, whom I admit is NOT my favorite OC, so perhaps that is why I make her, to borrow Ithilien's word, "priggish." As Jay has said she would rather play with Barbies than play with her brothers in the mud. I was a child who did both, but I admit that I remember with more fondness the times that I got wet and muddy more than those spent dressing Barbie. For those of you who do not like the prancing princess . . . well, wait and see. ;) Also Jay, you may have Brethil visit you whenever you wish. He said you were a good hostess, and he enjoyed his last romp at your place.
Also I am not responding individually this chapter as FF.net is going to shut down soon, and I wanted to get this chapter up ASAP. By the time it comes back up, I hope to have the third and final up, or at least have the third up, and the final fourth started. It always takes longer to tell things than I think it should. But never fear. This one is outlined front to back with one minor, but fun addition that some of you Laerlend dislikers . . . new word for the day ;). . . inspired. She is a brat, and well, I do not know how I will "redeem" her in "Bells of Silver," but I will have to try.
A note on the nickname the twins have given Aralith . . . that story will show up in Elrond's Most Forgettable Birthday. Remember ladies, that this Tricksy Tale is rated G, so if you were thinking anything. . . other than G rated thoughts about the dialog between the twins and Aralith . . . Shame on you! ;)
I drew all of the pictures on my bio page, and yes, this one came out smaller than I had hoped when I posted it. Legolas is lighting a firecracker, one with Gandalf's symbol on it.
Again thank you for the wonderful reviews! I hope you enjoy the rest of this Tricksy Tale.