Disclaimer: I still own nothing, except Joe. How sad is that?

Leggy Stinks: Well, maybe he was too smart in the story. . .oh, well! He's hardly in this chapter at all, if that's any consolation.

Haloration: What do you mean, didn't get anywhere? It's not gong anywhere, it's just funny! More anecdotes than anything. There is no adventure, just to warn you. Just random humor. . .then again, adventures can happen at home, can't they? 'Least it's funny. Gandalf? Hmm, maybe. I'll think about it.

Trintula: Oh yeah? Well. . .well. . .your toothpick weapons are nothing to my ice cube shield!!! Mwuhahaha! Joe. . .sojourned in Mantua? I dunno, guess he slipped my mind. He has a brief mention in this chapter, though.

Zurizip: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks!

Lou: Thanks, Lou. Sorry this took so long.

The Person Who Likes To Call Herself Lili: Hey, Lili, I was just thinking about that time in history. . .remember, when I said that Legolas died in the movie The Two Towers? Jasmine and I just could not stop laughing. . .you and Mr. Graham believed me, it was so funny. . .Oy! Stop picturing that! Perv, Lili. . .tofu steak forever.

Callisto Firestarter: Thanks!

Jessie Weasley: Well, maybe they're sooooo Elf-ly, but probably not manly. Lol. Thanks!

Dream Catcher: Okay, Shield Maiden, no more sugar for you. Ever. Lol, just kidding.

Ola: Thanks!

Kelsiface: No, she was not referring to picnicking. Actually, there is something she was referring to, but you don't want to know. . .nuff said. lol thanks!

Thanks everyone who reviewed! Sorry for the delay!



*****For Lou, who reminded a certain author (me) to update*****

Estel glared at Legolas. Legolas glared at Elladan. Elladan glared at Elrohir. Elrohir glared at Eowyn. Eowyn wait until no one was watching, except Elrohir who was glaring at her, then she used her spoon to fling a wad of potato at Estel. Estel's head shot up as he realized something had hit him. He naturally assumed that his brothers had thrown it, and recoiled by hurling applesauce at both of them. Neither had actually thrown anything, but both assumed (naturally) that Legolas had thrown food at them, and recoiled by tossing pumpkin innards in his general direction. Legolas, having seen everything, decided it was Estel's fault to begin with and "accidentally" splashed some soup into Estel's lap. Estel jumped up, grabbed his glass of milk, and overturned it into Legolas's hair. Elrond's face was bright red.

Elladan turned to Elrohir. Elrohir turned to Elrohir. They were debating whether or not to join in and help their little brother survive the wrath of Legolas when Eowyn got bored and grabbed the first things she could find and threw them. With a SPLAT! Eowyn's peaches hit the twins dead-on and burst. They sat, shocked, and Eowyn realized how angry they were and began running. Elladan and Elrohir jumped up, grabbing the first things they could and throwing them at Eowyn. Both missed; Elrohir's pureed carrots landed on Arwen's forehead and the over-ripe tomato of Elladan hit Galadriel in the chest and burst. Elrond was turning purple.

"We'll get you, Eowyn of Rohan!" Elladan shouted. Soon Elladan and Elrohir were wrestling with Eowyn, and she was putting up a good fight.

"Stop this right now!" Shouted Lord Elrond, his face looking like an egg plant that was about to burst. The four boys stopped, and Eowyn of Rohan grinned once at the twins before ridding her face of emotion. Only one person was so audacious, so insolent, as to continue to laugh as Elrond turned purpler and purpler. "Who in all the Elvish realms--" when he realized, his tone changed immediately. "My Lady, please do not encourage them!" Elrond said.

"Oh, Elrond," Galadriel said, laughing, "that was fun! I have not enjoyed myself so much since. . .well, since Haldir went streaking through Lorien that one morning. . ."

Elrond tried to retain some dignity, his face turning a color beyond purple which, if you are very very lucky, you will never ever see. The five children still frozen in their fighting positions tried hard not to giggle. Elladan might not have managed, but Eowyn had her knee painfully in his elbow. Finally Elrond said, "Legolas, Eowyn, let them up." Legolas and Eowyn obeyed. Legolas and Estel's tussle had really ended in a draw, Legolas having Estel in a headlock but Estel having sunk his teeth into Legolas's flesh, Joe smacking repeatedly into Legolas's head. With Eowyn it was no question: she won. "I expect all of you to be cleaned up and in your beds, sleeping, in half an hour."

"Aw, but Ada," Elrohir began.

"It's not yet half past six! We are not children anymore!" Elladan protested.

"And I'm not even your kid!" Eowyn pointed out.

In response to this Elrond raised his eyebrows in that creepy way like at the Council of Elrond when Merry and Pippin showed up and if you don't believe me then go watch the DVD or video it is do funny. Um, anyway. . .Eowyn huffed, but stalked out. The twins backed away slowly. "Arwen, Lady Galadriel, I am so sorry that that occurred. . ."

"Lord Elrond, why must you apologize? Boys will be boys. Sometimes some young ladies even ought to be boys," she added with a sly smile at Arwen. Arwen's face lit up.

"Oh, thank you, grandmother!" Arwen exclaimed, throwing her arms around Galadriel and ducking out of the rooms after her brothers. Elrond thought he might explode, this time even he thought it.

******

"Listen, Joe," Estel whispered into the darkness. "I have a plan for getting equal with my brothers. . ."

"Oh, do you?" a voice in the darkness whispered back. Estel gave a cry of fear and jumped to his feet, still on his bed. Laughter met this. "Come on, dork, you don't want to miss out on this." Now Estel knew it was Legolas, and he relaxed. No sooner had he given up his fighting stance then he was lifted off the bed.

"Elladan! Let me go, I'm fifteen years old, far too old for this! I can walk on my own! I'm not two years old anymore!" Estel protested. Elladan apologized, told him to shush, and they were going to get revenge on Eowyn. "And just how are you going to do that?" Estel whispered. "Ada won't--"

"We won't tell him, and unless you decide to be a squealer. . ." Elladan let the threat hang.

"I ain't a squealer!" Estel swore, then he swore in the other sense and spit. The boys had been using this "secret" "handshake" for years, as well as the bad grammar.

"Come on, we don't have much time for this," Legolas whispered.

"How will you keep Ada from knowing?" Estel asked. "Nothin' says Eowyn ain't gonna tell."

"If she's got any dignity she ain't gonna tell," Elrohir whispered. The four tiptoed down the hall, past Elrond's room (Estel though he was awake, forgetting that Elves sleep with there eyes open). Finally they sneaked into Eowyn's room, and in the quiet darkness Elrohir began to explain their plan. . .but he did not manage to finish explaining. He was knocked out by Eowyn, who managed to take down Elladan and Legolas as well before hearing someone in the hall outside. She turned to Estel, frightened.

"What?" he asked.

"How can I get out of this one?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Um. . ." Estel had no idea! "Elladan might no, if you hadn't whacked him one 'round the head he could help!"

"Estel, I'm serious. If I go down for this, you go down with me," Eowyn threatened. Estel believed her. His mind raced.

"Hide the bodies," he whispered. "Hopefully they won't come to and realize. . ." as if in answer, the three began to groan and sit up. Estel said a four letter word rather loudly. "Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, we gotta hide. Someone's in the corridor and if we get caught in here. . ." the rain covered up their voices, but what of their presence?

"Quick! Under the bed, into the closet," Elladan took charge of the situation, being the master of hiding spots that he was. Legolas ducked into the closet and Elrohir beneath the bed. There was not enough room for two in either space, so as not to risk getting caught. . .

"Out the window," Eowyn said, throwing open the window. Elladan was more than willing, and jumped out. He would risk a giant muddle puddle to the wrath of his father. Estel was not as decisive. "Get out!" Eowyn hissed.

"No way!" Estel replied.

"It's not a choice, stupid!"

"I'm not going to--"

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Eowyn?"

Her eyes flashed with angry. "Yes, sir?"

"Are you all right?" Elrond asked.

"Uh, yes, sir," she called out.

"May I come in?"

"Sure!" she said. With a glance at Estel then at the floor she bent down and straightened as quick as a flash. Just as the door opened Eowyn thrust something into Estel's hands.

"Estel? What are you doing in here?" Elrond asked.

"It was my fault," Eowyn jumped into the conversation. "I was frightened of the mouse and asked Estel if he wouldn't please come and get rid of it for me. Wasn't that nice of him to?"

"Yes, yes it was. . ." Elrond said skeptically. "Well, all right then. Estel, Eowyn, go to bed. Good night." He left. Eowyn relaxed, half-laughing and half-sobbing. Legolas climbed out from under the bed, Elrohir from the closet. Elladan had already returned to his room, and was cleaning the mud off of himself. The others retired, but as Legolas and Elrohir disappeared around the corner Estel hung back.

"Why did you do that? Lie for me, I mean," Estel asked, gently rubbing the mouse in his hands.

"I don't know. I guess that's just what friends do, isn't it? I like you Estel. I want to be your friend, if you would let me."

*****

"You said what?" Elladan exploded.

"I said Eowyn could hang out with us," Estel repeated. It was early morning, and the three brothers were wrestling for mirror space to comb their hair and brush their teeth. (actually, it was sink space for the teeth. Spitting and all, you know)

"Estel. . ."

"She got me out of trouble, and you all would have let me get the blame for it! Eowyn is as good as one of us now," Estel said stubbornly.

"All right," Elrohir said, spitting into the sink, finally having shoved Elladan out of the way.

Elladan, not about to hold toothpaste stuff in his mouth, spit out the window, then said, "What?"

"All right. Eowyn helped out our brother, and that makes her one of us. It's one of those bonds words don't cover, stupid," Elrohir explained to Elladan. "Now come on. Let's go decide what to make for supper."

"That is the worst punishment ever," Estel grumbled. "Having to cook supper."

"Yeah, but we had better decide what to make so we'll know what time to come in from being out in the rain."



















Okay, sorry that that was not at all funny. I have no idea why I wrote it. I was bored. Sorry. More coming, I promise, sorry for the delay.