A Dinner Party

Elrond stood wearily in front of his twin sons. He rubbed his temples as he tried to stave off the inevitable headache that was beginning to form. "You two have only been home for three days." Elrond stated. "Just how could you cause so much trouble in that short amount of time? Ihunaew has complained that you two liberated a large amount of pastries from the kitchen-"

"Ada how can you blame us?" Elladan protested.

"You do have hobbits in the house." Elrohir pointed out.

Elrond raised his eyebrow sternly. "Yes but hobbits are not six feet tall, nor do they have long dark hair. Besides, they ask before they remove things from the kitchen. Speaking of things being removed from the kitchen, Glorfindel has informed me that someone rigged a pail of flour over his door. He was covered in it and quite unhappy about it."

"At least we didn't use honey this time," murmured Elladan. Elrohir gave his brother a sharp nudge in the ribs to silence him.

Elrond continued. "Arwen has also told me that someone placed pipeweed in her fireplace. The room is filled with the stench of it."

Elrohir choked back a laugh. "You would think because of Aragorn she would be use to it."

Elrond let the corners of his mouth twitch in a smile. "Well until the room airs out she will be staying in your room Elrohir, and you will stay with Elladan. Where on earth did you get that stuff anyhow?"

"The dwarves of course."

"How old are you two?" Elrond asked.

"But Ada-" Elladan protested.

"Don't Ada me." Elrond cut in. "Since you cannot find something to do I will give you something to do. I would like a dinner held for the members of the Fellowship only. That way they can get to know each other without to many distractions. The dinner will be tomorrow night and you two will be in charge of it."

~*~*~*~

Aragorn looked up from the map he was studying hearing a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened and Legolas entered Aragorn's room. The elf's eyes quickly scanned the room.

"Looking for someone nin mellon?" Aragorn asked.

Legolas frowned. "Yes, in fact, I was looking for Rowan. Have you seen him?"

Aragorn chuckled. Rowan was Legolas' best friend and like Legolas had a habit of disappearing. "He's hiding from you?"

Legolas gave an unelf like snort. "He's upset because I chose to go on this quest. We had an argument after the council."

Aragorn raised an eyebrow in amusement. "An argument? Or did you basically make it an order?"

Legolas crossed his arms looking pelulant. "He doesn't want to go home and tell my father."

Aragorn choked. "Legolas can you blame him?"

"Don't you start-"

"There you two are."

Aragorn and Legolas turned to find Elladan and Elrohir entering the room. The twins had a pleased expression on their faces which immediately worried Aragorn and Legolas.

"What do you two want?"

Elrohir pouted. "Is that anyway to talk to your older brothers Estel?"

"It is when someone has been at the wrong end of your jokes repeatedly." Aragorn answered.

"We are not planning anything." Elladan answered. "We actually are doing something for Ada."

"Right and I'm a dwarf." Legolas returned.

"Well my dear 'Las I hope you have your axe," Elrohir giggled, "Ada wanted us to get the Fellowship together for a dinner."

Aragorn looked at his brothers mistrustingly. "Are you two cooking?"

"No," Elladan rolled his eyes. "Quit being so suspicious. Ihunaew will prepare the meal once we apologize to her." At Aragorn and Legolas' look he elaborated. "She is quite upset with us for removing some pastries from the kitchen."

"The others have already agreed to be there. It's two hours before sunset in the lower hall." Elrohir added.

"Ada wants the Fellowship to spend an evening together." Elladan explained. "He thought it would be good to have everyone there for a meal, so you could all get aquainted."

Aragorn nodded in thought. "It is a good idea. I know little of Boromir and Gimli and I would like to know the hobbits better."

"All dwarves are the same Strider." Legolas chuckled. "Meet one and you've met them all."

Elladan raised an eyebrow for a moment looking much like his father, Elrond. "'Las you will be traveling with the dwarf. It would probably be better if you tried to reach common ground between you two."

"Don't look at me like that 'Dan." Legolas growled. "I will not endanger our mission because of a dwarf."

"Good."

Elrohir tugged his twin's sleeve. "We'll see you two at dinner. We still have things to prepare."

Aragorn watched the twins disappear out the door. "They are up to something I know it."

Legolas gave him a smile shrugging. "They have been planning pranks for as long as I have known them."

~*~*~*~

Elrond looked up as a knock sounded on the door.

"Yes?"

Rowan entered the study cautiously. "May I talk to you my Lord?"

Elrond's forehead creased in a frown. A feeling of dread washed over him as he looked at Legolas' chestnut haired friend. He did not see any physical damage so maybe the twins had not invloved the young warden in their pranks. "Yes Rowan. Have a seat. What do you wish to discuss?"

~*~*~*~

As Aragorn and Legolas made their way to the dining hall, Aragorn couldn't help but wish that he had his sword. He did not entirely trust his brothers. His suspicions had went up a notch when he realized that the lower hall they were dining in was far removed from the everyday bustle. He glanced around the hallway warily looking for any signs of a trap.

"Would you quit fidgiting." Legolas pleaded beside him. "You could make a cat nervous."

They were almost to the hall doors when they heard the patter of feet and were nearly toppled by two smaller figures. Aragorn looked in surprise at their assailants. "Merry, Pippin? What are you two doing here?"

"We got lost," Merry explained.

"We didn't want to be late for the dinner," added Pip.

"Well now we know they're not planning a prank," Legolas whispered in elvish. "They would not have invited the hobbits otherwise."

Aragorn nodded. "Your going the right way. We are heading their ourselves. I think you two would remember Legolas. Legolas, Masters Meriadoc and Peregrin."

Merry waved away the formality. "Just Merry and Pip."

Pippin was tugging at Merry and Strider's arms. "Come on we'll be late for dinner. I'm hungry."

~*~*~*~

Elrohir rolled the heavy barrel over and Elladan helped set it up on a rack. Elrohir placed a tap in it before drawing a pitcher of the ale. He sniffed it thoughtfully. "I do not know about this 'Dan. Estel will be certain to reconize the smell. He had a hangover for three days last time he drank this stuff."

Elladan smiled pulling several flasks of wine from within a pouch. "Don't worry we'll alter it slightly."

"Did you bring something for us to drink?"

"Yes. Remember after several drinks they should be mellow enough to encourage a drinking contest."

"I wonder how the dwarf will fair with this stuff?" Elrohir grinned.

"There's only one way to find out." Elladan answered. "This will be quite an interesting night." With that the older twin proceeded to mix the wine with the ale.



~*~*~*~

Aragorn had to admit so far dinner was going very well considering his brothers had set this up. They were all seated around a large round table with cushions for chairs. Ihunaew had out done herself on the meal they were all currently enjoying. Everyone was eating heartily of the delicious food.

The drink was even better. The twins had said it had been brought up from a special store under Imladris. Estel was fuzzily trying to place were in the house this stuff had been. He did not recall it from his childhood explorations but was content enough to shrug the matter off. It didn't matter. Everyone was enjoying themselves and the drink was amazing.

An easy comradie had settled between the members of the Fellowship as they grew more realxed around each other. There was still some uneasiness between Legolas and Gimli but they seemed content to ignore each other rather than cause trouble.

Elrohir stood up causing all eyes to focus on him. "I propose a game. A drinking game. Some Dunadain play it quite regularly at parties. Is anyone up to joining me?"

"What game is that 'Ro?" Aragorn asked trying to think which game the twin was refering too.

"Fall of the House." Elladan informed him.

"Is it very hard to play?" Pippin asked.

"No," Boromir answered surprising everybody. "We play a version of it in Gondor."

"Ah ha," Gimli growled good naturally. "I am up for this contest. I can drink all of you light foots under the table."

"I doubt that Master Dwarf." Legolas answered.

"Mithrandir will you join us?" Elrohir asked.

Frodo sat up eagerly. "Yes Gandalf, play the game with us."

Gandalf nodded. "I will show you younglings how to drink."

Merry rubbed his hands together eagerly. "How do you play?"

~*~*~*~

Glorfindel made his way slowly down the lower halls of the Last Homely House. He had finally managed to rid himself of all traces of the flour. He was going to get those two. His mind whirled with thoughts of retribution. This was not the first time he had found himself the object of the twins pranks. There was no one in Imladris that was immune to those two terrors.

By the Valar they could make a Balrog tremble with fear.

Glorfindel did not believe the twins constant dealings with the Dunadain were any help. Of course if he was being honest with himself he had taught them plenty of tricks himself. The twins inherited their mischievous nature honestly. Growing up Elrond had been just as much of a handful.

His musings stopped short as he heard shouting and laughter.

Following the sounds Glorfindel made his way down the hall. He was surprised to find two elven guards stationed on either side of the dining hall. The guards straightened upon seeing him.

"What's going on here?" Glorfindel questioned.

Malthen, the guard on the right, shrugged uneasily. "Lord Elladan gave orders that we were to stand guard."

"Against what?" Glorfindel frowned.

Eiliant, the other guard, answered. "No one is to be allowed in my lord. Even you."

"You are joking." Glorfindel replied seriously as he looked at the young elf.

"No my lord."

~*~*~*~