((Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings, Middle Earth, and all of the characters residing therein belong to Tolkien and not me. I only borrowed them for a little bit.))

The morning was rather dim and grey over the snow-covered Imladris. It was still quite early when Elladan and Elrohir marched out just beyond the house to a large area that was clear of trees. The top of the hill was an excellent vantage point, as it overlooked one of the paths that led from the woods back to the house. Snow was beginning to fall again, as it had been for the past week. The large, sparse flakes floated down lazily to rest on the already pristine white ground.

The twins were quite undaunted by the happenings of the night before, when Erestor had nearly caught them at their latest prank. They were most encouraged by the fact that they had not gotten into any trouble, in the end. However, they hadn't been able to carry out their plans because of one reason, they were sure. More precisely, one elf in particular had been the undoing of their plot.

They were in an excellent mood, having their mission laid out before them. Their first task of the day, apparently, was to construct a proper fortress out of snow. They had chosen light grey outfits this morning, mostly for the fact that they would blend in well with the snow. They were focused on their work as seriously as if they were going to war.

"Here, fix that," Elladan pointed to one of the three walls that were taking shape. The one that he indicated was leaning dangerously. "It's going to fall over if you don't put some support there." Elladan was exercising great enthusiasm in this effort, taking special care with the front wall.

"Oh, fine," Elrohir obeyed, but he did not sound thrilled to be corrected. "Are you sure Glorfindel will even come this way at all?"

"He should."

As soon as their fortress had been completed, the two young elflings began making snowballs. They even managed to resist the urge to pelt each other with them, after the first two or three. When their mind was on vengeance, they inevitably proved to be exceptionally determined. It was not long before they had accumulated an impressive pile.

"Do you hear that?" Elrohir perked up, hearing the faint sound of singing coming towards them. The light voice was that of an elf. The twins recognized this elf. Elrohir grinned.

"I do. It has to be him," Elladan said as he picked up two snowballs, one in each hand, and crept over to the front of their fort. He peeked over the top and then quietly sunk back down. "Who else would be out here this early? Besides, I heard him saying over breakfast that he would be going out."

Elrohir nodded. They waited, hunched down and as silent and intent as possible. There was no sound except for the singing ringing out through the clear morning air.

Glorfindel, meanwhile, was for once completely oblivious of the twins' plans. He was expecting some sort of repayment for what had happened the night before, but he did not expect it so soon. Nor did he suspect an ambush of this type. He was in a serene mood, even singing an old elven tune as he made his way back to the heart of Imladris. He had nothing to show for his hunting trip, but it was of little consequence.

So it was an extraordinary shock when he was hit squarely on the shoulder with a snowball, causing a large white splotch to mar his otherwise spotless hunter green tunic. He whirled, searching for his assailant, caught off guard. He did not reach for his weapon. After all he was in Imladris, and no one would be trying to hurt him here. Reflexes gained from thousands of years of training, however, often took over before he could blink.

The second snowball followed directly after, and a third and fourth came closely after that. By this time, Glorfindel realized what was happening. He took a few steps back and threw up his hands to shield himself from the snow, laughing.

"Ai, ai! Enough! I think I've had sufficient punishment," He told the twins. The onslaught of snow stopped, but only momentarily.

"Maybe," Elrohir replied cheerfully as he peeked over the top edge of the fort. He was cautious, as he knew from experience that Glorfindel was not a bad aim with snowballs, himself.

"You spoiled our plans last night," Elladan added, not even bothering to look up and trying to sound deeply hurt.

"Ah, but my young lords, it was only fair. Do you not have even the least bit of sympathy for poor Erestor? Time after time he finds himself to be on the receiving end of your games, does he not?" He inquired as he looked up the hill at the twins and their fort of snow, a bemused smile dancing across his face, though he was doing his best to hide it. His golden hair gleamed in the pale winter light, and a similar spark was in his eyes. He was very fond of this pair, however much trouble they caused. He had no children himself, and was very like an uncle to the twins.

The twins glanced at each other and considered the question.

"He does, yes," Elladan answered cautiously.

"I would have more sympathy for him if he did not always give us extra studying when he gets tricked," Elrohir retorted, scathingly honest.

"True, I suppose," Glorfindel replied seriously. "I must say, though, that...Ah, mellon! It is a fine morning for a walk, or did you come to see what your sons were up to?" He stood at the bottom of the hill watching. Both Elladan and Elrohir spun around and stood up to see their father standing not too far away. He had been watching for a few moments, and trying to avoid laughter at Glorfindel's plight.

"Both, perhaps," Elrond looked down at Elrohir and Elladan, who were looking perfectly innocent. The half-elven lord, however, did not fail to note that his friend and councilor was somewhat covered in snow. "I see that you two have been having fun today."

"Yes, ada," Elrohir smiled. Elrond noted, once again, how impossible it was to even think of being melancholy when one looked at these two happy elflings.

"You know," Glorfindel said to the twins as he came to stand next to the fort, "it is too bad that your father is far too old to help you wage a proper snowball barrage. Otherwise, I would have to start worrying about my odds." His smile was sly as he gave Elrond a sidelong glance.

Elrond caught on quickly. "You are implying that the three of us would not be able to best you at this game, hm?" He inquired calmly.

Elladan and Elrohir were staring from Elrond, to Glorfindel, and then back to Elrond. This was starting to look like an interesting opportunity.

"Maybe you could," Glorfindel said with an air of indecisiveness.

"Shall we see?" Elrond asked, then looking to his sons with a smile.

"Yes!" Elrohir and Elladan were thrilled.

"Still, three to one is not quite fair. Perhaps we might even the odds somehow?"

"Quite right, my liege," Glorfindel glanced upwards at the house looming just beyond them. "Erestor!" He called out. It might have seemed to be in vain, but Elrond knew better than that. Anyone who knew Erestor at all knew that he was never far from Elrond, wherever that might be.

A moment later, one of the upper windows opened and a dark-haired elf appeared at one of the windows. He quickly spotted the scene below, and frowned.

"Yes?" He inquired, looking down finally at Elrond.

"Come down here, would you?" Glorfindel then turned, and paced across the snow a little ways, not waiting to see if Erestor would answer such a summons. His plan was to use a large rock as a shield from the Peredhil family.

When Erestor finally arrived out on the snow-covered lawn, he gave Elrond a questioning look. Before Elrond could speak, Glorfindel motioned his fellow councilor over towards him.

"Here we are. You are going to help me," Glorfindel had picked up a handful of snow, and after compressing it into a proper snowball, he handed it to the still-incredulous Erestor.

"Help you what?" Erestor looked back at Elrond.

Elrond, meanwhile, was crouched down next to the twins, and listening to them as they continued to talk excitedly.

"Here, ada," Elrohir paused to give his father an armful of snowballs, and quickly went to gather snow for more.

"Did you ever play in the snow when you were little, ada?" Elladan wanted to know.

Elrond smiled. "No, I cannot say that I did. I am sure that I will learn quickly, though."

"Or course you will!" Elrohir chimed in. "Are you ready Glorfindel?" The elfling looked over to where Glorfindel was nearly lounging.

"Whenever you are, my lords!" Glorfindel replied cheerfully.

"This is beyond ridiculous," Erestor was shaking his head. "You called me out here just so that I could get pelted with snow?" He asked Glorfindel with a sour expression.

"Oh, relax, Erestor. This should be good for you," Glorfindel said. "You need to get some fresh air more often, haven't I told you that?" He was about to go on, but he was interrupted by a snowball which fell directly on his head.

The twins laughed.

"Good throw, ada!" Elrohir complimented happily.

Glorfindel shook his head, shedding snow off of his hair. He ducked and scooped up one of his own snowballs, and threw it in the direction of his newest assailant. Elrond ducked, and the snow splattered harmlessly on the ground behind him.

The battle ensued from then on, becoming quite a sight. Erestor was simply trying to avoid the mess, as he wondered when Elrond had gone completely insane. He had always been a bit suspicious of Glorfindel, but Elrond...

The twins were not completely engrossed in the battle. In fact, after a few minutes they backed up to let the older elves take over alone. They had never seen their father and Glorfindel get so caught up in such an activity. It was shocking, but at the same time highly amusing. Erestor, perhaps, most of all, as he was doing his best to keep from getting hit.

Elladan and Elrohir were the first ones to notice that their mother had decided to come out to see what all the commotion was about. They ran to greet her, unknown to those still throwing snow.

"Good morning," Celebrían smiled warmly at her sons as they met her. In a warm dress, sky-blue in color, the Lady of Imladris was in good spirits today. "Now, what is this that I hear is going on outside?" She asked, but then she looked up and saw for herself. A look of surprise flitted across the graceful elven lady's face as she saw her own husband and Glorfindel pitching snow as enthusiastically as any pair of elflings.

"See, naneth?" Elladan smiled, unable to hold a serious expression. The twins trailed behind her as she walked further out onto the snow.

Elrond looked up just in time to see a glimpse of long silver hair and blue before a snowball his him directly in the face. Glorfindel noticed at the same moment. He looked more like a repentful youth then than he had in thousands of years. Erestor peeked out cautiously from his shield.

"Meleth," Elrond spoke up first, after wiping some of the snow off of his face. Celebrían noted that he was turning a fine shade of pink.

"My lady," Glorfindel bowed elegantly, despite the fact that he was also fairly covered in snow.

"My goodness, I wonder what brought this on?" Celebrían's surprised look was quickly becoming replaced with a smile. The sight of two such elven lords like this was very unusual, indeed.

"A challenge," Elrond answered, also smiling now as he saw the twins coming up behind her.

"I see," Celebrían laughed quietly. "Well, if you think that you are cold enough now, hervenn, you could come inside and sit by the fire with me. I am sure that we could also find some hot cider for our two little frozen sons, as well," She put a hand on Elladan's shoulder and waited as Elrond dusted himself off.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," Elrohir volunteered.

"Might there be some cider for another half-frozen elf, I wonder?" Glorfindel inquired as he joined them.

"Perhaps," Celebrían said as Elladan and Elrohir went to run ahead to the doors.

Erestor also followed, still shaking his head a little, but smiling despite himself at the sight of the Peredhil family looking so happy. His own family, and Glorfindel's as well, had gone to Valinor long ago. Still, Elrond, Celebrían, and the twins were as close to him as family. Even Glorfindel, he would admit, if pressed.

"Come Erestor, you are lagging behind," Glorfindel looked back at the thoughtful elf, who had nearly come to a stop in his deep thoughts.

"I am coming," He replied patiently and followed them towards the Hall of Fire.