Author's Notes
Thank you all for your continued support :)
This wont be the most compelling chapter yet, just one of those ones that sews everything together a bit better.

I'm hoping to be able to update sooner than a week from now, but I guess I'll see how smoothly this move goes.
But stay tuned! I promise some Glorfindel interaction next chapter, and the arrival of a couple new players.

Anywho, here's ten...
~ Liomi ~

Chapter Ten: Plotting, Penance & Puddles

"Anytime you desire to have a brilliant epiphany over what we should do, please, inform me!" Grumbled Rúmil, seemingly not his usual, chipper, self. He and his younger brother were making their way briskly towards their home.

"I am sorry, my brother, but I do not believe there is any way to avoid this punishment, save for self-inflicted exile from Caras Galadhon," Orophin replied with an exasperated sigh. "And do you know who is at fault for all of this is?"

Rúmil rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, I know, it is all my fault."

Orophin stopped abruptly and turned to his sibling. "No, the mischief was your fault, this unfair punishment is Erestor's fault."

"That's Lord Erestor to you warden!" Snapped Rúmil, doing a splendid impression of the Counsellor's voice and haughty demeanor. Both brothers cackled, finding themselves most amusing.

Rúmil grabbed his brother's arm and continued walking, leaning in his head in a conspiratorial manner. "What we need to do is thank him for his lovely advice to Andúnil."

Orophin grinned, a spark of interest in his eyes. "I agree! What do you suggest?"

"Well you see, it just so happens that the little flask isn't the only thing in my possession that contains a portion of orcish-whisky!" Whispered the elder sibling.

Orophin's eyes widened. "Oh? Do tell!"

"Being the mischievous sot that I am, I secreted a bit of the stuff away," here he paused and indulged in a cheeky grin, "I had meant to give it to the twins as a begetting-day gift."

Orophin snickered. "To drink or to sneak into other people's drinks?"

Rúmil shrugged. "I had not yet decided, but that is beside the point, now I believe it is the Counsellor who should be the recipient of my generosity."

"Oh no! That is a terrible idea! He will know straight away that is was us and then we shall be in even greater trouble!" Exclaimed the younger sibling.

"It is not a terrible idea, it is a brilliant idea. Ai! You have so much to learn!" Rúmil sighed in annoyance. "Trust me, if we are careful there will be no way he, or anyone else, will be able to prove that it was us, and without proof of the deed there can be no punishment for it, do you follow?"

"That is an awfully large risk to take, my brother, I am not certain this would be the wisest way in which to 'thank' Lord Erestor," cringed the younger.

"It isn't about wisdom, my dear child, it's about poety!" Insisted the elder.

Orophin snorted. "Poetry? How so?"

Rúmil lifted one brow and shot his brother a disapproving look. "And Haldir says I am the dense one!" He shook his head in wonder, "the poetry is in Erestor suffering the same fate to which he so kindly sentenced us, can you not see the beautiful irony in that?"

Orophin considered that, then nodded. "Aye, I suppose."

"Do not fret my little one!" Chirped Rúmil with confidence, "I shall think of a foolproof method of delivery!"

~ * ~

"Isn't it the most beautiful ring you've ever seen!" Squealed Lirinwen, her hand vibrating as she bounced. Andúnil was trying to appreciate the bauble, but was having quite the time at it seeing as her sister couldn't seem to stop wiggling like an agitated squirrel.

"Yes, dearest, it is a very fine ring, and it looks well on you," she smiled, attempting to hug the tittering creature.

Lirinwen responded with a crushing embrace, still managing to hop about though Andúnil was rooted to the ground. "I knew he meant to bond with me! I just knew it! And now see? See? Here is the proof of it!"

"It does seem that you were correct my love, and it pleases me that you are so content," replied the elder sister with patience.

The younger Elf-maid threw herself dramatically onto the bench in their parlor with an enraptured sigh. A moment later she scrunched up her nose, torn from her delirium.

"Dear Eru, sister, what is that horrid stench?" She demanded tartly.

Andúnil frowned. "Do you not remember our foul-smelling guest from yesterday morning Liri?"

Lirinwen stood and shot the bench a nasty glare. "Indeed I do, but you could you not have washed the padding? It is positively rancid!"

"I did wash the padding," sighed the elder maiden, "but apparently it wishes to linger for a while, we shall just have to make do until it decides to shove off."

Suddenly Lirinwen grinned and Andúnil was not so certain she liked the catty nature of the expression. "While we are on the subject of 'our foul-smelling guest from yesterday morning', I've been meaning to ask; why was that partially disrobed Captain fellow laying atop you?"

"Not for the reason you are thinking!" Scowled Andúnil, "that is merely the fashion in which we ended up after falling asleep, or in his case, falling unconscious," she looked down her nose with imperial dignity, "there is nothing between us, I assure you!"

Lirinwen pouted and cocked her head to one side. "I think you are aiming to be miserable on purpose sometimes Andú, I truly do," she pulled her elder sister down onto the smelly bench and sat beside her, "I should like you to be as happy as I am, and as far as males go, that one cleans up nicely and is held in high regard by our people."

"I am hardly miserable, my dear," huffed the elder maid, "and frankly I think I'm a bit too old to be concerned about such youthful pursuits as chasing and being chased by any sort of male," she punctuated this statement with a prim nod, "Haldir does clean up nicely, but no more so than any of the other insufferable prats I've been saddled with this past week I assure you!"

Lirinwen's curiosity was piqued. "Other insufferable prats? Pray tell me dearest, of whom do you rant?"

"Lord Erestor for one!" Her sister's eyes widened, "and also Haldir's horrid younger brothers, Rúmil and Orophin, the former of which kissed me I might add! Without my permission if you can imagine such a thing!" Scoffed Andúnil, "and then there's also Lord Glorfindel, but he is neither insufferable nor a prat, he's just plain lovely but far beyond my reach...and I most certainly do not rant!" She ranted.

"That's, well..." Lirinwen paused to gather her thoughts, "...that's quite the handful!" She declared at last, "and out of these five Elves, only Lord Glorfindel meets your standards? Surely not! What is wrong with Lord Erestor?"

Andúnil shrugged. "Smug and insipid."

"Rúmil?"

"There are not words enough." She growled.

Lirinwen blinked, but accepted the answer. "And Orophin?"

"Rúmil's brother!"

"This is a character flaw?" The younger maiden looked confused.

"Have you met Rúmil?" Demanded the elder sister.

Lirinwen rolled her eyes in disgust. "You, my sweet sister, are impossible!"

Andúnil gave her sibling a pretty shrug. "It matters little, after today the brothers will never come near me again, and as it is, Lord Erestor never would have," she appeared almost satisfied with herself, "but let us speak on brighter things, will you and Tiniond only wait one year before you bond, or more?"

The younger sister ignored the question meant to bait her, quite a feat in all actuality. "What do you mean they will never come near you again? What did you do!"

Andúnil sighed as if the whole affair was really quite tiresome. "Lord Celeborn and Captain Haldir elected me to name a punishment for them, as they poisoned their brother with some form of malicious liquor, so I decided that they should have to split the remainder of the liquor between them and suffer its ill effects."

Lirinwen gasped. "Such a cruel fate!"

"It was Lord Erestor's idea!" Protested the elder maiden, crossing her arms defensively, "and he is quite experienced in the matter of dictating punishment to delinquent Elflings!"

The younger maiden examined her sister for a moment, her brows furrowed. "I've changed my mind," she spoke at length, "you do not deserve the attentions of any nice Elf-lord, you are far too vicious and surly, it would serve you far better to sit in your little parlor sewing and finding fault with everyone who looks your way! Why, I wouldn't even wish you upon a mortal you nasty old hen!"

Andúnil looked away and sniffed in disdain. "Speaking of Elflings," she muttered.

"Say what you will Andú! But anyone who takes pleasure in doing cruel things to nice wardens, especially ones kind enough to favor her with kisses, doesn't merit their time of day!" Lirinwen stood from the bench and stalked off to her room in a huff.

"Hen indeed!" Stewed Andúnil upon her smelly bench.

~ * ~

Haldir watched with satisfaction as Orophin gagged and retched, dropping his half-full goblet of whisky on the floor. The liquid spread across the wood, burning a black stain into the planks wherever it passed. Rúmil too was observing, his own goblet still full and untasted in his hand. But he did not look satisfied...distraught, apprehensive, fearful even...but not satisfied.

"Bottoms up little brother," urged Haldir sweetly, even as Orophin lay twitching and unconscious.

Rúmil paled. "I'd really rather not actually, if it's all the same to you." Haldir growled. "Fine, fine! Just tell me it isn't as bad as it looks!"

Haldir smirked. "It isn't as bad as it looks." Rúmil nodded and gulped from his cup bravely. "It's worse," added Haldir after his younger sibling began to keck and sputter.

Grinning from ear to ear, the Captain arose and one by one dragged the limp bodies of his brothers to their beds. He stripped them of their tunics, boots and weapons and lay each one sprawled out atop his quilt. Rúmil's eyes were glazed over and he'd begun to drool profusely. Orophin was still twitching.

Haldir sighed happily and picked up his little travel bag on the way out of their house. Lord Celeborn had generously offered to let the Captain take up temporary residence in the guest quarters at the upper hall while the younger wardens were in their 'smelly' stage. Haldir, for his part, was much improved thanks to the healer's herbs and a good nights rest. No longer did he stink or stumble on uneasy legs, and his heachaches had long vanished. Unfortunately he still blacked out from time to time, but considering how much worse things had been, he was willing to accept occasional bout of unconsciousness. Whistling happily under his breath, the Captain made up the platforms, subconciously careful not to wander too near the main stairway. Suddenly the scenery began to look a bit familiar and it caught his attention. He looked about curiously, wondering to himself why this little residential cluster should warrant his notice. And all of a sudden it hit him, or rather she hit him.

~ * ~

"Oof! Does no one whatch where they are going anymore!" Demanded Andúnil in a miniature fit of hysterics.

One would think our lovely leading lady had had another accidental head-on, but not so this time! There was no one to blame for this little impact other than the bemused Haldir who'd been far too engrossed in scrutinizing the houses sitting just above his eye level. He'd missed seeing her standing at the bottom of her steps, scrapping bird droppings from the bottom of her shoe no less, and gave her an unexpected bunt in the rear.

Andúnil toppled forwards, as she'd been rather hunched over, but she managed to catch herself from landing face-first into the shrubbery. She glared daggers at Haldir. "You again!"

He opened his mouth to reply, horror apparent over his expression, and promptly fell unconscious.

"Sweet Elbereth!" She moaned, sitting in a heap next to the comatose Captain, "why me? Why? What have I done to deserve this?" Begged the maiden, addressing the heavens above. She felt as though she ought to cry. But she did not cry, instead she resigned herself to a longsuffering sigh and considered what to do.

"Well, I suppose I'll just have to get Liri to help me carry him," she huffed, picking herself up and dusting off her skirts, "darned delicate males and their blasted fainting."