--------

Arriving at Elrohir's chambers, the werewolves went to the adjoining washroom, shucking clothes as they went. After living in the wild and bathing in icy creeks, hot water was like the Holy Grail. Having spent so long around each other in a number of compromising positions over the previous year, they didn't think anything of stripping in each other's presence and both climbing into the scented water. A bit stiff from the long run and the uncomfortable transformation, they had to wash each other's backs. Once clean, they lazed in the water idly until it began to cool.

"You never did tell me where you got this wound," Legolas said, twirling his fingers over a pale scar down the back of Elrohir's neck.

"Father," Elrohir answered hesitantly. "Same as the new one on your chest."

"No one here seems to care much for wolves," Legolas commented, climbing out of the tub. Not even realizing that he did it, he flicked his head to remove the excess water from his hair even as he reached for a towel. Elrohir saw the movement and chuckled.

"Old habits die hard," he laughed.

"So where am I staying for the night?" Legolas asked, walking into the conjoining room while he toweled his hair dry.

Elrohir entered the room to see Legolas holding up a set of nightclothes in contemplation. They'd gone so long without wearing a thing that it seemed almost unnatural.

"Here if you'd like," Elrohir offered. Legolas smiled thankfully at him, a little relieved to be with a friend in the strange realm. Seeing his uncertainty with the clothes, he extended his proposition further. "Just sleep in the nude. It won't bother me. I was actually considering doing the same."

"Thanks," Legolas said, tossing the garments into a nearby chair. He walked smoothly across the room to the tidy king size bed, hesitating a bit at the thought of getting into someone else's bed in the buff.

"Would you feel better if we were a little fuzzier?" Elrohir asked, grinning. They'd spent many nights as wolves stacked atop each other for warmth and comfort. It seemed natural that they continue the camaraderie.

"You wouldn't mind?"

"I'd actually appreciate it," Elrohir said, sounding a little embarrassed.

Still undressed from their recent baths, they stretched gently against their newfound abilities. Joints popped and skin shimmered, the forms stretching out into wolves. Although atop the bed, they hesitated further, both settling a little gingerly until Legolas was sprawled out on his side. Elrohir settled beside him and pillowed his head on the blonde's shoulder.

My father is going to have kittens if he finds us like this, Elrohir said.

Be sure I'm awake to see it, Legolas chuckled. Finally comfortable, the two dozed off.

--------

It was Glorfindel that came to rouse them in the morning. He didn't respond nearly as badly as he had the previous evening, though his hand did slip to the hilt of his sword. He tightened his grip to a tight fist when Elrohir got out of bed and approached him. Wanting a better reaction, he made sure he was out of immediate striking distance and growled, flattening his ears to his head and raising his hackles. Glorfindel jumped back several feet and drew his blade.

Enough of that, Legolas said, getting up. He stretched to his full height, arching his back as he shifted into an elf once more. He snorted when he saw that Elrohir was still backing Glorfindel into a corner. "Stop teasing him!"

But it's so fun, Elrohir laughed. He relented, shifting back to elf as he walked to his closet for an outfit. He found some garments that were a little too small on him, but would fit well on the smaller prince. At the far end of the room, the poor blond swordsman looked more than slightly flustered.

"I came to inform you to arrive at the infirmary immediately," Glorfindel said. "As elves, please." Seeing the glitter of amusement in one silver eye, he knew some sort of mischief was up. He knew the mindset of the twins very well. "Dressed," he added. The look was still there and he tried again. "I don't know what you're planning, but behave."

"Regards me highly, doesn't he?" Elrohir snorted.

"I take it you have a reputation," Legolas said from the side. Glorfindel jumped, not having seen him there. He wasn't used to anyone actually being able to sneak up on him and he eyed the pair suspiciously.

"We'll be right down," Elrohir said.

Still trying to figure out what they were up to, Glorfindel sidled out of the room before they could do whatever it was they were planning. Between the past exploits of the twins and the occasional story he had heard from traumatized Mirkwood elves, he knew that the first two had wicked senses of humor and suspected that the Mirkwood prince had the same capacity to cause trouble. Amused eyes followed him out and he hurried his pace, not noticing the subtle fiddling that his hair had undergone. Passing by quickly, Legolas had added a few knots to his golden tresses that marked the balrog slayer as a bride to be.

Collecting Elladan from his temporary quarters, he started for the infirmary himself. When the twin's eyes lit up at his arrival, he realized that whatever the youngsters were up to, he was the direct target. Sighing, he allowed the younger elf to lean on his shoulders as he hobbled down the hall. They were joined by a freshly dressed Elrohir and Legolas. Upon the arrival of the small group to the infirmary, Elrond smirked at them. Glorfindel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"What did they do?"

Elrond helped Elladan up to the inspection table as he calmly answered. "Your hair," he said succinctly.

The blond warrior sighed and pulled out the new markings, giving the responsible pair an annoyed look. He took consolation that the early hour had protected him from being seen by many. Somehow, everyone in the room managed to keep from watching or snickering as Legolas snuck behind him and put the knots right back in while his attention was fixed on glaring at Elrohir, who he falsely assumed responsible. They chuckled after he left to ready their mounts for the journey to Mirkwood.

Elrond checked Elladan's leg, pronouncing that it was healing well. He thought that his son would be on his feet within a week. For his other two patients, he drew some blood from their inner elbows, watching with interest as the needle marks closed up and vanished in mere seconds. He added some of Galadriel's potion to each and they all watched with bated breaths' to see what would happen. She had left instructions on its use and notes on what the results would mean. Blue would mean that they were still contagious and gold that they were not.

Gold light flared from both vials. Crying out in joy, the twins embraced one another, Elrohir spinning Elladan around. Having no family around and seeing the twins occupied, Legolas leapt upon Elrond, the half elf accepting the hug with good grace. It was understandable that the pair was ecstatic. The news meant that they were out of quarantine and that they could go back to their lives. When the blond finally released him, his fingers automatically removed the new knots in his hair that marked him as a chambermaid. The blond prince grinned unrepentantly.

"Lets get to Mirkwood," Elrond said.

--------

After a hasty breakfast, the four met Glorfindel in the kitchens to pack food for the journey. Legolas had tried to talk them out of accompanying him to Mirkwood, but Elrond insisted.

Say something to him! Legolas protested, turning his appeals to Elrohir.

What would you have me say?

He's your father! Think of something!

I'm not sure if he'll listen, but I can try, Elrohir sighed. "Ada, I agree with Legolas. It would be safer to allow him to see his father on his own."

"We're negotiating the end of a war," Elrond said. "Someone from our side must go."

"Why does Glorfindel have to come?" Legolas asked a bit petulantly, waving one hand to the warrior who unwittingly carried the knots of a virgin bride in his hair until a few minutes prior when Elrond had finally taken pity and told him they were there again. Glorfindel had become paranoid afterwards, his fingers running through his hair if any of the three troublemakers were out of sight for more than a few seconds.

"I'm coming because we'll be in hostile territory and he needs protection," Glorfindel sighed, trying to explain his presence for at least the fourth time. "And since the party must be kept small, it's just going to be me."

"Can't you just let him ride ahead of us and give him time to inform his men that we're not to be hung from our ankles and beaten until organs fly out our ears?" Elladan said, siding with his twin and friend.

"Too dangerous," Elrond said in dismissal.

"In case you haven't noticed, I've done a fairly good job of making myself scarce over the last year," Legolas snapped.

"All the more reason you need to be seen with an elfin escort," Elrond returned. Legolas threw his hands up in the air.

I'm close to knocking their heads together and stuffing them in a supply closet!

I'd be willing to help you hogtie them and stand guard at this point, Elrohir said in vexation. They eyed each other.

I think I can get Glorfindel if you can get Elrond, Legolas said slowly. The two older elves eyed the pair of werewolves suspiciously, aware that there was some sort of silent communication going on between them.

Roundhouse kicks on three, Elrohir answered. Spin left so we don't foul each other's movements.

"What are you two…"

In unison at the mental countdown, they lashed out, cutting off the potential question. Elrond went down like a rock. More seasoned in hand-to-hand combat, Glorfindel managed to partially block the blow and might have lunged for his assailant had Elladan not stepped into the fight. A loud metallic twang resounded through the kitchen as the legendary balrog slayer was knocked out by a skillet. The werewolves gave Elladan a surprised look.

"What? My choice in weapons is a bit limited when you surprise me like that," he said.

"What were you doing holding a skillet?" Elrohir asked.

"I was going to pack it," Elladan said, shrugging. He eyed the downed pair a little warily. "They're going to be livid."

"Let them sulk all they want. I needed a head start," Legolas said.

"How long?"

"A day should do it," the prince answered.

"Would you like me to go with you?" Elrohir asked.

"Are you trying to make me hit you with this thing too?" Elladan asked, exasperated. His twin snorted.

"I'm the only one that can travel as he can."

Elladan fell silent for a moment. "You mean to go as wolves." It was not a question.

"It will be simplest to sneak in as such," Legolas said.

"That and I highly doubt that the horses will put up with us for long," Elrohir seconded. He eyed the unconscious elves much as his brother had. "Can you handle them on your own?"

"Provided that they're tied up before they regain consciousness."

Between the three of them, they carried the two prisoners up to Elrond's room, Elladan following at a slower hobble due to his splinted leg. Erestor and Arwen were speaking as they walked down to breakfast, falling silent when they saw the group. They hurried over.

"What happened?" Arwen asked, worried. "Are they okay?"

"Get the door," Legolas said, avoiding the question. He allowed Erestor to help him put down his blond passenger on the bed.

"What happened?" Erestor repeated, the advisor frowning at the attempted evasion of answering the question.

"Difference of opinion," Elrohir commented as he deposited his father on the mattress.

"I need a head start towards home but they insisted on coming along," Legolas said, grinning at the stunned advisor. He held up a length of rope and snapped it in his hands. "Now, we can do this the easy way or the fun way," he said, tone clear that he wouldn't mind the opportunity to beat the snot out of the elf that had skewered him on his sword.

"You'll not get away with this," Erestor said, unsheathing his sword tersely.

Twang!

Erestor was out like a light. Elladan stood over him with his skillet of doom clutched tightly in one hand.

"Why do you still have that?" Legolas asked, amused.

"Forgot to put it down," Elladan admitted, shrugging sheepishly. He looked at his sister, who had been stunned to silence. "Well Arwen, what's it to be for you?"

The absurdity of the situation hit and she laughed aloud, holding her hands out to the plotting trio in surrender. "You overpowered me. Oh, the pain, the horror…"

They managed to tie up their four captives relatively quickly, gagging the three unwilling ones. Elladan and Arwen looked a little stunned when the two werewolves started stripping their clothes off.

"We'll find something to wear when we arrive in Mirkwood," Legolas explained to their stunned observers as he shucked his breeches, which were technically Elladan's. "My older brother is about your size," he commented to Elrohir.

Elladan nudged Arwen and motioned that she watch the pair of werewolves. She gasped, wide-eyed, as their forms seemed to glow slightly for an instant before stretching, altering into canine forms. Inclining their heads in silent farewell, they vanished out the door and into the city.

"That's amazing," Arwen murmured. Elladan nodded in agreement, he was watching his father with a slight amount of trepidation. The older elf was waking up and he was expecting one heck of a fight.

"Feign innocence," Elladan advised her under his breath.

"That should be easy. I didn't do anything," Arwen laughed.

--------

One hour and much cursing later, Elrond had finally managed to gnaw through the gag that had been jammed in his mouth. Glorfindel and Erestor were attempting to do the same. Until then, Elladan had sat idly by cleaning his fingernails with his dagger, steadfastly ignoring the glares directed at the back of his head.

"By Mordor's depths! What were you three thinking?" Elrond roared the moment his mouth was free.

"That Legolas would be able to speak better with his father if he wasn't surrounded by Noldor elves," Elladan said calmly.

"They are both in danger! You have jeopardized the chance of peace between our realms," Elrond snapped. "If he's not recognized and he's killed by his own family, this war could go on for the remainder of this age!"

"Any better if he had died at Erestor's hand?" Elladan returned hotly.

"They discovered their mistake in time," Elrond said.

"Only after ramming a sword through Legolas' chest," Elladan said. "Even then, they only hesitated because he turned back."

Elrond sighed. "What's to say that Thranduil won't make the same mistake?"

"Because Legolas isn't dumb enough to approach him as a wolf now that he's able to control his appearance."

Lips tensed in consideration. "How long of a head start did he request?"

"One day," Elladan pounced.

"Were you planning on leaving us tied up the entire time?"

"Perhaps," Elladan murmured. Elrond sighed, knowing that he had no choice. His sons were skilled at tying knots, as they often practiced on each other often as children in common bouts of sibling rivalry.

"You have your day. Untie us," the elf lord said.

"As soon as you get those two to promise not to beat the life out of me for knocking them out with a skillet."

"WHAT?" Glorfindel yelled, intelligible even beyond his gag. Proud warriors such as himself didn't appreciate the news that they had been taken down by a kitchen utensil.

"If it makes you feel any better, Erestor lost the same way," Elladan offered gleefully. The raven-haired advisor growled, finally managing to spit out his gag.

"You can't keep this up forever," he growled.

"Try me," Elladan taunted. An evil look crossed his features. "I could hold you for a long time if you were catheterized."

"You wouldn't dare," Erestor breathed.

"Don't try him. He might," Elrond advised, rolling his eyes. "Untie us. You have my word that they won't 'beat the life out of you' or," he added, looking at the other two bound warriors sternly, "seek vengeance in any way, shape or form." Sighing, Glorfindel and Erestor nodded in acceptance of the terms of their release.

"And you?"

"I cannot promise not to lecture you later for your recklessness," Elrond said dryly.

"Fair enough," Elladan allowed, slitting the elfin rope with his dagger. Elrond sat up stiffly, rubbing at his chafed wrists. Arwen was freed next, the young woman barely bound for the sake of appearances.

"Were you in on this?" Elrond asked his only daughter.

"I was as shocked as anyone when Elladan popped Erestor with a skillet," Arwen said dismissively, all too happy to bring up the inelegant methodology that had downed two skilled warriors. The named advisor scowled.

"Tell you what," Elladan said to the two bound elves. "If you promise not to pound me into oblivion, I swear I won't tell anyone how I bested you in combat."

Glorfindel seemed to seriously consider the notion, conceding since he had already been ordered not to retaliate. "Agreed," he accepted, his words muffled by the cloth in his mouth. In reality, the word was mangled beyond recognition, only understood by the sheer will of the waiting party.

"Agreed," Erestor said a little more grudgingly. Elladan grinned as he cut them free. The two irritated warriors stalked out of the room to leave the mirthful twin alone with his family to be chewed out. They had much work to do and were thankful that they had already sent out messengers to all of the troops to tell them to desist and retreat.

"Now," Elrond said sternly. "I understand that you truly believe that your brother and Legolas are better off alone, but whatever possessed you to take the actions you did?"

"I'm not sure what came over them, I just went along with it," Elladan shrugged. "I didn't know what they were discussing until they sprang."

"Discussing?" Elrond repeated. "They didn't say a word."

"I'd like to say that they're just good at reading each other's expressions," Elladan said hesitantly. "But after watching them for the last few days, I've been led to believe that they've developed some form of telepathy."

"Telepathy?" Elrond echoed, stunned. The notion had never passed his waking mind that the two werewolves would be capable of such an act. He realized that he was beginning to sound much like a parrot in his answers and made an effort to stop mimicking whatever was being said to him.

"Prior year notwithstanding, I'm beginning to become jealous," Arwen commented wryly. She shrugged at the mortified look it earned her from her father. "Stronger, faster, telepathic, able to take another form… and from what I hear about last night, able to recover from any injury in the span of a few heart beats."

"The thought of a hairy daughter is not one I relish," Elrond commented. His children laughed aloud. He just shook his head and let out a beleaguered sigh. "I will give you the one day, but we are setting out for Mirkwood tomorrow morning." His tone brooked no argument. He got up a little stiffly from his time bound, relieved that he wasn't dizzy from the rather swift kick his son had delivered him.

As an afterthought, he took the skillet away from Elladan.

--------

To Be Continued…

R&R! Don't make me get the skillet!