Rain In Rivendell
Disclaimer: not mine.
Yay! 7 reviews!!! WOW!!!! *beams* I'd hand out chocolate to my reviewers, but the temptation would be too great (I've given it up for Lent – don't ask why; it's madness on my part)
Thanks to:
Zammy, Wolf Arrows, Artemisa, lucidity, wolfbrother (who lives in the same halls of residence at uni as me);
Doctor-M: Here's chapter 2, so you don't need to hunt me down! *breathes a sigh of relief*
Lost-magic: the twins are technically adults (aged between 2,654 and 2,718 years old), but perhaps somewhat immature (or just plain mischievous!) May I also take this opportunity to point out that I have not used one single 'thee' or 'thou' in either chapter 1 or chapter 2 (and I don't think I've done so at all throughout the 9 chapters of this fic) so your criticism is somewhat irrelevant. If you don't like the Tolkien-esque language, that's up to you, but I prefer to write like that for LOTR fics, as I've found that the fics that use modern slang and other such language grate on me, and the characters would simply not speak like that in Tolkien's world. I won't apologise because I have no need to.
A/N: so here's chapter 2! Hope you enjoy it as much as the first one! Chapter 3 should go up on either Sunday on Monday.
A/N 2: enter Arwen, at some point in this chapter. Elvish translations can be found at the bottom. All are from www.councilofelrond.com
And now finally to the story!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2
"Which are the ones he will be using this afternoon?"
"Look at the date; that will be sure to tell you!"
"Keep your voice down! Would you that we were caught?"
"Of course not! I was merely saying –"
"You have made your point! Now keep looking for some old reports!"
"Which ones? There are many."
"I care not! Any will do, and the older the better!"
"A selection of reports from different councils?"
Elladan nodded, grinning wickedly. "Even better, brother dearest! That will confuse and bewilder them no end!"
Elrohir set about locating (and making a note of the origins of) the papers he was planning on removing. "How many reports is Ada giving?"
Elladan counted the reports that were currently on Elrond's desk, ready for the upcoming council. "Ten."
"Anything in particular that stands out?"
"Ada is to give a report regarding – someone's coming!"
The twins froze momentarily before each darting behind one of the thick, heavy, floor-length curtains. They held their breath, not daring to look at each other, hearts pounding.
A slim, attractive, dark-haired Elf stepped into the study. "That is indeed odd. I was sure that I heard voices emanating from this room. Perhaps I was mistaken." The Elf left, closing the door. The twins' eyes widened in panic as they heard the sound of a key being turned.
Elladan shot out from his hiding place. "Arwen! Unlock the door! Now!"
The key was turned in the opposite direction and the door opened again. The twins' younger sister arched one eyebrow in a manner eerily similar to that of their father. "And what would you two be doing in Ada's study?" she inquired.
Silence. The corners of Arwen's mouth twitched upwards into an amused smile. "Please enlighten me."
"Er..." began Elladan.
"Switching some of Ada's papers before his council, perhaps?"
Elladan's eyes widened in horror. "No!" he protested, panicked. "Would we do such a thing as that?"
"Yes."
He could think of no reply to that.
"Allow me to assist you. I have some amusing documents that would be even better substitutes. And Elrohir, I advise you to search for the documents regarding the archery contest between Rivendell and Lórien from the year of your birth. I understand the Elves of Lórien won by some way. Substitute it for the report on trading with Mirkwood."
"Arwen! You are aware that King Thranduil will be present?" hissed Elrohir in horror.
Arwen smiled sweetly. "I know, for I have come from assisting him and Prince Legolas with their horses – though Legolas preferred to take care of his own horse. I shall take any blame for that particular switch of documents."
"Ada will not believe that you had any role in this whatsoever," Elrohir pointed out. "We shall suffer entirely."
"I will sort out any problems. Now let us finish before Ada returns!"
The twins obliged, and Arwen assisted them in their mischief. The three were careful to ensure that the papers were placed in exactly the same position as they had been laid upon the desk. After all, one could never be too careful where Elrond was concerned. That done, they slipped from the room in silence and rounded a corner. Elrohir produced a small bottle from his pocket and held it up for the other two to see, his eyes glittering.
"What is that?" asked Arwen curiously.
"Glue, muinthel nîn," Elrohir informed her calmly. "Strong glue, might I add."
"And what do you plan on doing with it?" asked Arwen, regarding her brother with her head tilted to one side.
"You shall have to wait. Do you know where Ada is holding his council?"
"Given such weather, inside. The green conference room appears prepared for a large gathering," answered Arwen.
"Excellent. Is it occupied?"
"Nay; those attending the council are all in the guest chambers, drying themselves from the downpour outside. Then they will join us for lunch. None will be in the conference room yet."
"Then it could not bode better for us."
"Just what is it that you plan, tithen gwanur?" inquired Elladan impatiently.
"Come, and you shall discover it." Elrohir led the way to the green conference room (which was far from the guest quarters and also from where Elrond was still teaching) and stood in front of the door, bottle in his hand. He carefully eased the door open, releasing his breath as he observed a room empty of people. "Here goes." He removed a brush covered in glue from the bottle and placed the bristles on the inside of the doorframe. As his twin and his younger sister watched, he applied liberal quantities of the sticky substance to the wood before pushing the door firmly closed. "Now we wait."
"Where?" asked Elladan. "There are few places in this part of the house that will conceal three fully-grown Elves – even if Arwen is the skinniest thing on Middle-Earth for centuries."
"I resent that!" huffed Arwen, giving her brother a rather unladylike shove. Elladan was caught off-balance and tumbled to the ground. As he did so, as if in slow motion, he collided with a very old wooden table that bore a delicate glass vase on its top. Table, vase and Elf went flying with a sickening crash, the vase shattering into many tiny shards. As the table fell, it collided with a hat-stand next to it. The hat-stand, in turn, toppled over, knocking a large picture hanging on the wall. The picture swung violently before swinging completely off its hook, glass shattering the floor upon impact and scattering even more of the sharp pieces across the deep green carpet. Elladan lay, momentarily stunned, upon the floor, his siblings staring in horror at the scene of utter devastation in front of them.
Arwen was the first to recover. She hauled Elladan to his feet. "Run!" she hissed, taking off in the direction of her room, her brothers behind her. None were eager to be caught at the crime scene, for fear of their father's wrath, which would be terrible.
And that before he discovers the door," thought Elrohir. And the switched papers. And the apple pie bed…His father was not going to be happy with his three children. At all.
Arwen slammed her door shut before they all collapsed upon her large, soft bed, breathing hard. Although it took a lot to tire an Elf, the stress of the morning's activities had thoroughly worn them out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~TBC~
Elvish translations:
muinthel nîn – my sister
tithen gwanur – little brother (blood relative)
Prank credits:
Karine1's fic, 'Races Against Time', for the door-gluing occurrence, with kind permission.
