"They're WHAT!"

The quivering servant continued to examine the fine stonework of the castle floors. Steadfastly refusing to meet the eyes of his king.

Thrandiual felt a definite sweat start to build upon his forehead. Briefly wondering if that was physically possible for him as an elf, Thrandiual rubbed a trembling hand across his forehead.

Yep, sweat.

One of the bravest (stupidest?) councilors stood foreword from their place in the shadows behind the throne. "Your majesty, may I be so brave" Thrandiual's ice chipped eyes spoke levels about his thoughts of this bravery "to remind you that the letter requested fostering has already been spent. While the letter to Imlardis will take longer, The request sent to Lothlorien will arrive within the week – weather holding – and I clearly remember a passage in said letter was requesting the presence of the lord and lady in collecting of the elfling. A situation that could be highly embarrassing unless the elflings are found. Highly embarrassing!" the councilor finished with flair – unaware of the guards that were creeping up on him until they escorted him from the hall.

While the councilor did hold a good point, Thrandiual was still thankful for the sign language he had developed between him and the guards.

But secret languages aside...

"Send out ALL the guards, except the throne guards and those that guard the west wing, oh and not that one that always adds blueberries to my breakfast – he's too important to lose. Offer a large reward, a date with me or something... What are you waiting for? A dwarf to shave it's beard? MOVE!"

Now came the fun part. Explaining this to his wife.

They had been travelling for hours, going nowhere really but the toil was clearly showing on the elflings.

"Cranberry Sauce! Perhaps we should just go back!" Ranna panted, halting in her steps she bent over to catch her breath.

"No!" Came the answering shout of Legolas, who was just beyond Ranna's sight. "We can't go back now, think about what ada would say! It's too late Cranberry Sauce 2." Legolas retreated his steps and patted Ranna on the back. 'Let's take a break."

Exhausted (well, one of them was) they climbed up to a low branch of a nearby tree. Sitting comfortably within the branches, Ranna emptied some food from her pack, dismayed at the lack of quantity.

"If we ration these two apples correctly they should last another three weeks." Legolas nodded at Ranna's assessment. She had always been the more mathematical one.

"So, we both eat half an apple a day – no more. If we stick with that, we shouldn't have to start eating our clothes until next month." The prince frowned slightly, something was wrong with that equation but he decided not the question Ranna's reasoning – it had never let them wrong so far.

They both ate there half on the apple and Ranna put the last apple back in the bag.

"you know, if we had just asked the others to get us some towels, this probably never would have happened." Ranna stated with a pensive look on her face.

"WHAT?!"

"Oh, didn't you think of that?" She looked amazed at her shell shocked friend. "I thought of it at the beginning but I thought the horses would work better for drying us off."

Legolas sat still, contemplating what to say. He then decided that actions spoke louder then words and leapt at Ranna – aiming for the throat.

They struggled for a few moments in the branches of the elm tree before Ranna jumped down followed closely by the furious Legolas.

However, Ranna didn't go very far and neither did Legolas. For at the bottom of the tree sat a large spider and its very hungry children.