Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas or anything else from Lord of the Rings. I do however lay claim on Elrond's twin daughters as Tolkien never wrote about any twin elven girls anywhere in his books. Everything else though, as much as I wish it, is not mine and belongs to the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien (a wonderful, wonderful man). Except for a 2-year-old toddler by the name of Estel (forever called tithen min by his siblings) who needs looking after.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
Glorfindel took two steps into the room and immediately started retreating. No, no, and no. He would not be caught up in this again.
Unfortunately his presence did not go unnoticed by the twin elves who he had thought were locked in a staring match and unaware of anything happening around them.
One of them turned to smile sweetly at him, and for a moment he couldn't tell which twin it was. And that scared him more than any band of attacking orcs ever had.
Glorfindel shook himself sharply and then looked blankly at the two of them. "Did you need something?" He asked, hoping to Eru they did not.
"Uncle Glor," the one who had turned to him spoke and he realized it was actually Arómenë, although he had been willing to guess her sister Andúnë. The smile unnerved him, and Rómë had never looked at him like that before.
"Yes?" he answered, trying to keep the uneasiness out of his voice and failing.
"We have been discussing things, and we've come to the realization that besides that one time that father let us accompany Arwen to Lórien, we have not been out of Imladris. Now, Glor, you're Ada's closest friend, and we'd be ever so appreciative if you would talk to him about letting us go with the twins when they leave next week." Arómenë smiled sweetly again…and Sweet Eru save him, batted her eyelashes.
"I…I…" Glorfindel trailed off into silence. Their father would say no, of that he was very much sure. And yet, how could he say no to these two? The former balrog slayer sighed and resigned himself to his fate.
"Alright…but I will make no promises. You know as well as I do what he is going to say, so I'm not exactly certain what you think I'm going to accomplish talking to him. Except getting into hot water for even suggesting such a thing. How do I let you talk me into these things? You are exactly like your sister. And your mother." He paused a moment. "And your daernaneth."
The twins smiled at him again; identical smiles in identically angelic faces.
Glorfindel sighed again. "Very well, I'm going. But do not blame this on me if things do not go the way you are hoping."
"Thank you uncle!" Their call followed him out the door.
Closing it behind him, Glorfindel leaned back against it, mentally preparing himself to beg his lord to allow his two youngest daughters to go off into the wild with their wayward and trouble seeking brothers.
How did he always get himself into these messes? Glorfindel wondered for the thousandth time whether he should return to Aman.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
Elrond stared at his oldest friend in open shock. Surely Glorfindel wasn't naive enough to think he would actually let his two baby girls go on a hunting trip…was he?
But suddenly he realized what had happened. Shaking his head and trying not to smile he looked at Glorfindel. "They got to you, didn't they? Just like Arwen did when they wanted to go to Lórien. Glorfindel, really, they're only fifty-five, they are not that hard to stand up to. If you keep spoiling them so they will soon be able to get away with anything they wish."
Too late, Glorfindel thought. He looked guiltily at his lord. "And I suppose it's easy for you to look at two adorable and innocent children and say no? You are their father; I am their uncle. They never try to get their way with you because they know they can get me or another to do it for them. They are far too much like their sister in that respect. I did not promise them anything this time. Merely that I would talk with you. But I simply refuse to be the one who tells them no." He adopted a firm and stoic look that clearly stated he would not be persuaded for anything.
"Very well, I supposed it is not your job to deliver the news. I will tell them. But please, Glor, try to maintain that strong willpower of yours next time?" Elrond looked hopefully at the elf.
Glorfindel sighed, nodded and retreated out of the room.
Elrond stared after him a moment, lost in thought. This is the third time in as many years that they have tried this. I wonder why they continue to ask. Perhaps they think I will cave into their wish if they are persistent enough? Nay, they know the rules, and would not dare to think I would suddenly forsake them. They don't honestly do this just to entertain themselves with torturing Glorfindel...do they?
Still lost in thought the Lord of Imladris left his study and headed to the family sitting room. No doubt his daughters would be waiting there for Glorfindel to return with and answer. They would get a little surprise this time, and perhaps it would be enough to get them off this constant nagging to leave the valley. Although he sincerely doubted it.
~~~~OOOOO~~~~
Elrond stood on the front steps of his home in the cool dawn air, observing the four travelers preparing to depart. For the thousandth time he wondered how this had come about.
He'd gone to his daughters' room that fateful day a week ago to tell them, yet again, that they could not go with their brothers hunting. Somehow they had left the room an hour later to go and inform said brothers that they would be accompanying them. Elrond still wasn't very sure what exactly had happened. But he'd been on the receiving end of any number of smug looks from Glorfindel for the past week.
Elrond sighed and felt Celebrían hook her arm through his and lean gently against him. "Everything will be alright meleth nin, you needn't worry. I am sure the twins, both sets of them, are more than able to keep out of trouble for a week."
Her husband looked down at her with an unconvinced air. "These are our children we are talking about, are we not? Might I remind you how many times our sons have returned from a simple hunting trip unable to walk or even conscious? Nay, they are more than capable of getting into any and all trouble in a matter of days."
Celebrían threw him a sharp look. "You are making me feel so much better herven. Really, if you continue this then I shall be the one worrying and not you." Elrond had the grace to look ashamed.
"We will only be gone a week Ada, we promise." The oath caused Elrond to turn back to his children and observe the serious look that graced his eldest's face.
He returned it with an equally serious and also unbelieving one. "Elladan, the last time you said that you took Arwen hunting. You returned two days late, in the middle of a thunderstorm, and Arwen had a broken leg. Please, do not make a promise you will not keep."
Elladan's expression was very similar to the one his father had worn a moment before. "Yes Adar. But we will try very hard to return unscathed this time. I do promise that."
"I suppose I shall have to live with that. Very well, you had best be on your way. Safe journey, and may the Valar watch over you and return you to us soon."
Celebrían hugged her youngest daughters and whispered in their ears to watch out for their brothers and make sure they didn't try to get into any trouble. "Have a good trip," she said to all of them and with one final goodbye to the household they mounted their horses and were off.
Glorfindel came to stand beside the Lord and Lady of Imladris. "I will bet you a week of account work at least one comes back injured," he addressed Elrond.
The lord tried to look shocked that his friend would bet on his children's health, but with a motion of his hand that he hid from his wife, he acknowledged the wager. Hopefully he would win this time, as he was still trying to finish the work that had resulted from his loss of their last wager. Why is it that foresight seems to come in no use when betting on things?
Glorfindel picked up the thought and grinned widely. Because, mellon nin, that would give you an unfair advantage.
"Good day," he bowed briefly to the two elves and disappeared in the direction of the stables.
"Come herven, there is still work to be done, and hopefully we shall have some quiet in which to do so." Celebrían led her husband back into the house.
Secretly she gave a small sigh of thankfulness. It was the first time since her youngest twins had been born that none of her children had been at home. And it was time she was going to put to good use.