Disclaimer: I wish I own them, I really do, but it's just wishful thinking. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and Eru. And I'm neither.
Author's note: There will be no slash, no MS and no love stories except for the canon ones. Elladan and Elrohir are loving brothers, Elrond and later Thrandúil are loving fathers and wise rulers, not abusing bastards. That's about it.
Note for chapter: 1. Here comes the part in which Thrandúil is a loving father, even though his son might drive him a little nuts. 2. He and Elrond are friends. Maybe not best of friends, but still friends. 3. Legolas' mother and eventual siblings have always been open for debate. In this story he does have a mother and at least two older brothers.
Chapter 5: New friends – good, angry Elven king - bad
Elrohir's POV
We weren't sure how to feel about the visit of the Woodland King. Naneth and the queen had been friends for a long time, but ada and the king had been known to get into arguments that could be heard from one end of Arda to the other. Or at least that is what Glorfindel and Erestor told us. The only reason we had been looking forward to the visit was that we thought the youngest prince, close in age with us, will come with the royal couple, but then ada told us Legolas won't accompany his parents.
That said, we were very surprised, just like our parents, when the king and queen dismounted and a blond elfling hid behind the queen.
- Welcome to Imladris, your highnesses, ada said.
- Thank you for inviting us, lord Elrond. Your home is as beautiful and peaceful as ever.
- And that is because two certain elflings were told to be on their best behavior. Fear not, it will change, Glorfindel said looking pointedly at us.
- Your highnesses, these are our sons, Elladan and Elrohir, naneth pushed us forward two.
- It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, we said simultaneously.
- And it is a pleasure to meet you, he smiled.
- This is our youngest son, Legolas, the queen slightly pushed him in front of us.
- It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady, my lord.
- Come inside please. You must be weary after your journey.
We started walking to the house, Legolas still clinging to his mother, looking at us every now and then as though he was evaluating us. In the mean time, Elladan and I were talking about the royal couple whom we haven't seen before.
- The queen is beautiful, Elladan said glancing towards her.
- She looks kind and joyful.
- How can she be like that if the king has a temper like Glorfindel and Erestor said?
- I'll have you know my ada is the best elven king there is. He is loving, cheerful, stern but kind, we heard behind the voice of Legolas.
- We appologize, I said quickly, we did not mean to insult your father. We do not know him and should've asked you instead of assuming.
- Apologies accepted, he smiled. I know ada raises his voice sometimes, but when he's angry at me, I'd rather have him doing that then just staring at me.
- I know what you mean, Elladan shuddered thinking of our ada's stares.
- I think this is the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship, he smiled again.
We spent the first few days under the watchful eyes of Erestor and Talen, the king's advisor and Legolas' tutor. The two adults seemed to find a lot in common (and I think most of that was complains about their charges), but it wasn't as easy for us and Legolas. He looked all right to us, his eyes betraying a mischievous side he was trying to hide, but we weren't sure. Little by little we warmed up to each other and started talking about the life in Mirkwood and the life in Imladris. Both Elladan and I were very envious he had four older brothers whom he was able to torment, but when we heard some of the payback, we suddenly decided that it's better in our home. Truth to be told, once we started … exchanging opinions we realized that a lot of his ideas of fun were just like ours and we had a lot to learn from him, just as he had to learn from us.
And so it began, the sweet sounds of elves yelling and shrieking being heard once again in the halls of Imladris. Our knowledge of the house and the people, combined with the new ideas of Legolas made sure that our targets had no chance of escaping. At least not for long. The only ones who thwart our attempts were Erestor and Talen. Somehow it seemed that they had eyes in the back of their heads and could read our minds. Nothing worked until we spent a whole day planning very careful everything. And we succeeded wonderfully.
We barely had time to see the results of our hard work, when the enraged screams of the two elves started echoing. We did not waste anytime and ran like the wind, with our tutors in hot pursuit. I am sure that if they would've caught us, that would've been our end on Arda. Luckily they collided with ada and king Thrandúil, giving us enough time to disappear in the gardens.
That is were we hid for the next few hours, until Elladan decided that he wanted to see Erestor and Talen again. I have told my twin that is dangerous to be so close to the adults, but he never listens to me, ever. So he tried to look inside again and that's when we heard a booming voice:
- Sons of Elrond, Legolas, come here immediately.
Elladan was so startled he lost his grip on the branch and so he fell flapping his arms like a bird and knocking Legolas and I down from our positions. The tree was not too high, but we got the wind knocked out of us. I glanced towards the house and I was sure I hit my head too hard; there was no way what I was seeing was true: the Woodland King could not be jumping out of a window! By the time I realized that it was actually happening, it was too late, he already reached us and grabbed us by our collars, keeping us firmly on the ground.
- We are doomed, Legolas whispered watching the rest of the adults approaching us.
- Yes, we are, my brother answered mournfully.
The sight of our angry parents, upset Glorfindel and two enraged tutors was enough to strike fear in our hearts, but Valar, when the king started yelling at us I'm sure we turned white. I have to admit I didn't hear everything he said as I was too busy studying the ground or glancing in fascination at the king's face which was turning redder and redder and then an interesting shade of purple. That is when I remembered what Erestor said, that when furious king Thrandúil has the calm and cheerful temper of a Balrog; considering Glorfindel agreed with him, maybe we should've reconsidered before playing a prank on our tutors. Well, too late for us now. When he finally stopped I dared to raise my head and eyes, only to be filled with dread when ada started talking. His face didn't change color, but his eyes were filled with anger and he didn't need to raise his voice to make us want to find a deep, deep hole to crawl into.
It went on and on, ada and the king taking turns when one was getting too tired and the idea of a hole swallowing us seemed more and more attractive by the minute. I thank the Valar we weren't in Mirkwood as I am sure the king would not have hesitated to throw all three of us in the dungeons for a couple of hundred years at least.
Finally they seemed to run out of things to say, or yell, and we dared to look at each other; hmm, if I look half as bad as my brother I think I'll start to worry. I don't think I've ever seen him so white and it was pure panic in his eyes, wondering what will happen next.
- You will do good to appologize immediately to your tutors, the king said in a normal voice, for a change.
We didn't have to be asked twice and tears came into our eyes without even trying.
- We are so sorry, Erestor, Talen, I said as representative of our group. We appologize for what we did to you and we promise it never, ever, ever happen again.
-No, I won't, ada said with sadness in his voice. Do you know why?
- No, my lord, Legolas answered.
- Because Erestor and Talen decided to leave for Valinor.
For a moment I could not quite understand what he just said. It was not possible! Erestor could not leave Imladris only because of us, could he? I looked to my brother and Legolas and the same horror was in their eyes: we caused our tutors to leave Arda for good. The next moment I heard wailing and I was surprised to realize it was me. I threw myself at Erestor, grabbing his robe and screaming that he can not leave us. My brother jumped him from the other side, while Talen was under attack by Legolas. It was probably one of the few times when we did not fake our tears and wailing and we did not stop until they promised they will never leave us.
After that we have been sent to our rooms, were we were supposed to remain for the rest of the day and reflect upon what we did and the consequences of that. It was a very frightening moment when we realized we might lose Erestor, but it was nothing compared to the terror I felt in front of the purple faced, angry beyond words Elven king. I think that Legolas and we will be great friends, but I'll think twice before angering his ada again.
Thrandúil's POV
It was good to be in Imladris again and see my friends. Even though Elrond and I do not see eye to eye all the time, I always respected him and considered him a friend. On top of that, the beautiful lady of Imladris and my beloved Mereniel had always been friends.
- Welcome to Imladris, your highnesses, Elrond bowed in front of us.
- Thank you for inviting us, lord Elrond. Your home is as beautiful and peaceful as ever, I added continuing with the formal pleasantries.
- And that is because two certain elflings were told to be on their best behavior. Fear not, it will change, Glorfindel said with a voice that spoke of doom.
- Your highnesses, these are our sons, Elladan and Elrohir, Celebrían pushed forward two identical elflings.
- It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, they said simultaneously, in eerie identical voices.
- And it is a pleasure to meet you, I smiled.
- This is our youngest son, Legolas, my wife slightly pushed him in front of us.
- It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady, my lord.
Yes, it looked like both families had similar discussions with our offsprings. I saw the surprise in Elrond's eyes, as I had told him before I was going to come only with my queen, but then he smiled.
- Come inside please. You must be weary after your journey.
Our ladies went in front of us with the three children, while I had to tell something to Elrond, dropping all formalities:
- I am not weary! Elves do not tire that easily.
- Thrandúil, mellon-nín, he laughed, not long ago we have traveled with the twins to Lothlórien.
- By the end of the journey I was alternating between being weary and devising plans to leave the lord of Imladris without heirs, Glorfindel laughed.
- Oh, you understand then, i sighed. Do not get me wrong, I love my little Greenleaf dearly, but sometimes … sometimes …
- An early journey to Valinor seems the only way out, I know, Elrond smiled.
- Thrandúil, I thought you wanted to come just with your lovely wife. From your letters it seemed that your youngest was one of the reasons for which you wished to leave Mirkwood for a while.
- Yes, that was the plan, but it didn't work that way, I sighed yet again. I had to tell my other children that I intended to leave Legolas in their care, and Kelian simply told me that if that is the case, when I return I will either have one less son, or just one son because the rest of them will take the ship to Valinor.
- Kelian said that? Elrond laughed. Your oldest was always the most patient, calm and collected of them all.
- Traits not taken after his father, Glorfindel whispered in the back.
- Yes he is, I answered glaring at Glorfindel, and that is why I took his words to heart. And I started regretting about halfway to here, but it was too late.
- You are sighing way too much, mellon-nín.
- I noticed that, Glorfindel. It is a habit I just picked up since Legolas started to move around. It was a lot better when he was just a baby and was just crawling here and there.
- Come, Thrandúil, come enjoy the peace of Imladris.
- For the little while that it will last, Glorfindel added with his newly discovered ominous and doomful voice.
- It won't be that bad, Glorfindel.
- A, those famous last words again.
The first four days seemed to prove Glorfindel wrong. It was still peace and quiet and while the elflings were getting to know each other better under the constant supervision of Erestor and Talen, my advisor, the rest of us were spending time just talking, reading, riding or strolling thru the beautiful gardens of Imladris.
And then everything changes as our offsprings began to feel very comfortable in each others company and started making mischief together. Yes, Glorfindel, the-elf-lord-with-doom-and-gloom-in-his-voice was right and quite happy about it.
The first signs were not that bad: shrieks and yells, elves suddenly walking very warily and looking behind them every other step. But it almost looked like for the elves of Imladris, just like for the ones from Mirkwood, being suspicious of every sound and every shadow was a normal way of life.
It all reached its peak when our children decided that Erestor and Talen were supervising them much too closely. With an ingenious combination of dye, honey and feathers, thrown upon them at the perfect angle, in mere minutes the two elves looked nothing like the dignified advisors we knew them to be, but rather like two overgrown, purple … feathery things. Indescribable to be very honest.
The yells resonating thru the halls of Imladris were sadly nothing new, but the two purple elves running after the elflings were. Everybody in their path stared mouths agape, hesitating between pitying and laughing at them, although I bet most of them went with the latter.
The Valar showed their sense of humor by putting me and Elrond in their path, unfortunately on different sides of a corner and such we collided and fell in a tumble of legs, arms and feathers. I almost shrieked in surprise when I took a look at them and I heard beneath me the sudden and sharp intake of breath which betrayed Elrond's shock.
- If you ask what happened, … Erestor growled threatening.
- I had no intention, Elrond assured him. Where are they?
- The little orcs were running just in front of us.
- My lord, said Talen, I have reached a painful decision. When we return home I will take my leave from you and go to Valinor.
- I did not know you feel the call of the sea so strongly, I said as though I had no idea what was actually causing this.
- I do not, my king, but if I do not leave I will be soon called kinslayer, he gritted through his clenched teeth.
- And I am sure I will find a place on that ship too, Erestor added
- Now, now, there is no need to talk like that.
- No need, no need ?!? Erestor's voice went higher and higher with each word. Do you not see us? Are we invisible as well as purple?
- That could help, I said softly, hardly able to hold my mirth.
The looks they both gave made me very grateful I was a king. I didn't see any of them trying to kill me, as much as they wanted to.
- Let's get you cleaned and we will talk about it later, Elrond said giving me a chastising look.
About two hours later, Erestor and Talen were moping in the Hall of Fire, pretty much the same elves as before the incident and with only a few stains of purple on their faces and hands. Celebrían and Mereniel, always the peace makers, were trying to appease them, with a lot of success I might add, as they were using all their considerable charms.
Our children had disappeared into thin air and no one was able to as must as spot them. Legolas' uncanny ability to hide combined with the twins' knowledge of their home, made it impossible for anybody to find them. Until I thought I noticed something in the tree next to the window. After I looked careful I was sure enough there was at least one of the culprits in the said tree.
- Sons of Elrond, Legolas, come here immediately, I bellowed, feeling that I was turning red with fury.
Several things happened at the same time: Glorfindel dropped his goblet of wine, Erestor and Talen who were certainly conspiring to kill the heirs of Imladris and Mirkwood jumped at the same time and banged their heads together, Elrond and our beautiful wives who just left Erestor and Talen chocked on their wine and from the tree fell the three elflings.
It was not far from the ground, so they did not injured themselves, but made them a little dizzy giving me enough time to jump out the window and grab them just as they attempted to flee once more. I seriously doubt they were still enjoying themselves while having to deal two sets of angry parents, a Balrog-Slayer and two enraged tutors. I know that I yelled at them and watch as color left their faces, while my face was probably turning purple. My caught my wife's worried look so I stop to catch my breath. I was completely shocked when Elrond replaced me without skipping a beat; maybe his face was not turning red, but he was showing remarkable improvement at scolding the young ones. True, last time I saw him he had no one to practice on, now he had two.
After finishing yelling, scolding, threatening and generally making them feel awful, we asked them to beg forgiveness from their tutors. They did that with bitter tears in their eyes, but I can not stop asking myself if they were for real or just a sure way for them to be forgiven. Because of course Erestor and Talen could not resist and forgave them, but even more promised they will never leave, after the elflings started actually wailing hearing their tutors considered leaving for Valinor.
- I appologize for the behavior of my sons, Thrandúil.
- And I appologize for the behavior of my offspring, I answered. Do you think they heard one word from what we've been saying for the last hour?
- I'm sure it went right over their heads, Elrond sighed.
- And this is the beginning of the end, Glorfindel piped in with his voice of doom. Arda and we stood a chance before they met, now all we can do is pray our end will be swift.
- Ai, Glorfindel, stop with that kind of talking, Celebrían intervened.
- Very well, he started laughing. But I can not wait to say "I told you so".
TBC…
Answers to reviewers:
SilentBanshee: Next one, I promiseJ I threatened Glorfindel enough and he caved.
Aladar Austere: How can you not be a sucker with two cutie pies like the twins? lol
KissTheRainGirl12489: Celebrant is the river next to Lothlórien. If you are interested, the best site for all things Tolkien is Add the www in front.
Kathleen LaCorneille: Thanks for reviewing and don't worry, I know all too well how RL is.
Ms.L.P.Weasly: Thanks a lot. Keep reading J