24. Savored Snares
"Have you seen Elrond?" Erestor stood in the half open doorway, the light from the hall casting his shadow on Glorfindel's desk. The Balrog Slayer did not even look up from the post he was reading.
"Have I done something worthy of punishment that I should be forced to?" he asked in reply, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"How droll," Erestor said with a smirk "That, old friend, is why I am chief advisor and you are a mere minder of warriors."
"Wretched job, chief advisor." Glorfindel said with a grin "no time at all for leisure, one would have to be mad to want to spend so much time in the company of the lord of Imladris." Erestor managed to stifle a chuckle as he settled in the chair across from his friend.
"He was not in the Hall of Fire this eve." Erestor said more seriously.
"He seldom is these days." Glorfindel replied nonchalantly. It was true, Elrond had, of late, been dividing his life into two categories; work and sleep.
"If he had been, then he would have seen that Legolas has been there nearly the entire evening." Erestor stated, Glorfindel gave a grunt of acknowledgment "Alone."
The golden haired elf lowered the parchment in his hands slowly as he met the other's gaze. It was true that their unique friendship was not founded in any shared interest or even, usually, commonly held opinion. In the beginning they had only barely tolerated each other. But time had revealed the one thing that they truly shared and in that they had forged their bond. They both held the fiercest loyalty to Elrond and his family.
"Arwen was not with him?" Glorfindel whispered the question with dread. Erestor shook his head, his lips pressed in a thin line. "This cannot be good."
"I have not even seen her since dinner." Erestor replied, "They left for the gardens together and he returned alone, and quite unnerved and unhappy he looked, I might add."
"They have argued incessantly since they were elflings." Glorfindel pointed out uneasily.
"Aye they have." Erestor agreed "and always has the prince soothed the lady's ruffled feathers, weather he was at fault or no. But not tonight." the Balrog Slayer nodded in agreement, Legolas had always done his title justice, treating Arwen like a princess even when they were both barely tall enough to walk. Glorfindel shook his head, Thranduil had raised his son well but every elf had his limits.
"Arwen, should still be in the gardens, perhaps we had better... look into it." Glorfindel suggested with his most diplomatic expression. Erestor rose to his feet, nodding in agreement.
*******************
"You are enjoying this are you not?" Meril asked, frowning darkly at Orophin as he shifted her in his arms, staring up at the sheer embankment.
"It does have its merits." he replied with a mischievous smile "Meleth I do not believe I can climb up here without my hands free. Is there another place where the bank is not so steep?"
"It only goes higher the closer you come to the falls," she sighed "I think it would be best if you would help me climb up here." Without another word he turned and began heading down the river, picking his way over the rocks.
"Orophin you can not carry me to the fords!" Meril insisted in exasperation "It must be nearly a mile from here!"
"You are as light as a feather Meleth." he replied with a smile. "If I can carry my brothers home to Caras Galadhon from the fences I can certainly carry you a mile to the fords."
"You are a stubborn ox." she scowled. His arms tightened around her as he negotiated his way over a particularly unsteady heap of rock and her scowl deepened "and you are holding me too tightly!"
"And you are being uncommonly rude to someone who is only trying to help you." he replied, his voice was light but there was a definite warning look in his eyes she did not miss. "Next you will tell me that I am to blame for all this."
"I would never say such a thing." she replied, almost contritely, looking away from him, "I've none to blame but myself." Orophin paused to glance down at the top of her fair head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. She might look for any excuse to find fault in him but at least she was being fair. He continued down the shoals, enjoying the sensation of her arms wrapping around his neck as he made his way over the slippery rocks.
"Do not think that one kind deed will change my opinion of you." she added with a frown.
"You speak as if it were the only kindness I had ever shown." he replied teasingly.
"To my knowledge it is the only kindness you have ever shown an elleth." she stated flatly. Nether her words, nor her expression, were cruel but they cut him all the same. She looked up at him with guarded, wary eyes and he opened his mouth to reply before quickly shutting it with a snap.
"Well, then that should only serve to prove my feelings for you." he said with a grin. Meeting her suspicious gaze with a playful one.
"Can you not, just once, be serious?" she asked with a sigh. Orophin began to laugh, a clear, ringing sound that filled the vale and made his shoulders shake until he was forced to hold her even more tightly as he walked.
"And just what do you find so amusing?" Meril demanded.
"You," he replied with a chuckle, "You sound just like my brother. Haldir has badgered me to be serious more times than I could ever count."
"It is by far the most intelligent thing I have heard from your family." she snapped. "Perhaps if I am not successful with the prince I shall pursue your brother instead." Orophin burst into fresh peals of laughter and her eyes narrowed to menacing slits.
"Are you implying I could not win him?"
"Haldir?" he asked with a wide grin "Haldir has no experience eluding a maid because there are none in middle-earth brave enough to pursue him save you. If you gave him the attention you have given Legolas you would be wed within a week."
"Good."
"And you would kill each other within two." Orophin added with a smirk. "Haldir may have my undying loyalty but that does not make him any less a dull, arrogant bore."
"I do not care if he has the personality of a shrub." Meril replied hotly "Haldir is a fine, noble, well respected elf. You would do well to resemble him even slightly."
"Ah, so that is the way of it." Orophin said slyly "Any elf will do so long as he is one of good position and high renown. Meril, meleth, what of your heart?"
"That may be the most foolish question anyone has ever asked me." she replied, with a frown "Where would my heart lead me but to wreck and ruin? Where did the whispers of love lead Luthien or Idril or even Elwing except to despair and pain? Tell me a tale of an elleth who followed her heart to happiness." Orophin stared into her upturned face a moment, unsure what to say. It was the most she had ever shared of herself with him and he found it rather unsettling.
She was right, of course, though he thought he would sooner kiss Legolas himself than tell her so. He could almost sense the heartache attached to those words, could read it in her eyes. Whatever had happened to make her so jaded must have wounded her badly. How sad that the heart could so often lead even the first born to suffering. She was absolutely right.
And absolutely wrong.
"So instead you would bind yourself to an elf you did not love?" he asked sadly. She pressed her lips in a thin line, a determined expression on her face.
"I think with my head, Orophin of Lorien, not my heart." she insisted. Without another word he continued down the river, carefully making his way to the fords.
*******************
Arwen giggled happily as she gave Aragorn a firm shove, sending him splashing into the water with a shout. He surfaced with a playful growl and she let out a squeak, scrambling for the bank. He pounced on her with a laugh, wrapping his arms around her waist and picking her up to throw her in. With a shriek of glee she sent them both into the water once more, wriggling out of his grasp and forcefully dunking him.
They chased around the pool under the waterfall, squealing and giggling like sodden elflings as Arwen attempted to half drown the young human and Aragorn desperately tried to catch hold of her. The sound of their laughter filled the glade, echoing off the walls of the valley. A perfect moment of pure, innocent joy who's power seemed to shadow all of life's trials and cares.
Arwen grabbed him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck and Aragorn obliged her with a very good impression of a choking victim that made her laugh until she was breathless. So absorbed in their game were they that they did not notice the pair of glittering silvery eyes watching them with bitter malice from the hidden shelter of the trees.
*********************
"What of Beriorgan?" Elladan asked, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"He's all right I suppose." Indelin replied halfheartedly from where she had stretched out beside him, toying with a bit of straw.
"Lindir perhaps." Elladan suggested, "He is very charming."
"Yes," she agreed, "very. I do not know, he seems a bit..."
"Juvenile?"
"Infantile." Elladan chuckled as she cast him a sheepish grin.
"Ervadhor perhaps?" he asked
"I don't like him."
"Tunnion?" Indelin turned to look at him with a mixture of dread and horror.
"Forget I mentioned that." he insisted. His brow furrowed in concentration as he cast around in his memory. "What think you of Erestor?"
"Erestor." Indelin said, as if trying the name out for the first time. Her delicate features creased in a frown "Erestor?"
"What is wrong with Erestor?" Elladan demanded, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "He is a fine, honorable elf who would treat you with respect. He is well read, intelligent, the two of you have much in common."
"Erestor." she said, considering the idea for a moment. "He is as old as your Adar, why do you suppose he has never wed?"
"I am not certain." Elladan replied with a frown "I would guess that most elleths are put off by that serious look of his." Indelin let out a giggle.
"Well, at least I shall not have to compete for him." she said impishly. Elladan struggled to choke back a laugh and soon they were both giggling madly.
"Why can I not be myself around other elves the way I laugh and talk with you?" Indelin asked, rolling onto her side and leaning her chin on the heel of her hand.
"Because we are only friends, Indelin." Elladan smiled up at her, "Surely you understand that in matters of romance, things are different."
"I wish they were not," she sighed, flopping back in the hay once more and staring up at the ceiling. Elladan watched her a moment, trying to think of something distracting to say.
"Indelin what is that disappearing trick you do?" he asked finally.
"Disappearing trick?" she asked. sounding completely perplexed by his question. Elladan was not so easily fooled. He noticed the almost imperceptible turn of her head and the soft tint in her cheeks.
"On the ranges today, you slipped away under the noses of three Lorien wardens and the prince of Mirkwood." He said with a teasing smirk "and at dinner, you threw off the Balrog Slayer himself not to mention my grandfather and the chief advisor of Imladris. How did you manage it?"
"Elladan I haven't the faintest notion what you are talking about." she replied with a long-suffering sigh as if she were speaking to a very slow child.
"Indelin." he frowned, his eyes narrowing to menacing slits as he shifted onto his side. She looked up at him with an impassive expression but there was mirth dancing behind her eyes.
"Tell me." he insisted.
"No." she replied, playfully.
"Indelin."
"No."
"It could be very bad for you if you do not tell me." he said with his most serious expression but she was already trying to stifle her giggles. He pounced on her, tickling her ribs and she let out a shriek, hitting his arm.
"Tell me." he demanded as she tried to push him away.
"No!" she giggled madly.
"Tell me!"
"Elladan stop!" she screamed between giggles. He shifted hs weight so that he could pin her in the hay, giggling at her flushed cheeks and they wild expression in her eyes.
"No, tell me!" he replied sassily. She made another squeal of protest as he caught hold of her wrist in one hand, holding her as he continued his torture.
"Stop!"
"Tell me." he laughed, moving closer to her as she struggled.
"No!"
"Whatever is going on in here?" a harsh voice demanded. Elladan felt as if icy water were running down his spine and he released Indelin quickly, scrambling to his feet.
"Erestor!" he said with his most charming smile. "We were just speaking of you!" The counselor did not look amused. He stood framed in the doorway of the stable, a menacing frown on his face as Indelin clambered up beside him, her face flushed and breathing heavily.
"I heard raised voices." Erestor stated flatly "perhaps you would like to tell me why." Elladan opened his mouth but whatever he had been about to say was lost as he noticed the evil expression on Indelin's face.
"Well you see," Elladan began, "It is very interesting." He was distracted by Indelin, brushing bits of hay off his tunic with a smug smile. The implication was not lost on him and he glared at her as she picked hay from his hair, allowing it to drift to the ground.
"I am sure it is." Erestor said with a dark frown. "Doubtless you have a very good explanation as to why I find you in a dark stable accosting an elleth under your father's protection."
"Now you see..." he glanced down at Indelin for assistance only to find her grinning up at him wickedly.
"Well," she sighed, faking a yawn to hide her giggle. "I am quite worn out, If you gentlemen will excuse me."
"Traitor." Elladan hissed as she abandoned him. Erestor gave her a respectful nod as she passed, slipping out into the night. Elladan watched her go before turning his attention back to his father's enraged advisor. He was certain he could hear Indelin laughing as she made her way back to the house. Erestor glared at him with a fresh venom before speaking again.
"I am waiting Elrondion."
************************
Elrondion - Son of Elrond, (this is the accepted canon form of elf surnames)
Meleth - love
************************
Author's note - Ok, before I have to keep fielding the age questions I thought I'd handle them all in one shot. Nowhere in canon is it mentioned that an elf married another elf even remotely near their own age. Galadriel is a few millennia older than Celeborn. and though we don't have a firm date it looks as if Elrond might have already been serving as Gil-Galad's chief advisor thousands of years before Celebrian was even born. This suggests that elves really don't think a lot about age and since they're immortal there's probably a good reason for this.
Any question? No? Good.
[TV Announcer's voice] - Will Elladan escape the wrath of Erestor? Who knows what evil lurks in the bushes of Imladris?... the Shadow knows...
************************
dragonfly - Oh there's a good idea I can hear Elladan now. "Mm, Indelin, I have a confession to make, I really like you a lot and my brother is leading on your best friend." Yep, that'll work.
Shirley - Wrong, gross, and... unfortunately... true. She was also stabbed and poisoned. *Gag* I'm getting the creepy crawlies just thinking about it. It sure does explain that pissy look Elrond goes around with all the time though.
daughter-of-faries/Lady of Nimrodel - *snort* LOL
Yavanna - Denial (it's not just a river in Egypt any more) Arwen is so busy pretending she just *likes* Aragorn as a friend that she isn't paying a lot of attention to what she's doing, she also done a damn fine job of convincing herself that he thinks of her as a friend too. So no, she's clueless.
Cerridwen - He sure is having a *hard* time of it. (oh, that was sooo bad)
Kath - The mud is hardening... and the plot is thickening
Converted - No elves, and no cupboards. *smacks forehead* I forgot! That's the happy little number that the Imladris elves sing to Bilbo and the dwarves in The Hobbit. The verses have been changed to fit the circumstance as the original canon suggests. I added the note to the last chapter.
Alex - Elves aren't extremely pervy, just a little bit.
Grumpy - *clears throat* She had her hot hands all over little 'virgin boy's' chest. Just how did you think he was going to react?
Jesla - hey, I like him too, but he's still a hypocrite, and let's remember who's idea it was to put the snow job on Eirien in the first place.
TSS - Yayness isn't a word!?!?!? I don't scare that easy, I'm not smart enough.
"Have you seen Elrond?" Erestor stood in the half open doorway, the light from the hall casting his shadow on Glorfindel's desk. The Balrog Slayer did not even look up from the post he was reading.
"Have I done something worthy of punishment that I should be forced to?" he asked in reply, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"How droll," Erestor said with a smirk "That, old friend, is why I am chief advisor and you are a mere minder of warriors."
"Wretched job, chief advisor." Glorfindel said with a grin "no time at all for leisure, one would have to be mad to want to spend so much time in the company of the lord of Imladris." Erestor managed to stifle a chuckle as he settled in the chair across from his friend.
"He was not in the Hall of Fire this eve." Erestor said more seriously.
"He seldom is these days." Glorfindel replied nonchalantly. It was true, Elrond had, of late, been dividing his life into two categories; work and sleep.
"If he had been, then he would have seen that Legolas has been there nearly the entire evening." Erestor stated, Glorfindel gave a grunt of acknowledgment "Alone."
The golden haired elf lowered the parchment in his hands slowly as he met the other's gaze. It was true that their unique friendship was not founded in any shared interest or even, usually, commonly held opinion. In the beginning they had only barely tolerated each other. But time had revealed the one thing that they truly shared and in that they had forged their bond. They both held the fiercest loyalty to Elrond and his family.
"Arwen was not with him?" Glorfindel whispered the question with dread. Erestor shook his head, his lips pressed in a thin line. "This cannot be good."
"I have not even seen her since dinner." Erestor replied, "They left for the gardens together and he returned alone, and quite unnerved and unhappy he looked, I might add."
"They have argued incessantly since they were elflings." Glorfindel pointed out uneasily.
"Aye they have." Erestor agreed "and always has the prince soothed the lady's ruffled feathers, weather he was at fault or no. But not tonight." the Balrog Slayer nodded in agreement, Legolas had always done his title justice, treating Arwen like a princess even when they were both barely tall enough to walk. Glorfindel shook his head, Thranduil had raised his son well but every elf had his limits.
"Arwen, should still be in the gardens, perhaps we had better... look into it." Glorfindel suggested with his most diplomatic expression. Erestor rose to his feet, nodding in agreement.
*******************
"You are enjoying this are you not?" Meril asked, frowning darkly at Orophin as he shifted her in his arms, staring up at the sheer embankment.
"It does have its merits." he replied with a mischievous smile "Meleth I do not believe I can climb up here without my hands free. Is there another place where the bank is not so steep?"
"It only goes higher the closer you come to the falls," she sighed "I think it would be best if you would help me climb up here." Without another word he turned and began heading down the river, picking his way over the rocks.
"Orophin you can not carry me to the fords!" Meril insisted in exasperation "It must be nearly a mile from here!"
"You are as light as a feather Meleth." he replied with a smile. "If I can carry my brothers home to Caras Galadhon from the fences I can certainly carry you a mile to the fords."
"You are a stubborn ox." she scowled. His arms tightened around her as he negotiated his way over a particularly unsteady heap of rock and her scowl deepened "and you are holding me too tightly!"
"And you are being uncommonly rude to someone who is only trying to help you." he replied, his voice was light but there was a definite warning look in his eyes she did not miss. "Next you will tell me that I am to blame for all this."
"I would never say such a thing." she replied, almost contritely, looking away from him, "I've none to blame but myself." Orophin paused to glance down at the top of her fair head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. She might look for any excuse to find fault in him but at least she was being fair. He continued down the shoals, enjoying the sensation of her arms wrapping around his neck as he made his way over the slippery rocks.
"Do not think that one kind deed will change my opinion of you." she added with a frown.
"You speak as if it were the only kindness I had ever shown." he replied teasingly.
"To my knowledge it is the only kindness you have ever shown an elleth." she stated flatly. Nether her words, nor her expression, were cruel but they cut him all the same. She looked up at him with guarded, wary eyes and he opened his mouth to reply before quickly shutting it with a snap.
"Well, then that should only serve to prove my feelings for you." he said with a grin. Meeting her suspicious gaze with a playful one.
"Can you not, just once, be serious?" she asked with a sigh. Orophin began to laugh, a clear, ringing sound that filled the vale and made his shoulders shake until he was forced to hold her even more tightly as he walked.
"And just what do you find so amusing?" Meril demanded.
"You," he replied with a chuckle, "You sound just like my brother. Haldir has badgered me to be serious more times than I could ever count."
"It is by far the most intelligent thing I have heard from your family." she snapped. "Perhaps if I am not successful with the prince I shall pursue your brother instead." Orophin burst into fresh peals of laughter and her eyes narrowed to menacing slits.
"Are you implying I could not win him?"
"Haldir?" he asked with a wide grin "Haldir has no experience eluding a maid because there are none in middle-earth brave enough to pursue him save you. If you gave him the attention you have given Legolas you would be wed within a week."
"Good."
"And you would kill each other within two." Orophin added with a smirk. "Haldir may have my undying loyalty but that does not make him any less a dull, arrogant bore."
"I do not care if he has the personality of a shrub." Meril replied hotly "Haldir is a fine, noble, well respected elf. You would do well to resemble him even slightly."
"Ah, so that is the way of it." Orophin said slyly "Any elf will do so long as he is one of good position and high renown. Meril, meleth, what of your heart?"
"That may be the most foolish question anyone has ever asked me." she replied, with a frown "Where would my heart lead me but to wreck and ruin? Where did the whispers of love lead Luthien or Idril or even Elwing except to despair and pain? Tell me a tale of an elleth who followed her heart to happiness." Orophin stared into her upturned face a moment, unsure what to say. It was the most she had ever shared of herself with him and he found it rather unsettling.
She was right, of course, though he thought he would sooner kiss Legolas himself than tell her so. He could almost sense the heartache attached to those words, could read it in her eyes. Whatever had happened to make her so jaded must have wounded her badly. How sad that the heart could so often lead even the first born to suffering. She was absolutely right.
And absolutely wrong.
"So instead you would bind yourself to an elf you did not love?" he asked sadly. She pressed her lips in a thin line, a determined expression on her face.
"I think with my head, Orophin of Lorien, not my heart." she insisted. Without another word he continued down the river, carefully making his way to the fords.
*******************
Arwen giggled happily as she gave Aragorn a firm shove, sending him splashing into the water with a shout. He surfaced with a playful growl and she let out a squeak, scrambling for the bank. He pounced on her with a laugh, wrapping his arms around her waist and picking her up to throw her in. With a shriek of glee she sent them both into the water once more, wriggling out of his grasp and forcefully dunking him.
They chased around the pool under the waterfall, squealing and giggling like sodden elflings as Arwen attempted to half drown the young human and Aragorn desperately tried to catch hold of her. The sound of their laughter filled the glade, echoing off the walls of the valley. A perfect moment of pure, innocent joy who's power seemed to shadow all of life's trials and cares.
Arwen grabbed him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck and Aragorn obliged her with a very good impression of a choking victim that made her laugh until she was breathless. So absorbed in their game were they that they did not notice the pair of glittering silvery eyes watching them with bitter malice from the hidden shelter of the trees.
*********************
"What of Beriorgan?" Elladan asked, lacing his fingers behind his head.
"He's all right I suppose." Indelin replied halfheartedly from where she had stretched out beside him, toying with a bit of straw.
"Lindir perhaps." Elladan suggested, "He is very charming."
"Yes," she agreed, "very. I do not know, he seems a bit..."
"Juvenile?"
"Infantile." Elladan chuckled as she cast him a sheepish grin.
"Ervadhor perhaps?" he asked
"I don't like him."
"Tunnion?" Indelin turned to look at him with a mixture of dread and horror.
"Forget I mentioned that." he insisted. His brow furrowed in concentration as he cast around in his memory. "What think you of Erestor?"
"Erestor." Indelin said, as if trying the name out for the first time. Her delicate features creased in a frown "Erestor?"
"What is wrong with Erestor?" Elladan demanded, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "He is a fine, honorable elf who would treat you with respect. He is well read, intelligent, the two of you have much in common."
"Erestor." she said, considering the idea for a moment. "He is as old as your Adar, why do you suppose he has never wed?"
"I am not certain." Elladan replied with a frown "I would guess that most elleths are put off by that serious look of his." Indelin let out a giggle.
"Well, at least I shall not have to compete for him." she said impishly. Elladan struggled to choke back a laugh and soon they were both giggling madly.
"Why can I not be myself around other elves the way I laugh and talk with you?" Indelin asked, rolling onto her side and leaning her chin on the heel of her hand.
"Because we are only friends, Indelin." Elladan smiled up at her, "Surely you understand that in matters of romance, things are different."
"I wish they were not," she sighed, flopping back in the hay once more and staring up at the ceiling. Elladan watched her a moment, trying to think of something distracting to say.
"Indelin what is that disappearing trick you do?" he asked finally.
"Disappearing trick?" she asked. sounding completely perplexed by his question. Elladan was not so easily fooled. He noticed the almost imperceptible turn of her head and the soft tint in her cheeks.
"On the ranges today, you slipped away under the noses of three Lorien wardens and the prince of Mirkwood." He said with a teasing smirk "and at dinner, you threw off the Balrog Slayer himself not to mention my grandfather and the chief advisor of Imladris. How did you manage it?"
"Elladan I haven't the faintest notion what you are talking about." she replied with a long-suffering sigh as if she were speaking to a very slow child.
"Indelin." he frowned, his eyes narrowing to menacing slits as he shifted onto his side. She looked up at him with an impassive expression but there was mirth dancing behind her eyes.
"Tell me." he insisted.
"No." she replied, playfully.
"Indelin."
"No."
"It could be very bad for you if you do not tell me." he said with his most serious expression but she was already trying to stifle her giggles. He pounced on her, tickling her ribs and she let out a shriek, hitting his arm.
"Tell me." he demanded as she tried to push him away.
"No!" she giggled madly.
"Tell me!"
"Elladan stop!" she screamed between giggles. He shifted hs weight so that he could pin her in the hay, giggling at her flushed cheeks and they wild expression in her eyes.
"No, tell me!" he replied sassily. She made another squeal of protest as he caught hold of her wrist in one hand, holding her as he continued his torture.
"Stop!"
"Tell me." he laughed, moving closer to her as she struggled.
"No!"
"Whatever is going on in here?" a harsh voice demanded. Elladan felt as if icy water were running down his spine and he released Indelin quickly, scrambling to his feet.
"Erestor!" he said with his most charming smile. "We were just speaking of you!" The counselor did not look amused. He stood framed in the doorway of the stable, a menacing frown on his face as Indelin clambered up beside him, her face flushed and breathing heavily.
"I heard raised voices." Erestor stated flatly "perhaps you would like to tell me why." Elladan opened his mouth but whatever he had been about to say was lost as he noticed the evil expression on Indelin's face.
"Well you see," Elladan began, "It is very interesting." He was distracted by Indelin, brushing bits of hay off his tunic with a smug smile. The implication was not lost on him and he glared at her as she picked hay from his hair, allowing it to drift to the ground.
"I am sure it is." Erestor said with a dark frown. "Doubtless you have a very good explanation as to why I find you in a dark stable accosting an elleth under your father's protection."
"Now you see..." he glanced down at Indelin for assistance only to find her grinning up at him wickedly.
"Well," she sighed, faking a yawn to hide her giggle. "I am quite worn out, If you gentlemen will excuse me."
"Traitor." Elladan hissed as she abandoned him. Erestor gave her a respectful nod as she passed, slipping out into the night. Elladan watched her go before turning his attention back to his father's enraged advisor. He was certain he could hear Indelin laughing as she made her way back to the house. Erestor glared at him with a fresh venom before speaking again.
"I am waiting Elrondion."
************************
Elrondion - Son of Elrond, (this is the accepted canon form of elf surnames)
Meleth - love
************************
Author's note - Ok, before I have to keep fielding the age questions I thought I'd handle them all in one shot. Nowhere in canon is it mentioned that an elf married another elf even remotely near their own age. Galadriel is a few millennia older than Celeborn. and though we don't have a firm date it looks as if Elrond might have already been serving as Gil-Galad's chief advisor thousands of years before Celebrian was even born. This suggests that elves really don't think a lot about age and since they're immortal there's probably a good reason for this.
Any question? No? Good.
[TV Announcer's voice] - Will Elladan escape the wrath of Erestor? Who knows what evil lurks in the bushes of Imladris?... the Shadow knows...
************************
dragonfly - Oh there's a good idea I can hear Elladan now. "Mm, Indelin, I have a confession to make, I really like you a lot and my brother is leading on your best friend." Yep, that'll work.
Shirley - Wrong, gross, and... unfortunately... true. She was also stabbed and poisoned. *Gag* I'm getting the creepy crawlies just thinking about it. It sure does explain that pissy look Elrond goes around with all the time though.
daughter-of-faries/Lady of Nimrodel - *snort* LOL
Yavanna - Denial (it's not just a river in Egypt any more) Arwen is so busy pretending she just *likes* Aragorn as a friend that she isn't paying a lot of attention to what she's doing, she also done a damn fine job of convincing herself that he thinks of her as a friend too. So no, she's clueless.
Cerridwen - He sure is having a *hard* time of it. (oh, that was sooo bad)
Kath - The mud is hardening... and the plot is thickening
Converted - No elves, and no cupboards. *smacks forehead* I forgot! That's the happy little number that the Imladris elves sing to Bilbo and the dwarves in The Hobbit. The verses have been changed to fit the circumstance as the original canon suggests. I added the note to the last chapter.
Alex - Elves aren't extremely pervy, just a little bit.
Grumpy - *clears throat* She had her hot hands all over little 'virgin boy's' chest. Just how did you think he was going to react?
Jesla - hey, I like him too, but he's still a hypocrite, and let's remember who's idea it was to put the snow job on Eirien in the first place.
TSS - Yayness isn't a word!?!?!? I don't scare that easy, I'm not smart enough.
