Why Should They Be Allowed to Go?

By pmochizuki

Author's Note: I've finally got the epilogue uploaded! Hope you guys enjoy it, it was a lot of fun to write! I'm getting quite attached to Erestor if I do say so myself. :P All my thank you notes to my reviewers are at the bottom of the page, please read!

Summary: Arwen is bent on having revenge upon her brothers for playing a terrible prank on her. But how to go about it without getting into too much trouble? Or better yet, how to go about it without getting caught? Featuring characters Arwen, Elrohir, Elladan, Elrond, and Erestor.

"Why Should They Be Allowed to Go?" Epilogue

Arwen makes her way through the garden, careful not to make any sound. She slyly looks to the right and to the left, though it's quite obvious no one else is around. She suddenly ducks then presses her back against a tree. Peering around the trunk carefully, she catches sight of her prey.

Her prey being Erestor and Vanië on the garden arbor. The chief of Rivendell and the beautiful Elf-maiden are oblivious to Arwen's presence for they are quite obviously too wrapped up with each other. Literally.

At the moment, Vanië is sitting on Erestor's lap, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. Arwen smirks, thinking that she never thought that Erestor had it in him. She leans against the tree, as if waiting for an opportune moment to interrupt.

Unfortunately, Erestor and Vanië don't seem to be in any hurry to pull apart for air. Arwen taps her foot impatiently, sighs, and rolls her eyes. This was just taking too much time.

Arwen clears her throat.

No effect.

Arwen clears her throat a little louder.

Still no effect.

Tempted to start pulling her hair in frustration, Arwen decides she has had enough. She steps out into the open. "ERESTOR!"

"AHHHH!" Erestor and Vanië cry out in surprise and promptly fall off the bench they were sitting on. Arwen winces as they land backwards with a loud thump.

Erestor is the first to get up, his face red with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Arwen tries not to be perturbed but instead has to force herself not to disappear as Erestor looks ready to commit murder at any moment.

Arwen decides to try talking to Vanië before attempting to sooth Erestor. "Hello Vanië!"

Vanië peeks out from behind the bench, still sitting on the ground. She waves a hand shyly. "Hi Arwen."

"So, I see that you're getting to know Erestor better, huh? And the celebration hasn't even started!"

Vanië shrugs. "Well, he asked if I wanted to take a walk before heading for the main hall. And one thing led to another…"

"I just bet."

Both culprits blush even more as Arwen snickers. Erestor tries to regain his composure. "And may I ask for the reason behind this intrusion?"

With a wide-eyed look which Arwen had perfected in the last thousand years, the Elf-maiden asks, "Was I intruding?"

"Yes," Erestor and Vanië say with deadpan looks.

"Oh…" Arwen immediately becomes serious as she continues, "Erestor, don't you remember what's going to happen before the party?"

Arwen winks but Erestor frowns, not understanding. Arwen mimics strangling someone's neck and he finally understands. He helps Vanië up. "Sorry, my love, Arwen and I have a little business to attend to."

Pouting prettily, Vanië nevertheless agrees and after giving him a peck on the cheek, leaves the gardens. Erestor watches her walk a way with a starry look in his eyes.

"Ahem…" Arwen pokes Erestor in the side eliciting a glare. "Come on! They'll be here any second!"

She grabs Erestor's arm and pulls him towards a particularly large bush. Just as they hide behind the bush, an Elf walks into view.

Cautiously peeking to watch, Arwen and Erestor see that it is Elrohir. Arwen's brother straightens his shoulders and pretends to meet someone. He gives an exaggerated bow, then goes down on his knees, his hands on his heart.

Arwen snorts at her brother and how silly he is acting while Erestor gives her a warning look. "Shush!"

The Elf-maiden just rolls her eyes. She whispers back, "Elrohir is too wrapped up with himself to notice anything."

Erestor thoughtfully agrees. "That is true…"

"Shush!"

Just then, the two hidden Elves hear someone else coming into the gardens. Elrohir too appears to have heard it for he turns towards the noise, a sickeningly sweet smile plastered on his face, his hand still on his heart. "Oh, sweet Elf-maiden, you have kept me waiting too long…!" Elrohir's mouth suddenly drops open in astonishment.

For it is not the lovely Írimë he has been expecting.

It is instead his twin brother, Elladan.

Elladan who seems to be as shocked as he is.

Elrohir quickly masks his surprise behind a look of annoyance. "Brother, what are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Elladan says suspiciously.

Opening and closing his mouth several times, Elrohir finally stutters, "Oh, well… you see, umm… did you find Halbarad?"

Elladan folds his arms across his chest, except the flowers he is holding in his hand are getting in the way. He quickly hides the flowers behind his back and nonchalantly answers, "Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Well, it depends if you found them first," Elladan says stubbornly.

Elrohir takes a deep breath then says quickly, "I didn't." He cringes and looks expectantly at Elladan.

Elladan sighs dramatically. "I didn't either. You won't believe how much I searched around!"

"I understand brother," Elrohir nods in sympathy. "Looking all over the place, and no trace, right?"

"Exactly."

"So you decided to come back at least for the feast, then leave tomorrow, right?"

"Exactly!" Elladan says brightly.

Meanwhile, Erestor notices that Arwen is once more making 'strangling' gestures. "Lying through their teeth, that's what they're doing, they never left Rivendell!" she whispers angrily. "You see what I have to put up with?! Why those two lying little – !"

Erestor clamps a hand over her mouth to keep her from finishing the sentence.

"So," Elrohir says, trying to look at Elladan's flowers. "You have someone to go to the feast with?"

"Umm… well… you obviously have someone to go with," Elladan counters. "Meeting someone here?"

"Yes…"

"Fast work for someone who just arrived today," Elladan says suspiciously.

Elrohir just as suspiciously points at the flowers his brother is trying to hide. "Fast work for you, too."

Just at the exact moment the brothers are going to ask who they were escorting, two Elves enter the garden. One Elf is carrying an Elf-maiden in his arms and they are laughing about something.

Recognizing who they are, the twins exclaim, "Írimë!! With VELCO?!"

Arwen raises a fist in the air. "Yes!" she still whispers. "Way to go, Írimë!"

Erestor gestures her to shut up as Elladan speaks up.

"Írimë? But I thought I was going to take you – !" Suddenly realizing what he was about to say, he sneaks a look at Elrohir.

But Elrohir hadn't missed the sudden cut off. "YOU were going to take HER to the feast!"

Elladan nods miserable.

"But she was supposed to go with ME!" erupts Elrohir.

Both stare at each other in anger, then suddenly both become pale. "Then why is she with Velco?" they both exclaim, then face Írimë and Velco.

Irime, who doesn't seem to be fazed in the least, giggles. "Come now, you two weren't supposed to be here! I heard from your father you would be gone, so I thought you wouldn't be here. By the way," she asks innocently, "what are you doing here?"

Looking quite uncomfortable, the twins mumble some incomprehensible excuses. Írimë and Velco laugh. "Anyway, I'll see you two later!" Írimë says sweetly, blowing them a kiss.

"Well, seeing that the garden is occupied…" Velco winks at the twins and carries Írimë away.

Arwen nudges Erestor. "It's your turn now!" she whispers.

"All right, see you in a bit."

Erestor leaves the garden carefully without being noticed by Elrohir and Elladan who are trying to sort things out.

"So… I think we need to be honest here," Elladan says carefully.

"Definitely."

"Did you really go look for Halbarad?"

"Yes."

Elladan slaps Elrohir upside the head.

"OW! Ok, ok, I didn't!" Elrohir rubs his head painfully. "Well, you didn't either, did you?"

Not answering, Elladan just sighs deeply. "You gotta admit, we're in big trouble."

Elrohir taps a finger thoughtfully against his cheek. "Not unless father doesn't hear of it…"

The twins look slyly at each other. Both try to make a mad dash for the stables when they are halted by a surprised voice.

"Elrohir? Elladan?"

Wincing, the twins turn round to see that Lord Elrond and Erestor have entered the garden.

"What are you doing here?" Erestor says, pretending to be shocked though knowing full well they would have been there.

"That's the exact same question I have for them," Elrond says, puzzled. "You've already found Halbarad and his men?"

Elrohir and Elladan look at each other then back to their father. "You would like the truth, Ada?" Elladan asks softly.

"Of course!"

Elrohir sighs then gives him a big smile. "Yes, we found the Rangers! A simple task it was!"

Erestor gags while Elrond looks pleased. "Good job, my sons! But wait… why did you not go with them?"

"Ummm… well…" Elladan becomes silent then nudges Elrohir to answer.

"You see, father, we felt that we should stop by Rivendell before resuming our journey to find Aragorn," Elrohir smoothly explains.

"Very good." Just then, all the Elves hear a gong. "Ah, time for the feast to begin!" Elrond says happily. "I must make the speech!" Elrond leaves just thinking about getting to speak in front of all his 'people'. Erestor leaves with him but discreetly hides behind a tree.

"Great, just great!" Elrohir throws his hands up in the air. "Now father knows!"

"Knows what," Elladan snaps. "All we have to do is cover our tracks."

"How?"

"By finding Halbarad."

Elrohir groans. "They could very well be deep in the Ered Luin for all we know."

"Yeah." They sigh simultaneously. "We'd better get moving."

The twins walk grudgingly towards the stables. As they leave, Erestor hears one of them say, "I wonder why Írimë agreed to both of our taking her to the feast…?"

As soon as he feels that they are out of sight and sound, Erestor gets out into the open. "Arwen, come on out, they're gone." He hears no reply except for a weird snuffling sound. "Arwen?"

Curiously, he goes over to the bush where he had last seen Arwen. She has a hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes, and she is shaking all over.

"Arwen! Are you ok?"

Erestor is about to bend over her when he throws her hand off her mouth.

And Arwen laughs very loudly and uncontrollably.

Realizing that she had been shaking from keeping her laughter in, and that her tears had been tears of mirth, Erestor shakes his head. "Was it that funny?"

"Yes!" Gasp. "You should have…" giggle. "…seen their faces…" laughter. "…when father arrived…" snort. "Priceless!"

The normally serene Erestor allows himself to smirk. "It was a bit hilarious."

"But what's so perfect is that the Dimwit Duo and Ada will never know what really happened!"

Erestor frowns. "But that's just it. Your brothers didn't get into any trouble." As Arwen nods he frowns even more. "I thought that was the whole point of all of this."

Arwen finally comes to grip with her hysteria as she stands up and brushes leaves from her dress. "Don't you see, it's brilliant? Let Ada think that they got in touch with the Rangers, which they never will in time. In a few months, my beloved will return and tell father that the Rangers never came!"

Understanding, Erestor nods. "Elrond will be more upset to be lied to for so long, especially after the fact that there really is nothing he can do about it anymore."

"You know how daddy likes to think he can fix anything," Arwen says smugly. "This'll kill him. And then…" here she rubs her hands together evilly, "he'll kill my brothers."

Shaking his head, Erestor cannot keep the smile from his face. "You are just too wicked smart for your own good, Arwen."

She winks as she links arms with him. "I know. Don't you love me for it?" Before he can answer, Arwen's face brightens. "But of course, you don't want my love, do you? You want Vanië's love. Oh! Wait till I tell her about the time when you were sent on that errand for father – "

"You wouldn't dare!" Erestor says with fear in his eyes.

"Maybe, maybe not." Arwen pats his on his arm now gone stiff. "Don't worry, dear Erestor. I won't say anything tonight. For tonight, we celebrate!"

The two conspirators walk towards the main hall, ready to do some real feasting after such fun.

The End

Author's Note: So, what do you think? Any good? I really enjoyed writing the banter between Elrohir and Elladan. "So we tell the truth, did you look for Halbarad?" "Yes… OW!" hee hee!

Next "Why Did They Do That" story may take a while to be written, though I already know what it'll be about. It'll be about why Elrond had to take the sword to Dunharrow to give to Aragorn. It'll tie in a bit to this story.

Special Thanks To:

Racetrack's Goil Hey Maria, finally finished this epilogue! Surprised you, didn't I? Or maybe not… anyway, what did you think? Funny enough for your 'warped sense of humor'? :: wink ::! Yes, Elrohir and Elladan are cute and evil, aren't they? Though Arwen is a lot more evil in this epilogue…

Mirwen Sunrider/Elrondiel Yup, Arwen is pretty mischievous, ha ha! You gave me an idea, maybe I need to have a story with Estel in it! Anyway, thanks for reviewing, hope you enjoyed the epilogue!

freelance beatnik Like Erestor, huh? Hope you liked him in here, he has a girlfriend! Or Elf-maidenfriend… hmmm… Hope you liked the epilogue!

Laurelin Ancalimon Hey there, here's the epilogue! Hee hee, probably as my beta-reader you're spotting soooo many errors, aren't you? :P Hope you enjoy the epilogue was lots of fun to write! "Boromir, Thou Shall Live" is nice when I'm in the 'dramatic' mood, I need to write something totally off-the-wall and kinda 'stupid' once in a while, don't you think?

SirNotAppearingInThisFilm Thanks for the review! Yup, the twins are too smart for their own good, but as you read in this epilogue, Arwen is quite the mischevious Elf, too! Aragorn I'm hoping to have in my next story which I'm sure you'll like! It might take a while to write though, been busy with my other fics. But I'll try!

flip8 Hello, thank you much for reviewing! Sorry, Elrohir and Elladan didn't get to double-double-cross Arwen. :P Yup, Arwen reciting all her 'beloved's' title is pretty fun, I just thought of it when I was trying to write down a list of all of Aragorn's 'titles'. :P There's a lot… Anyway, hope you enjoy the epilogue!