Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Thank you
all soooo much for your incredible reviews! Yes, I know right now it's
all fluff, but don't worry! Angst and drama will be coming up pretty
soon, proving that the darn plot bunnies don't start hopping around my
head again. Just this once, I'm going to indulge in self-indulgance, so
bear with me for a minute. Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday dear HarryEstel! Happy Birthday to me! I just love
birthdays! And yes, September 8 is my actual birthday!
YEAH! Anyway, many many thanks to my incredibly awesome beta enb2004,
YOU GO GIRL! Here is Chapter Seven as promised, oh and I normally don't
ask for reviews, but reviews would truly be a wonderful birthday
present, thanks! Enjoy!
Elrond and Glorfindel had not been the
only ones to hear Legolas scream. Erestor had been walking around the
house, trying to find the twins and Legolas before they did each other
bodily harm, when he heard Legolas scream.
Erestor shuddered
when he heard the scream. He knew that Elrond was probably right in the
midst of taking out Estel's stitches and the last thing that he needed
was a highly unexpected scream. He hoped that the Valar would have
mercy on Elladan and Elrohir, for Erestor was sure that Elrond would
not.
Sighing, he looked up at the sky and gave a silent prayer
to the Valar, asking for strength, before heading towards the bedrooms.
It sounded as though the twins had woken Legolas up through some
hideous means judging by that ill timed scream.
It was truly
amazing that those two hadn't grayed everyone's hair yet. Between the
pranks they pulled and their tendency to return home grievously
injured, it was truly a miracle from the Valar that they hadn't been
killed or permanently maimed.
Shaking away those disturbing thoughts, Erestor hastened his pace. He really had to find the Prince and the twins.
Finding
them didn't prove to take to long. All Erestor had to do was follow the
shouts and promises of retribution. When he finally came across them,
he saw Legolas, whose long blonde hair was still dripping wet, about to
pounce on both of the twins very close to the edge of the stairs.
Just as Legolas was about to pounce on the twins, Erestor grabbed Legolas at the last second.
Legolas scowled when he felt himself be pulled away from the twins from behind.
He whirled around angrily only to come face to face with Erestor.
"Forgive me Erestor, but I have unfinished business with Elladan and Elrohir," he said glaring daggers at the said twins.
"Twas only a small joke Legolas! There is no need to murder us," Elrohir said playfully.
They
all knew that Legolas would never actually hurt anyone. Threaten, sure,
but hurt them? Never, well, at least not on purpose.
Erestor
raised an eyebrow at the twins. "A small prank? The scream Legolas
uttered should have been enough to wake the dead!" he exclaimed.
Elladan and Elrohir grinned while Legolas could only groan and eye his dripping wet hair with distaste.
Seeing
Legolas's hair, Erestor sighed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Legolas, did they wake you up with another bucket of cold water?" he
asked.
At Erestor's statement, both the twins looked highly affronted. "We most certainly did not!" Elladan exclaimed.
"Indeed not. You know we would not stoop to such an overused prank as that!" Elrohir said.
"Oh really? Than pray tell why Legolas's hair is dripping wet," Erestor said sarcastically.
"They speak the truth Erestor, if a somewhat twisted version of it," Legolas said dryly.
Erestor turned and looked at him in confusion, motioning for him to continue.
"They
never said it was bucket of cold water. Quite the contrary I'm afraid.
It was bucket of very hot water that I woke up to this morning. A most
original twist on an old and used prank I must admit," Legolas said
glaring at the twins playfully.
Oh he would get the twins back,
that was a fact. But he wouldn't kill them. At least, not yet. Prank
them horrifically, yes; murder, a bit to extreme.
Erestor saw
that Legolas did not actually mean to murder the twins and once again
sighed, however this time in relief. That was one less elf he would
have to worry about murdering Elladan and Elrohir.
"Elladan,
Elrohir, just because Legolas had decided not to kill you, for the
moment anyway, do not even begin to think that your father won't," he
said sternly.
Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other in confusion. What had they done that would make their Adar wish to kill them?
"Pardon
me, but why would Lord Elrond wish to kill them?" Legolas asked.
Although he didn't appreciate being woken up by a bucket of hot water,
it was most certainly one of the tamer pranks that the twins could have
pulled on him.
"When you screamed Legolas, which by no means is
your fault, Elrond happened to be and is still probably taking out
Estel's stitches," Erestor said glaring at the twins.
Legolas's
eyes widened as he remembered the scream he had uttered when he had
felt the hot water. Lord Elrond was sure to flay the twins alive for
that. Alas, he couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty himself. Elrond
could have seriously injured Estel in his startlement, even though it
seemed unlikely.
"Erestor, please forgive me, I did not
realize," Legolas said truly apologetic. He had absolutely zero desire
to harm his newest little friend. The fact that his scream might have
was a truly horrendous thought for him.
Erestor only waved him
off though while glaring at the twins. "As I said Legolas, it is no
fault of your own. You did not know what time Estel's stitches were
being taken out, and one does not exactly plan to being woken up in the
manner you were. I too would have screamed if a bucket of hot water was
suddenly dumped on me while I was sleeping. You two however, should
have thought of what Legolas's reaction might be. You knew very well
that your father was going to remove the stitches this morning,'"
Erestor said.
Elladan and Elrohir gulped together. They were so
in for it now. Indeed, while it had occurred to them that Legolas might
scream (which was entirely the point) they had not thought about how
their Adar would react to it while taking stitches out.
"Erestor, we are so sorry. We truly did not realize it, although we should have," Elladan said remorsefully.
"Truly,
we are. We had not thought about it and it was foolish of us," Elrohir
said, his eyes dimming at the thought of possibly being the cause of an
injury to his baby brother.
"You're right, it was foolish, but
with time, your Ada will forgive you. Come, I am sure that the
procedure is done and over with by now. I know that Elrond will want to
see you, all of you," Erestor said, noticing that Legolas was trying to
creep away unnoticed.
Sighing in defeat, the twins and Legolas followed Erestor back down to the Healing Wing.
Back
in the Healing Wing, Elrond was at last taking out the very final
stitch. "There, it is done," Elrond said with a sigh of relief.
Bar
the unexpected scream from Legolas, the entire procedure had gone very
smoothly. Elrond frowned when he remembered the scream. He would have
to have words with the twins as soon as they came down to check on
Estel.
"When do you think that he will wake up mellon nin?" Glorfindel asked, causing Elrond to come out of his thoughts.
For
a moment, Elrond frowned thoughtfully while taking in Estel's size,
age, and race. "I would say that he should wake some time after the
afternoon meal," he said after a few moments of calculation.
"Do you think that he'll be able to go outside today? I know he was very much looking forward to," Glorfindel said.
"I
do not believe so mellon nin. He is very tired and even after he wakes
up from the tea, he will more than likely still feel its effects and
fall back asleep shortly afterwards. I only hope that we can keep him
awake long enough to eat something," Elrond said.
"Hmmm, once the twins are in here I doubt that shall be a problem," Glorfindel said with a hint of a smile.
"Yes,
you are probably right. Come, I believe that Erestor is probably
outside along with Legolas and the twins," Elrond said already moving
towards the door.
Sure enough, once he had opened it, he found them waiting outside all wearing anxious expressions.
Seeing their father, Elladan and Elrohir jumped up immediately and started speaking hurriedly.
"Oh
Ada! We are so sorry. We truly did not mean to startle you. It was
foolish of us, we know this. Please, forgive us Ada," Elrohir said all
at once.
"Please Ada, tell us how Estel is. We are truly sorry, it shall never happen again," Elladan said sorrowfully.
"My
Lord, I am truly sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I did not even
know that you were taking out the stitches this early in the morning,"
Legolas said looking quite down trodden.
"Legolas, I have told
you many times not to call me Lord. Please, it is just Elrond, I am
your godfather after all. And do not fret Greenleaf, I am not mad at
you in the slightest although I must admit your scream startled me
somewhat," Elrond said smiling at the depressed Prince.
"I already told him that Elrond, but he just refused to listen to me," Erestor complained.
"Ah, that does not surprise me in the slightest," Glorfindel muttered.
"Ada, we are so sorry. We never meant for you to be startled. Please tell us how Estel is," Elrohir begged.
"He
is fine my sons. He is still sleeping from the drug I gave him and will
continue to sleep for a good while yet. Now, I know you did not mean to
startle me and thankfully, no harm was done. You must be more careful
though my sons. A lesser healer might have done some damage to Estel.
You are forgiven so long as you promise me there will not be a repeat
of this incident," Elrond said.
"Of course not Ada! It won't ever happen again, we promise," Elladan said, his eyes showing his relief that Estel was fine.
"Good.
However, due to this incident, I may just let Legolas and Estel play a
prank on you in revenge," Elrond said, eyes shinning with mirth.
At
this the twins groaned while Elrond, Legolas, Glorfindel, and Erestor
all laughed. Legolas could be quite creative in his pranks and when you
added a mischievous four year old into the mix, the results were sure
to be interesting and entertaining.
"Legolas, so long as you
don't cut our hair again, you and Estel may feel free to prank us,"
Elladan said figuring it would be better to concede defeat gracefully.
At least this way, his and Elrohir's hair was sure to stay intact.
Legolas
nodded thoughtfully. Truth be told it was a good trade off. "Very well
mellon nin, I accept that term," he said, eyes sparkling with laughter.
He already had an idea for the twins. He would have to run it by Estel
first seeing as they were to be co-conspirator's in crime, but he was
pretty sure that Estel would agree. He might not have known Estel for
very long, but if Estel lived with the twins, then some of their
influence was bound to have rubbed off on him.
"This should be
interesting. Mellon nin, are you sure pairing Estel with Legolas is
such a great idea? Think of the influence that Legolas will have on
him," Erestor whispered softly.
"Perhaps, but it will happen
eventually. I'd rather it be sooner than later. At least this way, we
know what to expect," Elrond whispered back.
"Now, Legolas,
Elladan, Elrohir, I assume with this mornings events, that you have not
had time to eat breakfast, correct?" Elrond asked.
The three
named elves looked at each other in embarrassment before nodding at
Elrond. With everything that had happened, they had completely
forgotten about the morning meal.
"Come then, I'm sure that the
kitchen staff would be more than pleased to set out a late breakfast
for you three. I am going to remain here and keep an eye on Estel. You
three may come back only after you have eaten," Elrond said sternly.
"All
right Ada, if that is what you wish," Elrohir said. He had no wish to
further anger his father than he already had this day, even if their
father had already forgiven them.
"Yes, now go on, I know that
you are all hungry. Once you come back, we must have an important
talk," Elrond said, throwing glances at his twin sons.
Elladan
and Elrohir understood at once what their Ada was referring to. Legolas
still did not know the truth about Estel's identity and he really
needed to know. Particularly if he and Estel were going to become
friends which already seemed to be apparent.
"All right Ada," Elladan said cheerfully.
"Come
on Elrohir, Legolas, let's go grab so breakfast. The sooner we eat, the
sooner we can come back and sit with Estel," he said while dragging a
confused Legolas to the door.
"Thank you Elladan. Do try not to choke on your food in your haste, hmmm?" Elrond said with a smile.
"Of course not Ada, we shall be right back!" Elrohir cried before he to was grabbed by the sleeve and dragged out the door.
Once the twins and Legolas had left, Glorfindel and Erestor turned to Elrond and stared at him pityingly.
"What?" Elrond asked in confusion.
"We are so sorry Elrond," Glorfindel said sympathetically.
"Sorry about what?" Elrond asked, looking back and forth between his two advisors.
"For
having to put up with all four of them. We wish you the best of luck
mellon nin and we shall be here to help you the entire way," Erestor
said kindly.
Elrond groaned as he realized what his two good
friends were saying. Estel was going to turn out just like his brothers
and Legolas. Add the occasional visit from Arwen in... Valar help them
all.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father
Ion nin: My son
Mellon nin: My friend
Arda: Middle Earth
