Real Anonymous Fan : I love my brothers too, but I won't mind if someone wants to kidnap them. Save me the pain in my butt! LOL! And yes, I enjoy my weekend. I just got back from a trip.
Deana Hey, wake up, girl. Still swooning? Want me to tell Leggy to kiss you?
Dur En Thurin Naur Yep. Mordred is Arthur's illegitimate son.
Nessa Thranduiliel Of course, I love cliffies. It's my middle name after all. He he…
Sabrina I'm glad that you discovered me and this series. Feel free to stay and join the company!
Sesshyangel OMG! It's indeed a MEGA review! Thank you, mellon! I feel as big as a balloon now. OMG! Anyway, thank you so much for offering to be my beta but I already have a new one (Hi, Aranel!). I'm so glad that readers like you are willing to help me improve my writing. That's true. I don't use Elvish in my stories. I tried to keep it as minimum as possible because I'm not really good in Elvish (I will only made a fool of myself if I try it anyway. Ha! Ha!), and secondly I found reading other languages that I don't understand is a bit distracting. And yes, Manyan is my creation. And so is Keldarion. The rest are cannon.
KeluinLossehilin I do have a story in mind about little Kel. I'll let you know about it after it's finished. Have you received 'Triple Jeopardy' in your mail?
Legolas Garden Light : You got that right! The rescuer is going to be the rescuee!
Willow Evenstar It's all right, mellon, just as long as I'm in your heart.
BitterLee Thank you for giving me the information, and I'm also very glad for your deep concern. Love you for it. I will look into this matter and find out what's really going on.
Pavement Can you give me your e-mail so I can send it to you?
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As they sat down at a table, Keldarion shared a look with the twins and mouthed, "Keep your eyes open."
Elladan and Elrohir nodded, understanding Keldarion's meaning. They were already scanning the room, looking for lurking threats or hiding assailants.
Oblivious to his companions' extra caution, Legolas propped his chin against his palm and grinned. "Well, this is interesting," he said. "It's like déjà vu, you know. Didn't we come into a tavern once to get drunk only to find ourselves in a deep mess with the humans? Do you think they are going to abduct me again?"
The three elves looked at one another, turned back to Legolas, and snapped, "NO!"
Legolas blinked, stunned by the outburst. "Hey, don't need to bite my head off here. I was just making a joke."
"Not funny." Keldarion caught the eye of the tavern girl, giving her the signal that they were ready to place their order.
"And so was that reckless move out there, Legolas. Not funny at all," Elladan added. "We all could have ended up in a fix."
"Yes. We were lucky those people didn't mob us." Elrohir was shaking his head at Legolas, and then he sat up straighter. "Heck, what am I saying? Those women did mob you!"
Elladan and Keldarion grinned. "That's right! We heard them calling you a beautiful angel!"
Legolas blushed. He absently fingered his hair, slightly anxious. "Do you think I still have those blasted curls on my head?"
Instead of answering his question, his three companions broke into a loud guffaw. Legolas gave up and changed the subject, "All right. What are we doing here? You are not going to get me drunk now, are you? Because I don't think I'm going to fall for that trick. Again."
"I'm not so sure about that," Elrohir muttered with a grin, which was rewarded by a warning jab in the ribs from his twin.
"To be frank, Legolas, we have a surprise for you," Keldarion said as again he signaled—a bit more impatient this time—for the tavern girl.
"Oh? And why am I not so surprise?" Legolas cocked one perfect eyebrow, smirking back at his brother.
The tavern girl—a plump and harried looking young woman—finally stopped by their table, huffing and puffing for breath. "Sorry for the delay but it has been a long day and I'm the only one who is sane enough to wait on tables in this pathetic dump and I'm already dead on my feet I can't even work the energy to gush over you elves' ridiculous beauty but never mind me so what can I get you?"
The four companions gaped at her for a full second, amazed that she could talk long and fast in one single breath.
"Well, uh…" Elladan coughed to cover his gales of laugher. "We would like four mugs of your in-house mead and the Today's Special that you have listed on the board outside."
"Which one?"
"I beg your pardon?"
The woman rolled her eyes, looking bored. "All the dishes in here are special. At least, that's what my boss thinks so. But if you ask me, I think what he cooks inside that kitchen don't even worth a spit! You won't believe what he uses to fry the fishes and…"
"Just give us your famous 'Sweet As Honey' apple pie, 'Smooth And Tender' rice porridge and a bowl of your 'Fire Breathing' mushroom soup," Keldarion quickly interjected before her long tirade could drag on.
"The 'Fire Breathing' mushroom soup?" The woman's eyebrows rose.
"Yes. That's what I said."
She shrugged. "Fine. Your funeral."
At that, the tavern girl turned away from the table and rushed towards the kitchen, muttering to herself about the stupidity of certain creatures of Eldar. The four companions stared at one another for a complete heartbeat before they broke into a roaring laughter.
"That woman is very…uh…interesting," Elrohir stated afterwards, still chuckling.
"That's right, Ro," said Elladan. "A perfect wife for you, I might add. You sure are as interesting as she is."
That instantly shut Elrohir up. He glared at his twin and made a move to kick at Elladan's legs under the table. The elder son of Elrond quickly jumped out of his seat.
"Oh, for Valar's sake." Keldarion sighed. "Sit down, Ell. And, Ro, keep your feet where they can't kick at anything. We are here for a reason and that is not to see the two of you killing each other senseless."
"And what is that reason, may I ask?" Legolas spoke. "Pulling a prank on me?"
Keldarion clasped a hand over his heart, pretending that he was shocked by Legolas' words. "Oh, brother, you hurt me! What made you think I would do that to you? You are here to eat and relax, brat. We are paying, see? Our treat."
"Uh huh." Legolas' gaze was skeptical as he eyed his brother, his arms crossed over his chest. "Should I say 'thank you' or 'no, thank you'?"
"Oh, don't mention it," Keldarion responded with a grin.
"Fine." Legolas rolled his eyes at his brother's intent to evade his question. "I'm curious, though. How the blazes did they come out with such names for those meals? 'Fire Breathing' soup? 'Smooth and Tender' what-not? I mean, are they really necessary?"
"You will know after you savor them," Elladan said, reclaiming his seat.
"The food here is great, Legolas. Trust me," Elrohir added.
"Trust you?" Legolas snorted. "Get real!"
Not long after, the tavern girl returned, bearing a large tray on one shoulder. She plunked the mugs on mead in front of them, before dumping plates and overfilled bowls with loud thunks on the table.
"Enjoy," she announced and went on her way.
The elves blinked.
"Right. Um…" Elladan chuckled. "The food here might be great but the service is sure a lousy one."
"I second that," Keldarion responded and began to push the bowl of rice porridge at Legolas' way. "Here. You had better eat this. It's a good healthy food to help your growth."
Legolas frowned darkly at the porridge, deeply suspicious. "Why should I eat this when you get to eat that mushroom soup?"
The other three elves looked blandly at each other, and that gave Legolas all the more reason to be even more wary. "What? Have you somehow sabotaged my porridge? Is that why you want me to eat it?"
"Look, brat, there's nothing wrong with the porridge," Keldarion said in an 'I'm-your-big-brother-so-do-as-I-say' tone. "Eat it. You will like it, I promise you."
"But why can't I have that soup?" Legolas knew he sounded like a rotten and insufferable little child but he didn't care.
"Because it's too hot and spicy for you."
Legolas didn't believe it. Not even a little bit. "Too spicy? But it's a mushroom soup! It shouldn't be spicy!"
"Well, this is one is."
"Then why did you ask for it?"
"Because I like it," Keldarion lied and began to sigh dramatically. "Really, Legolas. The soup is too strong for your taste. I don't think you can bear to even swallow it."
"Oh, too strong for me, is that it?" His ego a little hurt, Legolas yanked at Keldarion's bowl and picked up the spoon. "Now let's see who is stronger here, me or the soup."
As his companions held their breath, Legolas dipped his spoon into the soup and brought it to his mouth. His eyes widened then, surprised to find that it tasted so delicious.
"It's very good." He took another spoonful. "I don't know what the big deal is with it being too strong for me, unless you want it all for yourself or…"
Legolas froze, the spoon lay suspended in midair.
Something's wrong here, he thought with increasing panic, staring at the porridge in horror. His tongue and the back of his throat started to feel like they were slowly burning!
"Legolas?" Keldarion gently asked. "What's wrong? Is it too hot for you?"
It took Legolas a great deal to speak, but he managed it with a brittle smile. "No, not at all. I think I'm going to like the taste of this soup very, very much," he replied, lying through his teeth. His mouth was on fire now but he refused to back down. His pride was at stake here. Trying to wash off the burning sensation, Legolas picked up his mug and chugged down the mead.
It was absolutely the wrong thing to do.
Legolas gasped. He choked, and gasped again as the burning in his mouth intensified. His eyes watering, he glared at his three companions who just sat there staring at him. Keldarion was blinking, Elladan was gaping, and Elrohir was biting his lip to keep himself from grinning.
"So, Legolas. How was it?" the younger twin asked.
"It's great," Legolas said through gritted teeth with a false smile on his face. "It's indeed a strong food for a strong person like me."
Or rather, for a stupid person like me, he added in his thought. He knew he had just been tricked. He had easily fallen into the trap—hook, line and sinker. Ai! I'm so stupid!
"Now I know why they call it 'Fire Breathing' mushroom soup," he added with forced bravado in his voice. "I wonder what they put in it to bring up that smashing hot taste."
"I believe they put in some amount of black pepper," Elladan said, pointing at the dark particles in the soup. "Maybe they also add in some bits of dried chilly for more smashing result."
Legolas shuddered involuntarily. Black pepper? Dried chilly? Valar. What have I gotten myself into?
Feeling pity for his brother, Keldarion pushed the plate of apple pie towards Legolas. "Here. Have some of this. The sweet taste will chase away the burning in your mouth."
Legolas glared, his face so red he was almost purple. "Who says my mouth is burning?" he snapped.
Oops. Keldarion pulled back at the pie. "Uh…fine, then. But are you sure…?"
"I'm sure," Legolas curtly said. "Now aren't you all eating or are you just going to watch me eat?"
His three companions instantly grabbed their spoons and began digging at their food, staying away from the deadly soup.
But not Legolas. He would die first before admitting that their trick had gotten to him. So, to save face, he looked down at his bowl, took a deep breath, and resumed the agonizing task of finishing his meal.
TBC…
What's gonna happen next?