Chapter Sixteen Formal Skills Revealed: Gifts and Feasts

He groaned and rolled over, hearing a squeal drift into his room from down the hallway. Opening his eyes, he remembered what day it was, and he grinned. The door to his chamber slammed open causing him to wince at the noise, and then grunt at being bombarded by two small elflings who were to his surprise quite heavy.

"Alright, alright!" He gave in sitting up and tickling the boys unmercilessly. "I am up." He chuckled when his wife rolled over, bearing a bright smile to her son's.

"Ahh, the little monsters are awake." She smiled sitting up holding her arms out to hug the boys.

They quickly withdrew from their father's attentions to their sides and bellies to their mother's warm hugs, and kisses. They hugged her tightly, and muttered good morning. The twins scrambled off the bed tugging at their mother's arms to get up.

"Nana, get up!" Elladan said tugging her right hand. "There are pastries this morning, the smells are all down the halls, we need to get there before anyone else does."

Celebrian laughed standing from the bed and shooting her husband an apologetic look. Elrond shook his head grinning. Elrohir was already at the door holding it open dancing excitedly.

"Hurry, Orfinel will eat them all. You know how he loves the Yule Tide pastries." Elrohir waved his arms impatiently.

Elrond and Celebrian exited their chambers following the excited elfling's down the halls to the kitchens. Elrond winked at his wife, after the twin's darted around a corner, no longer caring if their parents were behind them. Their anxious minds were on all the sweets that were already in preparation for the days Yule Tide Festival.

Elladan and Elrohir stood beside the kitchen doors waiting for their parents to arrive around the corner they had already turned moments before. When they spotted their mother and father, the boys quickly turned the handle of the door and shoved it open. The twins scrambled into the brightly lit room, and smiled broadly at the people scattered in the kitchens laughing merrily.

Elrohir twisted around in mid stride and saw his parents enter. Once he caught sight of them he turned around again and slammed into a figure. Both tumbled to the ground in a heap. Elrohir lifted his head and blushed crimson at who he had knocked over. It was a pretty little elfling, with bright golden hair, and deep blue eyes that rivalled the great ocean. He scrambled to his feet muttering a quick apology. He glanced over his shoulder and saw his father's frown. The youngest twin lowered his hand wrinkling his nose at having to pose as a gentleman this day.

The hand that grasped his was a warm and small fingers wrapped around his hoisting herself up. She smiled brightly, and leaned over kissing his cheek whispering a thank you before darting over to her family, who were seated in the corner. Grumbling under his breath wiping his cheek with the back of his hand, Elrohir blushed. Looking up from the floor he caught the grin his brother shot at him and he groaned. Elladan was not about to make this day any easier then his mother and father were.

The twins climbed up onto some stools at the main counter, and were each greeted by the cook who placed a large platter in front of them. Elrond and Celebrian chuckled, watching quietly as their son's stuffed their faces full of pastries and milk.
Elrond nudged his wife's side and tilted his head in the direction of the elfling his son had knocked over. Celebrian smiled when she saw the quick looks over the shoulder and the small smiles that were shot over towards the twin's. She nodded and placed a finger to her lips telling her husband to keep his thoughts to himself. Elrond grinned and sipped at the wine that was placed into his hands by his cook. The day had begun.

"Nana!" Elrohir grumbled as his head was pulled back and tied into the traditional elfling knot. "Do not pull so hard." He whined. His hands reached up to grasp the top of his head to ease the pull on his hair.

"If you stop moving it will not hurt so much." Celebrian smirked at the shuffling feet and wriggling her son was doing. She placed the brush down on the blue comforter lying on her son's bed, and pulled him around to face her as she tucked the waylaid strands behind his ears. Reaching over for the soft blue cotton pants, she quickly tore the towel away from his waist before he could protest.

Elrohir yelped as his towel was torn away, and replaced quickly by the cotton pants he had been fitted for the day before. His mother held up a white shirt, and he held up his hands as she tugged it down. Celebrian chuckled as he pulled at the hem and turned around looking at himself in the mirror before throwing a grin over at her. She turned him around again so he faced her, and she held up a small mithril circlet that caused him to frown and pout at the sight of it.

She quickly placed it on his head and tucked the hoop under his hair tie. Once situated on his head she pulled the white and blue cotton robe down from a hook and placed it around his frame. Celebrian nodded in satisfaction, and pushed him towards the door. He grumbled about the robe and circlet all the way to the door, saying it was stupid to wear because he would only have to take it off by nights end.

Elrohir stood out in the hallway and saw his brother's door open and revealed a similar outfit on his brother. The youngest twin grinned broadly taking in his brother's pale green pants and white shirt. His brother also had a mithril circlet on his head, but golden leaves were engraved into it, marking Elladan as the heir.

Elrond came out and nodded at his wife approving of the matching outfits, but also with enough difference so the twin's could not play their switch pranks. Elladan and Elrohir hooked their arms together and walked tall and proudly down the halls to their first Yule Tide festival. Elrond and Celebrian followed grinning with pride, watching the two boys happily whisper to each other.

Elladan sat at the head of the table with his family, and leaned over to whisper to his brother.

"Look at all the pretty lights." He smiled looking around him excitedly, his little feet swinging back and forth missing the floor by at least three inches. "Did you see, Ro? Did you see how pretty Nana looked?"

Elrohir grinned nodding. He let his eyes hungrily drift across the table, taking in all the pastries, vegetables, fruits, honey cakes, date cakes, wine decanters, juices, honey ciders, and many other items scattered around on the large white table cloth. His eyes however were nowhere near his mother or father, who were seated beside each other at the head of the table. They were leaning over whispering softly to each other in the loud halls. Elrohir's eyes wandered over to the small glass of wine that had been poured for him and his brother, in celebration of their first Yule Tide feast and festival. He had tasted it and grimaced at the bitter taste, and had wrinkled his nose. Elladan seemed to have enjoyed his and his glass was already half empty.

Elrohir stood up from his chair and walked over to his parents, and leaned over whispering into his father's ear. "Ada?"

Elrond leaned over, and smiled. "What is it, Elrohir?"

"May I have some tea?" He asked glancing around to see if anyone had heard him.

"You do not like the wine?" Elrond asked grinning now, and looking at the full glass that stood in front of his son's empty plate.

Elrohir shook his head quickly sticking his tongue out, before remembering his manners and slipping it back into his mouth and looking up at his father through his eyelashes, with big eyes.

Elrond chuckled and nodded. "Would you like to try a new blend of tea that arrived from Mirkwood this morning?"

Elrohir scrunched up his face thinking. "What kind?"

"Why not try it and see if you like it?"

Elrohir wandered back to his seat and sat down watching as his father spoke with a serving maiden who had volunteered for the nights feast. She nodded and brought Elrohir a cup of steaming tea, taking the wine glass away with her right hand as she placed the cup of tea down with her left.

Elrohir pulled the tea towards him and sniffed at the sweet aroma that drifted to his nose. Smiling brightly, he gingerly took a sip and grinned in his father's direction nodding. Honey and cinnamon tastes filled his mouth and slipped down his throat leaving a warm feeling in his stomach. He realized, he did not have to sweeten it with honey or cool it with milk; it tasted perfect to him.
Elladan leaned over and whispered to him. "What was wrong with the wine?"

"Nothing, but it was bitter and I do not like it." Elrohir murmured around another mouth full of tea.

"I like it. It is not bitter." Elladan stated. Elrohir rolled his eyes in response and took another sip of tea.

A plate of steaming food was placed in front of his brother, and then one in front of him and they both waited patiently for their parents to signal the ok to eat. Once a speech was made, one both boys chose to ignore, and a small thanks to the Valar, Elrond nodded to the guests seated around the table to eat.

Both boys quickly picked up an odd shaped vegetable and gave each other a stunned stare before taking a small bite. Elrond almost burst into laughter at the twin's faces after they had swallowed the foreign food of Gondor.

Elrohir shivered and quickly spat the food into his hand, while his brother gagged and stuck his tongue out in disgust after swallowing the spicy food. Elladan reached out for his wine glass and took a quick sip shivering afterwards and closing his eyes.

Elrond cleared his throat behind his hand causing both boys to glance his way cautiously. He shook his slightly, and smiled nodding his head for them to try the other food. Elrohir glared at his plate looking back at his father a moment later with a worried expression on his face. Elrohir's eyes wandered away from his father's face catching sight of the little girl from the morning. His eyes widened slinking down in his chair, hiding behind his brother. Too late, he groaned when she smiled at him and waved.

Elladan grinned and leaned over whispering into his brother's ear. "She likes you."

Elrohir winced. "Leave me alone." He hissed.

Elladan nudged his brother's shoulder. "Are you going to ask her to dance at the garden party?"

Elrohir wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Eww, no!"

Elladan laughed merrily. "I am going to ask Néndra. We can dance under the stars and listen to the singing all night." Elladan spread his hands out wide, tipping over his wine glass in the process.

Elrohir reached out to grab the rolling glass and missed it as it fell off the table and clanged on the floor loudly. He sat up straight, eyes wide.

Elrond shook his head groaning. "Are you two going to eat? Or just play around?" He whispered.

Elladan muttered an apology quickly his face red. "I am excited father."

Elrond nodded smiling. "I know, eat then you may leave the table."

Elrohir leaned over his brother whispering. "But ada it is spicy. Can we not have cheese, honey and bread?"

"Try the rest, Elrohir. Try the food from Mirkwood. You enjoy the tea, perhaps you will like the food."

Elrohir sat back in his chair frowning. He reached out and took up a small white pastry like item and took a small bite. Grinning broadly, he nudged his brother and pointed to the one on his plate. "They are sweet." He whispered.

Elladan and Elrohir both quickly ate the food left on their plates, minus the elbow shaped items from Gondor. After chewing what was left, the downed their drinks, and anxiously waited until their father and mother gave them permission to leave the table. Once their parents nodded their approval, they scrambled from their chairs and raced from the room.

Elrohir held the tightly wrapped gift under his arm and drifted across the hall to his brother's room. In his right hand he held a small wrapped box for his brother.

Taking a deep breath he knocked once and pushed the door open.

"Hi, Ro." Elladan grinned picking up his gifts, and turning around to face his brother.

"Ella?"

Elladan smiled nodding. "What?"

"Can we open our gifts here?" Elrohir asked softly glancing around nervously.

Elladan frowned but nodded. "If you want to."

"I do." Came the soft reply. Elrohir watched as his brother sat on the bed and patted the spot beside him.

Elrohir quickly scrambled up next to Elladan and held out the small blue box to his brother. "Here."

Elladan grinned from ear to ear and tore the paper off the box. "What is it?" He asked while lifting the lid.

Elrohir remained silent as he watched his brother tear apart the paper and pull the lid off. He swallowed, his heart pattering inside his little chest anxiously waiting for his brother's disappointed smile.

Elladan tilted the box, and felt his brother's uneasiness beside him. His eyes grew wide at the small trinket that fell out. He picked it up and noticed it was a broach with silver chains hanging down from the clasp. At the end of the chains there were two gems. One was blue and the other one was green. Small white stones traced the outline of an ivy leaf, and two smaller leaves hung under the gems. Green glass paint, which hardened into speckled colours, covered the ivy leaves. With a happy yelp, Elladan flung his arms around his brother's neck.

"Oh, Elrohir. It is so pretty."

"Do you really like it?" Elrohir asked nervously.

Elladan nodded and quickly pinned it to his tunic. "I love it." He held out the one for his brother. "This is for you."

Elrohir smiled taking the long box from his brother's hands. He also tore the paper off quickly and dumped the contents of the box onto the bed. He felt his eyes widen much the same way his brother's had, as he reached out for the chain that sat among the torn paper. Elrohir grinned at the pendent that hung from the delicate chain. It was his tree. Green jewels made the leaves, and dark garnets covered the trunk. There were two diamonds above the tree, and looked like stars. The chain was made of mithril. He lifted his head and felt tears well up in his eyes.

"Oh Ella, this is too nice for me." Elrohir smiled slightly.

Elladan shook his head. "No, it is perfect. It is your tree. The one you always climb and sit in."

Elrohir nodded and hugged his brother tightly. "Thank you." He whispered into his brother's ear.

Elladan grinned and hugged his brother back. "Come on, we are going to miss the dancing and singing and all the sweet treats." Elladan jumped off the bed and pulled his brother out of his room.

The boys raced down the halls and followed the loud conversations out into the garden where a flurry of colours and people surrounded the vast area. Dresses and formal wear were seen everywhere. Tall pillars stood on the edges of the garden, large candles sitting on the top, lighting the area brightly. Long tables were set up filled with drinks, barrels, glasses and treats. Silk streamers danced in the air as children waved them around jumping around in tune with the harps, and pipes. Both boys stood transfixed at the activity around them. Giving each other mischievous grins they entered the gardens quickly in search of their parents, were had still not arrived.

Elrohir felt a light tap on his shoulder, and he spun around startled. He glanced into a pair of bright blue eyes dancing with merriment and he felt a groan well up into his throat. Swallowing hard, he gave his best smile and remembering his manners, bowed. A soft voice whispered softly. "Would you like to dance?"