Disclaimer – of if only I could! The only elves I own are Sarlinna and the four eldest Mirkwood children! The rest are stolen or should I maybe say borrowed property!

My thanks to all who have reviewed so far...please keep them coming! i hope you enjoy this next harmless chapter!

Of Young Minds

Chapter Two – Innocence

It was late night. All were sleeping, or at least they should be sleeping. Two identical elves were currently creeping along the corridors. They had to talk to Arwen. Upon reaching her door, they crept in and silently woke her. As they talked, the young elf maids face grew from being extremely unhappy to one of pure delight. Once the plan had been properly formed, the twins disappeared back to their room.

Legolas let Glorfindel pour milk over his wheat-a-bix. In truth, he did not mind eating the wheat-a-bix, for if he left it long enough it all turned mushy and he didn't have to chew it. It was not that he did not like solid food; it was the way he had first been introduced to it. Elerrina had been throwing a tantrum again because she did not want to eat her carrots, again. She had screamed and shouted then Telperion had asked why 'Baby' does not have to eat proper food. The next day to Legolas's astonishment, he had been given food like that of his older siblings. The then three-year-old had first been amazed by this new food and had tried different things, with his hands for he had just learnt how to eat with a spoon. But once more, during one of Elerrina's tantrums, Telperion had demanded to know why 'Baby' did not have to use the proper tools for eating, a knife and fork. So gradually, the change from one kind of food to another had been a terrifying thing for the 'Baby' of the family. It had grown so bad that Legolas had grown to fear meal times because of his sisters. But here in Imladris was different. Glorfindel had been kind to the little elfling and was taking time at meal times to make it a fun and enjoyable experience. If only his sisters could feel that way. Looking over at them he saw that Ninniach was arguing with Telperion. Soon Elerrina would start crying and all would turn to her. It happened all the time. He knew that Elerrina liked the attention and hated for others to get more than her. Her best friend was Telperion and the two would go everywhere together. They had delighted in Legolas at first but once they found out he got more attention, they became jealous. Legolas did not really mind, he was a very forgiving child and right now he had Glorfindel as a friend.

It was almost time for dinner. The day had gone far too slowly for Arwen. At first she had been looking forward to it but over breakfast, things had changed. Elerrina had thrown a tantrum over the fact she wanted hot milk. She had tried playing with the two older girls but they had ignored her so she had gone to find her brothers. They had told her to get the prank ready for that evening while they occupied Ninniach and Carnil. Then they had forgotten her and kept playing. As a last resort she had gone to find Legolas. The little elfling was learning how to climb a tree while Glorfindel helped. So Arwen, who had been climbing trees since the age of three, decided to help. Now it was time for dinner. She finished brushing her hair and slowly made her way to the dining hall. She spotted the twins just ahead. They waited for their sister and the three siblings made their way to dinner. Mind you they walked very slowly. As they walked, they talked.

"Do you think she's found out yet?" asked Elrohir.

"Does it sound like it?" asked Elladan sarcastically. Elrohir punched his brother in the arm while Arwen giggled. Her brothers always knew how to cheer her up.

"Hey Arwen, sorry we didn't play with you today," Elrohir said as he placed an arm around her shoulders.

"What did you do?" asked Elladan. But before Arwen could answer, a loud scream swept through the halls.

"She found out!" they said together. Anyone who had been watching these children walk would have noticed how fast they started walking and then how soon they were seated at the table. Nearly everyone was seated. Ninniach and Queen Sarlinna as well as Celebrian were the only ones missing. Looking around, Arwen saw Legolas playing with his knife and fork next to Glorfindel. While everyone had looked up at the scream, and were still listening to it, Legolas had not even reacted. Arwen pointed this out to her brothers who both looked at the blonde elfling.

"Maybe he's used to it!" said Elrohir thoughtfully.

"With sisters like that hardly surprising!" Elladan added. Arwen grinned.

"I was helping Glorfindel teach him to climb trees today! He's fun to be around!" she said still looking at him.

"Lets, play with him tomorrow El," Elladan suggested using the nickname Arwen had given them when she was younger. His twin agreed and they sat and waited for the latecomers to arrive.

"I can't go in there!" came a shrill scream from outside the door.

"Ninniach, we are already late, you will go in there so we can eat!" came the firm voice of Sarlinna.

"But Naneth!"

"Now!"

The doors were thrown open with a bang and Ninniach stalked towards her seat. Her usually light brown hair was now a bright shade of pink. The twins and Arwen stared at her, smiles fighting to be shown on their faces. In fact, it was Legolas who first started to laugh. Carnil soon joined his brother in laughter while Telperion and Elerrina stared at their older sister in shock.

"Ninni, why is your hair pink?" asked Telperion innocently.

"Maybe she wanted to be different!" Elerrina suggested when Ninniach showed no sign of talking.

"But who would dye their hair pink?" Telperion was confused.

"I would! It's a pretty colour!" Elerrina said happily. The two innocent girls were unknowingly making their older sister very grumpy.

"Naneth, can I have pink hair like Ninni?" asked Telperion and Elerrina together. Sarlinna only smiled at the two girls and began to eat. Elrond looked at his three children and groaned. They were huddled together and whispering. He knew they were the culprits in this, but he could not prove it. For they would plead innocent if he asked, they always did. Then he smiled. This would be a perfect way for the friendship of the children to start. If his sons could get the older children of Thranduil to loosen up then perhaps it would not be so strained between them.

Later that night found not two but four children out of bed. Ninniach was going to get revenge for her pink hair, and she was dragging Carnil along with her. The twins had enjoyed that prank and were all set for another one, this time on Carnil. Something simple would be best they decided. So they were going to place a bucket of honey and feathers over his door. Elladan was gathering feathers from their rooms while Elrohir got some honey from the kitchens. That is, until he ran into Ninniach.

"What are you doing here?" they asked together in equal shock. Ninniach tugged at her pink hair and glared at Elrohir. Elrohir grinned innocently. He grabbed two jars of honey and started to back towards the door, snatching a slice of bread off the counter before leaving.

"I'm hungry!" he informed Ninniach as he made his escape, honey jars hidden. Then he ran to his brother.

Ninniach watched him leave and looked around the kitchen. She was sure she had seen two jars of honey just recently. Shrugging her shoulders, she found two more and went in search of Carnil. He should have enough feathers by now!

Legolas lay in his bed and tried to sleep. He was so bored. Leaning over his bed he stared underneath it and pretended there was a cat under there. So absorbed was he in his world, he failed to hear to door open and shut. It was only when Arwen asked him what he was doing did he realise he was not alone.

"Nothing!" he said innocently, looking with large blue eyes at the elf maid. Arwen grinned. She lay on her stomach and looked under the bed.

"I used to pretend I had a pet cat under my bed when I was bored!" she said.

"Really?" Legolas asked hanging over the edge of his bed again.

"Yep, I named him Snowy cos he was so black you couldn't see him!"

"Well I'll name mine Blacky cos she's all white!" The two were silent for a while.

"Why are you here?" asked Legolas looking at Arwen. Arwen sat up and shrugged.

"I'm bored! I couldn't sleep and the twins were not in their room!" she said looking curiously at the younger elf. Legolas grinned. No one had ever come to him before; in fact no one had ever spent this much time with him before. Sure his mother and father had but none of his sisters had nor had his brother. He wondered what it would be like to be Arwen with two brothers that loved him and wanted to spend time with him. Then he pushed that all away and went back to looking under his bed.

"I'm bored too!" he said. Arwen grinned and lay down again. The two youngsters chatted happily about their cats until they drifted off to sleep. Mean while, their older siblings were in for a shock sooner then they expected…