CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The three weeks leading up to the Spring Festival could only be described as hectic. As expected, King Thranduil of Mirkwood (or Greenwood as Thranduil was adamant on calling it) was not amused by the presence of Dwarves in Imladris. He tolerated Gimli because of Legolas' friendship with him but the rest of them, particularly Gimli's father Glóin, were a separate matter entirely.
The children were completely baffled by the unhealthy relationship between the two and made every attempt to get the two partied to at least wish each other good morning without adding a derogatory remark. It didn't work out as well as they had hoped but at least they were able to sit within earshot of each other without there being a continual call for axes or swords.
On the morning of the celebration of the Festival, Eldarion and Elboron were to be found ankle deep in decorations. Erestor, in control as usual was standing in the middle of the floor directing operations. Glorfindel was in the raven-Elf's bad books again due to his badly timed impish humour and had been banished from the Hall, not that he was taking the opportunity to skive off work. The golden-Elf had managed to persuade Arwen into letting him borrow Faerveren and the two now sat in the marquee which was set up on the lawn, carefully folding coloured parchment into peace-cranes. Faerveren managed the basic folds with Glorfindel completing the process before attaching a tag bearing the name of a guest.
Around lunchtime Eldarion and Elboron appeared bearing food and drink, and discovered the pair surrounded by the delicate objects. The two carefully sat down and Faerveren crawled into Eldarion's lap.
"Abaur vaer muinthel nîn," greeted Eldarion and tucked an errand strand of hair behind her ear. "You been having fun?" good afternoon my sister
Faerveren nodded and held and held out the most recently made crane to Eldarion. Eldarion smiled and read the name tag.
"This isn't mine," he said, handing back the ornament. "It's Elboron's."
Holding the object carefully in one hand, Faerveren stood up using Eldarion for support, and tottered over to Elboron who was sitting about three yards away. Elboron put the piece of bread he was about to eat back on the plate and accepted the gift from Faerveren.
"It's beautiful," he said. He too glanced at the name tag and them at Eldarion. "You have to teach me how to write like this. It is beautiful."
"Don't touch the ink, it's not quite dry yet," said Glorfindel as Elboron made to trace the Sindarin characters of his name. Elboron's hand froze a hair's breadth from the parchment and traced the letters in the air a look of awe on his face.
"Elboron, you better eat something before Eldarion eats everything," commented Glorfindel. Elboron's head jerked up and he burst out laughing at the indignant look on Eldarion's face. Quickly snatching up his bread he took a large bite.
"Glorfindel?" asked Elrohir appearing in the marquee. The Sentinel looked up from the crane he was sorting.
"Yes?"
"Elladan wants to see you. Said something about Erestor," replied Elrohir.
"And why does he need to see me?" asked Glorfindel.
"Our dear counsellor is about to collapse under the stress he is putting on himself and Elladan wants you to persuade him to take a rest."
"That stubborn Elf is going to work himself into an early grave!" groused Glorfindel. Erestor never had known when enough was enough. "All right. I'll just take this little one back to her mother. Why don't you two finish your food and then see if there is anything else that needs done in the Hall of Fire," he suggested to Eldarion and Elboron.
"Oh no, I am under strict instructions from Arwen that all three have to be returned within half-an-hour so that they can get ready for the party," interrupted Elrohir.
"What? Uncle Elrohir, that's not for another five hours at least!" exclaimed Eldarion.
"I learned a long time ago that it is better not to argue with your mother," replied Elrohir. "I am just doing as she asked."
"For once," muttered Glorfindel. Laughing at the glare Elrohir shot at him, he scooped Faerveren into his arms. "I'm going, I'm going!"
Eldarion and Elboron finished their food and began to carefully pile the peace-cranes in the middle of the floor so that they would not be damaged. Sighing they began to stand up when Elrohir motioned for them to stay still.
"I need your help," stated the Elf as he sat down. "I know you have been trying to get Thranduil's people and Gimli's people to speak to each other for the past two weeks but I think drastic measures are in order."
Their interest peeked Eldarion and Elboron watched the Elf, heads tilted to the side waited for him to divulge his plan in more detail.
"Have you noticed how they stick with their own people?" asked Elrohir. Eldarion and Elboron nodded.
"Well, at the celebration tonight I was thinking about separating them. Glorfindel and Faerveren have been making place holders all morning, all we have to arrange them so that Elves and Dwarves are mingled."
"They're all written in Sindarin. How are the Dwarves supposed to know where to sit?" asked Eldarion. Smiling Elrohir stood up and moved to the pile of cranes. Extracting two he hand them to Eldarion.
"Read the tags," he said. Eldarion looked slightly confused but complied anyway. Intrigued, Elboron read over his shoulder. Suddenly he giggled.
"They will be reading their own language," he said turning to face Elrohir.
"But wouldn't they be wondering why the writing on the label next to them isn't the same script?" asked Eldarion.
"Yes. But by that time the places will have been set and it would be seen as an insult to the host if they complain," replied Elrohir and he was grinning like a cat that had got the cream. Eldarion and Elboron looked a little sceptical about the idea but they knew the glint in his eye all to well and knew that it would be useless to try at change his plans. Instead they just nodded and agreed to help, each praying that Elrohir's idea would cause more problems.
"Alright. Now I wasn't jesting when I said Arwen wanted you two to be returned within half an hour," smiled Elrohir. Eldarion and Elboron let out simultaneous groans but stood up and followed the Elf back to the house.
Just a short chapter this week guys but fingers crossed for a longer one next week.
Response to reviewers; I read on another story that ffnet has introduce some rule or other about individual response. As such I will only respond if you have particular question that you want answered. Other than that I can only over my thanks to everyone who reviewed. (tips hat in appreciation)