Chapter Two - Punishment

Thranduil was becoming frantic. His son had yet again snapped at him for of all things, calling his little one an elfling. Legolas and the other two elflings, the female Aenil and the male Eloadle had disappeared from the palace grounds. They had each taken their weapons with them. But that didn't make Thranduil feel better. It in fact made him fill worse. Trouble was likely to come from this as his son was wanting to prove he was no longer an elfling but a skilled warrior. So were the other three. Their training weapons were missing from the weapons barracks. The Captain of the Guard, Trenarn was as upset as the king was. The other two elflings were his own. Already three search parties were out looking for them. This was not the first nor was it the last time something like this was to happen. Thranduil was at this point in a fairly depressed mood and most dared not go near him when he was like this.

"Lord Thranduil?" Thranduil shot a look at the servant.

"What is needed?"

"The elves from Imladris are here,"

"Tell Lord Elrond that he'll need to wait until we find the elflings but under no circumstances do you tell him that they're missing. He need not worry,"

"Actually your highness, they found Prince Legolas and the twins. Elrond wishes to speak to you about ..." The servant didn't finish.

"I am guessing he wishes to speak to me about how poorly I am doing as a father,"

"No. It is about their behavior. Especially ..." Again the servant continued.

"I am guessing Legolas's? Bring Lord Elrond and the three miscreants to my study."

"Yes your highness,"

M

Servants were showing the elves of Imladris to their rooms. One elf kept the company of the twins as they would not get into trouble. However, the little elfling that had ridden with Elrond would not let go of him. She held on tight to Elrond's robe. It was then that the servant came for Elrond and the Mirkwood elflings.

"Lord Thranduil wishes to see you in his study,"

"I will have to take Arwen with me, as she will not let go," The servant only nodded his head and bid them to follow him. The blond haired elfling had an angry look on his face while the other two were beginning to squirm. They knew what it was like to face the wrath of their elven king, for this was not the first time they had gotten in trouble for trying to be 'adults'. Legolas's arms crossed with anger. The servant opened the door to the kings study and they entered.

"Hello Elrond. I first want to thank you for finding them. Second, I want to know how these three misbehaved."

"Well, Thranduil, first is obvious. I am probably guessing right when I think that they were not supposed to be out in the woods without an escort. Second, Legolas became angry when one of my elves commented on the fact that he was an elfling. He insisted he was not and my elves laughed at this. Your son then pretended to shoot an arrow into the path in front of us. As I was lecturing him and took away his bow, the other two ambushed me. I do not find fault in what they did as they were trying to, as they saw it, protect the Prince from me," Thranduil looked at the twins.

"Aenil. Eloadle. You are to go straight to your father. If I find you have not, you will face the wrath of your king. Go." At this the two hurried out.

"Was that necessary?"

"I have never had to punish them as they always do head straight to their father. As for you Legolas, what should be a fitting punishment? How were you punished the time before?"

"I had to scrub all the dishes in the kitchen by myself for a month,"

"And the time before that?"

"I had to muck out the stalls for a week,"

"Elrond, do you have an idea for this time?" Elrond opened his mouth unsure of what to say. Thranduil then spoke up. "Your punishment Legolas, is to keep Elrond's two sons Elrohir and Elladan company."

"But, Lord Thranduil, they're . . . I don't wish to babysit,"

"Babysit? You're insulting them Legolas. They are elflings just like you,"

"I am not an elfling!" Thranduil's brow furrowed.

"Legolas, you said you did not wish to babysit. For that outburst, when Lord Elrond needs someone to watch Arwen for him, you are to do so,"

"But . . . "

"I want you in bed, or your punishment will be far worse," Legolas scowled and left. Elrond stared at Thranduil in shock.

"Thranduil, your punishment is a bit harsh."

"Do you think he won't be able to handle babysitting,"

"That isn't the problem. The problem lies with . . . Elrohir and Elladan. I love them so, but they are a handful,"

"I asked you to bring your elflings because they would teach ours to actually be elflings."

"Well . . . I was hoping Arwen would be enough." Thranduil raised an eyebrow.

"I trust you. I trust your sons. You are a good elf Elrond," Elrond shook his head.

"You'll see soon enough what the problem is Thranduil."

"We will deal with the problems as they come,"

"If it were not for Lady Galadriel. I wish she wasn't my mother-in-law,"

"Lady Galadriel is . . . " Thranduil tried not to laugh.

"It really isn't that funny,"