Disclaimer:Hmmm. First of all, the only thing I own is Iladri'on, and secondly, if you think I own the other people, you are sadly mistaken.
AN:(Edited 5 April, 2010) Sorry, no creativeness this time for the disclaimer, I'm running out of rhymes and songs. If you know of some that I haven't done yet, let me know!
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The door opened, and two heads poked in, wearing identical expressions of apprehension and barely concealed delight.
"Come in, you rotten little trouble-makers."
"Really, Ada, we're not little anymore." Elladan protested.
"Very well then. Omit the 'little' and come in anyway."
The twins entered the study, each nudging the other in hopes of not having to be first. Elladan won, and Elrohir approached Elrond's desk much as he would a troll's lair.
The Elven Lord peered over a tower of paperwork. His eyebrow rose as he saw his second-born glance over his shoulder for support. "Oh, come now, I am hardly going to bite your head off. I merely wish to ask you a few things. Sit."
Cautiously (Elrond's 'questions' were never a good thing), the twins took a seat in the chairs they had come to think of affectionately as 'theirs'. "What would you like to… uh, ask us Ada?"
Elrond surveyed his sons closely and had to fight to hide his smile as he spotted flour-paste under their nails and traces of the white powder in their dark hair. "Whose idea was it?"
"His."
"His."
The twins spoke at the same time, fingers pointing accusingly at each other. At their Ada's stern look, they were quick to revise their answers.
"Well," Elladan admitted guiltily, "It was my idea to fling you into the fountain. But it was my little brother's idea to add the flour, which, you have to say, is certainly more destructive. Blame him."
At Elrohir's outraged look, the former quickly said, "But it was me who actually got the flour."
Elrohir reluctantly added, "But I set everything up while Elladan kept searching the library."
"So, I'd say it's pretty much equal." Elrond noted. The twins nodded resignedly. "Very well. You will both muck out the stables every other day for three weeks—whether the stables need it or not."
Groans followed the issuing of this punishment. Elrond let them go on for a few minutes, then continued. "Now, two more things. First of all, and be truthful! Did Estel have anything to do with this?"
Elladan shook his head. "I was –cough- about to come in, but then I heard our names, and 'trouble'. Do you honestly think I would walk into a room where it sounded like I was about to be punished?"
"So you eavesdropped." As his first-born nodded, Elrond shook his head. He was more disappointed in himself for speaking such things out loud. If you wanted to tell Estel you wished them to get into trouble,the little voice inside him railed, you should have written it down, showed it to him, and then burned the paper!
"The second matter, is Legolas." Seeing the fear and determination that spread over the twin's faces, Elrond's heart gave a twang. Valar, how he wished he did not have to tell them that their long-time friend was dying.
"My sons—"
Elrond was cut off by Estel's shriek at decibels much higher than a male's voice was meant to go.
"Legolas!"
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Elrond's papers went flying as he raced around his desk after the twin's retreating backs. They raced down the hallway fast as their legs could carry them. Turning the corner by the fountain, Elrond took the inside, gaining back the little distance he had lost in having to go around the desk.
The Peredhil family piled into the little room one after the other. The sight that greeted them was the most welcome they had seen in decades.
Legolas was leaning against the pillows, eyes open and sparkling, rubbing his pointed ears and saying, "Honestly, you don't have to scream at me, my ears work just fine!"
Elrond leaped to his feet (he had tripped and fallen as Elrohir came skidding into the room just behind) and made his way to the bed. "Penneth,you're awake! How do you feel? We were so worried—"
Any answer Legolas might have given was lost in the jubilant cheers of the twins, who bounced up and down where they stood, indeed, the only thing keeping them from leaping to the bed and crushing their friend in a hug was Elrond.
So they contented themselves with Estel. The human was jounced around wildly, but he soon let his brother's happiness overcome him as well.
"How do you feel?" Elrond shouted over the din. Estel managed to calm the twins enough to let Elrond conduct his little question and answer game.
"I feel… fine." Legolas sounded surprised himself. Catching the astonished and doubtful looks sent his way, he added, "Tired, and my side still hurts a bit, but all right."
"Can you remember anything else? I mean, you doknow who we are, right?"
"Elladan, please. Am I, or am I not, the only elf who had ever tied you two in a prank war? We were 347, and my prank that tied the score was rigging a net that roped you two up an a tree in a rain storm in your nightclothes. And when you tried to sneak back into the house five hours later, who exactly dumped a bucket of worms down your backs?"
Elladan settled back in his chair, miffed. Elrohir sat back himself, cheeks flaming as he remembered the way they had yelled. Estel laughed happily, he had just realized the benefits of having a friend who was able to remember many of the things his older brothers 'forgot'.
Elrond smiled himself. On that occasion, he had been called upon to see that little Thranduilion did not accidentally find himself several feet below ground. He looked closer, seeing past the sparkle of happiness in Legolas' blue eyes.
"That's a wonderful example of what happened more than two thousand years ago. Can you tell us what happened in the last few months?"
A shadow passed over the elf's face. "Well, yes, kind of, that is, but… I'd—rather not speak of it now."
"All right, but I will need to learn what has happened sooner or later. Your father will want to know too. I expect he will be here soon, riding as though a Nazgul were after him."
Elrond bent to check his patient's pupils. And was promptly rewarded with a smack in the forehead as two heads collided. Elrond jerked backwards and stared at the prince, who was staring at him with those startling blue eyes. "You sent someone with a message? To Mirkwood? Now? No!"
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A chill ran down Iladri'on's spine. "Not—dead?"
"You really are a dumb one, aren't you? I've already said that."
The elf struggled to pull himself together. "What have you done then? Who are you? Why did you have a grudge against the king? If—"
The figure raised a hand, and quite suddenly, Iladri'on's tongue glued itself to the roof of his mouth. The elf cursed, but the curse was much less impressive when you couldn't understand what was being said.
"Now that I've got your attention, I'm not going to tell you what I've done, you'll have the pleasure of seeing for yourself in a short while. My name is not important right now, no doubt you'll discover it later… if you live that long." The cloaked figure spun gaily. "Such wonderful promises!"
Iladri'on fought the insane urge to get up and throttle the figure.
"As a matter of fact, my little half-Noldor friend, you just might end up with my armies. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Mmph mammy phi—"
The figure cocked its head and put a hand in the general area of the ear. "Sorry, what was that? Oh… promise me you won't keep up a barrage of questions." At Iladri'on's nod, it snapped its fingers.
Iladri'on wiggled his tongue around in some relief. "You have armies? Of—what?"
The dark blue cloak spun out behind the figure as it leaped gracefully around the room. "Oh, orcs, trolls, wargs. There's an endless supply in this forest. It's easy enough to get them in my control."
The elf watched the graceful movements of the figure, quick and light, and comprehension dawned. "You're an elf, aren't you? Or rather, you usedto be."
The figure stopped quite suddenly. "Maybe you're not quite as dim-witted as I thought." The happiness of the voice disappeared, and the figure turned away. Quick fingers unfastened the cloak and cast it aside. Long auburn hair cascaded down, loose, with no braids.
The once-elf turned slowly, and Iladri'on was struck by the harsh beauty of her face. Once, she had probably been one of the most beautiful elf-maidens. But now her features were gaunt, and hatred had worn through. Her green eyes flashed with contempt, and Iladri'on suddenly had a feeling he should run. Fast.
"You're right, young one. I was an elf once. I lived here in Mirkwood, two thousand years ago. I had power even then. Maybe not as well as I have it now, but enough for the rest of them to fear me.
"The elves, even my own family, rejected me, feared me. My family lived in a small home close to the palace. My father had me work in the palace for a time, but after a particular incident, I was bid to leave.
"When I say 'leave', I mean exile. I was a 'danger to everyone'. That's what the king said, but I know better. They were jealous of my talents. I was cast out like a nobody. I wandered alone for years, before encountering an ancient demon.
"This demon normally would have killed another elf, but my powers attracted it. The beast took me in and schooled me in the matter of old magic. My gift grew greater every day I spent with the wretched thing.
"When I had learned all I could, I left, with a burning desire for revenge against the beings who had cast me away. Many of my elf-like qualities were gone, the quick healing, the lightness, the ability to talk to trees. But I was left with my immortality and grace."
Iladri'on listened with growing horror. He could clearly see that the she-elf was mad. The lust for revenge, and these strange 'powers' had clearly driven her to the edge.
The question remained, what length would she go to get her revenge?
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AN: I apologize for the shortness of this chappy, (am I getting shorter, or is it just me?) but I am extremely rushed, and besides, this is a good place to stop anyway. Feel free to guess what comes next, but know that I'm not saying anything. Thanx for all the reviews guys!