Guests in Lothlórien
By nautika

Summary: The twins visit their grandparents. Who said Lothlorien was always peaceful?

Authors Notes: A short fic to let you know I'm still around! I consider all my fics AU.
I only today realized that Sunday was Grandparents Day in the US! So here is a belated Grandparents' Day gift. It is also for Prompt #29 "Guest" and a 'fill in the blanks' for my fic Mind Incursion, the unfinished (and therefore unpublished) sequel to That Precious Link. After all that shameless promotion, here is the paragraph from MI that I refer to: Elrond forbade his sons to take unnecessary risks and pleaded they leave Lothlórien before they were thrown out. The twins reddened slightly. Though their father spoke lightly, the last time they visited their mother's parents, their grandfather had actually taken them aside and suggested they depart after breakfast the following day. It seemed even Galadriel had her limits and her husband saw the storm on the horizon, so to speak. Worse, it was highly unlikely the conversation took place without Galadriel's knowledge.

This was self-beta'd, so please let me know if you see something I need to correct.

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"Walk with me." Their grandfather's voice was soft, but contained a touch of warning as he strolled between them, a firm grasp on each one's shoulder, steering them down a little used path.

They stopped some distance away from the main dwelling of the Golden Wood and Celeborn placed his grandsons with their backs against a huge tree at the path's end.

"Grandfather-"

"Silence."

The twins' eyes grew large and they exchanged uneasy glances. Their grandfather noted it and his own eyes gleamed in satisfaction. Others may believe Galadriel was the only force to be reckoned with in Lothlórien, but these two knew better. It was most unfortunate…for them…that they had forgotten. Ah, well, Reminder Time.

"We love you. You know this. You also know there are certain standards of conduct that we live up to and that we expect others to adhere to as well. You have fallen far short of those during your visit and well you know it."

Elladan opened his mouth to speak. Celeborn's glare reduced his words to an audible swallow.

"I know what you would say. You only meant to liven the place up a bit; It is too quiet; Lothlórien elves need to be taught to have more fun; You did not mean for Haldir's bow string to snap completely; You had no way of knowing that Romel's weight would be too much for the slightly 'frayed' bridge line. Need I go on?"

Both twins shook their head.

"You took advantage of the fact that your grandmother is the Lady of these Woods. I am ashamed of you. She may spoil you, but you have gone too far. You have apologized to your victims as you were told to do?"

The twins nodded emphatically. It had taken them from breakfast yesterday to well into the evening to find everyone and to get close enough to speak. Elves were becoming extremely cautious around them.

"Good. You may now return to spend the rest of the day quietly with your grandmother. At the end of the day you will pack and get a good nights sleep. Immediately after breakfast tomorrow, you will bid us a fond farewell and be on your way home. I will have your mounts made ready. We look forward to seeing you again when Arwen is able to be here as well. I find she is most useful in keeping track of you."

The twins were now standing at attention.

"You have disappointed me almost beyond my ability to bear. Please do not do so again."

Elladan and Elrohir shook their heads. Their grandfather smiled.

"I do love you, you know."

More nods. Ah, well. No point in ruining a good thing. Stepping between them again, Celeborn embraced them fondly and escorted them back to their grandmother, where he would give them permission to speak once more.

End