"Have you asked him yet?" Estel murmured to the oldest of his his twin brothers, Elladan.

The human leaned past his brother to give his foster father a careful look to ensure that he was still paying attention to what the King was saying. He appeared to be, and Estel hoped that meant he wasn't able to eavesdrop on his children. Which he had been known to do every so often.

"Don't look at him" Elladan hissed, pushing the young human fully back into his chair, "Do you want him to see us conspiring?"

The elf took a few nonchalant bites of the meal that sat before him. Then with his own, far more discreet, appraisal of his father he continued, "And no we have not."

"Elladan you promised!"

His other brother, Elrohir kicked him sharply under the table. All three glanced carefully at their father, who still appeared to be deep in conversation with King Thranduil.

All three of them said a small prayer of thanks for the rowdy and less than silent nature of Wood Elves, especially a hall full of them on the Yule celebration. Estel had visited Greenwood several times over his life, but this was the first time he had ever been allowed to be present for a celebration.

He had physically been in Greenwood once for the summer solstice, but Glorfindel had been under strict orders to keep Estel in his room for the evening. Try as he had might, the young man had been unable to sway the Balrog slayers opinion this time. It was often unpredictable if Glorfindel would take Elrond's or his children's sides in such matters, as he was only an ally to the opinion he believed in.

Elladan and Elrohir hadn't even tried to help Estel change the older elf's mind, a fact that their little brother had been incredibly cross with. Especially once Legolas and a few friends appeared at the door to fetch the twins, already well into their merrymaking.

Estel had tried to convince Legolas to help him with Glorfindel, and get him to lift his solitary confinement. The prince had just laughed merrily saying, "There are still some things in this world, Mellon-nin, that you are not yet ready for."

Noticing the sour expression on Estel's face he added, "That does not mean you will never be ready."

The words nearly had the human smoldering, at times the relentless cheerfulness of elves would grate on one's nerves.

"Next time, penneth," Glorfindel remarked, as Estel miserably watched the group of young elves leave his room. Their songs and laughter rang out long after their departure.

The next morning he had enlisted the help of his brothers, with a small threat of blackmail to ensure their loyalty to him this time, that they would convince their father to let him participate next time.

"We will ask him, soon. But -" Elrohir stopped speaking mid-sentence, eyes briefly widening in what might have been fear. Estel did not have to look to his left in order to know they had indeed attracted the attention of their father, who was indubitably staring at the three of them with a raised eyebrow.

"What is it you are mumbling about?" Elrond asked no son in particular.

It was Estel's hope that if he did not make eye contact he would not be called upon more specifically if none stepped forward to answer his question. The three brothers briefly shared a look of confused horror, Estel kicked Elrohir under the table to try and force him to speak. However, the second his foot connected, Elrohir kicked Elladan, who then kicked Estel.

Elrohir shoveled a truly impressive amount of food into his mouth, while Elladan appeared to be dying of thirst as he drank heavily from his goblet. Then both twins kicked the youngest simultaneously, moving him sideways slightly in his chair with the force.

Elrond's eyes narrowed slightly, and Elrohir packed more fruits into his mouth, "Estel?"

The young man threw his brothers a look of angry betrayal before turning his full attention to his father, "Ada, I know last time you did not want me to join the celebrations. But that was several years ago, and I am older now, and more mature. You said so yourself just last month, in your study. Elladan and Elrohir have already promised to stay with me the entire night, I have sworn to listen to them. Even if they tell me to go back to my room. The entire celebration will never leave this hall, I promise not to go outside into the forest. Please, Ada, please may I stay for the celebration?"

Estel saw the small smirk slide across the King's face, his father must have sensed it for he turned to see what the king had to say, "Well I certainly have no problem with the boy staying."

Estel felt as if he had just acquired the most powerful ally for his case to stay that he possibly could have. His heart swelled with gratitude.

Elrond turned slowly back towards his youngest son with a sigh, "Estel, I do not-"

"Come now, Elrond." Thranduil interrupted smoothly, "Legolas will stay with him the entire night, what safer guide could he have?"

Hearing his name, Legolas turned his attention back to the table from where he stood with friends several feet away. He drifted back to the table to stand behind his father, "What is it I am doing?"

"Staying with the boy tonight so that he may stay for the rest of the celebration," Thranduil answered, and then added with an amused look at the twins. "If he has kept your other children alive, why world Estel be any different?"

Estel shared a look with his brothers, part fear, and part hope.

Legolas nodded his head swiftly, "I will not lead him astray, only to bed. Estel will be fine with me, I swear it."

Thranduil reached for an empty cup that sat on the table in front of him and filled it halfway with wine. He slid it slowly across the table to Estle while saying, "Let the boy stay, Elrond. If you do not, it means his first true celebration will be with mortal men and unsupervised."

Elrond glared at Thranduil and his son.

"We'll stay with him too Ada." Elladan added quickly.

"Never leave his side." Elrohir agreed.

Elrond glared at them too.

"Please, Ada?" Estel finished.

"Fine. Do what you wish with your madness."