Chapter 13: Pranking Apprentice
"You might be wondering why we have you tied up in a chair in a locked room."
Legolas shrugged. He was sitting down and tied up in a chair with some rope. The truth was that with his advanced spy regime, he could have easily pulled the ropes loose but he wanted to see what Elladan and Elrohir wanted. Now he knew they were horrible at making knots. "Maybe I do."
The curtains were closed and the room was dark, but Legolas, used to Mirkwood, could see straight and recognize the thin frame of Elrohir walking towards him. "See Legolas, you might have learned a bunch of regimes but you haven't learned the most important thing of all..."
Legolas frowned. He'd been taking every single lesson possible! He was in advanced archery, advanced spy regime, landscape survival lessons, wordfight...he even had private lessons with a tutor! And he had so many more things to juggle with between patrols. What had he not learned? He forced himself to calm down though and say, "And what may that be, may I ask?"
"PRANKING!" they exclaimed and Legolas sighed in relief, it was nothing important.
"Pranking is a delicate art that requires time, determination and practice in order to master," lectured Elladan. "It will require lots of sweat, hard work and excellent tactical skills to succeed."
"And that is why you, mellon-nín, will be honored to learn from the very best," grinned Elrohir. "Which is obviously...us. And what better way to learn than doing it? With this prank war going on, you will be able to be our apprentice in learning!"
"Hold on," said Legolas frowning at them. "Did you just say apprentice?"
"Yes we did, and that person will be you!" exclaimed Elladan. "Besides, with all those mumbo-jumbo spy regimes you apparently know about, you might be quite helpful for our victory! And it'll be beneficial for you, don't worry...we're going to rub that goody-two shoes behaviour out of you!"
Legolas groaned, slumping in defeat as they started discussing battle tactics and the prank that would start the prank war. He had totally not signed up for this. But well...he supposed he had to play along until the festival was over. Perhaps discussing tactics wouldn't hurt...after all, he discussed tactics with his patrol members all the time. This would be nothing...
"If they want war, we'll give them war!"
The girls were huddled together in Arwen's room, discussing the prank war. The concept sort of frightened them, since Elladan and Elrohir were very good at pranks but...who said they wouldn't fight? Tathel was excitedly insisting they fight the war with them but the other girls weren't so sure.
"Why don't we just yield and get this over with?" asked Reelia. "We were only getting revenge for Arwen after all...and trying to get an excuse to see Legolas bare-chested."
"Although we didn't see him, really," said Vara sadly and they all nodded solemnly.
"Oh c'mon...we can't let them prank Arwen like she was a rag doll!" exclaimed Tathel. "We need to show them that they can't just do this to her and that if they do...they'll deal with us! Yes! What are friends for anyways, Arwen?"
Vara nodded. "Tathel's got a fair point. We can't leave you at their mercy! At least we should do something to help you!"
"You guys don't need to do anything like this for me," smiled Arwen kindly. "Reelia might be right...peace is better than war. Perhaps yielding is the best option?"
"Arwen," said Tathel firmly, her dark green eyes staring into hers. "You know...you can't yield for everything. Yielding does not solve all of our problems in life...including this."
"They might be right Arwen," stated Reelia. "I mean...your brothers are probably already planning the prank they're going to pull on us."
Arwen sighed. "All right...we will fight back. But if things get too serious, then we'll yield. We don't want for things to get over the line, don't we?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Tathel. "We should do the first prank...you know what they say. If you have no hope for winning, then at least do the first move! I have so many ideas!"
"Oh, I'm sure you do Tath," said Reelia rolling her eyes. "But can we please discuss this somewhere else? Nana might give us some refreshments to eat...that would sure help with the brainstorming."
All the little elleths nodded and headed out of Arwen's room to go down to the kitchens to ask for some sweets from Reelia's Nana, who was one of the bakers. Happily and excitedly chatting, they did not notice they were being watched.
"They will not be happy, you know."
As Elladan locked the door of Arwen's room, Legolas watched as the twins took their tools out of their box. The twins had a mischievous glint in their eyes and Legolas could feel their auras rippling through the air with excitement.
Elladan rolled his eyes, "Legolas...that is entirely the point of a prank, meaning-"
"-that we enjoy seeing people's reactions after the prank," said Elrohir finishing his sentence.
"Really Legolas, and you ask us why you're our apprentice," said Elladan. "You're absolutely clueless about pranking. Are you certain you haven't done a prank at all in your life?"
"Not even one teensy one?" asks Elrohir.
"I was trained to chop off orc heads and kill spiders," snapped Legolas allowing only a bit of frustration out by accident. "Not doing ridiculous pranks on harmless elleths."
"They're not ridiculous!" exclaimed Elladan indignantly.
"And you're calling Arwen and her evil minions, harmless?" asked Elrohir. "For goodness' sake! Remind me not to go to your father's kingdom again...he must have totally been a brainwashing master to do this to you, you poor brainwashed thing. Can't you see the very evil spirit in Arwen's soul? She's much more than harmless, trust me."
"Consider this prank as..." Elladan thought about it and thought of the right word, "self-defense."
Legolas sighed. The things he did for Mirkwood. Oh, the things he did for Mirkwood. These twins were impossible...more than impossible, if there was a term. He reminded himself again that Imladris elves were indeed quite queer. "Ugh, fine. What was I suppose to do again?"
"Just use your elf-charms and buy us some time," said Elladan. "Most preferably, thirty minutes. We'll have this set up in less than that."
"My elf-charms? So you want me to talk to them?"
"Distract them, just waste time so that they don't come to the room," explained Elrohir.
"And what am I suppose to say to them?"
"Oh, I don't know Legolas!" exclaimed Elladan looking as if he wanted his head to explode right there. "Just talk to them like you'd talk to a friend or so...just make sure the conversation is more than thirty minutes."
"You want me to talk with them about my collection of orc helmets?"
"You collect orc helmets?!" gaped Elladan suddenly at Legolas getting off-topic. "That is so-"
"Yes, yes, marvelous...but no, that won't work, Legolas," said Elrohir waving his hands dramatically. "We need to start working."
As Elladan immediately started helping his brother as he got the ropes, strings and pieces of yarn to start with his work, Legolas stood there. This was probably the worst mission he'd been sent off to, really. "But I still don't know what to say to them."
Elrohir sighed as he was mixing the honey and the tree sap in a bowl, "Okay Legolas...have you heard of flirting before?"
"Flirting?"
"Yes, as in attracting somebody from the opposite gender (in this case) with your charms and bold personality?"
"Have you heard of arranged marriages?" snapped back Legolas. "My father wouldn't just let me attract some random elleth in Mirkwood or in Imladris! Besides, aren't we all too young to think about that?"
Elrohir shook his head, ready to give up when suddenly, Elladan sighed. "We'll give him a flirting lesson some time around, Ro, for now...just go talk to Arwen, Legolas."
"As you wish," shrugged Legolas as he opened the door and went out into the hall. "But if it goes wrong, it is all your fault for you lack the ability to explain things clearly!"
When he left and the brothers closed the door, ready to start what they called 'their masterpiece,' they looked at each other, scurrying around and doing things so and so. Elrohir frowned at his brother.
"You know he's hopeless right Dan? We won't be able to transform him into one of us!"
"Have faith Ro, he'll come...they always do. Besides, there are still a few days to go, we'll make it."
"Maybe...but it's not going to be easy you know."
"I know Elrohir, I know."
Arwen and her friends had quickly been given treats but could not stay in the kitchens. Not like it was appropriate anyways, there was a lot of hustle and they almost got crushed. Everything was running on the edge for the Spring Festival and everybody was heated on preparations. So they decided to go to the gardens, since it was the most peaceful place to go to.
Sitting under one of the beech trees, the elleths nibbled at their sugar cookies, for a while forgetting all about the prank war. They talked about ordinary things, about flowers, critters, rumors and daily gossips of Imladris. Things elleths always seemed to be talking about.
However, Arwen's friends seemed to have the remarkable ability to talk and look at their surrounding because suddenly, Reelia turned around and gushed.
"Oh, oh, oh! Looky there Arwen!"
The elleths turned around and Arwen sighed, rolling her eyes. Sometimes, she thought she had the most dramatic of friends. They watched, their eyes curved, sly and slender as the figure moved. Legolas walked casually through the gardens, whistling a beautiful hum Arwen had never heard before.
"Go on! Go talk to him," urged Tathel grinning.
"Oh, no, I couldn't-" Arwen was starting before they made her stand up and they pushed her right across the garden-crashing into him.
Of course Legolas didn't lose his footing, even with Arwen crashing upon him. He stood tall, firm and straight as he caught her before she fell down, his eyebrow curled. "Are you all right, my lady?"
Arwen blushed at the title 'my lady' but soon regained her composure. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Legolas! I suppose I wasn't watching where I was walking. Forgive me."
He smiled, although it was one of his half-polite, half-pleasant smiles...which she couldn't tell were genuine or not. "Oh no, there's no need for apologies Arwen! You had nothing wrong, it was I who got in your way. My apologies."
Arwen smiled, "Don't be so modest-"
Her friends had crowded around her and were now smiling at Legolas and Arwen as if they were viewing the most beautiful romance fantasy coming out alive. Arwen could feel their squeals half way there, stuck in their throats and unable to come out. Legolas smiled at them. "Mae govannen, good ladies."
"Mae govannen!" they almost squealed.
"We're most honored," said Reelia who did a small lady-like bow. Arwen expected her to marry some lord in the future...she deserved it anyways.
"The honor is mine, my lady," said Legolas smiling, despite the fact that only Arwen noticed how tight his smile was plastered in his face. He'd obviously been pressured, she knew.
"Well, you were humming such a beautiful tone, we were just wondering what it was!" exclaimed Vara next to Arwen.
"Oh, it's a simple lullaby," he said shrugging although Arwen could feel his shoulders tense and his voice lower. The lullaby did mean something to him...but what? And why was she the only person who actually felt how mysterious Legolas was?
"Could you teach it to us?" asked Tathel. "Like, sing it?"
Legolas sighed. In truth, the song did mean quite a bit to him. It'd been one of the songs his Nana had sung to him when he was a baby. He remembered those nights, when thunder filled the sky and he'd squirm into his parent's bed. He'd cuddle up in his Nana's lap and fall asleep as she sung. "Of course! Why would I say no?"
He smiled at them awkwardly, which Arwen's friends thought was incredibly cute and then he started singing in a soft tone. His voice rang gently through the garden and Arwen soon found herself mesmerized.
"Lor, lora, neo linda hín
Lor nu núra elmenel
Cena manen i olorë cara son lia
Ar sino tinta yare i isil na per
Lilta com eleni or fanya ar hisië
Mí hwinyari ve uner is cena
Lilta com vendë ve mí i olorë le neta
Ar anta vandi ve uner is anta
Vanda ana anta rin rino i olorëon coa
Ar fallë or i falmar ninqui
Vanda rin ana i coi noruva ya már
Ar le rin mí i menel noruva tana
Vanda ana anta rin i isil mine aurë
Ar ana le noruva lala mí oio valin
Cena tennana rin quent ya axan
Yare rin ve mine már tári noruva heri
Ar yrae rin san anta lin mine laurea corma
Noruva lin coiva mí caima yo lin amil
Ar cena ana rin anta lin se anvane arin
Ar lin vanda noruva ya anwi
Ea, neo linda hín
Lin vanda noruva ya anwi."
At the end, all the elven girls had to clap. It had been beautiful, really. Arwen had never heard such a beautiful voice...of course it couldn't beat her Nana's or Daernaneth's but it was music like it was. They invited Legolas to sit with them under the shade of the tree and soon, with the help of her friends, the five of them were talking. They urged Legolas to talk the most though and they heard him with patience, although it wasn't hard. Legolas' tales were intriguing and Arwen had the slightest glimpse of his life. He talked about his brother, the spiders, the servants, the trees and most of all...he talked about Mirkwood. You would've thought he was talking about heaven or a paradise, even though Mirkwood was far from that.
However, Arwen noticed something...he had not yet said a word of his father, as if he were avoiding the topic.
Later, Legolas had looked up at the lowering sun and had smiled apologetically, saying he had to go and that it was a pleasure. He'd gone off and her friends had been squealing all over but Arwen was suspicious...Legolas' steps had been quick, cautious but quick. Too quick really...but why? There was no rush in Imladris!
However, she had to forget about it as she and her friends returned to her room. Reelia had led the way since she was most excited about the encounter with Legolas and unfortunately, paid no attention to where she was going as she opened the bedroom door and entered. Then she shrieked but Arwen, since it was her room we're talking about, screamed the worst.
"ELLAAAADAAAAAN! ELROOOOOHIIIIIR!"
AN: Hm? What is Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas' great prank to start off the prank war? And what will the girls do in revenge? Hahaha...well, you'll need to wait a couple of chapters more, MWAHAHA!
Anyways...do you guys REALLY think Arwen might have a full crush on Legolas in the future? And do you think that he might have one on her?
So, the song. Obviously it's not mine since I hate poetry and lyric-writing so I have to give the credit to an incredibly talented Swedish person in deviantart called NOCTURNE ANGEL! art/Elven-Lullaby-82247244
And here's the translation of the song into our human language!
Slumber, sleep, my beautiful child
Sleep beneath deep vaults of stars
Watch the dreams spinning its yarn
And its glitter when the moon is half
Dance with stars beneath clouds and mist
In swirls that no one can see
Dance with the girl you can win in your dream
And make promises no one can make
Promise to give her the castle of your dreams
And the foam of the waves of white
Promise her that life will be good
And that you will draw her in the sky
Swear to give her the moon one day
And that you will laugh in eternal joy
Make sure that her words will be laws
When she rules as a benevolent queen
And when she gives you a golden ring
Wake up in your cradle with mommy
And see that she gives you the fairest of dawns
And your promises will come true
Yes, my beautiful child
Your promises will come true
Reviews everybody!
Masked Man 2: Thank you so much! Haha, maybe perfect is an understatement but I am glad you love them! The twins are the coolest! :D About the prank war, I do admit that over the few chapters to come not much is stated about them...but I do plan to have an entire chapter about it! And haha, Arwen? We shall see...
Eraman: Well...I guess I'll just have to trust Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens with their ultra Tolkiendil knowledge! Haha, even someone as LOTR obsessed as me can't remember everything.
Naruthirnith-of-Greenwood.001: Hello there! Why, thank you! I appreciate how much you liked the chapter! Haha...everybody does seem to be in Arwen's side! :) Anyways, good luck at college! If school is this aggravating, I can't imagine how it will be for you... I'll try to update as much as I can!
BlackMinx17: Aww, thank you! :3 And I promise that if I do have a hiatus in the future, it won't be long. Or well...I'll try my best. Thank you for your support and compliments!
Glitch-e-r-749: Yes,I do admit it is true that I was in a haste. The thing is that I wrote these chapters a year ago, so the writing length that I write today is much different to the one I did a year ago (once I had an 8,000 word chapter!). Anyways, yes, should I ever need advice, I am surely going to PM you, although what I actually really need is a beta. Anyways, thanks! I will try to update and I get you about slash, I'm not particularly fond of them either. It is hard to look for some decently good slash around here.
Guest: Obrigado! Thank you!
Luin: Bwahaha! :D I'm glad you thought it was funny! And haha...I suppose 'a bit' is quite an understatement to describe fangirls. And the prank war, of course they will do it! It is certainly something to look forward to! Although, I do admit that over the few chapters to come not much is stated about them...but I do plan to have an entire chapter about it in the future! Of course I will try to update my other stories...although I am incredibly busy right now and it's only going to be the fourth week! And thanks for being so awesome and patient with my stories! I'm posting two chapters right now, so I think it's a fair deal for all your waiting!
Alesia: Aw, thank you so much! :) I'm glad you did!