Ok, I know I should be chopped up and thrown in a stew for not updating sooner but stuff just kept getting in the way. This chapter isn't quite the usual standard for this story and is more of a filler than anything else but I hope ya'll enjoy it.

One thing I would like to mention is that my homepage ( ) has updates for my stories and that way you won't have to agonize about when the new chapters are coming out. For all my Mischief in Middle Earth fans, I haven't even started the new chapter yet but I'm going to do my best and have it done by the end of the month. ENJOY!

Disclaimer:

Gandalf: Why the heck couldn't anyone else be found to do this stupid thing?

Because, now just do it!

Gandalf: Fine, but I do it under protest.

Rhov: Get on with it already!

Gandalf::sniffs: This idiotic author owns nothing (including me, thank god) except for Rhov and Mierien. :sticks out tongue at the named two and a fight ensues:

"Rhov, finally! I suppose you've been loly-gagging your way here with little or no sense of the seriousness of the matter." It was Gandalf and he looked miffed. I suppose he'd been waiting for all the males to stop slapping the poor fellow silly so he could get a word in edgewise but now, Rhov had girl on his arm and from Gandalf's experiences with me, not an entirely appropriate one.

"My apologies, Gandalf. My companions and I were way-lade several times on our journey, no fault of mine I assure you. Traveling has become a dangerous business these last several years." Rhov replied and I spotted the beginnings of a small smirk.

"Very well, very well, I will except your excuses for now but you really must come and see Bilbo. He's been asking for you ever since he heard you were coming." Gandalf said jerk of his head toward one of the smaller halls.

Seeing I was most certainly not wanted in this conversation, patted Rhov on the arm and said, "Alright then, I guess I'll have to wait another time to escort you to dinner, good elf." Tipping a wink to Gandalf, I smiled brightly and frog-marched to the dining hall, which was almost directly opposite the two ancients. I heard one small snort from Gandalf before I strode through the doorway into the noisy, perfectly friendly mess.

"Ah, ha!" someone shouted and then a pair of hands yanked me forward and shoved me into a chair. "Little Mierien from the Woodland Realm, a delight to meet you. Our mutual friend over there already told me about several of your escapades." If it weren't for the fact that Elladan would never have so unceremoniously plunked me into a chair, I would've thought it was him. However, the humongous grin and devilish eyes gave the elf next to me away as Elrohir, none other than the bosom friend of Rhovanion.

"Eh, really?" I muttered with a glare toward the sniggering Legolas.

"Oh yes," the completely oblivious Elrohir continued, "the time you shoved a snake down my brother's robes sounds most appealing. Would you be so kind as to relate this tale?"

"Yes."

"Excellent, but wait a moment while I get Aragorn." Elrohir jumped up and scooted around the table, apparently in search for the Ranger.

With a last withering glare in my adopted brother's vicinity, I jumped up and raced out of the dining hall sure that Elrohir wouldn't follow me out into the gardens. He didn't strike me as the stalking type. However, the second I came in sight of my little bridge two figures also appeared and I did a hasty about-face. Nothing in this world would compel me to become a peeping tom and besides, Arwen was too nice to be spied on.

"Found the love birds, I see."

I groaned softly, "Oh no, not you again."

Elrohir grinned and shrugged. "Don't worry, I wasn't looking for you. I figured out that Aragorn would be here so I tried to beat Arwen but as you can see," he gestured toward the little creek, "I didn't make it in time."

"Good thing," I hissed, "because she deserves some time with her darling and you and I are not going to disturb them." I grabbed his arm and started pulling him away.

Muttered protestations followed this but he came along willingly enough until we reached the Last Homely House again. I personally didn't want to go back inside so I let go of Elrohir, slumped down onto a bench near the door, and stared up at the stars trying to ignore the fellow as he plopped down next to me. I had an excuse for not acting graceful as I'm not an elf but it was too much that he collapsed in the same way.

After several minutes of silence, he spoke up, "Well, aren't you going to tell me about the snake?"

"No."

"Please? I promise you'll never have to tell it again. I can remember stories pretty well and I could tell Aragorn." He looked so like a baby with that lower lip and begging puppy eyes that I decided to cave in.

"Fine, but don't you dare even sneeze while I speaking." He nodded his agreement and leaned back. Devilish smirks should not be allowed; as a smatter of fact, neither should elves but that's beyond the point.

"It was about a year after Elladan arrived that we all went on a hunt –I don't like hunting but King Thranduil refused to let me out of his sight since I'd done something else earlier and no, I refuse to tell you that one- and it was the middle of the day so everyone halted and we all sat down to eat lunch. I was already annoyed with your brother since he had insisted on riding behind me in case I fell off my horse and then he had the gall to ask Legolas if I could use sword or was good in archery.

"Stop chuckling, it isn't kind! Anyway, there I was, sitting on my blanket during a break like a good girl when a brown, perfectly harmless snake wended its way by me with a friendly hiss. Elladan saw and freaked –yes freaked is a real word so stop sputtering- and grabbed at it. I got to it first and when he saw that, I thought he was going to have a heart attack –it's something that kills off people where I used to live-. He told me to put that venomous serpent down before it got mad enough to bite me and I said to go and boil his head in a saucepan. Elladan didn't like that very much and made another grab at the poor snake when –now I want you to know this was purely instinct- Elladan got close enough I shoved the innocent reptile down his robes."

Elrohir, who I suppose, had been imagining the scene in his head whooped awfully loud and then buried the lower half of his face in his hands to muffle the guffaws. When he had control of himself once more I continued with slightly more relish as I came to the best part. "Then Thranduil, who hadn't heard anything turned around and only saw Elladan's face turn white and then the poor elf begin to hop up and down screaming like a maniac. Well you can understand the poor Elvenking's consternation at such a self-controlled fellow losing it right there in front of the entire court so…"

"Wait… wait…" Elrohir gasped with suppressed laughter, "are you saying that the great Elladan began to scream like a girl, jump up and down like an idiot, and otherwise make a fool out of himself?"

I nodded and Elrohir closed his eyes with a smile of pure ecstasy on his face and I could tell he was drinking in the feeling of triumph and, of course, the scene that had unfolded before his eyes.

None other than the hero of said story interrupted us as he came bursting out of the front door with a wild look on his face. He spotted us grinning evily at seemingly nothing and advanced with nostrils flaring. "What are you doing out here Elrohir? And Mierien, the hobbit, Peregrin Took, has been looking for you everywhere."

"Yes, sweet, darling brother." Elrohir simpered. "We were just about to go in: I have an excellent story to tell the others and it cannot wait." With that, he hopped up from his bench, grabbed his brothers elbow, whipped him around, and dragged him inside again. Yawning, I decided I would go and see what Pippin wanted.

He and Merry were talking together in a corner when I found them and jumped slightly when I said their names. With furtive glances to the right and left, Pippin motioned for me to lean closer.

"Do you suppose us two should attend the meeting tomorrow?" he whispered and I couldn't help but cough out a laugh.

"Why ask me? Not only do I have zippo influence over anyone and also, I'm not important enough to be even told there was a meeting tomorrow."

Merry answered while Pippin blinked as he realized that this was extremely obvious. "Well, as one of the few people we know here, we thought you would know what Lord Elrond would like or if it would be appropriate."

"Number one: I have not spoken to Elrond since the time I arrived here. Second: If you weren't invited I don't see you think you should go. After all, Gandalf would be the only person to stick up for you." I grinned at their crestfallen faces and then Pippin looked up with a mutinous scowl. "Sam's going and he certainly didn't get invited."

"Don't you think Sam has the right as Frodo's servant to be there? From what you tell me, Gandalf and Elrond would support his claims since he's so attached to Frodo and let him go without reprimand. You, however…"

"Alright then," Pippin muttered, "but if something happens and we get left to be packed home, I shan't forgive you." Merry nodded his silent affirmation and they both strode off, no doubt to find Sam and tell him what I said.

Chuckling to myself, I went off to my room to rest since I was suddenly tired for no reason whatsoever. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of Sam's book and hide somewhere to hear the meeting. From the tidbits I'd gotten from different people, Frodo would be showing them the Ring of Power which he had aquired from somewhere, Gandalf would be relating some quest he'd spent 20-some-odd years doing, and several other things. Other things of course would be coming from our neck of the woods since Gollum had escaped the elves –I'd found out little about this affair until Legolas told me on our way to Rivendell. Amazing how much one misses- and the dwarves had been having problems over at the Lonely Mountain.

Thinking it over, I decided the best course would be to corral Legolas or even Sam if I had to and hear the story from a reliable source. From the beginning you understand.

AN: Thankyou so very much for all your lovely reviews and be assured I will try to do better on my updating. I'm in the midst of writing a fantasy trilogy and a western so it's been difficult to update my fanfictions. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. -Dark-Sylph