Troublesome Elvlings
 

It was a bright, clear day in the gardens of Imladris, where three young elfings sat, playing. Warm breezes swept the grass and flowers, ruffling the blonde locks of Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, and the identical dark locks of the twin sons of Lord Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir.

Legolas laughed and flopped onto the ground, out of breath. He was the youngest of the trio, but only by 20 years of so. Elfings, of course, aged much slower than most children, and they were all still only children, not near their majority.
"We must think of a way to...cause a bit of fun at the delegate dinner," he told the twins.

Their ada's, Elrond and Thranduil, were hosting several other lords visiting from far off realms, and the elflings could not resist the temptation to have a bit of fun.


Lord Elrond sat in his study, eyeing the other Elvenking.
"Everything is going smoothly, thus far," he said, pleased with the arangements they'd made so far.

"I agree!" Elladan smiled, nodding his head so that the dark curls that adorned it bounced slightly. "'Las, what about the fireworks your Ada orders from Mithrandir? Those might excite affairs a little." Elrohir nodded. "We could light things up." He giggled happily.

Thranduil nodded, smiling at Elrond briefly. "Indeed. I am surprised that no incidents have befallen our arrangements. And no naughtiness from our elflings."

Legolas smiled.
"Oh, that would be perfect! The wicks are small, I believe, but we can braid longer ones!" he exclaimed.


Elrond smiled a bit.
"Oh, yet, my friend. Yet. But I have faith that they will, perhaps, behave," he said. He didn't know at all if the elflings would behave at all, but he hoped they wouldn't cause too much havoc.

"Legolas, what if our Adas catch us?" Elladan said, backtracking slightly. "They'll be so angry with us."
"Yes...angry enough to cut switches!" The three shuddered. A switch had been their Adas current threat, one that had yet to be carried out.

Thranduil chuckled. "That makes one of us, my friend. I have yet to experience a visit to your lands without some form of chaos brought about by those three little devils." Thranduil was extremely fond of his son, even if the boy tested his patience sometimes.

Legolas winced a bit. His ada had made him cut a switch before, but he had never used one on him, just yet.
"Aye, they will be angry, but they will not be able to prove it was us," he reasoned.
"Besides," he added, smiling, "Think of how much fun it will be!"


Elrond chuckled. He was a devoted father, loving, but firm. He loved his sons, but he wasn't afraid of warming a bottom or two.
"You should be quite glad you've only the one elfing," he said.
"I do wonder how my own parents did it, with my brother and I. And you, when we managed to bring your into our plots," he teased, smiling at the other elf.

"Aye, you have reason..." Elrohir nodded.
"But-" Elladan was cut off by his twin.
"They will not be able to! After all, Mithrandir always says you never know when mishaps can occur!" Elrohir grinned widely. "How will we get in the store room?"

Thranduil laughed outright. "I do not think I could handle another elfling. Legolas causes enough trouble for three. Your parents were full of patience, as were mine. We caused enough trouble as it was...do you recall the incident with the colored water? My father's hair was a splendid blue for a good week."

Legolas smiled, wickedly.
"Oh, it's not locked. Ada did not even tell me to leave them be."
He scoffed and stood up.
"Come. He thinks I am a little elfing, afraid of them. I am not an elfling," he declared. He caught an arm of each twin and tried to pull them up.
"Come, I know where they are kept! We must needs get to work."


Elrond joined him in laughter.
"Oh, I don't believe either of us sat for that week. My brother and I were quite troublesome. As were you. Our elflings do get it honestly, it seems."

Elrohir bounced up, dragging his twin with him. "They always assume we are afraid of silly things like fireworks and the forest! There is nothing frightening in the forest!"
"There are Orcs in the forest." Elladan countered. "You would not sleep for a week when you heard one!"
"Shut your mouth!"

Thranduil sighed, a smile still playing at his mouth. "No we did not sit...at least not until the color faded. I fear Legolas is too much like me. He finds trouble where others could find none."

Legolas smiled.
"Ada knows I am not afraid of the forest. He does not let me play there alone though. He treats me like an elfling!" he said, pulling the other two to follow him.
"Come, let us work! The dinner is tomorrow night!"


Elrond chuckled again.
"Oh, the twins do not help, I'm afraid. It is no use to keep them apart from one another. Forbidden fruit is the sweetest, after all," he said.

"Aye! There is much work to do!" Elrohir nodded and the twins followed their partner in crime.

"Aye, and we know such a fact well, do we not Old Friend?" Thranduil smiled. "Sneaking onto the roof to see the night sky on the eve of my Ada's birthday."