Mending a Heart and the Tie that Binds

Chapter 10: Revelations


Legolas awakened abruptly, holding his throat and panting. Beads of sweat rolled down his face.

“What? What is it?” Elladan asked, sitting up suddenly and looking around the room.

“Get away from me!” Legolas said, leaping from the bed and grabbing Elladan’s sword.

Elladan stared at the prince in dismay, unsure of what was happening. He tried to get off of the bed, but his limbs felt oddly numb and his stomach made a strange grumbling noise. Slowly, he climbed out of the bed, trying to allow his eyes to adjustthe the darkness in the room, and made his way toward the silhouette of the prince. It was still the middle of the night and only the moonlight illuminated the room. “Did you have a nightmare?”

“Stay away from me!”

“Legolas…”

“I mean it! I will kill you if I have to.”

“Not again,” Elladan said in exasperation. “The last time you had a nightmare and threatened to kill me, I ended up with a black eye.” He stopped walking and raised his hands in surrender. “I am not armed, Legolas. In fact, I am not clothed. So, unless I am going to beat you senseless with one of my five limbs, which is quite possible, then I would have to say that you are safe.”

“Five limbs?” Legolas asked still aiming the sword at Elladan.

“Aye. I have two arms, two legs and a pillar of muscle between my thighs.”

Legolas chuckled and lowered the weapon slowly. “Is it really you, Elladan?”

“Of course it is. Why? Were you expecting someone else?”

“Nay… it’s just…”

“Just what?” Elladan said, sitting down on the bed and rubbing his aching arms and legs.

Legolas remained standing, still watching Elladan cautiously before continuing. “I had a frightening dream.”

“Was it… about you mother?”

“Nay,” Legolas said, shaking his head. “It was about you.”

“Me?”

“Aye.”

“Well, what’s so bad about that? After all, I am unbelievably dashing.”

“You gave me the head of an elf as a present, then you killed me.”

Elladan sighed loudly. “Did Arwen tell you about the time I gave her a dead rat as a gift? It is not fair. I made one little mistake and I have never been able to overcome it.”

Legolas laughed and sat down at the foot of the bed, making sure to keep a close watch on Elladan. “You… you weren’t yourself in the dream. You were like… like an animal… like an orc.”

“Hey! Save the insults for the competition when all five of my limbs are beating you and all of the other warriors from Mirkwood and Lothlórien.”

Legolas chuckled and shook his head. “I am serious, Elladan.”

“It was only a dream, Greenleaf. I would never kill you or give you the head of an elf as a gift… unless of course you made me very angry. In that case, what I just said would become nullified. I would promptly take up my sword and go seek out Arwen.”

Legolas put the sword down on the floor and sat in silence.

Elladan moved to the foot of the bed, so he could sit next to Legolas. He wrapped one of his arms around the prince and kissed him on the temple. “You know that I love you and would never hurt you.”

“I know,” Legolas said softly.

“Then why are you so melancholy?”

“I… it’s just that the dream seemed so real. It was so vivid.”

“It was only a dream. Don’t think about it. Come back to bed and I will hold you in my arms until you fall asleep.”

“Nay,” Legolas said even though Elladan’s offer was tempting. “Methinks I will go to the stable for a while.”

“Indeed? So you do not wish to spend time alone with me, eh? You prefer the comfort of a steed to all that I can offer. Perhaps Goel is waiting for you in the stable, grazing patiently until his secret lover, Prince Legolas, arrives.”

Legolas laughed and brushed a stray hair from Elladan’s handsome face. “Do you know what I love most about you?”

“My fifth limb?”

The prince chuckled, cupping Elladan’s chin gently. “I love the way you make me laugh. Your sense of humor is your greatest strength; it always lightens my heart… even when it is heavy.”

“Ah, so you think that I am jesting?” Elladan said, pushing the prince’s hand away from his face dramatically. “Fine, go to the stable then. I care not. In the meantime, I shall make a **very** nice present for you and tie it with a big, grey bow… I wonder if Arwen is sleeping. Before you leave, would you tell me where you put my sword?”

Legolas smiled and then looked at Elladan, startled. “How did you know that the present in my dream was tied with a grey bow?”

“I didn’t,” Elladan said, shrugging. “My eyes are grey… that is why I chose the color.”

Legolas stood up and faced dan,dan, moving only inches from the Rivendell warrior’s face. The prince looked into Elladan’s eyes and sighed with relief when he saw that they were as silvery as the moon.

“What is wrong?”

“Nothing,” Legolas said, moving away from Elladan and picking up his leggings off of the floor. He put them on hurriedly and then pulled his under tunic over his head. He couldn’t find his over tunic but didn’t really care; he just wanted to go somewhere alone so he could think.

Elladan yawned. “I will come with you, if you wish.”

“Nay,” Legolas said sincerely. “You stay here and sleep. I will see you in the morn.”

“Are you sure?”

“Aye.” Legolas kissed Elladan’s lips gently and was a bit surprised to hear him groan in pain as he got underneath the covers. “Are you alright?”

“I am fine… just a bit tired,” Elladan said sleepily.

The prince walked toward the door but stopped abruptly when he heard Elladan call to him. “Yes?”

“Whose head was in the box… in your dream?”

“I… I do not know.”

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Before returning to Elladan’s bedchamber the next morning, Legolas bathed and changed his clothes. He had spent the duration of the night talking to the horses and thinking about his dream. He decided he was overreacting and believed that he had found the source of his disharmony. He was going to tell Elladan the truth.

On his way to Elladan’s room, he stopped by the kitchen and procured a tray full of fresh fruit, warm bread, smoked meat and spicy cider. They would dine together and prepare for the opening ceremony of the competition. It would be a good day.

The prince walked up the stairs and down the hallway. Quietly, he entered Elladan’s bedchamber.

Elladan was still sleeping.

Legolas walked over to the bed and looked down at his slumbering lover. Elladan was so beautiful. The prince lightly fingered the Rivendell warrior’s cheek.

Elladan opened his eyes and shrieked, doubling over in agony.

“What is it? What is wrong?”

“My stomach…”

Legolas watched Elladan skeptically as he struggled to sit up.

“Help me, Legolas, please?”

The prince did as he was asked, by grabbing Elladan’s arm and helping him to sit up.

“Ai!” Elladan wailed. “My arms… they feel as though they are about to fall off. And my legs feel even worse.”

“Are you jesting?”

“Nay,” Elladan said, slumping forward slightly. “I am in pain.”

Legolas shook his head in disbelief. After all, Elladan had been full of jests only a few hours ago.

Suddenly, Elladan made a strange sound. Despite the pain his aching limbs were causing him, he forcemselmself to stand and staggered toward a large vase in the corner of the room. He leaned over the urn, shaking violently. A low growl emerged from Elladan’s lips and he heaved, expelling a thick, red substance from his mouth.

“Elladan!” Legolas shouted. Trying to come to his lover’s aid, but Elladan lurched forward again and again, moaning in pain.

Elladan could hardly stand. Beads of sweat poured down his ashen face and his eyes rolled into his head.

“I shall get some help,” Legolas said.

“Legolas,” Elladan managed to say. “My leggings. My leggings, please.”

“There is no time,” Legolas protested.

“Please… Legolas.”

Legolas picked Elladan’s leggings off of the floor and helped him put them on as quickly as possible.

Elladan smiled gratefully at Legolas and then clutched his stomach. He began to vomit more fluid. “Help me, please?” he pleaded, falling to the floor.

The prince tore from the room and headed for Elrond’s bedchamber. The lord was not in his room, so the prince asked a servant where Elrond could be found. He was directed to the entrance hall and ran there as fast as he could. “Lord Elrond! Lord Elrond!”

Elrond, Thranduil, Celeborn and Glorfindel were just about to leave the manor to go spend some time together in the grove when they heard Legolas calling frantically.

“What is it, Legolas? What is wrong?” Elrond said, his eyes laced with concern.

“It is Elladan. There is something terribly wrong!”

“Take me to him,” Elrond said, as he and the other elves ran behind Legolas to Elladan’s bedchamber.

“Father,” Elladan said, weakly, as the small group of elves entered the room.

“Do not speak.” Elrond began trying to assess Elladan’s condition when the dark-haired elf jumped up and leaned over the vase and began to expel more of the thick liquid.

Celeborn, Glorfindel and Thranduil exchanged concerned looks.

Elrond wiped some of the foamy substance from Elladan’s mouth and smelled it. “It smells sickly-sweet. Legolas, what did Elladan eat yesterday. Did he ingest anything unusual?”

“I do not think so.”

“Elladan? Elladan,” Elrond said firmly. “Did you eat anything strange yesterday? I need you to tell me.”

“Nay, Father.” Elladan said softly. “The last thing I ate was some of those berries on the nightstand.”

“What berries?” Elrond asked, looking around the room.

Elladan was very weak, but somehow managed to raise his arm. He pointed toward the nightstand.

Elrond walked toward the small table and saw a bowl full of beautiful berries and gasped. “You ate these?”

Elladan nodded weakly.

Thranduil chuckled and Legolas felt his face turn bright red.

Elrond sighed with relief. “Glorfindel, would you go to the healing room and bring my flask of Myrtle Root Juice and one of the cups that is in the cupboard?”

“Right away,” Glorfindel said, bowing and rushing out of the room.

Moments later the chief marchwarden was back and handed the flask to Elrond.

The lord pulled the cork out of the bottle and poured some into the small cup that Glorfindel had brought. “Here Elladan, drink this. It will relieve you symptoms right away.” He helped his son drink some of the burgundy colored juice.

Elladan winced at the acrid taste of the liquid but felt the majority of the pain leaving his body immediately. His stomach no longer grumbled and the aching in his arms and legs diminished greatly. He sat up and looked at his father. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” Elrond said.

“What kind of berries are those?”

Elrond smiled. “They are called Season Berries or Elf Berries and are a native plant of Mirkwood. This summer, I wrote to Legolas and asked him if he would bring some to Rivendell. I haven’t seen the berries since I studied healing in Mirkwood many years ago and wanted to use them in some new herbal remedies that I am working on. They are called Season Berries because they change color, just like the leaves. However, unlike the leaves, they do not die, which is why some healers refer to them as Elf Berries. They are quite powerful and can draw out the most toxic venom, when crushed and used as a poultice and can also stop bleeding. When ingested, however, these berries are very potent indeed and are best known for their powers as a sexual stimulant.”

Elladan’s eyes widened and he looked at Legolas, whose face was pinker than the berries.

“Supposedly, they bring out animal instincts in meek lovers, barring inhibitions and encouraging… staying power,” Elrond explained. “I have heard that when they are eaten, many strange side effects can occur… stomach ache, stiffness and soreness of the limbs, temporary paralysis, change in eye color, emotional outbursts and many more.”

Legolas sighed with relief. *So that’s why his eyes changed color; it was the berries.*

“But why did I become ill? Elves do not get sick, do they?”

“Nay,” Elrond said. “Then again, Season Berries are not native to Rivendell; I have never known anyone who has actually ingested them… I have only seen them at work when applied on an injury. How many did you eat?”

“I do not know… ten mayb

“

“Ten? No wonder you became ill… even as a poultice only two or three berries are used. Do not forget, many of the vegetation that grows in elvish realms are enchanted; that is why they are so powerful… the Valar has touched them. Be glad that you are an elf; you would have died if you were human.”

Elladan nodded his head slowly, cringing when he saw the smirk on Thranduil’s face.

“Perhaps I should take these, before more harm comes from them.”

“I… I didn’t know he had eaten them,” Legolas said to his father.

Thranduil nodded, even though he didn’t believe a word Legolas was saying.

“We will take our leave now,” Elrond said, taking the bowl of berries.

“Do you think I will be well enough to participate in the opening ceremony this afternoon?” Elladan asked hopefully.

Legolas smiled to himself suddenly. He had forgotten about the opening ceremony. He was really looking forward to it.

“Aye,” Elrond replied. “You should be completely healed by midday. You should be careful to avoid any… strenuous activities until this afternoon, however.”

Elladan felt his face redden. “Aye, Father.”

Elrond, Celeborn and Elrond left Elladan’s bedchamber and when they rounded the corner, they nearly ran headfirst into Haldir.

“Begging your pardon, my Lords,” Haldir said, bowing deeply.

Thranduil grinned at Glorfindel for a moment and then spoke in his usual kingly manner. “Do not fret, Haldir. We did not see you either.”

Haldir raised his head and smiled, glancing at Glorfindel and blushing slightly. “Good… good morn, Glorfindel.”

“Hello, Haldir.”

Haldir looked down at the floor diffidently then looked up slowly, meeting the elder’s eyes. “Have you seen my brothers? I am looking for them.”

“I spoke to them very early this morn,” Celeborn said. “They didn’t want to disturb your sleep. They told me that they were going to the stables. You may be able to catch up with them if you hurry.”

“Thank you, my Lord,” Haldir said bowing again. He glanced at Glorfindel once more before rushing down the stairs and out of the entrance hall.

The king grinned. “Glorfindel, perhaps you should take a few of the Season Berries. I am certain the pup would enjoy them.”

Glorfindel smiled and shook his head.

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“Are you alright?” Legolas asked Elladan.

“I feel much better, but I am very embarrassed. Why did my grandfather, Glorfindel and your father have to come in here?”

“They were worried about you.”

“I guess,” Elladan said, sighing.

“So…” Elladan began slowly. “Was last night better? Was I different? Was I like… an animal?”

“Last night was wonderful,” Legolas said, “but it is always pleasurable with you.”

“So you liked the effect that the berries had on me?”

“It was a nice change.”

“Good,” Elladan said, opening his hand. He had about ten berries in his hand.

Legolas eyes widened.

“Just in case,” Elladan said, grinning.

“You do not need them,” Legolas said.

“Who said that they berries were for me?” Elladan asked, smiling deviously.

Legolas laughed and threw a pillow at the Rivendell warrior, who ducked just before it hit his head.

Elladan laughed and walked over to a table that was beside a large window in the room and looked at the food that had been placed on the table. “You did this?”

“Aye,” Legolas said, walking over to the bed and sitting down. “I wanted to surprise you with breakfast.”

Elladan smiled. “I’m afraid th am am not very hungry.”

“Me neither,” Legolas admitted.

Elladan poured some cider for himself and drank. “Would you like some?”

“Nay.”

Elladan could still taste the bitterness of the berries in his mouth and drank and drank until the putrid flavor was gone. “I need to wash out the vase. Elladan looked around the room but did not see the urn anywhere.

“Your grandfather took it,” Legolas said. “He probably is going to have it cleaned.”

“Oh.”

“Elladan…” the prince began slowly.

“Aye.”

“I… I need to talk to you.”

“You sound so serious,” Elladan said, walking toward the prince.

“I am,” Legolas said. “I wasn’t completely honest with you yesterday evening.”

“What do you mean?” Elladan asked, sitting down on the bed beside the prince.

“Yesterday, you asked me about what happened in the forest. I told you that Makail was worried for no reason… that he was overreacting. I… I lied.”

“You lied?”

“Aye. I didn’t want to tell you that I became terrified when we passed through the woods on our way back to Rivendell. I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“You became terrified?” Elladan asked, his voice full of concern. “Why?”

“Because the last time I passed through those woods, we were ambushed by orcs.”

“Oh, Legolas,” Elladan said, placing his hand on the prince’s shoulder. “I had forgotten about that. You saved Arwen’s life.”

“I did… but if you recall, I also froze in the midst of battle. It was soon after my mother’s death… too soon. I could hear her screaming. It happened again yesterday.”

“What happened?”

“I could feel terror on the wind… I remember my mother… the orcs. I could hear her screaming, smell the stench of blood…”

“Do you think that was the reason for your dream last night?” Elladan asked. “Do you think that you had the dream because of what happened in the woods?”

“Yes,” Legolas said. “I still have nightmares sometimes. But they had diminished… until now.”

“What do you mean?”

“The dream I had last night was so real. I could feel the weight of the gift in my hands. I felt terror when I saw the head, and agony when you slit my throat. I could feel my life slipping away… I could taste the blood in my mouth.”

“But it was only a dream,” Elladan said, stroking the prince’s hair reassuringly. “I am so sorry I was not by your side when that happened. My time has been torn between my love for Elrohir and my love for you. Will you forgive me?”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Legolas said, looking into Elladan’s eyes. A brief silence passed between the lovers before Legolas spoke. “Do… do you ever think about her?”

“Who?”

“Your mother?”

Elladan pulled away from the prince and stood up. He walked to the window and looked out. “There is not a day that passes that she is not on my mind. Especially after what I saw in Gaidon.”

“What did you see?”

“Taran’s mother… she looked very much like my mother.”

“So that is why you and the others were staring at her. I had wondered about that,” Legolas said.

A soft clap of thunder rumbled in the distance and a gentle spring rain began to fall.

“Aye,” Elladan said softly. “To see her hold Taran in her arms… I remembered when I was a child and my mother would hold me.”

Legolas didn’t know what to say. Elladan’s voice was breaking and his pain was evident in his words. But Celebrían had been gone for a couple of years now, yet the agony of her departure was still so near. The prince rose to his feet and walked toward his lover.

“When I was little, the thunder used to frighten me. My mother would hold me in her arms and sing to me. Sometimes I fell asleep, and other times I just listened to the beat of her heart while she held me close. Whenever it rains, I think of her… and wonder if it rains in the west. I wonder… if it thunders… and if it does… does she think of me?” Elladan’s voice broke and tears ran down his face.

Legolas stood behind Elladan and wrapped his arms around his waist. “Your father told me much about your mother when I was learning the art of healing with him. I am certain that she thinks about you often, and hopes to see you someday.”

“I failed her,” Elladan said softly. “She always protected me from my fears. When the time came… I could not protect her from hers.”

“You and Elrohir saved her life,” Legolas said, still holding Elladan close to him.

“I am not so sure anymore,” Elladan said, shaking his head. “We saved her… yes. But did we really save her life? We rescued her body… her outer self. But the mother I knew… the one who was always jesting… the one who held me in her arms and sang me to sleep is gone forever. Her soul was lost… we only saved her flesh.”

Legolas could feel Elladan trembling in his arms. He wanted to comfort his lover, to tell him that everything would be alright, but Elladan’s sadness was so deep that it permeated their surroundings. The prince looked around the room and gasped. Everything was so bleak, there was no sun or clouds above and the sky was the color of the fog after a storm.

“Legolas?” Elladan asked, turning to look at the prince.

Legolas felt as though a veil had been lifted from his eyes and he could suddenly see clearly again. The room looked normal again, as did everything else.

“I… I am sorry for behaving like a child,” Elladan said, walking toward the bed. “Methinks the berries are still having some sort of strange effect. Perhaps the sentiment I just displayed was an emotional outburst that was caused by the berries.”

“Aye, I am sure that is what it was,” Legolas said, smiling at his lover and not believing a word that Elladan had just said.

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Haldir had been unsuccessful; he hadn’t been able to find his brothers. So, he went for a walk along an unfamiliar path. The rain didn’t deter him from his stroll. On the contrary, Haldir loved the rain. The spring shower stopped suddenly and golden beams of light peered through the storm clouds above. He inhaled sharply and smiled, looking up above; he had found the perfect spot. Haldir climbed an enormous tree and sat on a thick, sturdy limb. Placing his back against the trunk of the tree, he stretched one leg out, allowing the branch to support it, and allowed the other to flank the limb, swinging his leg slowly. He pulled a small book of poems out of a pocket that was on the inside of his tunic and began to read.

The king, the two lords and the marchwarden were surprised to see Haldir sitting in the large tree when they arrived at the grove.

Haldir, on the other hand, was so engrossed in his reading that he didn’t notice the appearance of the elder elves.

“Hello, Haldir,” Celeborn said. “Did you not find your brothers?”

Haldir looked down and was shocked to see the small cluster of elves standing below him. He nearly cringed when he saw Glorfindel. He didn’t want to think about how terrible he must look with wet hair and clothes. *I must seem so childish and undignified. * Trying to maintain his composure, he smiled politely. “Nay, Lord. One of the stable hands told me that my brothers went riding. So, I decided to go for a walk. I am terribly sorry; I did not know that you were going to convene here. I shall take my leave at once.”

“Nay,” Thranduil said abruptly. “We do not possess this land. You were here first. We shall be the ones to leave.”

“Begging your pardon, Sire,” Haldir said, leaping gracefully out of the tree. “It is true that you, nor your kinsman, own the land… you rule it. I am only reading some prose, my affairs are of little importance compared to the dealings of rulers. With all due respect, your Lordship, I will excuse myself and leave you and yours to do what you will.”

Thranduil was very impressed by Haldir. He was poised, well spoken and looked rather edible in damp, clingy clothing. He wished that he could immerse Elrond in a nearby pond. Glancing at Elrond’s taut, leggings-clad thighs for a moment, the king met Haldir’s eyes. “You are well-bred, Haldir. Your countenance impresses me.”

“Thank you, Sire,” Haldir said bowing deeply.

Celeborn smiled to himself. He knew that Thranduil did not give idle compliments. Although Haldir was not his son, it pleased the lord to hear him be praised.

“I insist that you remain here,” Thranduil said. “If it is alright with my companions, we will take a leisurely walk through the realm this day.” The king observed his comrades.

Elrond nodded, as did Celeborn, silently agreeing to the king’s suggestion.

Glorfindel nodded as well when the king met his eyes, trying to ignore the hint of mischief he saw imbedded in them.

“It is settled then,” Thranduil said matter-of-factly. “You will stay here and we will leave.”

“As you wish, Sire,” Haldir said bowing again.

The elders left the grove and Haldir climbed back into the tree. He stared at the back of Glorfindel’s head a bit sadly until he could see him no longer.

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Elladan, Elrohir and the Mirkwood princes traversed a scenic path that meandered through the Emerald realm.

Legolas looked around as he walked, admiring the unique beauty that Rivendell possessed. Now that he had seen all three realms, he believed that Rivendell was the most beautiful. Nothing seemed to compare to the multiple streams, brooks and rivers that were scattered throughout the land and the cozy looking homes that were nestled in the hills warmed his heart.

Elladan stopped abruptly and Legolas nearly ran into the back of him.

“What is it?” Legolas asked.

“Look there… in the distance,” Elladan said, pointing to a large tree.

“It’s Haldir,” Dace said.

“Aye,” Elladan said, grinning. “Let’s go have some fun.”

“Elladan, you should leave him be,” Legolas said warningly. “So far, nothing good has come from your jests with Haldir.”

“Oh, Legolas,” Elladan said in exasperation. “Do not spoil my fun. Teasing Haldir is a delight. Do not fear, nothing grievous will happen.”

Legolas shook his head. He wasn’t sure about this.

“Oy there, Haldir!” Elladan shouted as they approached the large tree.

“Hello,” Haldir said, peering downward.

“What are you doing up there?” Elrohir asked.

“Reading,” Haldir replied, returning his attention to his book.

“Do not listen to him, Elrohir,” Elladan said. “He is hiding from us… that is why he is in the tree.”

“And why would I hide from you?” Haldir asked, looked down once again.

“The opening ceremony is this afternoon and you know that Lothlórien will be horribly defeated. It is okay. I will ask the warriors from Rivendell not to crush you too badly.”

Haldir scoffed, “Say what you will Elladan, but defeat shall be yours. You know the warriors of Lórien are far superior to those of Rivendell. You will need to climb up a tree when the competition is over, because you will be so humiliated by your horrific defeat.”

“Is that a fact?” Elladan asked, placing his hands on his hips indignantly.

“It is.”

“Well, why don’t we have a competition right now?”

“What sort of competition?” Haldir asked.

Elladan looked around and grinned. “How about a mud fight? Whoever is covered in the most mud will lose. You must use your skill as a warrior to deflect and avoid the mud balls. If you get hit, then a point will be taken away.”

“That is ridiculous,” Haldir said. “I am not going to brawl in the muck like a human.”

“Indeed?” Elladan asked, bending down and scooping up some wet dirt in his hands.

“Don’t you dare!” Haldir exclaimed, but it was too late, Elladan launched the globule at the marchwarden’s head. Luckily, Haldir was quick. He used his free hand to swat the ball of mud downward; it changed direction and landed on top of Elladan’s head.

Elrohir and the others laughed, especially Dace, who jumped up and down and pointed at Elladan.

The sticky mud, slid down the sides of Elladan’s face. He was not amused. “Oh, so you think that this is funny, do you, Dace?” Elladan reached on top of his head, grasping what sludge was left on his head and threw it at Dace.

Dace jumped out of the way just in time and the mud hit Makail in the face.

Elladan began to laugh, as did Elrohir.

Makail bent down, forming a large ball of muck with his hands and threw it at Elrohir. His aim was true. The slush hit the center Elrohir’s tunic, almost knocking him over.

Elrohir retaliated by throwing a mud ball back at Makail, but he grabbed Legolas to use him as a shield. The mud hit the youngest prince in the fand cnd covered his whole head.

Everyone laughed and a massive mud fight began. Mud flew wildly through the air. Even Haldir, as high up as he was still got a bit of mud on him from time to time. He shook his head in dismay and then froze. The elders were coming! “Stop, stop. Makail, Elladan, Dace…” Haldir pleaded, but it was of little use. The young warrior were so engrossed in their fighting that they did not sense the rulers rounding the bend.

“Ha, ha! Take this you cur!” Dace yelled and launched an enormous globule. Legolas jumped out of the way and the mud made a loud splat as it hit Thranduil in the chest.

Everything in Rivendell seemed to freeze in that very moment.

Thranduil looked so cross that even the birds seemed to sense it. A mass of them flew away and two deer fled from the underbrush.

Legolas, Dace and Makail stared at their father, openmouthed. They knew their father did not take kindly to jests and foolishness such as this would be harshly punished.

Elladan started to speak but was rendered silent by the anger on the king’s face.

“I think we need to have a little talk,” Thranduil said, glaring at his sons.

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TBC…