"So, what is it that we are to do at this celebration, elf?" asked Gimli, who was seated behind Glorcheniel on her mare Winulla. "Or is this just another way you elves have devised to get together so you can drink and sing songs?"
Legolas maneuvered his own horse closer to speak with Gimli. "There will be drinking and singing, that is almost certain. We shall also have a feast this evening, and there will be games of skill and likely stories told."
"Games of skill?" mused Gimli with interest.
"Aye. Adar?" Legolas called over his back. "Did Lord Celeborn tell you what games he intended to feature?"
"No, he did not," replied Thranduil. "But I do believe we shall witness such things as three-legged races and snowball fights." To this, the elf riding at his right closed his eyes as if in pain upon hearing such words.
"Three-legged races?" Gimli asked dully. "Snowball fights. Children's games."
"There will be children there," Legolas reminded him.
Gimli scowled. "Are you talking about the elflings, or the rest of you?"
"Gimli, the whole point of this festival is frivolity." Thranduil nudged his mount forward between the horses of Glorcheniel and his son. "There will be merriment and much silliness today."
"Then why did I come along?" huffed Gimli, still feeling out of place at gatherings such as these. Thaladir told no one that he shared the Dwarf's opinion, but had been asked by his Lord to accompany his party to the house by the sea. It would not have been polite not to have, for he had no pressing engagements to attend to.
"The little ones have asked about you," Glorcheniel told him. "You would not want to disappoint Tallasinde and Vilya."
Gimli mumbled something to this, but in his heart, he missed seeing the young elves and took every opportunity to come and see them. "Is there anything else I should be warned about?"
"Party hats," Ilmendin said from behind, and Thaladir stiffened a little. How he could have forgotten that bizarre tradition Celeborn had started when hosting this particular event was beyond Thaladir's comprehension, and he began to search his mind for ways to get out of this celebration. "I believe from what I have heard that the elflings made them," continued Ilmendin, not noticing the change in the seneschal's behavior. "Glorfindel told me about it when I saw him the other day."
"The chief of the House of the Golden Flower will be at the celebration. How nice," Thaladir said, and Ilmendin looked sideways at him, hiding a smile. He knew that was not what Thaladir truly meant, for if Thaladir was night, Glorfindel was day. Ilmendin said nothing and looked at his brother, who had glanced over his shoulder. Both brothers were excellent interpreters of Thaladir's language, and the translation was clear.
* 'Glorfindel is coming, too? Oh, buggers.' *
"Glorfindel, Erestor, Galadhon, Lhunerin, Finarfin, Earwen, and everyone who presently lives at the house."
"Earwen?" Legolas paled and looked past his father to Glorcheniel. "Fancy being my wife for the next forty-eight hours?"
"Not a chance," Glorcheniel said quickly, and hastily added, "My lord...but, I, ah..."
"The twins asked her first," smirked Ilmendin knowingly.
Thaladir waited to see if anyone else would catch Ilmendin's obvious slip, and finally asked politely, "Which of them asked first?"
"Which of who? The twins?" Ilmendin glanced over at Glorcheniel, who was blushing and now had decided to ignore everyone by staring straight ahead. "I suppose 'twins' would lead one to believe it was both of them. She is not denying it, so I am taking it for truth," he said.
"Your pardon, Prince Ilmendin," began Thaladir, "but I have always been under the impression the twins are separate. Two individuals."
"If ever you have seen them fight, you will know they act as one," Legolas said, and Thranduil nodded in agreement. Still Glorcheniel said nothing, and Legolas could not help but add with a smirk, "I suppose they act as one in other ways as well." Realizing whose company he traveled in, he looked behind him guiltily, and added, "Your pardon, Thaladir."
Thaladir gave Legolas a curt nod of acceptance of the apology, but his look was one of disapproval that the words had even been said. Looking at the elleth, whose face was now dulling from bright red to flushed, he decided he did not need to know any further details of the situation. He was curious about why Legolas had even made such an indecent suggestion in the first place, but was not about to ask any questions which would prolong such an unseemly situation, hoping the answers would be given as the other elves continued their banter.
"I feel blessed to be married at this moment," said Ilmendin, somewhat sensing Thaladir's confusion. "Blessed as well to have a child. My poor, poor brother," he remarked, and Legolas shot Ilmendin a dark look, to which Ilmendin laughed, leaning toward Thaladir a bit. "Earwen is a terrible one, she can not help herself in playing matchmaker to anyone without mate and midwife to anyone without child. Let us hope she does not suspect you are single, Your Excellency, for otherwise, she may try to marry you off this very night!"
Thaladir showed little emotion regarding such news, but now at least understood the reason Legolas had for suggesting something so inappropriate. Ilmendin looked once more at Legolas, and again, Thaladir's mind was easily read by the brothers.
* 'There has to be some way for me to get out of this.' *
"What you could do, Legolas, is put a dress on Mr. Gimli and-"
"No," came the reply from Legolas, but Ilmendin persisted.
"Perhaps a wig on your horse?"
"Why don't you put-" But Thranduil had seen this coming, and his hand placed firmly over Legolas' mouth. He had to let go almost right away, for it was a difficult task to complete as they rode, and he sighed when he heard Legolas snort and Ilmendin chuckle.
"What was it you asked me? Why does your mother not wish to come along? Why did we never journey together as a family anywhere?" Thranduil left his questions unanswered as they continued on their way. Thaladir would have added full explanation to each question, but he decided he was only accompanying the family as a guest and was not expected to fulfill any of his previous duties, which unfortunately seemed to include 'elfling sitting' all too often - and more often the older the elflings got, Thaladir realized.
It didn't take long for the silence to be broken. Legolas steered his horse around the entire group to take up residence on the left side of Glorcheniel's mount. "What would it take for you to go along with the charade of being my fiancé instead of being with Elladan and Elrohir?"
"I am sorry, your majesty, but I do not think you can afford me." Gimli chuckled and Thranduil could not help smiling.
"Try me," answered Legolas, his words more a plea than a challenge. Glorcheniel was silent for a short time, truly giving the idea some consideration.
"My terms are harsh,” she warned him.
"Name them," Legolas told her. "To keep Earwen from nagging me, I shall pay any price."
Glorcheniel arched her brow. "Well, in that case..."
Thaladir slowed his mount until he was far enough away not to pick up the whispered conversation that he knew he would object to. Ilmendin watched the seneschal, and smirked, plainly seeing the words Thaladir was thinking.
* 'I Came to the West for THIS?!' *
Ilmendin chuckled to himself as Thaladir lazily took up the rear of the party, and after hearing some of Glorcheniel's terms, drew his own horse back to match pace with Thaladir. Sometimes, ignorance was truly bliss.