Disclaimer: Tolkien owns The Lord of the Rings. I cannot claim it.
Bathing Issues.
In the depths of Lothlorien . . . .
"Lady Celebrian, I am sure you are very glad to be going home soon." Haldir said, smiling at the one whom he considered a sister.
"Hmmm . . . . Well actually, I was thinking of making my stay a little longer, seeing as this is the first time I've been in Lothlorien in fifty years," Celebrian replied, looking around at the mallorn trees that surrounded them.
"While I'm sure you still have much to catch up on, my lady, don't you miss your family?" The marchwarden questioned hesitantly.
Her smile was a little sad, but a little relieved at the same time. "I miss Elrond and the twins very much, but I am sure they will get along fine a few more weeks. I'm feeling like this is the only vacation I will have from them for some time. My children can be adorable, but they are such a handful!"
Haldir smiled understandingly -- he had had the same experience when his brothers had been born. "This is final, then."
"Aye, my friend. I sent the letter not too long ago, and it should be arriving in Imladris shortly." She laughed and the two continued on their walk in companionable silence.
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Imladris, was anything but silent.
"Er'story!" Elladan whined.
"Elladan, how many times must I ask you to cease calling me that?" Erestor asked tiredly, fishing around for something resembling shampoo.
"At least two thousand more times, I am betting," said Glorfindel, setting Elrohir in the empty bath and going off to get the hot water before the advisor had a chance to respond.
"Don't wanna take a bath!" Elrohir said, standing up, and stamping his foot on the tiles.
"Elrohir, proper grammar- Don't do that, you'll slip! Elladan, where exactly do you think you're going?"
The elfling didn't respond, so Erestor simply grabbed him around the middle and gently swung him into the bath to join his sibling.
"Mae govannen, muindor nin." Elrohir said, with a hint of irony startling in one of such tender years.
Glorfindel had returned in time to hear Elrohir's comment, and two golden eyebrows arched elegantly upward. He turned to Erestor. "I blame you for using your sarcasm way too much."
"The child is a wise and excellent observer," Erestor replied absently. He leaned down to test the temperature of the water they were going to bathe the twins with. "Ai!" he withdrew it with a gasp. "That water is scalding, Glorfindel! Add some cold!"
"How can it be scalding when elves aren't bothered by the hot or cold?"
"Glorfindel! Obviously you haven't tested the water! It's boiling, and too hot for a pair of young Peredhel to bathe in!"
"Erestor, do you really think me irresponsible enough not to test the water?"
"Yes!"
Glorfindel sighed. "Now I may not be the best elfling watcher around, but even I know that you should always-"
"Glorfindel, no need to remind me about your incompetence when watching elflings. If it weren't for you and your swimming lessons, we wouldn't be here in the first place."
"Erestor, please. You've already lectured me on that, let's move on to new and different material."
"Glorfindel, I'll have you know that that particular lecture came out very well for improvisation. I intend to keep it for later use."
"Valar save us," Glorfindel muttered, and then became very interested in searching for the soap used for hair washing.
"I've got it," Erestor said, holding up a glass bottle.
"That's the wrong one. Let's use this one," Glorfindel held up a different, more fragile looking bottle. Erestor had visions of smashed glass lurking at the bottom of the rather large bathtub.
"Isn't that Celebrian's?"
Glorfindel looked at it, and his eyes widened. "Maybe yours would be a better choice, after all," he suggested meekly.
Erestor grinned, and Glorfindel blinked. 'Grinning' was not a phrase commonly used to describe Erestor's facial expressions.
"Somehow I knew you'd see it my way," he said smugly.
Glorfindel decided not to answer that, and turned around.
There was a pause.
"Erestor . . . ."
"Yes?" the dark haired elf asked, still looking into the bottle.
"Where are they?"
Erestor sighed, "look in the bathtub, Glorfindel. They are quite easy to spot."
Glorfindel peered into the tub, and after a moment withdrew his head. "Are you sure?"
"Where else would they be?" Erestor asked, with more than a hint of irritation coming into his voice.
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you," Glorfindel replied, trying not to roll his eyes.
"Oh for the love of . . . ." Erestor abandoned the bottle of shampoo, and walked over to Glorfindel, who was scratching his head in puzzlement. A few moments later, some loud shouting could be heard, along with some creative swearing.
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"My Lord Elrond, surely that is not your final say in this matter?"
"But I'm afraid it is. I will not give the dwarves mining rights in Imladris. It just doesn't work. So I suggest that-" Elrond paused. "What was that?"
The dwarven ambassador got to his feet. "Sounds like . . . shouting."
"Aye, but who is shouting?"
"Shouldn't you know that?" the ambassador asked him.
Elrond ignored him, and cocked his head, listening. "Sounds like . . . . Erestor."
"Erestor? Your advisor?"
Elrond looked deep in thought. "Yes . . . . If you will excuse me for a moment, I need to go check on something." With that, he rose to a majestic height, and swept out of the room.
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"Erestor, I wasn't even aware that you knew such language."
"Glorfindel," Erestor replied curtly. "Despite being younger than you by a few hundred years, I was at the last alliance. If one doesn't pick up certain language when in the company of thousands of soldiers, one will never pick it up at all."
Glorfindel frowned. "So why haven't I ever heard you swear before?"
"Because, unlike you, I watch my tongue when elflings are about."
"Now Erestor, there's no need to continually insult me."
Erestor didn't answer, and looked to be concentrating.
"I said that-"
"Glorfindel, you're getting off subject."
"Fine," he huffed. "We'll continue this discussion another time."
"We must concentrate on finding Elladan and Elrohir," Erestor said, still ignoring him.
"Hmmm . . . . If I were an elfling, where would I hide?" Glorfindel thought aloud.
Erestor looked at him. "They're too young to visit the brothels, and I'm pretty sure we have none in Imladris besides. Let's concentrate on normal elflings, not Glorfindel elflings," there was a pause. "If I were an elfling, where would I go?"
"I doubt that they would find the library of much interest." Glorfindel replied scathingly.
Erestor glared at him, and Glorfindel glowered back.
The confrontation would have quickly turned ugly, had not Elrond opened the door at that moment.
"Advisor, Seneschal," he said cautiously. "What is going on? Why is there shouting?"
The two whipped around with guilty expressions.
"Er . . . ."
"Well . . . ."
Elrond lifted his eyebrow, and gave them an intimidating look.
"Well what?"
"Your sons kind of . . . ."
". . . . Escaped," finished Glorfindel. "Again."
Elrond looked at them, and covered his eyes with his hands. "Of course they did," he murmured. "Why should this have been easy, after all?"
"My lord?" Erestor asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Erestor?"
"If you were an elfling, where would you go?"
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Elrond slowly walked back to his study, feet dragging in a most un-elflike way. Behind him, he could hear the sounds of Glorfindel yelling.
"Elladan! Get out from under the suite of armor, and please put the spear down!"
Erestor was also adding to the chorus.
"Elrohir, you have until the count of three and then you must be in the bath."
No answer, but a lot of crashing.
"One . . . Two . . ." Glorfindel chanted slowly
There was a distant splash, followed by an "Ai! The water is too hot, Er'story!"
This in turn, was followed by the inevitable "Glorfindel! I told you that . . . ."
Elrond shook his head, and started to walk a little faster.
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Back in Lord Elrond's study, the dwarven ambassador looked up, as the door swung inward, admitting said lord back inside.
"What was that all about?" The dwarf questioned.
Elrond looked at him. "You don't want to know," he said firmly. Sighing, he added "perhaps it is best if we continue our discussion at another time."
The ambassador nodded, and silently stood. At the door, he paused. "By the way, a letter came for you, while you were gone," then he left.
Elrond glanced at the envelope lying upon his desk. It was from Lothlorien, and in his wife's handwriting. Thank the Valar she would be home soon. He opened the letter, and began to read.
Dear Elrond,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. As for myself, I find that the trip to see my family and friends has done me a world of good. I miss you and the twins very much, and cannot wait to see you again.
Elrond smiled.
I hope that the twins have been behaving well, and keeping up with their studies.
The Lord of Imladris decided that maybe Celebrian didn't need to know all that had occurred since she had left.
I am sure that all is well in peaceful Imladris. Please give my love to all who dwell there.
On a further note, I have decided to stay in Lothlorien for a few more weeks than I had planned. it is already arranged, and I am sure that you won't mind. After all, it is only a few weeks, and I find that I have much to catch up on.
Namarie, My beloved husband.
Love, Celebrian
Elrond paused, his smile fading. No, he couldn't have just read that. He reread it.
On a further note, I have decided to stay in Lothlorien for a few more weeks than I had planned. It is already arranged, and I am sure that you won't mind. After all, it is only a few weeks, and I find that I have much to catch up on.
No, it hadn't changed.
Elrond began to bang his head upon the desk.
ELVISH TRANSLATIONS:
Mae govannen, muindor nin Well met, my brother
A/N Sorry for the long delay! I'll try to do better next time, but school is starting soon, so I may not be able to. And thanks to all who have reviewed! I'm glad you've liked it so far.