Estel had been home for a few days now and he found that his days had quickly settled into a semi-routine. He would breakfast with his family - which included Legolas - and friends. Then he and the twins along with the fair Mirkwood elf would go then to the practice fields. There, they spent their mornings fencing, sparring, and shooting arrows into poor defenceless trees and other skills that they felt like practicing. After a light lunch the twins usually continued with lore work under Glorfindel's supervision, which left Estel and Legolas to there own devices. So far, they had spent some time with Lord Elrond telling him of their latest adventures and discussing things in general. They had also explored the forests and rivers around Rivendell for the umpteenth time, Estel practicing his skills at tracking an elf, which Legolas was only too happy to help him with. Estel had a few things dropped on him from high and ended up in the river a few times, but otherwise they enjoyed themselves immensely. And then after a sumptuous meal for supper, they retired to the Hall of Fire for evenings of stories, lore telling and song. Estel found that it was the evenings he enjoyed the most. He and Legolas would sit together in a corner on cushions or a chair or what ever was handy. The twins would join them and the four of them would spend their evenings listening to the sounds and talking softly. This pattern held for a week and the twins were starting to become slightly paranoid. Normally with Legolas and Estel home, a somewhat inventive prank war would start up between the four of them, but nothing had happened yet to the twins yet. The twins were beginning to suspect that the two best friends had something planned for them that would be the prank to end all pranks. They had expected retaliation before now for the couple of minor pranks they had already pulled, but nothing so far. Unbeknownst to the two of them, that's exactly what Estel and Legolas had planned. But they had the timing worked out so that it would happen the night before they left Rivendell for Mirkwood, that way, the twins would have no time what so ever to retaliate.

It was a lovely summer's afternoon, which found Legolas and Aragorn heading over the pass into the nearby town. There were some things Aragorn wanted to get to help in Legolas's plan for the prank on the twins and they had decided to spend the day travelling there and back. They chatted easily, laughing about this thing and that, and what they had planned. It was an easy journey for them and since it was such a lovely day, they made good time. They arrived at the village near lunchtime and grinning at each other, they entered. The villagers were used to the sight of elves coming into their village occasionally, but they hadn't seen one as fair as Legolas. His golden hair seemed to glow in the brilliant light of the day. They made their way to the local inn, which Aragorn assured Legolas did nice meals and they decided to get their purchases after lunch. They entered the inn and Aragorn led Legolas to a table in a corner where their backs where to the wall and their eyes on the door. A serving girl came over and nodded to them both.
"Strider, good to see you back, it's been a few years."
"That it has Marion. What's good today please?"
"We have some venison stew and fresh bread."
"We'll have two servings of that please, and a couple of ales." Marion nodded and went away. Legolas looked at Aragorn, a slight smile on his face and his blue eyes amused.
"Obviously you've frequented this establishment a few times." Strider grinned at him.
"Just a few. Normally it's with those brothers of mine, and they cause all manner of problems." Legolas gave a soft musical laugh.
"I can imagine Mellon Nin." Just then Marion came back with a tray that had their food and drinks on it.
"Here you go Strider, Master Elf. You must not be around from here, I don't think I've seen you in here with Strider before Master Elf." Legolas took the bowl and mug of ale from her and graced her with a slight smile.
"I am visiting my good friend Strider from Mirkwood milady. I am only here for a few weeks unfortunately, and Strider insisted that I come and sample the fare of your Inn." Marion blushed and giving them both a quick curtsy and leaving them alone. Strider glanced out the corner of his eye, grinning at his friend.
"You've made another conquest their Mellon Nin. At this rate, not only will you have every maid in Mirkwood, Rivendell and Lothlorien in love with you, but every mortal maid as well." Legolas blushed faintly as he pulled apart some of the bread and handed it to Strider
"Strider you know I've never been to Lothlorien." Strider kept grinning as he dipped the bread in the gravy of the stew.
"Yes, but you've been home when we've had visitors from there. And I know for a fact that you and Haldir are long time friends." Legolas nodded, picking up his spoon and stirring the stew.
"Yes we are. Haldir and I have known each other for a long time. Ever since I was an elfling in fact when he came and visited my Ada for some reason or other, I forget what." Strider kept grinning as they ate. More of the townspeople were coming into the Inn for their lunch and were surprised to see the golden haired elf in the presence of Strider. After finishing their meal, the two of them sat back, nursing their ales. Legolas wasn't really drinking his; it was more of appearance sake than any need to drink it. There was a low hum of conversation in the Inn and unfortunately, due to Legolas elvan hearing he heard every word spoken. After a few minutes it began to get annoying and then past annoying into the discomfort stage. Legolas leaned over and spoke softly to Strider.
"How much longer are we going to sit her Mellon Nin?" Strider looked at him, and instinctively he knew what Legolas meant.
"We'll leave now Legolas. I'm sorry, I didn't think. When I come here with the twins or Mora, they are used to it." Strider drained his ale and left some coins on the table. He stood up and Legolas followed him as they left the Inn. They emerged outside and Legolas took a deep breath, having not realised that he found the inside suffocating in a strange way. Strider looked at him and laughed.
"Come on then Mellon Nin, let's go get what we need and head back home. I have the feeling Elladan and Elrohir are getting a tad nervous we haven't done something to them yet." Legolas grinned as they walked towards the small market place.
"Yes. They have done various pranks to us and we haven't retaliated yet. Do you think we should do something small to relieve their minds?" Strider thought about this for a moment and then nodded. He grinned at Legolas as he spotted the stall he was after.
"I agree and I have just the thing."

The twins had been hunting all day with a party from Rivendell to stock up their stores of fresh meat. They were tired and dirty and looking forward to nothing more than a hot bath. They walked up the stairs and headed to their rooms. Nodding at each other they entered their rooms, heading straight for the bathing chambers. Erestor, the ever efficient had already gotten steaming hot baths prepared and waiting for them both, so without thought, they stripped off their clothes and practically dived into the tubs. An hour or so later, feeling extremely clean, relaxed and ready to eat. Wrapping a towel around himself, Elladan walked out into his room and over to his wardrobe. He opened it and frowned. It was completely empty. Everything was gone. From boots to leggings to shirts and formal robes. He moved over to his draws and opened them as well; they to were completely empty. Frowning, Elladan moved over to the door and opened it, deciding he'd go over to Elrohir's room and borrowing some of his clothes. He got halfway across the hall only to bump into his brother; a towel wrapped him as well. Elrohir frowned and Elladan matched his expression.
"No clothes either?"
"Nope, you?" The two brothers looked at one another a moment and then let out frustrated sighs.
"Estel and Legolas?"
"Estel and Legolas." The twins sighed and looked at each other. Suddenly laughter rang out and they turned as one of find Glorfindel and Erestor standing there, looking at them. Erestor was managing the Valar knows how to keep a straight face, whereas Glorfindel felt no compunction about their predicament, having been on the receiving end of more than one of the twins pranks over the years.
"No clothes in your rooms I gather?" Elladan looked at him while Elrohir just sighed.
"And how would you know that we have no clothes my lord Glorfindel?" Erestor just grinned and cocked his finger for the twins to follow him. Confused and curious, they did, Glorfindel falling into step behind them. They walked down the stairs and into the main entranceway and stopped dead. Standing in the middle of the hallway was their Ada, his eyes riveted to the ceiling. Their eyes rose up, following where he was looking and there were all their clothes, hanging from the rafters. Every single piece of clothing the twins owned, down to the smallest thing, was hanging from rope from the ceiling. Heaven's knows how the two of them did it with out being seen by anyone, as the main entrance was fairly heavily travelled. The twins walked down slowly and ended up standing next to Elrond. After a long heavy silence Elrond looked at the twins, his eyes merry but his voice stern.
"I have no idea what your brother and that visiting terror from Mirkwood are up to, but if I were the two of you, I would give some thought to sailing about now. If this is just the beginning…" Elrond let it trail off there and headed for the dining room, where said brother and visiting terror from Mirkwood were currently hiding. Glorfindel and Erestor followed along behind him, both smiling widely. Sighing, the two twins looked at each other and then up at their hanging clothes, completely forgetting that they were standing in the middle of the main hall entranceway wrapped only in a towel. Elladan turned to Elrohir, his expression wry.
"They got us good, didn't they?" Elrohir snorted and sighed, his eyes leaving his clothes and looking at his twin.
"Oh yes. You do know that this means war don't you?"
"Oh yes. And it'll be a short, fierce war as the fair prince leaves in a weeks time for his home. I think we'll make his last week among us very interesting, don't you my brother?"
"Oh defiantly my brother." The two twins mirrored each other's wicked smile and looked up once more, the smiles fading off their faces as they came to terms with the fact they had no idea on how to get down their clothes.

tbc….in our last chapter, Legolas and Aragorn pull the prank to end all pranks….