Title: A Blue Day in Mirkwood

By: Carol

E-mail:Kjcarjo@cox.net

Rating: G /AU

Disclaimer : I am not Tolkien or in any way related to him. I do not own any of these characters although I wish I did lol.

I am not making any money from this story but am doing it just for the joy of writing.

Summary: A rainy day in Mirkwood turns into a blue day for three small elves and one small human .  

 

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"That is enough!! I will no longer be a part of these shenanigans!!" Thranduil turned away from the small group gathered before him and walked to the window. He gazed to the small garden below. The morning was peaceful and for a few moments his anger subsided. The site before him brought back memories of a simpler time. Memories of his child playing quietly under the trees. Gentle laughter filling the air. How he wished he could turn back time.

"Ada?" Thranduil's shoulders sank as the quite voice broke through his daydream.

"What do you think he is going to do?" whispered Estel.

"I do not know but I fear it is not going to be good!" replied Legolas.

Elladan and Elrohir turned to each other. Their eyes locked both recognizing the fear in each other. "I fear we may have gone to far this time." Elladan whispered to his twin. "You think!" replied Elrohir.

Thranduil could not hold back the small smile that played on his face. What was he going to do about these small ones. He always hated the times when Legolas would go off to Rivendell to spend months with his friends. He missed his son desperately. Letters would arrive explaining their latest bouts of insanity and he would sit in his study laughing at the desperate tone the letters would hold. On occasion he would even feel sorry for Lord Elrond and the mischief he had to endure never realizing the true extent of their pranks. That was until this morning. Regaining his composure he turned and demanded, "Well explain yourselves!! And think well before you speak!! Tell me how a simple request could have ended so poorly."

Legolas stood before his father with his eyes cast down. "I can explain Ada." He sighed "Or at least I will try." He shifted slightly on his feet and began to recall the events from the night before....

*flashback*

The rain had been falling all day covering the forest floor with inches of mud. The children had been forced to stay inside. As evening arrived it had turned to a slight mist allowing them the chance to venture outside the palace walls for the first time in days.

Thranduil watched the group approaching the door and called out.” Stay out of the mud and try to behave yourselves!"

"We will Ada!" yelled Legolas as he was rushing past the twins to be the first outside.

Pushing and shoving each other the group finally managed to make it out and ran to middle of the garden. The air held a strong earthy smell and a cool breeze blew softly through the air. Just what they need after days spend locked inside of the halls to get their blood flowing.

"Well what shall we do?' Estel asked Legolas.

"Why do we not go see what the villagers delivered today? Maybe there will be something interesting among the shipment."

The four of them turned heading for the stables and sheds that lay behind them. The villagers had been forced to store their goods in the sheds due to the rain and mud. Carandol had refused to allow them to bring them inside. Hidden inside the sheds were bags and barrels filled with the months supplies. Trading appeared to have been good this month.

"What do you think is in these?" Elladan asked. He approached a stack of barrels that were lined along the back wall. He had noticed a strange purple liquid seeping from the bottom of one of the barrels.

"Let's open one and find out." laughed Elrohir, "Maybe it is wine that is in need of testing!"

The four of them turned to each other. Grins began to form on their faces at the thought of testing the wine. Legolas and Estel grabbed the top of the barrels closest to them and pried the lid off. To their surprise it was not wine but a barrel filled with the hugest blueberries they had ever seen.

"Berries what good are they?' sighed Estel grabbing a handful and crushing them in the palm of his hand. Blueberry juice ran through his fingers and dropped to floor. With disgust he brought his hand up and wiped it on the sleeve of Legolas tunic.

"Estel what do you think you are doing that will never come out?" Legolas gasped.

"Please mellon must you always be so prissy, beside you have hundreds of other shirts and green is not your color." laughed Estel.

"That is not the point!" exclaimed Legolas, "And what do you mean green is not my color? I am a wood elf!"

Reaching over and laying his hand on Legolas shoulder Estel grinned. "I am sorry Legolas I meant you no disrespect."

Legolas looked over at his shoulder and noticed the bright blue patch left behind. "You will pay for that my friend!"

Elladan and Elrohir smiled at each other and took a step back knowing what was about to happen.

Grabbing a handful of berries Legolas reached over smashing the berries in Estel face. "That is okay my friend I forgive you."

Elladan could not longer hold his tongue and burst out laughing at the site of his brother with juice running down his face staining his skin.

"You think that is funny?" asked Estel sending a shower of blueberry juice at his brother.

Elladan stood in shock staring at Estel. "There now that is funny!" laughed Legolas.

Elrohir slowly backed towards the door hoping to escape before things went any further.

"Where do you think your going?" asked Elrohir slowly turning to face is twin.

"Umm to get some fresh air, it seems to be getting a little stuffy in here." Elrohir turned and made a mad dash for the door.

He had almost reached it before 3 strong arms enclosed around him. Legolas, Estel and Elladan now all holding handfuls of plump juicy berries in their hands began smearing them all over Elrohir. Legolas crushed his over Elrohir's head sending purple juice flowing down his hair, face, and ears. Estel smashed his into his chest causing a huge purple stain across the front of his tunic. Elladan with a huge smirk in his face squeezed his over the back of Elrohir's neck spilling juice down his back.

Spinning around Elrohir exclaimed, "Alright this is war!" running toward the barrels to exact his revenge. He was followed closely by the other three as more barrels were torn open and the four began to pummel each other with handfuls of berries.

Thranduil had just finished reading over piles of reports when there was a soft knock on the door. Carandol entered and approached the desk. "If there is nothing else you need my lord I will go and check that all the supplies have been stored properly."

"No there is nothing else but perhaps I will join you. I could use a little breath of fresh air myself." Thranduil stood and began to follow Carandol out the door. "Besides I want to make sure the berries have arrived for the festival. I am looking forward to a nice piece of pie come later tomorrow."

"Then you shall have it my lord." smiled Calandol, for he knew how much Thranduil favored blueberry pie.

As the two of them neared the shed they heard a small cry pierce the air.

"What was that?" exclaimed Thranduil.

"I have no idea my lord but it seems to have come from the storage shed." Calandol stopped and listened for any repeat of the sounds. Once again the cry erupted followed by the sound of laughter.

"I know those laughs!" frowned Thranduil, "Now what can those children be up to now?"

"I'm not sure my lord and I shudder to even consider." whispered Calandol.

Thranduil now intent on seeing what mischief the four of them had gotten into stalked towards the shed. He grasped the door and flung it open. Walking inside he abruptly stopped. Shocked and confused at the sight before him he stood speechless.

Huddled in a small group stood four very blue beings. Not an inch of their bodies showed their true colour. Barrels were knocked over and their contents spilled across the floor. Blueberry juice had covered not only them but all the contents that were in the shed.

"By the Valars what exactly is going on in here?" roared Thranduil. Carandol having just walked up to his lord’s side gasped.

"How could you?" stammered Thranduil.

The four small beings, eyes wide open just looked at each other and then stared at Thranduil. Legolas about to speak was stopped by his father.

"No I do not want to hear it." "But Ada," Legolas tried to speak again. "I said Not a word! Now get out of my sight before I decide to feed you all to the orcs. Go to your rooms and clean yourselves up. We will speak of this in the morning!" Thranduil sighed.

Legolas knowing that trying to explain would only make matters worse ran from the shed heading toward the castle. Seeing their friend running the other three quickly followed.

"We are in for it now Estel!" yelled Legolas as the three caught up with him.

"What do you mean Estel?" he asked.

"Well this is all your fault!" Legolas screamed running, into the palace and heading for his room.

Thranduil and Carandol watched as the four strange creatures ran into the palace. Once they were out of sight Thranduil turned to Carandol. "I swear that thing did not come from my loins."

Carandol burst out laughing. Thranduil no longer able to hold it inside joined his friend.

"What are you going to do to them my lord?" Carandol asked.

Snorting Thranduil replied " Do to them? I will not have to punish them myself this time my friend, they will punish themselves." "A small evil grin began to spread across his face.

"I do not understand my lord."

"Oh you will my friend you will." laughed Thranduil

*flashback ends*

Thranduil trying to keep some sort of control over his composure looked the four over. Although they had soaked for hours in the tub the stains would not come off. Legolas being of fairer skin and lighter hair looked the worst. Although his hair was no longer bright blue it had faded to a dark purple.

"So this is your way of behaving yourselves?" he asked. "I would have rather you disobeyed and came in covered in mud at least that would have washed away. But no not you four. You have to go and not only ruin the supplies but paint yourselves in the process. I am most disappointed in you my son and what will your father think of the three of you when he arrives at the feast tonight?

The twins shuffled their feet and Estel stood staring at the floor. "He will also be disappointed my lord." Estel groaned.

Legolas not knowing what he could possible say to gain his fathers respect back opted to say nothing at all.

"Now what to do with you?" pondered Thranduil. "What can I do that can make you understand the foolishness of your actions?"

Carandol stuck his head in the door glancing at the situation said "My lord the guest are beginning to arrive."

"Thank you I will be down shortly."

Taking advantage of the new situation Legolas turned to leave. "And where do you think your going my son?" Thranduil inquired.

"To my room for the rest of my life!" grumbled Legolas.

"What and deny our guest the chance to lay eyes upon their prince and his beloved friends. I do not think so. Go get dressed and meet me downstairs now." Thranduil snickered.

Turning to his father Legolas exclaimed, "Father you can't be serious I look like... Well I don’t know what but I can't show my face they will all laugh at me! Please punish me any other way you want but not like this!"

Thranduil looked upon his son and gently said, "My child I have no need to punish you, your actions are punishment itself. Now go! I will meet all of you downstairs in 5 minutes.”

As the group turned to leave Thranduil called to Legolas "And son may I suggest you try wearing something yellow. It goes quite nicely with blue." Legolas cast his father an angry look as he closed the door behind him.

Thranduil slowly sat down and placed his arms across the desk. He lowered his head onto his crossed hands and finally let the laughter that had he been trying so hard to control loose.

"This is going to be an interesting evening!" he thought. "Yes interesting indeed."

The End