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Elrond sat with the twins and Legolas, feeling strange about being with the son of Thranduil with so much ease while the king finished his work at the office. The sketchbook lay open on his knees.

Elladan looked at the drawing.

"It is not nice," Legolas said, leaning over Elladan's shoulder to look at the sketch of Elrond spanking the twins. "I never saw him do it to you."

"It is not a bad drawing," Elladan contradicted.

"The best drawings are often made in the heat of the moment, with great emotion behind them," Legolas said. "Master Gillian made me memorize the entire poem after I failed to do my work."

"It is several pages long," Elrond said.

Legolas grinned. "Master Gillian said I was not applying myself. I memorized the entire poem while eating cookies and reading about the histories of Gil-Galad."

"That is quite a feat."

"It was difficult to remember which lines came from the actual poem when I recited it and what came from the ballads Gil-Galad sang while marching to battle," Legolas said thoughtfully.

Elladan grinned. "I saw you sorting books afterwards in the library."

"We are leaving behind the point of this discussion," Elrond reminded him. "Thranduil asked us to do this."

"If I were to draw memories and experiences from my time with Lord Katar, I do not think anyone could look at them without cringing," Legolas said. "I . . . cringe when I think about it."

Elrohir looked at the sketchbook page again. "I do not feel the same way I did when Elladan and I drew this. I feel as if . . . I can trust you not to hurt us in this manner again. When we upset you, we do not feel the same . . . freezing fear we used to."

Elladan coughed and Elrohir hastily amended, "When you took me to your room after I hit Elladan, I was scared. I . . . thought of the hairbrush and pain while you closed the door and I wanted to run. But you were kind. And I now have something I can remember in the future when you punish me so I will not feel so scared."

Elrond ruffled his hair.

"I used to tell myself and you how much it hurt me to spank you—to punish you," Celebrian said from her rocking chair. Arwen slept in her lap. "You remember. Elrond said it to. I feel free from saying that now because I do not have to hurt you."

"We like being punished as much as anybody," Elrohir said. "But . . . it is different being shown the right way without the wrong way being visualized through pain. It is different actually being taught what wrong we committed and being guided in the right way instead of . . . being scolded and spanked."

"And I am glad your mother and I can give you happiness while leading you in the right direction; I am glad my eyes are open now and I am not hurting you in the name of a lie," Elrond said.

"I have seen your hand go back at times when we annoy you," Elrohir said.

"Yes," Elrond admitted. "But I try not to let it fall. And I am glad the tests of my ability not to spank you are blessedly at an end!"

Elladan grinned. "We satisfied ourselves you and Celebrian meant your word."

"We do. And we wish you would call us ada and nana again," Celebrian said. She touched Arwen's cheek. "We miss hearing it from you."

Elrohir and his twin looked down. "We are not ready yet."

Elrond put his arms around the twins' shoulders and hugged them. "I understand. I will wait and not push until you are ready."

"Would you do it again?" Elladan asked. He pointed to a second drawing in the sketchbook. "Would you turn us over your knees and spank us?"

Elrond looked at the sketch and shook his head. "No. It is easier to hold you on my lap, knowing I am not cuddling you on the same knees I pinned you down to and hit. And I think it is easier for you to."

The twins nodded. "Yes. It is easier to come sit on you lap or rest our head on your knees, knowing we were not held down to them hours or days before."

"The withdrawal of violence from family life opens doors for love to flow in truth," Legolas said. "I learned that when Master Gillian said—"

"We have heard quite enough about what Master Gillian said over the course of this discussion," Elrond cut in. "I do not think I can stand another quote from anywhere."

Legolas brushed the cookie crumbs off his lap and leaned his neck back against the sofa. "I miss Landion. I do not mind being a part of this conversation, of course, but I miss him. I know he is pain."

"I have done all I can to remove the arrowhead," Elrond said. He smiled. "But it is stubborn and will not come out."

Legolas turned his head. "It is not your fault. I know everyone is doing all they can."

Sometimes everything is not enough, Elrond thought.

"I sort of wish Harune would come home," Legolas admitted, picking at the threads of the couch.

"Harune could do no more for Landion then what is being done for him now," Elrond said gently.

For a brief moment Legolas looked like he disagreed but he remained silent and focused on his fingers. Elrond closed the sketchbook as Arwen woke up and slid off her mother's lap to come to him.

OoOoO

Vandril watched as Landion turned his head away from the liquid held to his lips with a disgusted mutter. Healer Jailil sighed and made him drink it before he moved away from the elfling and shook out the blankets.

"His fever is no better," Healer Jailil said. "Neither is it worst."

"He will fade in this state," Vandril protested. "I cannot stand here and watch my son die!"

Landion screamed and Healer Jailil hurried to his side.

"No!" Landion howled, his hoarse voice turning into a cough. "N-no!"

"Let me try," Vandril said, ducking past the Healer to take Landion's hand.

Landion's eyes fluttered and he coughed again. He tried to jerk his hand back and turned his head away as Vandril smoothed a cool clothe over his head forehead.

"Gwador nin," he choked, trying to open his eyes. He shrieked again and Healer Jailil pinched his lips as he moved Vandril's hand off Landion's.

"As much as you wish it, I do not think Landion can draw any comfort from your presence," he said. The healer looked over his shoulder. "Galion, will you be so kind as to see if King Thranduil is available?"

No one saw the angry frown on Vandril's face.

Vandril seems to be lining himself up to do something terrible . . . But Elrond and the twins had a nice talk.

Apologies for this chapter being a day late!

Thank you all so much for reading! I love hearing from you.

Next Chapter: Harune must be called.