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Welcome to RandomElleth, who finished reading every published chapter of Nin Chronicles to date. Thank you for all your kind votes and welcome to the story.

Thank you to RoseBltzr and _-Yuki_Gyeoul-_ for adding this story to their reading list! 

OoOoO

"I am still not sure why Elrohir emptied out my drawers," Elrond said, sipping his wine. He sat with Glorfindel, Thranduil, and Harune in the cool summer evening devoid of bugs on the balcony.

Dinner past, the elflings of the palace were tucked into bed while their parents lounged in the night with a strong cup of wine and the half-full bottle.

Thranduil sat in a wicker chair, his long legs stretched out with Harune beside him and Glorfindel facing him. Elrond stood at the railing with his back to it. The river flowed beneath it, glimmering in the moonlight as the pale orb rose into the sky.

Harune raised an eyebrow. "Indeed? I have a good idea of why Elrohir behaved the way he did."

"It does not make sense," Elrond complained.

Harune smiled, glancing at Thranduil and seeing his son shared the same thoughts. "Come now, Elrond, you are not without intelligence. Under normal circumstances in Rivendell, assuming none of this business with the twins running away, what would you have done if the twins ransacked your room in a fit or rage?"

"You are not without intelligence," Elrond retorted. "You know perfectly well what I would have done! You need not ask the question."

Glorfindel answered for him, "You would have applied punishment with the strap."

"Yes," Harune said. "Elrohir knows what you do when he commits senseless acts of recklessness. He knows what you do when he disobeys you or displeases you. He knows what you do when he steals or lies because it is always the same and it always hurts.

"Elrohir knows also you made an oath in which you promised to change the way you punish him. He knows you have spent all the years of his life lying to him about your love for him and, as such, he holds your word in very little regard.

"But I think he wanted to believe you meant your oath this time round. His actions in ransacking your bedroom were a test."

Elrond choked on his wine. "A test? In what way?"

"Elrohir probably approached your room with the view when you caught him, you would spank him. I am sure he thought if you meant your oath from your heart this time, as you say you do, you would not spank him," Harune replied. He tilted his head and studied Elrond. "What did you do?"

Elrond stared at Harune, finding Elrohir's actions made sense. A wave of relief washed over him; he had wanted to spank Elrohir. He had intended to spank Elrohir. But he had kept his oath.

"I . . . made him understand what he had done was wrong, and I made him help me clean up the mess he made. I said he must spend an hour cleaning a stall in the stables." Elrond brightened with his answer. "Perhaps Elrohir will trust me now."

Harune looked doubtful. "Oh, I think there will be more tests ahead in the future for you, Elrond. I do not think not spanking him once will bring Elrohir to trust you; it will take a little more to convince him you mean what you say."

"I do not know how much I will be able to take if he makes it a habit to annoy me at every chance he gets," Elrond said with a frown.

"We all take as much as we can until the overload causes us to snap or the burden slips away," Harune answered as he finished his wine. "I took as much as I could watching you hurt the twins before I snapped."

Elrond winced at the memory. "I shall never forget."

"Regrettable, that," Harune said with a dip of his head. "But I hope you will remember I am deeply sorry."

Elrond moved to reply but the hanging curtain over the door rattled and Landion stumbled through, rubbing his eyes, blinking as he searched for his father. "Ada? I know you told me not to leave bed but when are you coming to bed? I am tired but I cannot sleep."

Harune looked into his empty cup and smiled. He rose to his feet and set the goblet down beside the wine bottle. Lifting Landion into his arms, he gave a goodnight wave and plunged through the dangling bead curtain hanging across the exit to the balcony.

Glorfindel gave a deep sigh and slurped down the last of his wine. "I do feel pleasantly rested. I enjoyed the Stag Hunt immensely."

"Yes, it was a fair time," Elrond agreed. He swirled the remainder of the wine in his cup.

"We should have celebrations in Rivendell," Glorfindel said. "I do think the whole valley could add some laughter to it. We do not need a forest to have a party."

Elrond was about to make a remark about the inappropriateness of lords and ladies dancing with the baker's wife but checked himself as he recalled Thranduil whirling past him in the clear company of a commoner. She had been laughing and grinning, her blue dress floating around her heels.

Glorfindel seemed to sense his thoughts, as did Thranduil. "Ah, you think of me and Elena? I have danced with a hundred women during the Tarnin Austa. It is a dance, after all, and I have no wife. But even when she lived, I still danced with a hundred women and she with a hundred men. It is a party of freedom and good will. The whole point is to not be alone."

"I cannot say I approve of philandering myself," Elrond said coldly.

"Oh, it was not philandering in anyway. I am sure you have been to parties, Elrond, where it is custom for the women and men to switch partners."

Elrond let out a heavy breath. The subject of dancing made him feel cold inside. It made him think of Celebrian in her dancing dress, laughing in his arms under the stars. She should not be alone in Rivendell, so far away.

"I must have danced with two hundred women," Glorfindel said with a grin. "I dare say I have outdone the great King Thranduil."

"My dear Glorfindel," Thranduil said with exaggerated patience and he hefted himself to his feet, "The women of Mirkwood have all danced with their King by now. You are someone new and exciting. I dare say it is not everyday a balrog slayer flaunts himself off among us. Now, before Legolas appears saying he cannot sleep, I better be off."

Elrond set down his cup as Thranduil yawned his way off the balcony. "Glorfindel, do you think I am doing right with Elladan and Elrohir?"

"I do not think you are doing wrong," Glorfindel replied. He patted Elrond's arm. "I know it is hard for you."

"I . . . it is not as hard now as I imagined. I . . . I am finding it easy to be with Elladan and Elrohir. Difficult, yes, when they cheek me. But when I return to Rivendell what if Celebrian does not wish to make the efforts I have? What if my wife does not want to give up spanking?"

Glorfindel met Elrond's worried eyes. "Now, mellon nin, we will cross the bridge when we come to it, and hope it will not be so."

"It is worrying," Elrond almost complained. "I do not wish to be against her, and we are meant to raise Elladan and Elrohir together."

Elrond opened his mouth to reply but the curtain jingled and Elladan emerged. He looked a little shy as he met Elrond's eyes, knowing he should be in bed.

"What is it?" Elrond asked.

"I . . . am looking for Thranduil," Elladan admitted.

Elrond's heart sank a little; the twins still preferred Thranduil to him. "He went to bed to be with Legolas, I believe."

"Oh," Elladan said. He seemed to consider, unsure of what to say until Elrohir poked his head through the curtain and spoke for him.

"We will not bother Thranduil if he is with Legolas; perhaps tomorrow night he will let us sleep with him. But perhaps you would like to come sleep with us instead of Thranduil now?" He looked hard at Elrond.

"I would be delighted," Elrond answered, a smile breaking across his face.

OoOoO

Under the elm tree the air was cool despite the heat from the sun. The painter sat ahead of them, his brushes and paints laid out on the table beside him. Ariel could feel the baby kicking inside her as the breeze wafted across her naked skin. Her arms and Erestor's were on her growing belly as they sat.

"My mouth is hurting from all this smiling," Ariel said out of the corner of her mouth to Erestor, resting his chin on her shoulder behind her.

Erestor grinned. "Pylax said it would be done around now."

The painter waved for them to be at ease and Ariel relaxed, sliding into her dress. Pylax turned the gold-framed portrait around for them to see. The vivid colors of the trees and sky made Ariel smile. The thought of the baby inside her made her smile grow wider.

"It is beautiful," Erestor said. "We will hang it above the hearth."

"I have a feeling I will be back to do another when the baby is born," Pylax said with a wink as he took off his paint-spattered apron.

Ariel laughed. "I will not be naked next time! Help me carry it home."

Another step has been made between the twins and Elrond. I am sure his heart is singing as he goes to sleep with his sons.

Thank you for reading. I love sharing with you and hearing your thoughts at the close of each chapter!

Next Chapter: Elrond's vow is tested again. This time he fetches a switch . . .