Elrond met Estel and Glorfindel in the hall. "Fildor will be
joining you," he told them. "Here is what I have selected for you
three. I shall meet you here when you have finished dressing. I
have also taken the liberty of telling Celeborn and Thranduil of our
plan. They will be joining us for the fun, er, feast."
Estel entered his room to dress for his part of his father's plan.
He could hear Glorfindel's whistling as he also dressed for his part
in the plan. They met each other as they entered the hallway. As
soon as they saw each other, they had to go into Elrond's study and
laugh hysterically. After they finally managed to gain control over
their mirth, they left the study. They just knew this would work.
They couldn't wait to see the expressions on the faces of a certain
pair of twins, and a prince.
As they turned the corner, they met with Fildor. All three started
to snicker.
Estel, Glorfindel, and Fildor had dressed as maidens. All three
were had veils hiding (or trying to hide) their faces.
"My, my! Aren't we the most beautiful maidens you've ever seen?"
snickered Fildor. Glorfindel replied, with a toss of his head, "Two
of us are. I'm not sure about the third one."
Estel and Fildor looked at each other. Which one did he mean?
As the three "maidens" neared the dining hall, they met Elrond. He
took one look, and started to snicker. "Well, at least two of you
look…striking. The third one, though…" his voice trailed off as he
tried hard not to laugh.
Elrond managed to get his voice under control as he told the
three, "You're going to have to keep your faces covered. I could
make you appear as maidens to the others, but the twins would see
through it. After all, I was the one who taught them to see the real
person beneath the glamour."
As he finished speaking, Estel saw a gray-cloaked figure enter the
hall. "Mithrandir! Are you going to join us tonight?" asked Estel.
The Istari stared at Glorfindel, Estel, and Fildor. He didn't say
anything for a moment, then, with a grin that kept getting bigger
and bigger, said "I wouldn't miss this for anything. Just out of
curiosity, what is going on?"
Elrond gave him a sketchy idea of the problems that they were
having, and the revenges that were coming up. "Now I know I am going
to stay! Perhaps I can help. I can put a glamour on you three. No
one, other than Elrond, knows my touch. Would you three be willing?"
All four brightened at his words. "Please, Gandalf. It will be even
funnier." Fildor shook the hair out of his eyes and waited.
"Very well." With a pass of his hands, the wizard shaped the faces
of the three into maidens of Lorien.
"Now, Estel, you will be Ildril, and you will be with Legolas.
Fildor, you will be Ninde, and will be with Elladan. Glorfindel, you
will be Luthien, and will be with Elrohir. After you, ladies." All
managed to control their mirth, and entered the hall.
Elrond made his way to the table where the three friends were
sitting. "I'm glad to see all of you are here. I have a request to
ask of you. As you can see, we have guests. Legolas, this is Idril,
Elladan, this is Ninde, and Elrohir, this is Luthien. I had thought
to have Estel and Glorfindel show them around. However, I had to
send the two of them on an errand. Would you three kindly be their
escorts for tonight?"
The three chosen elves stood and bowed to the three maidens. "It
will be our pleasure. Will you ladies join us?" said Elladan. Elrond
turned before his sons could see the smirk on his face.
"May I ask what we are going to have for dinner?" asked Idril. "I am
very hungry."
"I believe we are being served a venison stew, and for dessert,
there will be pastries with a fruit filling," said Elladan.
"Oh, it sounds so good! We have heard of the filled pastries even in
Lorien!" said Ninde. For some reason, the other two ladies laughed.