We do the same with our elflings. My son- [ and here, he reaches for one of the sticks, fingers resting on the lacquered wood but not yet moving, not whilst he's still studying the patterns of the braids. ] was most reluctant to sit for some of the more complicated patterns, so I learned to do them quickly, before he would dash away.

[ it's a tone of voice that might also utter elflings in fond exasperation, but thranduil is not that casual.

he considers the arrangement before him, and takes his hand off the tashin sticks, and takes a step back. ]

I think this might work better if your hair were freshly washed, and I had my soaps and oils and comb.

[ meaning: would maia accompany him down to the undercroft, to the baths therein? ]