Author's Note: This is the last chapter for this part. I, uh, have a confession to make- I've already thought up another sequal!! Don't hate me please!!! If you think I shouldn't post it- or continue- just say so. But I was intrigued at knowing what it would be like about fifty years down the line when the Fellowship is formed.

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"Elrond, I should lay very hard and very violent hands on you," Erestor burst out, stalking into the study with his loose hair wet and a remarkable absence of books or papers in his hands.

The Lord of Imladris looked up in surprise and absolutely no fear as the steward stood glowering down at him. Bronwe too only yawned and settled back to sleep. It was fairly late in the morning and since Erestor had missed breakfast, Elrond had simply assumed him to be working. Not that he had needed him; Legolas had gone hunting with the twins and Aragorn, leaving Bronwe in his hands. He had simply been too busy to do anything that might upset his old friend and faithful right hand.

"Do not hide behind an innocent elfling," Erestor hissed.

"Actually, I was putting her to sleep. If you can contain your anger for a few more seconds, she should leave us in peace to talk," Elrond suggested humbly. Not that it fooled anyone; Erestor knew better than to trust such cooperation when that sparkle lit the grey eyes. And with good reason, for the Elf Lord had just remembered one very good reason why Erestor should be furious.

When he had kept his frined stewing for as long as he dared, Elrond finally laid her down on the little couch and banked her in with pillows before turning to indicate his willingness to listen with an expressive blink.

"Oh, no," Erestor exploded quietly, "No! Do not look so innocent, Peredhil! I know very well your part in all this- this mess."

Elrond looked from the finger in his face to the elf to whom it belonged. Leaning forward with the most solemn of expressions, he bit it, smiling in satisfaction when it was hastily withdrawn with a muffled yelp. "An interesting trick I learned from my daughter," he sighed, looking smugly satisfied as Erestor sulked at him. "I take it that you blame me for something. Very well, then- tell me all about it."

"You whored me out," Erestor accused.

"Saes! My daughter is in the room," Elrond said in mock severity. He ducked as a book flew at him. Luckily it made no sound for it went out the window to land messily in the garden.

"I could kill you!"

"I have no doubt you could, mellon nin. But tell me why I am deserving of such wrath."

"As I said, you..." Elrond raised a severe eyebrow, "... King Thranduil told me about his conversation with you two days ago. And about the comment of yours yesterday? You know, the innocent little remark that a relationship between Mirkwood and Imladris would be a welcome relief? I thought you meant yourself and Legolas, but now- NOW- do I realize your deceit and your evil intent and your..."

"Interference?"

"That too! How dared you place me in such a position?"

Elrond thought for a moment, contemplating his friend with knowing eyes. There was a brighter glow to Erestor this morning, and since he was running around Imladris so very late when he was usually such an early riser... "Was I wrong to do so?"

"You mean aside from being improper, inquisitive, sneaking and cold-bloodedly ruthless? Yes!"

"Oh." Elrond pushed a few papers around his desk and digested that. He was genuinely sorry that he had interfered in what was not his business but he had hoped that Erestor would at least enjoy the flattering attention if not find happiness. His steward was so reserved and had been so lonely for so many centuries.

And was currently still staring venomously at him with very real frustration in his eyes. "You are as infuriating as a maternal elf-maid with six daughters and a love for gossip!"

Now that was too much! Elrond drew himself up to his full height and let his grey eyes flash fire. "I would cease the insults," he warned.

"No! You started this, now you can well listen to what I have to say. And if you don't like that then you should have thought of that before you meddled in my affairs. And no, don't smirk, and yes, it is now an affair! And it is all your fault!"

"Erestor, that is good news indeed," Elrond congratulated, embracing the stiff body warmly, "I am very happy for you, mellon nin."

"Well, the feeling is not mutual."

"You mean you aren't happy for me?" Elrond asked, feigning hurt. He chuckled for ages as is friend's ramrod straight back stomped away in a very un-elf-like manner out the door.

He was still giggling every few seconds when Glorfindel popped his head around the door and asked interestedly why Erestor was making the kitchen staff's lives a misery while muttering darkly about half-elves. At this news, Elrond broke into full-fledged laughter that woke Bronwe up. She started crying and continued for the next fifteen minutes until her Ada apologized for being so inconsiderate of her needs. Then, and only then, did she sniff and wave her hand over his cheek in forgiveness.

Elrond murmured appropriately soothing sounds and turned her over to Glorfindel to play with. "Our beloved Erestor is upset with me," he answered ruefully, "I am afraid I was acting very immature when he tried to talk to me."

"You would not listen?"

"No," Elrond sighed wryly, "I laughed."

Glorfindel grinned and tickled Bronwe under her pointed little chin. "You really have made a mess. I assume you interfered in his burgeoning relationship with Thranduil?"

Elrond leaned in close to gently caress the tip of one of his daughter's little ears to help her sleep and looked surprised at Glorfindel's guess. "How did you know?"

Bronwe cooed in pleasure and shut her eyes.

Glorfindel shrugged and handed the child back to his Lord. "It is not secret that King Thranduil is enamoured of Erestor's, uh..."

"My daughter," Elrond whispered warningly, clutching her tight as if she could hear and be corrupted.

"Many charms," Glorfindel settled obligingly, "It is the talk of all Imladris. Even Celeborn commented on it yesterday."

"He did, did he? I wonder what Galadriel's opinion is," the half-elf murmured, "If she approves of the relationship, then it must be helped."

The blond there present looked dubious as Bronwe was put back down and Elrond went back to work. He did not have to wait long by the door with the broken lock before Elrond noticed that the talk had not ended as far as his seneschal was concerned. The Lord of Imladris found himself and his daughter forcibly removed from the study. Bronwe was handed over to a very willing Arwen and then Glorfindel took his friend off to the Elf Lord's private gardens.

He walked slowly in deference to the still easily fatigued body, but gripped Elrond's arm as if to prevent him escaping. Finally the silence got on the Peredhil's nerves and he pulled away, demanding to know what was wrong.

"You will not interfere with Erestor's love life," Glorfindel stated categorically, "Indeed, I will forbid it."

And that was quite the wrong attitude to adopt for the Lord of Imladris. "Really? How is that?"

"Elrond, I have enjoyed and indulged all your mad humours through the centuries. As a point of fact, I actually prefer you teasing the people around you than looking as stern as you normally do. But this... mellon nin, you cannot play with people's lives."

"First," Elrond rasped, clasping his hands in front so that he was not tempted to hit someone who could likely break his neck fairly easily, "I do not play with Erestor's life. Yes, I am 'meddling in his affairs' as he called it, but I know him better than he knows himself; he will not take this chance even if he were in love with Thranduil. And second, if you call my attempts to help as 'playing with people's lives', then what exactly do you call my impact on the lives of everyone who lives and visits Imladris?"

Glorfindel sighed. He did not want to insult Elrond, but the half-elf's new lease on life was making him disturbingly giddy. No one grudged him his happiness, but the Balrog Slayer also suspected that Elrond so intent on this relationship because of his own unsolved conflict with Legolas. And that would be dangerous for all concerned.

"Elrond, why are you insisting on Erestor becoming Thranduil's lover?"

"He needs this, Glorfindel. You know as well as I do how lonely he is. And he will not have the sense to do this on his own! He needs help."

"Elrond, I do not believe you," Glorfindel snapped, "Do not lie to me for I won't stand for it!"

The Elf Lord found himself grasped by the arms and shaken before he could blink. "I do not lie," he managed to protest hotly, breaking the hold and pushing his friend away.

"Yes, you do. And you lie to yourself. This has nothing to do with Erestor. It has to do even with Thranduil."

"King Thranduil of Mirkwood?" Elrond looked amused, but his words soundd strined even to his own ears.

"You want to see the King settled and happy."

"I could not care less. There is no friendship between us now and whatever shallow form of regard there once was has since vanished."

"Then why do you foist him on Erestor?"

Elrond opened his mouth and then closed it again. There was nothing he could say to that. There was no proper way to explain. "He is not a bad elf," he finally groaned, "He has also been unhappy. Why should not two lonely elves find comfort with each other?"

"You are lonely too, mellon nin," Glorfindel pointed out just as quietly, "Why do you not take a lover?"

"I have..."

"Taken a lover?"

"No," the Elf Lord acknowledged dryly, "But then I have a child... children. It is complicated."

"Legolas has not spoken?"

The dark head snapped up so fast that Glorfindel hoped his Lord had not given himself a crick in the neck. The dark brows were pulled down in a frown but Glorfindel clearly saw fear in the grey eyes.

"Legolas has nothing to do with this."

"You bore his child."

"That means nothing," the Lord of Imladris spat, "We met for a few nights of shared pleasures. Circumstances and human greed contrived to give us a daughter."

"I thought your daughter was popularly considered to be a gift from the Valar."

"She is! Oh, you are deliberately being obtuse. There is nothing between Legolas and I. There is nothing for us except Bronwe."

"Now you are openly lying to yourself," Glorfindel told him, "The very fact that you deny everything so vehemently tells me that you are hiding something."

Elrond turned away, reaching blindly to a tree just for something to do. He scratched at the rough bark and felt the trees whisper to him. He nodded, not understanding it very clearly, and too occupied to answer.

Glorfindel knew the unspoken dismissal. As a friend he would not stay where he was not wanted. He wished that he hadn't had to re-open fresh sores, but Erestor was a friend too and he would not see one hurt because the other was labouring under a conveniently blinkered view of his position.

That evening Elrond excused himself from the meal and retired early to his bedchamber. Legolas stared after him with worry in his eyes, but Glorfindel prevented him from following, knowing that Elrond felt it enough without the archer as more salt in the wound.

"He will be all right in a few days," the seneschal soothed, "Give him time to rest and regain his strength."

Legolas reluctantly took his seat again. "I suppose he is still tired from the duel," he muttered, "I should go to... no, he will be fine. Where is Bronwe?"

"The nurse has her," Erestor answered, "Elrond asked that she be brought to you this night if it is needed."

Legolas nodded and fell into a brown study, trying to steel himself for the task of sleeping next door with only a wall preventing him from reaching his hand to someone he cared so deeply for.

Glorfindel cleared his throat and watched Erestor blush. He also noticed Thranduil's hand beneath the tale and he recognized that blank look of innocence on the King's face; many times had he seen Legolas wear that same look when doing something he knew he shouldn't. "Erestor," he called loudly, "Will you accept a challenge to a game of chess this night?"

He was not particularly desiring the game but if his friend wanted a way out of the situation...

"Thank you, Glorfindel, but no. I have some- some work to do this evening. I will be retiring to my rooms directly after dinner."

Glorfindel shrugged and challenged Elladan.

Darkness descended quietly that night, and peace reigned once more.