Glorfindel sat on the roof of the Last Homely House and looked out over the gardens. It was his little secret this, that he sometimes climbed out from the window of his bed chamber and stared out over the valley. He knew that Lord Elrond would probably be mortified to find his war councilor on the roof, and he had no friend close enough to divulge this furtive pastime to. Glorfindel had considered telling Elrohir and bringing him out here, but after tonight he realized that would have been a great mistake.

Not only would Elrohir probably wind up running wild over the roof top, but Glorfindel would lose the sanctity of this place. When he thought upon it, it amazed him that Elrohir had not made his way out here on his own. The young elf was mad for danger. He had no idea how much Glorfindel worried for him when he and Elladan went out on their orc hunting expeditions. At times he was able to ride with them, but he often had duties that kept him at home in Imladris. Elladan tempered Elrohir, however, and this fact was all that kept Glorfindel from completely losing his mind to worry while they were gone. Still, every time they returned home safely he breathed a sigh of relief.

How long had it been since this obsession with Elrohir had begun? A century, perhaps two? Maybe longer… Could he admit even to himself it reached as far back as the time when the twins had reached maturity? For so long he had simply watched them, keeping his desires hidden inside. He had put aside the thought of ever touching Elladan, but over the past decade Elrohir had been his lover. At times Glorfindel teased Elrohir with the thoughts of what might happen did the three of them lie together, but he knew it was only a fantasy.

Perhaps his feelings, genuine feelings that had finally blossomed out of lust and obsession, were no more than a fantasy as well.

They had never had an exclusive relationship, but Elrohir had always seemed to adore him and had never been cold to him until this afternoon when the party from Lothlórien had arrived. Glorfindel knew that Elrohir would certainly lie with Rúmil and Orophin while they were in Rivendell. Elrohir had mentioned Haldir several times as well, but he seemed to think of Haldir as the property of Elrond until tonight.

Glorfindel knew for a fact that Haldir had never lain with Elrond, though Elrond would not have told him no had the Marchwarden shown interest. He had not corrected Elrohir's assumption however. Something had happened over the course of the afternoon to change his opinion, but of course Haldir was not the problem. Haldir was clearly interested in Elladan, and Elladan seemed to return his interest.

He wondered vaguely if the assignation they had for tomorrow afternoon was really to practice sword play, or if Haldir and Elladan had something more entertaining in mind. He hoped so. He could not deny that he was curious to see what the second twin was like as a bed-mate. Haldir was beautiful and well-built and no doubt knew what he was doing in the bed chamber, so it could be very pleasurable indeed. And who was the fourth party he meant to accompany him?

Still, neither of them was Elrohir.

Glorfindel looked out over the gardens and saw a familiar figure walking side by side with the Marchwarden of Lothlórien. For a moment he wondered… but no, it must be Elladan. He had seen Elrohir take off after Haldir's brothers when he left the banquet hall and had no doubt that the three of them were tangled together right now. Glorfindel had followed Elrohir out of the hall but had lacked the courage to confront him.

He had known what he was getting into when he involved himself with the brash pup, and now this morbid suffering was the fault of no one but himself. Idly he watched Haldir and Elladan, wondering if they would make love in the flowerbeds beneath the moonlight. Elladan had few lovers, but Glorfindel could see how the Marchwarden might turn his head. He needed it, too. Elladan spent too much time alone in the library and not nearly enough outside in the sun.

Eventually Glorfindel climbed back inside his window. He might as well take some rest. He was going to need his strength on the morrow, no matter which sword he wound up hefting.

Sleep came ill to him and he was up at dawn. He wandered down to the banquet hall in search of breakfast with only vague hopes that he might run into Elrohir. Elrohir almost never breakfasted at this hour, though Elladan often did. Neither twin nor any of the party from Lórien were anywhere in sight. Few elves were present, though Elrond was breakfasting with Arwen and Gandalf the Grey. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow as Elrond motioned for him to join them.

"Good morning, Lord Glorfindel," Elrond said.

Glorfindel returned the greeting. "But where is our esteemed Erestor this morning?" he asked politely. It was rare that the Chief Advisor did not dine with Elrond.

"I think he overindulged in wine last night," Arwen said, smirking slightly. The expression made her look like Elrohir, who had made an art of smirking, and Glorfindel felt a pang of misery. He sat down next to Arwen and stole a bunch of grapes from her plate. She did not seem to notice, or to care if she did.

"We have plenty to go around, as usual," Elrond said, motioning for one of the serving-elves to bring Glorfindel his own grapes. Glorfindel moved to put the bunch he had purloined back on Arwen's plate but she stopped him, shaking her head. "And Erestor is attending to the morning's correspondence, Arwen."

Glorfindel grinned and winked at Arwen. She smiled slightly and looked away.

"Did you tell Lord Glorfindel the news?" Gandalf inquired casually. Glorfindel froze mid-grape. Gandalf never spoke idly, unless one got him started on his favorite subject, the care and feeding of Hobbits. He turned his gaze expectantly to Elrond.

"We are expecting more visitors," Elrond said, but the look of irritation in his expression was unmistakable.

"How is this unusual?" Glorfindel asked casually. He glanced at Arwen's plate again and she pushed it towards him. He picked up a pastry and shredded it into small bites.

"It is King Thranduil," Arwen said, her grey eyes glittering.

"Come just in time for the wine-making season," Gandalf added, chuckling. "He does have good timing, doesn't he?"

The King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood was well known for three things -- his love of wine, his love of jewels, and his love of his son. He was also arrogant and brash, but charming. Elrond disliked him intensely, though he took pains never to show it, perhaps because Thranduil was just his opposite. Glorfindel knew Arwen adored Thranduil because he always treated her like an adult, something Elrond occasionally failed to do. She also got along well with his son, Legolas… but everybody did.

"Is he bringing Legolas?" Glorfindel asked sounding less casual.

"I knew you would ask that," Arwen said.

"You asked that yourself, Lady Arwen," Gandalf pointed out gently.

"Yes, he is bringing Legolas," Elrond said, some of his irritation seeming to lift. Glorfindel knew that Legolas was the only reason Elrond could abide Thranduil at all. The Prince of Mirkwood did have charm. Perhaps he could be enticed into distracting Glorfindel from his obsession with Elrohir. Legolas was the one elf Glorfindel knew who had ever turned down Elrohir. The thought made him grin, and made him fancy the prince himself even more.

"I shall look forward to seeing them, then," Glorfindel said.

"Have you been to the Shire, lately, Gandalf?" Arwen asked the old wizard politely.

"Oh, yes, I have indeed, my dear. Let me tell you about…"

It was at this point that Glorfindel tuned out and Elrond excused himself to go talk to Radagast the Brown, who had just come into the hall looking rather sleepy and disoriented. Having devoured the remainder of Arwen's breakfast, Glorfindel debated starting on his own plate. He pulled off another grape and wondered if he could fling it hard enough to knock off Radagast's pointy hat from here.

Before he could get himself into trouble, he saw the golden figure of Haldir appear in the doorway. Haldir greeted Elrond and Radagast, then looked around the room for a moment before heading straight towards them. Glorfindel's heart leapt in his chest. Was the Marchwarden so eager to get started on their sword play, then?

"Where is Elladan this morning?" Glorfindel asked Haldir.

"Elladan? Forgive me, I know not. I have not seen him this morning, Lord Glorfindel. Good morning, Lady Arwen. May I join you?" Haldir asked, nodding politely to Gandalf.

"Certainly," Arwen said cheerfully.

"I believe I will sojourn to the terrace," said Gandalf, withdrawing a pipe from his cloak. "Lord Glorfindel, would you care to join me?"

"Forgive me, but I have not finished my breakfast," Glorfindel said, putting the grape he had wanted to throw at Radagast into his mouth. Gandalf simply smiled and departed. After he had gone, Arwen took Glorfindel's plate and gave it to Haldir.

"I am glad you stayed, Lord Glorfindel," Haldir said, eagerly starting on the remainder of the grapes. He did not seem to notice that there were a few missing from the bunch. "I wished to discuss our appointment for this afternoon."

"We can start earlier if you like," Glorfindel said, smiling flirtatiously at Haldir. The Marchwarden lifted an eyebrow at him.

"No, that is not necessary. We can wait for Elladan to return from his ride. I wondered however if you might be willing to take on a special pupil. It would require some… discretion."

"I am a master of discretion," Glorfindel said. Arwen rolled her eyes.

"I am pleased to hear it, as I wish you to teach Arwen."

"Arwen?" Glorfindel said. This was not about sex, then. He was disappointed.

Arwen squealed and flung her arms around Haldir. "Oh, thank you. I have been trying to convince him for years to train me."

"Think you that I have agreed yet, lady?" Glorfindel said. "Your father would kill me."

"Her grand-mother, however, would be very grateful. I have been training Arwen myself for the past few months she has been in Lórien."

Glorfindel sighed and agreed to do it. After all, he would rather face Elrond than Galadriel. Certainly he would keep quiet about it. It was far easier than telling Elrond! He would leave that to Haldir. Shaking his head, Glorfindel left the pair of them to their breakfast and headed out to find his sword. He had better prepare himself since he had gone too long without practice himself.