Lord Elrond of Rivendell had slept surprisingly well after his heart to heart with Erestor. The talk with his advisor had cemented many things in his mind, including the fact that he must have Lady Celebrían to wife. It was ridiculous to think that she might ever marry Thranduil, especially when Thranduil so clearly had set his heart on Mistress Maegwen. Celebrían was charming and clever, and also had a wicked streak that Elrond found enticing.

He only hoped he could offer her the happiness she deserved, that the ghost of Gil-galad would not forever haunt his heart. He did, however grudgingly, admit to himself that when he kissed her, he had forgotten everything. He had not thought of his former lover. He had not thought of anything but her… and he had wanted more.

As he drifted off to sleep he had vowed to seek out Lady Galadriel at dawn and ask for her daughter. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to go to Celeborn first, but Galadriel seemed more likely to say yes. Then again, Celeborn had always disliked Thranduil, so perhaps Elrond had a chance.

A loud argument almost directly outside the door to his suite woke him up. Elrond recognized the voices at once and cursed himself for giving Glorfindel the room next to his. What had he been thinking? He secretly suspected that it had to do with eventually allowing Glorfindel into his bedroom, but that had never materialized even though the War Councilor had shown himself to be willing enough plenty of times.

Elrond lay still and listened for a moment, wondering what Glorfindel had done at dawn to make Erestor so angry, and why Erestor was going into or out of Glorfindel's chamber at this hour. Into, Elrond suspected, even though out of would have suited both of them better!

"Your behavior is completely inappropriate!" Elrond heard Erestor holler. If he had not been rudely awaked by the Chief Advisor he might have been amused, since Erestor so rarely ever raised his voice.

"This is none of your business, Erestor!" Glorfindel hollered back.

"It will be my business when Lord Celeborn orders your execution."

"He has no right—"

"He may not, but he certainly has the power. You are trifling with his property!"

A third voice joined in and Elrond recognized it as belonging to the young elf who had traveled from Lórien with Lady Celebrían and her parents.

"I am no one's property!" Haldir yelled.

"Erestor, you are completely overreacting."

"Glorfindel, you are endangering the bond of friendship between Imladris and Lórien!"

"I am not!"

"You are too!"

Shaking his head and almost embarrassed for the pair of them, Elrond got out of bed, put on a robe and opened the door. He could see Glorfindel's doorway from here. The door was open, held in position by Erestor, and Glorfindel stood naked in the doorway. Behind him, Haldir lay covered with a sheet in Glorfindel's bed. His silvery blond hair stood up at odd angles and his braids were completely undone. Elrond could see what both Celeborn and Glorfindel saw in the young elf. He was quite beautiful, and young, and no doubt enthusiastic between the sheets…

Ai, Elbereth, what was he thinking? He needed to stop this argument.

"Erestor, what is going on?" Elrond demanded, dragging his eyes away from Haldir and trying not to look amused. He knew perfectly well what had transpired by now.

"Glorfindel is threatening the state of security of Imladris, as usual," Erestor said irritably.

"I am what?" Glorfindel hollered.

"Calm down, will you?" Elrond said to him in an even tone.

"You heard what I said," Erestor snarled. Elrond had never seen his advisor this upset before.

"As usual?" Glorfindel exclaimed. "When have I ever threatened the state of security of Imladris?"

"Shall I make a list? You manage to anger Lord Celeborn every time he comes to visit! You are reckless, careless, selfish—"

"Erestor!" Elrond snapped. "I think you need to take a deep breath. And speak in a more pleasant tone. You are about to split my eardrum."

"Forgive me, Lord Elrond," Erestor said more quietly. "I simply feel that Lord Glorfindel has gone too far this time. I—"

"I understand," Elrond interrupted sympathetically. "However, I think this affair is not truly your concern. Haldir, would you do me a favor?"

"Certainly, Lord Elrond," Haldir said from the bed. Elrond watched him scramble to find his leggings without revealing himself. They were on the floor at the edge of the bed and when the young elf leaned over the side to pick them up, the sheet slid down and revealed the round curve of his behind. It was quite shapely, and Elrond silently reminded himself to get the details out of Glorfindel later. Erestor turned red as the accidental display of flesh, and Glorfindel chuckled slightly.

Haldir struggled into his leggings beneath the sheet then got up breathlessly, looking around for his tunic, which was lying over a table and looked to have a rather large red wine stain on it. He picked it up and stared at it in genuine dismay.

"Leave it, I will have it cleaned for you," Elrond said, beginning to grow impatient. He had other things he wanted to do this morning besides explain to Glorfindel and Erestor that they were obviously in love and they had best do something about it before anyone else got hurt. Elrond was not worried about Haldir. He was too young and arrogant to become much attached to Glorfindel. Like Erestor had said, his deepest worry would be Celeborn. "You can walk back to your room without it. Bathe and dress, and then fetch Lady Celebrían for me. You will bring her to the breakfast room, do you know where that is?"

"Yes, my lord," Haldir replied. He bowed elegantly, then strode proudly down the corridor. Elrond watched him go.

"He has nice manners, for a half-dressed elf in need of a brush," Elrond said, grinning at Glorfindel.

"Is this truly the time for levity, Lord Elrond?" Erestor asked impatiently.

"Have you ever time for levity, Erestor?" Glorfindel sneered. "Your sour expression curdles the milk every morning."

"At least I am not bedding the milkmaid!"

"That only happened once!"

"How can you live with yourself, sleeping with every elf from here to Lórien?"

"How can you live with yourself, sleeping alone every night?"

Elrond sighed. "That is enough. Silence, the both of you, and listen to me. Erestor, there will be no more screaming outside my door at dawn. Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course, my lord," said Erestor, "Only I was not screaming."

"Yelling, then. What were you doing here at this hour, anyway?"

"You know that every morning Lord Glorfindel and I meet to discuss the day's affairs—"

"Is it not the custom for you and Glorfindel to meet at breakfast to discuss the day's affairs?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then why did you feel you needed to come to his chamber?"

Erestor turned red, and Elrond knew the reason. "After you and I spoke last night," Erestor said, looking down at the floor, "I thought that I should…ah… that is…"

"I see," Elrond said soothingly, not forcing him to admit his feelings for Glorfindel this way.

"I do not," said Glorfindel.

"And you," Elrond said, turning to Glorfindel, "Did you not tell me last night that you had feelings for one special elf?'

It was Glorfindel's turn to blush. "I did, yes, but—"

"I suggest that you declare yourself and leave Haldir of Lórien alone."

"I cannot promise that," Glorfindel said in a surly tone.

Elrond ignored him and went on as if Glorfindel had agreed. "Very well. I have an important announcement and it will concern the both of you. I have decided to ask Lady Celebrían to be my wife."

"An excellent choice, sir," Erestor said approvingly.

"Well done, indeed," said Glorfindel.

"I suggest you dress, Glorfindel, and come to the breakfast room at once. Erestor, if you would please fetch Lady Galadriel and escort her there, I would be grateful. I would like you both present."

Elrond turned and went back into his room to dress, closing the door behind him and hoping that the pair of them would do as they were told and not continue to argue. He had a feeling that the pair had a lifetime of arguments in front of them, even when they did finally admit their feelings for one another, but he could not think about that now. He only hoped that Galadriel would consent to give him her daughter in marriage.

Would Celeborn be able to sway her from granting his request?