Lord Elrond sat beside his daughter at the long table in his banquet hall. He was well pleased at the assembled company, even if the elves from Lórien seemed to be uncomfortable with the Dwarves. Elrond had seen to it that Haldir and his brothers were seated between Elrohir and Glorfindel. Elladan was between Elrohir and himself, and Erestor sat to the left of Arwen. Next came Gandalf the Grey, who was deep in conversation with his neighbor, Radagast the Brown, then the Dwarf party.

Elrond frowned as he heard Radagast refer to him as Elrond the Purple. He supposed it was meant as a compliment but it caused Arwen to giggle loudly and tell him that purple did not suit him at all, and Erestor to suggest that he would be far better off as Elrond the Navy Blue or perhaps Elrond the Beige. Elrond suggested that perhaps both Arwen and Erestor ought to mind how many times they refilled their wine cups. This upset Arwen and Elrond had to apologize to her, not wanting to ruin the mood for the evening.

It was bad enough that Elladan did not seem to be in much better of a mood than he had been in this afternoon. In fact, he seemed to be in a worse mood. He did not speak to anyone, even though Haldir attempted to engage him in conversation several times. Elladan answered only minimally. Elrond tried to speak to his son himself, but Arwen was much easier to converse with, and eager to tell her father about her visit to Lothlórien.

"Elladan…"

Elladan lifted his head and looked at Elrond with his fathomless grey eyes. "Yes, Father?"

"Will you come riding with me tomorrow? It has been long since I have sat a horse. We spend little enough time together."

"If you like," Elladan said, but he smiled and this pleased Elrond. "Shall Elrohir come as well?"

"I think he should remain to look after our guests while we are out," Elrond said. "Tomorrow at noon, then. I shall meet you at the stable."

"Very well"

Elrond was bound and determined to discover what was wrong with Elladan and Elrohir's buoyant presence would prevent that entirely. Elladan's eyes strayed at once to the Marchwarden and suddenly Elrond wondered if something was going on between the two of them. Haldir did not usually make such effort to speak with someone who was not inclined to answer him as he had been with Elladan tonight.

If there was, this would not be the cause of Elladan's sadness. Rather sadness should be lifted with Haldir's arrival. Elrond put the thought aside. His children were all of age and free to love where they chose. They rarely spoke to him of their partners, which he imagined they would do if anything serious ever arose. He knew that neither Elladan nor Arwen was promiscuous, but Elrohir was another story indeed. As long as nothing too scandalous reached his ears, Elrond tended to turn a blind eye to Elrohir's behavior.

Elrond almost wished that there was something going on between Elladan and Haldir, for what could lift one's spirits more than love? Elrond had only known true love a few times in his life and none of those whom he loved was here now. This sudden thought made him realize how lonely he was. Maybe Elladan was suffering from the same problem. Elrond pushed his own troubles aside. He had his guests and the leadership of Imladris to keep him occupied. He cared more about cheering up Elladan than himself.

"Haldir, how long will you be staying with us?" Elrond asked, hoping to draw the two of them into conversation.

"A week," said Haldir, taking a bite of his roast chicken, "Or perhaps two. My brothers are loathe ever to leave the sanctity of Rivendell."

"And Haldir is loathe to leave your table, Lord Elrond," said Orophin, his eyes twinkling. "We have not such fine cooking in Lórien."

"It is my aspiration that all my guests find exactly what they are seeking when they stay in my home," Elrond said, meeting Haldir's gaze. "You are welcome to stay as long as you like."

"I hope it will be two weeks at the least," Elladan said suddenly, his eyes searching out Haldir's.

Haldir smiled slightly, returning the look. "It would be rude of me to extinguish such a hope."

Was there a lightening in Elladan's eyes? Was there a lifting of the storm clouds? Elrond could not tell, but in that moment he was very aware of the attraction between Elladan and Haldir. He was not the only one aware of it, either. Elrohir, Orophin and Rúmil were watching the pair of them with intense interest. Haldir seemed not to mind, but Elladan glared at his twin. Elrohir smiled knowingly and went back to his wine cup.

"Elrohir, I thought we should make an appointment to practice your sword skills tomorrow afternoon," Glorfindel said casually, toying with his own goblet.

"My sword skills are up to par," Elrohir said coolly. "Besides, I shall have to look after our guests tomorrow, and Rúmil and Orophin both require a good deal of looking after."

"As you wish," said Glorfindel, but his voice sounded icy.

"Perhaps Elladan would like the practice," Elrohir suggested. "He is more in need of it than I am."

Glorfindel looked hopefully at Elladan, who looked as if he had been put on the spot.

"I do not think--"

"Actually, I would love to practice with you if you would have me," Haldir said, turning towards Glorfindel.

"You would?" asked both twins and Glorfindel at once.

"I fail to see why this is unusual," Elrond said, wondering what he was missing from this conversation. "I am certain the three of you can practice all together."

Elrohir had been taking a drink from his goblet and snorted, wine spilling down the front of his tunic.

"Sword play is easier in pairs, my lord," Glorfindel said smoothly.

"I always thought you preferred two at once," Elrohir said. "You were always hoping that Elladan would practice with us."

"Actually, I think I will join them," Elladan said, lifting his chin. "If you do not mind, Haldir."

"Not at all," said Haldir. "I do have a fourth in mind, however. Lord Glorfindel is right, it is easier in pairs. This way we can switch off… Rúmil, what is so funny?"

Elrond rather wondered why Rúmil, Orophin, and Elrohir all seemed to be taking such glee in the matter but decided it was better just to ignore the three of them. He decided he better cut off the wine from that end of the table as well.

"Who is the fourth?" Glorfindel asked.

Haldir did not reply, but swiftly changed the subject to a discussion of the merits of the food. Elrond turned his attention back to Arwen, but she was deep in an animated conversation with Erestor about the dresses she had brought back from Lothlórien. A moment later Elladan excused himself and left the dining hall. Haldir followed, his brothers followed him, Elrohir followed them, and Glorfindel followed Elrohir.

Elrond considered heading off to his own cold bed, but Radagast the Brown took that moment to move into the seat next to Elrond and embark on what would no doubt be an hour long ramble about the spiced plums that had been served for dessert. He was almost as bad as Haldir, Elrond thought as he smiled and nodded politely. Tomorrow he would find out what was going on with Elladan, no matter what tactics he had to resort to. Tomorrow.