A/N: I'm sorry for being so late to publish this, there was a lot of stuff after moving and right now the only internet I have is my mother's internet stick (and I kind of forgot about this story, so I'm sorry...)
I probably won't write very many chapters after this since I have another fanfiction already in my mind (around the time after Celebrían's sailing because I want to make my own version of it (of course))
Please enjoy the story :D
Erestor did question Maglor a lot about the dreams and his life. Although Maglor could see he was interested, he didn't press Maglor on the matters he seemed uncomfortable on. It was as if the younger elf could read Maglor's face like an open book. (Which Maglor hoped Erestor wasn't capable of for Maglor had always been the kind who wouldn't want to show their feelings very openly to others.) At times Maglor could slip in questions about Imladris and Elrond and other residents of Imladris. (Erestor realized that the older elf was interested in Lindir and his music which amused him. Of course a musician would be interested in another musician.)
"So you are completely sure you do not want to tell Elrond about those dreams of yours?" Erestor questioned for what seemed to be the hundredth time. "He would be more than glad to help you."
"I shouldn't burden him more than I already have", Maglor answered. "I am sure he himself has had those dreams and that I have been the cause for many of them. I do not wish to cause him any more burden than he already has. One day he will be too burdened and he will need someone to help him. I want to be the one helping him, not the one causing burden."
"Well, if you ever need it, he'll surely help you", Erestor chuckled. "And I almost forgot, have you met Glorfindel yet?"
"Glorfindel… Do you mean the same Glorfindel that slew the balrog?" Maglor asked with the most horrified expression Erestor had ever seen. (The previously most horrified expression had been Elrond's after he had found out that Celebrían had gone into labour but moments before and the knowledge had caused Elrond to almost faint.) "How can it be him? He died slaying that balrog or so I heard!"
"He was let out from the Halls of Mandos in order to be sent back to Middle-Earth to aid lord Elrond", Erestor told. "Apparently all the elves that have died will be reborn after lingering in Mandos' halls for some time. Only those who have committed unforgivable crimes may be held there until the unmaking of this world…"
"Then there won't be much hope for my brothers", Maglor stated and his shoulders slumped. "You know, they took part in the kinslayings and all… Amras could have a chance for he was burned at Losgar but I'm sure he'd rather stay with Amrod in Mandos to heal all the hurts Amrod might have… Not to mention our other brothers… And if I'd return, I am sure either Fingon or Turgon will eat my head…"
A badly hid snort of laughter sounded from Erestor's direction and Maglor raised his eyebrow at the younger elf.
"Was I really that fun?" Maglor questioned.
"I have yet to see a head being eaten from a living body", Erestor chuckled.
"That was an expression", Maglor muttered.
"You're outside the library, Erestor!" a surprised voice exclaimed from the doorway. Maglor turned around and saw a tall male elf with mighty golden hair standing in the doorway and gaping at Erestor. "I haven't seen you in a week and now you're outside – who is this?"
"For your information, Glorfindel, I do not always stay in the library", Erestor sighed. "I just simply find it the most comfortable area to do my work which I have loads of. And this person here is Maglor Fëanorion, the foster-father of lord Elrond."
"But you do spend a lot of time in the library", the golden-haired elf – Glorfindel – muttered. He then turned to Maglor and bowed. "Mae govannen, Maglor Fëanorion. It is an honour to meet you finally. Lord Elrond has told much good of you."
"If you'd be so polite to the rest of the world, you wouldn't be in a constant danger of receiving an arrow from Haldir every time you visit Lórien", Erestor chuckled.
"That's different, Erestor!" Glorfindel said while frowning. "Maglor here is an honoured elf who raised lord Elrond for a time but Haldir is more on the same line as me, being a guard and all."
"Whatever you decide", Erestor agreed, rolling his eyes.
"Oh! You have some nice wine there!" Glorfindel exclaimed. "Can I have some too?"
"Glorfindel the Fair, always there for the wine!" Erestor snorted exasperatedly. "Go ahead, we have much of it and the night has barely started."
Glorfindel dragged another chair to the table where Erestor and Maglor were sitting at and poured himself a glass of wine. When Maglor would think back to the moment in the future, he'd realise that Erestor had had three glasses on the table even though only Erestor and Maglor were supposed to be there. Later he would realise that Erestor was impossibly good at understanding how people's minds worked and that way he could always reserve few extra glasses or bottles of wine. But that night was only for friendly banter and music from the valley. At one point Erestor pointed out that it must have been Lindir singing a song Maglor knew too and, without giving a much thought to it, Maglor joined the song, singing it in Quenya while Lindir sang in Sindarin. Both Glorfindel and Erestor's eyes widened in amazement of hearing the ancient language sung by Maglor.
"He's amazing", Glorfindel whispered to Erestor while Maglor was singing. "Now I completely understand what made Elrond love music so much."
"I thought he had lost his ability to sing while he was fading", Erestor whispered in amazement. "I remember hearing whispers of his talent when I was but an elfling…"
"Then how come I never heard anything of him?" Glorfindel asked silently.
"You lived in Gondolin", Erestor stated. "And I cannot imagine king Turgon would have spoken of his half-cousins very happily…"
"You're right", Glorfindel whispered, his eyes still fixed on the singing elf. "I hope he'll sing some more."
When the song ended, Maglor almost fell on his chair, panting a little. His cheeks had gained some colour and his eyes seemed a bit more focused than they had been when Erestor had first met the elf.
"I should practice some more", he whispered, more to himself than to his companions. "It used to be so easy…"
"Then Lindir would be more than happy to practice with you", Glorfindel said with a wide grin. Maglor's shoulders jolted up and he turned to look at Glorfindel with a startled expression. "What? Did you already forget about us?" the fair-haired elf-lord asked, grinning even more widely.
"I'm sorry, I was taken back in time for a moment", Maglor whispered. "But it would indeed be nice to practice singing with Lindir, he is such a nice person."
"Yes, he is", Erestor smiled. "And he is also very clumsy… Please look after him…"
"If you're referring to the case where Elrohir climbed into the tallest tree of Imladris because Lindir averted his eyes for half a minute, it wasn't truly that bad", Glorfindel laughed.
"Yes, that alone wouldn't have been that bad", Erestor agreed. "However, as Lindir was looking for Elrohir, Elladan managed to somehow dive into one of the waterfalls… It was a miracle neither of them was hurt."
Maglor's face had gotten an interesting expression of worry which made Glorfindel howl with laughter. He patted Maglor's back as he tried to calm down from his sudden laughing fit. As he finally calmed down, he had some tears on his cheeks from laughing too hard.
"I'm sorry for laughing", he chuckled, "but your expression was almost identical to Elrond's when he heard the news…"
"Now when you mention it, they share something in common", Erestor agreed. "They are after all distant relatives so it wouldn't be a surprise…"
"Or maybe growing up with me caused him to learn similar expressions", Maglor guessed.
"That could also be true", Glorfindel nodded. "Speaking of relatives and singing, maybe you could perform while lord Celeborn and lady Galadriel of Lórien visit two weeks from now?"
"What?" Maglor asked with even more horrified expression that the previous had been. "No I can't be here when she comes, she'll surely kill me… Or worse; she'll summon someone to take me to the Valar and they will kill me for sure… Or at least confine me in the Void…"
"Calm down, Maglor, surely she won't kill you", Glorfindel said. "At worst she'll probably just beat you senseless."
"That's not helping, Glorfindel!" Erestor exclaimed and turned to Maglor. "Maglor, I think you should think this overnight and talk to Elrond tomorrow but I swear if you run away, I will hunt you down and drag you back to Imladris."
"I… understand", Maglor whispered. "Just promise me you won't swear upon anything, I have bad memories of oaths and such."
"I understand", Erestor smiled. "Now, do you want me to escort you to your room or will you find the way by yourself?"
"Actually, it would be nice to get someone to show me the way", Maglor said chuckling nervously. "This place is so darn huge I get lost…"
Glorfindel burst out laughing again and even Erestor smiled a bit. The taller elf patted Maglor's back again and started leading the way. (Only to realise halfway that he had no clue where Maglor's room was so Erestor had to lead the way.) When Maglor finally had bid the duo goodnight, he lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He desperately tried to think of ways to get away before Artanis – Galadriel – would come to visit.
Come to think of it, where the heck is Elros? Maglor thought suddenly. No one mentions him and there's no one who even looks relatively like Elrond near this area… Maybe I should ask Elrond tomorrow…