Disclaimer: see ch1

A/N: Computers out. Natsumi still crying. I can't take this anymore! Hope you enjoy, please excuse me while I kill that woman. - Gabrielle (Avian Secretary, WWF)

PS-Probably OOC

Prompt: Flower: Erestor

It was a normal sunny day in Imladris, and the house was once more full of the laughter of the youngest son of Elrond. From his seat in his office, Lord Erestor could hear the shrieks of laughter that echoed from the gardens. It was a sound that had been absent for too long, and though Erestor wished for a bit of peace as he worked, he could not bring himself to call out for their silence. Not yet. For the moment, he was more than happy to listen the the trio of voices as they called to one another, as they sung their happiness and joy out for all of Imladris to hear, as they let go of the sorrows of their pasts and the uncertainties of the future, and just lived.

It was something that Erestor found himself more and more willing to listen to, as the days went on.

There was the smallest twinkle in his eyes, and his face was softer than before, as he listened to them, alone in his office, with only the papers to bear witness to his secret love of happiness and joy and laughter returning to the valley after centuries of absence. As the day began to wane, and the call for supper rang out, Erestor found himself still in his office, getting ready to once more work late into the night, as was his routine.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter."

The door opened, revealing little Estel, with something hidden behind his back. He had his head tilted slightly down to the side, a shy smile on his face, while he worried the corner of his lower lip. He swung back and forth slightly, rocking with nerves. Erestor felt himself soften instantly.

"May I help you child?"

Estel came forward then, walking timidly toward the normally cool and composed elf that ran the House of Elrond, until he was a few feet in front of where he , he took from behind his back a flower.

"Fo' Estor," he said, fully extending his little treasure toward the dark haired elf. It was a daffodil, probably picked up in the gardens during his time there with his brothers. Though the stem was worn from the grip of a child, and a few petals were missing due to the excitement and habits of the boy, it was still beautiful, as many things in nature were. The yellow at the center was still bright and bold, the soft white of the petals still most becoming and soft. It was such a small gift, a tiny tribute, to the elf lord, but for all that Erestor could have gotten a more exotic or traditionally beautiful flower on his own, this common flower, this weed, as most saw it, was more precious than anything that could have been bought. Not just because it had come from Estel, but because it had been given out of a love that Erestor did not even know the child had for him.

"Thank you, Estel," he said as he took it. "I shall make sure to get it pressed so that it does not fade for some time."

This seemed to please the little boy immensely, as he beamed so brightly at the elf, that Erestor returned the smile, albeit, somewhat smaller. Estel leapt the distance between them, giving the normally untouchable elf a great hug. He turned his large grey eyes up to his elder, before taking a step back. He tugged at the elf's dark robes, trying to force him from his chair.

"Is there somewhere you would like to go?"

"Dinnah is weady! We gots to go 'fore Dan n Ro eat all the rolls!"

Giving a small chuckle that was too low for the boy to hear, Erestor stood, and schooled his features back into their normally haughty and cool expression. "Then we must hurry, tithen pen. It would be remiss of us to be late and not get any rolls."

Erestor rose, and took Estel's hand into his own, engulfing the fingers and palm into his own. They both left the room, leaving behind a small flower on the desk, waiting patiently for their return. It would be the first of many gifts the dark haired elf would receive from the Hope of Men.