Elrond, Erestor, Lindir and Middle Earth are not mine, and I'm so grateful to Mr. Tolkien for first writing about them. :) Mellolaes is my OC, however.

This story is for entertainment purposes only, so please read and be entertained. :)

"Erestor! If you don't stop interrupting, I'm going to pour this remaining tea over your head!"

Elrond paused in the hallway. His eyes swiveled to the left. He cautiously reached out to the door there, turned its nob, and pushed it open.

Mellolaes' head rotated so she could glare at him. The rest of her form remained bent over Erestor's. The Steward's eyes stared listlessly into his Lord's from a silk pillow. Elrond entered the room and shut the door behind him before lifting an eyebrow at both of them. "Have we a problem in here, my servants?"

Erestor spoke first. His voice was as flat as the expression of his face. "I am merely being warned to cease breaking my word, my Lord."

Elrond lifted his eyebrow higher. "Your word to do what?"

Mellolaes interrupted her glare growing darker. "Where is Estel?"

Elrond's back straightened as both his brows shot up his forehead. Sometimes, he was convinced, like his elder sons, the nurse of his youngest had forgotten who the boy's kin were and who was only his nurse. "I left him with his brothers …"

As both his servants opened their mouths, Elrond raised his hand holding it palm out toward them. "And Cuilbron. Elladan was silly enough to cut himself. I'm giving Estel the opportunity to practice his healer skills upon his big brother."

Though her brows remained furrowed in irritation, Mellolaes gave a low giggle. "That's what my mother used to do with me and my twin cousins." She then turned a softer glare back upon his Steward.

Elrond flicked his gaze between them and asked again, "Why are you both angry with each other?"

"Mellolaes has been trying to cheer me, and I have been uncheerable."

"Oh no …" Elrond kept his face mostly smooth, but a corner of his mouth quirked up and a flash of light entered his eyes."You are not testing the Silvan stubbornness are you?"

Mellolaes straightened, lifted her face to the sky, and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. His reply made her gaze jerk back down to Erestor's face. "On the contrary, she had been succeeding far more than I thought she would."

Mellolaes turned blinking eyes upon him. "I have?"

Elrond imitated her expression at his steward. "She has?"

Erestor shrugged. "I have been lying here long, in silence good for little more than paperwork, most of which I finished before my injury. For a short time, now I have been listening to a tale I have never heard before. After re-hearing and re-writing so many, not forseeing what comes next, even if I can guess the majority of it, is rather amusing."

Mellolaes rolled her eyes at the ceiling again, this time placing her hands on her hips. Elrond gazed worriedly at her. "I think, my Steward, if you wish her to continue this tale you will have to compliment it more than that."

"You know I give neither compliments nor complaints save in complete sincerity, my Lord."

Mellolaes looked down at Erestor again her brows furrowing and eyes sparkling once more. Elrond's eyebrows rose yet again. "Perhaps I should stay and hear it too …I think Estel far safer with my current chief healer and his brothers than you will be here if I leave."

Mellolaes raised a hand and flicked her fingers at the ellon standing near the door. "Nonsense. I am capable of containing my temper long enough to finish this part of the tale at least. The hour Erestor was going to allow me to speak must be over or nearly so already. Besides, I think he needs to sleep."

"I do not need to sleep now."

Mellolaes turned to Lord Elrond arms crossed over her chest and a superior smile gracing her face. Lord Elrond looked back to his steward to see him glaring from his pillow. Elrond glanced back and forth between them once more and then nodded. "Alright then, I will leave you two to the conclusion of your bargain as it seems to have made one."

Out in the hallway, Lord Elrond stopped a passing servant and sent them for his door-elf. Once Lindir arrived, he took him slightly aside from Erestor's closed door and whispered in his ear. "Lindir, I do not think with all the thick snow outside we shall be getting any visitors. Stay here and if any shout or feeling of distress emerges from my steward's bedroom, enter and do as you see fit. I have to go to my yougest and spend time with him until his nurse, hopefully, emerges in good enough condition physically and emotionally to play with him."

I hope you enjoyed, please tell me if you did or have constructive criticism to give me.

God Bless and keep you :)

ScribeofHeroes