'You seem to have lost Glorfindel, my dear,' Arveldir said when Erestor returned alone. 'What have you done with him, stuffed him in a linen hamper somewhere?'

'No, but that is rather a good idea, come to think of it.' Erestor found a smile for his spouse. 'I wanted him to come with me to check up on Lindir, but... well, I will tell YOU all about that later...'

'Intriguing... but come, Melpomaen was telling many interesting stories of Elrond's efforts with the language; I am sure you will enjoy them...'

Erestor allowed himself to be led into the conversation, and sat with every appearance of composure, sipping a glass of wine and listening attentively to Melpomaen's tales.

'You seem to have enjoyed your adventure,' he said. 'Your narrow escape from Briot notwithstanding...'

'Oh, I wasn't worried, Glorfindel had shown me all his tricks and besides, we were in the main building surrounded by elves and warriors of Gondor; what could have gone wrong?'

'What do you think of travelling now, may I ask? Would you, perhaps, consider sailing?'

'One day, yes, probably. In the right company, at the right time. Not with Elrond.' He gave a little grimace. 'I do not think he is the best of travelling companions; there is always something up with the food, or the wine, or the beds, and someone else has to sort it out...'

Erestor nodded. 'Welcome to my world,' he said. 'Or rather, mine and Lindir's. Our friend has expended much energy, over the years, helping run the Last Homely House to Elrond's satisfaction.'

'Poor Lindir! I don't mean trying to organise the house for Elrond, of course, I mean... well. If there is any way to help him, to distract him from his disappointment...'

'We must, I think, pay heed to his tone and take our actions from him. It may be he needs time to adjust to the idea that Kovalia – Mesri, that is – that she is beyond his reach. Or he may wish to talk, but it may not be for a few days, perhaps; he might wish to internalise his disappointment first. That you would be his friend – that so many of us would stand his friend – must, in time, be of some comfort, one would hope.'

Talk drifted and flowed and began, finally to ebb. Elrohir excused himself.

'Because all the excitement of having Mel back with us has quite tired me out; it's a good job I have a sweetheart to help me home, isn't it?'

After the goodnights had been said, Elladan suggested more wine.

'Or have we done enough welcoming Melpomaen home for one night?'

'I think, perhaps it is time we retired,' Erestor said. 'You go on; Arveldir and I will see the hall set to rights.'

The hall emptied. Arveldir put an arm around Erestor's shoulders and cuddled him gently.

'I love these moments,' he said. 'The quiet, knowing the house is all abed and calm... the sense of a day finished in peace...'

At which point, with impeccable timing, a raised voice fractured the calm of the moment with outraged volume...

'Confusticate and bebother these elves!Glorfindel, what are you doing lying on the floor there? Singing? Singing? If that is singing, then the draining of my bathtub is a melody fit to equal Lindir's finest playing!Now shut up and get up and go to bed!Leave a tired old hobbit in peace!'

'Ah. Bilbo,' Erestor murmured. 'How odd, it was only an hour or so ago I was reminding Glorfindel not to be noisy lest he disturb our elderly guest...'

'Quite a coincidence; do we need to intervene or may we simply go the long way home?'

Erestor thought longingly of bed, and Arveldir in it with him, and reminded himself he had a duty to all of Imladris...

'No, I think tonight, I had better intrude...'

He set off with a sigh, Arveldir at his side, and presently they reached the location of the disturbance; it made for quite a sight. Sprawled across the junction between Bilbo's corridor and the passage leading to Lindir and Glorfindel's rooms, the seneschal was grinning up at a little cluster of persons around him. Bilbo, arms akimbo and with a fierce expression on his usually genial face was tapping one bare foot on the flagstones while Elladan and Elrohir were enjoying watching Melpomaen and Rusdir trying to help Glorfindel up. The seneschal, however, had other ideas and kept slipping out of their grasp like an oiled piglet.

'No, no, lea' me 'lone, nice 'n comfytubble... "Here I sit, the jug goes round and"... oh, h'lo Erestorrr...'

'What now, Glorfindel?'

'Jus' havin' little rest, 'n... 'n Roh... kicked me...!'

'I tripped,' Elrohir protested. 'Over your stupidly long legs sticking out into the corridor!'

'Any...anyway, he kicked me, and I thought... time for a li'l song...'

'You see what I have to put up with?' Bilbo protested. 'Where is Elrond? I'll have a thing or two to say to him...'

'Elrond is from home, dear Bilbo,' Erestor said, glancing along the corridor; Lindir's door had softly opened, the minstrel looking out at the disturbance. 'But permit me to assist. Glorfindel, you will have to return to your old quarters.'

'Wha'...?'

'Now. Tonight.'

'Aw...'restor...'

'On your feet, if you please!'

Glorfindel staggered up, helped by the twins while Erestor apologised again to the hobbit.

'Perhaps Melpomaen can escort you back to your rooms, if you wish.'

'I would be glad to help, Master Bilbo. It's only Glorfindel, after all.'

'Yes, well, all right then... but see it doesn't happen again!'

'What is happening? Is Glorfindel all right, has he fallen and hit his head?'

Lindir's soft voice almost went unheard, but Glorfindel had seen the minstrel's approach and waved enthusiastically.

'Lindi', hello! Coming to the party?'

'Party?'

'There is no party,' Erestor said firmly. 'Lord Glorfindel is being taken to his proper rooms so that he does not disturb the house again! Really, Glorfindel...'

'Can I...? C'n I jus' get my towels?' For a moment Glorfindel lost the drunken slur. 'I really need my towels, Erestor...'

'Oh, very well! Where are they?'

'In the drawers.'

'May I help?' Lindir said. 'I know where, I was there when Glorfindel put them away, once.'

'Lindir, that's kind of you. My thanks.' Erestor glared at the seneschal. 'You wait there, Glorfindel, and I will bring them.'

Lindir looked around and shook his head when they entered Glorfindel's room.

'I thought... It is all very tidy... but was Glorfindel not in here earlier?'

'To my knowledge, no. He was with us for some time in the hall, and then went seeking some wine... ' Erestor began to see the direction of Glorfindel's machinations. 'The bed has not been slept in, as you see. In fact, the room is, as you say, very tidy... are those the towels?' He accepted from Lindir a stack of towels, some blue with decorated edges, one or two very old and faded. 'I will say goodnight to you, then. In fact, I am surprised you are still up, Lindir; I had not thought Glorfindel might have disturbed you, too?'

'I... no. I was asleep, but I had... had a very strange dream, I... to my shame, I may have had too much wine this evening...' The minstrel's voice changed, became almost dreamy, a little chant. 'I do not often drink so deep... I had a strange dream, that is all, just a dream, a dream of Glorfindel, but of course, I do not think of him so, even though he is the most b... the kindest of friends... I am sorry, Erestor, you were saying?'

'I was saying thank you for your help, Lindir. I will bid you goodnight now. I am sorry to rob you of your neighbour, but really, he cannot be allowed to disturb poor Bilbo...'

'Dear old Hobbit! Of course Master Bilbo's peace and quiet must be of the first consideration. Goodnight then, Erestor.'