Elrond
The smile Elrond had upon his face as Bilbo stood proudly in the Hall of Fire soon faded as the Hobbit began to sing.
His father's name in the first verse made him wary, and then the verses following turned his heart heavy. Elrond's smile disappeared completely, and many would have noticed if he were sitting among his people. But his seat was near the back, underneath a canopy. Few paid attention to him while there was a song.
He listened to his father's great deeds, his valour and his courage. He closed his eyes briefly at the mention of the Silmaril and then shook his head at the mention of his mother.
When the song was done, Elrond kept his attention to his hands resting on his lap. He saw fingers brush against his elbow. Glorfindel sat beside him, who now leaned in.
"He means no harm." He said lowly. "A Hobbit knows not about the history of the world. In his way, he sought to honour you by singing about your parents."
"I know," Elrond said with a sigh. "He means no harm indeed. Few know my stance about my father's tale."
Glorfindel then remained silent for a long moment. Elrond turned his attention to the laughter between Bilbo and Lindir. The Hobbit ambled away with his young ward.
"Your father meant no harm as well. As did your mother," Glorfindel said later.
"In their minds, perhaps," Elrond said eventually. A new song rose, carved from sweet music. "Yet harm came. And when it did, my father was at sea and my mother sought to protect a stone in place of her sons. Do not ask me to forget that."
To that, Glorfindel had no reply.
