First chap = disclaimers

*Sighs* I'm skipping ahead in time again. I pretty much suck at writing children & toddlers unless I'm really inspired, so I'll not torture you.

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Elrond laughed as Arwen returned home from her morning excursion. Dripping water from head to toe, the young elf was hardly the imperialistic vision that other proclaimed her to be.

"What happened to you Undomy?"

"Ada! Do not call me that." Arwen blushed a deep crimson.

Elrond inwardly sighed, yet another sign that his baby girl would soon be an adult. "I am your father, I can call you Hortense if I so choose. If you do not like it, I'm sure you can take the matter up with the Lord of your home."

"Mother says your incorrigible."

Elrond winced. She was brining out the big guns. "Yes, well your grandmother says I should be strung up and painted gold; that doesn't mean it is true."

Arwen's eyebrow arched. "When did Grandmother say this? I thought she adored you."

Elrond cleared his throat. "I believe we are getting off of the point. Why are you causing pools on my flooring?"

Arwen frowned. "I fell into the river."

"And what were you doing that caused you to fall in?"

"I was, umm, riding."

"That pathetic old gelding Elrohir gave you threw you?"

"Well, no."

"Then you were doing something other than riding."

"Well, I was going a touch fast."

Elrond shook his head in thought. Arwen was not the best equestrian in Middle Earth, but she was not so clumsy as to fall off of a steady mount. His eyes narrowed as he reviewed the conversation. "You weren't riding your horse were you?"

Arwen hung her head. "No."

"Arwen, you are not supposed to take another horse without permission."

"But, I did have permission."

Worse and worse. If she had permission, it was not one of Elrond's horses and he highly doubted that is was one of Celebrian's. "One of your brothers let you take his horse?"

Arwen shook her head 'no.'

Elrond started to go through the members of his household. Erestor? No, he was much too reliable and supportive of sanity. Who wouldn't be?

"Glorfindel."

Arwen looked faintly embarrassed, but that look was mingled with wry humor attempting to escape. "He is having a scrape bandaged at the moment."

"He was with you?"

Arwen nodded 'yes.' "He said that I should be learning better horsemanship skills."

"And he decided to teach you on his horse?"

"If she learns to ride on the most spirited of horses, she will have no problem mastering the easy ones." Glrofindel said as he swaggered into the conversation.

Elrond bit back a sarcastic comment about Glorfindel having the same philosophy about women.

"You did not think to consult me first?"

"You would have said no."

Elrond glared at his friend. "Arwen, go get dressed in something dry."

Arwen moved quickly. She had sensed the mounting tension and had no desire to see the eruption.

"I am her father, Celebrian is her mother. Do you see your name mentioned in the parentage?"

"Elrond, if she was one of the twins, you would have had her riding at least Celebrian's horse by now. She is not a delicate lady. She never will be. Given her parentage, I'm surprised she isn't a dwarf if Elven clothing."

"That is highly insulting."

"It was meant to be. Elrond, Arwen is not going to become less attractive as she ages. You have attended to her education. You have attended to her diplomatic skills, her singing, her dancing, her artistry, her manners, and her personality. But, she deserves to be an equal among all those who seek her. Do you wish her to swoon for the first warrior that crosses her path?"

"Your logic is flawed. Hers is not. She would see through such a façade without knowing the intricacies of riding."

"Fine, what about her own protection? Evil is growing; you cannot guarantee that she will always be protected."

"Arwen has received instruction in battle."

"Yes, but just basics. She knows enough to defend herself were she nothing but the gardener of Imladris. But she is not. She is your daughter, a prime target for any enemy, and she is not prone to sitting at home."

Elrond glowered, so Glorfindel continued.

"I know that you and Celebrian do not wish to see Arwen grow up in such times, but you cannot hold her back. She needs to learn as surely as Elladan and Elrohir did."

Elrond frowned in defeat. "I do not recall you allowing Elrohir to touch one of your mounts until he was 115, let alone ride one."

Glorfindel sensed his success. "Arwen is much prettier than the twins, and a touch softer."

"Should I be worried?"

"About my intentions? Elrond, I am shocked."

"I have known you a long time."

"Then you should know that I am a trifle smarter than the average elf. No male should even contemplate nearing Arwen without the intention of marrying her. I have no wish to call you 'Adar.'"

Elrond rolled his eyes. "You are insane, but I concede your point. I therefore believe it your responsibility to train Arwen."

"I am not a weapons tutor. Sparring to help improvements is one thing, teaching battle is another."

"True, but this whole thing was your idea. You need to follow through on it. Besides, it might do you some good to be responsible."

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Celenrian shook her head as she watched Glorfindel correct Arwen's posture. "Elrond, are you certain this is the best idea?"

Elrond glanced up from his work to see his wife staring out the window. "Glorfindel is one my best warriors, and he has sworn no "friendly" intent."

Celebrian snorted. "Why do men always think about sex? What I meant was that Arwen could pick up some rather ungraceful attitudes from Glorfindel."

"I would hardly describe Glorfindel as ungraceful."

"You know what I mean. He does not have the purest sense of humor."

"So this is about sex, just not in the technical sense."

"Elrond." Celebrian said exasperated.

"Celebrian, my love, Arwen's mind will not fly out the window because she is subjected to Glorfindel's inane statements. Her public stature will not decrease, nor will her reputation tarnish. If nothing else, he will teach her to vent her frustration about boring politicians. I highly doubt she will forget that risqué jokes are not said in polite society."

"Elladan did."

"Arwen is not Elladan. Besides, I think that our son told Thranduil that joke on purpose, not as a lapse of sensibility."

"Yes, well who was it that told him about Thranduil? I believe his name is Glorfindel."

"Yet another reason for this arrangement. It builds family cohesiveness."

"Don't tell me you are still jealous."

"Jealous, no, how can I be jealous when I won? I merely think that we needn't be too close to his family."

"So, you are no longer jealous, but still loathe him."

"Yes. And before you ask, it is indeed a human trait to hold a grudge."

"Perhaps you are simply envious that he has the title of King while you are merely a Lord?"

Elrond grinned at her teasing tone. "I am not merely anything. I am totally and completely in love with you. Besides, I assure you I hold more power than that elf could ever dream of."

"Ooh, I love it when you get all arrogant."

"Sarcasm, my lady? How unbefitting. Perhaps I should assist you in seeing my point of view."

Celebrian's eyes widened. "Elrond, it is the middle of the afternoon!"

"That never stopped us before. Besides, all this talk of propriety and Thranduil has awakened my inner crudeness."

Celebrian grinned and started pulling out her braids. "Mother always warned me about the wild ones."

"Why do I get the feeling that her advice was not, 'Plunge quickly and move on' like Gil-Galad's was?"

"Elrond! And I was worried about Glorfindel!"

"At the moment, all I am worried about is making it to our chambers."

"Dirty Half-Elven." Celebrian said as she began to sprint towards their room.

"Seductive Silver Goddess."

"Sweet talking now?"

Elrond grinned as he shut the door. "Of course."