I've noticed that I never post the next chapter of this story until I have the chapter after it written. Hmm. Unusual quirk I must have picked up somewhere.

Don't own em. E/T mentioned in this part.

Anyone else picking up on Glorfindel/Gil-galad? I am too, even though it's completely unintentional.

When Elrond Met Thranduil

Glorfindel quietly opened the door to Elrond's room and slipped in. He frowned; the bed seemed to have one too many lumps in it. Setting his candle on the small bedside table, he eased the covers back carefully.

Elrond muttered something and tightened his arms around Thranduil possessively. Glorfindel blinked, astonished. He knew Elrond cared for Thranduil, and vice-versa, but never knew it had gotten to this point already! Looking around at the clothes discarded haphazardly around him, Glorfindel shook his head. He really should have seen it, the way those two were always looking at each other and sneaking off to be alone.

Glorfindel brushed Elrond's hair away from his face, then pinched the tip of the pointed ear hard. Elrond yelped and sat up, rubbing his injured ear. "Glorfindel! What did you do that for?" he hissed, trying not to wake Thranduil.

Glorfindel smirked. "Gil-galad needs to talk to you and Elros."

"Now? We're sleeping!"

"I could see that. Go, Elrond, it has to do with the group of men who will be visiting."

"Couldn't he wait until morning?"

Glorfindel threw Elrond's dressing robe at him. "If it could wait, he wouldn't have said it was urgent, now would he?"

"Mm, Elrond? What's going on?" Thranduil stirred and pressed his face into Elrond's lap, wrapping his arms around the older elf's waist. "You okay?"

Elrond kissed Thranduil's head. "Yes, Thranduil, everything's okay. I'm okay. Gil-galad just needs to talk to me, that's all. Go back to bed."

"Mm, okay. Night Elrond." Thranduil shifted so he wasn't clinging to Elrond anymore and instead clung to the pillow.

"Good-night Thranduil."

Glorfindel picked up his candle and held open the door. "After you. Elros is already with Gil-galad in his study." Elrond stuck out his tongue at the blond elf, tied his sash, and strode out the door. Glorfindel just sighed and followed.

"So, what's so important you needed to call us out of bed in the middle of the night?" Elrond threw himself into one of Gil-galad's overstuffed armchairs, a pout on his face. Elros chucked a paper ball at him.

"Gilly just got this from those inconsiderate men. Read."

Elrond managed to uncrumple the ball without tearing it.

Dear High-King Gil-galad of Rivendell

"Care to correct them on your title? It should be. . ."

Elros thwapped Elrond on the head with a rolled up map. "We all know you're not your perkiest in the morning. Keep reading."

Elrond grabbed the map before it descended on his head again. "In my defense, oh brother I love so much, it's not morning yet and I was rudely awakened by an adult blond elf who dragged me away from a warm bed occupied by a younger blond elf. If you even touch me I will maul you."

Elros laughed and tugged the map away. "My my, you certainly are chipper! What a pleasant change!"

Elrond bared his teeth and snarled at Elros. Glorfindel rubbed his temples. "Oh Gil-galad, I see why you got them at such a great bargain. Two for the price of one. Next time, go for quantity over quality, please!"

Elrond huffed and turned back to the letter.

Dear High-King Gil-galad of Rivendell,

We are terribly sorry for sending this at such a late date but are unused to using such odd messengers as birds to deliver messages. You wished to be informed of our arrival date. Well, we hope to arrive tomorrow morning, around nine. We are all eager to see Rivendell, the legendary home of the elves. I hope the tales have done justice to it.

Sincerely,

Lord Keladron di'Peritan ti'Destrea

"What's with his name? It sounds like he can't make up his mind!" Elrond threw the letter onto Gil-galad's desk.

Elros shook his head. "My sentiments exactly. Alright, Gilly, we've all read the letter. Why did you want us here?"

Gil-galad gazed at Elros calmly. "If it wasn't so early, I'd tell you to stop calling me Gilly. Now, as you read, the men are arriving tomorrow morning. Earlier, they had asked for some guides, at least in the beginning of their stay. Guides as in elves they could feel free to question and talk to without worrying about offending anyone."

"You want us to be their guides?" Elros asked, glancing at Elrond. "In the morning? I'm not sure that's such a great idea. . ."

"Thranduil may help you as well, but seeing as how you are only half-elves, not pure blooded elves, the men may find it easier to talk to you, knowing you are a bit more like them then we are." Gil-galad sighed, seeing the sadness in the brothers' eyes. No matter how hard they tried, they were always different. They didn't fully belong in either world, and knew it. Gil-galad walked over to them and drew them both into a hug. "I'm sorry, I should have said it differently," he whispered into their ears. "But that was the truth. They will feel better knowing you understand them better then I do."

Elrond leaned against Gil-galad's shoulder and Elros hugged him back tentatively. "Gilly, you do love us, right? Even after everything we do?"

Gil-galad smiled. "Of course I love you, you know that. You two are like my sons. I can't help but love you, even when you dye Glorfindel's hair all the colors of the rainbow!"

Elrond smiled weakly. "We haven't done that in a while."

"You should. Dying Glorfindel's hair cured him of the typical vainness all blond elves have. It's good for him, really it is!"

Glorfindel smacked Gil-galad. "You don't need to encourage them!"

Gil-galad smiled and untangled himself from the brothers. "So, do you two think you can be the guides, or should I find someone else?"

"We can do it!" Elros chirped.

"Alright. Back to bed, you two. Long day tomorrow." As the brothers rushed off, Gil-galad turned to Glorfindel. "A younger blond elf occupying his bed? Thranduil!?"

Originally, Elros was going to break out in song, but this chapter was getting a bit long, so he'll have to wait. Next chapter will probably be even longer though. His song's getting long too, three verses in Sindarin. It's a good thing he's a bad songwriter. I can't write good songs to save my life.

~Crawler