A/N: Huggles to all who reviewed, you all get a free display by She-Bear's Bouncing-Bungee Elves of Beleriand (with spandex this time, okay Arabella?). Thank you all.

I'd like to apologise for how the formatting of the footnotes came out last time. I had written them in super-case and it wasn't nearly as intrusive. It seems though that ff.net can't handle super-case. Sorry 'bout that.

Right, onward.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

"Ammë, here comes another one!"  He bent his knees in preparation for the wave then jumped up on the spot, allowing the wave to pass under him before he landed again, with an almighty splash.  Elwing had given up trying to save herself from Elros' gleeful splashing five waves ago. 

Elrond sat back on the dry sand, content to watch his brother's antics.  A few days, one forced apology later and peace had returned to the household.  He smiled as his younger sibling tackled another foam-trimmed breaker.  Elrond looked across to the West and mused that Elros' shrieks of delight could probably be heard all the way to the Isle of Balar.  He noticed that the sun was still some way from making its final descent for the day; they still had a couple of hours of daylight left; two hours before time would be called on this little excursion and they would have to return to the house, no doubt with Elros trailing behind and kicking up clouds of white sand in protest.

Elrond got to his feet and walked over to his mother and brother but stopped just short of the tide-line.  Elros beckoned him closer but Elrond shook his head vigorously; he recognised that mischievous glint in his brother's eye from a mile away.  "Ammë, can I go and get a book?"

Elros snorted, "You-are-so-boring!" he wailed incredulously.

 "And dry," muttered Elwing making a futile attempt to stop her sodden dress sticking to her legs.  "Fine Elrond, but straight to the house and back, no detours."

"Yes Ammë." He cocked his head towards his brother.  "What are you looking at?"

 "Bo-ring."  Elros sang the syllables.

Elrond leaned forward and echoed, "Child-ish." Elros retaliated by kicking his foot out, sending a spray of water in Elrond's direction, who leapt backwards to safety with the kind of agility that only one of the firstborn could muster.  He then turned and jogged back home with a triumphant grin on his face.

After his prey was out of range, Elros turned his attention back to his mother.  "How long until I can sail in a ship like Ada?"

"Oh not to worry Elros, only about another thirty years or so."

"You say that every time I ask," he mumbled, taking his now less enthusiastic splashing further down the beach.

"I know," she replied wistfully when her son was out of earshot.  She strolled along the tide-line in Elros' direction.  She pulled her windswept hair out of her face and scanned the horizon.  Elros plopped down on the ground and took to delving in the wet sand.  He considered his mother in bewilderment for a moment.  For someone who said she did not like the ocean very much, she spent an inordinate amount of time looking at it.  He had to admit though, she had been spending more time with them since the incident in the study; he wondered if he should hit Elrond more often. He busied himself with the sand for a few more minutes until the thought struck him. Where had Elrond got to?  He turned and squinted in the direction of the top of the path and frowned in puzzlement at what he saw.  He went back to his mother and tugged at her skirt to get her attention.

"Ammë, who's Elrond talking to?"  Elwing yelled her eldest's name at the top of her lungs the second she saw what Elros was pointing at.  She took off across the beach in a heartbeat.  Elros had never seen his mother move that fast before.

~*~

Elrond looked up at the Elven lord standing before him with awe and some trepidation.  At least, he looked like lord.  The horse by his side was the most handsome Elrond had ever seen.  His clothes were fine, if a little travel stained and there was something about the way he carried himself; a certain pride that was more than a little intimidating.  Elrond suddenly felt very small and self-conscious.  He was horribly embarrassed at the fact he had nearly run into him when he had reached the top of the hill.  He surreptitiously began to brush at his leggings which he remembered were still covered with sand.  The stranger nodded to the boy and Elrond bowed back uncertainly.

 "Are you"- Elrond self-consciously cleared his throat, "Do you bring word from Gil-Galad?  Sir." 

"No, it is safe to say I have little to do with the High King," he answered, "Why do you ask?"

"You look like a Noldo, Sir."  Elrond hoped he had guessed right, his manner of dress and his grey eyes were certainly characteristic of the Noldor. The only thing that did not fit was his hair; Elrond did not know what to make of that; it was dark, yet with a red sheen to it, like burnished copper.* He had never seen an Elf with colouring like that.

The stranger gave a slight, lop-sided smile and quipped in his lilting voice, "So do you.  You must feel a little out of place amongst all these Sindar."

Elrond flinched a little and could not fight a scowl creeping its way onto his face.  "My mother is Sindarin.  Well, mostly."

"Mostly?"

"Her grandfather was Edain."

All trace of mirth vanished from the stranger's expression.  Where it had been soft and almost musical before, his voice now took on a harsh tone, "Is your mother home?"

"No Sir." Elrond felt distinctly uneasy now.  He stared at his feet, shrinking under his interrogator's suddenly intensified grey gaze.  He felt like he was being stared at, studied almost.  He just wanted to run home to Nárwen and forget this meeting. If this stranger had not been standing between him and the house, he would have without a second thought; Elrond had no desire to move closer to him.  He dared to glance upwards to find those steely eyes still scrutinizing him keenly.  "Sir, I have to go," he attempted to manoeuvre himself around the stranger to get back to the house, "my mother is waiting."

The adult marked the child step for step. "I thought you said she was not home."

Elrond opened his mouth to answer but no sound came out.  At that moment he heard Elwing calling to him; he could have sworn there was a hint of panic in her voice.  She appeared at the top of the hill and took Elrond by the wrist and pulled him behind her. 

The Elf looked Elwing up and down somewhat disdainfully, his eyes giving away their amusement as they lingered on her bare feet and gown, soaking wet from the knees downward. Nevertheless, he bowed courteously and said, "Lady Elwing, I presume?"

"What do you want?"

"I think you know, Lady."

"Indulge me," she spat.

He sighed sharply, "I bring a message from the Sons of Fëanor.  We grow impatient for a reply to our requests for what is rightfully ours."

Elwing drew herself up to her full height and spoke slowly and clearly, "All the remains of the Light of the Two Trees will never be yours. Any right you may have had to those holy jewels was made forfeit long ago thanks to your deeds, kinslayer.  There, you have your answer.  I suggest you take it to your brothers and never dare to approach me or my family again."

A tiny crack appeared in his composure; he looked genuinely hurt.  "I would never have harmed him.  I have no quarrel with your son, nor with you.  Yet."  He opened his arms with his palms facing outwards in a gesture of entreaty, "Please, Lady, I implore you to reconsider." His gaze flickered down to Elrond peeking out from behind his mother and back, to lock with Elwing's. "We can end this peacefully."

"Do you threaten me, Sir?" hissed Elwing.

His arms dropped to his sides and hung his head.  He turned his back on them and returned to his horse.  "Alas, my family seldom wastes time with threats," he said dejectedly over his shoulder.  He lightly mounted his steed and trotted over to them.  He motioned towards Elrond, "He is a fine boy.  It would be a shame if he were to suffer because of his mother's foolish pride."  He inclined his head to Elrond and said, "Namarië Elrond, Eärendilion."  With that, his mount sprang into a gallop and he was gone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N:

*Just a little bit of self-indulgence on my part. Amras' name comes from the elvish for "Russet top" so I don't see why the other brothers couldn't have reddish hair too. Makes a change from dark and blonde anyway.  It might be considered unlikely for one of the Sons to actually come to Elwing in person but I thought it would be cool for Elrond and 'ooh, let's see if you can guess who that was' to have a little interaction. ;)

 'Namarië Elrond, Eärendilion' = Farewell Elrond, son of Eärendil.