Now that Aurief had been sorted out and he had had a very pleasant two day sleep, Elrond felt rested enough to tackle his next problem.

"King Thranduil," Elrond called, smoothly coming up behind the elf and smiling as the blond gave a sharp start at being so disturbed. It might be an elfling's trick, but Elrond only just resisted the urge to laugh at Thranduil's annoyed look. "I would like a word with you."

Thranduil looked suspicious but agreed composedly, following the quick tread to Elrond's study, taking a seat as the half-elf shut and locked the door. A blond brow rose at the sight and at the small smile that the Lord of Imladris then proceeded to level at him.

"Your Majesty, I'm not sure if you are aware, but Lord Erestor has been very distracted as of late," Elrond began, walking to his desk and picking up a sheet of parchment, "This is a letter to the Steward of Gondor proposing a possible exchange of information concerning the activities of orcs and other creatures of darkness that dwell so close to Mordor. No, do not look so bored; the letter itself is fine. Or it would be, if Erestor would refrain from asking courteously after the health of the Steward's long dead wife and if he had not suggested- and I quote- 'a mutual well-spring of desire' between Gondor and Imladris."

To his credit, Thranduil did not laugh. He smiled, bit his lip, and felt his eyes water with the effort, but he did not laugh. "A- a mutual well-spring of desire?"

"It was meant to be 'a mutual sharing of awareness', but I believe his mind may have wandered. Do you, perhaps, know what is pulling his mind from his work?"

Suddenly the King of Mirkwood realized what his son meant when he said that the Lord of Imladris laughed with his eyes. The grey eyes turned to him were glittering with humour, steadily surveying him as if perfectly content to share the joke with everyone or no one as the case may be. "I have no knowledge of the thoughts of another," came the evasive answer.

Elrond perched on the edge of his desk and settled comfortably. "I would not expect you to," he agreed tranquilly, "But I have observed a blossoming friendship between the two of you. Naturally I wondered if he might have confided in you? I ask out of concern, you understand; we are old friends and I would not like to see him troubled."

"My Lord, if you have such grave concerns for his well-being, why come to me? Why not ask him?" Thranduil suggested maliciously. He knew why Elrond would not ask Erestor, but he was damned if the Peredhil was going to lecture him on conduct as if he were a provincial idiot.

A dark brow quirked charmingly. "And you believe he will talk to me before he is ready?" Elrond sighed, "Then you are simply being optimistic about Erestor's secrecy. He does not, you see, like being interfered with."

"I'm afraid I do not see."

Elrond nodded quickly and stood, walking to a chair to sit like a civilized elf in civilized company. "Erestor is a very secretive elf. He will not dissuade me from asking him a personal question, but he is exceedingly good at giving or withholding vital information. Normally he would talk with me if he were troubled- I believe he knows that- but there might be an instance in which he feels some... embarrassment or reluctance. Or, knowing Erestor, he is probably trying to hide from the issue and has put it so far out of his head that he does not even realize he is troubled."

That, the king had to agree, sounded very much like Erestor. "He does tend to be reserved, does he not?"

"He does," Elrond remarked fervently, "Getting him to speak his mind on personal matters is like trying to pull a diseased tooth- very painful and very hard! He simply ignores them, and so does not always realize that he is less happy than he ought to be. No," Elrond continued, looking with innocence to his hands, "what he requires is someone in his life who will not let him do that."

Thranduil's lips twitched, intrigued and amused by this conversation with the Elf Lord. He had no love for him- and would not have minded him disappearing for all time- but the half elf did at least have a sense of humour. And what was more: Elrond seemed to be giving him his blessing to pursue his Chief Adviser. Not that the blessing was needed; Thranduil had eagerly done so since his arrival. "Lord Elrond, what is the point of all this?"

"Are we speaking plainly?" Elrond queried.

"Well, your vague hints are not quite helpful. Plain speaking would be preferable."

Elrond smirked gently and inclined his head in meek agreement. "My apologies; I was deceived about your stance on the way a conversation must be had. I suppose it comes from all those political talks where I could swear I was coerced with double-meaning words into an agreement I would not normally have entertained." He did not let Thranduil so much as splutter before pressing on. "But that is not important. Your majesty, you have been very blatantly interested in Erestor for the three weeks of your arrival. It pains me to ask, but do you intend to bed him, or share a relationship with him?"

"I hardly think either option will involve you," Thranduil said archly.

"It will not, if I have a guarantee that Erestor's wits are not addled in the process. However, as you can see from the letter to Gondor, I do not. Whatever you do plan, let me ask you to be extremely careful of his emotions. He seems very capable and cold, but that is not a reflection of his true nature. In truth, he has the emotional stability of Legolas."

"Are you implying that my son is emotionally unstable?"

"He confesses to loving me," Elrond responded tartly, "Do not pretend you think that a particularly good choice on his part."

"I have never said it was," Thranduil agreed, which of course rubbed Elrond quite the wrong way. "I must admit I've even tried to talk him out of it."

"Thank you. I knew I could count on your support."

"We are indulging in plain speaking."

"Are we? It sounds more like war with words instead of swords."

"The weaponry can be arranged."

"I have just fought a dual two days ago! I do not intend to fight another for at least a week more! Though I might change my mind if you cannot keep a civil tongue in your head."

"Do you accuse me of incivility? You who presume to meddle in my affairs on no purpose except idle curiosity?"

The two were shouting by then, standing almost nose to nose, and neither of them heard the handle of the door rattle. They certainly did not hear the loud knock, so engrossed where they in their argument.

"I seek to protect a friend."

"You seek to interest yourself in things that are none of your concern."

"They are of my concern when the person involved is my Chief Adviser, who is currently making mistakes that might result in someone declaring war on my kingdom because he cannot think straight."

"Oh, you need never bother with that- you can manage to start a war all by yourself. You Noldor always were uncouth."

"The Noldor, you say? You who cannot even form a battle plan that does not involve the deaths of hundreds?"

"That is irrelevant and an indecent assault on my family."

"It was meant to be!"

At which they both stared at each other, blushed and sat down. Elrond cleared his slightly hoarse throat and tried to think of a way to apologize without causing offence. Oh no, he definitely would want to start worrying about causing offence now that the damage had been done!

A loud bang sounded and the door flew open, smashed in by the shoulders of a Balrog Slayer and a Ranger, both of whom followed the door and stared wildly around for the dead bodies. All they got, though, were two Elven rulers who looked coldly and enquiringly at them and sat perfectly calm and collected in their chairs.

"We, uh, heard shouting," Aragorn excused, backing towards the door under the look his foster father directed his way.

"It was a small matter of contention," Thranduil said stiffly.

"Contention?" Glorfindel was not so easily put off as Aragorn and neither Elrond's nor Thranduil's death glares were enough to frighten someone who had literally fried to his death. "It sounded more like an army of squabbling orclings were invading Imladris. In fact, I think Erestor has already gone to sound the alarm."

"In that case, I shall go and stop him," Thranduil snapped, frigidly getting to his feet and sweeping out. Aragorn held the door open for him and examined the broken lock while he was at it.

"My Lord," he asked tentatively, "Is everything all right?"

Elrond looked up, startled out of his thoughts. "Pardon? Oh! Yes. Everything is fine. Ah, I would appreciate it if no one told Legolas about this little incident? It is bad enough that he knows his father does not like me without knowing that we are in the habit of shouting at each other."

"Yes, shouting is a bad habit of yours," Glorfindel murmured serenely, sitting down in Thranduil's place, "Of course, if you will stop pouting at me I would further add that Thranduil does much to provoke you."

"Thank you, mellon nin. Wherever would I be without your unconditional support," Elrond remarked, "Now if the both of you are quite finished trying to break my house down, I would appreciate being able to get my work done in peace. Do not worry about the door now; I'll take care of it. I'm sure you both have much work to do. Oh, and Glorfindel? Please check on Bronwe and ask Legolas if he can bring her to me this afternoon? I have not seen her all day! Yes, Estel, go do whatever you think is best too..."

Without quite knowing how, Aragorn and Glorfindel found themselves propelled through the door and the abused mechanism swung closed behind them, effectively cutting them off from the study and the half-elf muttering soothing platitudes before ejecting them forcibly. They stood there for a few minutes, contemplating the many peculiarities of life.

"So," Aragorn finally sighed, quite prepared to make the most of an aimless afternoon, "Do you think he'll forgive us for breaking down his door?"