Disclaimer: Tolkien owns The Lord of the Rings I do not. Questions?

A/N This chapter is dedicated to Luna-stella. The naked Glorfindel was especially for her. However, anyone else is welcome to enjoy him as well.

"Glorfindel, are you sure that this is a good idea?"

"Of course it is."

"That means of course, that it is a rather foolish one."

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Because all of your good ideas seem to have this amazing ability to backfire."

"I resent that."

"It is true."

"Nay mellon nin, if it was true, then all of our warriors would be dead by now."

"What if I said that you are a very capable general and a not so capable elf in other areas when good ideas are needed?"

"I resent that as well."

"Even if it is true?"

"But it is not."

"Yes it is."

"No, it's not"

"Yes."

"No"

"Ye- What is it Elladan?"

"Er'story, can we go now?" The elfling asked, tugging at Erestor's tunic. His brother looked on with pleading eyes, and Erestor sighed.

"Yes Er'story, let's go." Glorfindel agreed

"Erestor sent him a glare that Glorfindel returned with a smile. "I really don't think this is the best idea..." The other three paid no heed, and continued walking down the path to the river.

"Come, advisor! What could really go wrong?" Glorfindel called to him, merrily swinging a towel around his shoulders as he dodged Elrohir, who seemed bent on tackling him.

What could go wrong? Glorfindel was certainly the most optimistic elf he had ever met, that was for sure. We're taking the most troublesome pair of elflings on arda into the river and he wonders what can go wrong? Ai Elbereth... I don't even want to think about what could happen. Muttering to himself -- he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, it was a habit that had grown worse with time -- he walked a little faster in order to catch up with the twins and Glorfindel.

It was a fairly beautiful day, the birds were singing and the sun was beating down upon Imladris. This was why Glorfindel had decided that teaching Elladan and Elrohir to swim had been a good idea. Erestor had not agreed.

It didn't really make much of a difference.

"Erestor, I think that the twins should have a different sort of lesson today." Glorfindel had told him that morning.

Erestor barely glanced up from his paperwork. This proved his undoing. "Really?"

"Yes, something that won't fill their heads with dusty facts. It's a beautiful day. Let's take them outside."

Erestor was, at that time, immersed in a fascinating piece of literature that told of the financial history of Eregion. He didn't look up at all that time, and mumbled something about asking Elrond.

So Glorfindel went to ask Elrond. He was also engaged in reading, although it wasn't as...interesting as what Erestor was studying. He seemed far less worried about abandoning it, and asked Glorfindel what he had in mind. Glorfindel told him.

In Lothlorien, a scout named Orophin cocked his head in puzzlement as he heard the faint echoings of the words 'are you insane?' Coming from the generally northern direction. He wondered about it for a moment before shaking his head and turning back to his patrol.

Back in Imladris, Glorfindel was trying to convince Lord Elrond that teaching his sons to swim was not that stupid of an idea. "My lord, they must learn eventually!"

"They're toddlers, Glorfindel. Surely it can wait a few years!"

"But it's an absolutely perfect day!"

"Then take them to the gardens and teach them something there!"

"Like sword fighting?"

"NO!"

"Then how about archery?"

"Not that either! I still get nightmares about when Legolas was learning to fire an arrow, and he shot me in the rear when I was visiting Mirkwood."

"Knives?"

"Glorfindel! Not only are they young elflings, they are both very active ones. I fear for the sanity of the one who tries to teach them both to learn warcraft."

"What if someone else was there too?"

"And who would you convince to go?"

"Erestor?"

"Erestor is not a warrior."

"He knows how to swim."

"Are we back to that subject again?"

"Why, I do believe we are, mellon nin."

"Do not take that tone with me, Glorfindel."

"Apologies, my lord Elrond, but I really think you are worrying too much."

Elrond sighed, and looked toward the window. The Bruinen was barely visible, and looked no calmer than usual. He glanced at his longtime friend. "I still do not see how this cannot end in disaster."

Glorfindel smiled, he could see Elrond was beginning to weaken. "You have little faith, Elrond. The twins will be safe, and we will have a grand time teaching them."

"I presume 'we' is similar to 'Erestor and I'. Am I correct?"

"Of course, mellon nin. Do I have your permission to withdraw them from their lessons, and teach them to swim?"

"As long as there are the same amount of teachers as elflings, I suppose that teaching them to swim when they are young is perhaps a good idea. Tell my sons of your plans, and then tell Erestor."

"What a clever idea to tell Erestor last, then he will not be able to object."

"It was meant to be so, but please be careful and try not to let harm come to my sons."

"Of course, mellon nin." Glorfindel left the study, and went to inform the twins and then... Erestor.

A knock on the door of his study alerted him to Glorfindel's approach. He closed his book with regret. The chapter he had been reading (labeled: Why sailing west is bad for the elvish economy on middle earth) had been full of all sorts of information. He was loath to put it down. "Come in."

Glorfindel entered, dressed in the shortest pair of leggings Erestor had ever seen, and carrying a towel. He was trailing two very excited identical elflings who were also dragging towels. He stopped at Erestor's desk. "Mellon nin, are you ready?"

"For what?" Erestor asked, dreading the answer.

"Why, for the swimming lessons of course!"

"Swimming.... lessons?"

"Yes, we are going to teach Elladan and Elrohir how to swim today!"

"I.... Wait, what?"

"Swimming lessons, are needed for elflings and warriors, to make sure of safety if escape by water is necessary."

"I know that Glorfindel!" Erestor snapped, "but it would have been useful if you had informed me of your... plans earlier in the day!" so I could reject them, he thought, but he wasn't going to say that with the twins around.

"Let's go!" Elrohir urged his reluctant tutor.

Erestor glared at Glorfindel, swearing to get him later for putting him in this situation and said, "Of course, Little one. Let me go to my rooms and change."

Thus were Erestor's plans for the day completely ruined.

Erestor's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of squealing elflings and two splashes. Fearing that someone had already managed to drown themselves, he picked up his pace and soon approached the river.

Eyeing the scene before him, Erestor shook his head. How Glorfindel was considered a competent baby-sitter, he would never understand. Sighing, he stripped himself of shirt, and laid it upon the grass. Then he waded into the water and attempted to pry Elladan off of Glorfindel.

"No, Er'story!"

"Elladan, you are choking him. Just lay back like Elrohir is doing, you will not sink. I will hold you up, as Glorfindel is doing to your brother.

Five minutes later, a gasping Glorfindel was free of Elladan's clutches and said elfling was floating in the water.

The lessons continued, while a young minstrel named Lindir wandered by. He had been attracted by the curious sounds coming from the river. As he drew closer, he heard strange snatches of conversation.

"No splashing, Elladan!"

"Erestor, to your left!"

"The mud needs to stay on the riverbank! You have need not use it as an exfoliate!"

"You're... ack, choking me!"

"Er'story... Ride?"

"Elrohir, I cannot swim you across the river five times in a row without rest, ask Glorfindel to do it."

"What did I say about the mud, Elladan?"

"Throwing rocks is a bad idea!"

"Glorfindel! Duck!"

As well as other similar phrases. He was just about to pass the trees and get a full view of the river, when two wet and muddy elflings ran past him. Lindir looked after them in shock, as two dripping, dirty and seemingly insane elves that he immediately recognized as Lord Elrond's most trusted advisors chased after the pair. They were shrieking for the elflings to stop and threatening baths and lack of dessert.

Not that it did any good, of course.

As Lindir was busy trying to understand what had occurred, Elladan and Elrohir ran up the path, and into The Last Homely House. Their muddy footprints left a clear trail for Glorfindel and Erestor to follow, and as they ran, Glorfindel spoke. "Elrond is going to kill us!"

"No," Erestor gasped. "I am going to have that honor, this is all your fault."

"How is it all my fault?"

"You were the one who suggested building mud and sand castles, as well as the one who thought up the whole plan for swimming lessons!"

"That does not matter!"

They were so preoccupied with their bickering, that they didn't even notice when the footprints stopped. They stepped through the doorway, without noticing to whom it belonged, and immediately spied the troublesome pair.

Then, they noticed Lord Elrond.

"Explain," he said, in a tone that booked no arguments. "Why my sons are running around Imladris in naught but their skin, and why my study is covered in mud from the river."

Glorfindel was suddenly very aware of his own lack of clothing, and merely bowed his head.

Erestor glanced at him in exasperation before speaking. "We were building castles in the mud, my lord and thought to spare their clothing from being ruined."

Elrond frowned, "I see."

"Then they escaped, and we chased after them. We didn't have time to grab the clothing and we were worried for their safety and...."

"Glorfindel, stop babbling." Elrond said firmly. "And-"

There was a knock at the door, and an elleth entered. She looked at the two elf lords in shock, and almost dropped the books she was carrying. Hastily, she placed them on Elrond's desk, and practically ran out of the room.

"-And for Elbereth's sake, cover yourself." He finished.

"Of course, Elrond." Erestor said smoothly

"There are some spare robes in the adjoining room. They are mine, and are to be returned once they have been washed and free of the mud you currently wear."

"Thank you, Elrond."

As they turned to leave, Elrond said suddenly. "And be back soon, for you two will be bathing the twins as well."

They gaped at him, and he smiled. "Have a wonderful bath."

Once outside the study and clothed in robes, Erestor leaned over to Glorfindel, and whispered, "This is all your fault."

"I still fail to see your point."

"I told you that your ideas always backfire!"

"And how did this backfire?"

"How did this backfire?" And the lecture began

Some things, Glorfindel thought despairingly, never change.

A/N: Wow, that was long! As I said in my bio, this fic will be updated randomly whenever the muses bite me. Hoped you reviewers all enjoyed this chapter! And thanks to you guys for reviewing!