At the brothers' talan.

Haldir's glower was one that rivaled even Elrond's, though when directed at his brothers its effect was usually rather lessened. Still, even mitigated, Orophin and Rúmil got the gist that their brother was not happy with them. Haldir immediately noticed when Erestor left with such poise that Glorfindel became silent and his expression slightly regretful.

"Excuse us for a moment, Master Glorfindel," Haldir said smoothly, gesturing sharply to his brothers to follow him. He did not bother with the ladder but simply leapt down to the forest floor.

"What were you two Elflings thinking?" Haldir hissed.

"Glorfindel started it!" Orophin protested, trying to keep his voice low.

"That is neither an excuse nor a reason, 'phin," Rúmil said ruefully. "You are correct, Hal', and i, for one, am sorry to Erestor. I did not realize he would take it so personally. You know how it is with us...."

"I know, but Erestor does not know. He likes peace and order and, mostly, decorum. As for Glorfindel, he is a lot more gregarious and he sometimes tries to pull Erestor out of his shell by force. You must understand that this has gone on for centuries between them. Glorfindel plays a fool in hopes that Erestor will catch on, but he never does and it has always ended up the same way, with Erestor walking away feeling hurt and angry and Glorfindel feeling penitent but not doing anything about it."

Up in the large flet Glorfindel sat on the floor, leaning back against a tree branch that the flet was built around. To all appearances, the Balrog-slayer had taken a great interest in studying his own hands. The reaction he got was not the reaction he wanted to get from Erestor, and yet he had to ask himself if he would ever learn.

In battle, there were very few who could match his skills or bravery or tactics. In the company of others, Glorfindel was the life of the party. But with Erestor, he had no idea how to act. He knew too well that deep down, there was merriment in Erestor, and it could be coaxed out, but he just could not stand his repetitiveness.

Why did everything have to be just so? What difference did it really make? Why couldn't Erestor just lighten up? Glorfindel thought he might know the answer to those questions. Erestor had never died. As far as Glorfindel found it, those who do not know death can not know life. As far as Glorfindel found it, Erestor definitely did not know life. Existence, maybe, but not real life.

For the rest of their stay, Glorfindel kept with the Lorien Three and Erestor hardly left Elrond's side. When the Chief Advisor wasn't with his Lord he remained in the pavilion. That was safest. Glorfindel, feeling guilty for his behavior on their first night in, came no where near the pavilion. He was starting to wonder if maybe he should just leave Erestor alone and ignore him as he seemed to with him. Maybe that was Erestor's way of telling him that he was not interested anymore. Glorfindel wondered why that thought made him want to be alone and yet made him want to apologize to Erestor all the more.

Through the week he had chosen to do neither, opting instead to drown his sorrows with the brothers and enjoy himself just to spite Erestor's stubbornness. However, the night before they all departed for Rohan, all three brothers were busy getting ready for the journey and Glorfindel decided to head off for a night's walk in the wood. He was not aware that he was wandering directly into Galadriel's garden.

A voice caused the Balrog-slayer to turn suddenly. "I have been awaiting you, Glorfindel, servant of the Vala Lord Námo." It was a voice filled with much wisdom and age but ageless.

Glorfindel inclined his head in respect. "My lady...," he said softly.

"Your heart weighs heavy, Balrog-slayer, even in these new days," she said and he knew there would be nothing he could hide from her. He could hide nothing from Elrond either, but it was very different not hiding from one's own close friend. "Come with me," she beckoned, sounding numinous.

She led Glorfindel to her enchanted mirror and bid him to look, if he truly wished to. Thinking it could do no harm, Glorfindel accepted the invitation. He was most certainly not prepared for what he saw. First came an image altogether strange to him. Someone who looked very much like Erestor was uncontrolled, nay, hysterically in tears. The sight was so chillingly mournful that Glorfindel started to turn away in disbelief. Erestor did not cry, ever. Glorfindel had come to doubt that he had the ability to feel such sadness, or happiness for that matter.

Just as he was looking away another image caught his eye, this more baffling than upsetting. He and Erestor stood locked in a fight, swords at each other's throats, in someone's study. Was it Erestor's study? No, far too unorganized. This place was lofty, but quite unfamiliar. Strangely enough

Then the strangest image of all appeared before him. There were the two of them, sitting together, smiling and laughing, looking almost... in love? And the really creepy part... Erestor was holding a baby!

Glorfindel looked at Galadriel in pure puzzlement. Her expression was as impassive as Erestor's usually was. How infuriating! "My lady... why was Erestor-"

"There can be no explanation for what is shown in the Mirror. Be careful that you use its information wisely," Galadriel said significantly before she turned and left Glorfindel wondering.

Maybe he would ask Erestor on the road tomorrow, he thought. If that obdurate, rude Noldo didn't completely ignore his presence again. He just couldn't shake those images from his mind. What could have possibly made Erestor so hysterical? How did they come to be literally at each other's throats (that did not have such difficulty imagining, but Erestor doing so well against him was another matter)? And him and Erestor, looking besotted, holding a baby?

That last thought almost made him violently ill.

---

Those who have read Chaos Theory probably know what is up with the baby, or then again... do you?

Haldir's Heart & Soul: Erestor? Throw caution to the wind? That'll be the day!

In answer to uial and Eirias: I try to update every day or two days. Pretty regularly in any event.

Thanks to all reviewers! You have made me so happy!