Firien Wood.
On the final stage of the ride to Gondor, the riding formation was indeed amended. Elladan and Elrohir rode at the fore as twin vanguards. Following them were a silent Glorfindel and Erestor, both highly annoyed that formation had changed and yet they were stuck together. Next came the Rivendell Elves, the Lord and Lady of Lorien and their people, and Elrond and Arwen last.
Having questioned Elrond numerous as to precisely why he and Glorfindel were required to ride side by side, the Elf-lord often told his advisor that he needed them both nearby at all times and gave him some manner of rhetoric about having two right hands. Erestor now questioned again, since obviously Elrond did not need them at hand any longer, and Elrond's excuse was that they were needed to act as representatives with his sons. Erestor was starting to wonder just what Elrond was up to.
One night as they camped at the further edge of the Firien Wood, not far from the beacon of Halifirien, Haldir and his brothers volunteered to go collect firewood for the camp after they watched Glorfindel walk off into the woods, presumably to escape Erestor. Haldir, furitvely threw a wink toward toward the twins back in their camp as they entered the woods.
The Lorien Three conversed normally while picking up kindling here and there until Rúmil's Elven eyes spotted Glorfindel through a thicket. Their conversation then turned abruptly.
"What, my brother," Rúmil began to say to Haldir, his voice needlessly almost raised, "had you started to tell me this morning of Master Erestor?"
Glorfindel obviously could not help overhearing this and his head turned involuntarily, listening closer.
"Ah! I had forgotten to finish that!" Haldir said, catching Rúmil's clue. "Where did i leave off?"
"You were telling us that he was quite in love, but you did not say with whom," Orophin chimed in.
Haldir grinned from ear to ear, hoping their ruse worked. "Why! None other than the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower, Glorfindel himself," Haldir declared.
"It can not be, brother!" Rúmil exclaimed.
"Ai, it be, brother," Haldir said seriously.
"So strange," Orophin said, sounding contemplative, "that he should love him so, yet at every opportunity he rebukes him."
"I do agree!" Haldir said. "I, myself, have no ability to grasp the thought of it, but as i swear on the light of Earendil, it is truth."
"One would have reason to think that Erestor was beyond the range of such affection!" Rúmil said, still managing to sound shocked.
Haldir was having difficulty concealing his laughter, but he managed. "Aye, but Lord Elrond has told me how his counselor keeps awake long into the night, writing there in his study chamber, writing words of passion to leave for Glorfindel. Then he throws the parchment on the fire, vowing that never would he admit such things to the seneschal of Imladris."
The Three finished with their gossip, sufficiently satisfied that Glorfindel had overheard plenty, and headed back to the camp with more firewood than was necessary.
---
Catching Haldir's wink, Elladan leaned forward toward his father and brother and spoke in a hushed voice, but clearly enough for Erestor to overhear as he sat against the bole of a tree reading. "Adar, what is it i hear about Lord Glorfindel finding a love?"
"So it seems, ion-nín," Elrond said, fighting the smile from his features.
"Well, who is the lucky Elf? Anyone we know?" Elrohir asked curiously.
"Aye," Elrond said patiently, noting out of the corner of his eye than Erestor, though still staring at the page before him, was obviously no longer reading.
"Adar! Who?" Elladan insisted impatiently.
"Sidh, ion-nín," Elrond said, lowering his voice to barely a whisper. "It is one in this very camp. Indeed, one quite close."
"Ah, and you can not say so plainly?" Elrohir said, as if understanding.
Elrond nodded. "I fear to say, more for Glorfindel's sake than any. He is madly in love, aye, and has begged me several times that i might... put in a good word, as old Bilbo often likes to say. But i have counseled Glorfindel that it would be wiser of him to let this certain Elf know his heart with his own words. Yet, you know well how stubborn Glorfindel is. He refuses and in fact has yet to drop his ludicrous teasing games with... said certain Elf. The trouble is, i believe that Glorfindel's hesitancy to admit his feelings is simply that he fears to have them flouted."
"Adar..." Elladan said, feigning to catch on, "do you refer to Lord Eres-"
"Dinen, Elladan!" Elrond cautioned.
"Ah! So it is!" the twins said in unison.
"But why does he refuse him so? How many Elves would give their ear-points for just a smile from Glorfindel, the famed hero of Gondolin?" Elrohir asked.
"Erestor is not an open book, none can speak for his motives. He is a good advisor to me, and just as surely is Glorfindel a good seneschal. They are both wise and i trust them both immensely. They would truly be a perfect match, if only Erestor would see it!" Elrond lamented.
"There is nary a prouder Elf in all of Arda than your advisor, adar. And yet i should think that even he would see Glorfindel's nobility and bravery, without mention of his carved warrior features. How can he not?" Elladan questioned.
"Ai, brother," Elrohir said, "i think that Erestor's sharp-wit precludes him from coming so near a quality of love such as Glorfindel might have to offer. It is a tragedy that his wisdom turns to scorn because it is so great and so rarely matched. What a pity he should be so cold!"
Elrond shook his head, looking melodramatic. "Come, my sons, let us not think on such sad matters. Those two shall just go on as ever, unless i miss my guess. Let us see to supper, shall we not?"
The next day on the ride Glorfindel and Erestor kept sneaking odd glances at each other, whilst the twins kept sneaking smirks at each other.
---
Sidh - Peace
Dinen - Quiet
My thanks to Haldir's Heart & Soul for providing the inspiration for this chapter. There i was wondering what in all of Arda our twins were going to come up with, i read your review, and it hit me! The Much Ado About Nothing technique. Once again, Billy Wigglestick influences my fics.