"Sit Erestor, and I will make tea"

Erestor shuffled over to the divan and sat, his gaze falling to his hands.

Mîrgaer put the kettle on to boil and disappeared behind a screen, emerging a few minutes later dressed in a comfortable house gown and bare feet.

"Talk to me." She said as she filled a pot and rummaged in various drawers.

Erestor looked up, there was a hint of fear in his eyes, "Your brother is very fair, I do not think I have noticed before."

Mîrgaer pursed her lips, still a little angry at her brother's actions. She finished laying out the tea and sat at Erestor's feet. "He is not so fair."

"I do not think that Fin agrees with you Mîr." Erestor stated softly.

Mîrgaer frowned, "How do you feel about Fin, Erestor?"

"I do not know…I do not know."

She sighed, "Erestor if you do not know how you feel now, then I begin to doubt that you feel the way I think you feel."

"How do you think I feel?"

Mîrgaer snorted in amusement, "Don't play the advisor with me! And answer the question!"

Erestor managed a small smile in reply to his friend's mock scowl. "I don't know."

"For Valinor's sake Erestor! I think you know exactly how you feel; I just think that you will not admit it, even to yourself"

Mîrgaer's gaze softened and she took one of her friend's hands in her own, "What did you think when you saw them together?"

"Mîr I cannot say," Erestor's eyes roamed the chamber, looking anywhere but at the elleth at his feet.

She sighed, resting her head in his lap, "You must face this, my dear friend, and there is no reason to fear these feelings."

He spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, "I thought my heart would break in two."

Mîrgaer moved to sit beside Erestor on the divan and wrapped her arms around him, "You love him?"

"In ways I think I should not. Mîr, he is like a brother to me."

"But he is not your brother, and you are free to love him in any way you chose."

"It seems clear to me that he would not be interested in an 'elfling' like me, though I ignore the fact, he is far older than me, your brother would likely suit him better, I want him to be happy."

"That is not true Erestor, you have many qualities to recommend you, and while I love my brother he is not suited to your Golden Lord, neither would make the other happy.

Shall I tell you a secret?"

Erestor raised his head from Mîrgaer's shoulder and looked at her quizzically.

She laughed softly at his eagerness, "I think he loves you in turn."

Erestor blinked at her, "You think so?"

Mîrgaer smiled fondly, "Now I do not know for sure, for I have not heard him say it, but I think there is hope there. Though I would offer one word of warning, your Glorfindel is a honourable elf, he may indeed love you in turn, but until you reach your majority he is honour bound to keep his distance."

Erestor grinned sleepily, and settled his head upon his friend's shoulder once more, "I can wait, but we will have to guard him fiercely."

Mîrgaer chuckled, "Aye, that we will."

She continued stroking his hair until all had been silent for a time. "Erestor?" she asked in a whisper. When no answer was forthcoming and she suspected he was deep in reverie she laid him down among the cushions on the divan and covered his sleeping form with the shawl she had been wearing that evening.

She was just finishing her tea when the door opened and her brother's head appeared. He took stock of the situation and motioned for her to join him in the corridor. After checking that her friend was sleeping soundly she left the room.

Mîr observed her brother curiously, "I did not think I would see you again this eve."

"Indeed. You were correct Mîr, he did not want me."

Torn between comforting the older elf and making a smug comment, she sat next to him on the bench and wrapped an arm loosely about his waist. "I am sorry, but I did try to warn you, I'm not such a fool you know."

Her companion chuckled, "you hide it well, little sister." He grinned at her teasingly when she hit him.

"Enough," he stated, "Nana and Ada are still in the hall but no doubt they will hear soon enough of your tryst by the lake and will come searching for you."

"What?" Mîrgaer stared at him in wide-eyed shock.

"You and Erestor where seen leaving the lake, and the marks upon your gown gave the impression of certain activities."

"I fell!"

He smiled, "I believe you little one, but impressions can be powerful and if Erestor is still in your chambers when they come looking for you, Ada is likely to gut him!"

He looked thoughtful, "What is between the two of you?"

Mîrgaer sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes, "Though many would say otherwise there is naught but friendship between Erestor and me."

"I cannot help but be relieved by that little one. Now, I think it is time we cleared up your mess. I will return your sleeping friend to his chambers before he is discovered and you will get yourself to bed."

Mîrgaer nodded and both siblings went about their appointed tasks.


Erestor stirred at the sensation of movement and some of the reverie fled from his eyes, he blinked up at the fair-haired elf carrying him in confusion, "why are you are not with Fin?" he asked sleepily.

The older elf smiled down at him and answered softly, "There is naught between Lord Glorfindel and me."

Erestor frowned, his eyes still glassy, "but I saw you."

"What you saw, little one was my desire, not his."

"I am glad." Erestor snuggled up to the older elf as said elf raised a brow at the elfling's blunt words, though he could not help smiling warmly just the same.


A loud rap on the door broke Glorfindel's train of thought, and he rose to open the door to his unexpected late night visitor. He breathed a sigh of relief to see that Erestor had been returned to him. The fair-haired elf smiled, "I shall not stay, but I found this in my sister's chamber and fearing for his safety thought to return him to you."

Erestor stirred again as he was placed into Glorfindel's arms, "He is more asleep than awake, I should warn you though, he saw us at the lake."

Glorfindel's eyes flashed in alarm, "Thank you for returning him, is Mîr well?"

"Aye she is fine, despite what the rumours may say, naught happened this evening, except the usual elfling activities, it seems she fell."

Glorfindel nodded once, and bowing the fair-haired elf made his retreat.


Bathed and changed, Glorfindel carried his sleepy charge into his room, and tucked him beneath the covers.

"Good night my slumbering friend"

"Fin?"

Glorfindel smiled fondly, "Aye."

"Do you think that one day you will kiss me like that?"

Though he was aware that Erestor could not know what he was saying, he felt his heart jump in delight and he smiled, his fingers tracing a lazy pattern on the elfling's cheek, he spoke softly. "I should like nothing more."

But Erestor had fallen deeper into reverie and did not hear his answer, Glorfindel sighed, "Soon, my beautiful one."