The three elves sat in the corner of the tavern that had become the centre of operations in the city, each had a goblet of wine in their hands, and they looked to be in low spirits so the others present gave them a wide berth.

"I should not be here." Dînnen stated morosely.

Glorfindel raised his head, "We should none of us be here."

"This is typical of my sister's ill timing."

Dînnen looked sharply at their fair haired companion as Glorfindel laughed. "I do not think you can blame the attack on Arvernien on Mîr! But perhaps she will not give birth until we have returned?"

"I can only hope, but our elfling is already late, and my heart tells me that my absence is ill timed." Dînnen shook his head absently. "I should be there."

"Ada will look after her, you should not worry."

"Aye I know," Dînnen said with a sigh as he leant back in his chair. "You seem uncharacteristically sullen today My Lord."

Glorfindel looked up from the ring he had been twisting about his finger. "Today is the day of Erestor's," he shook his head, "I mean Elurín's majority, I have imagined this day many times over the years but never once did I imagine I would be spending it an Arvernien tavern with the two of you."

A silver haired Elf Lord standing at the bar broke off his conversation with another elf to look towards the table, and taking his drink moved to sit at the neighbouring table.

Glorfindel sighed, "I don't mean to sound ungrateful, your friendship means much to me."

"Aye we know that," their fair haired companion stated with a smile. "Will you not talk to us?"

"How could it be that I did not know? Am I so devoid of wits? To not know that the elf I have shared chambers with for some twenty five years is an Elven Prince!"

"Aye, I agree it is surprising but I cannot see that it makes any difference."

Dînnen nodded, "For once I agree with our friend here, his name is changed but he remains the same elf."

"Does he?" Glorfindel questioned, "To lie about something so fundamental, what is to say he has not deceived us in other matters?"

"Do you truly believe that he has My Lord? I do not, for to hide oneself to such a degree is no easy task, rather I think that his deception came early on, when he felt he had no choice."

"His deception was one of perceived necessity not one of malice, that should not be forgotten," the fair haired elf added.

Glorfindel sighed, "Of course you are right, but it still hurts to be so deceived."

"Do you love him?" Dînnen asked, "It seems to me that if you do love him as you say, court him, find out if you do indeed know him, re-forge the love that you have, without these lies between you. I think you should give your love a chance."

"As do I."

Glorfindel grinned, "I did not think that Elurín would find champions in the two of you!"

The two elves looked at each other and seemingly agreed, Dînnen spoke "We are not Elurín's champions but yours; we would not see you forsake that which makes you whole."

Glorfindel nodded once, "Aye, I daresay your advice is wise, in any case I love him still, this much I know. Elurín and I shall talk upon our return on the morrow and we shall see what comes of it."

The fair haired elf began whistling a tune used often during bonding ceremonies and Dînnen fought hard to resist the urge to laugh. Glorfindel rolled his eyes and threw a cloth at the jovial elf as he rose.

"Impudent underling! Next time I shall throw a dagger!" Far from having the intended intimidating effect, both elves collapsed in hysterics and Glorfindel could not help but smile at their mirth.

"Come, we have duties to attend to." Vacating the table, Glorfindel shooed his companions towards the door.

"Lord Glorfindel, a word."

The golden Lord spun about at the sound of his name and approached the table where the Silver haired Elf Lord sat.

"Lord Celeborn?" Glorfindel bowed.

"Sit." The tone of his voice brokered no argument and Glorfindel sat with a hand gesture to his friends to continue without him.

"Tell me what you know of Elurín Diorion?"

-

Gil-Galad breathed a soft sigh of relief as he climbed the last few steps of the west tower. Erestor had been conspicuous by his absence for most of the day and the High King feared the elf had fallen into despair, though he knew that Erestor was far from healed Gil-Galad was confident that now the younger elf had begun to talk of his life and his memories that the emotional wounds that had been reopened would mend, but that did not mean that he was beyond worrying, especially on this day.

He moved forward, wondering why Erestor had chosen such an isolated and solitary place to spend the afternoon of his majority. The young elf was seated upon a low bench and seemed lost to the world.

"Erestor?"

Startled from his thoughts, the younger elf looked up and smiled slightly at the High King.

"May I join you?"

"Of course, My Lord"

Gil-Galad moved to sit next to him, before fixing him with concerned eyes, "Are you well Erestor?"

The younger elf shrugged, "Well enough, My Lord."

Gil-Galad sighed, "You are not I know, and this is not the day that I would have chosen for you, if it had been within my power. I am sorry."

"My day has not gone ill." Erestor stated lightly and Gil-Galad frowned at the apparent light statement.

"I regret now that I did not withhold the news from Arvernien from you for just a few days." He muttered awkwardly.

"Do not feel badly, My Lord, I said goodbye to my Sister many years ago and I never truly expected to see her again. And I am heartened to know that Fin is well." Erestor's eyes dropped to his hands, wandering into his own thoughts for a moment.

Gil-Galad frowned, worried by Erestor's seemingly nonchalant attitude to Elwing's strange fate, though not at all surprised that he was glad to hear that Glorfindel was well. Deciding to let disturbing matters rest for the day he asked lightly "I suppose it would do no good to say once again that it is no longer necessary for you to call me by any title?"

Erestor smiled slightly raising his head to look at Gil-Galad, "I don't suppose so, My Lord."

Gil-Galad chuckled at the typically Erestor answer and replied teasingly, "Very well, My Lord." His brooding companion gave no answer to that and The High King frowned in response. "So, why have you chosen this place to rest?" Gil-Galad surveyed their rather nondescript location. The walls were too high at the top of the towers to afford a view unless standing and seated as they were upon the bench seemed claustrophobic to him.

Erestor's mind supplied images of a curtain of golden hair and the sensations of being soundly kissed and he blushed. "This place reminds me of Fin."

Gil-Galad raised a brow in silent question, but it was clear that Erestor intended to say no more.

"I have sought you out, to invite you to join My Lords and me for the evening meal, I know it will not be the grand feast that was planned but you would be most welcome nonetheless."

Erestor couldn't help but be relieved that there would not be a feast in his honour and considered Gil-Galad's words. He had never been allowed to attend such meals, being thought too young for the conversations that were had at them, and knew that such an invitation was the High King's way of saying that he was an elfling no longer.

He smiled gratefully, "Thank you my Lord, but I regret I must decline."

Gil-Galad raised a brow in question.

"I have agreed to spend the evening with Mîr and the baby; she misses those in Arvernien as much as me. I'm sorry I did not think to ask you first."

"That is fine, Erestor; I simply do not want to see you spending this evening alone." He paused, "You can tell Mîrgaer to expect her husband home mid morning tomorrow."

The younger elf's eyes snapped up to meet the High King's in question causing Gil-Galad to chuckle at his eagerness, "Aye, I have just heard the news, the fleet returns tomorrow."