A/N: Since I'll be leaving on a camping trip for the next few weeks, I felt it was only fair to leave you with a new chapter.
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Elrond, Glorfindel, and Erestor were gathered in Rivendell's library. Glorfindel's leg-and-cast was propped up on a convenient chair. The wine was flowing freely, books and papers were scattered all over the tables, and seating charts were being drawn up.
Erestor snagged a vegetable and gestured furiously with it, dripping cream sauce all over his typically horrible outfit. Oddly, the cream stains improved the looks of the garish orange and bright pinks. "The second night after they arrive, we should have a banquet to welcome our guests from Lothlorien. Galadriel and Celeborn should be seated across the table from each other. Elrond, I'll need you to escort Celebrian."
Glorfindel glared icily at Erestor. The antipathy had become mutual, but since Elrond had said that he required both their helps, they attempted to keep it within reasonable bounds. Glorfindel used an over-elaborate and chilly courtesy. Erestor, predictably, was oblivious to the real intent of the courtesy.
Elrond groaned. "Celebrian?! Have you ever met Galadriel? If she's anything like her mother, this dinner will be a real nightmare." He warmed to his subject. "In fact, I'll bet that she'll have long, golden blond hair, beautiful features – and won't be able to stop telling me how much better done whatever-it-is-at-the-moment was in Lothlorien. Then, if she keeps complaining, Galadriel will join in the chorus, in addition to telling me that the Eldar will respect me more if I wait for them to come to me instead of running after them like a bloodhound on a scent. Celebrian'll expect all available males in Imladris to fall at her feet, blushing and stammering. I won't."
Glorfindel raised his hands in a gesture of appeasement. "My lord. I recommend that you keep an open mind. I met Celebrian and found her to be very pleasant." Elrond raised an eyebrow skeptically, but said nothing more. "My very dear chief advisor, do you suppose you might exert yourself to kindly pass me those so very excellently drawn seating charts of yours?"
"Thanks! Here they are. Lord Elrond, it's just for one evening. After, you can ignore her as much as you want. You can organize a hunting trip or something."
Elrond smiled wryly. Glorfindel scrutinized the chart and felt his eyes widen slowly in horror.
"Lord Erestor, do you suppose you might explain as to why you seated the Lord Celeborn next to that chief of the Naugrim?"
"Sure. So they can talk over trading concessions."
"You best of chief advisors! Do you seriously intend to seat Celebrimbor on the other side of Celeborn?"
"Sure. So the Naugrim and Celebrimbor can meet, understand what's going on, and show Celeborn how the mutual trade is of benefit to both. And I know that Galadriel loves jewelry, so Celeborn will get a chance to impress her when she's seated opposite himself."
Glorfindel privately admitted to himself that on a logical level, the seating plan was fairly brilliant. On the emotional level...
"My most wonderful and marvelous Erestor. Your superb tastes and wisdom are exceeded only by your incredible judgment of other being's character's."
"Thank you!"