A/N: Decided to take a break from revision and exams… and this idea popped into my head. Not very surprising, really, considering I've been knee-deep in schoolwork and exam timetables for two weeks; a load of fluff poured into one fic is exactly what I need! Please enjoy some Finiel cuteness, with a dash of Elrond. ;)

Metal

Eleniel: 15

Elrond smiled as he sat contentedly against a tree, open book in his lap while he watched his daughter spar with Glorfindel in front of him.

"One, two, three," the balrog-slayer counted as Eleniel brought up her sword and metal hit metal. He heaved a sigh as he swiftly caught the elleth in his grip, looking down into her blue eyes with one elegant eyebrow raised. "Stop leaving yourself so open. Whoever you are fighting will use that to their advantage, as I have just done. Understand?"

The Peredhel nodded, and she was let go. Sighing loudly, she bent down to pick up her sword where she had dropped it, a startled yelp escaping her lips as she was pushed over. She fell forward onto her stomach and winced as she made impact with the grassy floor.

"What was that for?" she asked irately, rolling onto her back, pushing hair out of her face and glaring up at the tall elf who stood over her.

"Stop acting like an elfling," the warrior told her with a grin. "You are supposed to enjoy training. Wipe that look off your face and lighten up."

Eleniel huffed. No. She most definitely would not lighten up! Maybe she would have had that idiot elf not shoved her onto the floor!

She rolled onto her stomach again and grabbed the hilt of her sword, heaving herself up onto her feet and turning to face the blond.

"You are still glaring," Elrond pointed out from where he was sat, a small smile on his face.

"I know," Eleniel told him, jaw clenched. Her eyes flicked back to Glorfindel, who rose an eyebrow again at her obvious moodiness. He knew it was because her father was here and she wanted to show him everything she had learnt these past few months of training, and him defeating her in every match so far was something that she thought made her look weak… but, seriously, that girl was starting to make him feel dim.

Eleniel lifted her sword as Glorfindel rose his. The balrog-slayer took a step forward, and she brought the weapon higher, squeaking when the warrior lunged forward and poked her above her ribs. "What did I say about leaving yourself so open?" he asked, tone and expression completely serious but a hint of mischief playing in his azure eyes.

Eleniel lifted her sword again, careful to leave the rest of her body protected, and the two sparred. She thought she was doing quite well and couldn't help but smile in the direction of her father as she delivered quite a powerful blow to Glorfindel.

Another poke.

Another squeak.

The elleth glared at the balrog-slayer, who, probably for the tenth time that day, rose an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. "Again," he ordered.

The sparring continued, and Glorfindel got in a few more pokes until he and Elrond were openly grinning. Eleniel, on the other hand, was slowly starting to get irritated. She was so afraid of even lifting her sword now in case he poked her again!

The two rose their weapons, and the match continued, the elleth's eyes never leaving the balrog-slayer's hands, which were grasped tightly around his sword's hilt. She was so fixed on them that she had absolutely no idea how he'd managed to poke her stomach. But he had. And the spark of irritation in her eyes flared into a raging fire.

Screaming, Eleniel dropped her sword and flew straight at Glorfindel, who threw his weapon to the ground and caught her easily in his arms, spinning her around and pinning her against his chest. He carefully lowered himself to sit beside Elrond on the grass. "Calmed down yet?" he asked, the grin on his face evident in his voice.

"You are insufferable!" Eleniel yelled angrily, trying to pry the balrog-slayer's arms away from her. She turned her head as she heard a deep chuckle, and found her father gazing at her with a smile on his face.

"You are very endearing when you're in a bad mood, my little one," the elf lord said with a laugh, and Eleniel huffed, crossing her arms over Glorfindel's on her chest and narrowing her eyes at the sky.

What she didn't expect, however, was for a sharp poke to land on her stomach. Squealing, the young peredhel moved her hands over her belly and tilted her head back to glare at the balrog-slayer. "Stop it!"

"What did I say about leaving yourself open?" he asked, reaching down and tickling the girl's neck. She choked on her laughter, bringing her head down to rest on her chest.

"We are not training!"

"Oh, we are always training." He grinned and leaned down, blowing slightly on the tip of Eleniel's sensitive ear.

A giggle was forced from her and she brought her hand up to cover it. "Fin!" she growled halfheartedly.

"That's my name," the warrior agreed, wiggling his fingers against Eleniel's belly. "Valar, El! Stop leaving yourself so open!"

"Stop it!" the young elf laughed, before turning her head and throwing a pleading look in her father's direction. "Ada, tell him to stop!"

"Glorfindel, stop," Elrond said, smiling widely at his friend.

"I can't, I'm afraid," the balrog-slayer admitted, placing a well-aimed poke under Eleniel's armpit. "I have to teach your daughter how to properly protect herself while out on the battlefield."

The Lord of Imladris shrugged and turned back to his book. "Sorry, Eleniel," he apologised.

"We're not training! WE'RE NOT! STOOOOP!" the elleth screamed. "This isn't fair!" A huge smile adorned her lips as she successfully grabbed the balrog-slayer's hands and held onto them as tightly as she could.

"We left the boundaries of fair a long time ago, little warrior. Now, it is just a one-sided game of 'who can make Eleniel squeal the loudest'. Elrond, care for a go?"

Eleniel's eyes widened and she began to rapidly shake her head as Glorfindel's arms tightened around her.

Elrond smiled and placed his book on the grass. He chuckled. "It would be my pleasure."

Oh, how Eleniel loved her training sessions with her least-favourite elf in Middle-earth.