I neither created, nor own Middle Earth, Imladris, the Misty Mountains, Elrond, Elladan, Elrohir, Erestor, Estel/Aragorn, Lindir, nor Glorfindel. Tolkien did, and I am eternally grateful. I did create Mellolaes, Cuilbron, Altithen, Glilenn, Idhrenohtar, and Rochellon, however.

This piece is for entertainment purposes only. So please read and be entertained.

Hey guys, I know I took a little longer than usual to post this one. Once you notice it's length ,I hope you'll forgive me and still have time to read it.

Mellolaes trotted her wooden horse with the Elladan figurine atop it across the floor and toward the clay troll. "Meet my blade foul fiend!"

"I'll get him with mine first!" Estel swept the wooden horse with the Elrohir figurine at the troll.

Mellolaes smiled. Then she frowned and turned. As she did, Lord Elrond appeared in the doorway. He made no sound, but the notes Mellolaes felt piercing her soul in the Song screamed from his eyes. When he did speak, his tone of voice was mild and even.

"Mellolaes. I would like a word alone with my son. And I need you to inform Erestor, Lindir, Cuilbron, Glorfindel, Idhrenohtar, and Rochellon I must see them in my office as soon as they can arrive there. Send Glilenn to watch Estel as well. For, I also have need of your presence during that meeting."

Mellolaes kept his gaze as he spoke and when she gave her wavering reply. "Alriiight."

She rose to her feet and then remembered to glance at Estel. The merriment in his face was gone. He was pale, wide-eyed, and pursed-lipped. Mellolaes reached out and brushed back his hair. Her voice was a coo. "I'll be back soon, Estel. Feel no alarm."

"Okay." His eyes pleaded with her almost like his ada's did. Mellolaes turned from him with difficulty and strode stiffly toward the door. Elrond stepped inside and then out of her path. He closed the door behind her and walked to Estel. He knelt down beside the boy and spoke in low, soft words.

. . .

Mellolaes hurried down the steps lifting her skirt with her hands. Now was not the time to trip. At the bottom of the stairs, she poked her head into Erestor's office. The steward was bent over his desk. Mellolaes' voice shattered the stillness there. "Erestor. Elrond needs to see you. Now!"

Erestor's body twisted to face her. He frowned. "I was not aware of anything scheduled." He then sat straighter and pierced the elleth with his gaze. "This is not the first step in a greater scheme of yours is it, Mellolaes?"

The elleth scowled. Her hands became fists at her sides. Her face flushed red. She stomped. "I have no time for this Erestor! I need to gather Glorfindel, Glilenn, Cuilbron, Idhrenohtar, Rochellon, and Lindir as well! Lord Elrond needs us!"

She turned from the door and headed for the main entrance to the house itself. Erestor raised his eyebrows and followed her. As long as he didn't go "up" the stairs toward his lord's office, he should not fall into any trap. If the elleth did as she said, though, her story might have merit.

She did indeed call out for the head door-elf. "Lindir! Lindir!"

The ellon stepped inside and blinked. "Yes, Melloleas? Have you or Estel need of me?"

The elleth paused before him and spoke as if unaware not one, but two ellon watched her. (Being Silvan though, she couldn't possibly be so unaware.) Erestor found himself ignored and it impressed him. He listened carefully to the Silvan's words. "Lord Elrond asked you, Erestor, Glorfindel, Glilenn, Cuilbron, and Idrenohtar, be gathered. I must be there too, since Glilenn is coming to watch Estel."

When Mellolaes said, "I must be there too" Lindir's eyes widened and skin greyed. When she continued, "Glilenn is coming to watch Estel" Lindir's eyes shut, and he raised his face to the ceiling before giving a sigh of relief. Mellolaes leaned back and scowled at this. The door-greeter did not seem to notice. Keeping his eyes shut he nodded. "I will be there." He opened his eyes and met her gaze. He raised an eyebrow at her scowl. "I can gather the others up. Are you sure you wish to do so?"

Mellolaes raised a hand and shook her head. "No. I think Elrond needs more time with Estel. And he asked 'me'."

Mellolaes turned, picked her skirts up again, and sprinted to the kitchen. Erestor stepped up to Lindir's side to watch. The Steward's gaze was unblinking and intense. "She … does not shirk her duty, does she?"

Lindir shrugged. "She does not seem to."

Erestor turned toward the stairs. "Well, let us be going together then." Even if this did turn out to be a trick. It would be less humiliating falling into it with Lindir.

. . .

Mellolaes rushed into the kitchen. Glilenn and Alphtithen were within. The latter's eyes widened and hands went to her mouth at the sight of Mellolaes. The Silvan herself met the head cook's gaze. "Glilenn. Erestor wants you to watch Estel while I attend a meeting with him and others I must gather."

The cook sighed her form deflating. Then she nodded. "Well, I've raised a few elflings and will be careful not to overfeed the manling this time." With that, Glilenn squared her shoulders and began walking toward her new charge.

Mellolaes began rushing past, but her arm was grabbed by the hand of Alphtithen. "Mellolaes is something wrong?" The Silvan turned and met the gaze of the Noldo and Sindar elleth. "I know no details, just my orders."

Glilenn paused in her own strides to glance back at that. Then she looked forward again, shook her head, and continued. Mellolaes had already been released by Alphtithen and was running into the Healing Ward. "Cuilbron!"

The head healer and one of his assistants looked up from shining their surgery tools. Mellolaes slid to a stand an arm-length from his side. Then she looked into his squinting eyes. "Lord Elrond asks you to meet him in his office immediately."

Then, without waiting for a reply or seeing the head healer's raised eyebrows, Mellolaes shot off again. Next would be her longest run yet. She must find Glorfindel, who would most certainly be at the training yards this time on this day.

. . .

Glorfindel cocked his arm back and then threw. The spear shone in the mid-morning sun as it flew. His missile landed in the center of a target one-hundred paces away. The dark ellon behind him nodded. "A fine throw, Captain."

He also cocked his arm back, but froze at the sound of a cry coming from the bottom of the hill. "Captain Glorfindel! Captain Glorfindel!"

The Noldo with his spear in the air turned and scowled. He growled in Quenyan. "What does 'she' want here with you?"

Glorfindel turned a scowl of his own upon the other soldier. He gentled his gaze for Mellolaes when she appeared before him and sucked in a breath. "Captain Glorfindel, Lord Elrond wants to see you." She looked to the other ellon. "You too Idhrenohtar."

Glorfindel raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak, but the other ellon spoke first. His voice was chill, but fluid. "Does he indeed?"

Mellolaes scowled at him. "Yes. He does Idhrenohtar. You can disbelieve me if you wish, but it will be your own lord you disappoint."

Glorfindel nodded, bent down, and picked up his sword belt before strapping it around his waist. "I believe you Mellolaes. Are we the last ellon you need to gather for this meeting?"

Mellolaes shook her head. "No. I am to gather Rochellon as well."

Glorfindel nodded. "Then go and get Rochellon."

He turned a scowl upon the ellon behind him. "I am sure you shall have no trouble with that."

The other raised an eyebrow, but did and said nothing else. Mellolaes turned toward the barns and ran to them. The horses raised their heads at her rushed approach, but did not shy.

Idhrenohtar sighed and followed. He had no idea if Glorfindel had meant only for him to do no harm to the elleth, or to aid her. Just in case, he followed her to see no other somehow interfered in her task. Sometimes, he regretted speaking aloud the words he had that day, and within the hearing of so many. He did not deny the strain of being near the kin of those he hated every day. However, he was elven, and a Noldo born under the light of the trees. He would endure. He would restrain himself.

He followed several paces behind the elleth. This was not hard. Though his strides were long, she ran before him. It must have seemed as if he was hunting her. Idhrenohtar almost feared another who had not overheard their conversation seeing them thus.

. . .

Mellolaes rushed through the doors and sprinted to Rochellon's side. The head of the stables spun to face her in surprise. The elleth grabbed his arm and gripped it tight. "Rochellon. Elrond needs to see you."

The ellon's eyebrows rose at her tone and the appearance of her eyes. Then he gave a nod and turned away from the task of brushing a horse with a pat on its rump. The beast snorted and stomped a hoof at being abandoned. Untethered, he turned and went out the open doors of the backway and into the paddock.

Mellolaes walked by Rochellon's side toward the main houses. Seeing her task completed and another escorting her, Idhrenohtar turned from where he had stood watching in the doorway and went before them into to the main house.

. . .

Mellolaes had first peeked into Estel's room and found it empty. Her heart sank a little even as she reassured herself Glilenn must have taken him somewhere and was doing something fun with him. The Silvan swallowed as she turned back and continued walking with Rochellon to Lord Elrond's office. The door was open. The room inside was crowded, but silent save for the sounds of breathing. They slipped inside.

The decorations of Glorfindel's clothing and sheath chimed softly as he turned to watch them enter. Idhrenohtar had arrived before them and taken his place at his Captain's side. Erestor stood at the Lord of the Golden Flower's other side. Beside him was Cuilbron. Lindir stood nearest the exit, a door elf at all times. He shut the door behind her and the head stable-elf.

Mellolaes tucked her chin in and folded her hands in front of her. Then she turned her stare upon Elrond as Rochellon had. Lindir stood behind them and beside the door to let everyone out when the meeting was finished, or sooner.

Elrond, whom everyone was staring at, stared at no one. His eyes focused on a stack of papers atop his desk. No one believed he studied them. Finally, his voice came forth soft and low. "I saw my sons."

Mellolaes' bowed head jerked up. Rochellon straightened beside her. Erestor raised his eyebrows. Glorfindel and Idhrenohtar clenched their jaws. Cuilbron's brows furrowed. Lindir stiffened and thus stood straighter. No one else spoke.

Elrond continued. "I know not if what I saw has occurred, or will soon occur, happened as I saw it, or will even happen far in the future. I saw neither dead, but one wounded as the other cared for him. I cannot let this pass without knowing how they fair, soon. I will go to them." Elrond raised his gaze to meet Glorfindel's. "You will escort me on my journey to them, and perhaps home with them I believe."

Glorfindel nodded. Soft chiming sounded again. Elrond turned his gaze to Idhrenohtar. "You will be left in charge of the security of the Hidden Valley."

Idhrenohtar nodded his response as well. His jaw grew slightly tighter. Elrond spoke again to them both. "Go both of you. Glorfindel get your own gear gathered and ready, meet me in the stone circle. Idhrenohtar, gather and ready my gear and then meet me in the same place."

Both warriors nodded, bowed, and left. The music of Glorfindel's clothing followed him. Lindir had the door open for them to stride through, though, he stared ahead at nothing with a lax face. Yet, he shut the portal swiftly behind their departing figures. Elrond looked next to Cuilbron. The elf closed his eyes and gave a slight bow speaking before being spoken too. "I shall assemble a warrior's healing-kit with extra of every item?"

Elrond nodded. "Yes." His head healer was out the door. Lindir had already opened it. Then, he shut it behind the third to leave.

Elrond turned to Rochellon. The elf gave a slight nod and spoke first with a warmer voice than the rest. "I will prepare your and Glorfindel's mounts from the journey now, my lord."

A little tension left Elrond's expression. He nodded slowly. Moisture appeared in his eyes. Lindir opened the door for a fluid moving stable-elf and closed it behind him. He himself jumped as Elrond addressed him next.

"Lindir." The door-elf spun around to meet the gaze of his master. Elrond continued. "You will, as always, be left in charge of the door. Until I return I will neither be here to greet guests nor keep them company. Do so as well as you always do in the meantime. If they have business, merely take the short walk to the door of Erestor's office."

Erestor smothered a sigh as Lindir nodded. The door-elf then continued to stand in his place. After a raised eyebrow from his lord, however, the servant let himself out.

Elrond turned a suddenly narrowed, piercing, and hardened gaze to the only two still in the room with him. "I am leaving you both with the gravest task of all, watching over Estel. And I have no two more ill-prepared servants for working together on such a project. Were this not possibly an emergency I might not even 'think' about doing it."

Mellolaes broke in. "We will do it well, my lord."

Both ellon raised their eyebrows at the elleth. Mellolaes continued, her voice shaking slightly, but she added a firm nod. "I won't give trouble. I will follow Erestor's every order properly if I have too."

The last bit of the last line sounded more like her. Erestor rolled his eyes at it. Elrond gave a soft, sad smile the first she'd seen from him that day. "Thank you Mellolaes. I sent Estel and Glilenn to prepare bags of provisions for myself, Glorfindel, and my sons if they must return with us. Please go help with that task and bring Estel to the stone circle with the bags after you are through packing them."

Melolaes jerked a head nod and raced out the door opening and shutting it herself. Elrond's scowl returned doubly as he turned it upon the final servant still with him. Erestor raised his eyebrows at the sight of it. "My lord?"

"I know you started the last altercation though she finished it. Your attitude is obvious to all including her. Fix it. I care not how. I care not the reason for this attitude toward her either. I'm leaving the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of my child in your hands along with hers and the good of all my servants, entire house, and any guests. Do not fail me. Do not fail him, her, or any taking or who will take refuge here. Be kind, not dismissive toward them. He is my son, she is my guest, they are our people and guests. Do for them as I would."

Erestor took a deep breath, loosed it slowly and let his eyebrows fall back to their usual place almost as slowly before nodding. "I shall, my lord."

Elrond nodded back in return. "Good."

He then rose and began to stride from the room himself. Erestor, however, remained standing in the room some moments after the door shut behind his lord.

. . .

Mellolaes ran to the kitchen and indeed found Estel "helping" Glilenn. They were both deep in the effort to pack enough food for his ada, Gorfindel, and brothers as well on a journey to the Misty Mountains and back.

Sadly, Estel could not reach the places the food was stored. Glilenn held him up to get things she could have gotten without help. Then she had to pause and give detailed instruction to him on how to pack it. The cook's voice was low and calm, but her brow was slightly furrowed.

Estel, however, was smiling. Mellolaes' own brow furrowed in confusion. Estel looked up, saw her and shouted. "Hi Melly. My brothers are in trouble, but Ada and Glorfindel are going to go and save them! Then they'll bring them back! They'll have to stay awhile after that! Won't that be great?!"

Glilenn gave Mellolaes a "look" over her charge's head. Mellolaes smiled back and broke into a laugh that cracked in a few places, but still felt and sounded sweet. "Yes, Estel. That sounds wondrous."

She began to stride over to the boy, but looked up and spoke to Glilenn. "Since you know this place best, why do you not gather the food while Estel and I pack it? I've been packing traveling meals for my brother and father for years. And Estel is always a good helper."

Glilenn set Estel down in a chair. The furrow of her brow smoothed as she smiled. The elleth-cook then moved through the kitchen like a winding river barely pausing anywhere at all. Food appeared on the table. It disappeared a little slower as Mellolaes packed it while showing and explaining to Estel why she did as she did and how to pack it in the bags himself. Estel followed her example, still smiling.

. . .

Lindir had blown a silver horn and every elf in the household of Elrond had gathered in the stone circle. Twas right before the steps into the house's main entrance. On the circle's other side was the beginning of the main road from the valley.

Soldiers, healers, housekeepers, cooks, grooms, and more stood shoulder to shoulder eyes locked upon their Lord sitting atop his black horse. The latter stood beside a great white beast carrying Glorfindel. He had hugged Estel before mounting it. Both ellon were dressed in armor reflecting the sun almost like mirrors. Sword sheaths were strapped to their rights sides. Knives were strapped to their left sides. Quivers of arrows rested on their backs. And bows rested across their laps.

Nearest to them stood Erestor, Idhrenohtar, Lindir, and Mellolaes, who, with Estel's help, had handed up bags of food to the warriors. After they packed these upon their horses, Elrond looked out and addressed the gathered crowd. "I have received information leading me to believe my sons, who left less than a month ago, may gravely require my assistance. Therefore, I am going after them with Lord Glorfindel of the Golden Flower and Balrog Slayer escorting me."

Glorfindel's own grave expression twisted slightly at the sound of his title, whether it was in discomfort or amusement was hard to tell. The expression disappeared quickly. If Elrond noticed it, he gave no sign. "I am leaving the safety of this valley in the hands of our many and capable soldiers who will be led by Idhrenohtar in Glorfindel's absence!"

The tall, dark ellon bowed in acknowledgement, his face expressionless. So caught up in their lord's grave tone and expression were the people, they did not look away from his face to see this. Elrond went on. "I am leaving Cuilbron in charge of the Healing Ward."

Cuilbron placed his fist over his heart and bowed his head. No one turned their gaze from Lord Elrond to watch. He continued. "I am leaving the keeping of the oversight of the house and valley's running to my steward, Erestor."

Erestor bowed. A few servants glanced at him and then back to their lord. Elrond finished with a slight sigh in his voice. "Obey them as you would Glorfindel and me. May the Vallar and Iluvatar Himself bear witness to my trust in all of you and guide and guard our ways as we now part. May they bring us back together again, soon and better even than when we parted."

A cheer went up from the crowd. The most cheerful voice in it was Estel himself. Elrond nudged his steed forward a step. Mellolaes lifted his youngest child toward the Lord of Imladris. The ellon took him from her and held the manling a moment. Estel snuggled happily into his ada's chest. A silver tear left a dark eye and ran into dark, curly hair. "You be good for Erestor and Mellolaes, ionneg."

"I will, Ada. Bring Elhir and Eldan back soon."

Elrond smiled sadly. "I shall endeavor to do my best."

"You and Glorfdel will make whoever troubled them sorry!"

Elrond gave a broken laugh. Glorfindel flashed a grin. Mellolaes gave a wavering smile. Then she raised empty hands. Lord Elrond filled them with Estel. The elleth drew the child back to her. Elrond let his gaze linger on his youngest a few more seconds before backing his mount away and turning to the crowd of his people again. He lifted a hand in farewell.

"Vallar and Iluvatar keep you all!"

"And may they also keep you," the crowd shouted in unison.

Then Glorfindel turned his white steed as Elrond turned his black. The two mounts raced down the paved street. Unlike with the twins though, they were not racing each other. They raced time itself.

Members of the crowd began to turn and move away murmuring low to each other. Mellolaes, Estel, and Elrond however stayed and continued to gaze after the departing figures. Mellolaes' face was mostly lax, with a slight furrow of her brow. Erestor's eyes were narrowed and jaw set. Estel was giving his biggest grin and spoke with relish in his voice. "They'll get them! Ada and Glorfdel will chase all the trolls and orcs away, and bring my brothers back!"

Mellolaes and Erestor turned their gazes upon Estel's head in unison and then looked up to gaze at each other. For once, both had the same thought in their minds at the same time. What now?

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God Bless

ScribeofHeroes