Elrond, Erestor, Lindir and Middle Earth are not mine, and I'm so grateful to Mr. Tolkien for first writing about them. :) Mellolaes is my OC.

This story is for entertainment purposes only, so please read and be entertained. :)

"Erestor! If you do not stop interrupting, I am going to pour this remaining tea over your head!"

Elrond paused in the hallway. His eyes swiveled to the left. He cautiously reached out to the door, turned its nob, and pushed it open.

Mellolaes' head rotated, so she could glare at him. The rest of her form remained bent over Erestor's. The Steward's eyes stared listlessly into his Lord's from a silk pillow. Elrond entered the room and shut the door behind him before lifting an eyebrow at them both. "Have we a problem in here, my servants?"

Erestor spoke first. His voice was as flat as the expression of his face. "I am merely being warned to cease breaking my word, my Lord."

Elrond lifted his eyebrow higher. "Your word to do what?"

Mellolaes interrupted her glare growing darker. "Where is Estel?"

Elrond's back straightened. Both his brows shot up his forehead. Sometimes, he was convinced, as his elder sons were, that the nurse of his youngest had forgotten who the boy's kin were. "I left him with his brothers …"

As both his servants opened their mouths, Elrond raised his hand to hold it palm out toward them. "And Cuilbron. Elladan was silly enough to cut himself. I'm giving Estel the opportunity to practice his healer-skills upon his big brother."

Though her brows remained furrowed in irritation, Mellolaes gave a low giggle. "That's what my mother used to do with me and my twin cousins." She then turned a softer glare back upon his Steward.

Elrond flicked his gaze between them. "Why are you both so angry with each other?"

"Mellolaes has been trying to cheer me, and I have been un-cheerable."

"Oh no …" Elrond kept his face mostly smooth, but a corner of his mouth quirked up. A flash of light entered his dark eyes. "You are not testing the Silvan stubbornness are you?"

Mellolaes straightened, lifted her face to the sky, and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. Erestor's reply made her gaze jerk back down to his face. "On the contrary, she has been succeeding far more than I thought she could."

Mellolaes turned blinking eyes upon him. "I have?"

Elrond imitated her expression at his steward. "She has?"

Erestor shrugged. "I have been lying here long, in silence good for little more than paperwork, most of which I finished before my injury. For a short time now, I have been listening to a tale I have never heard before. After re-hearing and re-writing so many, not foreseeing what comes next, even if I can guess the majority of it, is rather amusing."

Mellolaes rolled her eyes at the ceiling again. This time, she placed her hands upon her hips as well. Elrond gazed worriedly at her. "I think, my Steward, if you wish the elleth to continue this tale for you, you will have to compliment it more than that."

"You know I give neither compliments nor complaints, save in sincerity, my Lord."

Mellolaes looked down at Erestor again. Her brows furrowed and her eyes sparkled like a knife. Elrond's eyebrows rose. "Perhaps I should stay and hear it too … I think Estel far safer with my current chief healer and his brothers than you will be if I leave."

Mellolaes raised a hand. "Nonsense. I am capable of containing my temper long enough to finish this part of the tale at least. The hour Erestor was going to allow me to speak must be over or nearly so already. Besides, I think he needs to sleep."

"I do not need to sleep now."

Mellolaes turned to Lord Elrond arms crossed over her chest. A smile graced her face. Lord Elrond looked back to his steward to see him glaring from his pillow. Elrond glanced back and forth between them once more and then nodded. "Alright then, I will leave you two to the conclusion of your bargain as it seems you both have made one."

Out in the hallway, Lord Elrond stopped a passing servant and sent them for his door-elf. Once Lindir arrived, he took him slightly aside from Erestor's closed door and whispered in his ear. "I do not think with all the thick snow outside we shall be getting any visitors. Stay here. If any shouts or feelings of distress emerge from my steward's bedroom, enter and do as you see fit. I have to go to my youngest and spend time with him until his nurse, hopefully, emerges in good enough condition physically and emotionally to play with him."

I hope you enjoyed this, please tell me if you did or have constructive criticism.

God Bless and keep you :)

ScribeofHeroes