AN: Ello all! I wish to give great big hugs to Iridescent Bellisle Cullen, Alonia143, DragonFireCheetah, viridianaln9, dojoson41, randomplotbunny, Belieber Twihard and the Guest for all the lovely reviews! Hopefully this is a good chapter.

Elrond has been alive for a long time. A very long time even for an Elf, not as long as he mother-in-law but still a long time. And because of his long life he has seen many loves come and go. Seen them receive Marks or not, find love and lose it. He and his brother both did not have Marks. Oh how they waited until their coming of age to see if they'd get one. When he met Celebrain and saw that even one who was descended from one such as Galadriel did not have a Mark he had hope. Then they fell in love and he did not understand the fierce want he had to have a Mark. She gave him three children before she was ambushed, tortured and then sailed. Before she did though she took him aside and told him that she'd not blame him if he found someone else. That she hoped he did and released him from their marriage oaths.

"We have loved each other for a long time Elrond. And you deserve to be loved for an even longer time."

And while Elrond hadn't shunned the thought of love he hadn't looked for it either. And now he learns that someone close to him bears a Mark that can only be for him. He frowns, Lindir's Mark must have come in before Celebrain sailed. Had his wife known? He fiddles nervously with the napkin on the small table he had set up on the balcony connected to his room. For over two thousand years his little Minstrel has kept his Mark hidden.

There comes a soft knocking on his chamber door drawing him from his thoughts. He calls out for the knocker to come in and Lindir steps in. Nervous and scared looking the younger Elf looks around the room. Young brown eyes land on the table drinking in the sight of freshly tossed salad with roasted chicken, fresh baked bread, rosemary wrapped venison and thick squares of fudge for dessert. Elrond bites back a smile as the younger's eyes stay longer on the sweets than they do anything else. Timidly Lindir looks up at Elrond.

"You wished to speak to me my Lord?"

"Just Elrond Lindir. How many times must I ask that you call me that?"

"Perhaps once more."

Elrond laughs, gesturing for the Minstrel to take a seat. As they eat Elrond watches the younger knowing he should be speaking but first he must figure out his own mind. For he remembers the day his friend brought Lindir home, young and crying. The only survivor of an Orc ambush the little brunet clung to Glorfindel's chest only letting go when he was handed over to Erestor. He remembers his boys bringing the then timid young Elfling under their wings. He remembers watching him grow from a babe to an adult.

There is a beauty to the Minstrel. Grace in the way he moves, even in such mundane tasks like lifting a fork to his mouth or his fingers gripping the stem of the wine glass. And he has always loved the sound of Lindir's voice.

"Why did you hide it?" he asks softly, his hand wanting to reach out and touch the Mark on the other's cheek. Lindir flinches and looks away.

"You were still with the Lady when it came in… It wouldn't have been right to say anything then and after… After the Lady… I just couldn't…"

Elrond stretches out a hand covering Lindir's.

"She would not have been mad if you had." And she wouldn't have. If anything Celebrain would have designed a grand scheme to show off Lindir's Mark. She had such a large loving heart that she wanted everyone happy.

"It just didn't feel right. She was taken from you."

"She was."

Silence falls Elrond takes to gather his wits and combat the memories leading up to Celebrain's sailing.

"What do you feel for me Lindir?"

"I… My Lord… Elrond… Even before the Mark I held you in the highest regard. You were so kind, so regal and just… You. I loved watching you dance with the Lady or your children and as I grew the regard I felt for you deepened," Lindir speaks slowly haltingly. The fingers of the hand Elrond isn't holding are clenching and unclenching as he stares at Elrond. Not in his eyes but at his cheek or maybe his nose. "I thought it wrong to love someone who already had someone else even if they did not have Marks. I… love you and have for a long time."

Elrond sucks in a deep breath at that and Lindir starts to remove his hand from Elrond's. But the Half Elven Lord squeezes his hand.

"You are very brave iaew aew. I will not say that I love you as you do me but… I would like the chance to try."

The shy, gently smile that Lindir graces him with fills him with warmth.

AN: Okay the two Sindarin words I used iaew means mocking and aew means bird according to www. jrrvf cgi - bin /hisweloke / sintrans .cgi so if it's wrong I'm sorry.

A small list of Elves that have appeared in this story because Dojo mentioned being confused. I'll start with the canon one's.

Elrond is the lord of Rivendell.

Lindir is a minstrel/steward for Elrond. You see him in the first Hobbit movie. he gives Elrond the 'My Lord I am not your sword rack' look when Elrond gives him the sword and complains about the Dwarrows.

Erestor is the actual steward to Elrond. He plays a small role in The Lord of The Rings books.

Glofindel is a warrior for Elrond. In the books he saves Frodo from the Wraiths.

Elledan and Elrohir are Elrond's sons.

Arwen is his daughter and canonically in love with Aragorn aka Estel

Tauriel is a character that PJ made up to play a big role in the last two Hobbit movies. (Does that make her PJ's OC?)

Thranduil is king of Mirkwood

Legolas is Thranduil's son.

The other's are OC's that have a very small role in the story.