He was sitting in the communal area, flicking through some historical writings by the fading firelight. The boys were out on the target range, practising their mounted shooting. Arwen had begged to go with them and watch even though Elrond had assured her she would be bored. The patter of leather moccasins against stone made him look up. There she was, his little girl, skipping up the stairs to join him. Her blue silken dress shone faintly in the wane moonlight, giving her a sort of cerulean glow. The front of her ebony hair was pulled back from her face in four tiny plaits fixed to her head by jewelled clasps. The rest flowed free down her back in the style her mother liked best.

"Mae govanenn, Melamin. Oio naa elealla alasse'. (Well met, my love. Ever is thy sight a joy)" Elrond greeted her, setting his work aside momentarily "I thought you were watching the target practise"

She shrugged "it got boring"

Elrond smiled to himself and swallowed his "I told you so"

"So I came up here to sit with you. May I, Ada?"

"Of course melamin. So long as you are quiet"

Arwen nodded and sat down beside him. She took a scrap of unused paper and one of Elrond's wrapped charcoal stick and was soon contentedly drawing. This relative peace went on for some time, interrupted only by the slight scratching of charcoal, or the crinkling of aged paper. It was broken some time later when another set of feet sounded on the stairs. The two looked up to see one of Elrond's minstrels, carrying his flute. He gave them both a deep sweeping bow.

"Vedui' heruamin. (Greetings my lord.) I did not mean to interrupt you. But, now that I am here, may I play for you and the little lady?"

Elrond was going to politely refuse when he saw the look on his daughter's face.

"Oh yes! Can he Ada? Can we dance, Ada? Please? " she begged, turning to him with soulful eyes.

Elrond hesitated for a moment, looking from the minstrel's face, to his daughter's and back again.

"Ohh, alright"

With a squeal of happiness Arwen set her drawings aside and leapt to her feet. Elrond rose and took her hands.

The minstrel took a seat and struck up his song, a merry melody of rivers and woods, sunsets and rainbows.

Elrond guided Arwen to stand on his feet and place her hand at his waist. He began to step and sway to the song, spinning and turning. Arwen pressed herself into him, looking up at him and beaming. He smiled back down at her. She stepped off his feet and he twirled her around. She gave a musical little giggle. He even dipped her for a short moment before she complained excitedly that she had a head rush. The music gradually dwindled away and he drew back, bowing politely while she gave him a well-practised curtsy. Before he'd quite straightened up he found she'd lurched into him and thrown her arms around him.

"Diola lle, Ada! That was wonderful!"

Elrond looked up in embarrassment at the minstrel but he had respectfully left them alone.

"You're welcome my shining star. It was wonderful for me too"