I had planned to post this tomorrow night, but I got so many wonderful reviews I had to post it tonight. ^_^ Thank you all!

Glorfindel, chin propped in hand as he stared at the door of the library, couldn't help but remember the last time he had been in this position. It was sundown already, just like last time, and the chess board was set, the wine warming beside him with two empty glasses, and the fire flickered happily a few yards from him. Two weeks ago, he had done this very thing, not knowing what he knew now, and Erestor hadn't shown up then either.

It was nearing the 10th hour of the night when the door to the library burst open suddenly, and through the wide spaces and large gaps in the bookshelves, Glorfindel could see Erestor coming through the door, looking a little disheveled. His dark hair was mussed and black robes wrinkled, and he looked around with flustered eyes until he caught sight of Glorfindel.

"Oh!" said the adviser, nudging the door to a semi-shut position. "You're here." As though he had expected Glorfindel to become impatient and leave.

"Yes," was all Glorfindel said, and he wanted to be annoyed that Erestor was late, but he couldn't find it in him, and so he smiled and patted the table, feeling immeasurably relieved. "Here, come sit down."

Erestor smoothed his robes once before going to the table, sliding into his seat as he had done almost every third night since Glorfindel had been made Captain. His fingers played with the silver tassels on his sleeves before he put them in his lap with conscious effort. His right hand he tucked beneath the folds of his robes, the white bandage a strange contrast again his robes. "I lost track of time," he said in apology, looking a little more like his usual self.

Glorfindel nodded in understanding, and poured the wine. He glanced down at the chess board before them; the white pieces were on his side of the board, since he hadn't know which the Counselor would want, and he had already moved a pawn forward. "A drink?" he said, offering one of the full goblets, and Erestor took it. "It's the dark red, a bottle imported from Harlond." The sand there made the grapes grow rich and full, which in turn aged the wine heady and powerfully, but Erestor would know that.

Erestor took the cup, but he didn't drink. He weighed it carefully in his hand, staring down at the chess board with his brow furrowed. After a moment, he set it aside and looked up resolutely at Glorfindel. "What are we doing here?" he asked, and it was a true question.

Glorfindel, at another time, would have laughed and replied casually. Now, he knew that wasn't the best approach, so he took a long minute to reply, taking a sip of the heady wine he had chosen and rolling it over his tongue. Finally, after a period of thought, he swallowed the drink and replied. "We are here, mellon nín, as adults and not quarreling elflings – we can work through our differences. Is it so difficult to talk, remember what has been done and forgive it all?"

"Talking about feelings has never been my strong point," Erestor admitted, but his dark eyes were steady as he met Glorfindel's.

"Then we shall work on that," Glorfindel said with a small smile, and set his drink aside. He gestured at the board. "Let's play the game and talk at the same time, yes?"

Erestor nodded in agreement, but he barely looked at the board before jumping his left knight out in front of a pawn. He had never used that as a beginning unless he was sure of his King's safety, so Glorfindel was cautious, though the game wasn't in the forefront of his mind. He considered his next move, fingers hovering over various pieces, before pushing another pawn forward just beside the first one.

Their game was started now; Erestor would take much longer to choose where his pieces would go after this. Glorfindel knew from their many, many times before that he was not going to move another piece for at least two minutes.

Watching the adviser stare at the board, Glorfindel leaned back in his chair and frowned, thinking how to broach the subject of earlier. He didn't have to – Erestor spoke the next moment.

"I suppose I should explain some things?"

Glorfindel thought about that, and finally raised an eyebrow. "Well, you could, I believe."

Erestor drew his left hand back; it had been tapping the edge of the table as he considered his next move. "I didn't forget about tonight, for one. I…fell asleep right after I dismissed Lisondrë, waiting, and I didn't realize how much time had passed."

"Well, you're the one late for once, so you can't tease me next time," Glorfindel said with a smile, and he was hoping that there would be a next time. He did wonder why Erestor would fall asleep, however, if he hadn't been working. He had found the adviser sound asleep in his office, late at night, too many times to count. "How much have you slept lately? And while I was gone?"

Erestor blinked slowly. "I don't really know. I think for two hours last night, but I can't be sure. It's been very busy lately – the Feast of Starlight was a week ago, you know, though you weren't here, and we had many guests. There was, of course, much to do even after they left. I think the last party from Lórien left the day before you got back."

Glorfindel knew he looked very disapproving, but he couldn't stop the expression. "How are you supposed to do your work correctly if you're tired all the time?" The best way to argue with Erestor was to use his job against him; Glorfindel didn't think he would take longer to rest just because he felt like it, he never had before.

Erestor shrugged and finally moved a pawn forward two spaces, the limit it could go on its first move. "I've been doing fine so far."

"Yes, by falling asleep right after dismissing your assistant," Glorfindel said slightly sardonically, and Erestor snorted.

"I suppose the best way to start off tonight is to be judgmental?" he quipped.

Glorfindel shook his head. "No, that's not what I meant. You can continue…explaining." He waved a hand vaguely, and couldn't help but add, "You should, however, get more sleep."

Erestor looked mildly amused, which Glorfindel supposed was better than annoyed. He poked at a rook to get it in the direct center of its place, and took a brief drink out of the previously unused goblet Glorfindel had given him. "What should I explain?"

Glorfindel hummed. "Well…there are a few things I'm curious about, but you're the one who said you would explain some things – you had an idea of what?"

"Not really." Erestor nudged another piece into the middle of its base, and Glorfindel was tempted to stop him. It was another one of his nervous quirks. "Maybe you could ask me."

So he could use his diplomatic skills to avoid the questions and distract Glorfindel?

"Why don't you just explain?" Glorfindel suggested.

"Why don't you just ask me questions, and I'll answer them?" Erestor retorted, and the two eyed each other for a long moment.

"It's your turn," Erestor commented after a bit.

Glorfindel picked up a knight and set it haphazardly near the edge.

As expected – it happened every time, Erestor broke eye contact to adjust the piece so it sat in the center of the black square.

Glorfindel laughed, letting the earlier subject fall for a moment. "Erestor, your ear twitched."

"No it didn't," Erestor protested, but he had felt it move. He couldn't help it; whenever Glorfindel did something that was purposely annoying, the tip of his ear would flick annoyingly, and more than once Glorfindel had compared it to a cat's tail switching when it was bothered.

"It did," Glorfindel insisted, but Erestor just rolled his eyes.

There was another minute where Erestor poked at the pieces occasionally; most were still in their original places, but then Glorfindel broke the silence. Erestor was more stubborn than him, he knew, and this could last for a while.

"Very well, I will ask you then," he said, and sipped a bit of wine before going on. Erestor had tensed visibly, and he had begun fiddling with the tassels on his robe again. Glorfindel hid a smile and gestured at the bandaged wrist Erestor still kept in his lap. "When can you use your hand again?"

Erestor seemed relieved, but that wasn't the only question Glorfindel planned on asking him. "A week, perhaps. I can't use it at all, since Lord Elrond told me not to do so." He cast an accusing look at Glorfindel, but the warrior was ready for it and he only smiled disarmingly.

"You won't need an assistant, then?"

"Well, the libraries don't really need her now, and it would be rather pointless to let that desk I ordered go to waste…" Erestor shook his head. "She's rather useful with paperwork and such, so I've decided to keep her on. I will give her an office of her own, however, once she's proved up to it."

Glorfindel was strangely pleased by the idea of seeing the bright-eyed assistant more often, though he couldn't say why. He hummed nonchalantly and tilted his head as another question came to him. "And you will return to your usual occupations once you are…healed?"

Erestor drummed his fingers on the table, and only stopped after he began speaking. "I still do my usual occupation, I am just limited. Lisondrë writes out the reports for me, does corrections, and copies letters as I dictate. Other than that, I can do everything including the inspections and categorizing." He gave Glorfindel a haughty look. "And the last time you were wounded, you sulked in the Healing Halls until you could get out, even though your right hand was perfectly capable of writing a report."

"That wasn't my fault," Glorfindel pointed out. "I had a spear go through a lung."

Erestor winced at the reminder. "Yes, well…" he said, a bit half-heartedly. "You still could have written it."

Glorfindel laughed and took a sip of his wine. "Well, we've got that settled, then? I do have another question."

"Indeed," Erestor said, seeming distracted, but his eyes were quick as he glanced over the game and up at Glorfindel. He set another pawn forward, but this one on the other side of the board.

Glorfindel considered how to say it, but he wasn't the best at diplomatic approaches and he knew Erestor actually preferred it when someone was direct with him. He steepled his fingers together and gazed at the Chief Counselor over them. "Earlier, when you came to…apologize, let's say, you mentioned others who had abandoned your friendship. You spoke of someone who was, as you said, 'more than a friend,' but she had left as well. May I inquire as to whom that was?"

"No," Erestor said curtly, and Glorfindel caught a glimpse of almost-forgotten hurt in his dark eyes before they were veiled.

He wasn't surprised, though, and so pressed on. "A family member, perhaps?"

Erestor tightened his jaw and said nothing.

"A fellow worker – another adviser, perhaps? Was she here, or in Lindon?"

Erestor glared mutinously at the chess board, but Glorfindel wasn't cowed.

"A potential marriage partner?"

Erestor flicked his glare up to Glorfindel. "I said," snapped the adviser, "that I don't want to talk about it."

Glorfindel sensed more than a little pain there, so he leaned back in his seat and spread his hands placatingly. "Very well, then, I will ask no more of her now. Later, I expect you to answer at least one of those questions about her."

Erestor looked as though he didn't plan on volunteering any information about this mysterious female anytime soon.

Glorfindel pushed another pawn forward, another question coming to his lips. "You said that you were…afraid to truly be friends with anyone? Or something alike to that. Is there a reason for that?"

Erestor was still scowling, but he answered finally, his gaze tempering as he recalled something. "In Lindon, there was a scribe who worked for one of the High Counselors. He was very well known – a half-Sindar, though that simply gained him more friends for his…communion with nature." The adviser made a disgusted face, and Glorfindel surmised that he didn't like the elf. "I was a young assistant then, I worked only for my father, though I was trying to earn more ranking without using his position –"

"Who is your father?" Glorfindel interrupted, though he didn't want to disturb the story. He thought he knew who his father was, but he couldn't be sure. Erestor shot him an annoyed look.

"The Chief Advisor for the King," he said simply. "And a Lord of our small House – nothing noteworthy; our entire House of about three families has sailed since. I didn't want to use his position to gain ranking, and he was quite happy for me to follow in his footsteps. In any case, this…half-Sindar befriended me, claimed I was one of his dear friends – and then I was shamed before the King and Court for making a mistake with supplies – we lost a whole dozen of newly forged swords, and he wouldn't talk to me again."

"You were…close friends?" Glorfindel asked cautiously, and he didn't know quite why Erestor was sharing this all, unless he really wanted Glorfindel to understand.

Erestor laughed scornfully. "I thought so. I should have known better, though – people like that only profess that they enjoy another's company. The only reason I truly do not like him now is because of what he did the next day, when a few of his other friends asked him about me. He told them that he had only been pretending to be my friend, and had stolen personal knowledge in order to flaunt it in front of everyone else." He stopped, glowering at the chess board once more, and Glorfindel rested his chin on a hand and contemplated.

"So," he said after a while. "When you saw me joking with the other warriors that morning, you simply assumed I was sharing personal things you had told me – not that you tell me much – and was mocking you for it?"

"Well…" Erestor reached out and fixed a piece that was a little off its square, his expression sliding closed. "Yes. It sounded like that."

"I see how that would…not help our friendship," Glorfindel said carefully. "You must know, however, that I would never tell another something that you told me in confidence, unless what I kept hidden would end up hurting you."

"Hurt or harm?" Erestor said with a sardonic lift to his eyebrows.

"Both," Glorfindel said. "I do wonder, though, why you still remember that incident with the…half-Sindar, as you so delicately put it, when it must have been centuries ago."

Erestor shrugged elegantly, finally lifting a bishop and setting him, sideways, halfway across the board. "He was one of the only 'friends' I have had. The others – most scribes or adviser as well, actually – have left as well, although their parting was not quite so harsh. I suppose I would remember him because I was young, then, and it stayed to my memory."

"Hmm," said Glorfindel very eloquently. "I should hope my mistakes don't stay that long."

"And mine," Erestor corrected. "I'm not so proud as to keep from admitting that I know it was foolish to push you away, when you've never showed any signs of not being a true friend except for those…misunderstandings."

"You are certainly being very accepting," Glorfindel said with a tilt of his head. "May I ask why?"

Erestor stared steadfastly at the chess board.

Glorfindel chuckled. "Is it because I have blackmail material?" he said, patting his tunic pocket where the clear outline of an envelope could be seen.

Erestor glared at him.

"You're so humorless," Glorfindel sighed. "Lighten up, mellon nín. I was not being serious; I appreciate this letter very much, though it was never meant to get to me, and I would never show it to anyone else."

Erestor took a gulp from his wine goblet.

"May I ask, however, why you felt the need to write this letter?" Glorfindel inquired. "I assume there were more of these that ultimately met their demise in the fire?"

"There were," Erestor said, setting his goblet hard on the table and wincing at the loud sound. "I told you that talking about…feelings was never my strongest area. I find that writing it much easier – I can only imagine the other person's reaction, and since they never got it before, it didn't matter anyway."

"Who have you written them to?" Glorfindel wondered curiously.

"You," Erestor said cursorily.

"No one else?"

"No…yes."

"Who else?

"Other people."

Glorfindel laughed. "I understand, you don't want to talk about it. Very well – but please, do write these more. They…" He sobered a bit. "It is actually a relief, knowing your true thoughts – and that you don't hate me. Do you?" he said when Erestor coughed into the cup he had just raised to his lips.

"No…" said the adviser.

"Do you?" said Glorfindel more severely, but with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Not especially," Erestor replied suavely. "In any case, how would I write more, knowing that you will actually read them?"

"Plan to burn them," Glorfindel suggested. "And accidentally place them where Lisondrë can deliver them to me."

"Maybe, but maybe not," Erestor said. His fingers still on the edge of the table, where he had been tapping it again, and he cast Glorfindel a nervous look. Glorfindel's keen eyes caught it, and he raised his eyebrows at Erestor.

"What is it?"

"What is…what?" Erestor said, but his eyes darted away guiltily.

"That. That, right there," said Glorfindel, pointing at him. "You obviously want to tell me something, but you won't. What is it?"

"I…well." Erestor frowned hesitantly. "You will be angry."

"After all of this…" Glorfindel waved a hand vaguely, "You really expect me to be cross with you after all that we have gone through now? Just say it."

"It's –" Erestor stared purposely at the board and spoke in a rush. "I was looking for the letter, and I was very frustrated, so I went and searched the front room in your chambers."

There was a silence, and Erestor finally dared look up to see Glorfindel smiling widely, his eyes crinkled at the corners. "That's all?" said the warrior. "I was afraid it would be something terrible, when you talked like that."

Erestor just blinked in a sort of slow way. "It does not matter to you?"

"Not especially," said Glorfindel musingly. "I suppose it is a bit unsettling to know that you might have left the door open, however."

"I would not leave the door open," Erestor said, offended, and then he sat back and shook his head, a smile quirking his lips. "I see what you did there. I am sorry for intruding upon your chambers, however."

"You are forgiven, and welcome anytime," Glorfindel said, and Erestor inclined his head in acknowledgment.

Glorfindel looked at the board, attention still somewhat on Erestor, and realized after a moment it was his turn. He pushed the first pawn he had moved at the start of the game, right next to Erestor's bishop. A second later, he realized his mistake as Erestor's eyes lit keenly and his fingers flashed to take away the piece, replacing it with a knight that was easily protected by the bishop.

"By Círdan's beard and Mahal's great hairy–!" Glorfindel started, but was interrupted by Erestor.

"Ah! No cursing in here. Do you remember what happened when there was that thunderstorm one night and the twins got lost looking for their parents' room?" The mood had changed when Glorfindel had made that move, and both knew it and were a little thankful.

"But I would know if they had snuck in here," Glorfindel protested, yet he was looking cautiously around the library just the same.

"Dwarfish curses," Erestor snorted into his cup as he took another drink, and Glorfindel raised a mock-offended eyebrow.

"As if they're any worse than yours?"

"I don't curse," Erestor said primly.

"Exactly," Glorfindel laughed. He jumped a knight forward to protect a rook.

Erestor, with a suspiciously innocent smile on his face, took the knight with his other bishop.

"Life is so unfair," Glorfindel complained, slumping in his seat. He judged the game and Erestor's attention, but his intent must have been obvious, since Erestor slapped his palm onto the edge of the board, causing a few pieces to jump.

"Don't even think about it," the adviser said firmly.

Glorfindel tried to look innocent. "Think about what?"

"Flipping the board may have worked last time, but not now." Erestor eyed him suspiciously. "And there is no way I'm getting talked into your silly 'arm-wrestling' warrior game again."

Glorfindel sulked.

"We don't have enough wine for a drinking contest, anyway." Erestor gauged him carefully, then lifted his hand from the board again and picked up his drink. "Do you have any more…questions?"

"Questions? Oh." Glorfindel wondered how to get one of Erestor's pieces without sacrificing one of his own. "No, I'm quite sure you answered them all. Except for that one." He gave Erestor a meaningful look, and the adviser rolled his eyes easily.

"Where did the serious conversation go anyway?" Glorfindel questioned, not really expecting an answer.

"It was your fault," Erestor said, and frowned into his empty cup. He refilled it, and seeing that Glorfindel's was almost empty, topped that up as well.

"Of course it's my fault; it's always my fault." Glorfindel hesitated, looking cautiously at Erestor, then moved his Queen forward.

"Aha!" Erestor crowed triumphantly, picking up his own Queen and sliding it sideways. "Check!"

"By Mahal's great hairy –" Glorfindel tried again, and was interrupted once more, this time by a faked yawn.

"Why must you be so coarse?" Erestor said after he had closed his mouth.

"You think I'm coarse?" Glorfindel exclaimed. "Have you ever met Celebrían's adopted brothers? They have a collection."

Erestor sniffed. "Please make your move."

Glorfindel huffily shoved his Queen to block the path his opponent would take to kill the King. With an evil little smirk, Erestor captured the Queen with his own.

"Check…" he announced.

"I will…slay this malicious Queen," Glorfindel threatened, glaring at the piece with intent clear.

"…And mate!" Erestor said after carefully examining the board once more. "I win," he said smugly. "Though I'm not surprised."

Glorfindel looked it over and agreed, though reluctantly, that the adviser had beaten him soundly once more. "Can I flip the board now?"

"No." Erestor began putting the pieces back where they belonged, clearly wanting to start another game.

Glorfindel sighed and leaned back in his seat as Erestor cautiously set each one in its exact place, perfectly centered with the edges of its square. He deliberated over their easy banter now that the issue of…well, everything had been resolved. Had it, though? Glorfindel was still wondering at the subject of that mysterious woman that Erestor had refused to bring up.

"Let's play checkers," Glorfindel said abruptly, perhaps startling himself more than Erestor.

"Why?" Erestor was on his last two pieces, nudging them ever-so-slightly to get them just where he wanted.

"Because I like checkers."

"Yes, well, I don't." Erestor, satisfied, sat back and looked at Glorfindel.

"I do, and I want to play it."

"So you can beat me?"

"Are you admitting that you can be beaten at checkers?" Glorfindel challenged.

"No," said the adviser stubbornly.

"Good, then that can be our next game."

"But I don't want to. Let's just do another chess game."

"It's always chess, and you always beat me! Can't you at least give me a chance with checkers?" Glorfindel stared pleadingly.

Erestor's eyes were half-lidded, unamused. "I don't like checkers."

"Please?"

"Fine! Fine, fine, fine." Erestor stood up and stormed out of sight behind a bookshelf, heading for the shelf where they always put the game pieces they didn't use.

"Is somebody grumpy?" Glorfindel said in a voice that was clearly trying to mimic a whining elfling, but he utterly failed and instead sounded like a whining Glorfindel.

Erestor finally laughed at the miserable effort, and Glorfindel could hear the clanging as the somewhat petite adviser tried to reach the top shelf. He considered for a moment to go help him, but decided instead to sit back and listen to the sounds of Erestor obstinately refusing to call for help and generally making a muddle out of it all.

After a minute or so, he eventually heard Erestor's exasperated voice.

"Well?! You're the one who wanted to play the game, you come get it down."

Glorfindel grinned and climbed to his feet, going around the corner to help Erestor, and delightedly thinking of what he was going to do the next morning with the darling little kitten that was still sleeping in the middle of his bed.

One more chapter to go! Thank you for reviewing, favoriting, and following, all of you wonderful people!

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So…that was the main discussion, right up there. Let me know how you liked it, please! I love reviews, and they really do inspire me to post sooner (this chapter should be proof of that;). Well – farewell, you amazing people, I go to message support so I can reply to you all!