Hello everyone. I want to apologize for taking so long to post this chapter. I have a newborn that is in ICU currently and have been super busy with everything going on. I am working on the next chapter while sitting at the hospital.

The next morning was just as stressful and busy as Elrond had feared. Breakfast was amazing as always and then he was moved straight into lessons where he was being taught for the the millionth time how to balance books. This was how Elrond learned that math was NOT his thing and it would never be his thing. The fact that he was having to add and subract numbers sometimes multiple times was driving him insane.

"Andreth, I really do not get this," he said dropping his pen with frustration after trying again and not getting the answer that Andreth did. "I do not think I ever will get this."

"Elrond, this is basic math. I do not understand how you can not get this."

"Because it is not computing. One plus one is not equaling two. It is equaling nine in my case. I know this is not correct, but I do not know how to turn that nine into a two."

"Let me watch you work this next part and see what you are doing wrong," Andreth said moving to sit beside him.

Watching Elrond work on the next problem, he watched as the first part was answered incorrectly and then just ended up more and more off with every line. By the end of it, Elrond was off by more than three thousand. He blinked a few more times before looking at his young student.

"Maybe balancing books is something that you will ever learn," Andreth admitted without thinking twice.

"I told you," Elrond looked him in the eyes. "This is not something that I am able to do."

"I think for once I am going to agree with you on this. For whatever reason you decide to rule, you better find someone who can balance your books for you. Do not attempt to do them yourself."

"Thanks," Elrond laughed harder than he needed to. "I will make sure to remember that."

Andreth just shook his head as he closed the book in front of Elrond and took it away. Elrond did not know what else to say on the matter as he watched his very frustrated mentor.

"So I am guessing we are done with balancing today," Elrond said not quite sure what else to expect.

"No," Andreth said simply which made Elrond groan. "We are not just done today, but I am not going to teach you balancing every again."

"Gotcha," Elrond said trying not to laugh. "Am I really that bad?"

"You are worse than bad. I seriously do not know what else I can do to teach you. I personally have never found anyone as bad as you are. I mean I really thought Gil-Galad was bad till today."

"Wait… Gil-Galad can not balance his own books?" Elrond asked shocked.

"No, he can not. I balance his books for him," Andreth answered honestly. "But he comes closer to the correct answer than you. He has been getting better over the years too. Now, as far as the rest of the day goes, we still have multiple things we have to do."

Elrond nodded as Andreth started going over other aspects that he needed to mention before moving on to the next lesson for the day. This time, he was teaching while mixing in some dwarvish words that he had taught Elrond while they were traveling. It caught Elrond off guard for a moment, but when Andreth said a second word in dwarvish, he started to process what was being said. He had to admit that this was definitely a very creative way to learn dwarvish and the lesson. When a word would come up that he did not understand, he would question what the word meant and Andreth would make him guess. Majority of the time he was close, but not quite right.

"You are not doing bad at all," Andreth admitted.

"Probably due to the context you are teaching me in. If you were just saying the words without context, I probably would not even come close," Elrond admitted.

"Maybe this is how you should learn dwarvish in general," Andreth smiled. "Everyone has their own way of learning and I think I just uncovered yours. Just know that I will start to teach you dwarvish as I also teach you other necessary skills and lessons. This seems to be the best way I can do all of it."

"That is not a problem as long as I learn," Elrond admitted. "Thank you for taking the time to teach me."

"Not a problem at all," Andreth said with a smile.

Andreth continued with his lesson as Elrond continued to speak the words that were in dwarvish to show that he was understanding the lesson as they went. This continued all the way though midday when Andreth dismissed for lunch. Elrond stretched before moving towards the dining room silently with Andreth close behind him. They did not say anything else as they got there finding food already on the table. Gil-Galad was already enjoying his meal when they arrived.

"I hope your travels were good," he said looking at Elrond with a smile.

"They were. Thank you very much," Elrond responded.

"There were some cave trolls that were traveling east on our last night out. I sent letters out to those I know out east to warn them. I am unsure where they are headed. We also did see Oropher when we were gone. He is spreading more lies than before and thanks to Elrond befriending his son, Thranduil, we got a first hand insight to exactly what was being said."

"Anything that I should be aware of?" Gil-Galad asked.

"Not really," Andreth responded. "Elrond did send a letter out to Thranduil to also warn Oropher of the cave trolls on the road. I read over the letter before it was sent and there was nothing to be of concern about. I do worry that Oropher is going to try to push Thranduil to get Elrond to spy on you. I doubt that Elrond would say anything critical, but I want you to be aware, my king."

"Thank you," Gil-Galad said with a slight nod. "Elrond, if you have any concerns or questions about what you have said in any letters, please allow Andreth to read over it before it gets sent. I doubt that you will say something that should not be said, but I just want to make sure."

"I have no problem with that," Elrond said knowing he would have to sensor his letters to Thranduil unless he started adding a secret letter inside of them just for Thranduil.

As Elrond thought about that, Gil-Galad and Andreth started talking over other things that Andreth had come to realize when they were traveling as well as things that Gil-Galad had arise while they were gone. Elrond really did not pay attention to what was being said as he ate his lunch quickly before asking to be dismissed. Gil-Galad agreed and Andreth told him to be ready for training when they were done. With a nod, Elrond went back up to his room where he sat down thinking about everything. For some reason, it was just not setting in that all his mail would be monitored until now. Part of him now wondered how he would get letters to Thranduil, but at this point in time, he did not seem to care as long as Thranduil got them.

Not thinking twice, he thought of all the ways he could possibly get a letter to Thranduil and none of them were going to work besides making a second letter for Thranduil only and enclosing it in the original letter. Even that came with the fear that maybe Oropher would find it, but what other choice did Elrond have. Sighing softly, he forgot about the time till Andreth came and knocked on his door, getting him to follow him for sword training once again.