One Fine Day

I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.









WHITE WIDOWED WHISTERIA





Erestor turned. “Pardon?”



“Where are you going? Are we invading your bed?”



He smiled. “Not at all, now sleep.”



Glorfindel blinked. “So this is a guest room? It looks so comfortable…you must entertain frequently.”



“Rarely, and even then, it’s Elrond for tea and to keep me from being a complete recluse. Nay, this is my room.”



“But you said –“



Erestor’s brow arched. “I said you are not invading my bed, and indeed, you are not. You and our elfling are exactly where you belong.”



“So why is it that we are here, and you are over there?”



Erestor chuckled. “Because, while you may have been out living a life of action and adventure, mine has been a much more sedentary existence. I am still just as much a night dweller as I always was.”



“But…”



“Sleep now, you are weary.”



Glorfindel huffed and pulled Mani tight against his chest, half-curling around her and nodding off.

Erestor smiled and left the door cracked a bit, blowing out all but one candle as he made his way down the hall to the reclining area. He curled in his favorite chair, cracked his book open to where he’d left off, dipped his quill…and promptly fell asleep.



****



“Paaaaapi! Where da cups?”



“Third cabinet beside the tea stock.”



// How did he know that?//



“… but you are NOT climbing the counter to get them. I placed the eating utensils on the table, you can arrange them as your Unca Celeborn showed you.”



“Okies!”



The clitter clatter of porcelain and silver combined with the obscene scent of fresh biscuits pulled Erestor from his sleep. The rich smell of – oh bliss, is that…it is! – coffee had his feet not even minding the icy cold wooden floor as he stumbled after the scent.



Having the sudden sensation of being loomed over, Glorfindel turned, coffee in hand. “I hope you still like your coffee the same way. It would be a shame to waste it…”



Erestor snatched it, taking a sip of the sweet ambrosia. “It will…suffice.”



Glorfindel’s nose wrinkled. “Such glowing approval…”



“You remembered.”



“I made a cup for you every day.”



Erestor blinked. “That seems…wasteful.”



Glorfindel sighed and turned back to the obviously rarely used skillets. “I did not consider it a waste,” he mumbled, more to himself.



Erestor sipped his coffee and peered into the never-used-until-now pans. “What is all of this?”



“Breakfast.” Glorfindel pointed. “Eggs provencal, and French toast for the imp. Been a while since I last used a wood-fire, but it should still be fine.”



Erestor blinked. “Impressive.”



He shrugged and juiced an orange. “I owe my domestic goddess-hood to Food Network.”



“Food WHAT?”



“A modern form of mass culinary instruction. Cooking is no longer only for servants and the lower class. Not out there, anyway, and when were those pans used last?”



“Never, to my knowledge.”



“A waste of good cookware. Anyway, there was not much call for a sword arm anymore, and our need for secrecy mean that eating at restaurants every night was just not practical. So I learned to cook.”



“What exactly was it that you did? You mentioned earlier, but the coffee has not reached my brain yet.”



Glorfindel snorted. “Private investigation. Though there were occasions when the government called on us for what basically amounted to espionage, or to gain the release of prisoners, most of our clients were private citizens wanting to find lost family members, or wanting to know what really happened the night their loved one passed.”



“I see.” Erestor polished off his first cup of coffee, then reached and pulled the drinking cups from the cabinet beside the tea stock. “I heard you tell Maniel that the cups were here. How did you know?”



“You kept the wine glasses and tea service in the cabinet beside your personal tea stock back in Rivendell.”



“I am surprised you remembered for so long…”



Mani giggled from behind them. “Cuz HEEEEEEE kept ‘em there too!”



Glorfindel blushed and turned back to his cream sauce.



Erestor chuckled and sat at the table, pulling her onto his lap. “Oh DID he now?”



Mani beamed, happy to be the center of attention. “Aye,” she crowed. “An’ he had suuuuuch a temper tantrum whe-“ She was cut off by loud banging from the kitchenette. “When Unca ‘Ro switched ‘em around.”



A muttered “Please just kill me now” floated amidst the sound of banging pots.



Erestor’s smirk was wicked. “Aye, I can imagine. Your Ada has always been able to throw impressive tantrums.”



She bounced on his knee. “Unca Celb’rn said he acted like a Fen’ran denied a simr’l.”



While Erestor choked, Glorfindel breezed back into the dining area, placing another coffee on the table. “Go wash now, Mani.”



“Aye, Papi!”



While she flounced down the hall toward the washroom, Erestor began tweaking the place settings just so. “Elrond will no doubt be sending someone after us soon.”



Glorfindel blinked. “Why?”



“Well, he will think I have either lost my mind and tried to cook for myself, or that I am still sleeping the sleep of the exhausted.”



“Why exhausted?”



Erestor cleared his throat. “Much has been theorized regarding the activity following your arrival…”

Glorfindel blinked…then blushed. “I see…and were any of those theories accurate.”



“Aye and nay, but tha-“



“Eeeeerestoooor!” an annoyingly cheerful voice sing-songed outside his window.



Erestor groaned. “I have not had enough coffee for him yet…”



Melpomaen’s head popped in through the window. “Eeeeerestoooor, are you awa – Oh! Hello there, Glorfindel! It is about time you showed up. Erestor can finally sto-“



“Mel, you can tell Elrond that I am up, but that I am breaking fast with my family.”



Mel grinned. “I look forward to hearing all about it…”



Erestor huffed, rolling his eyes. “Aye, I’m sure you do, but that will have to wait until Arwen has finished explaining herself.”



Mel’s cheer vanished. “Not funny in the slightest.”



“Elrond did not think so either,” Glorfindel commented. “But he seemed happy enough to see his daughter again.”

Mel had already cleared the fence and was sprinting down the path by the time Glorfindel had finished.



“Impressive. I did not know he could run that quickly.”



Erestor chuckled. “You may as well have just said the Valar were having tea and scones at Elrond’s table.”



“Why, because I said that Arwen was there?”



“Aye, his fancy for her has never diminished. “



Glorfindel began to prepare Maniel’s plate. “That is a perhaps foolishly long time to hold a torch…”



“No longer than how long I waited for you.” Erestor pointed out.



“Aye, but at least you knew I returned your feelings.”



“I did?”



The French toast dismemberment stopped. A long moment and a heaving sigh later, it resumed. “Alright, I suppose I deser – hey!” Glorfindel’s mood dissipated like fog in the sun as Mani squealed back into the room. “Papi you should SEE da bafroom da tub is huge an’ fancy like a hotel but it don’ flush, so it’s kinda funny too Papi it’s BIIIIG!”



Glorfindel chuckled and swept her up, planting a noisy kiss to her cheek. “Iiiiiiis it now? Well, Master Erestor always enjoyed a long bath before bed. Perhaps, if you ask him nicely, he might let us use it tonight.”



“YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!”



Erestor laughed.



~~



Elrond sipped his tea and gazed contentedly upon his gathered family… or half of it, anyway. Arwen, Celeborn and Galadriel had yet to make an appearance. Perfectly understandable, really. The former had essentially returned from the dead, and the latter pair…well… the less Elrond had to ponder about that, the better for his sanity.



He reached and squeezed his lady love’s hand, smiling as he received a squeeze in return. He could only hope that the other loved ones in his life could be as fortunate as he in the selection of a mate. Celebrian had made him the luckiest elf on Arda when she accepted him as her husband, and continued to do so nearly 6,000 years later. Even when they were parted after her attack, distance had only made the heart grow fonder. Their reunion had been –



“Now then, are you not relieved I succeeded in convincing you to house her in the other wing?”



Elrond blinked, looking to his smirking wife rather stupidly. “I’m sorry?”



Celebrian giggled softly. “I know where your thoughts were just now. Naughty half-elf!” His blush only brought on more giggles. “I *said*, are you not relieved I succeeded in convincing you to house my mother in the other wing?”



Elrond’s gaze followed hers to the staircase. He blinked. “Indeed. I shall have to express my gratitude later.” And he most certainly would. While Celeborn wore a placid – nay, more like dazed – expression, the former Lady of Light’s smile was definitely that of the proverbial cat who found the cream.



He watched the two seat themselves, Galadriel with a heaping plate, and chuckled. He turned to Celebrian, a slow, naughty grin brightening his eyes. “I once again bow to your infinite wisdom, little songbird…” Now satisfied with the scarlet flush painting her cheeks, Elrond struck up a conversation with his Father in Law.

Not long after, the table fell quiet as Melpomaen stood and walked toward the steps, is air that of an elf on a mission. To the great delight of all, the scribe met Arwen on the steps.



The Evenstar opened her mouth to greet her old friend, then gasped in shock as it was suddenly taken in a harsh, bruising kiss.



Someone cleared his throat.



Arwen gasped for breath when he pulled back. “Melpoma-“



“Now you listen to me, Arwen,” he interrupted. “I care not who your family is. If you EVER do anything as stupid as turning away from me again, I will pull you over my knee and paddle your backside like a spoiled elfling. Understood?”



She blinked. “But, whe-“



“I SAID, is that understood?”



Arwen was torn. Her palm ached to smack the arrogant smile right off of him. Her foot longed to plant itself in his knee, but her lips wanted to feel his again… When HAD he gotten so aggressive? This was certainly not the same Melpomaen she’d turned away from on the trail to the Havens of Mithlond!



She looked around at the quiet, staring room and swallowed a retort. She descended the remaining stairs and shoved Elladan aside, pulling a chair up beside her Mother – a safe distance from where she’d seen this stranger in Melpomaen’s clothes sitting.



The chair made a loud screech as said stranger dragged it – and its startled occupant – down the length of the table. Melpomaen settled the fuming Arwen beside him, smiled brightly at the table’s other occupants, and tucked into his meal with gusto.



“May I at least eat?” Arwen snapped.



Mel looked up and blinked. “That is a silly question. You do not need my permission to eat, but if you are asking for my advice, I think you should do more of it.”



“Whaaat??”



“I said, I think you should eat more. You look much thinner than when I saw you last.”



Arwen nearly choked on her outrage. She looked toward her mother and grandmother, hoping one of those great ladies would come to her defense. Alas, both seemed to agree with the troll sitting beside her. She huffed and took the tiniest nibble of toast, just to be contrary.



In the doorway, Glorfindel looked to Erestor. “When did he get so aggressive,” he whispered.



“When he took stock of the males surrounding Arwen and realized that they all – including Estel – had one thing in common.”



“High-handed arrogance?”



“Well, aye, a bit of that too…but they are all very dominant males. Even Celeborn – while admittedly less powerful than Galadriel, is not afraid to put his foot down and speak his mind.”



Glorfindel nodded in comprehension. “So in theory, she would look to find in a mate what she has known in her family. But judging from her reactions, she does not agree with his personality shift.”



“You think not?”



“Erestor, she looks ready to murder him.”



“Perhaps, but she is also doing as he wished, and the males in her family gave their approval.”



“When did I miss that?”



“When they did not immediately put him in his place.”



Glorfindel grunted and led Maniel to table, seating her between himself and Elladan. He was not at all pleased to know he’d lost his edge when it came to interpreting his former Lord’s moods.



Elladan immediately pulled Mani onto his lap, smooching her cheek noisily. “Hey there, doll! Did you sleep well?”



Mani bounced. “Aye! We got to sleep in a biiiig bed!” Her voice hushed to a whisper that the entire table could hear. “But I think Papi was mad cuz Er’st’r slept in da livin’ room inzted of da bed.”



Elladan’s expression was carefully neutral. “Aye, but Master Erestor tossed and turned a lot in the old days. Perhaps he knew you and Papi were tired and did not wish to wake you when he kicked.”



Mani blinked. “Oh…” She shrugged and snatched a piece of toast from his plate, munching it happily.



Down the table, Celeborn leaned toward Galadriel. “I did not know Erestor kicked in his sleep…”



“He doesn’t,” she whispered back.



He blinked. “And you know this how?”



Galadriel smiled sweetly. “Do not ask what you truly do not wish to know.”



Glorfindel blinked. “How does she know?”



Erestor found his tea fascinating.



“Erestor!” Glorfindel squawked



“What? The two of you were gone, and even in Valinor, the nights are cold and lonely…”



Everyone at the table - except the lady herself – watched avidly.



Arwen finally sighed and rolled her eyes. “Oh, come ON! If there was sex involved, I’ll eat Ada’s ring. She had a bonded mate, and you know perfectly well that Erestor could not get it up for a female even if he wanted to!”



And that was that.



~~~



Again, the extended household of Elrond gathered in the comfortable sunroom to hear the rest of Arwen’s tale.

She sighed and sipped her tea. “So, we have a new king, a foreign queen, failed crops, and two suspicious deaths, both made to look accidental or as suicide.”



“You do not believe it?” Celebrian asked.



“Not a chance. Faramir was devastated by Eowyn’s death, most certainly. But would he have taken his own life when his King needed him most? Highly doubtful. Faramir was far too loyal for something like that.”



Galadriel’s head tilted. “So it is your belief that someone relieved him of his grief.”



Arwen shifted in her seat. “I think it is a distinct possibility. Shortly before Eowyn’s drowning, my King had asked Faramir to keep his eye on a small but increasingly annoying group forming in Ithilien. These had been the loudest protestors to the unification of Arnor and Gondor under Elessar’s rule. And they most vehemently protested their new ruler taking an elven wife…no matter HOW much human blood she carried.”



Elrohir blinked. “I don’t follow.”



“Treason,” Glorfindel and Erestor chorused.



Arwen nodded. “Exactly. Their sole purpose was to force Aragorn to step down in favor of someone with no elven tainting – they were a bit xenophobic, you see. Naturally, the next best person to rule would have been the former Steward’s son, Faramir.”



Elrond blinked. “So either Faramir was killed to clear the line to the throne…”



Celebrian looked up from her comfortable position against Elrond’s shoulder. “Or he knew – or was thought to have known – something that others would have preferred NOT get back to the new royal family.”



“But what could he have discovered that would have made him a target?” Mel asked.



Arwen shook her head. “I do not know for certain. But less than 5 years later, my King was dead by a mysterious illness that not even elven magic could cure. And believe me, Legolas tried.”



“We tried to visit and offer the family support,” Elladan said. “But Eldarion said you would see no one, and sent us away.”



She smiled, a little sad. “My boy… he was such a good child, and grew into a fine young man. I asked him to say that. I just wanted to be alone with my grief, and with the growing unrest, I feared for my life. Most likely, I had already left Gondor by the time you arrived.”



Elladan frowned. “But you did not leave for Lothlorien until much later.”



Her brow arched. “Did I, big brother?”



“Aye, you did… didn’t you?”



“I eventually did, but not until long after it had faded in glory. The lady who retreated to the Golden Wood was my eldest granddaughter, though I know not why. Anyway, once I left, I went East and waited for my Doom to claim me.”



“Which it obviously did not,” Erestor concluded, stating the obvious. “Any theories on that?”



“None that would make any sense. Eventually Eldarion caught up with me, and we traveled, just the two of us, for many years.”



“You must have taken his passing hard,” Mel said softly, stroking her fingers.



“On the contrary. He fell in love with a delightful Japanese lady and has lived with her in wedded bliss for about 200 years now. I spoke to him the day before I left for the Havens, and he told me she was finally expecting their first child.” She sighed. “The selfish part of me wishes I could have convinced him to come with me, but he was always more in love with that world, and as long as he is happy, so am I.”



The room lapsed into a long, contemplative silence, until finally poor Maniel (who so far had shown remarkable restraint for her age) looked up at Glorfindel with big, pleading eyes. “Paaaapi? Can I go outside now?”



The three elder ladies smiled.



“An excellent idea,” Elrond said, standing and taking Celebrian’s hand. “I am sure we could all use fresh air and a chance to stretch our legs.”



As the room slowly emptied, Arwen hung back. “Ada?”



Elrond sent Celebrian on with a promise to follow, leaving just himself and his prodigal daughter in the room. “Aye?”



He found himself caught up in a desperately tight hug. “Arwen?”



“I’m sorry, Ada,” she whispered into his neck.



He held her tight, stroking her hair. “What could you have to be sorry for, dear one?”



“I think I understand now how you felt when I decided to stay. Leaving Eldarion behind was the hardest thing I have ever done.”



Elrond sighed. “My poor little princess, I would never have wished this pain for you. It hurts, and it will always hurt. I will not lie to you about that. But like any pain, it gets easier to live with, if you remind yourself that it was his choice, and when you left him, he was happy.”



A childish squeal of delight from just beyond the window broke the heavy moment. Elrond chuckled. “She must have found the labyrinth.”



“Complete with Goblin King and cheesy music?”



Elrond blinked at her, baffled. “I BEG your pardon?”



Arwen giggled and sauntered outside.





~~tbc~~



**AN: Please forgive the brief movie reference in regards to Melpomaen and Arwen's parting. I try to keep the blatant non-canon references to a minimum, but hey, Mel's very existence is Fanon, is it not?