"Now, when you multiply, you move down a line, and then after the zero write the number, but you must place a zero here." The quill was dipped back into the black ink. "Then, you add these numbers together, and then you get your answer... are you sure you've not done this before?"
"No, never," replied the elf, shaking his head. "So the debt to Mithlond-"
"There is no debt. Actually, they owe to Imladris."
"And Lothlórien?" asked Master Erestor hopefully.
"It isn't as bad as you thought," assured Haldir. "Look, the debt almost matches the credit you have with Cirdan."
Master Erestor studied the numbers. "Perhaps we could transfer the credit to Lórien. We're still bankrupt, though."
"But it isn't as bad as you first thought it to be." Haldir crossed off the incorrect figures and rewrote the new amounts. There was less red than there had been. "You're still going to have to consider King Thranduil's offer."
Master Erestor nodded, his face grim. "I really don't want to do that."
Haldir said nothing. He had hoped when he chanced to see the ledger and the poor calculations that had been made that he could somehow find something that had been missed. Indeed he had - apparently, in the whole of Imladris there was not one elf who could do basic mathematics. He found a few errors that favored the situation, but not enough.
During his brief time in Imladris, under the instruction of Master Erestor and Lord Elrond, Haldir had mostly been taught various languages, etiquette, and history - all of the skills the son of a seneschal would be expected to know. He had not questioned why arithmetic was not one of the lessons being taught, assuming it was because Glorfindel had instructed him in Lothlórien. Now, having seen the state of the budget, he realized what the nature of Glorfindel's work on the council was.
"Who exactly took over the job of overseeing the treasury when Glorfindel went to Lothlórien?" he asked.
"No one. Lord Elrond thought his departure was temporary and said we would manage a few years. 'Tis nearly a century now."
"Ah. He really should have someone keeping track of the expenses," Haldir said, hoping he was not overstepping his bounds by saying so.
"Even if we could find someone, we do not have the funding to hire more staff."
Haldir looked down at the messy ledger. "What if I did it? As Glorfindel's apprentice – apprentices don't get paid," he added quickly before Erestor could object.
Erestor shook his head. "He's not here to oversee you."
"But what if you were the one overseeing me in his place?" suggested the young elf. "You're already taking on his duties with the horses," Haldir reminded him.
Erestor studied him for a while, saying nothing as he looked from the elf to the columns of numbers. "I will need to clear it with Lord Glorfindel and your parents," he finally said.
Haldir grinned.
"And with Lord Elrond."
"Master Erestor-"
"No, that is my final word. It is not a decision I am allowed to make."
Haldir's shoulders slumped and he nodded. The page from down the hall came into view at the doorway and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, my lords, there is a delegation from the woods of Lauelind- Lauralrala-" He paused and took a breath. "Lauroulalindora-"
"Laurelindorinan," whispered a slightly higher voice behind the page.
The page's cheeks and neck flushed a bright ruddy color and he nodded his head. "From there. They have come."
Haldir was up from his seat in a moment, nearly scaring the elfling in the doorway. "Who leads them?"
"The Lady Celebrían," hissed the hidden voice, and the dark-haired elfling in the doorway simply nodded. After a moment, the higher voice added, "Ask him!" and a hand poked the dark elfling in the side.
"M-m-master Erestor," stuttered the page, "it seems you will be busy with the party from..."
Master Erestor slowly smiled just a bit as the elfling tried to repeat the name of the forest and finally held up his hand to save the child. "You wish to have the rest of the day off, Melpomaen?"
The page nodded. "Yes, sir. Please, sir. The pond is cool and everyone is diving from the tree that hangs over the middle. I wouldn't ask, but it's been so hot-"
"And Lindir no doubt has plans to be at the pond as well?"
The other elfling, a little smaller than the page, stepped into the doorway with a tiny lute under his arm. "I need an audience to practice," he announced. "Lord Elrond has thrice chased me from the Hall of Fire today."
"Off, then, both of you!" laughed Master Erestor with a wave of his hand. "Make merry while the sun still shines and the grass is still green, before autumn comes and turns the ground and sky to shades of red and gold."
"Thank you, Master Erestor," was the response as the elflings bounded down the corridor.
Haldir, who had momentarily forgotten about the arrival of his sister, scratched his head as he observed Master Erestor. "Shouldn't they be asking their parents for permission?"
"They should be. But their parents are dead," responded Master Erestor sadly.
Frowning, Haldir tidied his workspace before following his mentor out of the room and down the hallway. "So... are you their guardian?"
"Not exactly," said Erestor as they climbed the stairs. "The youngest of the orphaned children who live here are watched over by a group of caretakers. When they are old enough, they are tested and their skills put to use through an apprenticeship program. I oversee the pages, both in the halls and in the library, with Nenniach's help. She is an orphan as well. In some ways, so is Lord Elrond. In some ways," he said softly with a sudden realization, "so am I."
"I'm sorry I brought it up," Haldir said apologetically.
Master Erestor waved his hand. "Nonsense. You will be here for quite a while yet; I should have informed you of it."
"What of the little lore master, who oversees him?"
"Ah, Lindir is special, no doubt. He oversees himself, honestly. He's quite serious about his music. I think it keeps his mind off of the death of his family," said Master Erestor quietly as they approached the landing. Rough and gruff noises could be heard not far away, and as the pair turned the corner they could see an elleth standing amid a pack of dwarves, and looking absolutely terrified.
"What's wrong with her?" questioned one to another. "She looks like she's seen an orc."
"Seen one? She's looked as if she's kissed one," laughed another of the stout group.
As Haldir and Master Erestor made their way toward a fearful Celebrían from down the corridor, Lord Elrond was coming from another. "Lady Celebrían, how lovely to see you," he beamed, stepping through the crowd to reach her. "I see you've met my friends from the southern mines," he said, nodding to the dwarves that were surrounding them. She nodded weakly, and Elrond discretely slipped his hand around her waist. "Lady Celebrían, may I present Nosh and his brother Nash, Borun and Lorun, and their sister Doru – yes, sister," he chuckled, "don't let the beard fool you..." trailed Elrond as he pulled Celebrían closer to him.
Haldir, keeping behind Master Erestor as they came closer, growled. "That is a most familiar way for him to be touching her," he hissed under his breath. "Most unseemly."
Master Erestor looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "How long did you speak with Lord Thaladir the other night?"
"I didn't need his advice to know Lord Elrond's hand is not where it should be," answered Haldir.
"... and I thought it would be rather nice if we all had lunch together," finished Lord Elrond.
Celebrían blinked and looked at Lord Elrond as if he'd also just informed her that the luncheon would consist of beetles on toast with bright green pond sludge on the side. "All of us?" She glanced down around at the dwarves.
Haldir paused suddenly, and Master Erestor, realizing this, doubled back. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I should just leave her there to dine with dwarves. I mean, I'm her little brother, that's the sort of thing I'd do. If we were in Lothlórien. Barely a year ago, no question about it. Eru help me, I'm going soft in my old age," he mumbled to himself before walked past an amused Master Erestor. "Clebri!" he called out and a moment later broke into a run.
Celebrían turned and grinned, pulling away from a baffled Lord Elrond. "Halli!" She embraced him as he nearly knocked her over. "Halli, it's SO good to see you," she said as he led her just around the group to an open part of the hallway.
"Likewise," he said, surprised that he didn't have to force himself as much as he would have thought. "Clebri, I've missed you so much! You must tell me, how are Nana and Ada, and Oro, and little Rumil, how is he? Can he walk yet?"
"There is so much news to tell you about," she said, "but I fear it shall have to wait, Lord Elrond has... kindly asked me to lunch," she said, giving a half-hearted smile in Elrond's direction.
Elrond looked at the siblings, and Haldir thought he saw something of a wistful look on his face as he gave a wave of his hand. "Who am I to break up a family reunion," he replied, and Celebrían smiled brightly.
"Great!" spoke up one of the dwarves. "I was afraid we'd need to tone things down with a lady there. I'll go get my fiddle, I've at least a half-dozen new songs I know you haven't heard, Rond." The dwarves made their way down the corridor in the direction of the dining hall.
"Rond?" asked Celebrían as Master Erestor finally made his way to the group.
A slight tint of red colored Lord Elrond's cheeks. "My dwarvish name, I suppose, it's what they like to call me."
Celebrían stepped back over and kissed his cheek. "I think it's quite accommodating of you, my lord," she said.
Elrond glanced down to the floor bashfully and really, truly smiled for the first time since his last visit to Lórien. He cleared his throat and then motioned toward an exit with his hand. "I think the gazebo would be a lovely place for the two of you to get caught up with the affairs of Lothlórien, I shall have something sent out for both of you," he said.
"Thank you, my lord," Haldir said with a slight bow, and he held his arm out for his sister. "The gardens are lovely, I can show you my favorite spots while we wait for lunch."
Celebrían poked Haldir's shoulder. "What did you do to my little brother?" she asked slyly. "The nasty one who used to put frogs in my bed."
"Oh, yes, that's right, you were going to tell me about Oro," grinned Haldir as Celebrían took his arm.
Lord Elrond smiled as he watched brother and sister walk down the hallway. "He's really not all that bad," decided Elrond.
"First impressions, though often the strongest, are not always the most accurate," answered Master Erestor sagely.
Lord Elrond continued to stare down the corridor long after the pair was gone. "I miss Ereinion," he finally admitted.
"Yes," agreed Master Erestor. "I know that." There was a lengthy pause. "So, you're taking that anger, over Gil-galad's death, out on a young elf who sees him as a hero."
"It isn't just that. He reminds me so much of how Ereinion was," Lord Elrond realized. "I have been harsh, and though Haldir needed discipline, I've not been acting myself, either." He shook his head. "So very many things I wanted Ereinion to know, and I never told him, and I fear it too late now. Why is it," questioned Lord Elrond, "that so often we only show our complete respect for someone after they have died?"
"Perhaps we fear their reaction to our words when they are alive, perhaps we simply fear speaking to them, perhaps we don't see it as a sacrifice until the ultimate one has been made," Master Erestor finally answered. "Perhaps, for so many reasons, it is just easier that way."
Around the corner, a small voice could be heard. "Go tell him!"
"You go!"
"No, you! I think Master Erestor is nice, that's true, but it's YOU who idy-idoly-idolisieses..."
"Oh, fine!" From out around the alcove they had been in, Lindir peeked out at the two elflords. He coughed into his hand and repositioned his lute over his shoulder. The elfling approached and folded his hands behind his back. "I just wanted to say, Lord Elrond, that I admire you very much. Your wisdom, and your knowledge, but most of all your flair for storytelling. I think you're one very swell elf."
"Tell him about-"
"I'm getting there," hissed Lindir to the elf that was hiding around the corner. He turned back to Lord Elrond and Master Erestor and took a deep breath. "When I grow up, I want to be just like you." Lindir exhaled. "That's all," he added cheerfully, and then turned to look over his shoulder. "Well? I told Lord Elrond, you tell Master Erestor."
"M-m-maybe later," answered the voice.
Lindir rolled his eyes and leaned forward. "Just between you and me," he said quietly to Lord Elrond, "Melpomaen's a scaredycat. But he really, really thinks Master Erestor is great – he talks about him ALL the time."
Lord Elrond gave Master Erestor a sideways glance. "I think your secret is safe with us," he said with a wink.
"Not to rush, but we're due for an engagement," Master Erestor said. "Lunch with a delegation of Dwarves."
Lindir's eyes lit up. "I don't suppose you need any music, do you?"
Lord Elrond considered the elfling's request. "Actually, perhaps it might work well if you came along," he said. "Master Erestor, I regret to inform you, I've sent your assistant off to speak with his sister. I just don't know where you'll find a replacement on such short notice."
"I can fix that," Lindir said, heading back around the corner. A moment later, he pushed Melpomaen out in front of him. "He would LOVE to assist you, Master Erestor."
Master Erestor gave a curt nod. "Go along then, both of you, please inform our guests that we will be with them shortly." The two elflings nodded, and began to swiftly walk down the hallway.
"Just because they know we like them, now," whispered Melpomaen to Lindir, "that doesn't mean we have to tell them we accidentally let the horses out the other day, does it?"
"Horses? Uhm, what horses?" Lindir hissed back, moving his friend a little quicker down the hall. He glanced discretely over his shoulder and kept them moving.
Lord Elrond and Master Erestor exchanged enlightened looks. "Well," Master Erestor said, "not to say `I told you so', but-"
Elrond sighed. "Go ahead. I deserve it," he said.
"These youngsters need more of a direction," began Erestor. "They have duties and such, but they need guidance and-"
"You can have the school."
"-I'm certain that... I can?" Erestor blinked. "The funding-"
"-will be taken care of by King Thranduil. Provided you don't mind running the Oropher Memorial Higher Education Facility or whatever foolish name it is that he wants it called. I spoke with Lord Thaladir, and I thank you for thinking of the pride of Imladris by refusing their help, but sometimes, one must use courage and ask for the help that they need."
"I'm glad you think that way," Erestor replied as he motioned that they should walk to the Great Hall. "There's a very promising young elf who has offered to apprentice as our bookkeeper until Glorfindel's return."
"Oh? And who is that?" wondered Elrond.
"If you play your cards right," smiled Erestor, "he could very well be your brother-in-law."
