Haldir of Lorien did not know whether to be amused or angry when his brothers came crashing through Lord Elrond's ceiling, accompanied by a female that he recognized as the Chief Advisor's sister. He could not think of her name, but his memory was refreshed as a mortified Erestor turned around to view the chaos on Elrond's bed.

"Isilwen!"

Erestor had just come in to announce the arrival of Gandalf and the Hobbits, whom Haldir knew that Elrond had been expecting, but he was surprised to hear that Legolas and Ciendriel were with them as well. He knew that the pair of Elves had gone to the Shire for the wedding of Samwise and Rose, but he was under the impression that they intended to head off somewhere else after that.

Why had they come to Rivendell? Surely they knew that he was here? Did it have something to do with him? Haldir's mind raced at the sweet possibilities and he felt a delicious tightening in his leggings as he imagined them. Ciendriel, the Princess he had nearly been wed to at her mother's request, with her long, lithe body, and beautiful, tender Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood. They had both been his lovers once, though now they were committed to each other. Haldir did not believe in commitments. Perhaps they could be his once more…

Before he could inquire to Elrond about the nature of the Elves' visit, the glass ceiling had cracked and he had nearly been crushed by the falling trio. Haldir jumped up from the bed and turned around as Erestor turned and called out his sister's name. This in turn brought his attention to the small female, an Elf who had never caught his attention more than in passing before. She had amazing features, he noticed. Why had he never taken the time to look at her before?

She and Erestor were from some strange land in the East, he recalled. There were very few Elves who were marked were those delicious features, and Haldir knew none save Erestor. The Chief Advisor was known to be very private and aloof, and Haldir knew that Erestor disliked him greatly, probably due to his easy relations with Elrond. Once, at one of the many banquets which Elrond always seemed to be giving, Haldir had invited Erestor back to his chambers. Never had he been turned down more blisteringly. He smiled at the memory, having known what the answer would be in advance.

It was difficult to say who looked more horrified, Isilwen or Erestor. The female was staring at her brother, then at Elrond, her cheeks flaming red as cherries. Haldir found her embarrassment quite becoming and it was difficult not to smirk. Only his irritation with Rúmil and Orophin kept his expression serious.

"What is the meaning of this?" Elrond said gravely, folding his arms over his chest.

"I…I…" sputtered Isilwen, but a sharp look from Erestor silenced her.

Rúmil was on the top of the pile, and he climbed off of Isilwen to his feet, shaking small bits of glass everywhere. Neither he nor Orophin looked terribly disconcerted about the accident, which irritated Haldir even further.

"Well, Lord Elrond," he said slowly, the wheels of his mind clearly spinning. "We saw a bird up on the roof…"

"A bird?" said Elrond with disbelief, arching his eyebrows even further.

"Yes!" said Orophin from the bed. "A bird! And it was stuck!"

"A little bird, stuck on the roof, that needed our help," Rúmil went on.

"And it took all three of you to climb up and help this ailing little bird?" said Elrond. Haldir was starting to feel nearly embarrassed as Erestor looked.

"We boosted Isilwen up, since she was the smallest and least likely to break your nice glass ceiling," said Orophin.

"But she got stuck, so Orophin went after her," Rúmil continued. "And everyone knows that Orophin is terribly scared of heights--"

"Then why did he go up onto the roof?" Elrond asked, but Rúmil ignored the question and kept on going with the story which in Haldir's opinion was rating up there with the top ten lies his brothers had ever told, and that was saying quite a bit. They were always spinning yarns to get themselves out of trouble.

"So, I had to go rescue the two of them," Rúmil said.

"And you decided that the fastest way down was through my ceiling?"

Before Rúmil could spin the tale any further, Erestor turned and bowed low to Elrond.

"My lord Elrond, I beg your forgiveness on behalf of my sister. She is a female, and weak of mind. Clearly her judgment in being up on your roof for any reason was poor."

"Being female does not necessarily make one weak of mind, Erestor," Elrond said. "Although I am more than willing to believe that her poor judgment may have been swayed by the company she was keeping. Isilwen, are you all right?"

Elrond went forward and offered his hand to Isilwen, who said nothing but let the king help her to her feet. Haldir saw her hand trembling, and he wondered idly if it had to do more with her fear of Elrond's wrath, or something else. Why on earth had the girl been on Elrond's roof in the first place, especially with his trouble-making brothers? The three of them must have been hoping to see him making love with Elrond. Haldir was sorry to have disappointed them. It would have been quite a performance… more so had he known they were being spied upon.

Elrond carefully brushed a few shards of glass from the female Elf's hair and looked over her hands and face. She had a slash over one of her beautifully sculpted cheekbones and minor cuts on her hands and forearms. Elrond took her chin in his hand and tilted her head so he could examine the wound.

"This will need a poultice immediately, to prevent a scar. The rest of your cuts are minor," he told Isilwen. "Clean them up carefully. You can find the herb you require in my garden if you have none, yourself."

"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Isilwen replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Elrond inclined his head. "Go now, with your brother. I will expect you both at the evening meal, as we will have guests. Erestor, you will see to them as soon as possible and tell Gandalf I will meet with him as soon as I take care of the hole in my roof."

Erestor seized his sister by the elbow and pulled her roughly out of the room. Haldir nearly felt sorry for her. Though she had gotten off lightly with Elrond, her brother was not likely to be nearly as forgiving. Nor was Haldir inclined to be as forgiving with Orophin and Rúmil, who were currently checking out their own cuts from the broken glass.

"I'm definitely worse off than you are," Orophin told Rúmil cheerfully.

"Certainly not. Look at this!" Rúmil showed off a deep cut that was oozing blood, dripping it onto Elrond's bedroom floor.

"The two of you need a beating," Haldir said disgustedly. "Lord Elrond, you are welcome to administer one to them if you so desire."

"That is not without appeal," Elrond replied, "However, I think that first a lesson in the reparation of glass is in order. I shall send for my glass blower and they can help him fix the ceiling. I want there to be no trace of this mishap before I next go to bed."

"We do apologize," Orophin said, turning his silvery-blue eyes on Elrond with a look calculated to make the king melt. Haldir knew the look well -- it had been used on him far too many times. Unfortunately, it seemed to be working.

"Very well," said Elrond. "See to the repair and I shall overlook this gross impropriety."

"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Rúmil said.

Elrond nodded. "I must see to the guests. Haldir."

Haldir followed Elrond out of the bedroom. He would have words with his brothers later, when they finished their punishments. He wondered if he should apologize to Elrond on behalf of his brothers, but he had never been the type to apologize, himself. Surely Elrond knew that Haldir was not responsible for his brothers' actions, in any event.

"I hold you completely responsible for this, Haldir," Elrond remarked when they were alone in the hallway, heading towards the receiving room where the Hobbit party would be waiting.

"Me?" said Haldir. "You know that Orophin and Rúmil are beyond any control, much less mine."

"I do not know how Galadriel puts up with them."

"They are good at their patrol, and good-hearted. In her eyes this makes up for their occasional lack of discretion."

Elrond stopped walking and turned to look at Haldir. "Do you know why they were on the roof, Haldir?"

"I can only hazard a guess."

"Guess, then."

"They wanted to see us making love."

"I believe that of your brothers, but Erestor's sister? She seems not the type…"

Haldir stepped closer to Elrond and slipped his arms around the king's waist. He kissed Elrond, deliberately slow, knowing how easily he could heat up the Lord of Rivendell with his teasing lips and tongue. Elrond returned the kiss, and Haldir tasted longing in it. "Do you not wish we had given them what they desired?"

"Sometimes I think, Haldir, that you are more of a troublemaker than either of your brothers."

Slowly Haldir let go of Elrond and took one small step backwards. Yet again Elrond was pushing him away, when once he had been more than eager to have Haldir for his bedmate. Haldir did not understand it. He sighed inwardly. He needed to take another lover, soon. The last time he had had one had been when he had lain with Ciendriel back in Mirkwood, when she had thought that Legolas had been killed.

"When did I lose my appeal?" Haldir said with irony, raising an eyebrow.

"You will never lose your appeal, at least to me," Elrond said. "Yet our time together has ended. A decision lies before you, Haldir. Will you go into the west, or remain in Middle-earth?"

"I have not the answer to that question," Haldir said, irritated.

"You need not have it now," Elrond replied. "But you must begin to think on it, and soon."

"Very well."

"I care for you deeply, Haldir. I always have," Elrond said. "You are lost right now, in turmoil. I want to see that end. I want to see you find happiness."

Haldir frowned more deeply, not entirely sure what Elrond was talking about. After all, he felt just fine. The question of leaving Middle-earth had not entered his mind much before. When he had thought he would marry Ciendriel, the answer had been provided him -- they would have gone to the Undying lands together. Now, he knew not. As for happiness, he had given up on that a long time ago. For a moment it had flickered like a beacon before him when he had looked into Ciendriel's eyes, but that had been snuffed out all too quickly.

"Thank you," he said finally to Elrond, who seemed to be waiting for some sort of reply which Haldir knew not how to give.

Elrond inclined his head. "Very well. Now, if you will excuse me, I will see to my guests. I will see you tonight at the banquet -- and I trust you will behave yourself as far as Legolas and Ciendriel are concerned."

Haldir scowled, feeling like a child that Elrond should even say such a thing, even if the warning was perhaps merited. "You have nothing to fear, my lord," Haldir said formally. "After all, I think my family has caused you more than enough embarrassment for one day."

Elrond merely smiled. "That may be true, but I think a hole in the ceiling will be worth the payment I get from Orophin and Rúmil."

He turned and walked away, leaving Haldir fuming silently. So Elrond would not take him to bed, but he was eager to take his frustrations out on the flesh of his brothers? Haldir turned around and stomped down the hallway to Elrond's room where he found Rúmil and Orophin sweeping up glass under the supervision of the glass blower, who had set up instruments for the repair of the ceiling. When he saw Haldir, no doubt looking as murderous as he felt, he muttered something about needing one more item and dashed out of the room.

"What were you doing on the roof?" Haldir demanded of them. "And do not attempt to tell me anything other than the truth!"

The two Elves froze in their tasks, turning towards their brother very slowly. Surprise was stamped over their handsome features. Haldir very rarely took this tone with them, despite all the trouble that they got into, and it was quite satisfying to see fear and dismay creep into their expressions.

Orophin and Rúmil exchanged a glance, hesitant to reply. Haldir glared at them more fiercely. They had never been afraid to speak to him of their mistakes before, more often boasting of them than trying to cover them up. It came to Haldir then, the reason for their hesitance.

"Are you trying to protect Erestor's sister?" he asked a little more calmly.

"She asked me to boost her onto the roof," Orophin said miserably. Haldir knew that Oro despised telling tales on others...unless it was Rúmil that he could get into trouble.

"She promised him a kiss in return," Rúmil added gleefully.

That explained why Orophin had done it, then. Sexual favors… Isilwen did not seem the sort to offer such things, Haldir thought, but maybe she was wild beneath the restraint forced upon her by her brother. He pictured her lovely, delicate features again and felt himself stirring. He would have to arrange to sit next to her at the banquet tonight.

"Why did she do that?" Haldir asked, returning in his mind to the situation at hand.

"Because she really wanted to get onto the roof," said Orophin.

"And she must have wanted it very badly, if she was willing to kiss you to do it," Rúmil said, poking Oro in the ribs. Orophin swatted at his hand.

"I meant why did she want to get onto the roof," Haldir growled.

"She…wanted to see what was going on,” Orophin said.

“And so did we, which was why we followed her up there,” added Rúmil.

“If you had stayed on the ground where you belong, the roof would not have broken,” Orophin said. “You see, Haldir, it is really not my fault at all.”

Haldir shook his head. Whatever they knew about Isilwen they did not wish to tell him, and in truth it mattered very little to Haldir, except she had increased in potential as a lover in his eyes. Clearly she had been hoping to see him making love to Elrond, even if his brothers did not wish to admit to the fact. Why did they protect her?

In the end it did not matter. Haldir turned and left Elrond’s chamber, leaving Rúmil and Orophin to the task of repairing the ceiling. He would investigate Isilwen further at the banquet tonight.