Request: Lindir/Glorfindel, Any rating, Humor, fluff, a baby ferret, NO ANGST.

Summary: Glorfindel, Erestor, Lindir... and a baby ferret!

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Glorfindel leaned against the window frame thinking about all the things that were to happen today. There was a traveling party of elves coming from Lindon and also from Mirkwood. It was very rare that Imladris received two traveling parties within such short of time, but he figured that it was because the city was growing and in need of more warriors and counselors to help run the city. He also figured that everyone might want to be settled before the winter hit, and travel unobtainable.

He watched as the night turned into dawn, and figured that he might need to get things up and going before the travelers arrived. He was just coming out of his peace when he heard sounds coming from one of the other rooms. He was just about to start crossing the room when a bleary eyed elfling came walking out of his room carrying his stuffed Balrog. Glorfindel was not overly humored when the baby had received it, but because the elfling had taken to it so quickly he had not the heart to take it away. Now the young one had waken up and was coming out to see his ada Glorfindel still felt a great sense of pride at being a father. The first life had given him nothing, and now he had a chance to be a parent and experience all that life had to offer.

He could not help smiling at the beautiful elfing. Erestor was the epitome of cuteness. The child had long black hair, big grey blue eyes, a creamy complexion, wonderful disposition, and very intelligent. Glorfindel had once caught him in the kitchens stealing cookies. The child had strategized how to get the cookies by building a system of bridges and platforms by using the kitchen tables and the drawers to many of the cabinets. The only way they had figured out that it was Erestor was because he had left his stuffed Balrog on the counter space and his was howling up a storm at the loss of his best friend. The fact that he also had several cookies in his hand pretty much sealed the deal at the time as well. Glorfindel couldn�t punish him because he was in such awe at how the child had managed to up and down from the cabinets without hurting himself. Erestor had had a strong lecture, but the big blue eyes had melted his heart, and he couldn�t stay mad at the child for long. Elrond called him a sucker, but at the time he couldn�t help but love the child ever the more.

Glorfindel moved away from window, and crossed the room in just three sides in the time that it would have taken Erestor to walk over with his little legs. The elfling raised up his arms, so that Glorfindel could pick the little one up and swing him around before laying on a good morning kiss on the child�s brow. Erestor giggled at his father, and after Glorfindel had bestowed on the child a kiss he pulled him close to his chest just to hold the child. Glorfindel felt grateful everyday for having Erestor in his life. It was rare that parents such as he had children, but it was a gift that he had gladly taken on. An elleth who had had a very brief relationship with the Captain had passed away soon after giving birth to the elfling. He had been thrust into parenthood, and also had ended his relationships with any other females even though Elrond and Celebrian had felt he needed a wife. That had soon come to an end when he pretty much told them he didn�t need anyone else except his son and wet a nurse for the little one. All he needed was his child, and a little help from his friends.

As Glorfindel brought the child to his chest he gazed upon him for a moment before making his next move. He looked upon the unruly locks of dark hair, and decided that Erestor needed to be washed and fed before attending to his duties. He kissed Erestor upon the temple a few more times before hugging close, and then placing him upon the took the child�s hand to lead him to the bathroom.

�It is time for you to bath little one, and then we will break our fast in the dining halls with Elrond and his family.� Glorfindel looked at the child and waited for the next response that he knew was coming.

�I don�t want to� Erestor said. He crossed his arms like the decision was final and waited to see what his father would do from there.

Glorfindel just stared at the child for a moment, raised an elegant blonde eyebrow, and then crouched down so that he was on the same level as the elfling.

�Erestor,� he said in a low calm tone, �you need a bath because you need to be cleaned up so that we can go to breakfast. We are having travelers arrive today, and some of them are dignitaries from other realms. Lord Elrond would be most unhappy if one of his favorite elflings wasn�t looking his absolute cutest. And on top of that we have some new special bubble bath oils from LothLorien.�

Erestor contemplated the idea for a minute or two. He really didn�t want a bath, because he had just had one yesterday, but new bubble bath oils. He loved to play underwater Vala elfling, but he also just wanted to get dressed and get something to eat before the twins ate all the good pastries. He was a little torn between the two. Maybe he could have a quick bath then have a bubble bath tonight so he could then try the new oils.

�But the twins will eat all the good food before we get there if I don�t get dressed now.� Big blue eyes regarded Glorfindel for a moment, and had the look of some desperation in them. Glorfindel knew that Erestor was right, but he had taken that into consideration and already ordered breakfast for them so that he could get Erestor into his good clothes and into the nursery so that he could do some Yule shopping for him.

Glorfindel pulled the baby into his arms and said gently, �If you take your bath now, I will make sure that breakfast is delivered and then you won�t miss out on the good pastries. But you know that in order for you to have one, you must eat your other breakfast first. You know that good stuff that you think is so useless.�

He tickled the boy, and hearing Erestors giggles set his heart alight. Glorfindel did this for just a moment before the child turned around, wrapped his arms around his neck, and whispered an �I love you ada� into Glorfindels ear. His heart swelled and he just held the child for what seemed like an eternity.

Hoping that this meant that Erestor would take his bath, Glorfindel kissed his son a few times before pulling back and ruffling the child�s hair.

�Now are we going to go into the bath willingly, or do I have to set out the tickle monster�. Glorfindel was trying to make the tickle monster face, which not scary to anyone with common sense, but made the child laugh. Glorfindel would scrunch up his face, cross his eyes, and make sniffing and snorting sounds into child�s tummy setting off giggles and smiles. Erestor grabbed his Balrog and joyful explained that he would set it upon the tickle monster to protect him. This did not make Glorfindel sad or hurt for he knew that Erestor did not know the sadness attached to the said being, but that was neither here or now, but a time ago. He would not ever bring unhappiness to Erestor willingly, so when the child said his toy Balrog would protect him, he willingly agreed with the child.

�Okay ada I�ll go take my bath, but you hafta promise that I can have one of the pastries before the twins. They eat everything good no matter who wants it. They always get the good stuff.� Erestor had decided to tell his ada this just so that he was sure that he absolutely knew the consequences of him having to take a bath, and then eat breakfast. Erestor emphasize this by trying to give him a stern look, and then the raising one eyebrow like Elrond did so many a times. The only thing it did was actually make Glorfindel want to laugh.

Glorfindel replied by saying that he completely understood while trying to maintain some semblance of decorum, and not bursting out loud as the child was trying to be serious. It was at times like these that he realized that Erestor would probably make a good diplomat someday. Maybe it would be his son that would be helping with the ruling of kingdoms, those others only hoped to be doing, and if the twins were not careful it might be Imladris.

Glorfindel picked up Erestor and started toward the bath when he was distracted by a knock at the door. He was wondering who it could be for it could not be their breakfast just yet. He put Erestor down and went to see who would be coming to his chambers so early in the morning. Their breakfast was not supposed to arrive for another half hour.

He strode over to the door, and taking a cleansing breath, opened the door. There standing before him was Lindir the Lord�s newest minstrel. Lindir had arrived about six weeks ago, and had been pursuing Glorfindels company ever since. It wasn�t that Lindir was bad on the eye�s or that he was bad company, it was that Glorfindel was concerned about how Erestor would take having someone else coming into their lives on a more intimate nature. Lindir was a vision to him, and he would love to have someone in his life again, but his concerns for his child outweighed anything and anyone else at this time.

Glorfindel groaned inwardly before opening the door. He was not at all happy having to greet someone while looking as if he had not bathed for a week, and on top of that his chambers were a somewhat messy with Erestors toys scattered everywhere. It wasn�t the best possible moment for Glorfindel, but he knew he needed to answer just in case there was something that was needed.

�Good morning Lindir how are you this morn? Is there wrong or amiss that I need to take care of?�

Lindir blushed a bit, and the smile that followed after set Glorfindels heart aflame. �Nay, I was just on my way to the dinning hall when I overheard the maids telling each other about the gathering tonight. Elrond had asked me if I was going to attend, and with whom, and I told him that I didn�t know. So, I thought that before I lost my nerve I would come over and see if you and your son are going to be attending tonight�s festivities?�

Glorfindel smiled warmly, and thought how cute and unexpected this had come to be. He turned to make sure that Erestor was not using the plant as a toilet again, an interesting trick the twins had taught him when they thought it was funny. Noticing that at that moment Erestor was not where he left him, but now in front of him looking up at Lindir. The child gazed at the elf with the white blonde hair, and stood there picking his nose.

Glorfindel groaned inwardly again. Why was it that children always managed to do the oddest things when other people were around? Glorfindel had to fight the urge to bounce his head off the door several times before pulling Erestors finger out of his nose.

Erestor stood there for a moment wondering who this person was who was speaking to his ada. Since at that moment no one wanted to tell him, he had decided that he must take it on himself to find out. At that moment he also seemed to realize that his nose itched, and that he needed to see if the sand elf had left anything in his nose like he did in his eyes. His ada had told him that the stuff in the corners of his eyes was eye boogies, so then he decide that what was in his nose was the nose boogies from the sand elf as well. How was he to know? He was just a little elfling.

Erestor looked at the elf for a moment and then said �who are you? �

Lindir smiled at the child, and felt for Glorfindel. He had three younger siblings and remembered what they use to do when they were younger.

�My name is Lindir, and what might your name be?�

�My name is Erestor, and this is my special friend Boo Boo.� He held up his stuffed Balrog to show the elf his favorite stuffed toy. He was quite pleased when the elf in front of him smiled. He was even happier when the elf called Lindir crouched down onto his level, and said hello to his stuffed Balrog.

�Well met Boo Boo. I will have to say that is a very interesting name.�

Erestor stood up proudly and proclaimed �I gave it to him. I came up with it all by myself. �

�And it is a very good name. Did it take you long to come up with it?�

�No. I had hurt my knee and then when Lord Elrond was fixing it up ada gave me Boo Boo, and that is what I decided to call him.�

�Well he is very lucky then, because sometimes it takes people months to come up with a name for their elflings.�

�He isn�t an elfling. He is a Balrog. Ada�s friend told me my ada slew one and that ada helped people escaped and that he sacrificed his life to help them,� Erestor said matter of factly

Glorfindel had at once grown quite alarmed at this admission, and so had Lindir. .He lowered himself to his son�s level and gently said, �Sweetling, who told you this?�

�Some elf with long dark hair and with big blue eye�s like mine. He is always with nana when I go to bed. He has a fountain on his tunic, and he tells me stories and you and him, and about all sorts of things and nana sings to me to help me sleep.�

�When does this happen?� Glorfindel had grown somewhat alarmed at what his son was saying to him. Could it be that he could see the spirits, or was it that something else was going on, or was Erestor just being a child and making things up?. Turning to Lindir while picking Erestor up he asked, �Could you get Elrond for me? I need to speak with him immediately.�

�Of course, and I will go now�

But before Lindir could get completely out the door it seemed that Lord Elrond had sensed that he was needed, and just seemed to also appear out of thin air.

�Ah, Glorfindel good mornings to you and to you as well Lindir how are the two of you today? Good morning Erestor how is one of Imladris finest elflings? Elrond was always in a good mood it seemed and not even the twins and a new baby could dampen his mood.

Elrond leaned into the room a bit and ruffled the child�s hair and. Erestor giggled. He always like Lord Elrond. He was always nice to him when he hurt himself, and didn�t get mad when he got a tummy ache from eating so many cookies, and then throwing up on him.

Elrond turned to Lindir, pointed to Erestor and said �watch out for this one. If you give him anything to eat make sure he hasn�t too much of it, or you make see it again up close and personal.�

Lindir stood there for a moment wondering what his Lord meant, and then a somewhat smiling Glorfindel explained to him that Elrond had given Erestor too many cookies. He then decide to spin Erestor around in the air, and while at first the child giggled, the amount of food that he had had and the spinning caused the child to vomit onto Elrond. The only problem was that Erestor had thrown up on Elrond�s face, and in his mouth, and on his hair. Some of it had hit the floor, and Elrond had slipped on it. He had twisted his ankle in the process of trying to get up, and the twins had tried to help clean up their father with dirty mop water. Elrond had not been happy and spent the next two weeks nursing a sprained ankle.

Lindir was trying very hard not to laugh, but the visual of the story had played in his mind, and he could not help but laugh. He had abruptly when he noticed that Lord Elrond was not at all amused.

�Oh come on Elrond. You have to admit it was hilarious. At least you managed not to get it anywhere else, or to break anything.� At this point even Glorfindel had stopped thinking about what Erestor had said earlier. The thought of his Lord and Master covered in that mess was just too hilarious. �Remember, at least you did not wet yourself like your wife did from laughing so much.�

Erestor decided to interject here by saying with his arms stretched out, �and you still love me.�

�This is true. Celebrian denied it for the longest time, and still won�t admit it.� The Lord had a smile where the frown was just moments ago. �So, what are your plans tonight Glorfindel? I was just making sure that you will be attending along with our little poppet here? And will you also be bringing anyone with you this evening?�

The last sentence held so much and covered nothing up. Elrond had ended the sentence with a big goofy grin on his face that told the Captain that this was all a set up. Looking at Lindir he could tell that he was embarrassed by the question as well, and was probably looped into the plan by Celebrian and Elrond. The two were always trying to play matchmaker. They had grown weary of seeing their friend alone and wanted him to be happy and with someone, so that he would have someone to spend forever with.

�Well, I do believe that Lindir has just asked me if I was going, and if memory serves me right it means that I am being asked out on a date with my son. So, I will say yes, but we do need to clean up and get dressed and fed before we do anything else this day. I have a few things to do today, and if you and Celebrian would watch Erestor maybe Lindir and I can do them together?� He had ended the sentence with a beautiful genuine smile towards the blonde in front of him.

�I would be honored to attend with you and would love to help you out whatever you need. I just need to pick some things up today for some friends.�

�Then it is a date. And Glorfindel I almost forgot to give Erestor something here. I thought you might like to have another special little friend.�

The half elf handed the child what looked to be a really long cat, and then Glorfindel came to realize that it wasn�t what he thought it was or was it? The next sound out of Erestors mouth was �Kitty.� That is when Glorfindel figured out what his son held in his hand it was a baby ferret. Greeeeeeeat, now he would have to get a cage and a leash for the darn thing.

�I have taken the liberty of having a special leash made and a cage will be delivered later on today. Also, that thing you were going to ask me is yes, he can see and speak with ethereal beings. Do not be worried. Most children do and Erestor is a special elf. He will grow up to be a very beautiful being. Do not worry, the one�s he sees only wish to protect him and keep him safe. He is very much loved. I have also taken the liberty of getting few more things as well, and they will be delivered while you are out and put in the special room. And Glorfindel, pay backs are hell.�

�Thank you my Lord.� The elves bowed to Elrond as he took his leave, and then Glorfindel turned to Lindir.

�Well, I guess I will let you get dressed, and then meet you in an hour or two?� The question had come out uncertain for he did not want Glorfindel to feel as if he was being pushed into anything. So, he decided to give him a way out before anything else started to happen. �You know you don�t have to do this. If you don�t want to go or attend with me I will understand. I don�t want you to feel obligated towards anything.�

�I don�t and do not worry. I would like to get to know you better, but I will say that it really needs to go slow. It has been a long time, and Erestors needs come first before anything. I need for you to know that.�

Lindir smiled warmly and then replied �I do understand. When my brother lost his lover he was beside himself. It took a while for him to move forward, and I am all about it going very slow. This is new to me to, and I really like children, especially little boys that are using your plant in the corner for a toilet.�

Glorfindel just closed his eyes and started to counted to ten. Lindir excused himself, and went to ready himself for the outing with Glorfindel, and then an evening of merriment. Erestor was bathed, along with his ferret, and the three had breakfast. Glorfindel had decided that he would remember this when Arwen got older, but until then he would wait and when the ferret was older he would let it lose in Elrond�s room so it could steal all of his socks.

The End