Dear Diary,

I lost control. Again.

The next day when I reluctantly returned to work, I found the twins apologizing profusely, as if they were not the Lords of Rivendell, sons of Lord Elrond. Sure enough, remembering how nice Glorfindel actually was, I forgave them. But then Elladan had to tell me that even yesterday, was just another prank, where they made it seem as if I'd completely lost 2 days of work. When he showed me that the actual paper that I'd been working on was fine and unharmed-I was gone.

The rage and hurt from their lack of professionalism the day before that hadn't completely dissipated yet, suddenly started bubbling up. All I saw was red, and at that critical moment, my body decided to do the thinking for me and decided that I was a quarterback. I charged at the oldest son of Elrond, forgetting the fact that just the day before Glorfindel had told me that either twins were formidable fighters. While Elladan just stood there wide eyed, like an immovable wall, I tumbled against his chest and into the floor, ending up with me dislocating the joint on my wrist.

As soon as I was able to regain control of my own nervous system from my own treacherous body, it was only then that I realize that I: 1) was NOT a quarterback, and 2) had a built akin to a tall hobbit, about half the size of an Elladan or an Elrohir, or for your additional reference, about one third size of a Glorfindel.

To my surprise, this incident was the first time I've seen the two demons acted civilly, like a normal grown elves, and I hate to admit they were pretty sweet afterwards, and I was left not knowing what to do with them, or myself as Elrohir, being the actual healer, was-get this-professionally treated me like a human being that was his patient.

To my relief, ever since that day, the twins had ceased all games and quit devising any elaborate pranks on me again and resorted only into verbally teasing me. Elladan suddenly knew when was time for actual work, and when to start being playful, and Elrohir kept checking on me everyday to make sure I was not in any pain.

Two weeks had passed, and my wrist was out of its cast, but still flared especially at night. Not wanting to raise any questions, I have been wearing long sleeved tunic since the fall because if people knew, they'll either think that: 1) I'm an idiot, or 2) The twins are idiots.

The twins are still idiots, no doubt, but they have been nice idiots ever since, and I gathered enough from our last encounter that Glorfindel cared about these two like family, so I chose not to make a big deal out of it.

After coming home from a week long patrol at the border, the seasoned warrior appeared in the dining hall as I was eating alone and joined me at my table to make small talks.

And by small talks, mostly it was me who was doing the talking. I just couldn't help myself. He noticed me dropped my fork several times and asked about it, but I only gave him savory answer, like: I fell. Other than that, not much to talk about really, since he apparently looked like he had signed a mental NDA regarding borders security.

Every Wednesday, I had the time to myself, so I went to that library where I first thought was haunted and went to the back of it to see what was in there. Sure enough, there was a hidden back door to it, built seamlessly to the wall, connecting to another hallway.

Huh. I just debunked the ancient elf ghost mystery.

After that, I decided to stay back there, sitting between two bookshelves and indulged myself on an interesting new book.

Life was good at that moment.

The sounds of two elves talking in Sindarin was heard from a few shelves behind me. I ignored them, until one of them started speaking in Westron.

"You've lived a sheltered life. Living amongst your own people. You may know the darkness out there as I do. Orcs, Wargs, Uruks, but you know little of humans while we are entering the Age of Men. This was why I brought her to you. To learn from her, not to test the fragility of their humanity!"

My eyes snapped from my book the moment he spoke Westron. Only then I realized it was Glorfindel who had been speaking.

"As I told you before, I am sorry. I and Elrohir are. She knows and have been gracious about it. Don't take her from me."

"I'll bring you someone else. I promised the girl that she won't receive any more trouble from you two, but you'd rather act up, pretending to be shallow just to what, annoy your father, evade leadership and in result hurting the only competent human I could find so far to aid you?"

"To this day, I still feel guilt for what happened. I never thought that she'd hurt herself. But she forgave me and now we are doing well, uncle. Who do you have in mind to replace her anyway? Some random man who will end up trying to gain favors from me, or random girl who will end up falling in love with me? Even if you do find one who is perfectly normal, I don't think they will be as brilliant as Elena."

Aww.

"That is your problem. I'm still going to assign her to a different elf, one who will not accidentally murder an already clumsy, accident-prone human girl."

Accident-prone? The fork, Glorfindel. Am I a joke to you? You think I'm Bella Forking Swan??

"If your decision is final, then I will also resign from my day job and return to patrolling the borders under your leadership-"

"-No."

"Be reasonable, Glorfindel!" hissed Elladan.

"Elladan Peredhel!" I had a mini flinch when I heard Glorfindel's deep commanding voice. "Wake up. I am old. Ancient perhaps more befitted to describe me. I'm older than even your father-"

What? There's anything older than Lord Elrond himself? Woah. Glorfindel is a walking fossil. A hot fossil at that, too.

"-I can't keep doing this job forever. Soon you'll have to take over, and when your father decide it is time to sail back to the Undying Lands, you will then have to take his seat as the protector of Rivendell."

"Protector," I heard Elladan scoffed, not in a jesting manner but rather in a bitter tone that I haven't heard from him before, "I failed at protecting my own mother, Glorfindel. You expect me to protect a host of people?"

All I've ever seen from Elladan and Elrohir was nothing but joy and merriment. But now, hearing the pain in Elladan's voice made it just outright heartbreaking.

"Some things you can't control, Elladan. You and your brother need to make peace with yourselves for losing your mother. It was never your fault in the first place."

"I could've found her sooner, uncle. I could've stopped those filthy orcs from touching nana and caused her mind sickness."

"You found her, Dan. That's what mattered. You didn't leave her to the fate of dying in those bastards' hands," I picked up venom in Glorfindel's speech too. Now I knew why Rivendell elves hated orcs so much. Those creatures had caused Lord Elrond and his children to lose their loved one. "You gave her a chance to say goodbye to her family and leave this world with grace."

For the first time, I realized that I shouldn't be here, listening to their private conversation. But what should I do then? If I get up and leave, I risk them finding me out.

"I still think I am not cut out for this expectation you and adar put on me."

"I helped raised you and your brother. I tutored you myself. Do you think I would put so much faith like I do to you if I do not see greatness within you?" Glorfindel asked with a much kinder tone. If I even heard correctly, I'd say there was fondness and love in his tone as well. "Have I ever been wrong in my judgment on people before?"

"...No, uncle."

"Then have faith in yourself, Elladan. Estelio nin."

I really shouldn't be here.

I soundlessly closed my book. I pulled my leg closer to my chest, hugged them, hiding my face between my knees so I can make believe I did not just eavesdropped on a very intimate conversation between two very important elves that have the power to exile me into the wilderness.

There was a prolonged silence after that last tender words from Glorfindel-probably enough pause for them to gaze lovingly into each other's eyes.

"You may keep the girl," Glorfindel finally broke the silence, his voice neutral. "Try not to break anymore of Elena's bones, will you?"

"No promises," I heard the smirk in Elladan's voice. Prick. "Elrohir will be there to mend any additional broken bones."

"Let's head back to the training grounds. I believe it is your brother's turn now to challenge Sylvanna into a melee combat. I have bets placed."

"I will not tell Ro that you bet against him, after you answer this question of mine. You were putting heavy emphasis on being very old and not wanting to forever be the Captain of The Guards, despite your stellar reputation. Tell me, have you heard the Call of the Sea?"

"No."

"Then you need not hurry pressuring me so much, don't you?"

"I'm not circling back to this topic. I am still going to breathe down your neck about this, until I see you succeed after me."

"I think you're just bored, uncle. I think it is high time I repay your service to my family by finding you a wife. Restore the vigor to your life again."

"Elladan. Outside. Now," Glorfindel ordered in a warning tone.

"I can feel you have so much frustration, uncle. Build up like magma under the layer, like a dormant volcano. Don't give me that look! The fact that you are not yet called back to the Undying Lands means there is still something for you in this land. I happen to know a maiden, she's single and you seem to take much interest in her well being lately."

"Why do you flee, uncle? Are you afraid because she's too chaotic for you? You know, the one with personality as fiery as her hair? The teeny tiny one? Angry as a kitten?" Elladan said, his voice getting further and further away as he walked towards the library's exit.

"Her name is Elenaaa~! And I'm going to trick her into marrying you because she told me she likes you too!!!" sang the mischievous elf, making my face red with embarrassment at even the notion of it, and not a small amount of annoyance. What's worse, I couldn't even openly chided him about putting such idea in Glorfindel's head and mine.

That forking piece of sheet!!!

***

[Author's Note: Have you any idea what was going on in Elladan's head when he started singing that last part of his speech? Comment down below, to see if any of you picked up a fact about this conversation that was not explicitly written in this chapter and when you realized it. Thanks for reading!]