I stayed back at the deserted library for a little bit more time after their exit before leaving myself. My feet carried me to the kitchen for some snacks.

As I looked around the usually busy kitchen, I asked one of the ellon who stayed behind who were busy moulding a dough in his hands.

"Hello, Arondir," I greeted, and the elf smiled at me before turning his focus back at his work.

"Oranges are in the basket, top shelf, next to the bananas," he supplied knowingly.

"Thank you," I beamed as I took one from the pile. "Where is everyone?"

"At the training grounds, they left just now since the moment they hear that one of the twins is participating in the weekly game. It is apparently entertaining to watch," Arondir muttered as he folded a big mound of dough and sprinkled it with some flour, "They'll be back soon though. The kitchen doesn't run itself."

"If it's so interesting, then why are you not out there?"

"I do not find violence entertaining," he said as he pounded his fist to the dough a couple times, and with expert fold it some more and gently slapped it across the table."

"I'm sure that dough shared your opinion right now," I commented nonchalantly.

That got the quiet elf to smile. "This is necessary violence. This dough sacrificed itself so you can eat it, Miss Elena."

"Alright, nice, nice," I grinned. "In that case, I'm going to see what everyone is talking about. Have fun with the match yourself, Arondir."

"Get out of here," he chuckled.

After few minutes walk, sure enough, at the training grounds, there were already quite a crowd gathered. The member of the guards with Glorfindel standing tall amongst them, obviously. Some of the fighters were standing in their shirtless glory, and I thanked all shirtless gods for leading me to this sweaty place in Summer. Unfortunately, the one other person whom I would like to see shirtless, Glorfindel, still kept that expensive shirt he had on. So I prayed once again to the shirtless gods for a sneak peak at the stoic elf's physique.

There were also many office staff members, high officials, including Lord Elrond who was talking with one of the twin (I don't know which is who), his advisor and my own case manager while watching the game. Then, there were also folks from the kitchen nearby, talking amongst themselves while some even still had their apron on.

I found myself a good grassy spot to sit on my own, where I don't have to make small talks with people whose facial expressions I barely can read, while being able to see one shirtless twin, being sweaty and (I hate to say this– sexy) as he fought another handsome shirtless elf who looked less muscular than the twin, yet not less deadly looking.

The sounds of blades clinking against each other, with people cheering and sighing and debating the on going match created a lively atmosphere in the training grounds, where I usually found depressing and intimidating as it was usually filled with somber looking elven soldiers who marched around in perfect coordination, clad in silver armor without souls. Just like their boss.

Sitting here, watching the elves fought a friendly match, I turned to my orange. I pressed my lip together as my right wrist flared at the simple task of peeling an orange.

Someone took my orange away without asking and I yelped, "Hey!" I protested. When I looked up, it was one of the fully clothed twin, who apparently left his father's side just to annoy me with that smirk. "That's mine, get one yourself," I protested as he began peel my orange.

"Relax, kitten. I'm only helping you peeling it," he snickered, then bent down to give me back my orange.

"Thanks. Which one are you by the way?" I asked as I broke the orange and gave him my half. He accepted it and began munching.

"Guess," was his only answer.

"Lord Elladan," I guessed quickly, since I was just overheard him talking with Glorfindel at the library about half an hour ago.

"No. I'm Elrohir," he said.

"Really? I heard from the kitchen that the real Elrohir is about to participate in the game, not you, Lord Elle."

He cracked when I called him Lord Elle. Which meant... This was really Elrohir.

"So you're Lord Elrohir? Aren't you supposed to be out there?"

"I am. It's just that my silly brother decided to challenge Ruvin out of the blue, and I had to wait my turn," he said as he sat next to me. "And please, kitten. You can just call me or Elladan by our names. Don't be so formal."

"I'll call you by your name when you stop calling me names," I deadpanned as I ate an orange and kept my eyes on the match.

"You don't like kitten? I'll just revert back to sweet pea, then."

"Just shut up," I mumbled, which unfortunately only drove him on.

"How about little red?"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance at the red head joke. I ignored him.

"Baby chili?"

"Carrot top?"

"Gingerling?"

"Freckles–?"

"–Would you shut up?" I barked, "Trying to watch a game here and relax on my day off, you disturber of peace!"

"Ahh, firecracker."

He received a murderous glare from me as reward.

"Suits you well, my little firecracker."

Elrohir finally shut down his trap and I went back to snacking in peace as the intense battle raged on.

"How's my brother treating you so far?" he asked.

"He's still annoying like you. Especially when you pop up during our working time," I answered truthfully.

"What can I say. Strength lies in shared endeavor."

When I looked away from the game, I found Elrohir looking at me with squinted eyes, as if he was devising new ways to irritate me. I gave him a look of disapproval. "Don't let the intrusive thoughts win, Lord Elrohir."

He only chuckled as he placed his elbow on a propped up knee. "You're watching the game so intently. My brother has a very eye catching physique, hasn't he?"

"Please don't."

"What do you think of Elladan?"

"He's horrible at administrative jobs. He's too unpredictable. Can't keep his feet, constantly moving around on the job and complained non stop about being bored, especially when you're not around," I popped another orange into my mouth.

"I hope you can excuse him. He's more used to nature and not too good at being confined to a single room for long. Riding his horse, protecting the border," I saw Elrohir looked at his brother with a little toned down look on his face, "Being useful out there is where his heart truly lies. Just like me with the art of healing."

I felt bad. "Yeah. Don't tell him what I said just now."

"Why not?"

"Because I know he's trying," I replied, "I think he's trying to please everyone. He teased me less now, too, and have stopped pranking me stupid. He knows when I don't like his teasing while on the job. I just need to ignore him, then he'll take that as a sign and stop. Unlike you," I said accusingly, making him smirk.

"So you've grown soft around my brother," he baited.

"That's called being professional at work, silly."

"What else do you think of my brother?"

"I don't know. What else? Barely know any of you," I said matter of factly.

"Oh come on, now, my little firecracker," he put his arm around my shoulder with that sheeteating grin on his face, "You've been with us for three weeks now. You know more about us than most people in Rivendell."

"I doubt that, and keep your hands off of me," I reprimanded him as I pushed away his arm from my shoulders. One second later, he had them back on my shoulders. I gritted my teeth at him, causing him to chuckle.

"You know, both of us are dubbed as the most wanted bachelor in Rivendell. Ladies would kill to take your place."

"Can you possibly get more self absorbed than that?"

"It's the truth. We both are extremely good looking."

I could only shake my head in exhaustion and pushed his arm away again.

He yielded with a dramatic sigh as he put a hand in his chest. "I can't believe you just rejected my advances. You broke my heart, my little firecracker."

"Would you stop calling me names!?" I growled in annoyance.

"Never," he smirked triumphantly upon seeing my irritation.

I was about to come up with ways to insult him when the match before us turned a violent turn and ended with Elladan winning the game. The crowd clapped and cheered as the two opponents shook hands.

Another elf came forward and lifted Elladan's hand up in the air in victory, "Ladies and gentlemen, I present this round's winner–Lord Elrohir!" he announced and the cheer erupted once more.

What the forking frick frack fork?!

I looked at the real Elladan, who I bared my soul into just now, had a very satisfied laughter when he saw my face turned red after realizing that I had been talking to Elladan instead.

Angrily, I began hitting his arm and chest with my uninjured hand repeatedly as he continued laughing like a maniac, attracting unwanted attention. "You liar!! You deceived me!" I boomed and beechslapped him some more.

When he continued to laugh and not even once showing any signs of pain from my uncoordinated chest and arm beechslaps, I then let out a growl, "You prick!!" and stood up, stomping my way out of the training grounds.

When I looked back, I saw Elladan telling Elrohir what he did just now, and Elrohir laughed as he watched me away.

Those piece of sheet!!!

***

Night came. Not feeling too hungry, I deviated from my way to the dining hall, and instead found myself in the garden that Glorfindel once showed me. With the light from the stars guiding me, I tread the path amongst the flowers and lo and behold, the fragrant scent of Alfirin greeted me. I smiled to myself, feeling at home and at peace when I found the court being dark and deserted. I went and gathered the tinders in the fireplace before using one of the elves' tool to light up a fire. I sat there again, by myself, reading for hours.

Life is good.

After so much reading, I blinked and looked at the fire. It must be getting late and I had to go back in a few more moments, but then I thought I'll just close my eyes a bit before reading some more, inhaling the crisp summer night air that smelled so sweet and pretty. It made me feel pretty too as I lay on my side in front of the fire. And as far as I know, Jack can draw me like one of his french fries.

Something tugged at my shoulder. When I opened my eyes, terror hit me as a tall, big entity stood in the dark before my eyes. I inhaled quickly and was about to scream when a hand was closed around my mouth and I was about to kick him in the nuts–

"It is me, Elena."

I exhaled softly in relief when I heard his deep seductive voice, melted like caramel to my ears.

Well, maybe he didn't mean to sound seductive, but he definitely sounded a little annoyed.

He let go of me. "Elrohir and Elladan are beside themselves with worry, thinking you have quit your day job. Again," Glorfindel stated.

I sat up and noticed the fire had died. I must've fallen asleep far too long than intended.

"I'm not," I replied. The elf warrior walked towards the fireplace and relight the fire before sitting across from me. Amber cast light and shadow playing around his chiseled face as he looked at me.

"You missed dinner. You're not in your room," he stated softly, "Are you really that angry at them, this time?"

"I was annoyed."

"So you disappeared?"

"I don't disappear. I'm simply spending time reading," I told him, showing him my book.

A small smile pulled at his lips, "You disappeared for eight hours."

"What?! I've been here that long?"

Again, Glorfindel smiled in a way that made me think he thought I was an idiot. "It's way past your bedtime, little one."

I frowned. "Hey. Don't you start ganging up with the twins on me," I protested when I heard the nickname.

He chuckled, and with the way his blue eyes seeming almost silver under the moonlight, I found those chuckles to be dark. Dark, extremely tantalizing chuckles. "It's almost 1 in the morning. You should retreat to your chamber."

He got up and exited the circular garden court, stopping just at the exit as he waited for me to gather my things. "Come. Let me walk you."

I followed him amongst the flowers. His hair was so shiny and had a moonlight effect somehow. It was so fascinating. The prominent muscles on his back were moving along his movements under that thin tunic he wore.

My, my. Such fine specimen. Comes with a very tight butt too.

As we exited the flower garden, he made a sharp left turn. I had the strongest belief that he forgot that I was behind him all this time.

"My chamber is on the opposite side of the House," I reminded him, adding, "But I can walk myself."

"I know. We're making a stop at the kitchen first."

"Okay."

Nighttime eater, I see. I wish I was an elf; just so I can eat whatever I want, how much I want or whatever time I want and still won't gain an extra pound on me.

He said nothing more and began rummaging around the deserted kitchen as soon as we got there, so I sat myself at one of the table and yawn as I waited.

"You do this a lot?" I began to fill in the silence, "Eating in the middle of the night when no one is looking? Look, you don't need to hide yourself. There is no shame in snacking. Besides you're bigger than most people and you do need lots of food to nourish your body. I'm just saying, You're not gonna get–"

He put a plate on the table and sat, looking at me weird. I saw his plate filled with grapes, strawberries, two slices of bread, butter and honey, and a side glass of warm milk.

My stomach growl at the lovely sight. "Imma get a serving myself," I said as I got up, but he stopped me.

"These are not for me. It's for you," he pushed the plate and the milk towards me, "Please eat."

The Captain of the Guards just make me dinner before bed. My poor heart couldn't take it. "Oh they're for me? Thank you! I'm starving!" I said as I began eating.

"I thought so. I only saw you eating half an orange after lunch and nothing else," he muttered, "You think I'm fat?"

"What? No."

"You said I'm bigger than most people, and I felt that," he said with a straight face.

I panicked. "No no no no no, that's not what I meant. I meant big in a really good way, not in a body shaming way. You have more muscles in you than most people, you're taller than most people, and you are a fighter, therefore you need more food to keep healthy, to have energy for daily activities and you're definitely not fat," I ranted to rectify my own words, anxious that he kept staring me with that stoic expression. I so not wanted to offend the elf that just escorted me back and fed me, who has the power to exile me this very moment, "You look good just the way you are, I promise you you have nothing to worry abo–"

Glorfindel sat back, fold his arms and broke character, struggling to hide his smile.

"I can see now why the twins like to tease you so much," he chuckled, "You are very reactive, Elena."

"Ughh don't start ganging up on me. Not you too!" I complained with a mouthful of bread.

"You try very hard there to convince me that I am not fat," he smiled in amusement as he said 'fat'.

"I thought you think I was body shaming you and that is really really bad," I sipped on the warm milk, "I'm not a horrible person, you know."

"What is this body shaming you are talking about?"

Body shaming was one of those outlandish term that no normal person invented, but despite how odd it sounded to people, I knew what it meant so I explained that to Glorfindel as I eat.

Glorfindel frowned like he found me odd. "Humans thinks this way?"

"Yeah. Especially women. Me? I'm body positive. What? You find this issue odd? No surprise there. I haven't met any elves who has jiggling belly on top of their belt. You are all beautiful."

Glorfindel tilted his head slightly, his expression, again, dead serious. "You think I'm beautiful?"

My eyes widened. "Did I just offend you?"

Glorfindel remained unreadable.

"Hah!" I pointed at him, smirking, "You're trying to get a reaction out of me."

He smiled then. "You're a fast learner, Elena," he said as he sat back, "These beauty standards are meaningless to most elves as beauty comes in many forms."

"But it is a legit way to measure attraction," I argued, "In the humans world, the prettier you are, the more favors you get."

"You say this out of experience?"

"Definitely," I popped a grape into my mouth, "I was once served second in a tavern despite having come first, because the barman has his eye on a beautiful blonde."

He raised an eyebrow. "That is weird. I was thinking you were going to tell me how you gain these favors that you talked about, not not receiving it. I find you beautiful, Miss Elena."

I choked on the bread I was eating, having not seen that last part coming out of him. Glorfindel immediately sat up as I coughed several times to clear my throat, and when he returned, he was kneeling on one knee next to me and offered me a glass of water. I would've blushed the same color of my hair, if I wasn't already red from choking myself when I took the glass from him.

"Thank you," I returned the empty glass from him, my face still feel hot, "And thank you."

The exchange went smoothly after that. As soon as I was done eating, he walked me to my chamber, stopping in front of my door.

"Good night, Elena," he smiled kindly, the one that reached his eyes as he watched me open my door. I stepped in and looked back at him.

"Good night, Glorfindel. Thank you for finding me. And feeding me."

He gave me an elegant bow of his head and left. I watched his back with a smile on my face.

It was a very good night indeed.

***

[Author's Note: Can I be real a second? I'm writing this fic on a whim, and I still don't have clear path in front of me. I just wanna hear your ideas on how Glorfindel will start to grow feelings for Elena? I'm not promising that it'll get to be used in this book, but hey if you want to share your ideas, feel free. Thanks for reading!]