Elrond sat at his desk going through the daily correspondence. When
he finally reached the bottom of the stack, he noticed a folded note
he had not seen before. His senses instantly heightened. He slowly
opened the note and his eyes opened wide. The note simply
said…Could you? It was not signed and he did not recognize the
writing. Rubbing his forehead, he stared at the words. “Could I
what?” He tucked the letter into the pocket on his robe and left
his office.
Elrond walked the hallway to his chambers to rest and prepare for
the evening meal. He did not see the beautiful eyes following him
from the shadows. He also missed the grin on the face that the eyes
belonged to as he drew the note from his pocket to read it again.
Elrond was very distracted during dinner. “Elrond, is anything
wrong? Can we help you with something?” Erestor asked with a
concerned look.
Elrond stared at his friend for a moment, “No, meldir. I am tired.
I am going to retire. Good night, to you all.”
They all watched as he left the hall. “I wonder what has Lord
Elrond so upset.” Glorfindel sipped his wine.
Lindir looked back after Elrond had left. “He does not seem upset,
just distracted.”
Elrond entered his chamber and took his robe off, letting it fall to
the floor. He walked to the balcony and breathed deeply. “Could I
what? Who would have left that note and what does it mean?” He
shook his head and finished undressing. As he approached the bed,
he noticed another note. It simply read…Would you? “Would I what?”
He sat down on the bed looking at the note. He took the first note
out of his bedside table and stared at them. “Could I, would I
what?” He lay on the bed and placed the note on the table.
“Someone is playing with me. Why would someone do this? It must
be a joke.”
After a fitful night, Elrond rose to ready for the day. Although he
would have rather stayed in bed, he made his way to breakfast.
Without even greeting anyone at breakfast, Elrond began running
through a litany of things that needed to be done and assigning
tasks. He asked no opinions and after eating quickly, left for his
office. Once inside he looked around. There on his desk was
another wretched note. He grabbed the note and threw it into the
trash. He sat down in a huff and slumped in his chair, holding his
head in his hands.
Erestor knocked softly and entered Elrond’s office. “Elrond, what
is amiss?” After receiving no response, he walked to Elrond and
touched his shoulder. “Elrond, what is it?”
Elrond did not move. “Are you doing it, Erestor?”
“Doing what?”
“Are you writing the notes? If you are, I want it to stop. I do
not wish to be toyed with.”
Erestor pulled a chair next to Elrond and lifted his chin, forcing
Elrond to look at him. “What notes, Elrond?”
Elrond removed the notes from his pocket. “These and the one in the
trash.”
Erestor took the letters and retrieved the one from the trash.
“Have you read this one?”
Elrond shook his head. “Well, perhaps you should.”
Elrond took the note that read…Will you let me? “What do they
mean?”
Erestor read the other notes. “I am not sure, meldir. Do you think
someone is trying to court you?”
“Why would someone want to court me? I am old and set in my ways.”
Elrond snorted, “Very true.” He looked at Elrond with a grin
“Elrond you are also intelligent, strong, brave and beautiful.” His
grin grew at Elrond’s blush. “You care for everyone here. You
treat everyone as family. You are a fair and just leader, but most
of all, you are kind and compassionate and loved by all who live
here. Yes, you are right. Why would anyone want to be with someone
like you?”
“You think me all those things? You really think someone may want
to court me?”
“Yes, I do. I cannot think of any other meaning for the notes.”
Erestor rubbed Elrond’s arm. “Enjoy it, meldir. It could be fun.”
The rest of the day found Elrond much more relaxed. He decided to
find out who left the notes and would make it a quest. He watched
everyone going about their duties, trying to catch anything out of
the ordinary. The evening meal was a much happier event than the
previous night. Elrond laughed, smiled, and even flirted with
everyone. When he had exhausted himself, he bid everyone good night
and returned to his chambers. He was excited to see if another note
had been left. He gasped ad he entered his chamber. Many candles
bathed the room in a beautiful glow and rose petals were strewn all
over the room and bed. Elrond’s heart began to pound as he saw a
note among the petals on his bed. He took the note with a shaky
hand and read…Can I?
“I do not know what they mean. I cannot answer unless I know what
they mean.” Elrond whispered as he took a handful of petals and
inhaled the aroma.
From the corner of the room, shrouded in the shadows, Elrond hear a
timid but familiar voice. “May I?”
Elrond turned quickly to the voice. “Lindir?”
Lindir walked to Elrond and took the note from him. Elrond looked
down to see that Lindir held the other notes. Lindir was trembling
as he handed the first note to the object of his desires. “Could
you…care for me the way I care for you?” Elrond watched this beauty
before him. He longed to comfort Lindir as he could see and feel
his unease. Lindir handed him the second note. “Would you… love me
the way I love you?”
Elrond raised his hand to caress Lindir’s cheek in hopes of calming
the beautiful minstrel. Lindir looked into Elrond’s eyes as he
handed him the third note. “Will you…let me hold you and love you?”
He then handed the last note to Elrond and took a deep breath.
“Can I…,” a gentle finger to his lips stopped his words.
Elrond dropped the notes and took Lindir’s face in his comforting
hands. “Say no more, Lindir. I have your answer.” He leaned
forward to place a gentle kiss on Lindir’s trembling lips. He drew
back and looked at the sweetest eyes he had ever looked into,
“Yes…Yes…Yes…and yes.” Each answer punctuated with another kiss.
The End (maybe)
