Inside the vast, grand tent, Glorfindel sat on a low stool whilst his mate restlessly paced up and down. "Elrond, that will accomplish nothing other than wearing a hole in the ground and tiring you out."

Elrond paused once to give him a brief, sideways glance. "Last time I checked, the twins were still asleep, Arwen was wherever it is she disappears to on those rides of hers, and Estel still had not come back."

As he walked past him again, Glorfindel pulled him into his lap. "I'm worried for Estel, too, but it is out of our hands; he's old enough to choose his own path." Elrond entwined one of his long, slender hands with that of Glorfinel's. The golden haired elf raised their clasped hands to his lips and kissed the back of Elrond's hand.

Elrond stared at their hands, his mind turning to the other worry. He shot up and began to pace again. "Things change, nothing stays the same. We immortals know this well. And our family certainly has changed; it's taken us so long to heal and be whole again. I don't know if Celebrian still has a place in this family or not. I don't know if she cares or if I even want her in our lives. I…can't keep from wondering how she'll react when she sees us…when she learns I've given my heart to another…"

A shadow flickered in Glorfindel's deep blue eyes, betraying his own inner fears and breaking his relaxed image. He didn't believe in hiding emotions, but neither did he advocate stressful worrying when it would accomplish nothing. He was just as tormented as his lover; what if Elrond fell back in love with her again? Would the dark haired elf cast him aside? And what of their youngest? He didn't relish the thought of a child he loved like his own staying behind. The image of the young half elf stripped of the elven light, his mortal body cold and dead with old age or worse, left the blonde chilled to the bone.

Elrond caught the emotions rippling across Glorfindel's face like water. He took his smooth, angular face into his hands. "I love you. You aren't taking her place; I love you in a way I've never loved her. She still has a place in my heart, good or bad. She's a part of my past; a piece of her will always be with me. I don't blame her for what she did. But it is you who holds my heart now." Elrond ran a hand through his thick, gorgeous, waist length golden hair, fingers ghosting over his warrior's braids.

Glorfindel stood up and wrapped his lean arms around Elrond's trim waist. Elrond was only inches shorter than him. Gerey eyes locked with blue, then he pulled him close. They were both in their under robes. Glorfindel was lean muscle and sinew. "We have to believe everything will be alright." He whispered fiercely, holding Elrond tightly and closed his eyes, a single tear running down his cheek.

Elrond shook his head in denial; he wasn't as optimistic as Glorfindel. He pulled back, his long, long, loose ebony hair swaying. "It's late. Arwen is probably back and in bed. Estel should be here too. But he isn't. He isn't here, and he should be! Where is he? Where?"

He resumed his relentless pacing, clasping and unclasping his hands, knotted hair swaying, lips twisted in bitter concentration, eyes focused inwards. Glorfindel slumped gracelessly into his seat, rubbing his face in frustration as he watched his mate.

Arwen's grey eyes were wide and she stood perfectly still like a cornered rabbit in the dark night. Her need to find Estel was frantically rekindled. She glanced at the moon; Estel had had plenty of time to arrive by now. Unless he wasn't coming….she whirled around and took off running soundlessly, except for the rustling of her silken underrobe.

She searched desperately all over the camp, often doubling and tripling back. She found no trace of her little brother. Though she spent the rest of the night scouring the camp and the surrounding woodland, Estel never showed up.