The Lore Master

Elrond was in your library. Not your library exactly but it felt as though it was exclusively for your use as nobody else in Celondim used it much anymore.

You had come to study a certain aspect of Lore Mastery and King Gil-galad had graciously allowed you access on the condition that you carry messages between Celondim and Lindon where permitted. You thought this was a delightful benefit, as you hadn’t expected you’d get to travel, but so far you’d carried messages to Lindon many times, even travelling as far as the foothills of Evendim.

You’d delivered messages to the King’s herald more than once too, each time more thrilling than the last. Where most people accepted your hand delivered scrolls with a nod of thanks at best and with minor contempt at worst, Elrond did something nobody else did. He spoke to you. He asked you questions about your purpose in Lindon, your studies in the Celondim and he always gave you something in exchange for the message. The first time, he gave you an acorn from his pocket which you found endearing, the next he gifted you a silver coin. He once offered you a glass of wine and to sit with him for a moment which you profusely refused, flushing under your veil as you practically leapt back on your horse and hurried back to Celondim at a gallop.

While you wanted nothing more in the world than to drink a glass of Lindon’s finest with the half elven lord, you were certain it would be deemed unacceptable if anyone found out and you couldn’t risk your position. Not when you’d worked so hard for it.

Elrond was unlike anyone you’d ever met, he was kind, attentive and had the ability to make you feel as though you were the most important being to him when his attention was on you. Like you truly mattered. You couldn’t help wondering if his perceptiveness came from the human side of him.

Why was he here? You wondered, stepping down from the ladder you’d been using to reshelve some books. Had you missed something? A message undelivered perhaps?

“Hello?” His familiar voice echoed through the mostly empty chamber and you shivered a little.

“Is the Lore Master here?”

“Yes, I’m here,” you called, brushing dust from your robes and readjusting your veil.

As you rounded the corner towards the front door, you caught the moment Elrond saw you, the way he straightened. The way his lovely, elegant fingers clenched tightly around the scroll he was holding.

“Ah, there you are,” he said as you reached him, a heart-rendering smile breaking out over his face.

“How can I help, my lord?” You said, grateful for your veil as you bow low.

“I have brought you something. It has been in my keeping for some time and I always meant to bring it to the great library of Celondim.” He held the scroll out to you and you were sure his fingers trembled as you accepted it.

“Thank you my lord,” you said, holding the scroll close to your chest.

“A gift to the library is a gift to the entirety of Ered Luin.”

Elrond nodded. “It is my pleasure.”

“Forgive me for saying, but I hope you did not travel here especially to deliver this,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

“I could have collected it with the next messages---“

“I could not wait that long,” he interrupted, taking a step closer.

You will yourself to breathe even though there was barely any space between you now and Elrond’s hand was reaching towards you, slow and uncertain. You squeeze your eyes shut and brace.

“I apologise for disrupting your work but I could not find the strength within myself to stay away,” he said.

You open your eyes and look down to find Elrond fiddling with the end of your veil.

He laughed lightly. “I am not usually so forward but there is something about you.”

“My lord, you do not know me. You have never seen my face--”

“I am admitting that I want to.” His fingers on your veil tighten.

“Tell me to leave and I will never speak of it again.”

You bite your lip beneath the veil. He was handing you power like nobody had ever done before. Elrond, Half Elven wanted to know you, a veiled lore master and carrier of messages.

Gently, you take Elrond’s hands in yours and squeeze as you murmur quietly. “Tell me exactly what you want my lord and I shall give it to you. All of it."