Notes: Part of the "Unexpected Love" story arc. This is the 2005 Christmas triple drabble for Jay. If you want to know what Elrond's gift for Erestor will be, read the next Interlude of Crossroads.

Translation of Elvish: Peredhel – half-elven.

Drawing the office door shut behind him, Elrond of Imladris, former bearer of Vilya, smiled evilly. The night was stormy, and the wind had already started to reshuffle the papers that Glorfindel had so carefully put into neat little stacks on his desk. Well, he should have locked his office. Now he would be in for the shock of his life, no, make that shocks...

The peredhel's hand fell upon the little pocket in his purple robes. Something else would be purple, come morning. Oh yes, blueberry preserves were very good if you wanted to colour something. Poor Elrohir would be blamed, but surely Glorfindel would not be able to be angry for too long. So things would sort themselves out between them, eventually. Yes, vengeance was sweet indeed.

Whistling to himself, he walked towards Erestor's office. Raising his hand to the door handle, he stopped dead in his tracks. No, he could not do this. Not to Erestor. Not tonight, when they could celebrate their first anniversary. And if Elrond was honest with himself, he would never be able to do anything this mean to his beloved. Erestor might have been gloating, but the peredhel had not really been angry. On the contrary. Seeing the sparkle in those dark eyes... It had filled Elrond's heart with joy, even though his Advisor was laughing at his expense.

'Elrond, you are growing soft.' Chuckling quietly, he let his hand drop and turned on his heels. Erestor would receive a special Solstice gift alright, but it would involve candles and scented oil, not scattered papers.