'Glorfindel, come on!' the twins said in unison, each tugging on one of the blond Elf's hands. 'You promised!'

Glorfindel sighed, his eyes travelling from one twin to the other, their determined faces daring him to disappoint two five-year-olds. Looking up at the parents of the two didn't help matters in the least. Elrond's evil grin was infuriating. At least Celebrian tried to hide her smirk. The Lord and Lady of Imladris were as impossible as their boys.

Knowing that he had no other choice, he nodded. 'Very well, Elrohir, Elladan, lead the way.'

Glorfindel allowed the children to lead him through the halls of the Last Homely House, eyes firmly fixed on the ceiling and cursing Mandos for letting him out of the Halls. The last thing he wanted to do was take the twins out to make a snow-Elf, particularly after watching them inhale the sugary pastries that they had eaten only an hour before. There was nothing worse than those two in a hyperactive state.

Fortune was with him, however, because just as they were heading out the door, Erestor was coming inside. Glorfindel immediately pulled his hand away from Elrohir and grabbed the counsellor's arm. 'Erestor, how fortunate for us it is that you have come by at this time. Elrohir, Elladan, and I are on our way outside to build a snow-Elf. You should join us.'

Erestor shot him a baleful glare. 'Glorfindel, I do not think-'

'We want you to come, do we not, boys?' Glorfindel asked, ignoring the glare on his friend's face.

'Yes!' Elrohir exclaimed, taking the dark-haired Elf's hand. 'Come, Erestor, you must help us!'

'Please?' Elladan pleaded. 'You never play with us anymore.'

Erestor had as much chance of saying no to the twins as he had, and Glorfindel grinned in triumph as Erestor said, 'How can I say no to such a courteous request?'

The two Eldar watched as the boys shouted with glee and ran down the stairs, ahead of them. Glorfindel stuck his tongue out at Elrond's chief advisor when Erestor took a half-hearted swing at him. 'Very mature, Glorfindel. Why must you drag me into these things?' Erestor asked. 'I do have more important things to do than play in the snow.'

'If I must suffer, you have to share my pain,' he replied. 'Come along, before they come back to find us and give us a dressing down.'

Erestor chuckled. 'They are rather good at that for their age, are they not?'

'Yes, they are,' Glorfindel said as they walked out into the courtyard. 'They spend too much time mimicking their mother.'

It was only a few days into the new year, and it was the first snowfall of the season. Vilya kept most of the harsh weather at bay, but there always managed to be enough snow to keep the children of Imladris entertained. It had snowed off and on for three days, and there was a blanket of snow over the area, and the drifts were over knee deep in some places.

When they brought the chairs down from the veranda, the two boys were already packing the snow into a large ball. 'Are you going to help?' Elladan called out as the two Elves sat down.

'You are doing well to start, boys,' Glorfindel said. 'We will help when it gets more difficult.' The boys nodded, and he smiled as he watched them. To Erestor, he said, 'As insufferable as they may be, I would not trade them for anything. Helping them grow will most likely be one of the best experiences of my life, almost as much fun as watching you grow up.'

Erestor laughed. 'I was a handful, was I not? Worse than Elrohir is now.'

'Yes, but you were not as difficult as Elladan. He is far too headstrong. He takes after his father, whereas Elrohir is more like Celebrian.'

Erestor smirked. 'Do not let Elrond hear you talk about his stubbornness. It will put him in a temper.'

Glorfindel grinned. 'He can pout and rant better than any Elf I've ever known. I believe it derives from the spoiling in which Gil-galad indulged Elrond. He was still young when Elros chose mortality, and Gil-galad said he couldn't bring himself to say no to Elrond when he asked for anything. But here, let us talk about things other than temperamental Elven-lords. How do things fare with the plans for the council with Greenwood?' he asked as he watched Elrohir hit Elladan with a snowball. It hit the boy's head with a soft thud as the snow impacted and flew in all directions.

'All goes well. A messenger from Greenwood arrived just before you dragged me out here. Thranduil has agreed to come here for the council. It seems that the attacks on his realm are more frequent than was thought.'

Glorfindel chuckled as Elladan, who had been chasing Elrohir around the courtyard for the better part of a minute, finally caught up with his twin and pounced on him with a shout. Then, Glorfindel turned his attention back to Erestor. 'It is grievous news. I had hoped that all would be quiet for some time. No matter. We will do what we can to rid Greenwood and the Misty Mountains of its Orc population.'

'Glorfindel! Erestor! Come help us,' yelled Elrohir.

'You can speak of gloomy things later,' Elladan added. Glorfindel ducked as a snowball was thrown in his direction. 'You're supposed to be playing with us.'

'I think we'd best help them, before you become a snow-elf yourself,' Erestor commented.

'Amusing,' Glorfindel retorted, following Erestor across the yard.

'I think it rather looks like Elrond,' Glorfindel said as he sat back, eyeing their work. It was several hours later, and the four of them managed to build a passable Elf.

'It's too fat, and not nearly as stern-looking,' Erestor replied. 'Also, the eyebrows are wrong.' Glorfindel smiled at the advisor while the twins giggled.

'I don't know, I think it's rather like him,' a soft, melodious voice said from above and to the right of them. All four looked over to see Celebrian standing on the terrace, watching them.

'Then we thank you, my Lady, for the compliment,' Glorfindel said with a bow.

Celebrian's laugh floated in their direction. 'Come along, boys, it's time for your baths.' Twin groans were her answer, and she continued, 'You've been out here long enough. You've already missed lunch, and I won't have you missing dinner as well. Besides, it is entirely too cold out here for young Elven children to be outside until all hours of the night.'

Glorfindel and Erestor watched, amused, as Elrohir and Elladan stomped off toward the house, grumbling to each other. When they were out of sight, Erestor said, 'It is a rather good piece of art for five-year-olds. Unfortunately, it will not last.'

'No, but they're fun to make. I remember how much fun it was for me and the other Elven-children in Gondolin. There was always snow in the winter, and our parents would bring in even more snow by wagon, and we would compete to see who could make the most elaborate creation. We would make entire families and villages. Did you make many Snow-Elves when you were a child?'

'It seems that you have forgotten, but I was born too near the Sea. There was not much snow, and we never went in search of it.'

'You have no idea how much fun you missed during your childhood,' Glorfindel said.

'And yet, I shall find the will to survive,' Erestor shot back. 'Now that we've missed lunch, and I did not eat at breakfast, I am off to see the cook and beg a bite to eat before dinner.'

'What? You want to leave this glorious evening just to satisfy your hunger?' Glorfindel asked as he stooped down to gather snow with his hands and form it into a rather large ball, his eyes fixed on Erestor, whose back was to him as he started walking toward the house.

'Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. It has been a long day, and I have much to do. I-' Erestor said, stopping when a cold, wet mass hit the back of his head and trickled down the back of his robes.

Glorfindel grinned as Erestor slowly turned around, and then he put on his best "who, me?" face as Erestor said, 'Glorfindel, what do you think you are doing?'

'I have done nothing,' Glorfindel said, giving Erestor his most winning smile.

Erestor's eyes narrowed. 'I do not believe you. What is behind your back?'

Glorfindel shrugged. 'My hands?'

'Amusing,' Erestor said, shaking off the snow clinging to his hair. 'Just do not do that again, or I will make certain that you regret it. Now if you will excuse me-'

Glorfindel let out a loud laugh as his snowball impacted on Erestor's face. His laughter faded a little when he saw a familiar gleam in the other Elf's eyes. It wasn't a look that Erestor wore often, but it never bode well for the Elf who was the recipient of it. Glorfindel turned and ran as his survival instinct kicked in, his laughter echoing through the trees.

Glorfindel needn't look behind him to know that Erestor was close. He could hear the Elf's light footsteps pattering across the snow. He sped up, ducking branches and hopping over fallen limbs as he raced through the woods, heading toward the waterfalls. He ignored the titters of the other Elves as he passed by. The thought that his current behaviour was unbecoming someone of his stature whisked through his mind faster than he passed through the trees.

Soon he was near the waterfalls, and he risked a glance behind him. He slowed as he saw no sign of Erestor, and Glorfindel wondered where the chief advisor might be.

He found out two seconds later as a cry came from his left side and a body slammed into him, sending him flying to the ground and knocking the wind out of him. Glorfindel smiled up at the dark-haired Elf that was straddling his waist, even as he gasped for breath. 'Erestor, how kind of you to join me. Is there a problem?'

Erestor smirked down at him. 'Yes, there is. It seems that I have a much older friend who insists upon acting as if he were a tiny Elfling, and it is my belief that he must be taught proper manners.'

Glorfindel's smile grew wider as he replied, 'That is a great undertaking. Do you think you might need some help?' He tried to shift himself so that he could get an upper hand in toppling Erestor over, but the other Elf was too smart.

Erestor leant forward and pinned Glorfindel's arms to the ground. 'No, I do not think so, since it is you to whom I am referring. Your mother taught you better than this, I think.'

'She tried. I fear it did not sink into this hard, thick head of mine,' Glorfindel replied as he tried to find a way out of his current predicament.

His wiggling, however, only invited Erestor to hold onto him tighter. 'She bears no shame, then. It is not her fault if she has a stubborn, belligerent Elfling who deliberately ignores the use of even the simplest of manners.'

'Yes, well, if she could not help me, I doubt that you can,' Glorfindel said with a grimace. The snow underneath his body was melting, and the back of his clothing was wet, making him more than a little uncomfortable. He looked up at Erestor again and smirked. 'Unless, of course, you can give me better incentive to behave myself.'

Erestor's right eyebrow rose to an arch. 'For some odd reason, I find myself wary of giving you incentive for anything. Now, if you promise to act your age, I will allow you to get up. No doubt your backside is getting rather chilled.'

Glorfindel attempted to look as innocent as possible. 'I promise.'

'I don't believe you, but as my knees are becoming cold and stiff, I'll take my chances,' Erestor replied as he rose.

Glorfindel shook his head and laughed silently as Erestor dusted himself off, not bothering to offer Glorfindel a hand up. He stood and reached back to peel his soaked clothing away from his body. He let them go and they clung back to his body with a soft splattering sound.

'Perhaps you will remember this and refrain from such actions in the future,' Erestor said, laughing at the disgusted expression on Glorfindel's face.

Glorfindel waited until Erestor turned to head back to the house before he swooped down and gathered a handful of snow, which he promptly formed into a ball. He threw it as hard as he could, his aim such that it connected with the back of the advisor's head. He had another handful of snow by the time Erestor twirled around, and this time Glorfindel hit his friend right between the eyes.

'Have it your way,' Erestor yelled as he plunged both hands into the nearest snow bank. Soon the air between them was filled with flying snow as the two Elves drew closer to one another, each trying to soak the other as much as possible. It wasn't long until they slipped and fell onto the ground, one atop the other, both laughing so hard that it drew tears from the corners of their eyes.

Glorfindel looked down at Erestor. His eyes sparkled with mirth and his smile was wide. Rarely did he look so happy and so beautiful that he couldn't help himself. Before he could stop himself, Glorfindel lowered his head and brought his mouth to Erestor's, brushing his lips across the other's, lightly at first, and then he pressed them more firmly to the advisor's when he received no protest.

Glorfindel pulled back a moment later, ready to apologize for his inappropriate behaviour, but he never got the chance as Erestor wrapped his hand around Glorfindel's neck and pulled him down into another kiss.

Glorfindel relaxed and let his mouth move against Erestor's, relishing the feel of warm, moist lips against his, the feel of a tongue tangling with his. It had been far too long since he'd been with someone that made him feel as Erestor was making him feel right now. Their mouths moved together, finding an easy rhythm, as Glorfindel turned them so they were lying side by side. Glorfindel slid one hand around the back of Erestor's head, twining his fingers in the long, silky hair.

Glorfindel let out a sigh of contentment as Erestor opened his mouth wider and their tongues stroked against each other in a languid dance he wasn't too eager to discontinue any time soon.

Erestor finally pulled his mouth away and rested his forehead against Glorfindel's, both of them panting. A moment later and Erestor pulled his head back to look Glorfindel in the eye. 'That was not on my list of activities to accomplish today,' he said, his voice a little shaky.

Glorfindel smiled. 'Actually, I have had that on my list for quite some time now. I simply never had the courage to go through with it.'

'I am glad that you did,' Erestor murmured. He pressed his lips against Glorfindel's in a quick kiss. 'As much as I would enjoy continuing this right now, it's wet and cold, and we will be expected at dinner.'

Glorfindel sighed and stood, helping the advisor off the ground. He kept his hand in Erestor's however, as they walked back to the house in a comfortable silence, only separating when they walked inside.

The front hall was empty, most no doubt readying themselves for dinner. They walked up the stairs and stopped, turning toward each other.

Glorfindel smiled and reached out to push away a wet strand of hair that was clinging to Erestor's face, and then he leaned in for one more kiss. 'I suppose we must get ready for dinner as well.'

Erestor nodded. 'Yes. I do believe Elrond will be displeased if we show our faces looking as we do. Would you like to have a drink with me after dinner, in my room?'

Glorfindel's smile widened. 'I would enjoy that.'

'Then I will see you at dinner,' Erestor said, turning and walking down the hall of the west wing.

Glorfindel watched until his friend was out of sight before turning toward his own room in the east wing. As he stepped into his room, he thought that the winter wasn't going to be tedious after all.