Well, I was aware of the prompt and I wrote the story, but does it follow that it was the prompt that inspired me to write the story, I wonder?

Yes, poor Elrond! Although I didn't mean to say that Maedhros regarded him as a stopgap. I can see how that reading would make sense, too, if you read this ficlet as standalone, though. (I've written about these two elsewhere.) What Maedhros is saying is that he hasn't a hope of giving Elrond what he really needs, but is trying to concentrate at least on whatever Elrond needs him to do (or answer) right now.

Thank you very much for reading and commenting!