Posted: June 2004
Author: Iamme

*********

Lord Elrond was just about to retire to bed when he heard the sound of someone running in the once silent corridor of the Healing House. He threw open the door and saw a border guard carrying an Elf; he was covered in blood and as pale as the new snow in winter. Elrond helped the guard move the wounded Elf inside, and they laid him on his stomach. Elrond then began to quickly assess the situation. The Elf had three Orcs arrows in him, and, by the black and green tint around the wounds, they were poisoned.

Elrond took a small knife from a tray of instruments and began to cut the arrows out, eliciting a whimper from the unconscious Elf. The Peredhel’s assistant quickly brewed a tea that would help draw out the poison. Elrond packed the wounds before he stitched and bandaged them. If the Valar were with them, the Elf might make it through the night, but the shallow breathing and blue tint to the deathly pale skin was not a positive sign. Elrond saw a mithril chain with a matching mithril ring around the Elf’s neck and looked at it closely, a name catching his attention. Something about the names inside the ring caused a memory to surface, a familiar one of a dark-haired Elf who looked much like Erestor. The Elf had rode from Lindon with his lover one day, and neither had been heard from again.. until now.

Elrond had known Caladduath, as he had been his father’s advisor until he disappeared, but he had never met the young lover. It angered Elrond to know this Elf would keep such a thing, but it did explain what had happened to them both. The assistant brought the tea, and before he could set it down, Elrond shoved it aside, whispering, “Go and find Erestor; make haste!”

The assistant sped out the room and down the hall to Erestor’s chambers without hesitation.

Erestor was sitting on his bed, trying to write his feeling in his journal, though he found that it was harder then he had thought it would be. Just as he began to find the words, a knock at the door shattered his concentration. With a sigh, he set the book aside and walked to the door, opening it. The healer looked slightly flushed as he began to speak. “Master Elrond needs you in the Healing Halls, Erestor. He asked that you come immediately.”

With out question, Erestor blew out the lone candle and quickly followed the messenger. He wondered who was injured and how gravely. It was not so long ago it had been him, and memories began to flood back of long nights fighting memories from his time in captivity. Erestor shook his head and opened the door to the Healing House.
Elrond looked up from tending to the still figure on the bed and waved his counselor over. Elrond motioned for Erestor to look upon the figure in the bed. Where it had taken the Lord of Imladris several moments to place a name to a face, it was a mere glance for Erestor and he froze. “M-Morcorban..”

“He was attacked near our borders, by Orcs. He did not bring much with him; he left in a hurry and there is evidence that there was some kind of fight. He has older wounds.. old scars.. There is also this.” Elrond handed Erestor the chain with the bonding ring attached to it. “It is no surprise he was infatuated with you.” Elrond lifted the ring to allow Erestor to look at it.

“This..this is my family’s crest.” The Noldo whispered.
Elrond nodded silently, folding his arms across his chest. Erestor ran his hand through his hair. “I will have questions for him when he wakes.”

Elrond led Erestor in the direction of the door the door “I will have someone notify you as soon as he wakes, though I am afraid it will be several days.”

Erestor opened the door, almost running into Lord Glorfindel.

“I beg your pardon Erestor.” Erestor nodded and Glorfindel stepped back and let both of his colleagues through the door. Glorfindel watched as Erestor walked down the hall before he turned his sapphire gaze to Lord Elrond. “Master Elrond, may I speak with you in your office?”

“Of course. Please, follow me,” Elrond said motioning for Glorfindel to follow him down the marbled corridor.

Glorfindel walked in to the office, and Elrond asked him to sit as the Peredhel closed the door “What trouble you, Glorfindel?”

Glorfindel cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “I was wondering about Erestor. Is he.. himself?”

Elrond sighed and sat back, looking at Glorfindel. “As far as I can say, he is safe to be around. Though, I would not say he is himself, nor will he ever be the Erestor we once knew.”

Glorfindel clenched his hands in frustration. “If I could get a hold of that Elf I would kill him for what he has done to Erestor.”

Elrond sighed heavily. “Well, that Elf is in the healing halls, near death.”

Glorfindel paled visibly. “Why is he there and not in a cell where he belongs?”

“There is much you do not know, Glorfindel. I will assign guards, and then we will try to find out from him what we can when he wakes.*if* he wakes,” Elrond said tiredly. Glorfindel clenched his fist with anger until his knuckles cracked from the pressure. Elrond shook his head, “I need him safe Glorfindel..”

Glorfindel continued to clench his fist, but his tone was calm. “Aye, he will be so. I will assign the guards myself.”

Elrond nodded. “I expected no less. I leave you to it,” Elrond said turning his gaze from the Elda.

Glorfindel stood and left his Lord’s office, knowing he had been dismissed. He headed off to the barracks, reluctantly, to assign guards that would protect the one Elf he hated most in all of Arda.

******

Lindir saddled his horse and rode out towards the border. He was supposedly delivering a message to the troops on the farthest boundaries of Imladris. It was too bad they would be dead when he reached them, and he would be wounded when he rode back into Rivendell. Melkor would have his information, and Lindir would soon have his reward for his loyalty. Melkor had assured him that his reward would be one deserving of an Elf such as he, it made him smile and he began to hum a lively tune.

******
Melawr waited in the trees as the Orcs had slaughtered the guardians of Imladris. It had been quite a chore to dispatch of all of the warriors, but, in the end, they all lay dead amongst the corpses of Orcs.. except for the two youngest. They were barely past their majority, and Melkor would have use for such young ones. It would be sometime before Lindir made his way to him, and he looked at the vials in his hand. The red one was for Elrond’s son. The other..well, they could not have Lindir forming a conscience when they were so close.

*****

Erestor paced his room; he was restless ‘Morcorban is here. How do I handle this situation?’ The question ran through his mind over and over. Dreams were one thing; actually seeing the Elf before him was another. He felt a desire to distance himself from the Dark Elf, so he grabbed a blanket and a bottle of mead, heading out to the gardens to let the trees and stars wash away his worries.

*****

Glorfindel assigned four guards to, at all times watch Morcorban: two in with the son of an Orc, and two outside his door. When he was done, he folded up the parchment and submitted his choices to Lord Elrond, who he knew would approve it. Glorfindel had done his duty, and had done it well, but it did not mean he had to like it. The warrior in him wanted to take over and solve their problem, but he knew Lord Elrond was right. Glorfindel felt he needed to clear his head and calm himself, so he grabbed a bottle of Lord Elrond’s wine and headed out into the night; he wanted to walk and think upon everything that had happened. He had pushed his feelings back for so long and now they were trying to surface, and at the worst possible time.

Glorfindel walked for quite a while amongst the trees, taking the occasional drink, until he happened to see a dark figure sitting beneath a tree. Erestor was staring into a small fire, tossing in the occasional twig. Glorfindel walked over, and when the counselor looked up, he smiled down at him. “May I sit?” Erestor nodded and indicated a spot on the ground and Glorfindel sat, looking to the bottle next to Erestor and lifted his own.

Erestor picked up the bottle next to him and toasted with Glorfindel’s, taking a swallow. The mead was light and sweet, more for having with dinner than becoming drunk; it was why he had chosen it. He did not need to be intoxicated, not with the memories that plagued him. Glorfindel looked just as tired and troubled. Since he was an advisor, Erestor asked, “So, Glorfindel, what brings you out here this night?”

Glorfindel shrugged absently. “I just needed to walk, clear my head.” Erestor nodded. “What about you, Erestor?”

“It has been too long since I enjoyed the stars,” Erestor said softly.

Glorfindel looked up. “Aye, they are beautiful. Just like you.” Glorfindel’s eyes widened as he realized his slip of the tongue, and he turned to find Erestor staring at him as if he had grown a second head.

“Are you sure you are all right, Glorfindel? There is nothing beautiful about me. I am nothing but a dirty and worthless traitor.” Erestor said with a sneer.

Glorfindel shook his head. “No, Erestor; you are the bravest Elf I know.”

Erestor laughed bitterly. “You would not think me so beautiful if you knew all I have done, Glorfindel. You *would* see me as a traitor.”

Glorfindel frowned. “I would never think such terrible things of you, Erestor.” He reached out and lightly caressed the advisor’s cheek. “I am here, Erestor, if you ever need to talk; it would help. I can see it in your eyes that you need to.”

Erestor shook his head. “There is not much to tell, Glorfindel.”

The warrior nodded. “Then, may I at least stay I enjoy your company, Erestor?”

The advisor watched the seneschal for a moment and then nodded. “I would never turn a friend away, Glorfindel; especially one who has done as much for me as you.”

Glorfindel simply smiled and leaned back against the tree.

The two elves talked late into the night, watching as the fire died down. Sometime during the conversation, Glorfindel had pulled Erestor against him and wrapped his arms around the Noldo, and that was where Erestor fell asleep. He felt safe for what felt like the first time in forever.

Glorfindel, did not sleep. Instead, he watched the Elf sleeping in his arms and he began to wonder about the feelings Erestor had created within him. Glorfindel was sure of only one thing, and that was that no one would hurt Erestor again as long as he drew breath.

Posted: September 2004
Author: Iamme

*********

Erestor woke in Glorfindel’s arms and stretched. Anor was just rising and the trees were lit with a soft light. His sleep had been peaceful and for once, he was not tired. He looked up to find Glorfindel watching him. Neither elf knew who kissed whom, but their lips met and Erestor let Glorfindel kiss him. Erestor had never thought he would truly desire another elf of his own free will but the tight feeling in his leggings proved him wrong. Erestor lifted his hands to Glorfindel’s tunic and unbuttoned it with shaking fingers

“Erestor, we do not have to...”

Erestor pressed a finger to soft lips, cutting off the rest as he looked up into the sapphire eyes of his best friend.

“I need this Glorfindel, please.”

Glorfindel looked in to the darkened eyes and saw many emotions there and knew he would never be able to deny the dark haired elf anything. The Balrog Slayer knew when he was lost and he closed his eyes and melted back into the kiss. Erestor gently pushed the soft blue cloth from Glorfindel’s shoulders before beginning to work on the ties of his shirt. Glorfindel watched Erestor as he undressed him and then as he explored him. Glorfindel let him take his time, knowing that this was a big step for his friend, his love and he would not push him to do anything he was not ready for.

Erestor ran his hands through Glorfindel’s hair, reveling in the softness of it,concentrating on the face of the golden elf before him, thinking upon their friendship and the knowledge that he was safe. Glorfindel would never harm him and he knew it. The memories were not so easily overcome but he was determined to do just that. He would not let the past hold him any longer. It was with this determination that he took Glorfindel’s member in hand and began to stroke him hard and fast, indulging himself in the beauty of his lover and how radiant he looked in the throes of passion.

Glorfindel could not believe it when Erestor grasped him and began to stroke him; he was lost in his touch and it did not take long before he cried out his release into the waiting palm.

Erestor gathered the sweet release of his lover and gently guided the ancient warrior to the ground on his back so that he could look into his eyes.

Glorfindel watched as Erestor gently pushed his legs forward and had to calm himself. He had not let another claim him in centuries but he knew that it could be no other way. He knew that his friend would never hurt him that he could trust him.
Erestor’s eyes met his as his seed slickened finger gently pushed into him and it was but a brief moment later that he jumped as Erestor stroked his sweet spot. A few moments later, a second finger was added and then they pulled away causing Glorfindel to whimper at the loss of the sweet touches but then his legs were lifted to Erestor’s hips and their eyes met as Erestor gently entered him slowly, carefully, as if he were made of fragile porcelain that could shatter any moment.

Neither spoke as Erestor slowly made love to him and when the tears came, Glorfindel kissed them away. The pace was maddeningly slow and Glorfindel ached for more, still he let Erestor continue his torturous pace till he could take no more and he pulled his lover in and took the tip of Erestor’s ear into his mouth, suckling till he heard the elf groan with need, watched his body shudder from restrained passion.

“You will not hurt me; I need the same as you. Sate our desire.”

Erestor could hold back no longer with Glorfindel’s words driving him on and his pace quickly began to mount to a fiery finish as both elves cried out as their release came in a blinding sea of white.

When both had finally calmed down, Erestor kissed the golden one, not having words for what they felt. They rested in each others arms for sometime before Glorfindel wordlessly cleaned them both up and kissed Erestor once more before finally heading back to the Last Homely House.

Glorfindel and Erestor had washed and then he walked Erestor back to his chambers to gather fresh clothing. “I will return after dinner, I wish I could come sooner but I have meetings all day.”

Erestor gave a nod, “I understand. I will be here.” Glorfindel kissed him and watched him walk in and close the door before he turned and left.

The sun was finally up when Lindir rode upon the scene of the massacre. Quickly, he jumped from his horse and looked around. The orcs had done a good job. The entire watch lay dead; many had been eaten down to the bone except for their ears which one had been left the other taken as a, no doubt. It made Lindir shiver thinking that these creatures had once been elves. He walked to the large rock by the stream and waited nodding silently as the dark elf appeared. Lindir handed him a paper and the elf handed him a vial of liquid.

“Give this to the Peredhel’s son... Melkor will do the rest. Stay and find out what you can until Melkor calls for you to come join him.”

Lindir bowed and the elf took his sword and stabbed Lindir in the shoulder and sliced his side before aiming and shooting an arrow into his shoulder and Lindir felt himself become drowsy and collapse. Neither the dark elf nor the minstrel saw the guardian watching from the rocks, pretending to be dead beneath the body of his friends. He just had to wait for someone to come and he would be able to reveal the traitor. Lindir would pay dearly for his betrayal.

Melkor’s General kicked Lindir in the side, breaking several ribs, grinning wickedly as he spoke, “Worthless piece of orc dung. To betray your own people. I cannot wait to get my hands on you. You are loyal to no one but yourself.” He stomped Lindir’s hand breaking every bone before grinding it to make sure they would not be the same for sometime. “Would be a shame should you get caught before that time and you got banished. Then you would be free game to hunt down. I need new prey. He pulled out a letter and with a small dagger pinned it to Lindir’s shoulder and disappeared into the shadows.

***

Erestor sat on his bed and stared at the ring in his possession.

“How had Morcorban come to possess it?” It should have been obvious but something was amiss. Nothing made sense any longer, not since that day he had been taken and his world changed forever. There had been too much pain and death and he grew weary of it all. His mind drifted to Llytheal, his uncle’s lover. He had never met him and most of those who had no longer were alive or they had wisely left for Valinor.

Erestor shook his head tiredly and walked out the door; he had to speak with the elf. When he reached the healing halls, he stopped and took a deep breath before pushing the doors open. He headed inside and stood silently as he watched as Lord Elrond spoke with Morcorban and when Lord Elrond looked up, he nodded and headed for the door. Now, Erestor would learn the truth. He only hoped he was ready for it.

Elrond patted Erestor on the shoulder and moved away so that he would have privacy but they were not left alone. Erestor was not sure if it was for his safety or Morcorban’s and most likely, it was both.

He knelt next to the bed and looked down at the weak elf and for a long moment, he was silent. He looked nothing like the elf that had done the terrible things to him. He looked thin and pale and most of all, afraid. Erestor held up the ring for the elf to see and his eyes widened, staring at it with unshed tears. Erestor was not sure how to begin so he just came out with it. “How did you come to possess this ring?” Morcorban felt a tear slip down his cheek, “It is mine, I am Llytheal.”

Erestor stared in disbelief, “you lie!” Erestor could not believe the audacity.

“Nay Erestor, though I wish I were lying.”
“I do not believe you!”

Morcorban nodded “I do not blame you for not believing me, but it is true.”

Erestor shook his head. “Prove it is true! Prove to me why I should not tell Lord Elrond to lock you away and throw away the key!”

The elf on the bed sighed tiredly and finally let a tear fall. “Pull up a chair Erestor. This will not be an easy explanation. It will take me much effort to tell it.

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