Author: Pippychick
For: ulfsdatter
Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor
Rating: N/C 17
Warnings: Slash; explicit sexual content; mild violence
Summary: Glorfindel sees Erestor for the first time after his resurrection. Glorfindel returns to Middle-Earth for a reason. But what is it?
Disclaimer: Middle-Earth and all of the elves mentioned herein are the property of the Tolkien estate, and I am only borrowing them for a short while. I write only for my own enjoyment, and hopefully as a compliment to the original author. I make no money from this.

Author’s Note:

First of all, my sincere thanks go to Milly for beta reading this.

I have endeavoured to stay as true to canon as is possible here, although Tolkien himself had more than one idea about the when and wherefore of Glorfindel’s return, which makes that a difficult task. I hope that you can still enjoy this, however, and will forgive any small mistakes in that area.

Thenindhír is an invented name, and means ‘true one.’

A Warrior’s Destiny


Prologue

The white ship glided through the still waters of the sea. It was black without and within, the kind of night that only existed on the ocean. Loneliness here was close, as if the mood could take a lover. A slight splashing of water at the prow was the only audible sign of the ship’s passage. It was as finely crafted as any vessel this sea had seen. It was an elven ship, and that was nothing so very unusual. But it was heading in the wrong direction. Even now, most of the ships were heading away from Middle-Earth to the shore of the ancient havens, not towards the world of men, as this one was.

There were only two fëar on board. One, a singular elf with the most extraordinary golden hair; his name was Glorfindel. And the other passenger was his long-time companion, an old man. He had many names, too many to mention, but Glorfindel thought of him as ‘the grey wizard.’

Gandalf smiled at Glorfindel where he lay on the deck. Since the beginning of the voyage he had insisted on sleeping under the stars. He had agreed to return, and he didn’t even know why. Truth be told, not one of them did know why he was important. Only intuition, a certainty that this elf still had a role to play in the fate of Middle-Earth. It was enough to ask. And it had been enough for Glorfindel to accept.

Ah! He would miss Glorfindel very much. He would miss their walks, their discussions. He smiled again. He would even miss their arguments. But it was time for knowledge to pass from Glorfindel’s mind. For him to arrive in Middle-Earth with awareness of the nature of his return was too heavy a burden. Really, the memories of his long life were enough. But to take away his memory was to draw a line through that part of his existence, and Gandalf regretted it more than he could say. Glorfindel had to die. Again.

One day he would either fulfil his part, or return to Valinor, and then he would remember. But for now… Gandalf stared until the mist of Glorfindel’s breath stopped rising, his body too still. There was not far to go; the journey was nearly at an end, and soon he would leave Glorfindel alone. Gandalf sighed rather regretfully and looked out to sea, watching in the grey early morning light for the first sight of land.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Fire flashed at him in the darkness. Impossibly big, fantastically immense. Glorfindel faced the threat, and he knew with a sudden certainty that he couldn’t survive. For a moment there was fear in his fëa, so strong and bright he could taste it on his tongue. Bitter. But Glorfindel swallowed hard and stood his ground. He smiled in the face of his doom; he would die but he would fight. And fight well.

He didn’t fall straight away, and he didn’t die as soon as he thought he would. Glorfindel could smell his own burning hair, the sweetened smell of his skin as it cooked. Even when he lost his sight the warrior continued fighting. His eyes were useless, but he could still sense and still seek out the source of the heat and strike at it.

Glorfindel gasped, breathing suddenly with lungs that were burning. Get up! His hands curled reflexively in the cool green grass, tearing it from the ground in clumps. Impossible! This was a trick – he must stand again. In a movement so quick that it scared away the birds that had been watching him in his stillness, Glorfindel sprung to his feet and drew his sword. He heard the flickering sound of the monster’s fiery whip, and he lunged towards the sound, narrowly missing the branch the birds had been perched on before they departed on fluttering wings. Then he opened his eyes.

He didn’t look for long. But the image burned into his mind didn’t make sense. He had seen a flash of a wood, not a cave. Sunlight instead of fire. Glorfindel paid attention to his other senses, and realised that somehow he had moved. Somehow he was somewhere else. He looked around him now, and he didn’t recognise the place. What was this? Glorfindel staggered as he tried to make sense of it. He remembered the battle, he remembered the enemy overrunning Gondolin, and himself, helpless to stop it. He tried… and he knew he had died. Why didn’t he remember Mandos? Was this Valinor?

He began to walk slowly through the woods, searching for a clue, and it came in the form of a halfling. The little man looked at him for fully half a minute, before turning and bolting through the undergrowth. Glorfindel didn’t have the heart to follow. Not Valinor then – he was still in Middle-Earth. Suddenly Glorfindel felt very tired, more tired than an immortal should feel. He felt cheated of something, robbed of a memory that should have been his. He shook his head, still confused, and began walking again more purposefully. He would find out where he was first.

As Glorfindel walked his steps became lighter and he seemed almost jaunty. It was an attitude he would become famous for. If he was still in Middle-Earth, and still alive, then he would live. It was faultless logic, and now Glorfindel smiled in the sunshine as he looked around him, finally relaxing. He breathed in deeply. Wherever and whenever it was – it was spring. He always loved spring.

Glorfindel began his journey. He didn’t know where he was going, but he was heading in the right direction. Almost as though the choice wasn’t his, every step brought him closer to the people he had left so long ago. He walked in the direction of Lindon, and the kingdom of Gil-Galad. Some would take his coming as a sign, for Gil-Galad was on the eve of war with Sauron in Eriador.


Chapter One

To say that the Noldor were shocked to see Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower again would be an understatement. By the time Glorfindel reached Lindon, there were very few that still recognised him, but those that did stared at him open-mouthed in awe. When he received an audience with the King, he also met Elrond half-elven for the first time, and the two quickly formed a mutual respect that would be an advantage to them both.

When war was inevitable, Glorfindel led part of the army into battle, and none who saw him could doubt that he was a mighty lord. Relentless, and seemingly tireless, he and his company were a key part of the force responsible for driving the armies of the dark lord from Eriador. There were whispers that this was what Glorfindel had returned for, but Glorfindel himself knew that it was not the case. When he had fulfilled his destiny, he would feel it, he was certain. He returned to Lindon, and he didn’t let these thoughts prey on his mind. When Gil-Galad decided that Elrond should settle somewhere in Eriador as a deterrent, Glorfindel offered to be his Captain, and Elrond accepted.

Elrond Peredhrel and he had become great friends by this time, and so it was with a sense of hope and new conviction that Glorfindel accompanied the body of Noldor that travelled to the new elven realm in Eriador. They went to build Imladris. Since Elrond had taken with him for the most part the younger generation, there were less whispers and rumours about him now than at court, which Glorfindel found a relief. He couldn’t deny that his appearance in Middle-Earth was a mystery – even to him. But that didn’t mean he was blessed with knowledge or some kind of mystical power. He was only himself. He was injured during battle the same as anyone else. He was unsure of just what the future held like everyone else. And now, as they made their way to the place that Elrond had chosen – Glorfindel found he could actually look forward to it all.

They planned to build near the river Bruinen. It had the most stunning natural waterfalls, and everyone knew that Elrond had chosen it for that very reason. None would deny him that either. Elrond had chosen Glorfindel to head the army and to begin the slow process of building a city. It was a challenge he looked forward to, and he busied himself with plans. It wasn’t all hard work though, and in the company of strangers, Glorfindel found that he could at last relax. If he had been anyone else, he would have dwelled on the sadness that leaving his friends from long ago created. He already considered them gone from him. They had centuries of life and history since the fall of their ancient city. That was something Glorfindel didn’t have. As a result he had felt out of place and lost in their company despite knowing them so well. Yes, it was a relief to leave them behind.

His easy manner and good nature were things that quickly made him loved and respected. Glorfindel appreciated a joke, and he soon became the teller of jokes. He was a good storyteller too, and in the evenings when they had erected the tents, and lit the fires, many stopped to listen to him. It was around this time that he finally took a lover too. Glorfindel had known both male and female in his life. But this time the elf he turned his attention to was male.

Glorfindel had noticed him one night, sitting quietly on the edge of the group, reading something in a scroll. Something about the elf intrigued him, but he couldn’t say what. His partners had always been somewhat quieter than him; he found that less outspoken elves complimented him, and so perhaps that was the only reason. He knew they would get on well. He took note of this strangely quiet elf, and made a point of seeking him out the next day while on the road.

They had stopped to rest the horses, and Glorfindel strode around looking for the dark-haired one, certain that he would find him somewhere quiet. Sure enough, he came across the other elf sat underneath a tree, reading again. Was he always studying? Glorfindel sat down beside him, and attempted to peek at what the elf was reading before with a sigh, the other elf laid the parchment aside.

“What is your name?” Glorfindel asked, and he wasn’t prepared for the reaction. The other elf jumped away from him when he turned around and saw who it was. He quickly covered his alarm, but Glorfindel hadn’t thought he was so timid, even if he was quiet. “I’m sorry,” he began softly. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

The elf smiled at him then, and Glorfindel didn’t think he had ever seen a more beautiful sight. His companion shook his head, and replied. “It’s all right. You didn’t. I was expecting someone else, that is all.”

Oh. Did he already have a lover? Mentally, Glorfindel shrugged. He didn’t have any less desire to know the other elf. He held out his hand. “Glorfindel,” he said, and the other elf shook his hand firmly. Glorfindel held onto that hand for longer than was necessary. But it was the other’s turn to speak, and he still had not received a name yet. He waited, unsurprised when the other’s gaze became cool and assessing. Was his name and reputation a thing he would have to escape from? He thought with a sigh that it probably was.

“Thenindhír,” he answered at last, looking carefully now as if uncertain that the name would please him. Glorfindel was fascinated. Never had he met anyone who gave off so many contradictory signals. He would know this elf even if he did already have a lover.

“I am happy to make your acquaintance,” he replied seriously, with a bow of his head, and Thenindhír actually giggled then. Glorfindel smiled and shook his head. They sat and talked for a while, until it was time to be moving again. They were seen together a good deal after that. Thenindhír didn’t have a lover; something for which Glorfindel was profoundly grateful. He knew he was falling in love, and it was only a matter of time until Thenindhír had to admit he felt the same way.


Chapter Two

They had known each other a few weeks before the opportunity arose to be with each other intimately. Privacy was a difficult thing to find on the road, and often there was just not as much time as Glorfindel would like to begin anything. But rain had been falling constantly lately, and one of Elrond’s advisors had suggested that they remain here for a few days, until the roads were easier to travel again. It was a good idea. The roads were muddy, and many of the wagons became trapped. It took so long to travel even a few miles in a day that it was worth waiting, and having the rest. Elrond had agreed. The advisor’s name was Erestor, and Glorfindel made a note to find out who he was. But for now… he grinned and went to find Thenindhír.

The elf was sitting in one of the wagons. Not surprisingly, it was one of those used for transporting the books and scrolls Elrond would need to set up his library. Thenindhír had said he was a student, and Glorfindel thought it seemed he couldn’t wait to get started. More books would come later, and the library would be immense, but for now there were enough books here to fill a large room. As always, Thenindhír started when he saw Glorfindel, as if unsure of his affection. At times he was so timid, and Glorfindel wondered why. Am I so very frightening? It was like the way Thenindhír didn’t like to be around others. As if he feared their gossip and ridicule for being with another male.

Without a word, Glorfindel took Thenindhír into his arms, happy enough for now that they had some time alone together. He didn’t need to address those concerns straight away. They kissed passionately, although Thenindhír gave way before the warrior in a sweet way that made Glorfindel smile. So much time! He decided to make the most of it.

Ah, he was sweet! They undressed in silence, both of them ready and willing. They had waited. Now they would know each other. His skin was as fine as brushed velvet, his hair like black silk, but he was male without a doubt. Thenindhír’s hardened member begged for his attention by the time Glorfindel had tasted all he wanted of the other elf’s upper body. His neck, his nipples. He had even teasingly bit lightly at Thenindhír’s fingernails, which made the other elf giggle and try to pull away. As it was, he had more or less accidentally pulled Glorfindel down to cover him, and they had looked at each other for a moment. Without thinking, Glorfindel had moved against him, and they both moaned.

But now he had moved lower, and he paid attention to Thenindhír’s arousal. First by licking and tasting the fluid that seeped from the head, and then teasing touches with his fingers that made the other elf arch up in desperation for a stronger, more definite caress. Glorfindel smiled and obliged. He had not come unprepared, and now he took a small bottle of oil from his discarded clothes. When he was ready, he reached down to Thenindhír’s cock again. This time Glorfindel stroked him firmly. Thenindhír cried out a little too loudly and hissed, trying to move up into Glorfindel’s touch, but the warrior’s weight rested on his legs, and it was impossible.

Savouring his lovers had always been something Glorfindel loved to do, and now he played a game. His hand would move faster and faster, with just the right amount of pressure to make Thenindhír cry out in need and pleasure. But when he saw his lover’s muscles begin to tense, Glorfindel would stop so that Thenindhír moaned in disappointment and frustration, too far gone to really protest at the treatment. He used more of the oil to slowly tease Thenindhír’s opening, rubbing one of his fingers against the muscle until the elf relaxed enough for Glorfindel to begin preparing him. Before too much time had passed he had Thenindhír writhing again while he used both his hands to stroke the elf inside and out.

“Oh, please!” Glorfindel smiled down at his lover. He was in delicious torment. He had closed his eyes and curled his hands into fists. There were red marks on his palms made by his fingernails. The teasing earlier must still be affecting him now, because Thenindhír was obviously trying to hold back. Maybe he thought that as long as he didn’t get close to release Glorfindel would carry on touching him. “Don’t stop!” he begged, and his voice was so forlorn and lost that Glorfindel didn’t stop this time. He didn’t stop until Thenindhír’s issue was all over his chest and stomach. Some of it was on Glorfindel’s hand, and he wiped it across Thenindhír’s chest now, pausing to rub it into the rosy nipples that stood out on the pale skin while his lover trembled with the aftershocks.

But he was prepared now too, and Glorfindel only waited long enough to coat his own aching hardness with oil before claiming the beautiful elf beneath him. His orgasm had made him relaxed and passive so that there was little resistance to Glorfindel’s entry. Still, he was so very tight! Glorfindel would have sworn he was a virgin if Thenindhír had not assured him it wasn’t so some days ago. He moaned as if in protest, but then became quiet while Glorfindel moved inside him, taking pleasure in his body. He had taken lovers since arriving back, but none of them compared to Thenindhír at this moment. How did he become so submissive? Most of Glorfindel’s lovers had been quiet, but that didn’t necessarily mean they surrendered so completely.

He took his time with this too, his thrusts almost ceasing at times so that he could lay with his head against Thenindhír’s neck, relishing the feel of the heat surrounding him while he listened to his lover’s heartbeat. But then he would claim a kiss from those sweet lips and begin moving again, until eventually Thenindhír was hard once more. Then, Glorfindel didn’t just take pleasure, he also aimed to give it, and was rewarded by Thenindhír’s gasping little moans. He was certainly tired, but Glorfindel didn’t allow rest, and he took Thenindhír’s hardness into his hand for the second time. When his lover came again, Glorfindel followed him with an animal-like cry, falling to rest at last against his lover’s chest. Glorfindel stayed still for a while until it became too uncomfortable; then he moved, allowing Thenindhír to rest.

They lay side by side, pressed closely to each other in intimacy, sharing something new, because it was their first time together. No two lovers were the same, Glorfindel reflected. And he already knew that he was going to love Thenindhír. He hoped it would last for a while.

“What are you thinking?” his new lover asked quietly. Glorfindel kissed Thenindhír soundly, cherishing the way he surrendered all over again.

“That you are made to be taken,” he replied, and then laughed a little wickedly when he saw Thenindhír’s eyes close and a faint blush stain his cheeks. He was captivated then when his lover nodded slowly. It was as if he was surrendering to the very idea. Glorfindel smiled and kissed him again. “You were just waiting for someone to take advantage of you. Didn’t you know that?” he teased, and Thenindhír smiled at him.

“Thank you,” he breathed tiredly, and they were silent again for a while.

“Do you ever…?” he stopped, as if uncertain as to what he wanted to say and then shook his head. Glorfindel was intrigued.

“Do I ever, what?” he asked interestedly.

“I meant, do you think that Imladris is a good idea? Do you think we will succeed in settling there?” Well, that wasn’t what he had expected. Still, he gave some thought to it before he answered.

“I have as much idea as you, but I don’t see why not. And it is a good place, is it not? I think I will be happy there as long as you stay.” Thenindhír smiled, and they kissed again, before falling into a satisfied sleep together amongst the books and scrolls. Glorfindel’s last thought was that it was like falling asleep in a library, the smell of ink and parchment all around, the leather bindings of the books. The scent of their sex lingered though, and that was a far more familiar smell to him. Outside the rain continued to fall, and it beat on the covering of the wagon, but it felt safe and warm in here, with Thenindhír.

After that, Glorfindel became even fonder of seeking Thenindhír out while on the road. Sometimes he couldn’t be found at all, but when Glorfindel did find him, there was no greater sport than to tease him openly, watching while his colour rose and laughing when he tried to escape. At Thenindhír’s insistence they were always alone, and Glorfindel vowed to get to the bottom of this shyness once they reached Imladris. He was so meek too. Never had he tried to take Glorfindel, although the warrior would have appreciated it at times. It was as though the elf was trying too hard to please him, and yet he didn’t seem unhappy. Contradictions, he had so many. Glorfindel mused on them sometimes, but he wasn’t displeased with Thenindhír. In fact, he was happier than he had been in a long time. He just needed bringing out of himself, and Glorfindel was just the elf to do it.


Chapter Three

But it seemed that bringing Thenindhír out of himself would have to be his second priority. The next couple of weeks passed quickly and the elves arrived at what would come to be known as Imladris, and later Rivendell to the mortals of Middle-Earth. Glorfindel found himself called upon for no end of tasks, one of which became organising the vast forces of elves who had come along specifically to help with the building work. At this time, Glorfindel wondered once again why Elrond and his advisors had decided to come. Once most of the main house was built they would have sent for the Lord to join them. It would have made much more sense. But Elrond had insisted, and Glorfindel had to admit that Elrond’s tent was more than adequate.

Besides, if none of them had come, then Thenindhír would not be here either, and he was Glorfindel’s pleasure. Every bit of time off he spent with the elf – and yet it wasn’t enough. He barely had ten minutes in the day to call his own, and so they both began to steal time to be together. He had truly never known a more gentle and submissive male. Thenindhír would do anything to please him, and Glorfindel was sometimes glad of that when he was tired and worn out from seeing to the crews and trying to get the main buildings completed in time for winter. Well, he would do anything but take the lead. It bothered Glorfindel sometimes, who began to wonder if there had been some terrible relationship in the elf’s past that had made him so desperate to please. But then, he probably wasn’t as concerned as he should be and he did take advantage of it. Who wouldn’t?

They had eaten lunch together beside one of the waterfalls that Elrond seemed so entranced with. Glorfindel had some ideas for harnessing their power, and he spoke of them excitedly now. Elrond had given permission to experiment with the idea as long as the machinery could not be seen, and that the final results had the approval of the architects who were also great artists, chosen for their vision.

“I mean, can you see it, Thenindhír? Such power…” Glorfindel sighed when he felt his lover’s lips on his neck. The light kiss was enough to silence him, and to turn his thoughts to other things. Thenindhír was undoing his leggings now, and Glorfindel decided to protest at that, but then his fingers were there, touching him, and all Glorfindel could do was moan. Moving down, the fingers were replaced by lips and an eager tongue. Teasing at first, swirling around, and then moving so fast and light over his cock that Glorfindel cried out loudly and pulled Thenindhír’s head closer to him demandingly. His lover obliged, stopping the teasing to take Glorfindel into his mouth. Just the head of his cock, slightly teasing, so that Glorfindel wanted to move forwards into the wet and warmth, the heat of Thenindhír’s breath was a sweet torture in itself.

They had done this so many times, and not for the first time, Glorfindel wondered if Thenindhír was doing this for Glorfindel, or for himself.

“You don’t have to do this to please me,” he said through gritted teeth, trying not to show how it affected him because that would void his words. Thenindhír stopped, and then smiled shyly.

“I know…” He became a little flushed, and Glorfindel had never seen anything so endearing. “I want to,” he began, looking away. “I like to.” Glorfindel would have doubted it, but then he saw the secret smile and decided to let it pass. And he would indeed let it pass when it began again. Oh! So wonderful! Glorfindel bit his lip when Thenindhír swallowed him, sure that he must reach completion just for the thought of it.

“Ai!” And he felt Thenindhír smile around him, but then the elf turned more seriously to the task at hand, and Glorfindel moaned his lover’s name over and over, seeing the image of Thenindhír swallowing his length even when he closed his eyes. When Glorfindel cried out some time later, helpless to stop himself spilling in that talented mouth, Thenindhír swallowed his seed too, and then cleaned his lover’s cock of all that was left to taste and to savour. They were in silence for a moment, and then Thenindhír smiled.

“I love to do that,” he reiterated, giving Glorfindel a playful look. “I mean, do you know how you sound when you sigh and moan like that?” Yes! This was what he had been waiting for! Some spark of life, some sign that the other elf wasn’t just playing a part. Glorfindel grinned.

“Do I sound anything like you?” he returned quickly. “Shall we find out?” Thenindhír moved back, but not quickly enough to stop Glorfindel pinning him to the ground. He actually struggled.

“Please,” he said, resisting Glorfindel’s attempts to free his own hardness to the warrior’s attention. Why would he resist? It only made Glorfindel more determined. And besides, he loved to have Thenindhír just like this. He trapped the elf’s legs beneath him and then proceeded to undo his leggings, laughing lightly under his breath as he did so at Thenindhír’s clumsy attempts to turn Glorfindel’s fingers away with his hands.

“Do you know what you will use the power for?” he blurted out. “Do you believe it will work? Have you been thinking of this for a long time?” By this time, Glorfindel had freed Thenindhír’s erection and was pleased to find that despite his protests he was hard and ready for what Glorfindel wanted to do.

“Yes, yes, and yes,” he said, wanting to laugh at the outburst, before moving swiftly down to engulf the other elf’s hardness with his mouth. Thenindhír let out a long, keening cry, arching up into his mouth so that Glorfindel had to relax his throat muscles quickly to make it easier on them both.

Soon enough Glorfindel had his lover gasping and almost out of his mind with pleasure. He stopped. “So…” Thenindhír whimpered, his swollen member standing hard and desperate in front of Glorfindel’s lips. He flicked out with his tongue to tease the head briefly. Thenindhír moaned. “Do you sound like me at the moment?” he asked coolly, watching Thenindhír’s face closely.

“Yes… Please…” Glorfindel didn’t need to be asked twice, and before long, the two were resting trustfully in each other’s arms, sated and happy – but late for work. Glorfindel sighed. He could stay a few more minutes. The waterfall made the air taste fresh here. Fresh and cool.

“Do you remember anything about being…” Thenindhír seemed to be searching for the right word.

“About being dead?” Glorfindel suggested easily, smirking when Thenindhír flinched. Then he held the other elf close. “No. All I know is one minute I was fighting fire, and the next – birds.”

“Birds?” Thenindhír repeated, perplexed.

Glorfindel remembered, and smiled at the memory. The beating of the tiny wings that had sounded like the fiery whip of a monster. “Birds.” Glorfindel nodded, and then kissed Thenindhír deeply to save his questions. He didn’t know the answers anyway. He pulled back. “I have to go to work,” he whispered, and Thenindhír pulled him close again, demanding another kiss before he left. Things were good, Glorfindel reflected.

Later that day, Glorfindel had the chance to report to Elrond how close the main body of the house was to completion. They had been at work a few months now, and some places were habitable. Glorfindel mentioned this, and said that if Elrond wished he could begin to move in some of his things.

“I wouldn’t suggest living in there yet though. There is still much work to be done, and we are not always tidy.” Elrond nodded.

“Oh, Erestor says that one of his students has mentioned the idea of harnessing the power of the waterfall to him.” Glorfindel nodded. “Yes, he thinks it’s a good idea, so now I have apprised the architects that we will have to find some way of fitting your idea into the grand scheme. I am surprised you didn’t mention it to him yourself,” Elrond noted, and Glorfindel shrugged.

“Well, you know how busy we all are,” he replied. Glorfindel would have to arrange to meet with this Erestor at some point – but it could wait.


Chapter Four

Swearing, Glorfindel read the note for the second time. It still didn’t change. After his early experiences with Erestor’s ideas, he had expected to get on well with him. But now they had been in Imladris a few months, the damned advisor was starting to put pressure on the teams of builders to get on with finishing the library and meeting rooms. Not to mention the offices. Glorfindel shook his head.

Wandering over to a group of the building team, he was surprised to hear Erestor’s name mentioned, and listened closely.

“He’s a cold, quiet, manipulative character if you want to know. They all say it. He was the same in Lindon.” The speaker was one of his most trusted elves, and Glorfindel took note of his words. Usually he was right about people, and after the advisor’s recent behaviour, he was in no mood to disagree or to temper his disrespect.

“Well, I just know I don’t like him,” pointed out another, then a gasp was elicited from the group when they realised Glorfindel was listening.

“I’m sorry, Glorfindel,” the second speaker began, “but he’s not very friendly if you ask me.” He looked away, and Glorfindel shrugged.

“Do you think I am going to disagree with you? Have you seen this?” He waved the note around, and shook his head. “He makes my job next to impossible!” Glorfindel sat down on a rock and held his head in his hands in frustration. The elves around him all murmured at once – they knew all about how demanding Erestor was. Most of them were in charge of small work teams, and Erestor didn’t even leave them alone to get on with it.

“Well, I’m sure it’s not my place,” said one of them. “But why don’t you speak to him? We’re all finding it difficult. We all want to see Imladris defended before we begin on projects that can wait.” The rest of the group muttered their assent, and Glorfindel suddenly looked up.

“You’re right!” he said decisively. “I should see him, and tell him a few things.” With that he stood up and walked away again. This time straight to the tents that were close to Elrond’s. He had to ask which one of them belonged to Erestor, and then he walked straight in without bothering to call out his name. He wasn’t surprised to see Thenindhír here. His lover had gained a position as an assistant of sorts to the advisor, and Glorfindel smiled warmly, but then he remembered why he was here, and his voice was harsher than he intended it to be.

“Where’s Erestor?” he demanded, making Thenindhír jump and whirl around, dropping the book he was holding.

“Glorfindel!” Before Thenindhír could bend to pick up the book he had dropped, Glorfindel was before him, and had scooped it up and put it on one of the makeshift shelves. Thenindhír always seemed so nervous when they met. Glorfindel still hadn’t managed to solve his mysteries. “Oh! He isn’t here,” Thenindhír breathed, shaking slightly at the warrior’s nearness. Glorfindel couldn’t help but find that delicious, and he rubbed his body against the elf deliberately, smirking when his eyes fluttered closed.

“Well,” Glorfindel purred, reaching out to pull his lover close. “I did come to see him. Perhaps I should wait until he returns. This can’t be put aside.” Thenindhír surrendered to a kiss, and then pulled back a little.

“But you can’t!” he insisted. Glorfindel raised his eyebrows. “I mean,” he said quickly, “Erestor won’t be back for a long time.” Thenindhír shook his head, and then he seemed to realise what he had said, because he began to back away from Glorfindel slowly, seeing his intentions. “But I can’t –”

“Oh, yes, you can.” Glorfindel had no qualms about taking his lover here. On Erestor’s desk. In his very office. In fact, the disrespect of the thing appealed to him. He would enjoy thinking about it afterwards. He advanced on Thenindhír until the other elf was pressed against the makeshift bookshelves. Perhaps he had grown too used to the elf’s submission, but Glorfindel didn’t even spare a thought to how it would be for him to work in here, knowing what they had done.

Before long, Glorfindel had silenced all of his lover’s protests, and had him exactly how he wanted. Thenindhír was naked and bent over Erestor’s desk. Glorfindel fairly threw the severe wooden chair to the side and moved behind the elf. Luckily he was carrying oil. He had intended to steal some time to be with Thenindhír later on, and so now he used it to prepare the other elf, taking his time so that eventually his lover was trembling and desperate to feel him.

“Ask me,” Glorfindel demanded, enjoying the other elf’s submission at a time like this.  

“But I don’t think we should be doing this, Glorfindel.” He whimpered a little. “Please.” He wasn’t moved to pity. In fact, it infuriated him. It was almost as if his lover were taking Erestor’s side over his. Glorfindel stopped Thenindhír from rising by placing one large hand over the back of his neck. With the other hand, he began to torment him again, slipping his oiled fingers into him again and again. Just not quite enough to be satisfying. After some minutes had passed he asked again, and this time Thenindhír obeyed him.

“Please, Glorfindel. Please, take me.” Glorfindel didn’t require anything further, and he did take Thenindhír. Sometimes he liked it this way. Rough and hard, almost uncaring. He watched Thenindhír’s hands clench on the desk as he was pushed forward by Glorfindel over and over again, his face and his shoulder pushing the papers Erestor had been working on off the desk onto the floor. Really, he enjoyed the duality of it. Taking Thenindhír and showing his feelings for Erestor at the same time. It was perfect, and Glorfindel slowed down to enjoy it.

Still, it seemed to take his lover a long time to climax, even when Glorfindel reached around to give encouragement with his hand. Perhaps the environment was an effect on him, but Glorfindel didn’t give up, and he felt a strange sense of satisfaction when he had Thenindhír crying out his name while spilling his seed onto the desk. Following his lover, Glorfindel cried out Thenindhír’s name too.

When it was over he helped his lover to stand, and pulled him close for a kiss before reaching down to tie the laces of his leggings. Glorfindel himself hadn’t bothered to undress, and he was a little shocked when he pulled back and saw that Thenindhír had been crying.

Looking around him, Glorfindel suddenly felt guilty. The papers that had lain in neat, organised piles were now scattered and crumpled. Some of the newly written notes were smudged and beyond help, but he began to tidy them up anyway, ashamed at his behaviour. Glorfindel sighed. One more thing to blame this Erestor for.

“Don’t worry, Thenindhír,” he said soothingly, trying to straighten a few of the more rumpled sheets of paper. “It will be all right. Just explain to him that I came around and was a bit angry. It won’t be far from the truth.” He stopped babbling when Thenindhír’s hand covered his.

“No, it’s not that,” he said, sighing. Glorfindel turned to look, and was astonished when his lover fell to his knees in front of him, throwing his arms around Glorfindel’s waist and pressing his face against the warrior’s stomach.

“Then what is it? What is wrong? I’m sorry, Thenindhír. I shouldn’t have taken you here. We should have gone somewhere else.” Glorfindel sighed and reached down to play with his lover’s hair, wishing he hadn’t been so selfish, but Thenindhír seemed to encourage it. He was so accepting and submissive – no one could resist taking advantage a little. This was impossible! But then his lover looked up at him, and he was smiling. Glorfindel relaxed and smiled back down at him, caressing his face. Such soft skin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


He had cried, and the sight of Glorfindel trying to straighten his desk and give the untidy reports and notes a semblance of order just made him feel worse. How had it come to this? Erestor didn’t want to be submissive. Until Glorfindel came along he never had been the submissive partner – something that always surprised those males who courted him. But in his deception he had willingly gone along with whatever Glorfindel wanted in order to get at the truth. Now he was paying the price.

The selfish way Glorfindel had taken him was entirely his own fault. He had allowed that kind of attitude and behaviour – perhaps even encouraged it. But it didn’t make him feel any better when he realised that here, in his own space, he was still Glorfindel’s toy. How could he stop what was happening? He couldn’t. And it would have been so easy to deal with if he were entirely dishonest, if he did hate it so much – but he didn’t.

He found himself wanting simultaneously to tell the truth and to preserve the lie. To make it stop, and to beg for more. And at the back of his mind he sensed Glorfindel’s mood, and he knew that the sex here was meant to show a lack of respect for Erestor. For him. When it became obvious that Glorfindel expected him to enjoy this. Indeed, that Glorfindel expected him to find release, Erestor almost panicked. But then Glorfindel was touching him at the same time as taking him. Yes, relentless, encouraging and demanding. Glorfindel got what he wanted, as always, and that was when the tears came. His body was a traitor to him. It had put Glorfindel’s wishes before his own, and it made him feel used somehow. There was nothing between them except a lie, and when Glorfindel called out Thenindhír’s name, there it was again.

When Erestor fell to his knees before Glorfindel, it was with a simple desire that frightened him. Despite knowing the truth, and all that it entailed, he had been made to find pleasure in it. Glorfindel had made him enjoy what had happened to him, and it touched something sexual in his mind. It had awoken something. For a moment Erestor wanted to confess, and to beg for Glorfindel’s favours as surely as the made-up Thenindhír would – and sometimes did.

A cold, rational part of his mind registered the fact that Glorfindel didn’t know what was wrong with him, but he couldn’t help it. Here and now was as close as Erestor had ever come to true submission. He would gladly endure anything Glorfindel put him through, and he almost wanted to tell the truth just to see what the warrior would do to him. He stopped himself just in time, knowing that Glorfindel’s reaction would not involve any of the dark, shadowy fantasies in his mind. These were his thoughts. And when he realised that, Erestor also realised that the sense of surrender he felt had nothing to do with Glorfindel. He had done this to himself with his dishonesty. After all, if he were not Erestor, then it wouldn’t mean a thing for Glorfindel to take him here. It was almost amusing. Erestor couldn’t help but smile. And then he looked up at Glorfindel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Did he make you angry?” Thenindhír asked. Glorfindel rolled his eyes and looked around. He left Thenindhír to go and pick up the note from the floor and showed it to his lover.

“He’s impossible!” Glorfindel exclaimed. “I cannot work to his orders! Imladris won’t be worth a thing, no matter how great a library it has, if Sauron’s orcs come marching in to burn it to the ground!” Thenindhír nodded slowly.

“I could talk to him for you. He listens to me sometimes.” Thenindhír gave a strained little smile, and Glorfindel pulled him to his feet. Their lips met naturally, and Glorfindel tried to make up for his selfishness with that kiss.

“If you can make him back off on just that part.” Glorfindel pointed to a part of the note, while Thenindhír looked at him with darkened eyes. Then he nodded.

“I will try, meleth nín,” he said gently. Glorfindel gave him a pleased smile. It was the first time his lover had used such an endearment with him, although he gave little proofs of his feelings all the time. Glorfindel felt he was forgiven.

“I promise we won’t do anything here again, all right?” Thenindhír nodded. “No matter how much he annoys me,” Glorfindel finished with a sigh. He was pleasantly surprised when Thenindhír gave him a quick kiss without any encouragement. But he had to get back to work, and he left Thenindhír with a promise to meet later and make up for this mess he had made.

Before the end of the day, Glorfindel didn’t regret seeing Thenindhír instead of Erestor. The advisor sent another note, wherein he backed off on most of his more difficult demands, saying that Thenindhír had things to say about the defence of Imladris that made sense. And from then on, whenever Glorfindel had a problem with Erestor, he saw Thenindhír, and more often than not, Thenindhír managed to solve their differences.


Chapter Five

A couple more months passed quickly, and Glorfindel no longer had any wish to actually meet Erestor. He was happy with the compromises Thenindhír managed to strike between them. And if he admitted the truth, Glorfindel was certain that if he and Erestor met, he wouldn’t be able to hold his tongue, and would make Thenindhír’s position even more difficult.

But then luckily, with the completion of the main body of the house, most of Erestor’s more unreasonable demands ceased while he was kept busy seeing to the library and the design of the offices. Glorfindel had no hand in that, and instead was free now to concentrate on establishing the army’s barracks and training fields. Now that most of the work was done, his position had changed to what it should be. He was the Captain of the small army. And it was small – although now they were settled, their population would grow as more elves travelled from Lindon and other places to join them.

Too soon though it seemed that Erestor had things organised to his satisfaction at the house, and Glorfindel’s problems began all over again. Erestor would not give him enough elves to get everything done that he wanted. Even when the population of Imladris began to swell, as he had expected, his life wasn’t made any easier by the advisor. He began to confess his problems to Thenindhír again, and again the other elf encouraged Erestor to make exceptions, and generally made his life easier.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, sometimes, meleth nín.” Glorfindel sighed happily as he contemplated the fair feast that Thenindhír had brought with him to their lunchtime meeting. “But I’m far hungrier for something else,” he said with a wicked grin, pulling his lover close to him for a kiss. But Glorfindel did settle down to eat after teasing Thenindhír for a little while. And when he was finished he sighed in satisfaction.

“Is there something wrong?” Thenindhír asked. Glorfindel shook his head. He was always so nervous, and it hadn’t really changed in all this time.

“Oh, only the usual.” Thenindhír looked even more nervous, and Glorfindel laughed. “Erestor is annoying me again,” he admitted, and after a moment his lover relaxed.

“Oh,” he said, “are there things you want me to ask him about?” Glorfindel considered.

“Yes,” he said at last, and explained to Thenindhír exactly what he needed to change so that he could do his job adequately while his lover listened resignedly. Glorfindel noticed this and fell quiet, moving to sit closer to Thenindhír, vowing to forget what he needed to change with respect to Erestor’s demands for a while.

“I’m sorry,” Glorfindel said sincerely. “What can I do for you?” he asked, beginning to tease at Thenindhír’s clothes, undoing his tunic while his lover sighed and lay back to allow it. Soon he wasn’t so coolly passive though, Glorfindel noted with a smile. Sometimes he wished his lover would be a little more aggressive. Well, all right, a lot more. But then, he would never say anything. It was so easy to take him, to possess him, and Glorfindel found that as long as Thenindhír enjoyed it, then he could take pleasure from it too. There was something about having his lover beneath him, crying out his name that made Glorfindel feel protective. In fact, at times like these, when Thenindhír’s body was giving him so much pleasure, it almost felt as though he owned his lover, and the thought pleased him somehow. It also made him come hard inside Thenindhír, hard enough so that there were tears in his lover’s eyes by the time he had done.

Glorfindel leaned over to kiss the tears away, and then pulled out to relax next to him on the grass in the warm sunshine. It was a nice day, the birds sang above him, making Glorfindel smile, and he actually began to drift off with Thenindhír in his arms. He was vaguely aware of Thenindhír talking to him, but he didn’t know what about – and it didn’t matter. He was never forceful. Glorfindel drifted away on a dream.


Chapter Six

“Well?” Glorfindel demanded impatiently, seeing that it wasn’t good news. The elf grimaced.

“Well,” he began uncomfortably. “Erestor has refused our request on the basis of the fact that we are not under attack, and there is no sign of Sauron mobilising any forces near this area.” Glorfindel swore. Did the damn ‘advisor’ even realise that Glorfindel was responsible for intelligence too? And that because of his damn interference, the reports that came back may not be entirely reliable? Erestor had also refused to give Glorfindel enough elves to cover intelligence with any degree of certainty. This had to stop. Here and now it had to stop.

Everyone turned to look when Glorfindel stormed from the training field. But all got back to their practice when Glorfindel’s second-in-command barked out an order, and by the time Glorfindel had reached the house it would be hard to tell the captain was missing from the field. Certainly it was difficult for Erestor, who chose that moment to look out of his office window. He barely glanced at the field, and then went back to his desk, and his work. It was a complete shock when Glorfindel burst into his office a few minutes later. Or at least it would have been had he bothered to look up. He stifled a sigh – Elrond never bothered to knock.

“Glorfindel might complain to you about the allowances for defence this month, but I assure you, Elrond, they are more than adequate.” He looked up, and the colour drained from his face. Glorfindel looked positively stormy, and he wondered if he had looked that way when he entered, or if the realisation had hit him. Soon he had an answer.

“You’re Erestor?” Glorfindel growled, suddenly seeing the pretence. His shock stopped him from even thinking about the reasons why.

“Yes,” Thenindhír – no – Erestor answered faintly. Glorfindel smiled and walked behind the desk, pulling the advisor from his seat when he turned to face the warrior. He held Erestor close and kissed the little patch of skin just below his ear.

“Now I know I can have what I want.” Glorfindel said suggestively, and laughed a little, feeling Erestor trembling in his arms. He assumed it was the usual desire. He didn’t recognise the anger until Erestor’s behaviour changed.

“I don’t think so,” Erestor said coolly. Out of sight of Glorfindel he had picked up a pen, and now he held it against the warrior’s neck, forcing him to move back and away. Still in shock, and still unable to reconcile this Erestor with his Thenindhír, Glorfindel decided to lighten the situation.

“Erestor,” he said charmingly, and smiled. “You’re threatening me with a pen.” Glorfindel raised his eyebrows mockingly; after all it did look sort of comical with the feather. But it didn’t serve to make the threat go away.

“Yes,” Erestor said simply. “Feel it?” Yes, he did indeed feel it. Erestor held the sharpened nib of the quill to his neck in exactly the right place. Just over his artery. Glorfindel had moved back for that reason. That was also the reason he was so still. The entire situation began to take on a feel of danger and threat he didn’t like.

“What’s the matter with you?” he demanded suddenly, frowning, finally managing to wonder why Erestor had lied to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I have my job to do.” Erestor shrugged coldly, and Glorfindel realised he didn’t know this elf. He stepped back again, away from the sharp press of the pen, and walked to the other side of the desk.

“Who are you?” he asked suspiciously. “Why are you being like this? What do you want from me, Erestor? You shouldn’t play silly games with me – I don’t appreciate them.” He hoped he sounded as threatening as he felt. Glorfindel was beginning to get angry, and no amount of pens would help Erestor then.

“No games. I just wanted to know why you are here. Why you were sent back. I needed to know.” Suddenly Glorfindel remembered how it had been, and he remembered all those seemingly innocent questions, all those careless enquiries that he realised now weren’t so careless. For a moment, even he was speechless. He glared at the advisor, and then leaned forward over the desk menacingly. Erestor had sat down behind the desk again, and now he shrank back a little. He licked his lips, and Glorfindel sneered at him. Did he really think Glorfindel had any such intentions towards him anymore?

“Don’t seek me out again.” And then Glorfindel stalked out of the room. He didn’t return to the training grounds, but headed for the barracks. Everything fell into place. Little comments Elrond had made, things that other elves had said. It all suddenly made sense. He had enough presence of mind to be thankful that Erestor’s deceit was clearly only between them. That was why he always insisted they be alone, and didn’t allow Glorfindel to talk to him in the presence of others. He had been such a blind fool! He told the first person to disturb him that he wished to be alone, and to let all the others know. Then he proceeded to get drunk.

The advisor disturbed him some hours later. Glorfindel knew it was Erestor without looking around in the dark. There was that scent of something that was only him. Glorfindel lifted the bottle in his hand and took another drink of the strong wine.

“Why are you here?” he asked coldly.

“I don’t know.” Erestor sounded hurt and uncertain. Welcome, Glorfindel thought with a snort of self-mocking laughter.

“How infuriating for you,” he said, not bothering to hide his sarcasm. “Here’s a suggestion. Go to your room, blow out the candles and really get to know yourself, Erestor.” Glorfindel noted the shocked gasp with a cold grin in the dark. “Maybe you’ll let something slip when you cry out that has it all make sense.” He laughed low to break the silence, then heard Erestor leaving the room quickly. He deserved it!

“Here’s to you, Thenindhír! And to us!” Glorfindel lifted the bottle and drank the rest of the contents. Then he started on another one.


Chapter Seven

Someone was in his room. It had taken him too long to fall asleep, and when he had slept, his rest was light and troubled, which probably explained why he had been woken so easily. He could see the shadow moving around, obviously trying to be quiet but making way too much noise. But who would be in here? Who would disturb him? “Glorfindel?” he asked uncertainly, his voice still blurry with sleep.

The voice that returned from the darkness was blurry too, but with drink and misery. “What did you find out?” he demanded. Erestor flinched, his mind leaping to Glorfindel’s words earlier. And he had deserved them, but now was not the time to admit it. The day was too old, or was it already young? Whatever – he was tired, and Glorfindel was drunk.

“Leave me be. I’ve no wish to continue this, Glorfindel.” Erestor lay back on the pillows tiredly.

“No,” came the insistent voice. Erestor sighed and lit some of the candles by his bedside. He got out of bed and walked over to Glorfindel, wondering how to get rid of him without disturbing anyone. “I want to know.” He was fumbling around in the small bookcase Erestor had in his room. Gently, he took a book from Glorfindel’s hand and replaced it. How did he expect to read it in the dark? “Where are your notes? I know you must have them.”

For a moment Erestor was at a complete loss to what Glorfindel meant. “Notes?” he asked, shaking his head.

“Yes!” Glorfindel snapped impatiently, and too loudly. Erestor tried in vain to hush him. “You know. The file you keep on me, and my ‘reason for being alive,’” he announced dramatically. Then he noticed in the semi-darkness that Erestor was naked, and pulled him close. Even drunk, Glorfindel was in control of himself, and now with his large hand splayed across Erestor’s back, keeping him still, he bent his head to trail his lips over the soft, white skin of Erestor’s chest and to his right nipple. Erestor gasped, then he cried out when the kiss became a cruel and savage bite.

“I don’t have ‘notes,’ Glorfindel,” he said quietly, in pain, pushing the warrior away roughly to reach for his robe. Shaking a little, Erestor wrapped the robe around him and faced Glorfindel again.

“Tell me, then,” he demanded flatly. There was going to be no turning him away tonight.

“You would really know?” Erestor asked.

“Yes.”

Sighing, Erestor gestured to the couch while he walked around the small sitting area lighting more candles, making the room a little brighter. “All right.” When he had finished he settled down on the comfortable settee next to the warrior, and began…

Over the next hour or so, Erestor told Glorfindel what he thought he had managed to glean with his questioning. Not bothering to tell him about the dead ends or mistaken ideas, he went straight to what he believed were the facts. He told the warrior how, in an unguarded moment of near-sleep, he had clearly remembered being in Valinor, and walking with one of the Maiar. Erestor told him that he believed one of the Maiar had asked Glorfindel to return to Middle-Earth for a reason. He also said that he suspected the reason for Glorfindel’s return had not yet come to pass.

He recalled clearly the words Glorfindel had said about his journey back at another time. “You said, ‘I wanted to sleep under the stars while we travelled, so that I could feel I wasn’t going so very far away.’”

When he had finished, Glorfindel sat in silence for a while. All trace of his drunkenness was gone now, and he appeared sober. And, for the first time since Erestor had known him, melancholy.

“I didn’t know I knew so much,” he said eventually, but still sounding a little dissatisfied with the truth. And why shouldn’t he be? There wasn’t really much to tell. Erestor hadn’t uncovered the mystery, only made it deeper. Suddenly he imagined how it must feel to be Glorfindel; to know that you had died, and yet be unable to remember how you returned. To have such a large part of your life missing – because that is surely what it was. The years Glorfindel had been away from Middle-Earth had been stolen from him. It was almost cruel.

Thinking that, Erestor broke the silence that had fallen again between them. “It doesn’t mean anything,” he admitted, feeling helpless and wishing he did know something, so that he could give a little knowledge to the warrior.

“Thank you!” Glorfindel said sarcastically, with a roll of his eyes.

“I didn’t mean –”

“I know.” Glorfindel sighed then. “I’m just playing with you.” The sarcasm wasn’t completely absent, and Erestor winced.

“I didn’t play with you, Glorfindel,” he admitted quietly. “I’m not made of ice.”

Suddenly Glorfindel had a wicked grin. “So,” he said, reaching forward to put his hand inside Erestor’s robe. “If I was to…” his warm hand moved over the advisor’s chest, and then he scratched lightly at one of Erestor’s nipples with his fingernails. “Erestor, you’re trembling. Why?”

“That would be because you ruin my concentration,” he said distractedly, trying to ignore the effect Glorfindel’s touch was having on his body.

“I do?” Glorfindel enquired innocently. Then he stopped and pulled back, laughing.

Frowning, Erestor gathered his mind back together. “What are you laughing at?”

“You. Trying to concentrate. Was it difficult?” Now Erestor laughed a little too, and smirked.

“You have no idea.” He got up from the couch, fully intending to show Glorfindel to the door and get some sleep. The warrior did follow him, but it seemed he had other ideas. When Erestor turned around again, Glorfindel had removed his tunic, and his bare chest was more than a little distracting, especially when he stood so close like that.

“I am truly sorry, Glorfindel,” Erestor said then, knowing that he had behaved wrongly. But he knew Glorfindel would not have been as open and trusting with him if he had been Erestor. They were always going to have a working relationship that was full of conflict. But as Thenindhír, Erestor had come to feel something for the warrior, and now he was desperately regretting that things had gone so far. He couldn’t recall the moment when his feelings had changed. He had never meant for the pretence to go on this long. But he had found himself loath to share the secret, sure that it would mean the end of them, and wanting just a bit longer. Hours became days, changed to weeks, stretched to months; but it was always going to end at some point, because Thenindhír didn’t exist. There was nothing truthful about him.

“You shouldn’t fight me.” Glorfindel suddenly pulled the advisor to him, and then claimed his lips. “You should give in,” he suggested, whispering against his lips so that it almost tickled. “And you should help me, if I’m here for a reason.”

Erestor was finding it very difficult to pay attention to the words, but he did hear and understand them, and he stiffened. Oh, no! That wasn’t going to happen, no matter how sorry he was! Turning on Glorfindel, Erestor began to push him back towards the bed. “Give in?” he asked in disbelief. “So because you are the great Glorfindel who came back I should allow you to take my body and order me around in my work?” He punctuated his words with little jabs at Glorfindel’s chest, bringing to mind every single time he had given in to Glorfindel to keep him happy.

Now the warrior looked completely shocked at his treatment – and why shouldn’t he be? After all, as Thenindhír, Erestor had given in to his every whim so that he would have a chance to try and find out the truth. Not to mention the amount of times he had been forced to back down on his ideas to save Glorfindel trying to find ‘Erestor,’ and talk to him himself. The compromises had been necessary to save the warrior from finding out the truth.

Before long they were at the bed. Erestor began to untie the laces of the warrior’s leggings, having decided to take something he had wanted for a long time. “I don’t think so, Glorfindel. Thenindhír would, of course,” he said with a little smile. “But I won’t. I have a part in all this too, you know.”

Bemused, Glorfindel watched what his lover was doing, but didn’t try to stop him. In fact, he seemed to be aroused, Erestor noted with a little bit of a shock.  “There’s a war coming,” Glorfindel said. His voice was a little higher-pitched than usual. Erestor smiled, knowing what it meant, and once Glorfindel was naked, he pushed his lover onto the bed and turned him over onto his stomach. There was always a war coming. Erestor shrugged off his own robe. “We should be prepared for that,” Glorfindel pointed out. They caught each other’s eye just as Erestor was taking a bottle of oil from the drawer of the bedside table. Quite suddenly, he wanted to laugh, but Erestor carried on the conversation regardless.

“I know, and we will be,” he began to prepare his lover slowly. “You have to trust me.” Glorfindel relaxed with a sigh, and Erestor began to massage the oil deep inside him, listening for the next few minutes to Glorfindel’s little moans and sighs. Eventually, he spoke again. “It’s my place to ensure that Imladris is as strong as it can be.” Now he took the oil once more, and coated his erection just as Glorfindel turned over and looked up at him. “In all ways.”

“And what about you?” he asked, his eyes full of desire, and still not protesting when Erestor pushed one of Glorfindel’s legs up and positioned himself at his entrance.

“I have everything I need,” he said, and then pushed inside, finally taking Glorfindel. At last! He had wanted this for so long, and now the truth was out he could be himself instead of what Glorfindel wanted. “Now.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Glorfindel moaned, and then took a few quick breaths before adding: “I don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Erestor just barely managed to ask, beginning to move in and out of the maddening tight heat.

“I don’t have everything I need,” Glorfindel said in a rush, obviously having trouble concentrating. Erestor decided to make it difficult for him.

“You’re sure?” He aimed a thrust deliberately angled to make Glorfindel lose his track of thought, and laughed a little at the result.

“Ahh…” Glorfindel moaned and then swallowed. “Well…” he began, seeming to need a moment to collect his thoughts. “I need a better training ground.” Erestor did it again, smiling when Glorfindel moaned, and swore this time. Erestor was close himself now, and he couldn’t stop moving, taking Glorfindel with quick, but deep thrusts. “And more archers,” he managed eventually. Again. Erestor took his mind from it, and this time he reached between them to take hold of the warrior’s erection, stroking him slowly. For a while they were lost in each other, and Glorfindel appeared to forget what he was saying completely, but then he remembered. “And new barracks,” he pointed out. Again. Glorfindel cried out, and Erestor couldn’t hold back any longer. He came inside his lover, feeling truly satisfied, feeling like himself. He had hated the lie. But once it began, it had become more and more difficult to admit the truth.

“Hmm, I’ll see,” he said eventually, deliberately condescending, and then pulled out slowly, both of them moaning at the same time. Erestor turned onto his side away from Glorfindel and felt the warrior’s hand come to rest on his waist. He smiled.

“Oh?” he said darkly. “You will? When? Will it be in this century, Erestor?” He fought the urge to giggle, and patted Glorfindel’s hand reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, Glorfindel…” He yawned. “We have a few hundred years to argue about it.”

“Are you falling asleep?” his lover asked incredulously. The hand left for a moment, and when it returned, Glorfindel began to prepare him. Erestor relaxed to allow it, and sighed quietly.

“Mmm…” He heard Glorfindel laugh quietly, the warrior’s hot breath tickling his ear, and Erestor raised his leg a little to give him better access.

“So relaxed like this,” Glorfindel noted with warm amusement. Erestor couldn’t disagree, his orgasms always made him feel so warm and languid. “So easy…” Glorfindel breathed as he pushed inside, and then began to take Erestor slowly. He should feel insulted perhaps, but he didn’t. Maybe it was because he loved Glorfindel to take him like this, when he had already come and his body was so relaxed and willing. The pleasure was muted a little, and it meant Erestor could think.

Before it was over, he was having trouble thinking clearly again though. He climaxed for the second time into Glorfindel’s experienced hand, and the warrior followed him with a very satisfied groan, spilling himself deep inside Erestor’s body. They stayed together for a few minutes. It felt so nice like this, Glorfindel’s warm skin comforting against his back while he held Erestor close. Eventually, he pulled out, and Erestor heard himself giving a small, disappointed sigh. But Glorfindel pulled him back against his chest again, and it was fine. He still wondered about the reasons, but perhaps now was not the best time to attempt to find out the answers to his questions. He wondered if he was forgiven, and then knew he was when Glorfindel spoke.

“Ask me a question and I’ll kill you in your sleep,” he averred with the familiar amusement.

“I wasn’t!” Erestor protested immediately.

“Ha!” Glorfindel exclaimed, as if he had found the advisor out. They were quiet a few moments, and Erestor began to wonder if Glorfindel was asleep. If he asked a question now, would Glorfindel notice? Perhaps he would remember something else. “Stop it!” Glorfindel demanded loudly.

“Stop what?” he returned, trying to sound innocent and failing.

“You’re calculating whether it’s worth it. Stop. There’s nothing I can possibly say that’s worth your life.”

Erestor suddenly laughed and turned around in Glorfindel’s arms, deciding to play a little himself. “Modesty?” he asked out loud, then he nodded. “I knew it!”

Glorfindel made a sound of confusion, and Erestor elaborated for him. “It’s too late to play innocent now, impostor,” he teased, climbing to sit astride his lover and stabbing a finger at his chest mercilessly. “What have you done with Glorfindel?”

His lover just looked up at him. “I killed him so that I could take his place in your bed.” Glorfindel stared at him intensely, and Erestor had the sudden idea that despite trying to be pleasing, Glorfindel would have been just as happy if he had been himself, perhaps happier. It was a revelation. After all this time, they still needed to get to know each other. Eventually, Glorfindel turned his face away.

“Good…” Erestor breathed, entranced by the way Glorfindel’s movement exposed his neck. It made him look vulnerable, and Erestor couldn’t help but lean down to kiss him there.

“Good?” Then Glorfindel actually squealed when the kiss turned into a bite.

“Mmm…” Erestor replied, licking his lips, before moving off to settle down once more.

“Oh, Erestor?” Glorfindel asked a little while later, just catching him on the edge of sleep. Erestor stifled a sigh.

“Yes?” he murmured sleepily.

“Tomorrow I want to have a little talk with you about something important.” Now Erestor did sigh. “Honesty,” Glorfindel said. Oh… Erestor swallowed.

“A talk?” he asked. Glorfindel laughed, and it sounded dangerous. Erestor swallowed again. Very slowly, Glorfindel’s hand travelled the length of his body.

“Well, I think you’ll appreciate my point of view by the time we’ve done,” he said mysteriously. In the darkness, Erestor smirked. He wasn’t Thenindhír anymore, and he wished Glorfindel luck. He would need it.

“We’ll see,” he replied. And with that it seemed there wasn’t anything else to say.

They slept. They were together, and although both of them would deny it, they grew to love their arguments as much as their surrender to each other.


Epilogue

There was a war coming, both of them were right about that; but when it finally arrived it brought no answers. When the War of the Last Alliance was over, Glorfindel and Erestor still had the feeling that something was waiting.

Centuries later, a hobbit came to Imladris bearing a golden ring. With his actions, Glorfindel more or less saved the hobbit’s life, and it was then that he felt the change. Later, he had a long talk with Gandalf. His missing memories were returning to his waking mind. He had no idea how he could have forgotten his old friend, and they spent an entire night together, talking until the dawn made the light grey and lonely, much like the quality of light on the sea the morning that Gandalf had taken away part of his life. But this time he gave it back.

After a week or so of teasing, Glorfindel admitted to Erestor that he had fulfilled his destiny. He said that Gandalf had offered to take him back, and that he had refused.

“But why?” Erestor asked, ever the cool, calm one. But Glorfindel could see his relief.

“Because I have a life here, now, with you.” And for once Glorfindel wasn’t teasing.


back to LotR Secret Santa