The Unexpected -- R -- Elrond/Glorfindel -- Lackam
REQUEST:
Fic, fanart or either?: Fic or Both
Pairing(s): Elrond/Glorfindel
Scenario, prompt: fourth age-elrond is fed up with the loss/being asked to give up every thing
Squicks: hobbits, gondorian men
HEADER:
Title: The Unexpected
Author: Zhie
Beta: --
Pairing: Elrond/Glorfindel
Word Count: 3122
Rating: R
Warnings: Naughty elfness
Archive: Phoenix -- http://phoenix.zhie.us
Disclaimer: Tolkien's characters and places are his, I'm just playing in his sandbox.
Summary: Not long after his arrival in Middle-earth, Elrond discovers that his expectations of life in Valinor fall short. He encounters an old friend and seeks advice, or at the very least, someone to talk to.
“Well, that is that,” huffed Elrond as he stomped across the snow, right up to the first familiar person he had seen that evening since declaring to Celebrian that he was ‘done, finished, once and for all!’ without even a good-day. He had intended to ride his horse all the way to Erestor’s house, for it was one of the few destinations he knew in the area, and the ex-councilor had yet to chase him away like nearly every other ex-anyone had as of late.
Glorfindel looked up from his task but did not stop. He pushed the snow along the ground of the walkway until it created a large enough heap for him to merit lifting it up to toss off onto the lawn. Every time that Elrond had come by, the curtains were always drawn (as they were now) and no one answered the door. In fact, Elrond had begun to doubt that this was where Glorfindel had taken up residence. “I might need a little more information,” said Glorfindel, his voice a little muffled from the scarf that covered his nose and mouth.
“My wife. My ex-wife.” Elrond sighed. “I have tried. Honestly. There is only so much a man can bear! I know she went through the cruelest torture, but she might have said something sooner.” His explanations were half-mutters to himself, so Glorfindel stopped shoveling and placed his hands on the shovel’s handle as he tried to understand what Elrond was talking about. Elrond must have realized the need for clarity, for he suddenly looked up and said in a very clear tone, “According to her, she could never stand being touched by me again. She could tolerate no man, and therefore she has for some time been seeing to her romantic needs with another lady.”
“Before or after you arrived?” asked Glorfindel.
“After.”
“So she was not unfaithful before you came to Valinor,” Glorfindel confirmed.
Elrond rolled his eyes. “That is not the point! A technicality! She admitted that she had spent a great deal of time with this woman during the years that we were separated! They have been planning this!”
“But she gave you a chance,” prodded Glorfindel.
“Yes,” answered Elrond tentatively. “These past few years have been... a trying time. We were unable to rekindle the love we once had, and-“
“We... that does not sound one-sided.”
Elrond glared. “Just whose side are you on?”
Glorfindel shrugged and then started his task again. “It could be worse. It does not sound as if you love her any longer.”
“I am tired of losing everything. I lost my parents, I lost my brother, I lost my uncles,” he added in reference to Maedhros and Maglor. “I lost my wife, I lost my daughter, and I feel like I will lose my sons. Just when I finally thought I was getting something back, I find it was all a cruel lie.”
It seemed Glorfindel did not intend to answer, for he continued along on his way, shoving snow out of the way and dumping it into piles out of the way. When Elrond looked as if he was about to leave, Glorfindel asked, “Would you like to come in for tea? You look cold.”
“I suppose I am a little chilly.” Elrond looked about and noticed that there was still work to be done. “Do you have a second shovel?”
“No.” Glorfindel scooped up another pile of snow. “I can only handle one at a time, so I only have one.”
‘Smart ass,’ thought Elrond. “I just thought I would help if you had another.”
“Go inside. The front door is open. I will not be long,” promised Glorfindel.
“Are you sure? I feel terrible going inside, when you are out here in the cold,” Elrond said.
Glorfindel nodded. “If you want to be helpful, you can put the kettle on for tea. I left it back there by the well,” he said, making a gesture around the side of the house. “You should have no trouble finding it.”
It was a short trudge over the snowy lawn for Elrond to reach the well, which was dug deep and built well to keep the water from freezing over. Elrond looked around the yard as he wound the rope back up to retrieve the bucket. Glorfindel had chosen a simple house on an average sized plot of land. Trees bordered the yard to keep neighbors from being nosy, and a red and white barn at the back of the property looked like an inviting place for his horse.
Elrond returned with the kettle full and took it into the house to hang over the fire before returning outside. When he did, his mount was not where he left her. “Did you-“
“I took her to the barn for you. I realized I should have said something earlier,” said Glorfindel. “It will make Asfaloth happy to have someone to talk to.”
“You still have that old stallion? How is he doing?”
Glorfindel smiled. “Not bad, for an old stallion. We still go for rides, but not like we used to.”
“I remember when that horse was born in Rivendell,” recalled Elrond. “It was right in the middle of winter and the poor thing lost its mother two days later. You were determined not to lose him, too.”
There was little more for Glorfindel to add to the conversation, so he continued to work while Elrond concentrated on staying warm. While he might have preferred to have been inside, he did not wish to appear rude. It did not take too much longer for Glorfindel to finish the task to his satisfaction. He anchored the shovel into a snow bank near the house and brushed the snowflakes off of his gloves. “I think that about does it,” he declared before he led the way into the house.
They entered to find the kettle hissing, and Glorfindel removed it carefully from the fire and took it into the kitchen. “Make yourself at home,” he advised Elrond when he noted that he was being followed about. To further his point, he motioned to a doorway that Elrond had not gone through yet. “I have a den in there. Books and things. Much more interesting than watching me make tea.”
Elrond took the advice and entered into a cozy area with four large, plush chairs and an ample supply of books. As he lit a few candles to better see the selections, he also noted a cabinet in the far corner that contained a variety of small stringed instruments. Not all of them were currently in usable condition. One lute had a broken string that had yet to be replaced, and another had no strings at all.
Glorfindel entered with tea to find Elrond tuning one of the instruments that still had all of its pieces. “Lindir suggested I take up a hobby when I arrived. It turns out I am a terrible luthier.” He set the tray down on the table, and Elrond saw that it contained a plate of gingerbread as well.
“Did you make these?” asked Elrond.
“Only the ones that look terrible,” admitted Glorfindel. He pointed to the bottom shelf. “Maybe I just need to apprentice with someone instead of trying to figure it out from a book. At my age, however, you tend not to want to apprentice with someone half your age, which is probably what it would amount to.”
They sat in the den for hours, Elrond recounting everything that had happened in the few years they had been in Valinor, and the eventual rejection from his wife that had happened hours earlier. Glorfindel listened most of the time and spoke only to give advice or admit understanding. When Elrond began to yawn more and talk less, Glorfindel began to clean up from their snack. During a pause in Elrond’s conversation, Glorfindel said, “The winds are howling outside tonight. The roads are not safe for travel. You can certainly stay here, if you like.”
“I am surprised that you have a guest room,” said Elrond as he followed Glorfindel out of the den and into the small kitchen. “I assumed the master bedroom was on the second floor, but not much else from the slope of the roof.”
Glorfindel set the tray on the counter and shook his head. “I do not sleep well. You are welcome to use the bedroom upstairs, and I can rest in the den.”
“On a chair? Certainly not,” argued Elrond. “This is your house, Glorfindel, I can use one of the chairs. You are very kind to offer it, but I cannot take your bed from you.”
“On the contrary, you are my guest,” pointed out Glorfindel. “It would be rude of me not to offer it.”
“Then I see only two viable solutions,” stated Elrond. “Either we both sleep in chairs in the den, or we each chose half of the bed.”
Glorfindel took an uncomfortable step away. “Elrond, I am sure you know something of my history, and-“
“If I had issue with it, I would not suggest the arrangement. But you are right - it is cold outside, and the roads were bad when I came. Worse than that, I have no place to return to - I was on my way to Erestor’s house, but I am sure he is happy that I did not come knocking on his door yet again. He is too polite to remind me he is no longer my chief councilor and no longer needs to deal with my problems.”
Glorfindel smiled a little at that. “He likes dealing with problems. Trust me. His unsolicited advice is offered to me whenever I see him.”
“Come - we can discuss this further upstairs,” suggested Elrond.
The second floor was not very large, as Elrond had initially expected. There was a small room at the top of the stairs with an indoor privy, and a second room through another door that led to the bedroom. Suddenly, Glorfindel looked rather embarrassed. “Excuse me a moment... I never make the bed,” he mumbled as he hastily made his way past Elrond and tidied the room. He came back with a robe, which he handed to Elrond. “I have no nightclothes,” he explained worriedly. “No one else lives here, so... I think I should go down to the den.”
“Nonsense. I will turn around so that you can protect your modesty and get into the bed, and I have this I can use,” stated Elrond as he held up the robe.
Glorfindel looked ready to protest further, but the way out was blocked by Elrond, so Glorfindel retreated back into the bedroom. “Just a minute,” he said as he pulled the handle of the door to block the view of the bedroom, but did not close it completely. Elrond patiently waited after removing his own clothes and draping them over a chair in the smaller room. He was tying the belt on the robe when he heard Glorfindel call out, “You can open the door.”
The first thing that Elrond noticed was how apprehensive Glorfindel appeared. He had the blankets pulled up nearly to his chin, but looked ready to bolt at any moment. Elrond chose to ignore it and walked into the bedroom, circling to the other side of the bed without paying Glorfindel too much attention. “This is a very big bed,” said Elrond, thinking perhaps mentioning the vast amount of space that would be between them might help put Glorfindel at ease.
“I had it commissioned before I knew I would be sleeping in it alone,” stated Glorfindel. “Same with the house. I probably would have taken residence in a boarding house if I had known then what I know now.”
This revelation was shocking to Elrond, but he understood it all too well. “I assumed you would have less trouble with relationships. Men tend to be straightforward; women do not communicate in the same way.”
Glorfindel closed his eyes for a moment, as if remembering something. “Men can be straightforward, or they can hide the truth completely. One day, you think the person you are in love with loves you back. The next, you find out they never loved you at all.”
Elrond got into bed on the opposite side so that he was able to face Glorfindel. “That had to be difficult to come back to, after everything that happened.”
“I knew before I came back this time,” said Glorfindel. “It was why I ran away.” He smiled, a private joke, and asked, “Did you really believe that the Valar sent an Elf along with a group of wizards to help in the war against Sauron?”
“I had no reason to doubt you,” said Elrond.
“I was a stowaway,” Glorfindel explained. “I was reborn here, I spent a number of years here, and then my world fell apart. My lover in Gondolin - it was political. He had someone else the entire time, and I was blind not to see it. It seemed that everyone knew of it. What was more, I was an embarrassment by then, and I was too ashamed to stay.”
“You are a hero, Glorfindel,” argued Elrond. “So many in Gondolin were saved by your actions.”
Glorfindel propped himself up, his hand under his chin. “I was arrogant. I hewed off the beast’s arm and sent him tumbling off the cliff. Then I turned around, and Elrond, you know as well as I do never to turn your back on your enemy. Well, I did, and I paid for it, but not only with my life. My return here was worse than death. There were no parades, no fanfare, just a lot of talk behind my back about my pride, vain, and overconfidence. I only killed one of them - and by luck, some will say. Ecthelion killed four, and he never turned his back on any of them.
“Instead, I killed one, and by default, for on solid ground, I might have been crushed first. Instead of the death of a warrior, in the eyes of my peers I died like one of their wives or daughters, dragged to my doom by my hair. I was no hero here, and so I thought to escape.” Glorfindel sat up now, his knees brought up, chin resting upon them. “I had hoped that enough time had passed, but the first week I was here again I encountered Salgant in a pub. He brought it all up again - you would think him, of all people, would understand but I am sure it makes everyone forget his cowardice.”
Elrond rose up to sit beside Glorfindel. “I had no idea that anyone would say such a thing. I am greatful for your sacrifice and would never consider you to be any of those things. I will forever be in debt to you for the safety of my family,” declared Elrond. He placed a hand upon Glorfindel’s shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly. “You are strong, kind, and beautiful,” added Elrond. “Those who think you vain are surely jealous,” he decided as he let his hand fall back, his fingers drawn through the soft golden hair of his companion.
Glorfindel closed his eyes and took in his breath sharply, then gently pushed Elrond’s hand away. “I appreciate your words, but they are affecting me differently than I believe you intended.”
No one could ever accuse Elrond of being unintelligent, and he knew exactly what Glorfindel meant. His hand returned to Glorfindel’s shoulder, and the blond’s pale cheeks began to glow red. “I mean every word I said.” Elrond snuck his hand behind the golden locks and began to massage the back of Glorfindel’s neck. “There is no one I know who is stronger or kinder, and you truly are...” Elrond brought his other hand up and placed them upon Glorfindel’s cheeks, and moved his head so that they faced each other. The first kiss was slow and uncertain, a test for them both. A pleasant energy passed between them, and each kiss was a little longer, a little deeper, a little sweeter. The taste of nutmeg and cinnamon still lingered from the gingerbread and tea.
Strong hands tried to move the blankets aside, but they were tucked beneath Glorfindel’s leg, and Elrond growled at this barrier. “I need more of you,” he finally demanded as he sat back and hastily untied the robe he had been given.
Without hesitation, Glorfindel scrambled to shove the sheets and quilt down to the bottom of the bed. Elrond tossed the robe onto the floor and crawl back over Glorfindel, trailing kisses as he went, until Glorfindel was on his back, Elrond atop him, as they kissed and groped each other into a frenzy. “Is this how you like it?” asked Elrond when he gave Glorfindel a moment to catch his breath.
“Yes...”
“I mean... is this position...”
“I know what you mean.” Glorfindel managed to twist around onto his stomach, and looked over his shoulder. “The top shelf over there... I keep a jar of cream you can use.”
Elrond smiled and went to the corner shelf that Glorfindel has referred him to. As stated, the top shelf contained a round jar with a sweet scented thin cream that Elrond tested between his fingers. He brought it back to the bed and warmed it in his palm before he used it to cover himself and prepare his unexpected lover. Elrond felt Glorfindel tremble beneath him and he stopped immediately. “Are you alright?”
“Just... a little overwhelmed,” apologized Glorfindel. “I never... I never expected this. I... I never told you, but all of those years in Imladris... I loved you then, but you were married, and...”
“I am not married any longer,” Elrond explained.
“I know. I... I hoped for this. I wanted this so badly, but...” Glorfindel sighed as he felt Elrond lean down and kiss his neck and shoulder. “This is the first time I have done this, in this body. It feels so good... just like the first time, but better. I wanted it to be you, but I was coming close to saying yes to the first person who offered to bed me.”
“Trust me when I tell you I am the only person allowed to take you to bed from now on,” declared Elrond.
“I trust you,” answered Glorfindel. He looked over his shoulder again and lifted his hips a little more. “I trust you, Elrond.”
If there was any uncertainty, it was gone the very moment their bodies joined, and finally they were both at peace. Together, they could overcome anything.
Fic, fanart or either?: Fic or Both
Pairing(s): Elrond/Glorfindel
Scenario, prompt: fourth age-elrond is fed up with the loss/being asked to give up every thing
Squicks: hobbits, gondorian men
HEADER:
Title: The Unexpected
Author: Zhie
Beta: --
Pairing: Elrond/Glorfindel
Word Count: 3122
Rating: R
Warnings: Naughty elfness
Archive: Phoenix -- http://phoenix.zhie.us
Disclaimer: Tolkien's characters and places are his, I'm just playing in his sandbox.
Summary: Not long after his arrival in Middle-earth, Elrond discovers that his expectations of life in Valinor fall short. He encounters an old friend and seeks advice, or at the very least, someone to talk to.
“Well, that is that,” huffed Elrond as he stomped across the snow, right up to the first familiar person he had seen that evening since declaring to Celebrian that he was ‘done, finished, once and for all!’ without even a good-day. He had intended to ride his horse all the way to Erestor’s house, for it was one of the few destinations he knew in the area, and the ex-councilor had yet to chase him away like nearly every other ex-anyone had as of late.
Glorfindel looked up from his task but did not stop. He pushed the snow along the ground of the walkway until it created a large enough heap for him to merit lifting it up to toss off onto the lawn. Every time that Elrond had come by, the curtains were always drawn (as they were now) and no one answered the door. In fact, Elrond had begun to doubt that this was where Glorfindel had taken up residence. “I might need a little more information,” said Glorfindel, his voice a little muffled from the scarf that covered his nose and mouth.
“My wife. My ex-wife.” Elrond sighed. “I have tried. Honestly. There is only so much a man can bear! I know she went through the cruelest torture, but she might have said something sooner.” His explanations were half-mutters to himself, so Glorfindel stopped shoveling and placed his hands on the shovel’s handle as he tried to understand what Elrond was talking about. Elrond must have realized the need for clarity, for he suddenly looked up and said in a very clear tone, “According to her, she could never stand being touched by me again. She could tolerate no man, and therefore she has for some time been seeing to her romantic needs with another lady.”
“Before or after you arrived?” asked Glorfindel.
“After.”
“So she was not unfaithful before you came to Valinor,” Glorfindel confirmed.
Elrond rolled his eyes. “That is not the point! A technicality! She admitted that she had spent a great deal of time with this woman during the years that we were separated! They have been planning this!”
“But she gave you a chance,” prodded Glorfindel.
“Yes,” answered Elrond tentatively. “These past few years have been... a trying time. We were unable to rekindle the love we once had, and-“
“We... that does not sound one-sided.”
Elrond glared. “Just whose side are you on?”
Glorfindel shrugged and then started his task again. “It could be worse. It does not sound as if you love her any longer.”
“I am tired of losing everything. I lost my parents, I lost my brother, I lost my uncles,” he added in reference to Maedhros and Maglor. “I lost my wife, I lost my daughter, and I feel like I will lose my sons. Just when I finally thought I was getting something back, I find it was all a cruel lie.”
It seemed Glorfindel did not intend to answer, for he continued along on his way, shoving snow out of the way and dumping it into piles out of the way. When Elrond looked as if he was about to leave, Glorfindel asked, “Would you like to come in for tea? You look cold.”
“I suppose I am a little chilly.” Elrond looked about and noticed that there was still work to be done. “Do you have a second shovel?”
“No.” Glorfindel scooped up another pile of snow. “I can only handle one at a time, so I only have one.”
‘Smart ass,’ thought Elrond. “I just thought I would help if you had another.”
“Go inside. The front door is open. I will not be long,” promised Glorfindel.
“Are you sure? I feel terrible going inside, when you are out here in the cold,” Elrond said.
Glorfindel nodded. “If you want to be helpful, you can put the kettle on for tea. I left it back there by the well,” he said, making a gesture around the side of the house. “You should have no trouble finding it.”
It was a short trudge over the snowy lawn for Elrond to reach the well, which was dug deep and built well to keep the water from freezing over. Elrond looked around the yard as he wound the rope back up to retrieve the bucket. Glorfindel had chosen a simple house on an average sized plot of land. Trees bordered the yard to keep neighbors from being nosy, and a red and white barn at the back of the property looked like an inviting place for his horse.
Elrond returned with the kettle full and took it into the house to hang over the fire before returning outside. When he did, his mount was not where he left her. “Did you-“
“I took her to the barn for you. I realized I should have said something earlier,” said Glorfindel. “It will make Asfaloth happy to have someone to talk to.”
“You still have that old stallion? How is he doing?”
Glorfindel smiled. “Not bad, for an old stallion. We still go for rides, but not like we used to.”
“I remember when that horse was born in Rivendell,” recalled Elrond. “It was right in the middle of winter and the poor thing lost its mother two days later. You were determined not to lose him, too.”
There was little more for Glorfindel to add to the conversation, so he continued to work while Elrond concentrated on staying warm. While he might have preferred to have been inside, he did not wish to appear rude. It did not take too much longer for Glorfindel to finish the task to his satisfaction. He anchored the shovel into a snow bank near the house and brushed the snowflakes off of his gloves. “I think that about does it,” he declared before he led the way into the house.
They entered to find the kettle hissing, and Glorfindel removed it carefully from the fire and took it into the kitchen. “Make yourself at home,” he advised Elrond when he noted that he was being followed about. To further his point, he motioned to a doorway that Elrond had not gone through yet. “I have a den in there. Books and things. Much more interesting than watching me make tea.”
Elrond took the advice and entered into a cozy area with four large, plush chairs and an ample supply of books. As he lit a few candles to better see the selections, he also noted a cabinet in the far corner that contained a variety of small stringed instruments. Not all of them were currently in usable condition. One lute had a broken string that had yet to be replaced, and another had no strings at all.
Glorfindel entered with tea to find Elrond tuning one of the instruments that still had all of its pieces. “Lindir suggested I take up a hobby when I arrived. It turns out I am a terrible luthier.” He set the tray down on the table, and Elrond saw that it contained a plate of gingerbread as well.
“Did you make these?” asked Elrond.
“Only the ones that look terrible,” admitted Glorfindel. He pointed to the bottom shelf. “Maybe I just need to apprentice with someone instead of trying to figure it out from a book. At my age, however, you tend not to want to apprentice with someone half your age, which is probably what it would amount to.”
They sat in the den for hours, Elrond recounting everything that had happened in the few years they had been in Valinor, and the eventual rejection from his wife that had happened hours earlier. Glorfindel listened most of the time and spoke only to give advice or admit understanding. When Elrond began to yawn more and talk less, Glorfindel began to clean up from their snack. During a pause in Elrond’s conversation, Glorfindel said, “The winds are howling outside tonight. The roads are not safe for travel. You can certainly stay here, if you like.”
“I am surprised that you have a guest room,” said Elrond as he followed Glorfindel out of the den and into the small kitchen. “I assumed the master bedroom was on the second floor, but not much else from the slope of the roof.”
Glorfindel set the tray on the counter and shook his head. “I do not sleep well. You are welcome to use the bedroom upstairs, and I can rest in the den.”
“On a chair? Certainly not,” argued Elrond. “This is your house, Glorfindel, I can use one of the chairs. You are very kind to offer it, but I cannot take your bed from you.”
“On the contrary, you are my guest,” pointed out Glorfindel. “It would be rude of me not to offer it.”
“Then I see only two viable solutions,” stated Elrond. “Either we both sleep in chairs in the den, or we each chose half of the bed.”
Glorfindel took an uncomfortable step away. “Elrond, I am sure you know something of my history, and-“
“If I had issue with it, I would not suggest the arrangement. But you are right - it is cold outside, and the roads were bad when I came. Worse than that, I have no place to return to - I was on my way to Erestor’s house, but I am sure he is happy that I did not come knocking on his door yet again. He is too polite to remind me he is no longer my chief councilor and no longer needs to deal with my problems.”
Glorfindel smiled a little at that. “He likes dealing with problems. Trust me. His unsolicited advice is offered to me whenever I see him.”
“Come - we can discuss this further upstairs,” suggested Elrond.
The second floor was not very large, as Elrond had initially expected. There was a small room at the top of the stairs with an indoor privy, and a second room through another door that led to the bedroom. Suddenly, Glorfindel looked rather embarrassed. “Excuse me a moment... I never make the bed,” he mumbled as he hastily made his way past Elrond and tidied the room. He came back with a robe, which he handed to Elrond. “I have no nightclothes,” he explained worriedly. “No one else lives here, so... I think I should go down to the den.”
“Nonsense. I will turn around so that you can protect your modesty and get into the bed, and I have this I can use,” stated Elrond as he held up the robe.
Glorfindel looked ready to protest further, but the way out was blocked by Elrond, so Glorfindel retreated back into the bedroom. “Just a minute,” he said as he pulled the handle of the door to block the view of the bedroom, but did not close it completely. Elrond patiently waited after removing his own clothes and draping them over a chair in the smaller room. He was tying the belt on the robe when he heard Glorfindel call out, “You can open the door.”
The first thing that Elrond noticed was how apprehensive Glorfindel appeared. He had the blankets pulled up nearly to his chin, but looked ready to bolt at any moment. Elrond chose to ignore it and walked into the bedroom, circling to the other side of the bed without paying Glorfindel too much attention. “This is a very big bed,” said Elrond, thinking perhaps mentioning the vast amount of space that would be between them might help put Glorfindel at ease.
“I had it commissioned before I knew I would be sleeping in it alone,” stated Glorfindel. “Same with the house. I probably would have taken residence in a boarding house if I had known then what I know now.”
This revelation was shocking to Elrond, but he understood it all too well. “I assumed you would have less trouble with relationships. Men tend to be straightforward; women do not communicate in the same way.”
Glorfindel closed his eyes for a moment, as if remembering something. “Men can be straightforward, or they can hide the truth completely. One day, you think the person you are in love with loves you back. The next, you find out they never loved you at all.”
Elrond got into bed on the opposite side so that he was able to face Glorfindel. “That had to be difficult to come back to, after everything that happened.”
“I knew before I came back this time,” said Glorfindel. “It was why I ran away.” He smiled, a private joke, and asked, “Did you really believe that the Valar sent an Elf along with a group of wizards to help in the war against Sauron?”
“I had no reason to doubt you,” said Elrond.
“I was a stowaway,” Glorfindel explained. “I was reborn here, I spent a number of years here, and then my world fell apart. My lover in Gondolin - it was political. He had someone else the entire time, and I was blind not to see it. It seemed that everyone knew of it. What was more, I was an embarrassment by then, and I was too ashamed to stay.”
“You are a hero, Glorfindel,” argued Elrond. “So many in Gondolin were saved by your actions.”
Glorfindel propped himself up, his hand under his chin. “I was arrogant. I hewed off the beast’s arm and sent him tumbling off the cliff. Then I turned around, and Elrond, you know as well as I do never to turn your back on your enemy. Well, I did, and I paid for it, but not only with my life. My return here was worse than death. There were no parades, no fanfare, just a lot of talk behind my back about my pride, vain, and overconfidence. I only killed one of them - and by luck, some will say. Ecthelion killed four, and he never turned his back on any of them.
“Instead, I killed one, and by default, for on solid ground, I might have been crushed first. Instead of the death of a warrior, in the eyes of my peers I died like one of their wives or daughters, dragged to my doom by my hair. I was no hero here, and so I thought to escape.” Glorfindel sat up now, his knees brought up, chin resting upon them. “I had hoped that enough time had passed, but the first week I was here again I encountered Salgant in a pub. He brought it all up again - you would think him, of all people, would understand but I am sure it makes everyone forget his cowardice.”
Elrond rose up to sit beside Glorfindel. “I had no idea that anyone would say such a thing. I am greatful for your sacrifice and would never consider you to be any of those things. I will forever be in debt to you for the safety of my family,” declared Elrond. He placed a hand upon Glorfindel’s shoulder and rubbed it comfortingly. “You are strong, kind, and beautiful,” added Elrond. “Those who think you vain are surely jealous,” he decided as he let his hand fall back, his fingers drawn through the soft golden hair of his companion.
Glorfindel closed his eyes and took in his breath sharply, then gently pushed Elrond’s hand away. “I appreciate your words, but they are affecting me differently than I believe you intended.”
No one could ever accuse Elrond of being unintelligent, and he knew exactly what Glorfindel meant. His hand returned to Glorfindel’s shoulder, and the blond’s pale cheeks began to glow red. “I mean every word I said.” Elrond snuck his hand behind the golden locks and began to massage the back of Glorfindel’s neck. “There is no one I know who is stronger or kinder, and you truly are...” Elrond brought his other hand up and placed them upon Glorfindel’s cheeks, and moved his head so that they faced each other. The first kiss was slow and uncertain, a test for them both. A pleasant energy passed between them, and each kiss was a little longer, a little deeper, a little sweeter. The taste of nutmeg and cinnamon still lingered from the gingerbread and tea.
Strong hands tried to move the blankets aside, but they were tucked beneath Glorfindel’s leg, and Elrond growled at this barrier. “I need more of you,” he finally demanded as he sat back and hastily untied the robe he had been given.
Without hesitation, Glorfindel scrambled to shove the sheets and quilt down to the bottom of the bed. Elrond tossed the robe onto the floor and crawl back over Glorfindel, trailing kisses as he went, until Glorfindel was on his back, Elrond atop him, as they kissed and groped each other into a frenzy. “Is this how you like it?” asked Elrond when he gave Glorfindel a moment to catch his breath.
“Yes...”
“I mean... is this position...”
“I know what you mean.” Glorfindel managed to twist around onto his stomach, and looked over his shoulder. “The top shelf over there... I keep a jar of cream you can use.”
Elrond smiled and went to the corner shelf that Glorfindel has referred him to. As stated, the top shelf contained a round jar with a sweet scented thin cream that Elrond tested between his fingers. He brought it back to the bed and warmed it in his palm before he used it to cover himself and prepare his unexpected lover. Elrond felt Glorfindel tremble beneath him and he stopped immediately. “Are you alright?”
“Just... a little overwhelmed,” apologized Glorfindel. “I never... I never expected this. I... I never told you, but all of those years in Imladris... I loved you then, but you were married, and...”
“I am not married any longer,” Elrond explained.
“I know. I... I hoped for this. I wanted this so badly, but...” Glorfindel sighed as he felt Elrond lean down and kiss his neck and shoulder. “This is the first time I have done this, in this body. It feels so good... just like the first time, but better. I wanted it to be you, but I was coming close to saying yes to the first person who offered to bed me.”
“Trust me when I tell you I am the only person allowed to take you to bed from now on,” declared Elrond.
“I trust you,” answered Glorfindel. He looked over his shoulder again and lifted his hips a little more. “I trust you, Elrond.”
If there was any uncertainty, it was gone the very moment their bodies joined, and finally they were both at peace. Together, they could overcome anything.