The Flower and The Fountain

Fair One
Summary: Glorfindel’s point-of-view as he contemplates his relationship with Ecthelion whilst watching the other Elf bathe.

Lord of the House of the Fountain. A rather appropriate title for my lover, I believe. Even more so since the first time I met him was at water‘s edge. Ecthelion is enchanting when he is in the water, or dancing in the rain. In Valinor, I would always meet him by Lord Lórien’s lake, and sometimes he would be swimming in the clear pool. In Nevrast, he would swim in the ocean nearly everyday, even when it rained. And in storms, he seems the most at home in the outdoors. He would laugh like a child whilst singing and dancing, the thunder and lightning sounding overhead. Ecthelion was always the first to venture out when it rained, and the last to come back inside. In fact, he still does that. He ignores the dangerous thundering and delights in the downpour ead.ead.

Why am I thinking of such thoughts now? What else am I going to think about whilst I sit here and watch him bathe? I love to watch him doing anything, but mostly I watch when he is swimming or bathing. He seems one with the water, as if it is a part of him and he a part of it. He doesn’t seem to mind being watched by me. In fact, I think he rather enjoys it. He pretends not to notice that I’m here, but judging by the way he moves, the way he treads water, it shows that he senses my presence. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he is purposefully putting on a show for me. The thought brings a smile to my face as my eyes follow him whist he dips below the water’s surface to rinse his hair of the lavender herbs he used to cleanse the raven strands.

Ecthelion, my fair one. My life would be rather dull without you, I believe. You with your smile, your laugh; you brighten my day whenever I am in a dark mood. You love me aeverever fail to show or tell me how much. To me, your beauty outshines all the maidens of the court, including Idril herself. My eyes see nothing but you at festivals and dances, dinners and balls, all while turning down offers from young maidens for a dance or a midnight stroll. When you walk into a room, it just seems to light up with your presence. You are lively and engaging, and it is no wonder that num number of maidens and lads who wish to court you rivals my own legion of followers.

Is there anyone who knows of our relationship? Certainly Lineawen knows, for he is a sharp lad and would not miss a beat of our good-natured banter. I believe our king and his daughter also realize, as well as our fellow captains and a handful of others. I think, however, that most of Gondolin is sweetly oblivious to our union, believing our ties do not extend past that of friendship. How wrong and naïve they all are! I believe we would tread on more than a few hearts should we openly declare our affections. Our love is ours alone, and I do not wish to share the fact with more people than is adequately appropriate. Perhaps there are those who speculate, but I will not confirm their suspicions. Let them figure things out on their own and find their own lovers. I have already found mine, and he is not a catch I will release.

You are my heart and my soul, Ecthelion. No treasure in Valinor or Endor is more precious to me than you. You are more dear to me than the stars that shine each night, more loved by I than Elbereth is by our kind. I dare not dream what may happen should you leave this world before I. It is something I do not think about, something I refuse to imagine; rather, I relish in the time we spend together, whether we are alone with one another or not.

A splash of water brings me out of my thoughts. I lift my eyes from where they are transfixed upon the water before me only to meet your gray-blue gaze staring back. You are on one side of a large circular bath that could double as a pool. I am on the other, perched on the edge and lying on my side, propped up on my elbows and sporting a silk robe. My mass of golden hair is loose and a few strands trail in the water. You, on the other hand, have nothing but the water to caress your skin, crystalline droplets clinging to your dark lashes and raven hair, slipping down the creamy curves of your shoulders in shimmering rivulets.

Sweet Valar, how enticing you look now! I feel my heart flutter as you tread the chest deep water and practically swim to my side, eyes locked with mine. The water is shallower on this end, swirling just at the top of your hips as you stand before me. You kneel upon the sitting step and lean over to place a faint butterfly kiss upon my lips, drops of water falling onto my face and hair. With a smile you pull back, and sink onto your heels, observing me for a moment with the palms of your hands resting on your knees.

“You look thoughtful, malthener,” you whisper, edging just a little closer to me. I reach over and trail the tips of my fingers along your cheek, feeling the high bones underneath my touch. You sigh and lean into my caress, placing a whisper of a kiss upon my fingers just before I pull them away.

“I was lost in watching something beautiful, that is all,” I say with a sly smile as you blush. Ripples form around your waist as you begin to wring your hands, a nervous gesture of yours I have often observed.

“Really, Glorfindel. I am not a maiden to be flattered by your charming, honey-coated words. Nor am I a naïve lad whose admiration for you borders on love. I am your fellow captain, so you need not use such words to seduce me.”

“You do not seem to mind when I say such things to you when we are alone at night.” Your blush deepens as you avert your eyes in your embarrassment. I laugh and you, in a fit of mock rage, turn about quickly, water from your hair splattering my face and robe whilst you settle comfortably on the sitting step. Knowing you are not angry with me, I settle myself upon my stomach and begin to twist strands of your damp hair lazily about my fingers. You sigh at the touch and lean back, allowing me to place a kiss upon your shoulder and another at the nape of your neck.

“Peace such as this cannot possibly last forev you you say thoughtfully. I frown a bit at your words; they sound so melancholy, so foreboding. I do not like it when you attain such a distressed state. You are much more intriguing when you are in a lively mood.

“Do not say such things, vanimaer,” I try to soothe, drawing closer to you. I press my shoulders against yours, and rest my chin within the crevice created your shoulder and neck. I ignore the moisture that begins to seep into my hair and robe as I sink my hands below the water’s surface to entwine my fingers with yours. You sigh and close your eyes, leaning back against me and drawing on the measure of comfort I give freely. “Live in the peace we have now and relish it. Let what comes in the future trouble us when it arrives.” You nod and turn your head to place a kiss upon my cheek. I smile at the gesture and draw you closer. “Come what may, we shall face it together.”

“Together,” you repeat. Again your eyes lock with mine, and they glitter with the love you hold for me. I see it, and I smile whilst cupping your cheek in my hand. Our lips brush, a tentative kiss much like the first one we shared so many years ago. You sigh at the faint caress, your breath stirring my hair and brushing against my cheek.

It is you who draws me closer the second time with a slight tug on my hair. When our lips meet, the world disappears and it is only we two who exist. The kiss is soft, gentle but born of the love we possess for one another. Your tongue begs entrance, and I grant it to you, delighting in the sensations that crawl down my spine whilst we wrestle one another. I feel another tug on my hair and realize your hands have buried themselves into my mane, drawing us closer in the process. The kiss goes on for long moments, neither one of us wishing for it to end. I wrestle again with your tongue, but then the need for air becomes too great and I, reluctantly, release you with a little nibble to your lower lip for good measure.

Once the kiss has ended, you seek more of my touch and begin to stand in order to leave the bath. Raising myself to a sitting position, I reach for a nearby towel and hand it to you. While you quickly dry off, I hold open a robe, similar to the one I am wearing; you sink into both the robe and my arms in one fluid motion, pressing yourself as close to me as possible. Your legs still trail into the water as sit sit with me, hands eagerly reaching for my hair again. My mane has always fascinated you; you are always doing something with a stray lock now and again.

“You know something?” you ask.

“What’s that, melme?”

“When I first met you, I never thought I’d feel this way about you. I always thought of us as friends, but when you asked me to show you what a kiss was, everything began to change.”

“For the better I hope.” You poke me in the ribs and give a quick glare. I can only grin and pull you closer, resting my chin upon your head.

“Of course for the better! Would we be here, like this, if that were not so?”

“Peace, vanimaer. I was only teasing.”

“’Tis a wonder I have remained with you for so long after all the so-called ‘teasing’ you administer.”

“That is merely because you cannot live without me. Admit it, I‘m irresistible.” My words bring a threatening glare into yoyes,yes, but the look only amuses me and my laughter tumbles and echoes through the bathing chamber. You cannot stay angry with me for long, and soon your musical voice joins mine.

“You really are a tease, malthener.”

“You know you like it.” I grin and you release another small chuckle. “Come, the bath has grown cold. But the bed remains warm, and I daresay you will enjoy what I have in store for you this night.”

“Is it better than last night?”

“Of course! You doubt me? When have I ever disappointed you?” I pout in an innocent manner and I sends more giggles slipping from your lips. My pout curves into a smile as I listen to you, the pair of us stepping out of the bath and into the corridor leading to my room, our hands clasped together and our fingers entwined.

How I love you, Ecthelion. There is nothing that could break my affections for you. Let who so ever shall come between us be forsaken from Mandos’ Halls for all of eternity. My body, my heart, my soul, my love goes to you and you alone. My fair one, I love you. For all of time.

TBC...