And There Was Trouble Taking Place

Chapter 10

Imladris, the next evening

Asfaloth taken care of for the night, Glorfindel left the stables. The crisp, clear air outside promised a night of late spring frost. It had rained briefly in the afternoon and Glorfindel could still sense an echo of its scent in the wind. The smell of wet, fertile ground held a bittersweet feeling for him. Spring was a time for new love, and he expected to see couples walking around, holding hands. He had held the sight of them endearing but at present they reminded him of how far he was from where he wanted to be. He envied them.

Glorfindel had not bedded every elf he had ever wanted, so why was it that not having Erestor felt like losing? Could he not be the better elf about it, shrug his shoulders and say “Winner takes it all?” He searched his heart and knew the answer was a determinate ‘no’. Because it was not so simple. It was not about having Erestor. That he could have easily achieved before Haldir came into picture. No, this was about having it all, with Erestor. How had it come to this? How could he lose his heart so completely in a matter of days? And to someone who had been in front of him for what seemed like always? He knew not why, but it was certain that Erestor held his heart. For once in his life he was at a loss about what to do. Had he lost the game before it even properly started?

Perhaps not. Last night had thrown things around. The dinner came to an abrupt end when Erestor rushed in and something invisible followed him, destroying practically everything in the hall. Whatever the thing was, it did not harm the elves, just caused chaos. After a while the commotion died down. Everyone calmed and gathered around Erestor. He looked so small and fragile crouching there on the floor.

Glorfindel went to him and the people around him made way. He was their seneschal, in charge of their security, and they trusted him to make everything alright. Elrond followed, Haldir and Legolas hot on his heels. Glorfindel knelt behind Erestor, first touching his shoulder lightly, whispering comforting words, and when the counsellor did not disapprove, taking the frightened elf in his arms. For a small moment Glorfindel allowed himself to feel victorious for Erestor choosing him in his distress, but then pushed away the feeling he thought petty for the occasion.

He carried Erestor to his rooms and while Elrond made sure there was no bodily harm done to Erestor, except some scrapes and bruises, he retrieved dinner from the kitchen. With a little help from Elrond and a cup of relaxing tea, Erestor had eventually been in an agreeable enough mood to eat some dinner and get under covers for restorative sleep.

That had been last night, today Erestor had had the whole day to dwell on everything and he was probably not in the best of moods. Glorfindel wanted to check on the counsellor before he retired to his chambers. He worried about Erestor; he could not remember ever having seen him as distraught as last night.

As Glorfindel stepped inside the last Homely House, he noticed Elrond standing on the second floor landing. “Good evening, my Lord.”

“Glorfindel,” replied Elrond “are you on your way to see Erestor?”

“I thought I would see how he is faring before retiring. Have you spoken to him today?”

“After he shooed me out of his room this morning, I have only spoken with him through a closed door. He refuses to come outside or to let anyone in.” Elrond descended the stairs. “He says he is afraid of someone being hurt, if he does. I told him he was silly, but you know how our counsellor is. If he has his mind set, then set it stays.”

“Indeed that sounds like him. He has let no one inside? What about Haldir and Legolas?” Glorfindel hated himself a little for asking the question.

“No one. He has given orders that his meals are to be delivered to his rooms. Same with work.”

“Work? This is serious then. Tell me, do you have any guesses as to what happened last night? What caused the disarray?”

“No. I have never heard of anything like it. I have tried to research our library, but have found nothing of use so far. It is very fortunate that we thought of Galadriel at once. The messenger should be in Lothlórien in few days and Galadriel on her way in a week, I assume. I hope she will be able to help us.”

“If she cannot, then we are lost.”

“I am afraid so, but she is not even here yet. Despair will have its time and place. Let us wait until then.”

“That is probably for the best, to wait and see. Besides, we do not even know if this is something to do with Erestor.”

“You are right. Though everything that has happened during the last few days points in his direction. The older I become, the less I believe in coincidences.” To make his point, Elrond counted on his fingers. “One: whatever it was last night, it came to the hall with Erestor. Two: we have the stone and what happened to Erestor in the woods. Three: Erestor has changed. And do not say he has not.”

“I will not deny that. My poor heart and I are the first ones to admit a change in him. He was so beautiful at Arwen’s party.” Glorfindel put a hand on his forehead in an overly dramatic gesture. He could not deny the effect Erestor was having on him, but no one else needed to know how desperate his situation was. “Do you suppose that stone might be involved?”

“It is plausible.” Elrond looked thoughtful. “Very plausible.”

“Should I try to get the amulet from him?”

“If you can. I think that might be a good way to start uncovering this mystery.”

Elrond noticed Glorfindel looking longingly towards the dinner hall. “You have no eaten yet? Neither has Erestor. I know he trusts you greatly. Perhaps you could take both dinners to his room and try to get him to let you in?”

“I had that same idea.” Glorfindel’s stomach grumbled and he laughed, “I better be on my way before it is too late.”

“I wish you luck. We will talk more tomorrow.”

Glorfindel nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Emerging a few minutes later he carried a tray filled with fruit, cheese, bread and a pot of steaming stew. He turned the corner to the hallway leading to Erestor’s chambers. The candles were burning on the walls like always, but the corridor felt cold, a lot colder than the rest of the House. Glorfindel shivered as he walked. He would have to tell someone to light a fire in both fireplaces along the corridor. No wonder Erestor did not want to come out of his room.

Coming to stand outside Erestor’s door, Glorfindel pressed his ear against it and listened carefully. He heard a rustling noise, and then soft singing. He could not make out the words, but the melody seemed familiar, comforting.

”Erestor, are you in there?” The silence on the other side of the door was complete. “Erestor. I know you are in your room. I heard you singing. Please, speak to me. I desire to know you are alright.”

Perchance sensing the concern behind Glorfindel’s words, Erestor answered something incomprehensible.

“You will have to speak louder. This door is too massive for whispering.”

“I am fine. Now, go away.”

“I spoke with Elrond on my way here and he told me you have refused to come out of your room. Erestor, whatever took place last night, it was not your fault. No one blames you.”

“Perhaps none of you, but I feel responsible. It followed *me* to the dining room.”

“You make it sound like a sentient being.”

“I find it very hard to believe that we had a local storm wreaking havoc inside the Last Homely House. Do not be stupid, Glorfindel.”

“My, you sound grumpy. Have you remembered to eat? I bet you skipped dinner. Very fortunate that I have some here. Does the scent of the rabbit and mushroom stew waft all the way to you? If it does not, let me tell you this is steaming hot,” Glorfindel took a spoon and tasted the stew with an exaggerated slurping noise. “And very delicious.”

“If you think you can achieve something with that, you are wrong. A servant will bring me dinner shortly.”

“Actually, Erestor, *you* are wrong. I told the cook not to prepare anything for you since I took your dinner with me.”

“You did not!”

“I certainly did. Now, do you want to eat or rather wait for breakfast? I have a suggestion. I shall take my portion off the tray and leave yours on it. You can access it, when you open the door. You will not see my face, I promise that. I will stay on the other side of the door, where the hinges are. We can just enjoy dinner and each other’s company. What do you say?”

Erestor did not answer right away. “As long as you will not hoard all the meat from the stew on your own plate.”

“I promise.” Glorfindel automatically put his hand on his heart, although Erestor could not see through doors. At least to Glorfindel’s knowledge. “I will split everything evenly.”

He prepared a plate for himself and left the rest of the food for Erestor, setting the tray in front of the door and sitting down on the other side. “All done. Your dinner is served, my lord.”

It took a while before he heard Erestor open the locks on the door. It opened only a crack. Glorfindel laughed, “I promised to stay here and I will. It is perfectly safe to pick up the tray.”

The serving dish disappeared inside the door and for a while the only sounds to be heard were the clicking and clacking of the dinnerware.

“This *is* delicious.”

“Worth opening the door for?”

“Almost. I am still afraid that you will charge in. But not overly much.”

“You are safe. I am wise enough to realize that if I barged in now, the trust between us would be gone. I do not want that.”

They continued to eat in silence. Then Glorfindel remembered the task he had been given. He pondered for a while how to raise the subject without rousing Erestor’s suspicions, but in the end decided on a direct approach. “Erestor?”

“Hmmm?”

“Are you wearing the amulet now?”

Erestor hesitated. “Aye.”

“You do not think it might be responsible for some of the commotion yesterday?”

“The stone is not alive, of that I am sure. And if it is not alive, how could it be responsible for anything?”

“Sounds sensible. Give it to me and I will let Elrond examine it to be certain.”

“No.”

“Why not? If the stone is not involved, then there is no harm done.”

“And what if it is the stone causing all this? You will be in harm’s way.”

“You forget who you are talking to. I have returned from Mandos’ Halls. It will take more than one measly bauble to take me back.”

Erestor chuckled, “You are insane, Meldir.”

“That I undoubtedly am. But think about it. I can even come up with something for a trade. Something worth a lot to me, so you would know that you will get your amulet back, if you need it.”

“I promise to think about this. Now I think it is time to retire. Thank you for the dinner and the company. I appreciate it. You can leave the dishes. A servant will bring me breakfast, unless you have told them not to, and they can take them back to the kitchen.”

Glorfindel knew when he was dismissed. “Thank you and sleep well, Erestor.”

“You too, meldir.”

Glorfindel walked away from Erestor’s door. When he came to end of the corridor he heard footsteps in the other end and turned silently to watch. Erestor came out of his door and picked up Glorfindel’s plate from the floor. As he reached down, the amulet fell from his clothes, dangling in the air. It caught the light from a candle on a wall. The light seemed trapped inside the amulet, making it glow a strong, bright pink. Even from that far a distance it did not look harmless to Glorfindel. He had to get the stone away from Erestor. Could he find something precious enough to intrigue Erestor to make an exchange? He knew he could and, as he thought that, an idea came to him. He knew exactly how to get the stone from Erestor, what to do to win his heart, and how to get him to open his door and come out. Or at least, to let Glorfindel in. Aye, it was perfect. He started humming to himself, the same melody he had heard Erestor singing only a moment ago.

TBC...