Half the Distance

Title: Half the Distance
Series: Innocence Stripped Away
Chapter: Nine : Consuming, Confusing
Author: Orchyd Constyne
Contact: soultornasunder@gmail.com
Website: http://www.hithanaur.net/
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nairn_orchyd/
Beta: Alex Cat

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Imladris, Spring, Third Age 2086

Elrond glanced again at the empty desk. Erestor had yet to show for the morning's work, and it was highly unlike his friend. In all his years working with Erestor, Elrond could count the number of times Erestor had been late on one hand. He looked at the time candle once more and made a decision. Erestor was over three hours late, and had not sent word. Something was terribly *wrong*.

He locked their office and began the walk that would take him to Erestor's door. Elrond had heard the gossip. He knew that Glorfindel had taken up sleeping in the barracks, about his Seneschal's extracurricular time with Thranduil. However, Elrond did not believe Glorfindel was yet sleeping with Thranduil.

Yet, he repeated to himself. Elrond had known Thranduil for many, *many* years, and he knew how persuasive and seductive Thranduil could be. When Thranduil wanted something -- or someone -- he tended to take it. Erestor, Elrond believed, could not survive Thranduil taking Glorfindel away, and he prayed to Eru that Glorfindel had the sense of a rock not to give into Thranduil's temptation.

He arrived at Erestor's chamber door rather quickly. Elrond knocked, and then waited several heartbeats. When no answer came, he tried the latch. The door swung inward without resistance, and Elrond stepped through. Silently, he closed the door and surveyed the main room, but he did not see Erestor. His heart in his throat, because something was simply *off* about the air in this chamber, he walked into the bedroom, which was where he finally found Erestor.

Erestor was seated at his vanity, his hair still mussed from a restless sleep, and only half-dressed. His eyes were vacant, completely lost, as he just... stared at his reflection in the glass. It looked as if he had been intending to come into work, but something had interrupted him. Elrond came to stand just behind Erestor, looking at him in the mirror. There was no recognition from the ink-black eyes. No glimmer of anything, and Elrond saw himself frown.

Something was wrong.

And not just something in a relationship gone sour. There was something truly, and spectacularly, wrong with Erestor, and Elrond heard his wife's prophetic words ring in his ears. Something would be broken that could not be repaired.

Elrond took a breath and placed a hand on Erestor's shoulder. "Meldir?" he asked gently.

Erestor startled and swung around on his stool, shrugging off Elrond's hand and staring up at him in surprise. "Elrond? When did you come?"

"I have been here for some time," Elrond explained. "You... were late, and I worried."

"I am never late," Erestor insisted, turning back to the mirror. "Your time candle must have been cut by the twins again. Always pranks, those two."

Elrond shook his head, his brow furrowed. "No, Erestor. It is already afternoon. The midday meal is being served in the dining hall."

Erestor looked at the vanity top, his face clouded. Elrond took the opportunity to reach out with his mind, to touch his old lover's. All he found, though, was absolute blackness. It startled him, and he took three steps back. Erestor's eyes shot up in the mirror, glared at him.

"What, Elrond? Did not like what you saw?"

Elrond swallowed. "Erestor, you are ill. I think you should come to the House of Healing--"

"I am not ill," Erestor snapped, standing up. He seemed to loom in the room, though Elrond was the taller of the two. "I am merely late, as you said."

"Something is *wrong*, meldir," Elrond tried again. "I can sense it. Glorfindel has been put out, you no longer spend time with any of your friends. We worry for you."

Erestor's frown deepened. "What Glorfindel does is his decision. It is not as if I have been torturing him, Elrond! I am not his keeper, as both you and he have always told me."

"I am not accusing--"

"Yes, you are! You think I am a terrible mate!" Erestor, Elrond decided, was irrational. Not once had he even intimated that Erestor was a poor spouse. He opened his mouth to rebut, but Erestor continued. "As if Thranduil would be any better. As if *you* were any better! I have stood beside him, trained him, loved him, and he would rather cat around with that common Elf who calls himself King!" He was panting, working himself up into a frenzy, and Elrond was truly concerned about Erestor's mental stability.

"Erestor," he again said, trying to use his calmest, most rational voice. "Glorfindel would never be unfaithful to you. Thranduil respects what boundaries he is given--"

*Again*, Erestor cut him off. "Boundaries? Glorfindel has no boundaries!"

"If that is so--"

"It is my fault, is that what you were about to say?" Erestor demanded, stepping closer to Elrond.

Elrond had had enough. His voice boomed as he retorted, "How would you know what I was about to say, Councillor? You do not stop your insane ravings long enough to hear anything I say! If this is the type of behaviour Glorfindel has been subjected to, it is little wonder he fled to the barracks." The Lord of Imladris sighed. "You are relieved of your workload," he announced. "Two weeks, Erestor. You are relieved for two weeks."

"I do not need a *holiday*!" Erestor insisted.

"I think you do. Time off to come to the House of Healing, and perhaps for you and Glorfindel to come see my Lady. Or perhaps the Lady Galadriel." Elrond lifted his chin, determined to keep his composure. "There will be no arguing with me about this. My decision is final," he said when Erestor opened his mouth to protest once more.

Erestor's face closed off, his eyes deadening, and he spat out, "Very well. You know the way out."

Elrond nodded, turned on his heel, and left Erestor's chamber. Once out in the hall, he noticed that the darkness he had felt in Erestor's presence lifted and the world around him was brighter. He stared at the ordinary wood grain of the door, but he felt as if there was living shadow behind it.

Breathing.

Waiting.

And hungry.

He did not remain much longer. Elrond quickly fled the family wing, suddenly desperate to be out in the sunshine.

*****

Inside, Erestor stood in his bedroom. The hair on the back of his neck stood, and his skin felt clammy.

He knew he wasn't alone.

"He thinks you are insane," the voice taunted.

Erestor ground his teeth. "I am *not* insane."

Mocking laughter surrounded him. "Believe what you wish, but the fact remains, we are having a conversation."

He clenched his eyes shut, his hands balled into fists at his temples. Hot tears began to find their way down his cheeks. "You are not *real*!" he screamed, the sound raw and terrified.

More laughter. "I am as real as you make me, lover. Tell me, is *this* real?"

From behind Erestor, the mirror shattered, glass exploding into tiny fragments on the vanity top. He spun around, staring with wide, wet eyes. Erestor shook his head, stumbling away from the vanity.

From the broken mirror.

From the proof that he *was not alone anymore*.

With a shaky breath, he whispered, "Go away."

The voice, hot breath and vile stench, murmured in his ear, "Never."

TBC...