Erestor's Secret

Title: Erestor’s Secret (11/?)
Author: Aglarien
Type: FPS
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine, except for the cats. The great Master Tolkien’s estate owns everything else. I promise to return his elves when I’m done playing with them.
Timeline: Gondolin, 501 of the First Age
Warning: AU. Lots of fluff.
Beta: Patricia - thank you, Gwathel
Summary: Erestor takes charge.

A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful readers and reviewers - you keep me going.

Chapter 11

It was a good half an hour before Ecthelion and Glorfindel returned, each carrying a heavy tray. As they set the trays on a table, Erestor smiled at them, reached over with his free arm and touched Galdor’s shoulder. “Galdor, our meal is here. We must get Dringion to eat something now.”

Galdor was instantly awake. “I hate to wake him, but you are right, Erestor. It is nearly two days since he has taken any food.” The Lord of the Tree pulled Dringion gently into his arms and said, “It is time to wake, my heart. You must wake now, Dringion.” He smoothed the dark hair from Dringion’s face and watched as the guard’s eyes slowly gained focus.

Dringion awoke, taking a deep breath. “Galdor?”

“Yes, love. It is time for you to eat something now.” Galdor smiled seeing some of the light returned to Dringion’s eyes.

“I do not think I can.”

Erestor motioned for Glorfindel to bring over some soup for Dringion. “Yes, my friend, you can. You will eat and I will not take no for an answer.”

Dringion, not yet realizing where he was, was startled to hear Erestor behind him. As Glorfindel came into view, however, he froze. “Lord…Glorfindel?”

Glorfindel saw the terror in Dringion’s eyes and made a decision. Sitting on the bed facing the three elves, he said softly, “It is all right, Dringion. All is well. I forgive you, and we will speak no more of it.” He smiled at the startled guard, and was surprised that it was not forced; he really did forgive Dringion. “Now, I am going to feed you this broth while Galdor holds you, and you are going to eat it, all right?”

Dringion could do nothing but nod and open his mouth for the spoon. The warm broth felt good on his throat, but as he swallowed, he nearly gagged. Galdor rubbed his back soothingly.

“That’s it,” Glorfindel said. “Just a little at a time.”

Each spoonful was easier to swallow, and Galdor smiled at Glorfindel. “Thank you, Fin.”

Glorfindel merely smiled back, then took some bread and broke it into the broth to soften it. Little by little, the bowl was emptied. “Will you take some more, Dringion?”

“No…I thank you, but I cannot,” the weary guard said. “I am so very tired.”

“Then rest, my friend. Sleep,” Erestor said softly. “All is well and you can rest peacefully now.”

Dringion looked up at Erestor gratefully as Galdor laid him against the pillows and covered him warmly with a quilt. Within moments, he was deeply asleep.

As the other three elves ate their meal, they talked softly. The little Mordithen sat next to Erestor, silently staring at his master with mournful eyes. Erestor smiled at the kitten and scratched his ears, then fed him choice tidbits from his plate.

“That kitten is a born beggar,” Ecthelion said, grinning. Turning to Galdor, he continued, “I think it would be best if you and Dringion remained here with us for a few days, Galdor. It is apparent that Erestor is important to his recuperation. He should be close until we can be sure he is going to recover.”

“He will recover, Thel,” Galdor replied firmly. “I will not let him go. But I thank you and accept your hospitality, my friend.”

When they were finished with their meal, Galdor carried the still sleeping Dringion as Ecthelion led him to the guest room. The room was large and a fire already burned in the hearth. A massive, comfortable looking bed filled one corner. There was a desk equipped with instruments and parchment for writing, and comfortable chairs arranged around the fireplace. An inner door led to the room’s private bath. When he had placed Dringion in the bed and covered him warmly, Galdor wrote a message to the seneschal of the House of the Tree requesting clothing and a few other items, and handed it to Ecthelion. “I don’t know how to thank you all, Thel.”

“There is no need for thanks among friends, Galdor. Just take care of him,” Ecthelion answered, nodding toward the bed where Dringion lay sleeping. “His color is better, and I saw light returning to his eyes. I will have more food delivered so you can make sure he eats again if he wakes. A rich soup that you can keep warm over the fire would do nicely, I think. If you need anything at all, just ask one of the servants – there is always one around. I will send your seneschal to you when he arrives, but other than that, I think it will be best if we do not disturb you until morning.”

~~~*~~~
After leaving Galdor, Ecthelion dispatched a messenger to Galdor’s home and left word for The Lord of the Tree’s seneschal to be shown up to the guest room when he arrived. He returned to Erestor’s room, not really noticing anything when he entered it. His head hurt from all the emotions they had gone through and witnessed this day. Plopping down in a comfortable chair, he sighed heavily, laid his head back and closed his eyes, massaging his temples with his fingers. “Well done, little brother,” he said. “You managed what neither Galdor nor I could. I’m proud of you. What made you take that approach with Dringion?”

“Just seemed like the right thing to do,” Erestor replied absently, not really paying attention.

Ecthelion opened his eyes and looked at his brother. Erestor was once again held in Glorfindel’s arms, and the fingers of his free hand were softly ghosting over the golden lord’s face, tracing the features he found there. His eyes were locked with Glorfindel’s, and every time Erestor’s fingers neared the warrior’s lips, his friend pressed a soft kiss on them. Glorfindel’s fingers massaged Erestor’s neck and back, and both of them were softly smiling. “What are you doing, Erestor?”

“Just exploring, Thel,” Erestor replied, rather dreamily, his eyes never leaving Glorfindel’s. “Thel?”

“Yes, Erestor?”

“I love you, but go away now. Close the door behind you.”

Ecthelion chuckled. “Make sure my little brother behaves himself, Fin.”

“Go away, Thel,” Glorfindel murmured.

Heaving himself off the chair, Ecthelion laughed out loud as he walked over to the bed. Placing a kiss on Erestor’s head, he said, “Good night, little brother.” After a moment’s thought, he placed a kiss on Glorfindel’s head. “Good night, almost-brother. You behave yourself, too.”

Glorfindel smiled lovingly at Erestor. “Not a chance,” he whispered.

Ecthelion walked to the door, chuckling to himself. Before pulling the door closed behind him, he looked once more towards the bed, and watched wistfully as Erestor’s mouth was captured in a passionate kiss. “Good night,” he whispered, and closed the door quietly.

Erestor panted for breath when his mouth was finally released and Glorfindel rained soft kisses over his face. He had never before experienced feelings as he did now, and his body cried out for more. “I want….I want…”

“Tell me what you want, my sweet one,” Glorfindel whispered, his large hands soft and gentle as they caressed Erestor’s face. “So beautiful…you are so beautiful.”

“I want…to touch you. To feel your skin against mine. I want…to feel you touch me,” the lithe elf hesitantly said, blushing at his own boldness.

“Yes,” Glorfindel breathed, thoughts of Erestor touching him with his gentle little hands making his heart beat faster and his breathing quicken.

~~~*~~~
Ecthelion tried to sit in his room and read but was too restless. The problem was, he was lonely. As much as he adored his brother and was thrilled that he and Glorfindel were in love, it left him without the company of not only Erestor, but his best friend as well. He figured his nights of relaxing with Glorfindel over a few games of chess were well and truly at an end. Finally giving up trying to read, he wandered through the house, just rambling and thinking, checking a door here and a window there. And so it was that he just happened to be near the outer door to his home when a knock sounded on it.

Ecthelion opened the door and was shocked into silence for more than a moment. Facing him was the most beautiful maiden he had ever seen. Her dark hair hung in ringlets about her waist, her dark gray eyes sparkled with life, and her rosy lips just begged for kisses. In each hand she held a basket, one large and one smaller.

The maiden stared wide-eyed at the elf who opened the door. She had certainly not expected to see the Lord of the Fountain standing before her. Regaining her composure much quicker than the other, she bowed and said, “My Lord Ecthelion, I am Thoniel, daughter of Gladon, seneschal to my Lord Galdor. My father bid me bring the things my lord requested, and hopes that I may stay to help care for Dringion. I have assisted in his care at home and Dringion is comfortable with me, else we would not impose further on your hospitality.” Proud of herself for managing to get through all of that without stammering, Thoniel smiled shyly up at Ecthelion and held her breath. She never dreamed she would ever get this close to the handsome Lord of the Fountain. He had made breath quicken since before her majority, but of course the great lord had never noticed her before.

Thoniel’s greeting enabled Ecthelion to regain control of himself and send his pounding heart back down into his chest where it belonged, instead of still being stuck in his throat. “You are welcome in my house, my lady. Of course you may stay and attend to Galdor and Dringion, if that is what your father requests. Come, follow me, and I will take you to them.”

The maiden quickly turned and nodded to someone behind her, and Ecthelion finally noticed the guard who had undoubtedly escorted her and would report her safe arrival back to her father. At Thoniel’s nod, the guard bowed and left. “Thank you, my lord,” Thoniel said. “I am ready to follow you now.”

As she entered the house, Ecthelion took the large basket from her and led her up the stairs to Galdor’s guest room. After knocking softly on the door and hearing permission to enter given, he opened the door and allowed Thoniel to precede him into the room.

Thoniel hurried to the bed and knelt beside Galdor. Dringion was asleep, resting in his lover’s arms, and Galdor smiled at her. “Thoniel,” Galdor said quietly, “I suspected your father would send you to us. I am glad to see you, little one. And did you bring the clothing and things I asked for?”

“Yes, Uncle. And my father bid me stay to help you care for Dringion. He looks so much better. What has happened? Does he no longer fade?” The color had returned to Dringion’s skin, and she could see that he was much improved.

“No, he no longer fades,” Galdor answered. “He has received forgiveness from my friends, and Erestor and Lord Glorfindel even made him eat. I have hope that he will recover quickly now.” He looked over to Ecthelion and smiled. His friend still stood at the door holding a large basket and looking somewhat bemused. Speaking to Ecthelion, he said, “Thoniel’s mother is my sister’s child, Thel. She and her parents are my family. Thank you for allowing her to stay here and help.”

Thoniel smiled at Galdor, and then rose and went to Ecthelion for the large basket. “May I have the basket please, my lord?”

“Oh, of course. Where would you like it?” Thel asked.

“Just leave it here, little one,” Galdor said. “There is nothing I need tonight, or if I do I will simply get it myself. Go and give Thel some company for now. I am sure he wouldn’t mind a game of chess with you since I am sure Glorfindel is with his brother.” Winking at Thoniel, he said, “She plays a brutal game of chess, Thel. Don’t expect to win.”

“You play chess, my lady?” Ecthelion asked in astonishment.

“Yes, my lord,” Thoniel said with a smile. “I have played with my father and Galdor since I was a child, and it is my favorite. Do you play?”

“Indeed. Come and play a game with me, then. And you must call me Ecthelion, or Thel. Let me see for myself just how good you are, and we will see who shall win. I have not lost a game in years, although Glorfindel keeps trying to best me.”

“Well, you have not played against me, Ecthelion,” Thoniel replied with a smirk. Returning to the bed, she kissed Galdor chastely on the bow. “Good night, Uncle, and don’t worry – I won’t let him beat me.” She grinned at Galdor.

“Good night, little one. I expect you to uphold the honor of our house and decimate him. Good night, Thel – and thank you.”

Tbc…

Gladon - Wood
Thoniel - Pine tree