Something Special, Something Sacred

Imladris, Third Age 2032

Glorfindel walked down the hall, flipping through the various parchments in his hands. He stopped before Erestor's office and rapped loudly on the wood.

"Come!"

The Elda entered the spacious room and smiled at the seated Noldo. "Good afternoon, Erestor. I wondered if you had a moment?"

Erestor returned the smile and motioned to the chair that sat before his desk. "I always have time for Imladris' Seneschal," he teased, leaning back in his chair. "What is it you need?"

Glorfindel seated himself and held out the sheaf of papers to his colleague. "I cannot work with your budget allotments for the barracks. I have taken on twenty new recruits; I will require more currency to purchase additional rations and new armor."

"Glorfindel, I have already increased the budget for defense three times in the last two decades. How much more can you possibly need?" Erestor asked, shuffling through the papers.

"I need twenty pieces of gold, twelve in silver and forty in copper," Glorfindel stated. "It is not a significant increase, and I have spoken to the neighboring villages to assure we receive the best price for the rations and raw materials needed."

Erestor pondered on this for a moment before replying. "This has been a lean year, Seneschal. I am not sure I will be able to find the funds within the coffer to meet your demands." Erestor's dark eyes measured the blond Elf-lord, wondering how far Glorfindel would push the budget issue. This was not the first time that finances had sparked an argument, but Erestor was not lying -- the treasury was low this year.

The Elda shrugged. "Then dock it from my pay. Imladris' defense is more important to me than my pay."

"Dock your pay? Glorfindel, that is not necessary," Erestor said, sitting straighter in his chair.

"If Imladris has had a lean year, then those who run her should sacrifice to ensure that she remains safe. My pay is of little concern to me. I have saved for years, and there is little that I need. Take it from my pay, Erestor." Glorfindel crossed his arms and smirked at the silent Councilor. "Do you not agree, my Lord?" he teased.

Erestor chuckled and shook his head. "You are hopeless, meldir."

"Which is how you like me best," Glorfindel replied.

"Aye, which is why I *love* you. Very well, you will have the funds by the end of the week." Erestor stood and handed Glorfindel back his papers. "Will that be all?"

Glorfindel stood as well. "I believe so, though I expected much more of a challenge! You must be softening in your old age."

Erestor walked with Glorfindel to the door of his office. "Old. Ha. You were born long before I was."

"Do not lie, Erestor. It is very unbecoming of an Elf of your status. I may have attended your birth, but I was not more than a child myself." Glorfindel wrapped his arms around Erestor's waist and smiled wistfully at the Councilor. "Will you be late tonight?"

"No, I do not think so. Elrond has not asked me to stay behind after the evening meal. I should be done by sundown." Erestor rested his hands on Glorfindel's upper arms. "Do you want to take dinner in the Hall or in our rooms?"

Glorfindel smiled. "Our rooms, I think."

Erestor nodded. "Very well, I will arrange it."

"I need to go and speak with Elrond. I will see you tonight." Glorfindel leaned in and gave Erestor a quick kiss on his lips before extracting himself from the embrace. He winked at Erestor and then darted off down the hall.

"Sometimes, I wonder if he ever grew up," Erestor muttered to himself, closing his office door. "Dock his pay," he chuckled. "His heart is great, I must admit," he finished as he sat behind his desk, diving back into the day's work.

*****

Elrond looked up from his desk as his golden-haired Seneschal entered the room. "Lord Glorfindel! To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Glorfindel felt heat rise in his cheeks, but he forced himself to remain composed. He had not been alone with the Peredhel since the night Elrond had witnessed his session with Erestor. Erestor continued to reassure Glorfindel that Elrond would never be so unprofessional as to even mention the evening, but Glorfindel still felt queasy as he sat down in the seat before Elrond's mammoth desk. "Lord Erestor and I have increased the funding to Imladris' defense," he said, his voice even and firm. He raised his eyes to meet Elrond's and was surprised to see nothing but a friendly, inquisitive gaze. "We have taken on twenty new warriors over the winter."

"Twenty?" Elrond asked, folding his hands on his desk. His brow furrowed as he thought. "Where did they come from? I was not aware of a large influx of Elves."

"Many of them hail from Mirkwood," Glorfindel said, leaning back and crossing his legs as he became more comfortable. "It seems some of the Silvan warriors have families, spouses who worry. They felt it would be safer for them and their families if they relocated to Imladris or Lórien."

Elrond let out a long sigh. "Why did they come here?"

Glorfindel shook his head. "From what they tell me, Celeborn took many of their number into his ranks, but there are already many Elves living in the Golden Wood. Many have left Thranduil. They had to come further, they had no choice but to come to Imladris."

"Thranduil cannot afford to lose his warriors, Glorfindel," Elrond said, his tone becoming harsher. "He fights a battle each day..."

"Aye, I know this. And so do his warriors." Glorfindel looked out one of the large windows that had a beautiful view of the waterfalls in the valley. "Mirkwood is dark now, very dark. They needed somewhere to go. If I did not take them into our ranks, then they would have traveled further and asked Círdan for refuge."

The Peredhel nodded. "You do have a point. But, if Thranduil calls for aid, we will give it."

"Thranduil would call to Lórien before he called for Imladris. We are much farther from his wood than Celeborn is. And we both know Celeborn and Galadriel would not leave Thranduil to fight alone." The Elda uncrossed his long legs and smiled. "But, I think Thranduil has not lost as many warriors as it may seem. Lórien and Imladris now house those who fled Thranduil's wood, but I have been to Mirkwood. He has *many* in his service."

"We will still answer any call of aid he may issue," Elrond insisted. "He is a dear friend, and I will not leave him in a time of need."

Glorfindel bowed his head in respect. "Of course, my Lord. I would expect no less of one as noble as yourself."

Elrond smirked. "Flattery? Why, Glorfindel, was there more you needed?"

The blond Elf laughed. "No, my Lord. It is just at times like this I am reminded of your unerring loyalty; it has not been tested in many years."

"Aye," Elrond said, a note of sadness in his voice. "I hope it is not tested again. To test it means dire circumstances. These times may be dark, but I hope they do not become darker."

Glorfindel stood and placed a hand on Elrond's folded ones. "You and I both know the times will become much darker before the light is seen again, meldir."

"I know." Elrond patted Glorfindel's hand. "But, you and I have seen some of the darkest times. We shall persevere."

"Oh yes. We shall," Glorfindel said, standing straight. "And should Thranduil call, we will rush to his aid."

"Thank you, Glorfindel," Elrond said. "Is there anything else you need?" The Elda shook his head. "Then I bid you a good afternoon; I promised to go on a picnic meal with my family."

Glorfindel smiled brightly. "Enjoy your afternoon, then, my Lord. Please give your Lady my love; I have not seen her lately."

Elrond nodded. "I will. She misses your late-night conversations, and the twins are chewing at the bit to spar with you again."

As the two Elf-lords exited the office, Glorfindel chuckled. "Then Erestor and I will make it a point to join you and your family on the next free day."

"They will be delighted. Navaer, Glorfindel," Elrond said as he headed off to the family wing of the Last Homely House.

"Navaer!" called Glorfindel, turning and walking in the opposite direction to the barracks.

Glorfindel's heart was lighter and his step more brisk now that he had faced his Lord; everything was just as it should be, he thought.

*****

Glorfindel watched Erestor from the bed. Their evening meal had already been cleared away and the Noldo now sat in a chair by the hearth reading a novel. Glorfindel lay in the bed, nude, appreciating his lover's profile.

"Is there something you would like, melethen?" Erestor called without looking up from the pages of his book.

A chuckle left Glorfindel's lips. "No, I think the view from here is lovely enough. I cannot think of anything I would like more at the moment."

Erestor shook his head as he closed the book. "You lie, my Lord," he said, standing up and stretching his stiff muscles. "I can hear your heartbeat from here, and it cries for more than simple observation."

Glorfindel arched a golden eyebrow as Erestor slowly approached the bed, a prowling cat in the stillness of the room. He could not deny the speed of his heart; Erestor could bring him to such heights of arousal without so much as a touch. "My heart is never satisfied with mere glances," he said, his words almost breathless.

The Noldo shed his clothing carefully, folding each piece of cloth and setting it on a nearby chair. "And your body?"

"My body is only satisfied when it is claimed by yours," Glorfindel admitted, sitting up in the bed. The thin sheet fell from his body, revealing his already straining length. The Elda rested on his knees, allowing his hands to wander over his skin while he watched Erestor disrobe. "It yearns for those moments when you are master of my pleasure rather than the master of Elrond's household."

When Erestor stood bare before Glorfindel's eyes, and just as ready, the Noldo mounted the bed. He sat on his knees, close to Glorfindel's body but not touching. His lips hovered over the pink petals of Glorfindel's mouth, a smile curving them. His lover's eyes were already dark and glazed with anticipation and lust. "You desire me to master you?" he asked, his sweet breath ghosting over Glorfindel's lips.

A crimson flush crept up Glorfindel's neck and he seemed to sway on his knees. "Aye," he breathed, and then Erestor's lips pressed against hips mouth. Long, slender fingers wound into long, golden hair as Erestor deepened the kiss. Glorfindel opened wide for the Noldo, drawing Erestor's tongue into his mouth and tasting the sweetness of Erestor's love for him.

Erestor broke the kiss suddenly and looked into the dark cobalt eyes. "On your hands and knees, melethron," he ground out, licking the Elda's swollen lips before releasing Glorfindel's locks. Erestor watched with hungry eyes as Glorfindel did as he was told, swiveling on the white sheets and bending over. Glorfindel spread his legs shamelessly, resting his head on his folded arms, and Erestor smiled down at the Elf. "You are so beautiful, Glorfindel," he whispered as he reached for the bottle of oil beside the bed.

Glorfindel shuddered with the first touch of slick fingers against his backside. His eyes fell closed when Erestor breached him with two fingers. He moaned as he was carefully prepared, the digits sliding easily in his well-used passage. Within moments, he felt Erestor's thick length press into him; he cried out loudly, voicing his pleasure as his lover claimed him.

The Noldo slowly moved within the tight channel, gripping Glorfindel's hips lightly. The sounds Glorfindel made were not enough for Erestor, so he leaned forward and wrapped his arm Glorfindel's waist, whispering into the delicate ear. "Up." Glorfindel raised himself up in Erestor's arms, and the Noldo spread his own thighs wider. The Elda's cry was sharp, followed by a needy whimper as Erestor thrust further into the blond's body.

"Erestor!" Glorfindel sobbed, gripping at Erestor's thighs behind him.

Erestor continued to move slowly and deliberately, his hands never moving below Glorfindel's navel. "Hush, melethen," he said, licking along the outside of Glorfindel's ear. "All in good time." Erestor felt his lover's body become slack in his arms as Glorfindel let out a frustrated groan. He loved to have Glorfindel so desperate for release, so needful against him.

A soft mewl left the blond. "No, Erestor. *Now*," he demanded, impaling himself swiftly on Erestor's shaft. Glorfindel reached for his length, eager to find completion, but was stopped when Erestor's hand gripped his wrist forcefully. Glorfindel turned his blue eyes to Erestor's black gaze. "Now, Erestor," he said, his voice low and trembling as Erestor delved into his body again.

The Noldo smiled. This was the first time Glorfindel had ever demanded his release and Erestor felt himself throb inside his lover. Just this time, he decided. "Very well, pen-vara," he said, his thrusts coming faster and deeper. He took Glorfindel's arousal in hand, closing his eyes when Glorfindel hissed his pleasure.

They moved quickly, Glorfindel setting their pace with his frantic movements. He would cry out as he impaled himself only to lift up and thrust into Erestor's tight hand, wringing another cry from him. Erestor's eyes were trained on the writhing Elf as he marveled at Glorfindel's grace and beauty. He felt truly blessed to have the golden warrior as his lover and he squeezed the hard length in his hand, delighting in the moan. "Come with me, Glorfindel," he murmured, holding the Elf closer to him, moving with short, deep strokes. He desired to be as close to Glorfindel as he could.

Glorfindel arched, his head falling back on Erestor's shoulder, his orgasm sudden and intense. The Elda bucked, his body clenching rhythmically about Erestor and the Noldo moaned, fiercely biting Glorfindel's neck as he came inside his lover.

Slowly they returned to themselves and Erestor pulled back from Glorfindel's neck, smiling smugly at the dark mark on the pale skin. "You are mine, Glorfindel," he whispered, lapping at the bruise and stroking the Elda's sensitive member.

"Stop!" Glorfindel managed, swatting at Erestor's hand. "I think you have milked me of all I have, Erestor," he teased softly, leaning against Erestor. "Would you like me to clean your hand?" Glorfindel offered.

Erestor shook his head. "Nay," he said, bringing the creamy digits to his own ruby lips. "It has been too long since I last tasted you." The Noldo sucked at his fingers, savoring the bitter tang of his lover. When he was done, he leaned down and bestowed a tender kiss to Glorfindel's lips. "Melin chen, Glorfindel."

"I love you, too," Glorfindel breathed. They shifted position again and Glorfindel rested his head against Erestor's breast, his lover's steady heartbeat following him into reverie.

TBC...