The Flower and The Fountain

Dance With Me
Summary: At each Tarnin Austa, Turgon holds a feast and dance within his royal court. The young maidens of the eleven elven houses view the dance as a way of siphoning out a potential mate, and this year they have their sights and hearts set on the fair Lord of the Fountain.

It was time for another Tarnin Austa, which inevitably meant another feast and ball at Turgon’s palace. Nearly everyone was in attendance that year, including all the lords of the elven houses, their advisors and high officials, and most members of their households. The beautiful court of the King of Gondolin was extravagant, but it was even more so when lit by numerous candles and decorated with the first blossoms of the summer season. Rich in color were the robes and dresses of the lords and ladies as they laughed merrily amongst themselves.

The feast was bountiful, as had been expected. The tables had been overflowing with the best of the harvests of the year. Wine was plentiful with the oldest and richest vintages of the city served. One unaccustomed to such feasts would think the people of Gondolin to have wasted their entire stock ofvisivisions for the year; on the contrary, the feast took away very little of the food items that had been stocked and stored for the later months. And the fields surrounding the city were still ripe with produce, and the game was plentiful.

Though the feast was much anticipated, the ball was an extravagant affair few dared to miss. Especially the ladies. Mostthe the maidens of Gondolin were young and as yet unattached. They often used the Tarnin Austa ball to become better acquainted with the gentlemen they knew, and mingle and dance with those they did not. Each year seemed to bring into light one man from the whole of the city whom the ladies were vying for the attentions of. Unfortunately for him, this year it was Ecthelion’s turn.

The Lord of the Fountain tended to loathe the ball; he much preferred the quiet solitude of his bedchambers or the gardens during this time. But, as according to his station, he was required to attend and could not, under any circumstances, provide a reasonable excuse to be absent. Though he dearly wished Elves were able to feign some sort of illness at appropriate times, such as this one. He didn’t want to be at this ball dressed in his finest silver and white robes; all he wanted was to be in his own room with a book and a fire. He most certainly didn’t want to see all the longing stares passed his way.

/Ai Elbereth, here they come. This happens every year. Why does it have to be me?/ Ecthelion attempted to slip away as he noticed numerous gazes suddenly fixed upon his person, making him feel like fresh kill up for inspection. He managed to slip behind Penlod, who out of sympathy ceased movement as he acted as a shield for his friend.

“Difficult time disappearing this night, meldir?” Penlod whispered into his wine glass.

“You have no idea. Why do they do this every year?”

“Must be some unspoken custom among them we are unaware of. I feel for you, Ecthelion. I was their target a few years ago.”

“I well remember that. And last year it was Egalmoth; the year before was Rog, and the year before that was Glorfindel. They do not seem to realize this is a complete embarrassment on our part.” He sighed deeply, running a hand across his youthful face. “This is never going to cease, is it?”

“I’m guessing not, at least not any time in the near future. Let us, however, think of your current distress first.” Penlod glanced around the room in search of a suitable exit for his friend. “You can sneak out the door on your right. I’ll make up some excuse for your absence if Turgon should ask where you are about.”

“Hannon le, Penlod,” Ecthelion said with a sigh of relief and a grateful pat to his friend’s shoulder.

Penlod nodded in return and shifted slightly to keep his friend hidden until he was away. But it wasn’t enough.

Suddenly a hand reached out, darting past Penlod and wrapping slender fingers around Ecthelion’s wrist, tugging him back into the bright center light. Within moments, other maidens had surrounded the one who had found the Fountain Lord. Ecthelion kept his face calm, belying his slight panic, as he caught a glimpse of Penlod sneaking off towards the opposite corner.

/Where in the Valar’s name is he going? I am in dire need of some help!/ His eyes frantically darted around for a moment, seeking aid wherever he could spot it. But, as was his unfortunate luck, there was no one within his current vicinity who would be of much assistance. Ecthelion sighed and quietly resigned himself to his fate, though he would in no means go easily.

“Lord Ecthelion,” a young maiden of the house of the Swan asked in a sweet voice. “Would you be so kind as to dance with me this evening?”

“Well, I…” Ecthelion stammered, not quite knowing how to make a polite decline to such an innocent request. His next words, however, were cut off by another voice.

“May I have the pleasure of a second dance?” another maiden asked.

“And may I have a third?”

Before he knew what was happening, Ecthelion found himself backed up against a wall and battling with unaccountable dance requests, none of which he was inclined to accept. /I have to get out of thisehowehow!/

“Ecthelion?”

The maidens’ chattering stopped suddenly at the voice that spoke. Eyes turned to the speaker, who was none other than Glorfindel. He stood behind the circle of maidens that had surrounded his lover, rich robes of white and blue encasing his lean form as a golden cloak cascaded from his shoulders. Glorfindel smiled gently as he held out his hand toward the Fountain Lord. “May I?” he asked, ignoring the almost indignantly stares the maidens now fixed upon him.

Wordlessly Ecthelion accepted this masked offer of help as he nodded his head and grasped Glorfindel’s hand. Before a word of protest from the maidens could be heard, the Flower Lord had swept his lover away in a flurry of their gold and silver robes. They reached the center of the floor sectioned off for dancing couples just as the minstrels struck up a new song. Eyes turned to them in wonder and amazement, for they made a stunning pair. Few knew of their true relationship; those who did smiled upon seeing the pair dance together with the candlelight playing off their faces.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine

~~~~~~~~~~

“Thank you, malthener,” Ecthelion whispered as Glorfindel wrapped an arm about his waist, drawing them closer together as they slowly danced about the floor. “I don’t know what I would have done had you not come.”

“Think nothing of it, melethron,” Glorfindel replied in a hushed tone as he leaned in close to Ecthelion’s ear, keeping their conversation quiet. He could feel the stares the maidens were giving the pair, but ignored them. “You should thank Penlod later for coming to find me. I had thought it rather odd that I was barely able to catch a glimpse of you tonight.”

Ecthelion sighed, leaning his head upon his lover’s shoulder as the golden-haired Elf guided them along the dance floor. “It’s the same every year; I should have seen my turn coming. I almost wish I was as as as Rog.” He smiled as he felt Glorfindel laugh softly at the memory of the Hammer Lord glaring at the maidens st kst kissing Egalmoth in a very passionate manner. “How did you do it?”

“Me? Oh, I just used my wits.” He grinned smugly, not bothering at all to hide his mirth.

Ecthelion arched an eyebrow delicately at his amused lover. “What did you say to them?”

“Oh, nothing disastrous if that’s what you’re thinking. I simply told them I had promised Idril the first dance, and that she would not allow another to claim such an honor.”

“But you didn’t dance with Idril until the end of the night, if I recall correctly.”

“Exactly.” Glorfindel’s grin turned mischievous as realization dawned upon Ecthelion’s face.

“You asked Idril to wait till the end of the ball to claim her dance!”

“Of course. She readily agreed knowing it was what I wanted. And she was quite sympathetic knowing that to do otherwise would take my time away from you. If you remember, vanimaer, we spent much of that evening in one another’s company.”

“Aye, and it was a pleasant evening.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Ecthelion smiled, sighing as he leaned more of his weight against Glorfindel. “I’m beginning to enjoy this evening as well.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing means more to me than what we share
No one in this whole world can ever compare
Last night the way you moved is still on my mind
Angel of mine

~~~~~~~~~~

For long moments neither said a word but instead gave themselves into the warmth and love the other was generating. Both Glorfindel and Ecthelion were well aware that they were being watched closely by nearly everyone in the room, but neither seemed to care much anymore.

Feeling himself completely relax whilst in his lover’s presence, Ecthelion released a blissful sigh as he closed his eyes, his head pillowed upon Glorfindel’s shoulder. Gentle hands slowly rubbed his back as they danced, sending soothing tingles up his spine and over his limbs; it felt so good being held like this. He let his mind imagine them to be the only two in the room, the lighting dimmed and the music soft and distant sounding.

“Vanimaer…”

Gray-blue eyes slowly opened at the soft voice in his ear. Ecthelion shifted a little closer, letting his arms slip from Glorfindel’s shoulders down to his waist.

“I love you, my fair one.”

The Fountain Lord smiled, gracing his lover’s neck with the faint brush of a kiss. “I love you as well, malthener.”

“What would I do without you?”

“Still be the lost and friendless child I met so many years ago.” Ecthelion pulled away slightly to look into shimmering azure eyes. “Yet even then I was drawn to you. You were so alive, so full of energy and curiosity. I thought back then that you wouldsomesomeone great one day. And you are.”

Glorfindel beamed as he twirled his lover around, the candlelight flashing off their robes and creating a dazzling display. “Ethinthing that I am,” he whispered when Ecthelion was back in his arms, “is all because of you.”

“Melme…”

~~~~~~~~~~

I never knew I could feel each moment
As if it were new,
Every breath that I take, the love that we make
I only share it with you (you, you, you, you)

~~~~~~~~~~

They danced together until the music died away and the song ended. As the gathered hall applauded for the minstrels‘ excellent performance, the pair of lovers slipped away unnoticed and made their way towards the House of the Golden Flower. In the privacy of Glorfindel’s bedchambers, they shared another dance laced with kisses, words of affection and gentle touches.

When the candles were blown out, extinguishing the light, the pair moved their dance to the bed where kisses became more impassioned and touches more bold. The was was filled with the musical notes of their voices as they shared the night the way they had done for so many years.

They fell asleep just as the city lights were dimming and the people of Gondolin were heading to their homes. Ecthelion had his head tucked underneath Glorfindel’s chin, a handful of the blond’s hair clenched tightly in his hand. Glorfindel’s arms were wrapped tightly about his lover, holding him close. Eyes were vacant in sleep, but contentment was written in the smiles upon their faces. In the land of dreams, they willed away the hours, not waking again until the dawn shined through the windows and warmed their faces.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I first saw youlrealready knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine

~~~~~~~~~~

Glorfindel woke to a soft kiss upon his brow and gentle fingers tracing the contours of his face. Vacant azure eyes regained their glimmer, blinking once to clear the haze of sleep from their depths. When he opened his eyes again, Glorfindel smiled at the sight of Ecthelion, sporting a satin emerald green robe, standing over him. His lover’s raven hair was loose and tucked behind his ears, though some strarandrands fell before his face. He was smiling angelically with the rising sun beaming in a halo around him from behind, lending the Fountain Lord a more unearthly glow.

“Morning, melme,” Ecthelion said, leaning forward to give Glorfindel a brief kiss. “Did you sleep well?”

“I always sleep well when you are with me,” Glorfindel replied as he sat up in bed, accepting the blue robe handed to him and wrapping it about his shoulders. He slid an arm around the slender waist of his lover as Ecthelion sat next to him.

“Thank you, for last night,” the Fountain lord whispered, leaning against his lover’s side.

“No need to thank me, vanimaer. I just saved you as any hero would have saved a damsel in distress.” He tried not to laugh at Ecthelion’s frown.

“I am no damsel.”

“That I know.”

“And I do not always need saving.”

“Ah, but you did last night.”

Ecthelion sighed. “’Tis true. The maidens are becoming more persistent in their chases.”

“Aye, it is a rather frightening thought at times.” A simple nod was his answer; for the next few moments the pair said nothing, sitting in silence as they watched Arien lead the sun higher in the sky. Chimes sounded throughout the city, announcing the new day. Already a few of the citizens were roaming the streets to begin their daily activities.

“’Tis a beautiful morning,” Glorfindel whispered, kissing Ecthelion’s hair.

“It is.” Slowly, the Fountain Lord pulled away. He smiled and held out his hand to Glorfindel, indicating the balcony. “Dance with me, melethron. Dance with me like we danced last night.”

“Anything for you.” Slipping out of bed, Glorfindel took a hold of Ecthelion’s offered hand as they stepped onto the wide, stone balcony barefoot, their satin robes rustling slowly with their movements.

They danced close, cheeks pressed together and arms wrapped about one another. They danced to the soft music of the morning chimes and to the light of the rising sun as it warmed their backs and kissed their faces. All that was in their thoughts was love and affection; all they needed was the presence of the other. All they really needed was their love.

~~~~~~~~~~

I look at you lookin' at me
Now ow wow why they say the best things are free
I'm checkin' for ya, boy you're right on time
Angel of mine

TBC...