A Lonely Love

Chapter 12

“Enough!” yelled Elrond from the doorway as Glorfindel grabbed the tunic of the slumped Carandhol, his fist raised to strike again. Glorfindel stopped mid swing. He never heard the tone Elrond used until this day. He knew his lord meant business.

Breathing heavily, his chest heaving hard, Glorfindel looked at Elrond with wild eyes, but lowered his fisted hand to his side and conveniently let go of the tunic in his other hand, thereby dropping Carandhol with an audible thud upon the floor.

Glorfindel went past Elrond and out the door, though not before Elrond grabbed his forearm in passing. "Meldir, right now, we need to worry about Erestor, something that Carandhol had not done for quite some time."

Glorfindel nodded as he went back to the Healing Wing as quickly as he had left. Elrond walked towards the scene in front of him. The guards had let go of Sirlith who was now at the still slumped, but coming to, form of Carandhol.

"My Lord Elrond?" Sirlith questioned Elrond as Elrond checked on Carandhol's face. Carandhol hissed when his cheekbone was lightly pressed. A small fracture was noted. "Will you not punish Glorfindel for the damage he has inflicted upon Carandhol?"

Elrond stood, slowly shook off any dust from his robes, and turned to look at Sirlith. "I tend to think that the damage that was inflicted upon Captain Carandhol, barely fits a punishment befitting one such as he...and you." Elrond's eyes never faltered from their gaze into Sirlith's shocked blue eyes.

"Do you not agree?" Elrond then looked at the warriors still present, some of whom had served with Elrond since the Last Alliance. All came to stand in a line behind their lord in a show of solidarity. All nodded their agreements. Cocking his head slightly to the side, Elrond gave a leer and smug smirk to the two standing in the corner together.

"The two of you should fall to your knees and beg Erestor's forgiveness for all the pain you have inflicted upon my chief counselor and my friend." Elrond barely controlled his fury.

"May the Valar help you if he fades!" hissed Elrond as he turned in a swirl of lavender robes with the guards following him in formation.


Glorfindel ran the last few paces to the door of the healing wing. He entered the room where Erestor was, suddenly out of breath. There was a steady aching in his abdomen, a fear he could not abate. He looked at Tuluiel with pleading eyes, for Erestor's eyes were still closed and his breathing shallow.

Reaching down, he took Erestor's slender, elegant and cold hand in his big warrior's hand. He put the back to his lips and sweetly kissed it. Reaching up with his other hand he smoothed back the ebony strands that fell around his face. Tears silently fell down the mighty balrog-slayers handsome face. Those blue eyes shimmering as silver. "Erestor, " he whispered near the sleeping elf's face. "Erestor, please," here his voice hitched and faltered, "please do not fade, do not let Carandhol win." Ever softly, he kissed Erestor's cool brow. "I know not if you can hear me, and I do not wish to further complicate matters for you, but if you would wish it, I would take you from all of this pain. I…I would love you as you deserve to be loved." Here his voice broke off and he sobbed openly.

Feeling a hand on his hair in a caress, Glorfindel turned his head to the side to see the rush of lavender robes. Elrond gently caressed Glorfindel’s golden tresses; he felt his friend’s pain and tried to ease it with his touch. Glorfindel looked deep into Elrond's gray eyes, "I cannot lose him when I have just found him," he whispered.

"I understand meldir, we must do all we can for him," Elrond bent down placing a kiss on Glorfindel’s head. Elrond then removed his robes and made a warming tea for Erestor. "Help me sit him up, ‘Fin."

Glorfindel stood and gently put his arm under Erestor's neck, lifting him halfway to sitting. They managed to get a few drops of the tea in, with Erestor choking a little at the foreign substance trying to glide past his pharynx.

Laying the slender counselor back down, Elrond sat next to the bed as he placed his hands on Erestor's chest and head, willing his healing energy into the fading counselor. Glorfindel also willed some of his light's energy into his friend and newfound love.

After many hours, being drained both emotionally and physically, the two broke their healing bond sitting back in their chairs.

"Meldir?" Elrond spoke in a soft tone as to not bother his patient. “Has Erestor reciprocated your feelings for him?"

"Not in words, no, nevertheless, I could feel his awakening desire, we had a… comfort together… though..." he looked sadly into Elrond's gaze.

"Though what, meldir?" worried Elrond, feeling something was missing.

"Though he was upset when I tried to reveal my feelings to him." Glorfindel sighed heavily running a hand through his thick hair.

"He is a wedded elf, and an elf of loyalty and responsibility ‘Fin, of course he would be upset." Elrond spoke with compassion for his friends' pain, one for having a seemingly unattainable love, the other for having a love that was not reciprocated.

"I… I do not wish to hurt him more than he already has been,” Glorfindel’s shoulders slumped in despair as a tear fell down his face.

"Glorfindel, I am sure he has become confused, but you did not hurt him." Elrond assured him. Glorfindel however, was not so sure.

The next morning Celebrian spoke with Tuluiel in the hallway. "What has happened to Master Erestor?” Her eyes shown with worry.

“Oh, my lady, our dear Master Erestor seems to be fading.” Tuluiel answered quietly as she gestured for Celebrian to follow her.

“But why? How?” Celebrian asked as her voice betrayed her concern.

“Something to do with his negligent husband,” Tuluiel responded with only disparagement for Carandhol.

“Oh, dear,” worried Celebrian as they entered the room with a sleeping Erestor and two very weary elves. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

"Yes, please get your husband and Lord Glorfindel to rest.” Tuluiel ordered her lady compassionately. “They have been here all night lending their lights to Erestor.”

Elrond looked up upon hearing his wife’s voice. As their eyes met in sorrow, Celebrian ran to her husband’s side and held his head to her breast. He slipped his arms around her with the ease of familiarity, nestling his head against her soft breasts, inhaling the calming, memorable scent of his beloved. With her he allowed himself to be weak. She was his comfort as well as his friend. She kissed the top of his hair lovingly as she stroked his cheek in comfort. Feeling safe, he finally wept and allowed himself this one comfort. “Sh, my love, tis all right,” she rocked him lovingly. He suddenly felt a fear that he would one day lose her.

“Glorfindel, please, take Elrond, and both of you find some rest. I will stay with Erestor until you return and share my light with him.” She looked to both of the weary elves before her.

Elrond stood slowly as their lips met in a brief kiss of comfort. “Tuluiel will need help to give him this tea every two hours ‘Bree, “ He affectionately called her thusly.

“Go, I will be steadfast,” she assured them both as they left.

Moving up to smooth Erestor’s hair she kissed his brow affectionately, “Please, my friend, fight this shadow hard, there are too many here that love and need you.”


TBC….

Tuluiel- daughter of consolation (Thanks Agie!)