An uir

Chapter 12.

Glorfindel would try his best. He would be formal and perfectly calm with the king. Nobody could ask Glorfindel to woo him or become the king’s lover.

“Glorfindel, you old fool. You are lost and you know it! The king is quick-witted. He would see your turmoil in a second. What you are going to do about it?”

Reluctantly he dressed himself and went to the Great Hall. He didn’t have to look at the king to know where he was. His neck itched, and he felt the king’s intense gaze upon him. Glorfindel noted, relieved, that their royal quest sat between Elrond and Erestor, and he would sit on the other side of Imladris’ Lord. He didn’t have to sit beside Thranduil.

Why did he feel so disappointed, then?

Elrond studied Glorfindel’s face carefully and noticed that Erestor had been right. The balrog slayer wasn’t himself tonight. He was polite but unusually distant, and anybody could see that he tried to avoid talking to the king, or meet his gaze.

Thranduil was surprised at Glorfindel’s behavior. He had thought that the elda had been interested, but obviously he had been completely wrong. Glorfindel was polite to everyone, but there was no warmth in his smiles or real interest to talk with him. Now Thranduil was happy with his well-trained royal manners. They helped him to swallow his disappointment and continue this celebration, even with an aching heart.

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After the banquet, the evening continued in the Fire hall. Thranduil listened bewitched, when Lindir, the head minstrel, sang and played with his harp. The young elf had the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. His hearts aching eased a little, and he managed the most genuine smile of the whole evening.

“You really have a true treasure in him, my lord. I have seldom heard so beautiful a voice.” Thranduil said to Elrond, who smiled.

“Yes, we are indeed lucky. Lindir’s talents have eased many pains and brighten even the darkest times in Imladris.”

Thranduil believed Lord Elrond. This evening had been pure torture to him at the beginning. What a fool he had been, hoping that someone like Glorfindel could be interested in him! He could never pursue him, not even if he knew that Glorfindel wouldn’t deny him. He was the King, after all! But no… he wanted to be accepted as just an elf, not as the King. All that was impossible, Thranduil knew it now. Glorfindel’s coldness had told him enough, and as beautiful Lindir’s voice had been, it brought only passing relief, but couldn’t take away his hurt.

Elrond studied the King with worry. It seemed that something was tormenting his royal guest. Not even Lindir’s singing had succeeded in completely chasing away the shadows in King’s eyes.

The music stopped for a while, only to change into slow, romantic dance-music. Elrond wondered what to do. He wasn’t sure if he should ask the king to dance with him. Suddenly Glorfindel solved this problem for him. The elda rose and extended his hand to the king.

“Would you give me the honor to dance with you, my king?”

Glorfindel led the king to the dance floor and pulled him closer. The world around them disappeared. Neither of them heard the excited and wondering whispers. None of the Imladris inhabitants had ever seen Lord Glorfindel on dance-floor. Not even with Erestor, although many had assumed they were lovers. They started to dance slowly, and they didn’t see anything else but each other.

Elrond could only to stare, completely stunned at Thranduil’s sudden change. The king smiled brightly, and his whole being had visibly stirred alive. When those two started to dance Elrond heard his hervenn’s quiet chuckling.

“Would you tell me the reason for you amusement, ind nín?” he asked quietly.

“I should have been guessed! Look at them, Elrond nín.”

“What in Arda…” Elrond tried to ask, but suddenly noticed what Erestor had meant. Thranduil smiled at Glorfindel broadly, his eyes shining, and even if Glorfindel’s face were unreadable, he held the king in a very gentle way…with great affection.

“Glorfindel… and Thranduil? Are you sure?”

“I have seen Glorfindel like that before. That was when he was with Ecthelion. They loved each other greatly.”

Elrond frowned.

“Do you think that Glorfindel is ready to move on? I don’t want to see him or Thranduil hurt.”

Erestor’s smile faded.

“I must admit that I don’t know. We must remember that Glorfindel’s loss is much closer than mine. I have had many millennia to adjust my brothers and family’s absence, but Glor… he had been back in Arda only 2 years. He very seldom speaks of Ecthelion, and he falls completely silent when I try to ask him. “

Elrond sighed.

“This is a surprising turn, but I must admit that they make striking pair together.” he finally said.

Erestor studied the dancing pair, and he noticed that Elrond was right. Two blond, tall elves in each other’s arms, one golden-haired, the other’s mane silvery, two pairs brightly shining eyes, deep azure and vivid green. Two powerful bodies swaying near each other, in complete rhythm, like they have always danced together.

“We can’t do anything about that now, but maybe later when we have time to talk with Glorfindel in private. I suggest that we join them on the dance floor. I want you in my arms, meleth nín.” Elrond whispered, pulling Erestor with him. He smiled happily when Erestor leaned closer and they started to dance.

“Oh… This feels so good. I feel so safe when he holds me like this.” Erestor thought to himself.

//You are safe with me, ind nín. I love you.//

Erestor flinched when he heard Elrond’s warm voice in his head.

“What! Did you hear me?” he whispered, surprised.

//Of course I heard you, and you can hear me, meleth.//

Erestor stared at Elrond’s smiling face, completely stunned. Then he decided to try and see if he could do it again.

//What is happening to us? How this is possible?//

//Don’t worry. I have waited for this. It is possible but not very common that bonded mates can speak to each other in their minds. This means only that our bond has strengthened. You can hear me because you love me.//

//I love you, very much. Would you kiss me, meleth nín?//

Erestor smiled, seeing Elrond’s distraction but then he saw the wicked smile playing upon his lips.

//Are you going to use this ability to tease me?//

//Maybe later. But now, I would be content if you just kissed me.//

Elrond didn’t answer but captured Erestor’s lips in a gentle kiss, which made their hearts race.

//I will never get enough of your kisses. I could be here, in your arms, forever.//

//And I would be perfectly happy to hold you like this, always, but I’m afraid that we have to continue entertaining our guests a little bit longer.//

Elrond’s gentle words made Erestor stir from his pleasant state. He blushed; embarrassed that he had completely forgotten they weren’t alone.

//Don’t be ashamed, meleth. You don’t have to hide your love from me, and I am very proud of you, always.//

Elrond took Erestor’s hand and led him to a seat, only to notice that Glorfindel and Thranduil were still dancing. They seemed to be completely in their own world, Thranduil’s head rested against Glorfindel’s shoulder, and Glorfindel held the king as close as possible.

Finally, when evening was almost over, Glorfindel and Thranduil came back to Elrond and Erestor. They bid their good nights, and left together.

//What do we do, Elrond? Should we say something before it goes any further?//

//Let them be. And besides, if they are meant to be, we have no right to meddle in this. I just hope that neither of them breaks the other’s heart. Now I can see that you are tired. Let’s go to sleep. I want to hold you. //

//Do you mean that you don’t have the strength to make love with me? Oh well… we have been bonded hardly five days and my hervenn is already tired with me. What a shame… I have to…// Erestor’s wicked muses stopped suddenly, when Elrond pinned him against the wall and kissed him hungrily.

//Be careful, ind nín, or you are going to be too sore to sit tomorrow. We have long negotiations.//

Erestor could hardly hide his triumphant grin.

//Promises, promises. But can you keep them, Elrond nín?//

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Glorfindel’s thoughts reeled. How in Arda he had ended in this situation? Guilt, but also bliss swelled inside him. Thranduil was so beautiful, so utterly attractive that in the end he couldn’t resist but asked him to dance. How perfectly he had fit in Glorfindel’s arms, like he had always been there. At the same time, he felt guilty, thinking that he had betrayed his beloved’s memory.

Thranduil felt insecure. He had sensed sudden distance between them, despite the fact that Glorfindel still held his hand. What he should do? Would Glorfindel just leave him as soon as possible? How would he handle the coming rejection? They reached Thranduil’s chamber door, and the King hesitantly met Glorfindel’s gaze. The elda’s face was unreadable, but he stared intently into his eyes without saying a word. Suddenly, Glorfindel’s face softened and he leaned closer. Thranduil closed his eyes in blissfully when their lips met.