Against all odds

Chapter fifteen a misunderstanding

When Erestor awoke he was surprised he hadn’t done so by his own screams. It had been the morning noises, coming through the window, that had woken him up.

Sitting upright he smiled. Elrond was still there, sleeping on one of his chairs. He felt strangely at peace now and wondered if it had something to do with Elrond. He was grateful Elrond had stayed the night, that he had looked after him and that he tried to understand.

Erestor wanted to thank him, but no form of thank you would show the debt of his appreciation. He tried to think of a way and suddenly he knew one. Elrond looked hungry. Erestor would make him a proper, big and tasty breakfast and bring it here.

He stood and silently left his room. He was still fully dressed. He had fallen asleep with his clothes on and after his emission Elrond had refrained from changing them while Erestor slept. Just another reason to be thankful, Erestor thought.

Once in the kitchen he set to work. He would make to most exquisite breakfast Elrond had ever seen.

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Elladan and Elrohir were sleepy as the walked towards breakfast. They had hardly been able to close their eyes last night.

“Next time a storm decides to visit us, brother, I am not going to do anything. I feel like I haven’t slept for days.” Elrohir mumbled.

“I know, Ell, maybe we should have stayed awake all night, instead of trying to sleep a little. And we’re probably also still drained from Erestor’s…” Elladan did not have to finish his sentence. Elrohir knew exactly what he meant and felt the same. “So, breakfast and then bed.”

Elladan nodded and almost sleepwalked into the room.

Noticing nobody was there they sat down and started. If they waited they would fall asleep.

“Not waiting for youdersders anymore?” Elrond’s amused voice came from behind. He chuckled when they did not even jump at his sudden appearance. He sat himself down at the head and looked at his sons. “You look too tired. Maybe you should skip breakfast and go to bed.”, he opted.

Two pairs of half-closed eyes stared at him. It seemed it took some time for his words to settle in, but then Elladan nodded.

But Elrohir was just a little bit more coherent than his twin and he noticed Elrond had walked in alone. “Where’s Erestor? Shouldn’t you be with him?” All his worries came back to life and Elrohir looked at his father beggingly.

“I d and and yes.” Elrond had woken up when Erestor’s absence had registered in his sleepy brain. His first thought was that Erestor was taking a bath, but the bathroom had been empty and then Elrond had made it here, hoping Erestor was having breakfast. But the counsellor wasn’t here either. “I was actually looking for him, I hoped he was here? Well, Glorfindel will have to eat alone, I am going to look for Erestor and you two are of to bed.”

Elladan and Elrohir supported each other from the room, and way into their beds.

When Elrond stood to go, Glorfindel’s voice stopped him. the blond had entered through the other door and had heard the last part of the conversation. “Your search will go better on a full stomach, don’t you think?”

Elrond smiled at his seneschal. “Aye, perhaps you’re right.” Elrond sat back down and let Glorfindel serve him.

The blond drew him into a casual conversation, even though he was dying to ask Elrond about Erestor’s change. The strange words and the bond and everything. But Glorfindel decided it had to wait. He would wait until after breakfast. Elrond could really do with a proper one and he kept refilling the Half-Elf’s plate.

When Elrond took a bite of an orange pie he made sounds of shear bliss. Glorfindel looked funny. His mind had started to wonder if this was a sound Elrond would make in bed, a sound Erestor might someday hear?

Elrond saw his face and held the next piece in front of the blond’s mouth and leaned over. “Try it, Glorfindel. It’s delicious.”, he whispered in the elda’s ear.

Suddenly the door swung open and revealed an angry Erestor. When taking a closer look Elrond and Glorfindel noticed he did not look angry, but hurt. Erestor resembled a shot little animal, standing there in the door opening, holding a tray filled with the most delicious and enticing meals both elves had ever seen.

Elrond rose and moved to take the tray from Erestor, he was still too weak to be carrying such a heavy burden. But Glorfindel, accurately reading Elrond’s idea’s, took it away before Elrond could. Elrond was too weak as well in the blond’s opinion and he would not strain either of them right now.

He placed the tray on the table while Elrond addressed the flustered counsellor. “ Where have you been? Never, mind, that’s obvious now. The kitchen. Come sit and have breakfast. I thought you would be here?”

Erestor suddenly felt shy and bit his lower lip in frustration. He doubted between telling a lie or bolting from this place. But he knew both options were out, Elrond would follow him and the Half-Elf could always detect a lie. “I made you breakfast.” It sounded so silly and so completely unnecessary that Erestor reddened in embarrassment. And even more when his gaze locked with Elrond’s and he saw how Elrond felt about this.

Elrond, who had not known Erestor had been making him breakfast now regretted eating what he had. In fact he regretted even leaving the room. He realised Erestor had first taken the tray there.

“I….I….” Elrond was struck numb. He didn’t know what to say. Nobody had ever made him breakfast before and to him it was the most romantic thing anyone could do. A single tear rolled down his face as he eyed the food displayed on the tray.

Glorfindel, no matter how much he wanted to taste it himself, took hold of the tray and addressed his friends. “Well, it’s a shame you already ate, Elrond. Come, you two. Back to your room, and I will not see either of you leave it before tomorrow. You’ve filled this plate enough to last the two of you until then, Erestor. Come on, lazy bones.”

Elrond and Erestor both stared at him, mouths wide open. Glorfindel was matchmaking and they both recognized the signs. Shaking their heads, both for different reasons, they followed the blond to Erestor’s room.

“I am sorry I can not deliver you and Erestor to your own room, Elrond, but this his very heavy. I am surprised you did not fall over, Erestor.” The words were serious. Glorfindel felt the tray become heavier with each step he took and he seriously wondered if Erestor hadn’t swayed while carrying it.

Erestor merely took the tray Glo Glorfindel and entered his room. He walked to the bed, it was the only item in his room large enough to place the tray on. Once more Glorfindel’s opinion of Erestor changed. Erestor did not sway one second.

Elrond too moved inside but when he passed Glorfindel he turned and faced him. “Why are you doing this?”

“You both need rest, Erestor wants to sleep here, and you need to be close to him. Sounds logical to me.” But Glorfindel smile became wicked when he added the last words. “And Erestor made a large enough plate to last you till morn.” Saving himself from Elrond’s outraged replay he quickly closed the door and left.

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For a while Elrond just stood there, facing the door. He was going over and over the blond’s words and had to shake himself out of it. Now he turned and, moving over to Erestor, saw how the other was standing in his question mode.

Erestor only adopted this stance whenever a lonternterrogation was needed. Now that Elrond himself was the recipient of this mode, he suddenly understood how all those others Erestor had questioned must have felt.

Erestor had interrogated and questioned many people of various races; elves, men, dwarves, orcs, the occasional uruk and even some hobbits. Poor Sam had been so afraid of Erestor he refused to be in the same place as Erestor forever.

A shiver ran down Elrond’s spine and he had to swallow several times before he had his composure back. He had no idea what was coming.

Erestor took a breath and the interrogation started. He wanted answers and the fact that it was Elrond, his lord, that was standing before him did nothing to hold him back, a capability Elrond had always admired, but now feared. Elrond was just an elf and just like everyone Erestor interrogated Elrond would give him his answers. And fast, because Elrond knew what Erestor was capable of should he not get what he wanted. “What? Why? When?”

Elrond closed his eyes. He knew this way of questioning. It was something he had thought Erestor. Nine of the ten times the one being questioned usually ended up giving you more information than you thought. And he was certainly one of them.

Elrond had no idea what Erestor was referring to: ‘what do you want?’ or ‘what are you still doing here?’ or ‘what is going on?’ were all possible. Just like ‘why is this happening to me?’ was just as much a possibility as ‘why did you bind to me?’
rondrond began to understand the fear Sam had towards Erestor. He had to force his body to remain where it was.

And he couldn’t just say he didn’t know what Erestor meant. That would lead Erestor to think there was more. But there was more. Elrond didn’t know what to do. He cursed the weak link. If it had been stronger he would have been able to sense Erestor. “I don’t think I know what you mean, Erestor?”

This just confirmed his suspicions. Erestor had thought there was more going on. Elrond had been in the dining room, alone with Glorfindel, and when he had come to deliver the tray he had seen how Elrond had fed Glorfindel a piece of pie.

Erestor had only seen lovers feed each other, so he had come to the conclusion Elrond and Glorfindel had an affair. And it had made him mad. He kept telling himself it was because his friends had not told him, but that wasn’t true. And he knew it. But he refused to admit it. And when Glorfindel had gone ahead and delivered not only him and the tray to his room, but also Elrond, Erestor got confused.

“Why are you here?” He spat the words out. He was so angry and so confused he did not know what to think anymore. About anything.

Elrond didn’t move. “Because I have to.” He kicked himself mentally. Of all the things to say, this was the worst way of putting it.

Erestor figured Elrond felt obligated to remain at his side until he was well again. “I understand if you’d rather be with Glorfindel.” The thought made Erestor cry and he briskly turned to hide his tears. “There’s no reason to stay.”

Elrond was momentarily stunned beyond belief. He had not expected that. “Why would I rather be with Glorfindel? That’s ridiculous.”

But Erestor’s posture showed him his words were not believed. He prayed to the Valar for tightight words. The wrong ones would push Erestor away forever and Elrond could not live without Erestor near him. Not now that he had bonded himself to Erestor.

The Valar heard his prayer and had since long wanted to intervene and now they could. Elrond had practically given them permission, so to speak. And when Elrond spoke, he heard words flow from his mouth he did not control. His mouth was moving on it’s own accord.

“Cennelyen ápsëa Glorfindel nan umecéndiel. Im uma melas. Le ná meran.”

When the words where spoken Elrond reddened. How could he have said that? Now everything would come out; the bond, which is a good thing, but also that he had been in love with Erestor for as long as they’ve known each other.

Erestor could not believe it either. He had seen it. “So what was it?”

Elrond sighed relieved. Apparently the last words weren’t heard. “The orange pie was so delicious I fear I made some noises and Glorfindel looked at me as if I had gone mad. so I let him taste it. Had you come in a little later, I might have heard some moans from him.”

The image of a moaning Glorfindel with orange pie in his mouth was too much for Erestor. He lost control and once more his pearl laughter erupted, but he had to stop when it hurt him. His sides were aching. Like a thousand needles pinning him.

Elrond knelt beside him to examine him. “I think it will leave if you stay still for a while. Have you eaten yet?” Elrond would do anything to keep the interrogation from continuing.

“No, I haven’t” Erestor saw Elrond needed a little space. And he himself needed to do some thinking.

The rest of the day Erestor did not utter one word. If Elrond asked him something he would nod or shake his head, but nothing more. His mind was always working, trying to solve the riddle. He wanted to know what was happening at the moment. Erestor did not notice but on occasion he mumbled some Valarin words. Elrond wrote them all down. Maybe he would solve a mystery too?

End chapter fifteen
TBC

Translations:

Cennelyen ápsëa Glorfindel nan umecéndiel means you saw me feeding Glorfindel, but you misunderstood, because:

Cennelyen ápsëa means you saw me feeding :
Cennelyen
~n refers to me.
~lyë refers to you. The diarises goes when the e isn’t final.
Cennë is the past tense of cen- meaning to see. Again the diarises drop.
Apsëa is the present tense of the verb apsa- and is translated as feeding. The verb apsa- I created after the noun apsa meaning cooked food; meat; meal.

nan means but

umecéndiel means you misunderstood:
~l you (short for ~lyë)
umecéndië is the perfect tense of the verb umcenda- (to misunderstand; misread) I invented, combining the two verbs um- (not to) and cenda- (to read) The perfect is a better use than just simply past because the action in the past is relevant for the present. Umhenya- is another verb for misunderstand (combining um- and henya- to understand), but that would rather say a misunderstanding of words, not vision. Therefore I took the trouble of finding an alternative.

Im uma melas means I do not love him, because:
Im means I
Uma means do not
Mela comes from the verb mel- meaning to love.
~s means him, her or it.

Le ná meran means It is you I wish to be with, literally: you are wanted (by) me, because:
Le means you
Ná means are and is used as copula
Meran:
~n means me (Short for ~nyë)
mera- comes from the verb mer- meaning to want or to wish.


Note:
I may be adding two more relationships to the tale, but they are not the main ones. Elrond and Erestor have that part