Something Special, Something Sacred

Imladris, Third Age 2033

Erestor crawled onto the bed, his body still damp from their morning bath. He knelt behind Glorfindel, running his oiled fingers through the golden strands. Glorfindel rested against his lover, his head tilted down and his eyes closed. He was relaxed, one leg drawn up that he rested an arm on and leaning back onto his other hand. Erestor looked over Glorfindel's shoulder, his eyes drawn to the healed scar on the inside of that raised thigh: his seal. A diamond with the Tengwar for the first two letters of Erestor's name.

He had branded Glorfindel his. It was more disturbing than the piercings, Erestor thought, still caressing the long tresses. The wound had healed quickly, cleanly; there had been no need for him to seek Elrond's help.

"Glorfindel?" he asked quietly.

"Mmm?"

Erestor's throat was suddenly dry. "I have been thinking. Perhaps you and I should visit the Grey Havens. Be by the sea, without pressure of office upon us."

Glorfindel's body tenses slightly. "Are you under pressure here, Sir?"

"Aye," Erestor said wearily. "I am."

"Then we should go." Glorfindel's tone was one of boredom, resignation, and it made Erestor grip the hair in his hands just a little more harshly.

"Glorfindel," he said, his voice clipped, "if you would rather not holiday with me, then we will remain in Imladris."

"As you wish."

The Noldo wanted to scream, demand why Glorfindel was like this and how on Arda had he become so? Instead, he continued to slick the strands of yellow silk.

A knock on their door drew Erestor's attention from his task, an arm snaking around Glorfindel's chest possessively as he gazed defiantly at the door. "Yes?" he called.

"Lord Elrond sent me to remind you that the meeting will be held in one hour's time, my Lord," a page replied, his voice muffled by the thick wood.

Erestor nodded to himself as he said, "Hannon len." He heard the page's footsteps retreat and he withdrew from his embrace with Glorfindel. "Your hair is oiled. Now, dress," he sighed, sitting back on his heels and watching his lover rise and go to the wardrobe, retrieving Erestor's clothing first. (thank you)

*****

He stormed into their rooms with Glorfindel close behind him. Erestor spun around and glared at his lover. "Glorfindel, this has gone far enough! Close the damn door. Now!" he yelled, stripping himself of his heavy formal robes of office. Glorfindel reached for the fabric, but Erestor slapped at his hands. "Don't touch me, Glorfindel. Just close the door!"

The door clicked shut, and Erestor slipped from his robes, allowing the expensive material to pool on the floor. He poured himself a glass of potent spirits, drinking it one swallow.

"Sir--"

Erestor threw the glass at the wall, the fine crystal shattering. "You call me 'sir' once more today, Glorfindel, and I will not be responsible for the consequences!"

"Of course," the Elda mumbled softly.

The dark Elf closed the distance between them, his eyes boring into the sapphire ones. "What did you think you were doing in that room?" he demanded.

"I believe we were discussing Sauron," Glorfindel replied.

"No, the council and I were discussing Sauron. You were too busy making an ass of yourself by fawning over me and agreeing with everything I said like a trained puppet! I think I could have suggested we attack Barad-dûr with lembas and you would have cheered me on!" Erestor pinched the bridge his nose, a pounding headache blurring his vision. "This must stop, Glorfindel."

Glorfindel's posture became a bit straighter and his voice was tight when he spoke. "I did nothing other than what I have done for centuries. You made valid points in the council session, I merely agreed with them. There is nothing inappropriate about that."

"They were points that *you* should have been making! You are the one in charge of the defense of Imladris," Erestor insisted, crossing his arms as he looked up at his lover.

The blond shook his head, a hollow smile on his lips. "You know how I hate those meetings. I have always hated speaking to the council. You know what has to be done as well as I, and you are the statesman."

Erestor narrowed his eyes. "No, it is more than that. This goes beyond the council chamber. You have been deferring to me in all things, serving me at meals, and acting more like a servant than an equal for far too long now. I curse myself now for having not seen it and allowing it to happen."

"Is it wrong for me to want to do things for you?" Glorfindel asked dumbly.

"It is wrong for you to want to do *everything* for me!" Erestor cried, flinging his hands in the air in exasperation.

Glorfindel's eyes became veiled. "Very well," he said, his voice flat. "If that is what you desire. Shall I bring you the whip so you can punish me?"

Erestor's eyes went wide. "No! That is what I am talking about! When you are not wearing your collar, I am not your master, and you should not treat me as such!"

"All I am doing is giving you the respect that I think you deserve." Glorfindel refused to meet Erestor's steady gaze. "You shared your secrets with me and showed me another world that fascinates me. I owe you so much for that, so much that I could never repay, and so I am doing my best to show you my gratitude. But obviously my best is not good enough. So, what do you *want* me to do?"

Erestor took Glorfindel's hands in his. "I think we should sit down with Elrond. Speak to him, and maybe he can help us find out why you are doing this."

Anger flared within the depths of Glorfindel's eyes. "I am doing this because I love you! I am doing this because I like to please you! I am doing this because you showed me feelings that I did not know I could feel! I do not need your former master to tell me that. You are master now! He does not know you any longer, not the way that I do. But, you are right. I know nothing about this. So go to Elrond for the answers to your questions if you will not believe me. I only beg that you spare me the tedium of listening to him," he sneered.

The Noldo softened his voice, cupping Glorfindel's cheek tenderly. "Of course I believe you, melethen. This isn't about what I believe. But there is something wrong here, and we have to find out what." (my love)

"The only thing that is wrong is that you do not trust me!"

"How can I when I fear that I am harming you?" Erestor was desperate; he had to make Glorfindel see that what they were doing was not right.

Glorfindel scoffed. "Harming me? With these petty slights? I am Glorfindel of Gondolin! I know the Balrog's fire, the ice of Mandos, and you think you can harm me with a candle and an icicle? How little you must think of me!"

"Yes, you are Glorfindel of Gondolin," Erestor admitted. "You are a proud warrior who would face down the legions of Morgoth single-handedly if necessary. It is that pride that I fear is holding you from asking for help!"

His voice was once again cold and distant, his eyes hidden behind dark lashed. "I assure you, my Lord, that if I required help, I would ask for it. Of course, you have only my word on that. You must decide how much that means to you."

Silence descended upon the room as Erestor considered Glorfindel's words. The Elda had been assertive, very clear in what he needed and wanted, and it was true -- Glorfindel seemed to know exactly what he wanted and needed, so what enlightenment would Elrond be able to offer them? "Very well, Glorfindel. I believe you. But, you must promise me that you will stop this foolish capitulation outside of this room. It is embarrassing for me and does not befit the Seneschal of Imladris."

Glorfindel nodded. "I promise, Sir," he said solemnly.

Erestor sighed. "I trust you, Glorfindel."

"I trust you..." there was a pause, and then Glorfindel forced out "Erestor." It was the first time in months Glorfindel had called him by his name and it brought tears to Erestor's eyes.

"I love you, seron vell," he whispered, leaning up to kisses Glorfindel's lips.

As their mouths met, Glorfindel mumbled, "I love you, too, Sir."

TBC...