Means of Escape

Disclaimer: See part one.
I still have no Beta reader and english is only my second language, so please don´t get to angry with me for grammar and spelling mistakes.

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And the two reviews meant a lot to us! Thank you for taking the time to write encouraging lines Sangrita and Aggie. This chapter is dedicated to both of you, I hope you are going to like it...

Punishment

The exquisite furnished room Glorfindel entered was quite chilly, and he spotted the reason for the low temperature at once. Displaying a frown upon his handsome features he strode over to close the open window. Elrond was in the bad habit of throwing it wide open throughout the whole year, not caring for the change of seasons or temperature. In general, elves did not suffer from the cold air and liked to have a connection to the nature as close as possible, but Glorfindel was not entirely convinced that the icy winter nights would not harm his slave. Elrond was only half-elf, after all.

The golden-haired warrior took his responsibilities as master rather seriously, and was determined to prevent his charge from falling ill. Elrond had protested time after time that there was no reason for such worry, and that Glorfindel was not only overestimating the risk of Elrond catching a cold but also the consequences such a minor illness could possibly have. So the Lord of Imladris let escape a resigned sigh, as he watched Glorfindel closing the window. He glanced at the door, ensuring it was closed and locked, then began to slowly fall to his knees in front of his master, as was the proper position for a slave.

A motion from Glorfindel's hand stopped him, and puzzled, he resumed his seat on the comfortable sofa he had abandoned earlier to open the door for his Master rather than to just call him in.

"You look weary my friend," the golden-haired Elf observed. "Are you sure you want to resume your training tonight?" he asked before steppeding behind his lover and started to massage Elrond's shoulders. His muscles were incredibly tense, but that was after such an exhausting day no surprise at all. The raven-haired elf gradually relaxed under his lover's skilled hands, leaning contently back into the welcome touch while closing his eyes. After some minutes of pure bliss, he replied: "Sure, I was waiting all day for it; besides I do not want to disappoint you."

"Oh, to make up for that we could cuddle all night." Glorfindel offered before he cautioned, that Elrond had earned himself a punishment today, in case they went on with their session. But the Noldor only smiled, turning his head slightly, to invite the sensual kiss Glorfindel profferred, and mumbled that he was eager to start."Th"Then stand up, my little Perendhel!" Glorfindel ordered, his voice soft but stern enough to be rewarded with an immediate obedience. Elrond did as he was told further and started to remove his midnight blue robes and all other clothes, folding them neatly and placing them on the sofa. "Shall I undress you as well?" he asked, when he had finished the task. He actually had the nerve to pout after he heard his master's negative answer. Rummaging in the small ornate chest for the items that would be required for the nights pleasures,.Glorfindel glanced over his shoulder.

"I told you that a punishment is due today. You were very naughty at dinner! But do lighten up, I promise you that you are going to like what I have in store for you this time." Glorfindel hid the items he had retrieved from the chest behind his back and he approached the Noldor again.

"On your knees, my little Perendhel!" Glorfindel commanded, and watched with satisfaction how Elrond dropped to his knees and held his arms still by his side, as he had been taught. As the mithril circlet was inappropriate for a slave, Glorfindel carefully disentangled it from Elrond's dark hair, placing it beside the tidy pile of clothes on the sofa. He set then to the task of loosing the warrior braids of his friend. The Gondolin Elf reveled in this little ritual, which usually marked the beginning of one of their games. His smile even broadened when he slipped the heavy silver collar around Elrond's neck and closed it with a loud snap. "There you go, all nice and done."

"You know why you deserve to be punished?" Glorfindel asked, beginning to slowly circle the kneeling figure, bending the stock of the riding crop, he had chosen as the perfect tool of torture for the time being.

"I am not sure, Sir" was the forthcoming answer from the slave, and not satisfactory in any way in Glorfindel's opinion. The only one that mattered.

"You were very bad at dinner tonight" he remembered the Perendhel who had a hint of mischief in his silver eyes, belying the otherwise solemn and humble expression on his face.

Absentmindedly Elrond's master started to tap the riding crop on his slave's shoulder which he had only minutes before lovingly rubbed. "I thought you would like that, Sir."

"I liked it entirely to much, that's why you must be punished," Glorfindel informed Elrond and slapped the riding crop hard against his back, causing his slave to give a stifled yelp.

"Tell me, little Perendhel," he hissed, "do you think that was proper behavior for someone like you?" Glorfindel punctuated the question with another hard strike, this time across Elrond's buttocks. The Noldor mumbled incoherently, more of a sob than anything else, although he was not crying. Alarmed, Glorfindel, usually impressed how much pain his slave could take, stepped around Elrond to face him. It had never been his intention tonight, to put his lover through any real trial, which was why he he had chosen the riding crop, his friend's declared favorite toy.

Doing a remarkable job of hiding his concern, the blond elf used the crop to raise the chin of the still knelling elf, so he could look him in the eye. Raising one inquisitive eyebrow, he waited patiently for an explanation for the tears that threatened to fall at any moment.

But Elrond ignored the silently asked question. "Damn proud, stubborn elf! Is it really that difficult to let someone help you?" Glorfindel cursed under is breath, quietly enough not to be overheard. He knew that defiant expression on his friend's face well enough to recognize that questioning him further now would be futile.

‚Alright have your way, then. I will get of the bottom of that little riddle later, with or without your help,‘ he thought. He could at least cut short some of the more unpleasant punishments he had in mind. Yes, he would keep to the crop for tonight and change to some more comfortable and soothing location at once, moving on to the next phase of his plans.

"Lie down on your bed," the warrior told Elrond. Seeing that the Noldor was about to settle down on his back he barked: "On your abdomen!"
Seeing that Elrond had obeyed with alacrity, regretting that he could not order his lover as easily to confide in him, Glorfindel approached the broad bed and bound his slave's hands and feet to each of the four posts. He ignored the iron manacles that were attached to the bed cleverly hidden from curious eyes, and used soft silken cords instead.

By the time Glorfindel had finished, Elrond had succeeded to get a grip on himself. A small smile played around his lips. One that the still-worried warrior noticed with satisfaction, as his slave turned his head as much as possible within his limited movement, to curiously watch what was going to happen next.

He would not gag Elrond tonight. Glorfindel decided it would be safer, to make certain his little Perendhel could beg for mercy if his concerns caused their play to become to much to handle, Since Glorfindel himself was not absolutely confident about his course of action in the first place, Elrond's pleas would not go unheeded.

Just for fun Glorfindel poked the tip of the riding crop into Elrond's firm buttocks. The warrior gripped the crop harder and without further warning rained down on the form prostrated in front of him. After some minutes of constant blows that left Elrond's skin red and welted, the slave began to writhe more and more, but he never asked for any relief. The Noldor had buried his head forcefully in his pillow to keep from screaming out. Glorfindel suspected he was biting down on it.

Ceasing the lashing and examining his work, he found it quiet satisfactory. And it would not do to cause his slave to cry out. Without a gag, it was possible that a servant might overhear them, and investigate, worried for his Lord's well being. Glorfindel did not feel like explaining a shocked maid or cook why Elrond was lying bound and helpless on his bed, his back and legs covered in red marks.

The blond elf was about to release Elrond from his bonds, but then thought better of it. He grabbed from a bedside table a healing salve and applied it to the abused skin of his slave, mumbling soothing nonsense. The ointment was not strictly necessary, because Elrond possessed an elf's accelerated healing ability, but Glorfindel was not about to run the risk of infection. That happened once, when the marshal had in one of their games become carried away and had accidentally drawn blood. Elrond ,playing it down, had refused to let it being treated, and had promptly fallen ill. Glorfindel was still not sure if Elrond did not took his own safety more serious, as an unconscious mean to get some extra attention or if anything else was behind it.

Having escaped an argument about the requirement of a treatment, Glorfindel undid the knots of the cords, and took every ankle and wrist he released into his hands to lovingly rub it, in order to stimulate the circulation of blood once more.

After shedding his robe rather quickly, letting it let sink to the ground in an untidy heap, Glorel cel carefully tugged the blanket from under Elrond and wrapped it around their bodies tightly. He took his lover in his arms, and kissed him tenderly. Elrond snuggled closer to the warm and comforting body beside him. And went immediately to sleep without even noticing the praise and endearments Glorfindel whispered into his ears.


TBC...