Barriers both Noble and Arduous

Fic Name : Barriers Both Noble and Arduous 2/?
Pairing : Glorfindel & Erestor
Rating : NC17
Timeline : During the Third Age before the War of the Ring.
Synopsis : Erestor fights with the past, Glorfindel is wounded severely.
Several factors complicate them getting together, but love blossoms amid the pain.
Disclaimer : I don't claim to own anything or make any money. Suing me will not do any good, you'd get a quarter at the most. Tolkien owns all the pretty elves.
Author’s note : My heartfelt thanks to those who have reviewed. I cannot stress enough how much it means to me to hear your good thoughts. I hope that I live up to your expectations, I guarantee this is a fic that is written with no holds barred. There will be angst, and there will be passion. Poor Erestor does indeed have a terrible secret. This secret will put mountains between them. Can Glorfindel overcome all odds to be with his hearts desire? Will Erestor accept his past and look to the future with hope? Read on and find out.

Chapter Two.

Erestor drummed his finger’s on the balcony where he had found himself the following day. It was -not- to see Glorfindel leave. It was simply because it -was- a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly down upon Imladris, sparkling upon the multicolored leaves. There was a gentle breeze in the air which lifted his hair as he turned down to gaze at a small gathering of elves by the palace steps. Elrond was naturally speaking with the party about to leave for Lothlorien.

The advisor smirked. Ah…he was late as usual, Glorfindel made his way from the garden where he had been doing who knows what. He was certainly hurrying now to get into his place. When he arrived he glanced around briefly. It was too high a perch where Erestor was to really see the expression upon his face. The tall elf looked as if he was paying a great deal of attention to Elrond, while also scanning the area. What was he looking for? Or who?

His lips parted slightly as Glorfindel clearly looked up in his direction and scowled darkly. The Gondolin elf’s body tightened as he continued to listen the end of Elrond’s speech. Erestor could not read anything more into the blonde’s expression other than anger for he was too far away. What had Glorfindel to be irritated about? The advisor’s hand clutched at the balcony railing. It was -he- who had wronged Erestor, not the other way around, damned arrogant elf! He lifted his chin and forced his gaze away, over towards the waterfall, deliberately ignoring Glorfindel.

Deep down he wanted to be down there, he wanted…no. No he did not. Absolutely not!

After what seemed an eternal moment he looked back down. Thankfully the party was gone. Something heavy rested in his chest and he turned to a nearby chair. The elf walked slowly over to it and sat down, leaning his arms upon his legs as he studied the floor. He found that strangely, his hands were shaking from the force of emotion he’d been bottling lately. Thank the Valar Glorfindel was gone, now perhaps he would get some peace.

Peace….would it ever -really- come? He could still see their faces…still smell their scent…they were always there….lurking in the darkness. She was there.

He rose abruptly and strode back into his study, wherein he poured himself a glass of strong elven brandy. Erestor closed his eyes and fought the emotion within him. He drank down the brandy easily and poured another. This time however he took it back to his favorite chair and sat down, leaning his head back against it.

/Valar, just do it, Erestor. Please…I beg you…./

Those heartfelt words would never leave his conscious. He would hear them until the end of his days.

Why did it hurt that Glorfindel had looked so angry? Erestor sighed and rubbed his temple while one hand still held the full glass. As usual, the drink didn’t really help, it just set his emotions into a twisted jungle.

“Erestor.” he heard the austere voice of Elrond at his door. The Master of Imladris had knocked, but he had not heard a sound. Erestor looked up from his chair without rising. He and Elrond had known each other for many centuries and were long past standing on ceremony in private. “Are you alright?” The ever calm lord walked over to his friend and crouched down by the side of the chair. He scrutinized the younger elf with concern.

“Yes, yes I’ll be fine.” Erestor shrugged, looking away from Elrond’s intense eyes.

“I attempted to warn him.” Elrond spoke softly. “I came to believe that perhaps it was time you had some attention. I did not imagine he meant to do what he did upon the dance floor. I am sorry.”

Erestor sighed, “Tis naught your fault, my lord. The Valar know that it is not. Time has not been a friend as you well know. Whatever hope he may have had is futile. You -know- I cannot be what he wants. Even if I -wanted- his attention.”

“Erestor, it has been a very long time. Its time to let go.” He put a gentle hand upon his friend’s arm. “I have forgiven you, why can you not forgive yourself?”

Erestor stared at the drink in his hand. “I have not tried. I do not deserve it.” Gradually his lips pursed together.. “I think often lately of going west, Elrond. I dream of joining them and leaving this life behind. Something always stops me, binding me yet to this earth. I know not what force keeps me here.”

“Perhaps, my friend, the reason you stay is clearer than you might think.” Elrond rose and looked out towards the rising sun. His face was bathed in light just then and he smiled kindly. “The time for sorrow is past. You and I both live now to see the ages pass and time is only a means with which to keep everything together for as long as it must be so. I regret much in my life, Erestor, do not turn into someone who haunts Middle Earth as I do. You are too young.”

Elrond’s words touched him deeply, for he knew they were spoken from his friend’s heart. He also knew -why- Elrond remained in Middle Earth. He did not have a choice, the ring bound him as tightly as if chains were at his wrists.

“Young.” Erestor laughed almost too harshly, “I may be so.” he stretched and sighed. “Enough of this.” In one swift movement, he rose, forcing all dark thoughts from his mind. Now that Glorfindel was gone he was free again. “There is work to be done, and the hour already grows late.”

Elrond worked at his bottom lip as he watched Erestor move about his study, bringing the days paperwork into order. Meticulously, the younger elf carefully sorted each pile that required his attention and then sat down at his desk as though all was right with the world and their conversation had never happened. It almost seemed like Erestor would never change, and the lord of Imladris knew in his heart it would take a near miracle for it to happen. He -had- indeed warned Glorfindel, he had also caught the flash of pain in the tall elf’s eyes when the object of his desire had appeared to simply lifted his head in distain, not even bothering to come to bid him farewell. He did not blame the Gondolin warrior for being frustrated.

“Very well then, let us get to work.” Elrond nodded as he seated himself opposite Erestor’s desk and the two of them lapsed into conversation much easier to deal with.

***

Glorfindel rode in silence. Elladan was traveling at his side and was chattering about this, that or the other thing, especially about the apparently numerous virtues and fabulous beauty of Haldir of Lorien. Glorfindel finally had enough of listening for the umpteenth time about how strong the Watch Warden’s arms were and opened his mouth to tell Elladan to shut the hell up. He had his fill of hearing about Haldir, whom he’d never met, when his horse seemed to resist moving forward all of a sudden. “Woah…there. Easy boy.” he said gently, reaching down to brush the stallion’s neck.

“What is it?” One of the other elves spoke softly The rest of them hushed then, listening intently to the road around them. They had long since passed the borders of Rivendell and were not in friendly territory. Anything could and probably would happen.

A bellowing cry rose from the woods and a horde of orcs suddenly descended upon them! Perhaps had he not been so preoccupied he may have seen all the signs. Glorfindel cursed loudly. They were barely a day away from Rivendell…barely a day. He drew his long curved sword and shouted an answering battle cry as Elladan’s bow was already made ready and the first of many elvish arrows flew.

They fought, gallantly so, alas there were too many. It soon became apparent that they were blocking the way back to Imlad In In the heat of battle, Glorfindel cried out to Elladan and the others, “Ride on, ride hard!” He slew one and then another, his sword running black, thick with orcish blood.

“Fly, Fly!” the words echoed through the group and the elves lunged forward on their horses, breaking through the circling horde. Steel clashed as hoofs thundered into the ground in the elves wake. So caught up with he in cutting a path for the others that he did not notice when a double bladed axe sang through the air towards his head. It caught him with the flat side of the blade, a sickening thud when bone connected with bone. Reeling, he nearly fell off of is horse. Were it not for the deft hands of Elladan, he might have been lost.

His vision clouded, one eye beginning to seriously throb as it quickly began to shut tighter than a drum. He let Elladan hold him steady, and felt himself being dragged from his own horse onto the younger elf’s. He did not remember the rest of what happened soon drifting somewhere between pain and consciousness.

One vision remained steady as they thundered forward on Elladan‘s steed, Erestor’s face gazed at him from somewhere just out of reach….”Erestor…” he mumbled against the younger elf’s chest before he slipped into blessed oblivion.

***

He woke, in a pool of sweat. Erestor sat bold upright and gasped for breath. He had no idea what had just forced him awake or why he was sleeping in his chair, but for some reason he had been jolted awake. He mopped at his brow with a cloth and took a long s bre breath. Valar, it was almost as if someone had -screamed- at him.

Why did his head hurt so much?

To Be Continued…

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