Half the Distance

Title: Half the Distance
Series: Innocence Stripped Away
Chapter: Twenty-Four : Keep Holding On
Author: Orchyd Constyne
Contact: soultornasunder@gmail.com
Website: http://www.hithanaur.net/
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nairn_orchyd/
Fandom: LOTR
Archive: OEAM
Disclaimer: I do not own LotR or any characters, lands, or items from the Tolkien world. They belong to their respective copyright holders.
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: BDSM, twincest
Beta: None
Cast: Erestor/Glorfindel, Glorfindel/Thranduil, Thranduil/OMC, Erestor/OMC, Legolas/Elladan/Elrohir
Summary: Following the events of "Something Special, Something Sacred", Erestor finds himself in a dark pit of despair and fear as his bond with Glorfindel is threatened, stretched, and remade. Legolas returns to the valley where his heart was once broken to find a second chance and a new way of seeing those around him. Thranduil has lusted after Glorfindel's submission for years, and now that Erestor has opened the door for him, he intends to capture the elusive warrior as his own submissive.

---

Imladris, Fall, Third Age 2086

The summer heat had broken with the first changing of the leaves. Verdant green gave way to red and gold as autumn rolled through Imladris. Elrond had been considering his choices for several weeks, debating whether or not he should put into action the plan he'd devised with Erestor. Finally, it came to a simple choice: Erestor either remained a prisoner in the House of Healing, or Elrond swallowed his unease and sought out the other two necessary parties.

Today, when he woke, he knew that he would set the events into motion.

"I believe I have come to a conclusion on how we can help Erestor," Elrond said, leaning on the doorframe of Glorfindel's office. "That is, if you still wish to help him." He was unforgiving in his words, but Glorfindel had choices before him, and he would no longer risk Erestor's mental well-being in favour of Glorfindel's comfort.

Crimson stole across Glorfindel's face. "I want to help him, Elrond," he said firmly.

Elrond nodded and crossed his arms. "You and Erestor will return to Mirkwood with Thranduil."

"What?" Glorfindel stared at Elrond dumbfounded. "I hardly think a holiday in that--"

"It is not a holiday. Thranduil will teach Erestor, remove the years of conditioning Authon instilled in him, and, hopefully, show Erestor that what he longs for is something he no longer has to fear."

Glorfindel swallowed. "What is it he longs for, Elrond?"

"It will be his decision to tell you should he seek to become what he once was," Elrond replied. "He is very different, Glorfindel. He is not the Elf I loved and trained. I do not believe he can ever be exactly what he once was, but... he may be able to recapture some of his former self while merging it with who he is now. But, first, he must be taught not to fear, and the only Elf I trust with that lesson is Thranduil."

"Why him?"

"Do you have to ask?"

"No."

"Then do not," Elrond said shortly. "I have already spoken to Erestor. He has reluctantly agreed to return with Thranduil, provided that you go with them. I did not think it would be too difficult for you to agree to go with your lover so that the two of you could repair your spouse."

"Must you be so harsh with me, Elrond?" Glorfindel demanded, standing from his desk. "I have made some poor choices, yes, but my love for Erestor has never wavered. *You* told me to keep away from him, and I have for nigh on half a year now. And for years before that, things... things were not right between us." He stood before Elrond, eyes blazing. "Do not judge me for wanting to be touched, Elrond. Do not judge me for wanting a loving word whispered in my ear when I have waited years for Erestor to fulfil that need of mine!"

Elrond was taken aback, but nodded. "Of course. We all desire to be loved, Glorfindel. Forgive me my narrow view of it all."

Glorfindel nodded. "How recovered is my mate?"

"He has come only half the distance in his recovery," Elrond said. "Half is so very little when you look at the road that stretches out before you. He is well enough to travel, and he is capable of keeping the ghosts of his past where they belong. It is enough to entrust him to Thranduil."

"Half the distance," Glorfindel mused, staring out at the training distance. "Why does it feel even less than that?"

***

Elrond rapped on the door of Erestor's office and walked in when Thranduil called for him to enter. The room seemed dominated by the great, golden lion behind the imposing desk Erestor had occupied for millennia. Thranduil looked up from his parchments, raised an eyebrow, and set aside his quill.

"To what do I owe this honour, Lord Elrond?" he asked sourly.

"Do not be such an ass, Thranduil," Elrond warned as he took his place in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "Your sarcasm and biting wit grates on my nerves after so many months."

Thranduil's green eyes hardened, and he pressed his lips together. "What do you want, Elrond?"

"I need to ask your opinion." Elrond stared at the heavy, ornate silver bust of an eagle on Erestor's desk. "It has become apparent that Erestor's recovery will take quite some time. Perhaps years, if not decades. Such damage was done to him, and the behaviours he was taught and has taught himself, that there are nothing but brambles and thorns when walking the paths of his mind."

"Aye," Thranduil said with a nod. "I agree. It will take dedication and a firm hand for Erestor to unlearn all he has learned."

Elrond smiled. "A firm hand and an understanding teacher. An accomplished teacher."

"You will be ideal," Thranduil said dismissively. "You have taught many."

"No, Thranduil, I am not ideal. I love him, and our history is as tangled in this as any other part of the mess. He needs someone who has affection for him, but no deep love. Someone who will not tolerate his bellyaching or refusals," Elrond insisted.

Thranduil's eyes darkened as understanding came to him. "No, Elrond."

"Thranduil, he was once your friend, your equal. He was ambassador to Mirkwood, and you once cared for him!"

"That was before he went insane, Elrond!" Thranduil bellowed. "He is unstable! Abusive! He is a *menace*."

Elrond stood, hands splayed on the desk, and his voice tight. "Then remake him so he is no longer a menace!"

Thranduil gazed up at Elrond, the Half-Elf's tone and insistence taking him off-guard. "Elrond..."

"Unless the next words out of your mouth are 'I would be happy to help', do not speak," Elrond warned. "He is *trying*, Thranduil. He is trying so hard, but you having moved into his rooms with Glorfindel, sleeping with Glorfindel... what does he have to try for? In his mind, you have replaced him. We both know what being replaced feels like--"

"I have not replaced him," Thranduil replied coldly. "Glorfindel allows me near, but he does not allow me *in*. Not like he does with Erestor."

"Erestor is his mate," Elrond said, sinking back down into his chair. "I see what is happening, Thranduil. Glorfindel is attached to you. I... I think he might even love you. But he also loves Erestor. He married Erestor." He paused, and then met Thranduil's gaze unflinchingly. "I am also certain you are falling in love with Glorfindel, and that presents a problem. What I am offering is a solution."

Colour, pale though it was, flared across Thranduil's cheeks. "I am not in love with him."

"You are a piss-poor liar, Thranduil," Elrond noted. "You always have been."

Thranduil looked away, eyes focused out the window. "So, you expect me to nursemaid the crazy Noldo."

Elrond chuckled. "Not... precisely my choice of words, but essentially, yes."

The Elvenking sighed, frowning. "You realise that I *do* have other responsibilities and duties, not to mention a stronghold of the Dark Lord in my backyard?"

"I trust that you can acquit yourself admirably with this new task," Elrond smirked.

Thranduil held up his finger, eying Elrond. "If he misbehaves, I will throw him to the spiders."

"Only as a last resort," Elrond said, affecting a serious expression.

"Define 'last'."

Elrond arched his eyebrow.

Thranduil threw up his hands. "All right, all right. They will return with me to Mirkwood, and Erestor will know that he is not there as a political guest. He is there to learn to be himself once more, and when that is done..."

"When that is done, the three of you can speak of futures," Elrond said simply.

"Futures," Thranduil snorted. "I never look to the future, Elrond. Never."

TBC...