Something Special, Something Sacred

Imladris, Third Age 2035

Erestor watched as Glorfindel took a tentative step inside the door. The room was lit by a myriad of candles placed around the perimeter. The constant flickering threw dancing shadows against the walls, adding to the mysterious feel. Erestor remained hidden in the darker shadows of the room, though, and Glorfindel hesitantly ventured another step forward.

"Stop!" Erestor's voice boomed out of the shadows. Glorfindel froze. For a moment, nothing stirred. Then, Erestor stepped into the light on Glorfindel's left, drawing the Elf's attention to him. The candles flickered again, and Glorfindel's widened as he saw Erestor emerge from beside the wardrobe.

He was shirtless, clad only in simple black leggings made of a silken material that shimmered in the play of the candlelight. His raven hair was twisted and bound into a single thick braid reaching down his bare back, a stark contrast to his pale skin. His eyes held a severity he was certain Glorfindel had not seen in many months. No, the intervening year had been spent loving and healing, taking and giving, not dominating and submitting.

But, now, Erestor was prepared to step back into the role of Master.

Glorfindel remained motionless as Erestor walked slowly around him, looking him up and down, admiring the Elda 's sculpted that was bared to his eyes. When the dark Elf stood once again before Glorfindel, he knew his expression softened almost imperceptibly for a moment, but he quickly returned it to its harsh stare.

"From now until the time I release you," Erestor began, his voice a cutting baritone that only trembled once, "and any other time you come before me thus, you will address me only as 'Sir' and speak only when spoken to. Failure to show me this respect will be punished. Without my leave, no word shall fall from your lips *save one*." Erestor's glittering gaze caught Glorfindel's again. The word... the heart of the matter and the test of trust on Erestor's part. "That is the word * kelu*. If you speak this word during a session, all actions will cease immediately and for the remainder of that evening. Do not, I caution you, use this word idly, often, or without good cause. Do you understand?"

Glorfindel nodded. "Aye, Sir," he said without hesitation.

Erestor help up the length of pale, golden leather, and for a moment his voice failed him. Instead, he held it up by both ends, displaying it for Glorfindel. The mithril buckle shined in the candlelight; directly in the middle, the single sapphire jewel -- the same shade as Glorfindel's eyes -- sparkled.

When he had first commissioned the collar, it had been with hope and anticipation. When he had first placed the collar on the golden Elf's throat, it had been with a sense of confidence and eagerness. Now, though, as he willed his hands not to shake, he felt nothing but trepidation and fear.

Standing directly in front of Glorfindel, Erestor spoke softly. "This is your collar. It is a mark of submission, and you will wear it for the duration of a session. You will not remove it under any circumstances. The session ends only when I remove it." He wrapped the collar around Glorfindel's neck, positioning the jewel at the hollow of Glorfindel's throat, and fastening the buckle at the back of his neck. He sent out a silent prayer to the Valar as he stepped back, dropping his hands to his sides. "This is how you will always appear before me during a session: naked and collared, your hair fastened up, and standing in Position One. Do you understand?"

Glorfindel nodded again. "Aye, Sir."

The words sent chills down Erestor's back, but he continued without pause. "Good. The Cross, Glorfindel," Erestor commanded, his tone much stronger than he felt as he watched Glorfindel easily comply.

Erestor latched the cuffs around Glorfindel's wrists, but left the Elda 's feet free from the Cross. He walked quickly to the wardrobe and took out a small, flat paddle. It reminded Erestor of when he had beaten Glorfindel with the hairbrush all those nights ago, but tonight they were in the playroom. They had discussed their limits and boundaries several times in the recent weeks, and one of Erestor's had been that play such as this was confined to this room. Outside this room, he wanted to be Erestor and for Glorfindel to be Glorfindel. Elrond had sat in on many of these discussions, aiding in the negotiation phase of their relationship. It was a step Erestor had recklessly left out of the initial stages when their relationship had changed.

He was not going to make the same mistake.

The Noldo stood behind Glorfindel, the firm, rounded buttocks begging for the contact of the paddle. 'One strike,' Erestor told himself. The first strike would be the most difficult for him...

His fingers ached with how hard he clenched the handle of the paddle, but he still drew his arms back. 'Trust him,' Erestor thought to himself. 'Trust him.'

The connection of wood to flesh was deafening to Erestor's ear, and Glorfindel's body tensed for a moment. Erestor forced himself not to wait even a moment and struck the creamy globes a second time. Glorfindel seemed to relax completely, and they soon set a good, steady rhythm. Glorfindel started to moan and move with the paddle, and Erestor could scent the Elda 's arousal on the air.

Erestor's apprehension melted away as Glorfindel's sounds became more ardent, and his own arousal started to make itself known. When Glorfindel's backside was bright red from the paddling, Erestor stopped and returned to the wardrobe. His panting matched that of Glorfindel's, but he did not let his need overpower his reason. He took a flogger from the inside of the wardrobe door and took his place behind Glorfindel again. Without pause, he lashed out at Glorfindel's back.

His hands were shaking, and his aim was not as sure as it once was. The strike intended for the middle of Glorfindel's back went too high, and some of the thongs slapped against the Elda 's exposed neck. Glorfindel hissed at the unexpected pain, but said nothing. Erestor had a moment of panic. He hoped that Glorfindel realized that was a mistake and that he was not trying to push forward too fast.

He took two deep breaths to steady himself, and swung again. This time, he was able to bring the flogger down just where he wanted, tracing a line from Glorfindel's right shoulder to left hip. Glorfindel moaned in pleasure, and Erestor relaxed a little more. The redness on the back of Glorfindel's neck was already beginning to fade, and after a few more perfectly aimed blows, the memory of it did, too.

The candles burned lower, adding their acrid scent to the musty smell of sweat and arousal. The sound of leather slapping flesh mingled with grunts of exertion and moans of pleasure. Time passed in the small playroom, and it was as if the past three years had never happened. Erestor and Glorfindel moved together with the easy rapport of longtime lovers. Glorfindel's cries directed Erestor's movements, and Erestor's actions strengthened Glorfindel's arousal.

Glorfindel's back was a glowing red when Erestor abandoned the flogger for the whip. The exchange was natural and automatic. Not until the first crack sounded across Glorfindel's skin did Erestor realize how far they had come and how much time had passed. Glorfindel yelped at the impact, tightening his grip on the Cross. The red line of the lash barely stood out against the dark pink of Glorfindel's back. Erestor gritted his teeth and struck again.

Glorfindel's voice was dry and raw from moaning and crying out, but the word he choked out rang clearly through the room nevertheless. " Kelu!"

The whip hung forgotten at Erestor's side, just as the tears that slid down his cheeks were not noticed. Glorfindel hung from the Cross, panting and sore, and Erestor ceased all play, but that one word continued to echo in his ears. The word Glorfindel had denied them for so long had finally been spoken and a clearly defined line had been set. He dropped the whip to the floor and slowly unclasped the collar from Glorfindel's neck, and then released his wrists.

The Elda turned to him, his own eyes swimming, and the two Elves laughed. It was not a hysterical, frightened laugh, but one full of relief and pride. Erestor gently embraced Glorfindel, careful to not press too hard on the sore flesh of his back. "A cool bath waits for you, melethen," he whispered. ( my love)

"That," Glorfindel replied, kissing Erestor's temple, "would be most welcome."

Erestor pushed Glorfindel through the door of the playroom, telling the Elda he would join him in the bathing room in just a moment. Erestor walked around the room, blowing out the myriad of candles, a soft smile on his lips. His heart was calm, his spirit soared, and he actually looked forward to the next session he would share with his lover in this room.

The nightmare, he thought as he closed the playroom door, was over.

*****

Glorfindel sat in the cool water, still waiting for Erestor to come to his side. Much had changed between them, and for the first time in centuries, Glorfindel felt happiness -- true contentment. Cool water was splashed on his stinging back and he opened his eyes; he was greeted with the serene smile of his dark lover. "Erestor."

"Glorfindel." Erestor's cool hands smoothed soothing oils and lotions over his back and buttocks. Glorfindel purred under the attention, dipping his head back to allow Erestor to wash the golden locks. "Are you well, melethron?" Erestor finally asked, kissing Glorfindel's damp shoulders.

"I am very well, Erestor," Glorfindel replied. He had made a conscious choice to refer to Erestor by his name as often as he could; he hadn't spoken his lover's name outside of an argument in almost two years, after all.

"Do you hunger?" the Noldo asked, standing up and reaching for a large towel.

Glorfindel smiled, his eyes glinting deviously. "Aye, I hunger, melethen." ( my love)

Erestor smirked, holding out the towel. "Out of the water before you catch a chill, meleth."

The blond Elf nodded and released the drain plug, permitting the water to drain from the tub while Erestor tenderly dried his body. Glorfindel's arousal had eased as he sat in the bath, but now that Erestor knelt on the floor before him, running the rough towel over his legs, Glorfindel felt his length stir and fill. Erestor's dark eyes looked up, first capturing Glorfindel's bright eyes and then staring opening at the heavy organ.

"I do not wish to wait until I have been dried, pampered and set on the bed. Take me here," Glorfindel rasped out, falling to his knees on the wooden floor. If Erestor's ink-black eyes could have darkened further, Glorfindel was certain they would have. In a flurry of motion, Erestor shed his leggings and unbound his hair, reaching out with one hand to draw Glorfindel into a searing kiss.

Glorfindel moaned into Erestor's mouth as their tongues touched and danced about each other; need washed through him powerfully as their bodies came into contact, heated flesh to heated flesh.

"I will not take you on your back, Glorfindel," Erestor panted, nipping and licking at his lover's lips. "It would be painful and such things should be left in the playroom."

The Elda nodded and turned his back to Erestor, grasping hold of the edge of the tub and spreading his thighs. He cast an inviting look over his shoulder, bending a little further so that the globes of his backside parted, enticing Erestor to wait no further. "Now, Erestor," he commanded, his eyes flashing in the lamplight of the bathing chamber.

He could feel the weight of Erestor's gaze on his body; he heard the sound of the oil opened; he moaned at the first touch of Erestor's slick fingers upon his entrance. Sodden tendrils of golden hair fell into his face as he bent over the edge, and he whimpered as those two fingers quickly prepared the way with lubricant. Before his head could cease spinning, Erestor was pushing into him, spreading that tight muscle and forcing his way into his welcoming body.

Breathing quickly, he closed his eyes as Erestor carefully pressed his chest to Glorfindel's back. The cool skin of his lover caused his abused back to sting and itch, but he ignored the sensation, focusing instead on the full, stretched feeling in his backside. "Erestor," Glorfindel whispered. "I never tire of this."

Erestor chucked, the sound rattling in his chest and against Glorfindel's back. "Of what, specifically, love?"

" Of you. Of having you as mine," Glorfindel said, pushing back, encouraging Erestor to move inside him.

The Noldo bit and suckled gently at the side of Glorfindel's neck. "And that you have. I am yours. Only yours." Erestor shifted his hips, making shallow thrusts inside Glorfindel. The strokes were only enough to keep the embers of his passion glowing hot, not enough to fan them into white-hot flames.

"Faster," he breathed, arching against Erestor's body. "Please, faster."

Erestor sat back away from him a bit and placed his hands on Glorfindel's hips. "Anything," Erestor promised, withdrawing almost completely and then shoving himself forward, only to repeat his action a heartbeat later.

Glorfindel's keening cry echoed in the tiled room as he threw his head back, reaching behind himself with one hand to grasp Erestor's thigh. He could not touch Erestor enough -- he needed to feel Erestor as much as he could. He pulled on Erestor's thigh, demanding the pace quicken, and Erestor obliged. Erestor pounded into him, and Glorfindel felt his own member drip and twitch, begging for a touch. He finally released Erestor's thigh, needing his other hand to brace himself against his lover's onslaught, and wrapped his fingers around his sticky cock.

"Yes," Erestor hissed, his finger digging almost painfully into Glorfindel's hips, but the Elda did not care.

He stroked himself quickly, Erestor's name a mantra on his lips, and within moments, he spilled his seed over his hand and onto the floor. The white droplets were a sharp contrast to the dark wooden planks of the bathing room floor, Glorfindel thought absently, still pulling on his aching arousal and wringing all he could from his climax.

Erestor continued to claw at his hips and drive into him, Glorfindel's name coming with every inward thrust. The dark Elf yanked Glorfindel back onto his lap, burying himself deeply inside Glorfindel's still quivering passage, and spent himself, groaning loudly into Glorfindel's ear as his fluids filled his lover. Erestor's grip lessened on the blond's hips and Glorfindel sank back into the Noldo's warm embrace.

"I love you, Erestor," he said raggedly, closing his eyes and inhaling the unique scent of their lovemaking.

Erestor nuzzled at his temple, smiling against Glorfindel's flushed skin. "I love you, too, Glorfindel."

*****

Ithil was large and round, casting silver-white light over the large bed. Though Glorfindel was deep in reverie, as he was following any session, Erestor remained awake and alert. He lay beside the golden warrior, on his side with his head propped up on one hand, and he lightly ran his fingers over the bars that pierced through the tender flesh of Glorfindel's nipples. He silently reflected over the past few years, thinking of their actions, their reasons, and the outcome of it all.

That was all I wanted, Erestor thought as he looked at the bright, distant blue eyes. He had needed something special; something sacred gazing back at him from Glorfindel's eyes. Just for one moment, to be bold and naked at the brave, glorious warrior's side. He was just a scholar, a simple Elf who had been inducted into a world that had brought him such pleasures and wonders, but Glorfindel... Glorfindel was an accomplished warrior, fearless and beautiful.

But, he had also seen that all Glorfindel had wanted someone special and sacred in his life. He had never had that, it seemed. The Elda had been alone most of his life, even when he had shared his bed and his heart with Ecthelion. In Erestor, it seemed Glorfindel had wanted just one moment to hold onto and chose for that moment to be at Erestor's side, warm, naked and willing.

Erestor had been prepared to give up all he was to give Glorfindel that moment. Whatever Glorfindel had asked for, that was what Erestor would have been.

Now, though, they understood one another. They had faith in one another. He saw Glorfindel for what he was: an Elf whose guilt still haunted his footsteps, but one who had faced that demon and banished it from their bed. And Erestor knew Glorfindel finally saw him for what he was: an Elf who had permitted his own needs to be cast aside in favor of another's, but one who finally saw what his own needs were and had found the resolve to demand they be acknowledged.

And, together -- with their eyes finally open to the truth of their beings -- they would be strong.

They had each found their special, sacred something within each other.

TBC...