Faithless

"You know what I like best about looking at the stars?
Not the stars themselves, but all those empty spaces between the stars.
That's where I can imagine traveling for ever and ever. That's where I
can imagine infinity."
- T.A. Barron


"The heart has its reasons whicasonason knows nothing of."
- Pascal


Elrond sat near the tranquil waterfalls undisturbed. He had been waiting patiently for Glorfindel ever since he had come back, flat out refusing to go under the table. Elrond gave in to the look Glorfindel gave and suffered through dinner. But now... He was aroused greatly and needed release... Oh, if only Glorfindel would hurry up! How much he must enjoy torturing someone...

The falls were lovely. He had to admit that; they were the one thing he loved above all about Rivendell. The half-Elven lord yawned softly. It had become somewhat chilly, and he saw no point in engaging in such activities here; it was cold. And, and... Oh, that was excuse enough. Elrond gasped as someone grabbed him, pushing him roughly to the ground. "Release m-" his mouth was promptly gagged. He looked up to meet the mocking eyes and amused gaze that waited. To his horror...the eyes were those of Glorfindel.

"Why, dearest Elrond... Sort of late for a stroll, is it not? You could have been killed. Not at all careful..." The elf tied his wrist and ankles and then bound them together, making Elrond at last give up his pointless struggle. "Naughty... Naughty..." Elrond's collar was grabbed and his face was brought up to meet Glorfindel's taunting smirk. "You deserve punishment..."

The elf kissed him lightly on the lips. "'This shall be fun, will it not??" he asked removing the gag.

"Glorfindel... I beg you, release me."

"It's quite evident you want it, though. It was on your mind even before I took you to the ground. Your need betrays you."

"I..." There was no way for Elrond to argue with that...

"I won't hurt you..."


* * *


"The best proof of love is trust."
- Dr. Joyce Brothers


The elf cut his wrist and ankles from each other. "But you shall enjoy it. I know you shall, my lovely." His kiss was surprisingly gentle and his hands soothed the doubts Elrond had. "I told you I would not hurt you... Did you not believe me?"

Glorfindel continued, "It seems even your muscles betray you. You're tense," concern obvious from the tone he used.

"Well, it's not everyday that one pounces, ties, and struggles me to the ground," Elrond snapped bitterly, looking up at the larger lord straddling him with a teasing smirk. Glorfindel removed himself.

"My dearest, I could always leave you like this after removing your clothes..."

"I..." Glorfindel had him, yet again. "What are you –"

"Quiet, or I shall gag you once more?" Glorfindel gave a glare that quickly hushed him. "Now," he smirked, "where was I?"

Elrond protested, "But –"

"Shall I gag you?" Glorfindel's eyebrows elevated.

"No, Glorfindel..." Glorfindel raised Elrond's arms, still bound, above him and tied them onto the nearest tree branch lowest to the ground. "Elrond," he began for conversation, all the while cutting the bounds about his legs and pulling down his leggings. "There's really no need in being so...so…terribly agitated by this whole ordeal. You'll come to enjoy it, I'm sure. Don't you trust me?"

Elrond simply sighed, a sign of giving in. Glorfindel knew it was, for he used it in council meets countless times.

Glorfindel then removed a flask from his shoulder. "Taste."

"What is it? An aphrodisiac?"

"Elrond!" Glorfindel scowled. "Really, I don't believe you trust me..." Elrond opened his mouth, forcing himself to taste whatever was in his flask after noting the hurt from his mistrust in Glorfindel's eyes.

"It's some sort of...syrup," Elrond licked his lips. "It tastes...good." Glorfindel nodded, putting the flask aside the tree. Glorfindel looked to the bounds that held Elrond's hands and sighed in annoyance. He had to cut them as well as finishing the removal of the rest of Elrond's clothing. Once that task was finished, he lay beside Elrond, hands entwined under the base of the tree. It received no objection from the lord, still occupied with the taste of the syrup.

"Elrond..." Glorfindel muttered softly into his ear. "Look at the sky, isn't it beautiful? Everyone always looks at the stars and moon and thinks how beautiful they are – oh, the stars... They look like little dots of hope in a sea of dark despair... – But tonight I see infinity between them, in the spaces. I can see an endless path of the inevitable... Have you ever wondered what's beyond the universe? Ever thought that maybe beyond the stars you could just travel for ever and ever? Maybe we're just like a creature in a jar, never knowing there's more out there. Or there's someone watching over us...like in a mirror. Perhaps everything's just matter and molecules, have you ever thought of that?

"But lately I've come to the conclusion, while trying to figure out why we're here, that it's because of love. Because...that's what makes one enjoy life – the love of something. I think that, in truth, we're here to enjoy life – I suppose it's rather silly..." Glorfindel sighed. Elrond had never taken Glorfindel for the silent dreamer. He was just so distant from everyone most of the time that hardly anyone would have thought him to have any imagination whatsoever. Yet he had just spilled his thoughts, and heart, in fact, out to him. Elrond turned to him.

"No, Glorfindel, I don't think it's silly. I've just never taken the time to wonder. It must be hard to wonder so often and never receive the answer."

"Well, not really... You see, the most wonderful things in life are those left unknown... because..." he stopped to think for a moment. "Because it leaves you to wonder. Life would be dull if you knew everything, my lovely."

"Glorfindel."

"Yes, Elrond?"

"Do you think someone can tell another they love them too much?"

"I don't know. Perhaps not if they really mean it, lirimaer."

"Then," Elrond paused, "I love you."

"I know, as do I. Your name is beautiful. It doesn't focus on one star or even just the stars or moon. It tells of the beauty of everything in the sky, even the space between. And your eyes are...are like a wondrous winter's snow and filled with knowledge of so many years."

"I've always thought your eyes were the loveliest. They have such youth and vigor. They've always reminded me of the blooms in spring."

"Elrond."

"Yes, Glorfindel?"

"Turn over." Glorfindel removed a small vial from his pocket.

Elrond turned over. "Why did you want me to –" Glorfindel clamped a hand over his mouth to cover the outburst of a scream.

"I'm only preparing you."

"Preparing me for what? I beg you, remove your hands from that area!" Elv Elven Lord had been rather sheltered from such acts and oblivious to how one would go about making love with a male, especially Glorfindel; one could never tell with him…

"To claim you."

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I thought it was better you not know. Don't you trust me?"

"Yes...?" Elrond asked, unsure, once again pointlessly trying to get away..

"Stay still, or it will hurt more!" Glorfindel held him down with one leg and shoved his head less than gently to the ground, hand covering his mouth. After three fingers had well prepared his opening, and continued on for no reason whatsoever, he released his mouth. "Well?"

"It's cold."

"My fingers aren't," Glorfindel gave a smug look, stretching his opening in emphasis. "Stop trying to get away!"

"It hurts!"

"You'll get used to it."

"What's that supposed to mean? Glorfindel!" Elrond was trembling. "Please, I beg you, stop! It's horribly cold and it hurts!" It took Glorfindel a few moments before realizing that the lord was actually serious. His eyes were closed tight in terror of what he would do and
his body was shivering from the cold of the night.

Glorfindel kissed his neck, "Forgive me." After putting Elrond's robes back on and wrapping him tightly in both their cloaks, he quickly threw his robes on over his head. Then, he lay beside him and kissed his mouth lightly. Elrond snuggled up to his chest.

"Feeling any better?" Glorfindel asked. There was a content nod against his chest. "Still cold?" Elrond shook his head no.

"Glorfindel..." said Elrond finally.

"Yes?"

"Your...um...it is poking me."

, I , I know. So is yours," Glorfindel managed, trying desperately to hide the need in his voice.

"Do you think..."

"Gladly."

"Glorfindel, I really do trust you."

"You need release that badly?" Glorfindel asked, rubbing a leg between his legs. Elrond flinched in surprise.

"Yes...but I'll do whatever is wanted. As I've said, I trust you."

Glorfindel turned him to his back so he faced him. He pushed up Elrond's robes and took the lord into his mouth without hesitation. Holding his thighs down, his tongue lavished at the base and other other moaned in pleasure. Smirking at the other’s reaction, Glorfindel continued teasing in this matter, lapping at the head and around the sides. At last having mercy on Elrond, he took him in his mouth and sucked hard at the warm flesh. Needless to say, he had a very skilled tongue and Elrond came within seconds. "Now," Glorfindel looked into the lord's eyes. "Whatever is wanted?" He asked, repeating Elrond's plea, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." At that, the blond Elven lord straddled him.

"This seems as though it shall make for a fun night after all," Glorfindel grinned slyly.

The blonde lord unbuttoned the top of Elrond's robe as he kissed down the milky neck to his chest, and from there he unbuttoned the rest. "What are you going to do?" Elrond asked. Glorfindel made eye contact as he licked one of his prettily pink nipples. "Oh... Oh!" he exclaimed as Glorfindel began to suck softly. He gave a final kiss to the shimmering red nipple before going to the next. Elrond's hands tangled in Glorfindel's hair as he bucked against the lord.

“Is this so simply arousing that you would come merely from that?" he asked when finished with the second. Elrond shook his head no and Glorfindel hurried to search through his cloak's pocket for the silken cord. He tied his hands together and spread legs tying them apart.

Glorfindel muttered, cursing lightly under his breath.

"What's wrong?" Elrond asked.

Glorfindel sighed, "You'll have to turn over later on, and I'll have to cut the bindings again... Oh, well." Glorfindel cut the bindings in irritation and took two more lengths of cord from the other pocket of the cloak. Elrond took the opportunity to unclothe Glorfindel. "You seemed tke tke this earlier," Glorfindel commented, taking the flask from behind the tree. He poured the oozing liquid over his fingers and offered them to Elrond, who greedily took them in his mouth.

Glorfindel smirked, "This may work out well. I never knew you were so fond of syrup, or I would have fixed you those honey-cakes you seem to like so much with it instead." Glorfindel allowed Elrond to lick his fingers clean and then poured the syrup into his hand, letting it drip down to his very erect shaft. Elrond watched its excruciating slowness, his eyes following the golden liquid as it fell from his fingers and down and down until it hit Glorfindel's chest and then poured over his manhood and down further...

"Well?" Glorfindel asked. Elrond almost immediately pounced on the lord, licking down his chest and down further still... Glorfindel lay back, enjoying the cool tongue over his heated flesh. Meanwhile, Glorfindel tasted the syrup. It actually did taste really good...sort of like honey and maple with a cider smell... He lay listening to the quiet of the night and gave a startled gasp when Elrond licked his shaft from top to bottom, making him come. Elrond's face immediately gave a look of distaste as he swallowed and let the rest fall the ground. Sweet and salt sometimes didn't make the best combination...

Glorfindel pulled him up, lifting his chin, and kissed him, letting Elrond lick his syrup-coated lips and mouth. Elrond gave a shudder at the sensation of tender caresses to his back relaxing into the touch. "Glorfindel..." he purred, burying his face into the lord's golden mane, kissing at his neck. Glorfindel ran fingers, and then hands, down the vulnerable back, stroking hard, the way he seemed to like it best. His muscles rippled in pleasure.

Lacing fingers with the lord, Glorfindel effortlessly bestrode him. Elrond stared, as if enchanted, into the emerald eyes in fascination. Glorfindel gave an amused smile, opening the flask to let the liquid pour in Elrond's eagerly awaiting mouth and down his chin to run down his neck. Glorfindel, starting at his throat, licked the sensitive skin to his mouth, kissing him once more.

"I see you're enjoying this..." Glorfindel commented to the lord, who was once again fully aroused. He leisurely ran a teasing finger over every inch of his body, tracing delicate circles on his stomach and making him tremble, and then dropped down his legs and received what was between a quiver and a squirm of delight.

Finally, desire took Glorfindel and he took advantage of his current position to lay atop the lord. Seizing his mouth, he kissed him as though his very life depended on it. He kissed Elrond as though his mouth was a luscious, ripened fruit and he had been starving. Bleeding through the kiss were hints of long desire and lust, along with nights of unfulfilled need.

Glorfindel grinned conceitedly at him. " Tonight, my delicate one, I made a promise to myself. And as you know, I've not been one to break a promise. And you have also agreed to whatever I wish. Now, If you wouldn't mind…' Glorfindel got up and took the cord from the ground. "Turn over, darling.”

Elrond turned promptly, allowing Glorfindel whatever he wished. Glorfindel kissed his hands and then tied them. "I suppose I'll allow you the fun of bucking, but if you squirm as I prepare you, I'll tie you down even more. Do we have an agreement?" Elrond nodded. Glorfindel fetched the bottle of lubricant he had had earlier and poured a more than generous amount over his hand.

"Are you nervous?" Glorfindel asked, running his hand between the well-aroused half-elf's legs.

"Not really," Elrond lied.

"We'll see." Glorfindel began preparing him and Elrond bit back a cry. Glorfindel, leaning nonchalantly on an elbow beside him, gave an amused, smug look. "I don't think you believe you can enjoy this." Elrond glared. "You see..." he brushed against that certain spot, "it's not all pain."

Elrond could scarcely believe it was he who made those moans of pleasure, practically begging for more, which Glorfindel only twice more gave. And less did he believe the whimper he gave when Glorfindel stopped. "Oh, don't worry..." he heard Glorfindel whisper into his ear. "This is only the beginning." Elrond felt Glorfindel's golden hair fall onto his shoulders when he kissed his neck, mounting him in the process.

"Now, I ask you again, are you nervous?" Elrond refused to respond; his voice would betray him. "Speak, Elrond. The more you wait, the more your imagination can make it worse. Tell me the truth." Glorfindel's hands slid down his arms and around the cord that held them bound to the tree.

"In the smallest voice, Elrond whispered, 'Yes.'"

"I've told you countless times that I would not hurt you. But, since you don't believe me, I'll prove it." Glorfindel's hands caressed Elrond's arms as he entered him as gently as possible. Elrond gave a moan, feeling the same sensation as earlier.

"E-Elron-d," he asked curiously, finding it more and more difficult to speak as his love making progressed. "T-tell me w-hat you're th-inking."

"It is v-very ha-rd to th-ink when som-eone is shoo– so-meone is shoov-ing their VE-RY LA-RGE manhood in- one's hin-dquarte-rs– Oh!" Glorfindel had begun a sort of milking motion between Elrond's legs; Elrond was bucking against him, pulling hard against his bindings. Both came almost in unison, Elrond from the doubled sensation and Glorfindel from his coming.

Glorfindel, no longer able to hold himself up, collapsed on the ground beside Elrond, pulling him close. Glorfindel laid his face into the lord's neck, smelling the sweet scent of his hair and enjoying the serenity around them. "Elrond," he muttered into the half-elf's ear, "tell me you liked it and would do it again."

"You already know I would," Elrond mumbled sleepily before yawning.

"Yes, but I want to hear it – you sounded tired." Glorfindel leaned over to take his cloak from beside the tree and lay it over Elrond's bare back. Glorfindel grinned wickedly, giving a small, though firm, slap to the lord's buttocks.

Elrond yelped. "For what reason did I deserve that?"

"I merely wished to wake you up." The lord shot him his ever-famous unamused look.

"Glorfindel..." Elrond mumbled in exhaustion.

"Yes?"

"My rear hurts, and you still haven't untied me."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Glorfindel cut his bounds with the knife discarded by the tree. Silence. "Elrond?" Glorfindel looked down to find the lord was fast asleep, breathing heavily, eyes closed. "Good night, meleth nîn..."


* * *

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is
a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Einstein

Elrond woke to dripping. First a tiny drop of rain, then another and another, until it was pouring. Glorfindel lifted his head petulantly, giving a look so cross that Elrond thought he would start a war against the very water droplets themselves.

"Fath–" Elrohir looked at the two, naked and drenched as much as himself. Elrohir blinked, fighting back his shock. "I tied to reach you before the rain began, but it seems I'm late. I hope I didn't...interrupt anything."

"No, no. That's been over for quite a while," Glorfindel informed him.

After Elrohir finished thinking to himself that it was more information than he needed or wanted to know, he at last replied, "Well, I'm going to leave. I just wish I would have arrived sooner." Elrohir walked hurriedly ahead, wanting to spend the remainder of the night in dry clothes and his brother's arms, listening to the soft tapping of rain on the roof and window.

The raven-haired lord dressed and buttoned up his robes, as well as watched the other elf as he retrieved the items he had left spread out under the tree. Elrond gave a slight shiver and then a small sneeze.
Glorfindel looked to him. "Are you not well, lirimaer?"

"I'll be fine..." Elrond replied miserably when Glorfindel threw his somewhat wet cloak about the half-elf's shoulders. It had been under the tree, thus escaping the worst of the rain, but still getting slightly drenched. Glorfindel took him into his arms.

"I hope you won't be affected by the weather..." Glorfindel muttered, looking down to the lord shivering in his arms and trying to press himself as close to the elf's body as much as possible. Elrond's chambers were not very far back, just down the river a short distance to a path, walking straight a bit, and then through the garden. He gave a sigh, kissing his beloved's forehead, and began his way to the path.


* * *

Forgiveness is the final form of love.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

Glorfindel sighed. Elrond lay listlessly staring out the window all morning refusing to speak, eat, or even look at anyone in his illness. The only motions he made were to cough, sneeze, or squirm to make himself more comfortable. After long hours of making cooing sounds and speaking soft love phrases to the lord, which didn't help, Glorfindel took a break. The only thing he actually did succeed in doing that following day was kicking two chairs across the room and breaking a rather tacky lawn ornament.

"Glorfindel!" Elrohir surveyed the damage of the house, and some outside it. "You must stop, you're not helping anything! I...I've never seen you this way..." Elladan rested his hands comfortingly on Elrohir's shoulders in silent support, holding him in the most brotherly way he could manage.

Glorfindel retired to a chair, burying his face in one hand. "Oh, Glorfindel..." Elrohir sighed, kneeling on the floor by him, taking his free hand, and clasping it in both his. "He'll be fine." Glorfindel let his eyes rest on Elrohir's and then Elladan's.

"Forgive me..." Glorfindel apologized.

"Why would we not?" Elladan asked, giving a comforting mixture of a massage and caress to Elrohir's back. As he started to lay his head on Elrohir's shoulder to plant a kiss on the oh-so-pale neck, he stopped himself as quickly as possible.

"Do not try to hide your relationship... It is quite obvious," Glorfindel said, leaning back and resting his head on his chin.

"W-whatever do you mean?" Elladan asked, abruptly removing his hands from Elrohir back.

"I suppose we cannot...does father know?" Elrohir asked, seemingly in terror.

"Probably. Fear not," Glorfindel smiled, softly brushing the strands of hair from Elrohir's face. "You'll have no separation, nor any unkind word spoken against you."

"Please, say nothing..." Elladan said as he held his brother closer.

"If he does not know, it's only fair that he finds out. That won't be until later, after he's recovered. Believe me, nothing shall change for the worst."

"If you're sure..." Elrohir glanced up for certainty, squeezing Glorfindel's hand between both his unknowingly.

"I am," Glorfindel said, looking to Elladan to remove his brother from his now pained hand. Elrohir yawned. "You might want to get him in bed; he's tired." Elladan nodded, taking his brother's hands so he rose with him.

"Glorfindel, go and try again. I would go with you, but I need sleep as much as he does..." Elladan picked up Elrohir, half asleep, and giving an assuring look to Glorfindel before he left.


* * *

"To the world may may be just one person, but to one person you may be
the world." - Unknown


"Lirimaer..." Glorfindel lay beside the lord, turning him to lie on his back. "Here, eat." He pressed a slice of sweet, warm, and fluffy round bread with a light coating of a peachy cream to his lips. To his complete surprise, Elrond lifted himself and snuggled closer to him, taking a bit and chewing. Glorfindel held him, allowing him to sit in his lap with his arms around him as though feeding a child. When he had finished that piece, Glorfindel kissed his forehead and turned to take another slice from the platter. As Glorfindel fed him, his mind drifted back.


* * *

"Children are hopes. Feel the dignity of a child. Do not feel superior to
him, for you are not." - Robert Henri


"Glorfindel..." a young raven-haired lad pulled at his sleeve.

"Yes, dear Elrond?"

Elrond bit his lower lip and then spoke, "You don't really like me very much, do you?"

"Why would you say that, lirimaer?" Lirimaer had been his old pet name for the lord, and it seemed to bring a smile to his face whenever he used it. Glorfindel frowned. He had often pushed the half-elf harder than anyone else, but it was merely out of affection.

"Well..." his grey eyes looked up in admiration. "You never act like it anymore."

"Then," he lifted him, staring into his eyes with a smile, "I'll just have to work harder as well."

"You look better when you smile, too." Glorfindel laughed. "And even betterer when you laugh."

"No, no, no. That's not correct. And even..."

"More better?" he guessed again. Glorfindel gave an amused chuckle.

"I'm sorry..." Elrond looked at him despondently, though eager to please. "Much better?"

"Don't be sorry, you'll get it. No, try again. Try the sentence with it."

"And even betterest when you laugh?" Glorfindel shook his head patiently.

"And even better when you laugh?" Glorfindel smiled and kissed his forehead. "Perfect!"

"Are you mad?" Elrond asked, laying his head against Glorfindel's shoulder.

"No, why would I be mad?"

"Because I took such a long time to get it right...and it was such an easy question."

"Not at all, you got it in the end. That's what counts."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Glorfindel sat down on his bed, letting Elrond snuggle his face into Glorfindel's hair. Glorfindel looked to him, running fingers through his black silk-like hair, and smiled. He loved moments like these when Elrond would relax into his touch.

"Lirimaer, do you mind if I share something with you?"

Elrond looked into Glorfindel's eyes, "Really? Like a secret?"

"You could say that... I just...well... It pains me that you'll grow older and no longer prefer my company as you do now..." He thought a moment, trying to make it as simple as possible. "I just fear that you'll grow older and no longer...love me as much as you now. I just don't think you'll...want me as a friend then."

"Oh, no, Glorfindel. I could never stop loving you. You'll always be my friend...forever and ever and ever. I promi-"

"No, no, little one. Don't be so quick to make promises. You can't always keep them, so it's usually better not to make promises. You only make them when you know that they will be, or are, true."

"But Glorfindel..." Elrond looked on the verge of tears. "I'll always be your friend... I'll always love you. I promise I always will, because I know I will."

"Yes, I know you'll try..."

"No! I always will! Even if I'm not there or...or...if I don't show it. Or even you don't think I am."

"I believe you. I'm sorry I had my doubts." At this, Elrond lay his head back into the elf's golden mane.

"I love you..."

As the years quickly passed by and Elrond grew, Glorfindel and he had became farther and farther apart. Elrond always gave the kind word or distant smile, making Glorfindel smile in spite of himself. And then... Elrond had become so entirely wrapped up in his own life that he stopped even that. They talked as old friends often...but it wasn't the same as before. He admitted to himself that he truly missed the times late at night when he would tell Elrond a tale of some sorts... He missed when he could sing to him and he would fall asleep against him, content as always.... But Elrond was married now, and focused all his attention on Celebrian and the problems of the others.

When Elrohir and Elladan had been born, Glorfindel was overjoyed. He gave the same attention he had given Elrond to them both. Elrohir had the cutest crush on him for the longest time. He eagerly fought for his attention, trying his best to please him as much as his father had done. Glorfindel gave him a respectable amount of attention, which Elrohir accepted with glee. Elladan had good fun in teasing his younger brother over the matter.

Finally, after a few years, Elladan found an interest in his brother. The way he moved was elegant, and he had found himself staring in amazement, watching as the garments he wore flapped over his well built features. He cared little that he looked much the same, for he didn't move or act identically. Then one day, it simply happened. Elladan, without thinking, grabbed his brother, pushed him to a wall, and claimed his mouth with built passion. Elrohir, to his joy and astonishment, responded eagerly, positively knocking him to the luckily soft ground. Before either knew it, they were in Elladan's bed removing clothes.

Glorfindel had noticed the entire ordeal and left when they began their "proof of passion," as he liked to call it. The next day, he was pleased to find that Elladan was no longer rude or trying to hide bitter envy. Instead, he was as well-mannered, quiet, and as affectionate toward his mentor as Elrohir. Glorfindel eventually lost them to their own lives as well, though they were never as close as Elrond had been. Arwen he had never much gotten to know, or like. She was usually found in Lorien along with her mother.

Then...it had all passed so quickly... Celebrian was wounded. Elrond healed her. She left. In his mind, that was all that had taken place. And, as he hated to admit, he had never had such great fortune. Faith was cruel, but at the same time, something good came out of everything. Now his lord was back to him as he had been in childhood. What more could he wish for?


* * *

"Who, being loved, is poor?" - Oscar Wilde


"Glorfindel," the lord muttered.

"Yes, lirimaer?"

"I love you."

"You always have."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, really. It's just something from long ago. You made a promise to me, a promise you've always kept. Just a promise to always be my friend, to always love me. It's actually quite absurd to remember, I know. But you said it and really meant it. I remember the words so well..."

"Nothing you say is absurd." Elrond looked into his eyes with the same admiration.

"I'm glad you think so." Glorfindel pulled him down to the bed. "Now get some rest so you'll feel better."

"I love you," he mumbled again, yawning, and finally falling asleep beside the one he had, and would always, love.