One Fine Day

Chapter 4


//Glorfindel…//

Instead of the elation he had anticipated at finally seeing his lover after so many years apart, Erestor felt a thrill of fear course through him. //It has been so long, what if he does not recognize me? Or what if he does, and he no longer cares for what he finds? We have both surely changed over the years…has our love changed as well?//

He could feel greasy-slick panic settle in his gut. //Aiya, what was I thinking all these years? He will think me a desperate fool for pinning my entire future on one elf’s whim! He was never one to suffer fools lightly…// An even more terrifying thought occurred to him. //What if he comes back, and stays with me out of obligation? I could not bear it. And what if I kept him from finding what happiness he could with my promise?//

Now that sounded more like the Glorfindel he remembered. //I hobbled him with my promise, as surely as if we had been Bound. He will despise me for it, and I could not blame him. I was foolish to wait for him, and even more foolish to tell him! Valar help me, I cannot do this!//

"Erestor?" Glorfindel’s voice rumbled in the distance.

Eyes going wide, Erestor ducked behind the slightly taller Elrond, who look down at him, eyebrow raised. "What are you doing?" the Peredhel asked.

"Hiding."

"Yes, I can see that quite clearly. But, my friend, why are you hiding?"

Erestor forced a playful expression. "Because Glorfindel is coming this way, and I want to make him believe I did not keep my promise. Just to tease him, you know." //And because I may die if he tells me he no longer loves me. For that matter, I may just die if he tells me he does…//

Elrond gave his former Chief Advisor a purely disbelieving look. "Of course." He scanned the sea of faces, settling on the strong-featured blond moving closer. "You’ve always been a wretched liar, Erestor," he commented. Picking up on the probable reason behind the panic glazing the other elf’s eyes, the Peredhel Lord sighed and, after offering their excuses to the others, grabbed Erestor by the arm and hauled him off.

"What? Wait! Ow…stop! Elrond!"

Elrond stopped. "I have watched you sink further and further into despair these past years. Now, I will not permit you to allow fear to destroy your chance at happiness. Now, kindly move. Your. Ass," the elf-lord hissed through gritted teeth.

Erestor opened his mouth, but whatever else may have been said would forever remain a mystery. Glorfindel had arrived.

Silence rang between the three elves.

Erestor stood in choking nervousness, while Glorfindel shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clear blue eyes betraying his own apprehension.

For his own part, Elrond seethed in frustration. He stepped forward, his most charming smile in place. "It is good to see you, my friend. We have been anticipating your arrival for quite some time now, have we not, Erestor?"

The advisor stifled his wince at the not-so-very-subtle chiding. "A-aye." He fidgeted with his robe.

Glorfindel took a step closer, the tentative smile struggling to reach his eyes. "Erestor?"

And then, like a veil being lifted, Erestor knew exactly what he wanted to say. Panic drained away, leaving behind affection and wry amusement. "Glorfindel," he said simply.

The bright smile was back in bewitching blue eyes. The golden warrior gathered his darkling lover close, laughing with relief and hiding his tears in the other elf’s slender neck.

Erestor stroked his fingers over a thick rope of plaited gold, stubbornly denying the tears burning his own eyes. He turned his head and placed a tender kiss just below the upturned ear. "My Glorfindel," he whispered. "You made me wait patiently for over three thousand years. Now will you bind with me?"

The reborn elf choked on his laughter. "I can think of nothing I want more." He buried his nose in fragrant dark hair, purring. "You still use verbena in your bath oils?"

"Aye." Erestor’s face warmed in a blush. "I recalled you once mentioning how partial you were to it."

"Mmmm…quite partial. ‘Tis a lovely scent on you." Glorfindel inhaled deeply, letting out a soft growl. "Gives me all sorts of ideas…"

Erestor chuckled. "Reprobate."

"Of course." The blonde elf drew away, cupping delicate features between roughened palms. One thumb brushed gently over a firm cheekbone. His expression turned from lecherous to tender. "Councillor," he said intently.

Erestor blinked in confusion as a queerly accented tenor replaced his lover’s usual warm baritone. "Glorfindel?"

The suddenly strange elf wearing Glorfindel’s face and staring out through Glorfindel’s eyes grabbed his arms. "Councillor?"

Erestor watched in dismay as his lover was taken from him again, disappearing like the pre-dawn mist. Like he had never been there to begin with.


@>~~ TBC ~~<@