Ebony, Gold and Mithril

Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.

Ebony, Gold and Mithril

Chapter 5


As they stood side by side in the courtyard waiting to greet the party from Mirkwood, Elrond could not help but notice the slight flush of excitement on his advisor’s normally pale cheeks, which along with the gleam Erestor’s eye, was the most public display of emotion the Lord of Imladris had seen from his friend in centuries. Perhaps he should not be so surprised that his advisor was eager to see their guest, Elrond thought as he recalled that Err anr and Thranduil were friends of old, as indeed were he and the Mirkwood King. In his capacity as advisor to Elrond, Erestor had made many trips to woodwood over the years and always returned speaking affectionately of their mutual friend. Briefly Elrond wondered whether he had in fact been mistaken about the relationship between his advisor and his seneschal. Mayhap the dark haired Elf’s desire lay in Mirkwood? It certainly appeared to be so when the group, lead by Glorfindel, finally arrived. Thranduil greeted Elrond with warm regard as his friend and respect for their positions as rulers, then to everyone’s astonishment took tor tor in his arms and hugged hith ith obvious affection. Even more astounding to all was the enthusiasm with which the hug was returned.

There was one Elf however who was not impressed. Glorfindel’s eyes darkened with growing jealousy when the King bent his head to whisper something into Erestor’s ear. Erestor nodded, smiled radiantly and accepted Thranduil’s arm as he led him in the direction of the guest chamber, causing the seneschal to actually growl under his breath. With a dagger-filled glare that would likely have been fatal to him had Thranduil seen it, Glorfindel and stormed off towards the barracks, ignoring Elrond’s call for him to return.
It was apparent that he had been wrong about his chances with the advisor and the seneschal cursed himself for a fool.

All the time he had been escorting Thranduil to Imladris, his thoughts had been of Erestor and how his feelings for him had changed to a soul deep love. At night lustful dreams had filled his reverie, most of which started with him imagining he was watching Erestor slowly remove his clothes and stand naked before him as he tried on his surprise gift. Of course in his dreams the new robes did not remain on the beautiful body for very long because Glorfindel easily imagined that the pale soft skin worn under the garment was far more pleasing to the eye and the touch. But now those dreams were shattered by the only Elf in Arda considered as fair, and as totally seductive as was the Lor Lord of the Golden Flower. The only Elf Glorfindel had ever seen able to bring such emotion to the aloof, immovable, yet achingly adorable Erestor.

Glorfindel had no wish to witness any further heart breaking display, and made his way to his office, determined to spend the rest of the afternoon immersed in preparing his reports for Elrond. It would be necessary for him to present his findings at any meeting regarding border protection and he wanted to be fully prepared as he was certain Thranduil would be. Besides, he would show Erestor that he did not really need him!

It was hidden in his office that Imrien found him later that afternoon and presented him with the garment he had ordered for Erestor. She had sought Glorfindel out because she was anxious to show him her work, and because she had seen and recognised the stormy look of jealousy on his face as he brushed past her in his haste to leave the courtyard.

“I trust this is to your liking,” she said as she handed him both the new and the old robe.

“Thank you, it is exactly what I wanted,” he said as he lightly ran his hand over the soft, deep blue velvet. The sorrow and hurt in his eyes was easily read and he started when a delicate hand covered his own.

“Yet you do not appear to be pleased,” commented the Elf maid.

“Only because it seems I am too late in declaring my heart, Erestor has given his elsewhere.” Glorfindel’s sigh of resignation was filled with sorrow.

“I am sorry to hear that, but perhaps you are mistaken. Our lord advisor has done nothing but walk around looking even despondent than usual since you left, and his countenance only brightened when he heard of your imminent arrival.” Hope flared briefly in his eyes, only to be replaced by darker emotions as he recalled *his* Erestor in Thranduil’s arms

“His anticipation was obviously for his reunion with Thranduil.”

“I hardly think so, but why not ask him where you stand, just to be sure?” suggested Imrien.

It was sound advice, Glorfindel decided after he gave it a few moments thought. He was not afraid to hear the truth and such was his love for Erestor that at the very least he would make certain his friend was happy. With a wry grin he also intended to ensure Thranduil realised that were he to hurt the dark haired beauty in any way, it would be the Balrog slayer to whom he would answer.

*******

“Erestor, are you there?” Glorfindel called as he tapped lightly on the door to his friend’s chambers, hoping he had not interrupted anything when a slightly flushed Erestor opened the door. He was relieved to find his fears unfounded when he saw Thranduil talking to his guards at the end of the passageway.

“Do come in Glorfindel, I am so pleased to see you. You vanished so quickly after you arrived that I did not have the chance to welcome you home. Where did you disappear to?” asked Erestor as he ushered the seneschal inside. After he had shown Thranduil to the guest chamber, the advisor had quickly returned to the courtyard, eager to be reunited with Glorfindel only to find the object of his affections was nowhere in sight. He had been about to search for him when the cook requested a meeting to discuss the seating arrangements and final menu for the banquet that was to be held in Mirkwood’s honour. Erestor had only just returned to his chamber when Glorfindel arrived.

“I had a report to write,” replied Glorfindel with a shrug.

“I see. Surely that was not so important that it could not wait until I welcomed you home?” Erestor asked.

“You sound as if you missed me.” Glorfindel was heartened by the thought.

“Why of course I did. There is none other in Imladris who I wish to spend my time with, aside from Elrond, and of late I thought you and I were becoming quite… close.” Erestor closed the distance between himself and his h’s d’s desire as he spoke.

“What about in Mirkwood? Are you as ‘close’ to Thranduil? Do you love him?” Glorfindel failed to keep the slight harshness born of jealousy from his voice. Erestor studied the seneschal, easily recognising the same depth of emotion in the one he knew so well that were in his own heart. Glorfindel did indeed love him.

“Do I love him? Ai, he is a dear friend to me, just as you are,” replied Erestor, deciding this was the time to admit his true feelings. He reached out to gently cup Glorfindel’s chin in his hand forcing the sorrow filled eyes to look at him. “I love Thranduil as a brother, but I am not in love with him. I love YOU, Glorfindel. It is you who has captured my heart.” Glorfindel parted his lips to speak, but the advisor’s passionate kiss took him by surprise and whatever reply Glorfindel had been about to make was stolen from him, as was his breath.

“My heart is yours. I love you, Erestor,” he whispered when their need for air finally caused the loving touch of soft lips to end. They stood locked in a tender embrace for a few moments, just savouring the closeness of the physical contact and the intense joy both felt at being loved so deeply.

“Then kiss me again.” Glorfindel needed no further encouragement, and playfully nipped at Erestor’s lower lip before tasting the erotic softness of the fullness that opened willingly to the tongue that desired to ravish his mouth. Erestor moaned in dismay as a knock at the door intruded into the moment.

“Pretend you are not here.” suggested Glorfindel with a wicked gleam in his eye. It was an appealing thought, especially since Erestor was discovering just how much he enjoyed the sensation of Glorfindel sucking on the tip of his ear.

“It might be important.” Erestor groaned with need as Glorfindel nuzzled his neck, but managed to answer the second, more determined knock. The seneschal shook his head, silently begging Erestor not to reply, but the advisor merely smiled with regret. Duty called, “Who is it?”

“It is I, Lindir, my Lord Erestor. Lord Elrond requests your presence in the library.” Two pairs of eyes rolled in joint exasperation and without moving from the arms he had waited so long to hold him, Erestor sighed and rested his head on Glorfindel’s shoulder.

“Tell Elrond I will be there shortly,” he replied.

“As you wish,” was the slightly stunned reply. It was so unlike Erestor not to react immediately to such a request. “Do you happen to know where I can find Lord Glorfindel, his presence is also required.” Glorfindel playfully put his hand over Erestor’s mouth to prevent him from speaking, and the advisor kissed the palm lovingly before removing it from his lips.

“Nay, but if I see him I will relay the message,” said Erestor, who was able to lie when discretion was called for. The sound of retreating footsteps told them they were once again alone, and Glorfindel laughed merrily.

“My dear Erestor, I do believe that is the first time you have not immediately answered a summons from Elrond. Whatever will he think of such tardiness?”

“I would prefer to be reprimanded for tardiness, than to allow Elrond to see me in this state,” replied Erestor as he dropped his eyes to his arousal. Glorfindel nodded with understanding as his hand moved to caress the hard bulge that was evident beneath the advisor’s robes. Erestor gasped with pleasure at the touch, and returned the favour in kind. His lover was equally in no state to be seen by anyone, especially by their lord.

“Ai, his knowing smirk would be unbearable,” agreed Glorfindel. “There is a simple solution to our mutual problem. Let us pleasure each other with our hands for now, we can spend hours making love later,” he whispered in his most seductive voice. Erestor was more than agreeable to this suggestion and barely had Glorfindel finished speaking the words when he felt the ties of his leggings loosen, releasing his hardness into a warm hand that moved up and down the hardened flesh in a motion that sent tendrils of pure ecstasy throughout Glorfindel’s body.

Erestor claimed his mouth in a fiercely passionate kiss, moaning deeply as Glorfindel began stroking his lover’s flesh with the same rhythm. Their intense arousal, craving and long denied need for each other, combined with the touch of flesh on flesh, was quickly their undoing, and the chamber echoed with lust filled cries.

“Erestor!”

“Glorfindel!”

So intense was their release that they collapsed to the floor, wrapped in each other’s arms where they stayed long enough to share a lingering kiss that promised even more passion to come. Well aware that Elrond would by now be rather impatiently awaiting them, and in between several more sensuous kisses, the lovers finally cleaned themselves, righted their clothing and hurried to the library.