Awakenings

Part 5.

“You were right he is shy.” Ecthelion whispered into Glorfindel’s ear.

Glorfindel had not told Erestor that Ecthelion would be joining them beneath their oak that day. So when Erestor had walked towards their meeting place with his books and parchments beneath one arm he had immediately slowed his pace upon seeing Glorfindel sitting and talking with another elf, beneath their tree. It was the other elf who had seen Erestor first, he had smiled and then tapped Glorfindel’s shoulder. The blond had looked over with a beaming smile and waved Erestor over. Shyly Erestor had walked over and sat beside Glorfindel, Glorfindel had introduced them, Ecthelion had smiled and greeted him and had even tried engaging him in conversation, but Erestor had blushed and answered quickly and quietly, hugging his books and work to his chest tightly.

Glorfindel had smiled at Ecthelion silently asking him to be patient with Erestor, whilst Erestor continued to nervously play with his sleeve as he opened one of his books. When a gust of wind had blown through the braches of the trees Erestor had gasped as one of his sheets of work had been blown away. He rose to chase it but sat again as Ecthelion leaped to his feet first.

“I’ll get it!”

Ecthelion had dashed after the parchment, every time he leaned down to pick it up it seemed to mock him by again lifting with the breeze and floating away. Glorfindel had began to giggle, he turned to Erestor to see if he to found it as funny but frowned worriedly as he saw Erestor watch Ecthelion warily and what seemed nervously.

“He likes you Erestor.” He said quietly, to which Erestor had briefly looked to Glorfindel with an attempted smile which was all to obviously forced. “Honestly Erestor he does.”

“None of your friends ever liked me before.” He replied quietly.
“Ecthelion is different.” When he did not get any further response from Erestor he continued, in a softer voice. “I promise Erestor, he will not tease you or push you down…or give you coal.” He finished in a whisper, almost afraid to mentioning the one traumatic incident. Just then Ecthelion came bounding up to them looking very proud of himself and holding the parchment, his cheeks pink from chasing the paper and a wide smile upon his lips.

“Got it, h-here you go Erestor.” With a friendly smile he handed the work back to Erestor before sitting back down on the grass.
“Thank you Ecthelion.” He said and even smiled.
“It was nothing.” Ecthelion beamed back.

They had been beneath the old oak for a near hour now, Erestor quietly reading his book but secretly listening to every word the other two were saying, as Glorfindel and Ecthelion gaily discussed strategies and sword practice. At first they had spoke of other things, not wishing to leave Erestor out of the conversation, but when it became clear that Erestor was not yet comfortable enough to speak with Ecthelion as Glorfindel was, their conversation had steered towards that of warfare. Although when Erestor saw something shine in the sunlight from within a side pocket of a satchel Ecthelion had brought Erestor had spoken without thinking.

“What’s that?” When Glorfindel and Ecthelion had looked to him he had immediately ducked his head with a blush, feeling foolish for asking a silly question when they were obviously in deep discussion. And in turn missed the pleased expressions on their faces.

“What is what?” Ecthelion asked with a friendly smile, delighted that Erestor was speaking to him.

Hesitantly Erestor met Ecthelion’s gaze and pointed over to his satchel. “That, sticking out of your bag. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Again he turned back to his book and shyly fiddled with the edge of a page.

“It’s alright, I have to listen to Glorfindel banter on during practice anyway…” He had said in jest. Erestor however had scowled when he thought that this elf had just insulted his best friend. Although when Glorfindel had playfully swatted Ecthelion’s shoulder only for Ecthelion to stick his tongue out at the blond Erestor had realised that it had been said in jest and had smiled along.

“Here, let me show you…” He reached over and tugged out a silver flute and glittered in the sun and handed it over to Erestor.

The awestruck expression on Erestor’s face as the flute was handed over to him had not gone unnoticed, and both Ecthelion and Glorfindel grinned. Erestor handled in delicately, turning it over in his hands as his fingers followed the delicate grooves.

“It is beautiful.” Erestor said wistfully. Regretfully but with a grateful smile Erestor handed it back to Ecthelion, but he did not take it.

“Do you play Erestor?” He was glad that he had found something that sparked Erestor’s interest and did not yet want Erestor to go back to his book.

“Oh no, I adore music though.”
“Then besides Glorfindel we have something in common.” He chuckled, to which Erestor grinned still unsure of why Ecthelion had not yet taken the flute from him.

And again, without thinking, which was altogether out of character of him he asked another question.

“Would you play for us?”
“I would love to!”

Carefully, as if it were a most precious jewel Erestor handed it back over and watched as Ecthelion placed it to his lips to begin a most beautiful melody. Half way through the enchanting piece Ecthelion changed the melody to that of a chipper almost rowdy tune. Erestor beamed in delight, and when Ecthelion finally brought the flute away from his lips to the shock of both Glorfindel and Ecthelion Erestor had clapped his hands in delight, smiling brightly. He had immediately asked him to play another tune and Ecthelion had easily obliged. Unbeknownst to the both of them Glorfindel sat contently next to Erestor, grinning ear to ear as he watched Erestor, finally make another friend.

When next Ecthelion finished both Erestor and Glorfindel had applauded, Ecthelion had blushed and made an exaggerated bow. Ecthelion could not of been more delighted as Erestor actually chuckled and continued to applaud long after Glorfindel had stopped.

“Here, you try it…” He handed over the flute to Erestor who immediately begun to shake his head and attempt to hand it back.

“Oh no, I wouldn’t know how.”
“Well I will show you.”
“I…I’ve never played a musical instrument before.”
“Did you not say you adored music?”
“Well, yes but..”
“Then that is all that matters, come, put it to your lips.”

Ecthelion continued to instruct Erestor as to how to place his lips around the opening of the flute. “Just place your lips around the opening, cover your teeth with your lips and softly blow.”

Just then Erestor happened to catch Glorfindel’s eye. The blond bit his lip with a devious grin and winked, causing Erestor to snort with laughter, a sharp squeak emiting from the flute.

“I meant blow gently.” Ecthelion had chuckled with a bemused expression. Between seeing Erestor blush profusely, ducking his head. And seeing Glorfindel who had been sprawled out on the grass then turn his head away and shake with giggles, it dawned on him that the cheeky blond must of in some way insinuated something from what he had said. Shaking his head with a grin he turned back to Erestor.

“Try again, this time, gentler.”

Erestor donned a serious look as he furrowed his brow and concentrated on playing his first ever note. It came out shakily at first but then became smooth and gentle. When pulling the flute away from his lips he grinned and then blushed as his best friend and new friend clapped and even whistled.

“It was not that good.”
“Oh it was tremendous!” Glorfindel exclaimed.
“Fantastic!” Ecthelion piped in.
“One could weep at such beauty!” Glorfindel giggled. Finally Erestor swatted him upon the shoulder to shut him up and smiled gratefully at Ecthelion.

“Well..” Ecthelion started as he rained his chuckles, “…I have to go, I’m expected home soon.” Standing he swung his small satchel over one shoulder.
“Here is your flute Ecthelion, thank you for letting me play it.” He handed the flute back with a shy smile. Ecthelion had reached out to take it but hesitated and then drew his hand back, smiling at Erestor.

“Why do you not keep it for now? I have a few more at home, and you could practice your note.”
“Really? Oh, I could not…’tis yours I…”
“No really, I could even teach you how to play if you would like?” He offered with a shrug.

Erestor’s mouth had opened in a happy smile, he looked to Glorfindel in surprise, making the blond laugh merrily.

“Do not look at me, I am even worse than you with an instrument. Of the musical variety anyway.” He finished with a cheeky grin. Erestor had again blushed, he looked to Ecthelion who grinned also at Glorfindel’s remark and was grateful to see that he did not question the flush on his cheeks. And then the thought that Ecthelion could know dawned on him. Ecthelion would be the first person to know about Glorfindel and himself, and smiling, he realised he did not mind.

“You are sure?”
“Of course.”
“I would like that.” Erestor admitted quietly, he had always harboured a secret passion for music.
“Perhaps one day we could even play together?” Ecthelion added, excited at the idea.
“Hey, where would that leave me?” Glorfindel interjected with a fake pout.
“You can sing…” Ecthelion began.
“Valar knows you can be loud enough.” Erestor finished with a smirk.
“Oh I see! So this is how it is to be. The two of you ganging up on poor defenceless me!”

To Glorfindel’s astonishment both Erestor and Ecthelion rolled their eyes before looking at each other with a grin. Inwardly he was ecstatic at how Erestor and Ecthelion had taken to each other over the short period of a few hours.

“Well I will be off then, so…I will see the both of you tomorrow perhaps?” Ecthelion asked almost hesitantly and quietly, clear hope shining in his eyes.

“Yes, you can come to my home, Erestor will show you the way. And then you can give Erestor his lesson in my room!” Glorfindel suggested happily, to which Erestor nodded and smiled.

A beaming smile split across Ecthelion’s face which touched both Glorfindel and Erestor, obviously Ecthelion was a little unsure of himself and simply wished for a few friends.

“Oh good!” He declared before blushing slightly at how quickly he had answered and how excited he had sounded. “ I mean, yes, I would like that very much. So…I will meet you hear Erestor? Beneath the oak at the same time?”
“Yes, I will bring your flute.”
“Alright…tomorrow then.” And with a brief wave and undeniably happy grin upon his face he turned to leave.

He paused hearing Erestor call him and watched as he stood and walked the few paces towards him. Erestor stood nervously for a moment before shyly reaching up and hugging him. Ecthelion smiled brightly over Erestor’s shoulder at Glorfindel who smiled back with a both grateful and knowing look. When Erestor pulled away it was with a coy smile that he addressed him.

“Thank you again for letting me borrow your flute.”

Ecthelion simply nodded, feeling very pleased with himself, and giving one last wave to Glorfindel he turned and headed off home. Erestor turned back around and reclined back on the ground, casually resting his head against Glorfindel’s chest as he again fingered the flute.

“I like him.” He said eventually, smiling as Glorfindel idly played with his hair.
“I knew you would.” He replied almost smugly. “So, how would you like to ‘place you lips around the opening’ of another ‘instrument’ and blow?”
“Glorfindel!” Erestor exclaimed as he sat up and looked disapprovingly down at Glorfindel but with a wide grin. “You are so crude!” He chuckled.
“Guilty. And I assure you, you wont have to blow gently, in fact I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

Laughing uncontrollably Erestor sat atop of Glorfindel playfully before being rolled off and beneath them. Ecthelion watched from a distance with an affectionate smile as his two new friends rolled and kissed playfully upon the grass. He could barely wait to see them again tomorrow.