The little mer-elf

Title: The little mer-elf
Author: Githoniel
Beta: None
Chapter: 5/5
Pairings: Erestor/Glorfindel, Glorfindel/Ereinion
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: utterly AU, Slash, character death
Disclaimer: All elves belong to Mr.Tolkien, not even the plot is mine, but inspired by Hans Christian Andersen
Summery: Erestor is living a perfect life under the sea as a mer-elf... but then he learns that true love is to be found ashore...
Author’s notes: Written for Agie’s ‘Erestor Fairytale challenge’... please note that even though I love the movie, it’s not the Disney version that’s inspiring this – so prepare yourself for a sad story!!!


Chapter 5


The morning dawned and Erestor opened his eyes as the first sunbeam touched his face. Never before had the young elf felt so full of love and happiness. He turned around and looked at the elf lying next to him. The blond warrior was sleeping peacefully and Erestor didn’t dare to wake him yet. But he felt the need to share his happiness. He had finally succeeded. He had won the warriors heart.
Erestor placed a tender kiss on Glorfindel’s brow and got up. He just threw a silken robe over his naked body and ran out of the palace and to the shore. He didn’t stop at the shoreline but ran right into the water, until his feet could barely touch the ground any longer.
//Adar! Adar!// he called out in his mind. //I made it! He loves me – can you hear me? Can you feel, just how happy I am?//
Just for a second, the smile on is face vanished when Erestor thought: // I just wish you were here now! I love you, adar!//

After some time sitting in the sand and letting the sun dry his robe, Erestor walked back to the palace. Maybe he could stay in bed with his beloved for a few more hours. But upon entering their room, he found that Glorfindel had already left.
//What a shame!// Erestor thought. //Well, I could get us something to eat for breakfast.//
He took a look in the mirror at the wall, quickly brushed his raven hair and then headed for the kitchen.


Glorfindel hurried down the corridor. It was already late morning and he had to meet with his king. He didn’t remember much of the last night, but he hadn’t forgotten that.
Before knocking at Gil Galads study, he checked his looks a last time. He was nervous...
When he at last knocked and entered the study, Gil Galad was sitting at his desk, looking great in his dark green robe with his golden circlet woven in the brown hair. The high king smiled at the sight of the warrior.
“Well, my dear Lord Glorfindel – I hope you enjoyed the party yesterday? But I bet the hangover isn’t that nice, is it?”
“I’m alright – so, what is the reason for this meeting?”
“Actually, there are two reasons! First I want to rearrange the palace-guard. What do you think, if we have them working in four shifts..”
They discussed that matter for some time before they found the perfect solution. Glorfindel stood from the chair, he had been sitting on and the king also rose from his seat.
“Wait, Glorfindel – we haven’t talked about the second reason yet!”
“And what might that be?”
Ereinion Gil Galad took one step closer and stood now face to face with the blond warrior.
“The dance last night, what was this all about?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on, Glorfindel... you know what I mean. There is something going on between us – I know you feel it too.”
“Highness, I...”
“Forget the stupid titles, please, call me Ereinion!”
“Ereinion, I... yes, yes you are right! I feel it too!”
“Do you have plans for dinner this evening?”
Glorfindel swallowed hard.
“No – no I haven’t!”
Ereinion stepped even closer and now whispered in the warrior’s ear: “Come to my rooms tonight!”
Glorfindel nodded and before he left the study, he placed a quick kiss to one of his king’s hands.


Erestor had finished his preparations and was waiting now for Glorfindel to come back to him. It was only one hour, since he had left the bed, and he was already missing his blond warrior.
Erestor took one more look in the mirror. His normally pale face seemed flushed, his eyes sparkled and he couldn’t stop smiling. Oh, everyone would see his love for Glorfindel – it was practically written all over his face.
The door finally opened and his golden warrior entered. But if Erestor had expected to be greeted with a kiss, he was disappointed. Glorfindel just smiled at him, gave his shoulder a light squeeze and then threw himself onto the bed.
“Oh, I’m sorry pen dínen.... I see, you brought us breakfast, but I cannot eat anything now! I – I think, I’m in love!”
Erestor rose and sat next to the warrior, all time smiling.
//Oh, I love you too, Glorfindel – you wouldn’t believe how much I love you!//
“Oh, I’m so happy – I still cannot believe it: He invited me for dinner! In his rooms tonight!”

That was it – that was exactly the moment, when Erestors world shattered to pieces!

//What? Dinner? – Who???// But the same time, Erestor knew exactly of whom Glorfindel was speaking – the king!
“He even wants me to call him Ereinion! Sweet Eru – I feel giddy as an elfling! Do you have any idea, what I should wear tonight?”
But Erestor didn’t listen anymore. His eyes filled with tears – there was nothing but pain. He gave Glorfindel a pleading look.
//What about us? I love you!!! What about last night? Did it mean nothing to you?//
Glorfindel, who now noticed Erestors look, put an arm around the dark elf’s shoulders.
“Oh, come on, pen dínen – whatever happens between me and Ereinion won’t change our friendship. I’ll continue to care for you... just as you care for me, it seems. By the way, thank you for last night... “ the warrior laughed. “I do not remember, how I got to my room, but I’m quite sure it was you, who brought me here and tucked me in. I just hope, I was not too much an annoyance.”
Erestor’s eyes widened.
//You do not even remember??? Last night meant the world to me, and you don’t remember!//
The dark elf couldn’t stay in there any longer. Quickly, he got up and headed to the door...
“When you come across the stables, give Asfaloth an apple from me!” Glorfindel called after him and then Erestor was gone.
Glorfindel sighed. He could understand, why the silent elf was disturbed by the prospect of him and Ereinion – after all he WAS the young one’s only friend. Well, he would sort things out with him tomorrow, now, he had to think about tonight!


Erestor was running once more to the shoreline, like he had done only hours before. His tears were flowing freely over his cheeks. He ran till the waves touched his bare feet and then he let himself fall onto his knees.
//Oh, adar – adar it hurts.... it hurts so bad!// he screamed in his mind. //Adar help me – please, help me! I don’t know what to do!//
And he slammed his fist in the wet sand.
//Why doesn’t he love me? Why???//
But then suddenly, Erestor felt a calming presence in his mind.
//Child! Oh my poor ion!//
//Adar?//
//Yes! Don’t you know, that I’m always with you? But I cannot help you – I wish I could!!!//
//What shall I do now, adar?//
//There’s only one way to win Glorfindel’s heart for you!//
And the waves washed a silver dagger ashore.
//Kill the other elf, ion-nín.//
//I shall kill him?//
//That’s the only way for you... or else you will fade.//
//You are right! I have no other choice! I love you adar.//


The evening drew nearer and Erestor watched the king retire to his private rooms. That was his chance. There were no guards in the corridor – no one would see him. He could go inside and stab Gil Galad from behind – yes, he could do it. And before anyone noticed, what had happened, he would have covered his tracks... no one would know, that it was him who had murdered the king.
//...murdered ... am I really a murder?//
Well, of course – Glorfindel would be devasted at first – but he would make sure, that the blond warrior wouldn’t die of grief.
//...can I really hurt him that much?...//
No one would know!
//I will know!//
He had no other choice.
He had to do it!
//I swore an oath... could I really live with that guilt?//
Without a noise, Erestor opened the door slightly and peeked inside. The king was standing with his back to him in front of a table. His royal garnements, his circlet, his posture...
//Every inch a noble and worthy king!//
Erestor closed the door again and crouched against the wall.
//Forgive me, adar – I cannot do it! I cannot!//
Footfalls in the corridor gave him a start and he took the dagger and flew.

Glorfindel knocked at Ereinion Gil Galads door an the king opened himself.
“Hello my dear one!” he said.
“Hello!” Glorfindel answered and blushed.
The king took his arm and led him inside...


Erestor ran and ran without looking until his feet hurt too much to take him even a single step further. He fell onto the ground and cried out in despair, though not a sound left his throat.
He felt his chest tightened and tore the robe from his body...


Dinner was delicious and Ereinion and Glorfindel had an interesting talk, while they enjoyed their meal together. After they had finished their dessert, the sat on a rug before the fireplace and Glorfindel stared in the flames – the silence felt comfortable.


Erestor thought of his family – how his father would grieve for him, and his brothers... In his mind, he begged each and everyone of them for forgiveness.
Then he thought of Glorfindel, of the sunlight playing with the golden tresses, of those eyes that were blue like the heaven... the dark elf shut his eyes...


“What do you think right now, Glorfindel!”
“I... I think about how long I’ve wished for this moment to come. Ereinion – I think I love you!”
The king didn’t answer that but caught Glorfindels mouth in a passionate kiss.


A last stab of pain right into the heart – then Erestor took his last breath.

The next morning found Glorfindel in the high king’s bed in the arms of the very same. Their lovemaking had been passionate and full of promises for the future.
A salty breeze came from the open window and Glorfindel stood up and looked outside. The sea was covered with whitecaps, wich resembled millions of little white flowers.
The warrior took a deep breath and then he felt his lover standing behind him, pressing against his back.
“The sea is blooming!” Ereinion whispered. “They say, that happens when a mermaid dies!”


***

Epilogue


Deep deep down in the blue sea, there is a kingdom long forgotten by those, who live their lifes on land. The people that live in this kingdom are creatures of ethereal beauty – they are the mer-elves.
Their king was father of twelve – but he knew happiness no longer. Every joy had been taken from his life, for he had lost his youngest son.
And just when he thought, his grief would become unbearable, Ulmo, Valar of the sea and father of all mer-elf’s showed mercy.
One night, he came to the mer-elf king in his dream.
“My dear child – grief no longer! Know that your son isn’t gone for all times, for I’ve spoken to Manwe and Namo, my brothers, and they decided that your child will be reborn one day as an elf in arda – and then he shall find happiness and love and live his life untill the end of days.”


The End.

Translation:

Pen dínen – silent one
Adar – father
Ion - son