One Fine Day

Chapter Title: Determination in Green minor

Author: Nuinzilien

Pairing: Erestor/ Glorfindel

Rating: R...for now

Chapter 5

Erestor felt a soft push against his awareness, and a darkly feminine
voice echoed through is head. **Erestor?**

He jerked out of his daze, his eyes focusing on Galadriel's wise,
sympathetic eyes. "Aye, Lady?"

Noting the elf's distraction as well, Celeborn frowned in
concern. "I had intended to ask your opinion on a small matter,
Councillor. However, you seemed quite lost in thought. Is aught
amiss?"

The happy, excited sparkle faded from Erestor's gaze, leaving behind
a very lost – looking advisor. "Nay, Lord Celeborn. All is well.
You caught me gathering wool, apparently. What was your initial
question?"

"I asked if you thought Valinor could spare a bit of room for a few
prodigal children we picked up along our journey?"

"Pardon?"

Celeborn nodded his head toward a group of elves huddled together,
staring at the crowded beach in fear and wonder.

Erestor's eyes widened as he took in the warm, earth-brown skin and
wide, silver-blue eyes. "A-Avari?"

"Aye," the silver lord replied. "One of the last viable enclaves.
They were quite clever in their disguise. They settled on a small
island called Poveglia in what is now called the Adriatic sea, and
managed, through means I was certain I probably did not wish to know,
to convince the local human that some great evil dwelt there. Fear
and their own magic made the place impassible by any but another
Firstborn or one of the few friends they had among Men."

"And this is all who were left?"

"All who were willing, at any rate." They all winced at his bad
pun. "Many of those who survived the Evil One's captivity intact
faded soon after. Those who did not either retreated into paranoia
like this group, or bred into the human population and faded from
memory."

"The poor dears look terrified," Celebrían said, eyes shining with
sympathy. She turned to her sons. "Elladan, Elrohir, introduce
me." Mother and children moved off.

The conversation soon switched to other, less momentous happenings,
such as births, bondings (particularly the eagerly anticipated union
between an elf of one of the older Vanyarin families and former
Marchwarden Haldir of Lorien.), and the much debated conversion of a
nearby wooded area into farming land.

Celeborn frowned. "Wherein lies the issue?"

"Well," Elrond began, "we have one very vocal group insisting that
any such change would mar Aman's natural beauty."

Celeborn studied his law-son's expression carefully. "I am to take
it, then, that you do not agree?"

"Oh, I agree wholeheartedly," Elrond confessed. "I just think it
that, in this case, practicality must win out over sentimentality.
We've been using the same farmlands for the same crops for millenia,
and the yield is lessening with each harvest. Th soil is growing
exhausted. If we do not find new farmland, the land will grow
fallow, and Aman will be marred anyway. Unless they actually wish to
consume flesh, I think they will agree that, though the loss of plant
life is regrettable in the extreme, the loss of food would be even
moreso."

Erestor did not bother to disguise his grimace. "I presume you think
otherwise, Councillor," Celeborn asked.

Elrond smiled sympathetically. "Nay, he agrees. He is just the
unfortunate soul elected to act as mediator between the two parties."

Erestor snorted. "Elfling-sitter would be a more accurate title.
The joint political backing of the Mariner's son and Feanor's niece
has gained those for the idea quite a bit of support, but the
protestors, mostly Aman-born youths, are being…persistent," he
finished delicately.

The discussion trailed off, until finally Celeborn chuckled, glancing
over Elrond's shoulder. "She has become quite a force to be reckoned
with, hasn't she?"

Elrond turned and smiled with pride, seeing his wife barking out
orders like a seasoned campaign leader as she organized temporary
lodgings for the nervous Avari. "Aye, that she is. There are few
who would dare gainsay her. And those who do quickly back down when
faced with the prospect of the Family's collective ire."

Soon enough, the beach began to empty, until the only elves left were
Elrond and his extended family. Celebrían and the twins approached
the small group, a young female in tow. "This is Marienna. She will
be staying with us." The Lady's gaze dared her husband to disagree.

Elrond was, fortunately, a smart elf, and overly fond of his Lady's
bed. He turned to the frightened Avari female and smiled
encouragingly. "Welcome, Lady. Please feel free to stay as long as
you wish. I am sure my wife would appreciate the company."

The Avarin she-elf smiled. "Thank you," she replied in heavily
accented Sindarin.

"Excellent," Galadriel said. "Now that we have that settled, I
suggest we take our cue from others and retire to a more private
setting. I am sure my husband and grandchildren have many stories to
tell." She turned her gaze toward Erestor. "Will you be joining us,
my friend?"

Fearing his now tenuous control would snap upon seeing in her eyes
the empathy that lay so heavily in her voice, Erestor looked away.
He forced a bright smile. "Nay, Lady. I believe I shall remain here
for a time. `Tis a pleasant evening for reflection, and I am certain
I will be able to pester your grandsons into retelling their stories
later."

This time it was Elrohir who gave an inelegant grunt, though he
quickly lowered his eyes at Erestor's questioning glance. He
remembered a moment to late that his former mentor was quite good at
getting his victims to reveal what he wanted to know. "Aye, Erestor,
you will have your stories."

"Very well then," Galadriel said. "We will leave you to your
reflection." Her smile was gentle. "But keep in mind that
reflecting is often best done in the presence of friends."

"Aye, Lady. I will remember."

Galadriel nodded and moved up the beach, husband and grandchildren in
tow. Celebrían and Elrond shared a long look. Finally, she twined
her arm with her new companion's and they wandered off, chatting like
magpies.

Quite certain they were alone, Erestor flopped gracelessly down upon
the warm sand and propped his chin on his knees. Elrond joined him
silently. His arm draped across tense shoulders in a gentle
embrace. "I am sorry, beloved."

Erestor leaned against his friend, tucking his head into the curve of
the other elf's neck. "He promised, Elrond," came the hollow
response.

The half-elf sighed and held his friend close. "I know he did,
love. I also know that he loved you, and nothing but death would
have prevented him from keeping that promise."

//Is this why you would not consent to being Bound? Did you somehow
sense what even Elrond could not, that you would not be able to
return to me?// He thought back to his foolish words a Year
ago. //Ai, what arrogance, to believe I was so important that the
Doomsman would tell me if my lover was dead.//

He began to wonder if perhaps Elrond had been right. Maybe it was
time to put aside old dreams and move on. //At this point, anything
would be better than the current standstill my life has come to.//

He considered the idea, truly considered it. For all of five
minutes. Eventually, he was forced to sigh in resignation. //Impossible. My Glorfindel, your second death has made you stingy. You still own my heart.// But, even if Glorfindel
were there, Erestor was forced to admit that he had not the strength
to ask for it back. He had given his heart to the Golden Flower, and
there it would forever remain.

After a long silence grew even longer, Elrond ventured a soft
whisper. "What now, my friend? Where do you go from here?"

Erestor pulled away. "He left me with few choices. I will wait for
his return, however long it takes." He held up a hand to stall
Elrond's protests. "Even in death, I am still his."

"I hate to be the one to throw a pry bar into your wheel, Erestor,
but we do not even know if it is possible to be incarnated a third time. There
is no precedent for it."

"Exactly. It has never happened before. But if anyone could do it,
Glorfindel could."

Since, to his knowledge, no other elf had been reborn before or after
Glorfindel's return to Middle Earth, Elrond was forced to admit that
his former Chief Advisor had a very valid point. If any one could
manage to receive a third chance at life, it would be Glorfindel.

He hoped so. For Erestor's sake, he hoped so.


@>~~ TBC ~~<@