While the Lord is Away

Chapter 6. Lovers at Last

“You intend to bathe with me?” asked Glorfindel, his delight at the idea mixed with the uncertainty that he had not properly understood the meaning of Erestor’s words.

“Unless you object,” replied Erestor as he tucked a few stray strands of gold back behind the seneschal’s ear, softly brushing the sensitive tip of his ear ad he did so.

Glorfindel’s response was swift and intense. Caring not that they were standing in the entrance hall of the still empty house, he pulled Erestor into his arms and kissed him at first tenderly, but with ever increasing fervour. The sweet lips parted eagerly, allowing his tongue entrance into the delicious, moist warmth and when he heard Erestor groan deeply, his whole body felt the heat of desire.

“Nay, my dark beauty, I do not object, but I warn you that I find you utterly desirable and bathing with you is likely to lead to more pleasant and highly erotic activities.”

“I am aware of that, but as I was trying to tell you the other day, I love you Glorfindel, and even though you have not voiced the word, I believe you love me. I ache to feel you touch me as a lover,” Erestor declared. Glorfindel tenderly traced a finger down a delicate cheek and then tilted Erestor’s chin upward so that he could gaze into eyes that shone brightly with love and need.

“Ai, Erestor I love you, and I want you with every fibre of my being,” Glorfindel whispered as he bent to claim Erestor’s lips once more with a lingering, yet passionate kiss. When they finally parted for air, Erestor breathlessly suggested they move to Glorfindel’schamchamber where he had a surprise waiting.

The seneschal was indeed amazed to find that on entering his chamber he could smell the faint aroma of the herbs he often sprinkled in his bath water wafting through the doorway that lead to his private bath. Peering into the room that was intimately lit by the warm glow of several candles, he saw that the tub was already filled with steaming water, two large towels hung on the hooks on the wall, and a bottle of wine and two goblets had been placed on the small table beside the bath. Glorfindel turned a questioning gaze on the counsellor.

“I see you have been anticipating my return,” he said as he began discarding his clothes. The bath looked very inviting, as did his company.

“More than words can say,” replied Erestor who had spent the morning standing on his balcony watching for his first glimpse of golden hair in the distance. As soon as he had could see the patrol on the road, he had begun preparing the bath.

“Come, my love, the water is getting cold,” he said as he stood and removed the last of his clothing and then proceeded to do likewise with Erestor’s. In a few moments the lovers stood naked before each other, admiring the beauty of each other’s bodies with gentle and highly erotic touches. The counsellor entered the bath first, and then Glorfindel sank slowly into the warm water and settled into the space between Erestor’s parted legs. They sat this way for some time allowing the sensuous tingling wherever bare skin touched to bring them both to full arousal.

“May I do that for you?” his new lover asked as Glorfindel reached up to remove the braids from his hair. The warrior nodded, and when Erestor began combing his fingers through the locks of golden silk, the seneschal sighed with pleasure and leaned back to rest against his lover’s chest.

“I can feel your heart beating in time with mine,” he said with wonder as he felt the gentle pounding against his back.

“That is because they are two halves of the whole,” replied Erestor as he moved Glorfindel’s hair aside so that he could place soft kisses on his neck.

“Know that my heart beats only for you now and forever. Let me make love to you,” gasped Glorfindel as his desire began to overwhelm him.

“Ai my beloved, take me, make me yours,” begged Erestor.

By unspoken agreement they moved to the comfort of the bed and it was then that Glorfindel noticed that his usual linen sheets had been replaced with satin ones. As he ran his hands over the silky fabric, and when he saw the small vial of oil already on the bedside table, Glorfindel’s eyes burned darkly with lust. He pushed Erestor onto the bed and claimed his lover in an act of love that was both wildly passionate and more beautiful than either had ever experienced before. Their hearts sang in joyful unison as their bodies writhed together in a rhythm of intense need as intimate kisses, licks and touches were shared. When they reached their peak together, screams of long denied passion finally released echoed throughout the silent halls of the Last Homely House. They collapsed with exhaustion, their spent bodies glistening with sweat and their arms and legs still entwined. They were even too exhausted to speak, and so the two lovers shared a final lingering kiss before falling into a satiated reverie.

Several hours later, Erestor awoke to find Glorfindel standing at the end of the bed with a small knife in his hand.

“What are you doing?” he asked, shaking his head to clear it of the strange dream he was certain he was having.

“Come and see for yourself,” suggested Glorfindel with a mischievous grin that made Erestor wary. Nonetheless, he joined his lover and wrapped his arms about Glorfindel’s naked waist and rested his chin on his shoulder.

“What am I looking for?” he asked. Glorfindel did not reply but instead pointed to a small etching in the wood of the bedpost. Erestor had to look quite closely before he saw the small letters newly engraved in the wood.

“You carved my name there!?” Declared Erestor in utter astonishment.

“Did you not wish to be the only one whose name was notched into my bedpost?” teased Glorfindel.

“Ai, but I meant it figuratively.” replied Erestor his heart filled with joy at the sincerity and the meaning behind his lover’s playfulness. “But why are the letters so small?” he asked feigning disappointment. Glorfindel laughed and kissed him soundly.

“Because, my dear Erestor I intend to do this every time we make love, and since that is likely to be quite often I needed to make sure there was plenty of room,” replied Glorfindel as he dropped the knife and turned in his lover’s arms so that their hardening arousals were touching. “Shall we add another notch to the tally?” he asked as he ran his hands over the enticing curve of Erestor’s buttocks.

“Ai, only this time it will be your name that is carved there, for I intend to claim you,” said Erestor huskily. Their loving was slow and languorous, the newly formed bond allowing them to feel what the other felt as they cried out in their ecstasy.

The next time they awoke they were surprised to see sunlight streaming into the chamber. They greeted each other with kiss that spoke of love more than passion, and reaffirmed their newly formed commitment to one another.

“I love you, dear Erestor.” Whispered Glorfindel against his lover’s lips.

“I love you too, my golden warrior, but do you not have to see to your patrols this morning?” asked Erestor as he trailed his fingers slowly down Glorfindel’s chest. The seneschal shivered with desire as a finger nail scraped across a firm nipple.

“I do, but not until I have seen to your needs, my love,” he whispered as he hungrily claimed the lips and the body of his lover.

When they finally decided to rise, and knowing that Glorfindel had duties to attend to, rather than join him in the bath, Erestor chose to sit and watch as the golden warrior quickly washed and dressed.

“Erestor, are these not some of your robes?” the seneschal asked as he selected a clean tunic from his wardrobe.

“Ai, I thought it wise to have a few changes of clothes in here. The servants will be returning tomorrow as will our need for discretion. No questions will be asked if I am seen leaving your room already dressed in my daily attire,” he stated. “You do not object to my presumption, do you?”

“No, I love you for it,” replied Glorfindel as he moved to take Erestor into his arms. “I want to spend every night loving you and every morning waking with you lying next to me.”

“Which is exactly where I belong. I love you too, my Balrog slayer,” replied Erestor as their lips met once more in a tender kiss. "Come now, first a little food is in order then you must see to your warriors,” said Erestor with a gentle swat to Glorfindel’s behind.

“Do that again and I will have no choice but to retaliate,” warned Glorfindel.

“I will keep that in mind,” promised Erestor with a wicked gleam in his eye that Glorfindel found very enticing. “I wonder what Elrond will think of our new relationship?” Erestor mused as they walked towards the kitchen holding hands.

“He will be happy for us, and likely very pleased with himself for being right about my feelings,” replied Glorfindel with a smile. “Speaking of Elrond, a messenger from Mirkwood met with my patrol while on our way home. I hear Elrond and his sons have arrived safely in Mirkwood, and Thranduil sent us a few bottles of Dorwinion to help celebrate Legolas’s majority.”

“I am relieved to hear that Elrond is well and I will send a message of thanks for such a thoughtful gesture. Is the Wood Elf still in Imladris?”

“Ai, and the sooner you send him on his way the better I will like it,” said Glorfindel as he poured some herbal tea for them both.

“Why is that?” asked Erestor curiously. Glorfindel had no intention of keeping anything from his love and quickly explained the incident with his unwanted suitor.

“You are so utterly irresistible that I imagine he will not be the last lusty Elf to attempt to bed you,” commented Erestor with a hint of jealousy in his voice that pleased Glorfindel immensely.

“But you are the only one who will ever succeed in doing so, guardian of my heart. I am yours alone,” said Glorfindel taking Erestor’s hand and kissing his fingertips. Neither realised that his words of love that were meant only for Erestor’s ears had also been heard by one who was lurking outside the open door.