Beauty And The Beast

Title: Beauty and The Beast
Author: Erynlinia
Type: FPS
Beta: Slayer9649, all other mistakes are mine.
Pairing: Erestor/Lindir
Rating: R, eventually NC-17
Warnings: Slash (m/m)
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. They belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. No disrespect is intended and no profit is being made. This is purely for entertainment ONLY!


PART SIX

Lindir carried the unconscious elf to the guest room, as it was warmer and closest to the kitchen. Carefully, he placed Erestor on the bed then hurried to put water on to heat and to find cloths to clean the wounds.

Once his supplies were gathered, Lindir pulled the table close and sat down on the edge of the bed. After removing the cloak, he found he needed to cut off the tunic, as he did not want to disturb Erestor more than necessary. He paused but a moment then focused solely on the task ahead.

The warg bites were deep and ragged so he took his time cleaning out the wounds. Lindir found himself wincing at times but thankfully, his patient stayed unconscious. Gently, he dried the mangled shoulder and bandaged it up. When that was completed, he carefully lifted back the mass of raven hair, tsking at the amount of tangles and mats he encountered.

Initially, Lindir flinched at the dark, mottled look of the face that he uncovered. Suddenly, he grinned as he gently traced a line along Erestor’s cheek, his fingertip covered with charcoal and ink. His grin faded as he could imagine the Noldo, all alone in his study, drawing picture after picture of the life that passed him by.

“Not anymore, my friend. It ends now,” Lindir said softly. He took a clean cloth, soaked it in the warm water, and began to clean the mask Erestor had hidden behind for so long.

If Erestor did not care, if he truly were such a *beast*, he would not have put himself between the warg and Lindir. The minstrel found his heart lightened at the thought and was undeniably happy that the darkling would heal from the selfless act.

The Teleri found himself smiling again when he finished. Although some of the ink refused to budge, it did fade and the face that Lindir gazed upon now was very handsome, indeed!

Feeling his heartbeat speed up, Lindir turned his attention to Erestor’s hair. He shook his head, realizing he would need to wash it first; a bigger smile lit up his features realizing his host would not agree to it.

‘But I will not ask,’ he giggled quietly to himself as he stood. Gently, he covered the unconscious elf and headed to the kitchen to prepare a soup for later.

~*~

Slowly, Erestor became aware of his surroundings. When his eyes focused and he saw where he was, he shut them back immediately.

He was still alive, he thought with a disappointed sigh. After the debacle in his study, Erestor wanted nothing more than to awaken in the Halls of Mandos. He could still see the tears in Lindir’s eyes as he had looked up from the portrait; the Teleri was horrified.

Erestor could not blame him; this child of light and beauty being watched and coveted by some cursed wretch! He bit back a groan of pain as he felt his heart break. He had been happy, in his own way, to have Lindir here. It was nice to pretend he was like other elves; however, the illusion was shattered. Lindir knew…and he would leave.

**You poor misguided, child** Erestor froze at the calm, serene voice he now heard in his mind. A voice he had not heard since before Melkor’s curse.

**If Lindir is as scared as you believe him to be, so disgusted with your presence…why did he risk himself to save you from the warg?**

The Noldo felt his pulse begin to quicken as he remembered Lindir’s battle cry moments before he killed the warg. He closed his eyes as he recalled the entire scene; Lindir chasing after him, apologizing for being in his study, saying the pictures had been beautiful. When the warg had appeared, threatening Lindir, he acted without thought!

**Give him a chance, child. Give yourself a chance.**

Before his thoughts could overwhelm him, Erestor watched Lindir approach. The amethyst eyes sparkled with joy, seeing the darkling awake.

“How do you feel?” he asked, setting on the edge of the bed.

Those eyes roamed gently over Erestor’s face as he awaited an answer. He could see the fear in the darkling’s expression, fear and confusion. Lindir gently caressed his fingertips across Erestor’s forehead, feeling for any fever and found none. He heard the Noldo hold his breath at the touch and smiled.

“I made some soup,” he said kindly. “You will need to sit up a little bit.”

Not giving Erestor a chance to argue, Lindir slipped an arm behind his patient and carefully pulled him up into a sitting position. With his free hand, he placed pillows behind Erestor’s back then turned to retrieve supper.

Erestor looked about in confusion. He noticed the extra pillows and blankets had come from his own bed and wondered why the Teleri was concerned for his comfort. He forced himself to take deep breaths to calm the racing of his heart, the feel of Lindir touching him still lingered on his skin.

Lindir returned carrying a tray and gently placed it on Erestor’s lap. He grinned at the look of surprise in the dark eyes upon seeing the fresh bread beside the bowl.

“Now eat up, you need to regain your strength,” Lindir urged.

Hesitantly, Erestor picked up the spoon and carefully took his first taste of it. He wanted to smile at how wonderful it was but noticed Lindir watching expectantly.

“I cannot eat…with someone staring at me!” he growled under his breath.

“I am not leaving until you do eat,” Lindir smiled cheekily and tore the bread into smaller pieces as the injured elf’s shoulder limited his movement.

Erestor growled again and turned back to the soup, letting his hair slide forward to hide his face.

Once satisfied that Erestor was indeed going to eat, Lindir gathered up new bandages and a clean basin of water to change the dressing on Erestor’s shoulder.

Silently, he handed the Noldo a mug of water and set the tray aside once he finished. Lindir sat on the edge of the bed again and carefully removed the old bandage. He was aware of Erestor’s eyes on him but concentrated on cleaning the wound.

“Why—why did you not leave me?” Erestor asked, his voice thick with exhaustion.

Lindir ignored the question for now, willing his own breathing to stay calm while he re-arranged the pillows. It was one thing to tend to a half-naked Erestor when he was unconscious, however now…

“You should have left me.”

Hearing the despair in those last words, Lindir looked and saw Erestor’s eyes glued to him, chocolate eyes shimmering with almost lost hope. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Lindir gently took Erestor’s hand in his. He could feel the Noldo tremble at the touch but whether from fear or weakness still, he could not tell.

“You were willing to die to keep me safe,” Lindir said, his voice warm and soothing. “I could not do anything less for such a beautiful soul…a soul that calls to my own.”

Erestor sucked in his breath when Lindir pressed a kiss to his hand.

“Rest, pen vorn nîn, I will check on you later,” the minstrel smiled then quietly left a stunned Erestor to his thoughts.

When the door closed behind the Teleri, tears trickled down Erestor’s face as he held the hand Lindir kissed close to his heart.

‘My dark one,’ he had said. ‘My dark one.’ And he had held Erestor’s gaze for the longest time, those lavender eyes softly glowing with love…for *him*!

/NO! It is pity! He could not possibly care for you!!/

‘Pen vorn nîn.’

**Yes, child, you are his dark one. Remember the sound of his voice when he spoke those words…the love in his eyes.**

Erestor smiled, the gentle voice silencing the evil ranting that had tormented him for so long. When he fell back into sleep, he imagined he could still hear Lindir and still feel his lips on his hand.

~*~

“We are going to get you a bath today,” Lindir said as he put away the breakfast dishes.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

Erestor had woke this morning, the pain in his shoulder infinitely worse today and it only served to remind him…

“Why do you object to a bath?” Lindir reiterated, watching as Erestor’s gaze darkened. “Do you enjoy being filthy?”

“NO!! I am tired of being treated like an elfling! I can take care of myself!!”

Lindir sighed in understanding. His Noldo was not accustomed to being helped and the pain was surely making him grouchier than normal. “You lost quite a bit of blood, you are not strong enough, yet.”

“I am fine!” roared Erestor. “I do not need your coddling!”

Lindir crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited for Erestor to shut up.

“Alright, my stubborn one. If you can walk from the bed to the bathroom…under your own power…I will accede to your wishes.”

With that, Lindir turned to the bathroom and began to run water into the tub.

Erestor narrowed his eyes, suspicious as to Lindir’s actions. Why did he not argue back? Did Lindir know something he did not?

Hearing the water running, Erestor slowly swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. Taking a deep breath, he shakily got to his feet and waited for his head to quit spinning. After several moments, he made his way carefully across the room. He had made it halfway, a pleased smile on his face, when he felt his knees give way as the room slanted sickeningly.

As he braced himself to hit the floor, Erestor was shocked to find himself scooped up into Lindir’s arms. The jewel eyes looked at him with concern, making sure he was not harmed further. He struggled briefly, panicking at how his body reacted to being held by the beautiful Teleri.

“Put me down! I do not need to be carried like a babe!”

Lindir’s jaw hardened for a moment then he smiled.

“Growl all you want, Erestor, you do not scare me and you *will not* run me off.”

Those words, spoken with such conviction, stilled Erestor’s struggles and Lindir carried him to the bathroom. He was still shaken and paid no attention as he was sat down and his leggings removed. It was only when he was picked back up and set gently into the warm water that Erestor realized what was going on.

“What are you doing?!” he gasped when Lindir soaped up a washcloth and began to wash him.

“Making sure the bandage stays dry and you get clean,” Lindir replied nonchalantly.

Erestor moved as if to get up when a strong hand forced him back into the water.

“Will you drown me to keep me here?!” snapped Erestor.

“No, but I can hold you under long enough for you to stop fighting me!”

Lindir resumed his washing and Erestor thought he would die when the Teleri started on his chest. The warm water combined with the sensation of the elf’s hand made him feel things he had thought forever denied him. His breathing grew ragged as Erestor felt his arousal awaken. He closed his eyes, willing it to go down, but when Lindir gently washed his face, lingering over the tips of his ears, he felt it leap against his naval, hot and throbbing.

Erestor quickly grabbed Lindir’s wrist, halting the downward progression of the washcloth.

“I-I can do the rest,” he said, his voice harsh with emotion.

Lindir, seeing the heat in Erestor’s eyes, felt himself blush and turned to pick up a small bowl he had set aside.

Erestor sat motionless in the tub, his entire body trembling with barely restrained passion. At Lindir’s gentle prodding, he tilted his head slightly back and let him wash his hair.

Thankfully, Erestor’s body began to uncoil as Lindir’s fingers massaged the soap through his scalp and the heavy mass of hair. He even drifted off a couple of times the sensation was that calming.

Lindir smiled from his position behind Erestor. He knew exactly what had caused his earlier distress; the water was not *that* deep…and he had the same problem. The Noldo’s body was perfect and Lindir had to remind himself that Erestor was injured. Fortunately, he was kneeling on the floor and able to keep his own arousal hidden.

He rinsed the soap from Erestor’s hair, gently squeezed the excess out and stood to retrieve a towel. Lindir took his time to blot out as much water as he could from the black tresses then helped Erestor out of the tub and to the nearby chair.

As Lindir dried off Erestor, he noticed two things…the dark elf’s arousal was still at half-mast and Lindir’s was still wide awake.

Wrapping a robe about Erestor, Lindir picked him up and headed for the bedroom.

“No, I am tired of being in bed,” Erestor protested, seeing their destination. Actually, his mind was torturing him with other ways to spend his time in bed! “The fireplace…I would like to sit there awhile.”

With a nod, Lindir set Erestor on the rug before the crackling fire. He grabbed several pillows and blankets from the bed and made a pallet for them.

They were silent for many long moments, the firelight reflecting in their eyes as they stared at each other.

“You said my soul calls to yours,” Erestor said, hesitantly.

Lindir nodded.

“What does it say?” he asked, almost afraid of the answer.

The Teleri smiled brilliantly as his heart leapt in anticipation. He scooted closer until he could cradle Erestor’s face in his hands and could feel his breath on his lips.

“It says the same thing as mine. May I show you?” Lindir whispered.

“Please,” came the forlorn answer.

Lindir pressed his mouth gently to Erestor’s, the tip of his tongue tracing the seam of his lips, asking for entrance. Erestor gasped at the sensation, his lips parted and he finally tasted Lindir. He moaned as his body arched toward the Teleri, his arousal painfully hard against his stomach once again. He wanted to crush the other elf against his body but his injury prevented it. He felt himself growing dizzy as his blood pounded recklessly throughout his being. Lindir’s hands still held him possessively, his fingers moving gently through his hair.

When the need for air forced them apart, Lindir suckled Erestor’s bottom lip for a moment then said hoarsely, “Mine.”

“Mine?” Erestor found his own fingers tangled tightly in Lindir’s white-gold hair, the meaning to the word eluding him.

“Aye, my dark one, you are mine.”

When Lindir claimed Erestor’s lips again, the kiss ended all too quickly when the injured elf passed out.

TBC