One Fine Day

Chapter Title: Black Carousels

Author: Nuinzilien

Pairing: Erestor/ Glorfindel

Rating: R...for now. Higher in later chapters

Chapter 6

After some time in companionable silence, Elrond stood and pulled
Erestor to his feet. "Come, friend. It is terribly late, and your
wait will not be made shorter by missing supper."

Lost in thought once more, Erestor followed obediently as his friend
tugged him down the shoreline. Never one prone to waking dreams, the
earlier episode with the imaginary Glorfindel had tested an already
precarious control. Hours later, he was still calling himself twenty
types of fool. //Thranduil. I thought Thranduil was Glorfindel.
How, in the name of all that is good and sane, did I mistake autumn
wheat for spun gold?// The long separation had made him delusional.
There was no other explanation.

Erestor was jerked from his thoughts as a strong wind nearly knocked
him off his feet. He caught his balance against his companion. They
continued on their way, only to be blown back by another strong
gust. The two elves shared a puzzled look. Aman's weather was
usually quite placid. One could even say boring, with nothing more
than an occasional gentle rain to water the plant life.

Erestor took a step back towards the shore. The gusts immediately
lightened to a gentle breeze. Testing a theory, Erestor turned
inland, only to run into a wall of wind. He tossed his hands up in
surrender. "Alright! I can take a hint!" He turned to Elrond,
voice dripping with amusement. "It appears as though my presence is
required seaside."

Elrond's gaze flickered between his friend and the path that would
eventually lead him home to his reunited family. Erestor saw how
torn his Lord was and waved him off. "Go home and be with your
children, Elrond."

The Peredhel's eyes were full of worry. "Are you certain?"

"Aye, I will be fine. I will return to the shore and join you when
Lord Manwë permits."

"Alright, friend. I will see you there."

Erestor smiled and made his way to the beach.

Elrond joined him moments later, a bemused expression on his
face. "It appears as though I am to join you," he said in response
to Erestor's curious glance.

The beach was silent as the two elves leaned against each other, the
soft accompaniment of waves crashing against the nearby pier lulling
both into a light doze.

Neither elf could ever recall what exactly woke them. Perhaps it was
the sound of distant shouts, or even the frantic tension now charging
the atmosphere. Erestor blinked muzzily and sighed.

"'Rise and shine, lads," trickling stream and pounding surf
commanded. "We have company."

The two stared openly as a pair of shapely buttocks disappeared into
the sea. "What was that about, I wonder," murmured Elrond.

"I know not. Lord Ulmo has always been as unpredictable as the sea
he calls home. Nice backside though," Erestor replied.

Elrond's chuckle was cut short as the sound of elven horns echoed
along the shoreline. They scrambled to their feet, thoughts of
mercurial water deities and nice backsides swept away by startled
sobriety.

They watched as the beach came alive with activity, elves running
here and there to light bonfires and prepare for the arrival of a
third, unexpected ship. The vessel came to a halt on the white sand,
and the Golden Flower returned to Valinor.

Erestor noted his lover's stooped shoulders. "He seems tired," he
whispered to his companion. //Defeated, even.//

Erestor felt his heart shatter when Glorfindel stepped back onto the
ship to escort a companion, female by the silhouette she cast, onto
dry land. The golden Lord's arm was curled around her waist in a
gesture so achingly familiar. Erestor wanted to cry.

//Do not!// A small, angry voice hissed in his head. //All else is
lost, but you still have your dignity. Do not give her the
satisfaction of losing that as well.//

The voice continued to whisper encouragement. Erestor took a deep
breath and steadied himself as the two figures embraced. The
soulmate-stealing female stayed in the shadows while Glorfindel
approached them.

Brown met blue, and the last bit of hope Erestor had clung to
shriveled and died upon seeing the wariness and guilt shining in
Glorfindel's eyes, one last confirmation that the blonde had indeed
replaced Erestor with another. //Fear not, Glorfindel. There will
be no scene to cause us both embarrassment.//

Erestor stepped forward, the old mask of pleasant, polite interest
settling over his face. "It certainly took you long enough, did it
not? I know you said you would sail later, but I had no idea you
meant three millennia later."

Glorfindel's eyes relaxed a bit, and he gave a small, hesitant
smile. "Aye, well, I had seen four ages. Curiosity made me want to
take a peek at the fifth."

Elrond snorted.

Glorfindel's grin was mischievous. "Elrond. You are looking well."

Elrond's look was dubious at best. "As are you. An extended stay in
Middle Earth seems to have agreed with you."

A brief shadow passed through the blonde elf's eyes. "Perhaps." As
quickly as the shadow arrived, it disappeared. "I bring you a gift,
Elrond."

The Peredhel lord's head cocked.

"You should be more careful with your belongings. You left something
behind when you sailed." He gestured behind him. The soulmate-
stealing female stepped into the firelight.

Erestor's eyes were wide with shock. "Oh, my…"

Elrond was poleaxed.

Erestor's own shock fell by the wayside at his friend's
distress. "Glorfindel," he scolded. "I do not deny that the
resemblance is uncanny, but I cannot believe you would – "

"It is no resemblance, Erestor," Elrond choked. "It is she."

Erestor's attention fixed upon Glorfindel's companion, disbelief
clear in the lines of his face.

She smiled. "'Restor," Arwen began, using her childhood name for
him," I should think that after having to pull me out of my favorite
tree often, and then dealing with near constant demands for First Age
story time, you would know that I am no immitation."

Erestor blinked, convinced. Though her desire for stories of the
First Age as told by one who had lived through a fair bit of it were
well-known, his many tree rescues had been their little secret. He
had never told, and to his knowledge, neither had she. "I do not
under – "

"I never felt you die," Elrond whispered, pulling his daughter into a
desperate hug. "I thought it was just the distance, but I never felt
you die!"

Arwen held her father close. "I did not die, Ada. I am here."

"How?" Erestor asked.

Arwen's pewter eyes shadowed. "A long tale, and one best told after
we've all rested."

Erestor shot Glorfindel a questioning look. "Why did Elladan and
Elrohir not tell us their sister was coming with you?" //Why didn't
they tell ME you were coming?//

"They did not know. I was to sail behind them with most of the
cargo. Five minutes from pulling anchor, Arwen arrived."

The Evenstar blushed.

A smile finally lit Erestor's eyes. He moved to hug his golden
lover. "It is good to see you, my Glorfindel."

Glorfindel's hug was awkward. Frowning, Erestor pulled back.

And met a pair of wide brown eyes peeking through the thick masses of
golden hair. "Well, hello there," Erestor said with a smile. "And
who is this little bit of baggage?"

The brown eyes buried themselves shyly against Glorfindel's neck.
Glorfindel's smile softened and he reached back, tugging on a lock of
hair an identical shade of gold to his own. "Mani, stop hiding.
This is Erestor. I told you about him, remember?"

Mani pushed the blonde locks aside to get a closer look. Erestor
noted that the little elfling, probably no more than eight years old,
possessed a slightly softer version of Glorfindel's features.
Erestor's eyebrow raised.

Glorfindel took a deep breath, the wariness back in his
eyes. "Erestor, I'd like you to meet Maniel…my daughter."


@>~~~ TBC ~~~<@