Seeing With The Heart

Title: Seeing With the Heart (6/7)
Author: Aglarien
Type: FPS
Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Not mine. The great Master Tolkien's estate owns everything else. I promise to return his elves when I'm done playing with them.
Warnings: AU.
Beta: phyncke
Author’s notes: Written for the Glorestor competition, and dedicated to the real Elladan and Elrohir and their beautiful family who all just seemed to creep into this story.
Summary: An encounter on the Great East Road changes the lives of Erestor and Glorfindel.


We may remark in passing that to be blind and beloved may, in this world where nothing is perfect, be among the most strangely exquisite forms of happiness.... The supreme happiness in life is the assurance of being loved; of being loved for oneself, even in spite of oneself; and this assurance the blind man possesses…… Possessing love he is not deprived of light. A love, moreover, that is wholly pure. There can be no blindness where there is this certainty.
Victor Hugo (1802–1885), Les Misérables (1862).


Chapter 6

Two pair of dusty leather leggings lay heaped on the floor of the bathroom atop equally travel-stained tunics and shirts. Elrond had finally left Erestor and Glorfindel to their own devices, but not before giving his blessing to the captain’s plan of staying with Erestor until the chief counselor was comfortable moving around the Last Homely House independently. That was to be accomplished slowly, since Erestor was ordered to spend the next few days resting before resuming his work. In addition to Melpomaen, a second assistant was being assigned to help with reading and writing for the counselor.

Erestor sighed contently as Glorfindel’s fingers worked through his long hair. They were sitting in Erestor’s bathtub enjoying the warm water – and each other. The feel of those long fingers gently massaging his scalp was utterly divine. “How did I live for so long without ever feeling you do that?” he asked.

“Hmmm?” Glorfindel responded. “Do what?”

“Your fingers. My head.”

Glorfindel chuckled deep in his throat. Leaning his head down, he kissed Erestor’s neck, laving it with his tongue, and then with a groan, spat.

“I taste that bad?” Erestor said, raising his eyebrows and wishing he could see Glorfindel’s face.

“You, my love, taste wonderfully. The soap, however, leaves much to be desired.” The captain spat again.

Erestor laughed and turned around from his position between Glorfindel’s legs to wrap his arms around his lover’s neck and kiss him passionately. The fact that it took him two tries to find Glorfindel’s mouth bothered them not in the least. Up to that point they had managed to keep their touches chaste, neither one of them wanting to have their first experience of lovemaking in the bath.

“You taste like soap,” Erestor said when the kiss finally ended. “We should have brought that bottle of wine in here with us.

Glorfindel made a sound of agreement. “Turn around so I can rinse your hair and we can get out of here and find it, after which I intend to try and seduce you.”

“I doubt you will have to try very hard,” Erestor mumbled, turning in Glorfindel’s lap and closing his blind eyes tightly against the fresh water that was poured over his head.

When the bath was finished they sat before the fire in light robes, Glorfindel brushing Erestor’s hair to dry it before he helped the counselor put on his eye bandages. “I think it is dry enough now, love,” he finally said.

“Pity,” Erestor sighed. “I was enjoying that.”

Glorfindel chuckled. “If I’d known you liked your head touched so much, I would have been doing more of it.”

“I didn’t know I liked it so much either,” Erestor said, stretching languidly. “Do you have the bandages here?” he asked. He had been trying to keep his eyes closed ever since Elrond told him about resting his eyes, but it was difficult not to open them.

“I am just folding the small pieces to make the pads for your eyes,” Glorfindel responded. When the black pads were ready, he placed them in Erestor’s hands and said, “Hold these over your eyes with your fingers and I’ll tie the scarf.” Erestor held the thick pads against his closed eyes while the captain tied the strip of black silk around the counselor’s head to hold them in place. Sitting back, Glorfindel surveyed his handiwork. “You look mysterious now,” he teased. “You will silently glide through the corridors and passersby will whisper, ‘Who is that exotic Elf?’”

Erestor chuckled. “More like they’ll say, ‘There goes poor old blind Erestor,’” the counselor quipped.

“They would not dare,” Glorfindel said, pulling Erestor closer to lie in his arms. His voice becoming softer, he asked, “What fears do you have that remain, love? You know that Elrond still wants you as his chief advisor, and I am with you in the darkness. Tell me what your next fears are and we will work through them together.”

Erestor thought for a moment and then said, “I still fear being alone and in danger. If my sight does not return, I do not ever want to leave this valley again, Glorfindel. At least here I know I am among Elves who care about me and will help me. I do not have to try and make a fire on my own and risk getting burnt. If I fall on the stairs, someone will come running to assist me. If I am hungry, someone will fix me food. I have no desire to kill myself in some stupid accident.”

“Are you sure there is not one more thing that you are afraid of?” Glorfindel asked carefully.

There was a long silence before Erestor finally spoke. “You are going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Glorfindel responded. “Tell me, and let us deal with it,” he said gently.

“You know what I most fear,” Erestor whispered. “I fear that you love me only out of your great compassion for my blindness, and you will eventually regret telling me.”

“Erestor, have you ever heard of an Elf who made a poor decision in choosing a mate? Have you ever heard of an Elf whose heart misspoke and told him to wed the wrong person?” Glorfindel asked.

Erestor thought. His life was long and there were a lot of Elves to recall prior to answering that question. “One or two,” he finally answered.

“One or two, in all your long millennia,” Glorfindel said. “Erestor, do you really think my heart lies to me when it tells me I love you? Do you really think I could be so deceived?” he asked softly.

Erestor shook his head. “No,” he said in a barely audible whisper. “My logical mind does not believe it. But my intellect wars with my emotions. I wish I could see your beautiful blue eyes, for then I would truly believe.” He wrapped his arms around Glorfindel and rested his head against the sturdy, broad chest. “Your eyes are so expressive and always shine with the truth. I regret most that I cannot see them.” He sighed and settled further against Glorfindel’s chest. “I love your eyes.”

“I love you, Erestor,” Glorfindel whispered, kissing the top of the dark head. “What can I do make you believe – to have you really know that I will always love only you?”

“I do not know,” Erestor said in a small voice.

Glorfindel rested his cheek on Erestor’s head and the two sat in comfortable silence for long minutes until the captain suddenly straightened. He knew what would convince the insecure counselor. “Erestor, will you bind with me – tonight?” he asked.

Erestor raised his head. “Tonight? Why would you ask me that, Glorfindel? I expected you would want a long betrothal. I want you to be sure of me. You cannot bind with me tonight.”

“Oh, Erestor, my silly love,” Glorfindel said, shaking his head. “For how many years have we known and loved each other as friends? Is it so hard for you to believe that my love has grown beyond that? You did not question like this the first night of your blindness when I told you I loved you and asked you to marry me – which you agreed to, I might remind you. What is making you so hesitant now?”

Erestor sighed and leaned against Glorfindel again. “I do not know. My emotions seem to have gotten all jumbled since we arrived home and Elrond told me I might see again. I do know I love you with all my heart, and I do believe you love me. I do want to marry you – it has always been my heart’s desire. I just want you to be sure. I don’t want you find out you loved me only as a friend and have to spend an eternity in misery with me.”

Glorfindel was convinced that if Erestor could only see his eyes he would know, but that was impossible. He would just have to convince him in other ways. “I ‘am’ sure, beloved,” he whispered in one of Erestor’s shapely ears. “An eternity with you is exactly what I want, and I promise you, it will be an eternity of happiness and love.” His hands moved along Erestor’s back and shoulders sinuously, caressing the muscled flesh. “I do love you, Erestor, with all my heart and soul.”

Erestor parted Glorfindel’s robe and kissed the smooth skin of the captain’s chest before moving his mouth up to suck at the creamy throat. Sitting up, he shifted and wound his legs around Glorfindel’s waist and his arms around the broad shoulders. “Then promise me you will never leave me,” he said huskily. “I could not bear it if you did. Promise me you will be mine always.”

“I will be yours forever,” Glorfindel said, holding Erestor close to his chest. “Your friend, your mate, your lover, your husband, until the end of Arda, I promise you.”

Erestor pressed his lips against Glorfindel’s in a passionate kiss. When he finally lifted his head for a breath of air, he whispered. “I will be yours forever – your friend, your mate, your lover, your husband, until the end of Arda. I love you, Glorfindel, so much that sometimes it feels like I almost cannot bear it.”

“I know that feeling,” Glorfindel whispered. “I have felt it often with you.”

“Then take me to our bed,” Erestor said softly. “Bind with me. Love me.”

Glorfindel held on to Erestor tightly, rising first to his knees and then, with a grunt, to his feet, the counselor’s long legs still wrapped around his waist.

“Show-off,” Erestor muttered.

“You get to do that next time,” Glorfindel replied, unable to suppress a grin and enormously pleased with himself that he’d been able to get up off the floor still holding Erestor.

Taking the few steps to the bed, he laid Erestor on it, whispering, “What do you want, beloved?”

“Just you,” Erestor whispered. “Whatever you wish, my love, but I would like to see you, with these,” he said, waggling his fingers.

“You wish to ‘see’ me?” Glorfindel asked. “I think that can be arranged.” He was already relishing the idea of Erestor’s long, slender fingers roaming over his body. Their light robes were quickly cast aside, and he lay on his side next to Erestor. Taking one of the counselor’s hands, he laid it over his heart. “You may explore as much as you would like, love.”

Erestor moved his hands and felt Glorfindel to determine how he was laying. Pushing the larger Elf flat on his back, he sat and placed his hands on Glorfindel’s face and neck. His fingers caressed the smooth, firm flesh and worked their way over the broad shoulders. Smooth, soft skin covered firm steel and Erestor could feel the powerful muscle and sinew beneath his fingertips. His hands moved slowly, feeling every ripple, every curve, testing which areas made Glorfindel inhale sharply and where his fingers made breathing stop altogether. His fingertips encountered soft nipples, caressing them until they were hard and pebbly. A small moan escaped the captain’s lips. Erestor knew he would return to these spots, pleased with the response he elicited, but now was the time for more exploration.

Several places along Glorfindel’s sides caused poorly suppressed giggles. Ah, the strong captain was also ticklish. The sites were stored away in Erestor’s mind for future reference. The counselor’s fingers danced down the strong torso, stopping to play where powerful thighs were joined. Soft touches along the long crease made Glorfindel utter pleased little noises and move his body into the touch. “You like it when I touch you there,” Erestor whispered.

“It is most…arousing,” Glorfindel said, his voice deep and resonant.

“Are you aroused, then?” Erestor asked softly. He had pointedly avoided Glorfindel’s groin, wanting to save that experience for the last. He was already greatly aroused himself, simply from touching his beloved.

“Touch me, and you will know how aroused I am,” Glorfindel responded sultrily.

Erestor chuckled low in his chest. “Not yet,” he whispered, his fingers moving down firm, muscled legs to feet that felt surprisingly delicate despite their size. “I am not done ‘seeing’ you yet.” His fingertips floated across the bottom of the shapely feet and elicited a stifled giggle. Erestor grinned, repeating the motion. “You are ticklish.”

“Yes,” Glorfindel managed to snort out around another laugh, pulling his limbs away from Erestor’s wicked fingers to plant the bottom of his feet securely on the bed. “You have ‘seen’ my feet enough,” he said, the teasing tone of his voice softening the words.

Erestor’s clever fingers moved back up and over the bent legs, creeping slowly, relentlessly toward Glorfindel’s member, prolonging the anticipation. Long digits finally claimed their prize, wrapping around the silk covered hardness. Erestor moved his hand slowly down the shaft and up again, spreading the creamy drops that already leaked from its tip. What he felt pleased him, and he dipped his head to languidly draw his tongue along the length.

Glorfindel sighed as Erestor’s fingers surrounded him, his head dropping back against the pillows as his body hummed in pleasure from his lover’s touch. At the brush of his lover’s tongue on his erection he groaned and pulled the counselor up into his arms, covering his body with Erestor’s and kissing him deeply. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than for Erestor to take him. He had intended to be the one doing the taking, but he suddenly realized it no longer mattered. This wasn’t about who took whom. It was about sharing yourself with your beloved in the most intimate of acts and the giving of pleasure. Making love was just that – loving. Dragging his lips away from the sweet mouth, he whispered into a shapely ear, “Erestor…love…take me.”

Erestor was stunned into silence, not quite sure if he had heard what he thought. “Glorfindel? Wh…what?” he stammered.

“I want you inside of me,” Glorfindel whispered, his mouth moving along Erestor’s elegantly curved neck.

“I thought…are you sure?” Erestor finally asked, becoming even more aroused. The blood rushing to his groin was making his head spin.

“I am very sure,” Glorfindel said, his hands stroking along Erestor’s back.

“Will you help me?” Erestor whispered.

“Always,” Glorfindel answered. “Always.”

It was only a matter of minutes before Erestor was seated with his back to the headboard, the black eye bandages were lying on the bedside table, and Glorfindel was lowering himself onto the counselor. When they were fully joined, the captain rested, his head on Erestor’s shoulder, allowing his body to adjust to the feel of his lover within him.

Erestor gasped as he felt tight heat surround him. As Glorfindel waited for a moment, Erestor’s mind unconsciously opened and he was nearly overcome as waves of his beloved’s emotions flooded into him. Whatever doubt might have remained that Glorfindel truly loved him could not withstand the onslaught: it melted away and vanished in the intense heat of the Glorfindel’s love. “Oh,” he whispered unsteadily, “you really love me…”

“I really love you,” Glorfindel responded, raising his head to gaze adoringly into Erestor’s unseeing eyes. His hands gently cupped Erestor’s face. “You know now?” he asked gently.

“I know now,” Erestor whispered, any further words cut off by Glorfindel’s mouth on his own. His lover’s, now his mate’s, probing tongue sought and was granted entrance, entwining around its counterpart.

Their loving was slow and gentle, their actions quieted by the rush of shared feelings and thoughts. Each moment forged a new link in their bond until it became strong and unbreakable, a thing of substance. And in the end, amid whispered and repeated words of love, the two lay sated, content, as entwined in body as their souls. Erestor’s head rested on his mate’s chest, and he drifted to sleep, listening to the measured cadence of their hearts beating in unison.

Tbc…