Against all odds2: Work it out

Chapter eight They’re too tired

Elrond sighed and knocked on the door. He frowned when he saw Haldir answering it.
The warrior grinned. “Elrond, how are they?” He opened the door and grinned again when a puzzled Elrond stepped inside.

His look brightened when he saw Thranduil. For a moment he had feared he had taken a wrong turn somehow.
Thranduil shook his head at the other’s expression and smiled apologetically. “Legolas and Elrohir went matchmaking.” He now smiled a happy smile. “And for once I am not the target.”
This made Elrond raise his eyebrow and he sat down, smiling warmly and sympathetically at the other ruler. Thranduil shrugged and looked at Haldir.

The warrior shrugged as well and approached. “My brothers are.”
The eyebrow raised even higher. “Are you sure? I remember removing an arrow from my son’s behind once.”
Haldir grinned and nodded. “Aye. Legolas isn’t impressed by it.” He grinned. “So maybe you should prepare the healing house for an injury of such nature.”
Elrond shook his head and looked bemused. “And who are the intended spouse-victims?”
Haldir laughed freely and shook his head. “I’ve got to remember that one.”
Thranduil nodded. “Aye, I can’t wait to see Legolas’ face when I say -that-.”

He sobered up real soon. “Apparently Rumil’s convinced Glorfindel will go back to Ecthelion.”
Elrond’s eyes widened in shock. “Aiya, I hadn’t considered his response yet.” He sighed. “This might set his recovery back in a dangerous way.”
Haldir gasped and looked at Elrond in a begging way. “Can’t you do something?”
Elrond shrugged. “I don’t know, Haldir. Except for assigning someone else to show Ecthelion the realm.”
Thranduil’s eyes lit up at that. “Orophin!”
Haldir looked angry and shook his head. “Nay, it’ll hurt him too much!”
Thranduil stood. “Nay, Haldir, we won’t allow that to happen.”
Elrond shook his head. “Nay, Thranduil, Rumil will never fully heal if Glorfindel abandons all of his old friendships. I think it’s best a talk between Rumil and Ecthelion should occur.”

Haldir smiled grateful at the Peredhel. “Now that we have that covered; how are Lindir and Elladan?”
Elrond smiled and his eyes warmed with affection. “Just fine. The poison has left Elladan’s body and Lindir is getting better as well. They’ve decided to stay in bed together at daytime and roam the house at night.”
Haldir widened his eyes. “But what if he walks into a stream again?”
Elrond smiled. “We shall have to make someone follow them to lend a hand if necessary.”
Haldir nodded. “Between us, they won’t get in much trouble.”

Elrond sighed. “Anyway, the food cravings are about to set in. I wonder what he’ll want?”
Thranduil smiled. “I remember my wife’s desire for hot chocolate.” He shook his head. “It was the middle of a hot, blazing summer and she demanded hot coco every day.”
Elrond grinned as well. “When Celebraín carried Arwen she wanted orange ice-cream. In the middle of the night.” He smiled fondly and sighed. “Even Erestor feared me during those nights.”

Haldir smiled saddened. He had no living relative, besides his brothers, and no idea who his parents were and what they were like and how he and his brothers affected his mother. He only knew their names. Talks like these always made him sad.
Thranduil and Elrond noticed the changed state and a knowing look passed between them.

Deciding to do away with the tension that suddenly had come to life Elrond asked where Legolas and Elrohir were.
Thranduil grinned. “Told you already they went out matchmaking.” He frowned. “Elrohir said something about Legolas letting him know what you said, but I have no idea how or what he meant.”
Elrond smiled. He did know what Elrohir had in mind but decided not to talk to Legolas this time.

`Elrohir, ion-nin, hear me.` Instantly he felt Elrohir’s presence in his mind. `I thought you would go to Thranduil?` Elrond smiled. `I am with him now, but I’d rather talk to you directly this time and not through Legolas.`
`Hey, I resent that!`
Elrond shook his head and Legolas’ sudden words. `Shut up, you, I’ll talk to you later. Elladan and Lindir are fine.` Instantly he sensed their happiness and Legolas’ support towards Elrohir. It made him smile. They have never excluded him from their deep bond. `I’ve been informed what has happened to Orophin and Rumil. I have no idea how to aid Orophin, yet, but I’m going to make Ecthelion and Rumil talk.`
He swiftly ended the connection, feeling drained. Ever since he’s bonded with Erestor he tired swifter when doing this.

He smiled and stood. “I better go now. Erestor will wonder where I am.”
He hugged Haldir. “Don’t worry about your brothers. They’ll be fine. Legolas is extremely determined to get them together.” He laughed. “And he really isn’t afraid of his arrows, you know. He is bound to shoot Orophin instead.”
Thranduil nodded. “Sounds like him, all right, but he’ll only do that if Orophin would threaten Elrohir.”
Elrond nodded and swiftly left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He felt extremely tired and wondered again why he tired so swiftly lately. He walked into his study and sat down wearily.
Erestor, standing near the cabinet frowned at the action. “Yána?”
Elrond looked at him and smiled, shrugging. “I don’t know why I am so extremely tired lately.” He sighed when Erestor came to stand behind him and he eagerly rested his head against his lover’s stomach.

“It’s not a late result from…” Erestor’s voice choked up and Elrond raised his arm to caress his lover’s cheek. “Nay, it isn’t.”

He knew precisely what Erestor had wanted to say. And he had thought so for a while but he had read up about it and found no mention of it anywhere. And yet; he couldn’t entirely rule it out either.

“Maybe I’ve been working too hard…” He sighed and locked eyes with Erestor.
Erestor smiled. “I shall ask Thranduil, and yes, I do think he is willing to do that. Maybe a few days of rest…” But truth was that he was getting worried as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glorfindel frowned when he saw Elrohir walking towards him, alone. “Pen-neth?”
Elrohir smiled. “Seas, you sound as if you fear a prank coming up.” He grinned. “I’ve stopped doing that a long time ago and besides, I am married now.”
Glorfindel grinned as well. “As if that would be able to stop you.” He shook his head. “Nay, I was merely wondered why you come here alone. Without your husband.”

Elrohir smiled at the concern shining from the blue orbs and he hastened to set the warrior’s mind at ease. “Legolas went to see Ecthelion. Father thinks he and Rumil should talk.”
Glorfindel frowned. “Why? He might get a relapse.”
Elrohir placed his hand on Glorfindel’s arm. “Haven’t you noticed he already has one?”
Glorfindel’s eyes widened in shock and horror. “What….what…what happened?”
Elrohir shrugged. “Ecthelion arrived.” He jumped back when Glorfindel growled.
“We are not lovers! Not in this life.”
Elrohir nodded. “Aye, we know, Ecthelion loves another too, just like you love Rumil. And that’s why he has to talk to Rumil, for he won’t believe that from any but him.” He sighed. “He thinks that eventually you will go back to Ecthelion. That the closeness will awaken the flame.”
Glorfindel frowned, but saw the logic and knew it wasn’t a lack of trust. He smiled. “It’s easy then. I’ll just have to stay away from Ecthelion. Would you and Legolas show him Imladris in my stead?”
Elrohir shook his head. “Nay, adar forbids you doing this because he thinks Rumil will never really heal that way. But maybe if you -and- Ru show Ecthelion Imladris? Maybe that way he has to believe….”

He instantly made contact with his father.
`Nay, Elrohir, don’t contact him now. I’ve put him to sleep. What is it?`
Elrohir was surprised to hear Erestor’s voice in his head, but pushed it away. `I just thought that maybe if Rumil and Glorfindel show Ecthelion the realm together it might heal him. And I wanted to know adar’s opinion on it.`
`Sounds excellent to me. Shows how tired your father really is, though, for he would have thought of it himself.`
Elrohir gasped and broke the connection, worry the sole emotion in his system.

Glorfindel noticed the sudden despair and hugged him close. “Pen-neth, what is it?”
Elrohir leaned against him and his tears started to fall freely.

Glorfindel smiled when he saw Legolas running towards them. Obviously the Prince had sensed.

Legolas took over from Glorfindel and pulled Elrohir close. “Erestor told me what he said. He’s sorry, nin verno, he didn’t realise. He says he’s too tired as well.”
Elrohir smiled and nodded, opening his eyes and locking them with Glorfindel. “He intercepted the call when I tried to connect with adar. He said he’s too tired.”
Glorfindel nodded. “Off course he is. He’s doing a lot of work lately and has hardly slept for as long as we know Lindir’s pregnant, or have you forgotten the minstrel’s nightly activities?” He smiled and squished Elrohir’s shoulder. “And now Elladan came home injured. It all takes its toll, Elrohir. I think right now your father is physically and emotionally drained and needs rest.”

Legolas frowned. “But that doesn’t explain Erestor’s tiredness.”
Glorfindel grinned. “I’ll bet he said that on purpose, knowing Elrohir would smile about it. And besides, I don’t see how Elrond’s condition can not affect his mate.”
Legolas smiled gratefully at the blond. Those words were exactly what Elrohir needed to hear.

Glorfindel smiled and placed his arms around both. “This is the first break-down I have seen since the wedding, you are doing better and better, Ro.”
Elrohir smiled and felt great, feeling both Legolas and Glorfindel protect him. He smiled. “Maybe Thranduil can step in for a while? Give adar a chance to rest.”
Glorfindel nodded. “And maybe between us we can make Erestor’s job a little lighter too.” He smiled. “So who’s going to ask him?”
Legolas smiled. “You will, he won’t say no. Ro and I will tell Erestor and Elrond.”
Together they walked back to the house.

Translations:
Yána – sanctuary (an endearment that Erestor uses)
Nin verno – my husband

TBC