Nymph of the Forest

It started with roses, hundreds and hundreds of roses being delivered to his personal rooms. They were all different colors and shapes. Reds, whites, pinks, yellows, and even the rarer deep blues and purples roses, but they all had one thing in common. They all had come from Lord Elrond's personal garden, and every single one of them had their thorns removed by a loving hand.

Then there were the gifts....

Elrond paced across the floor in his study, every-time he would pass his desk, Elrond would shoot a guilty look in the direction of the cumbersome piece of furniture, as if it were at fault for his behavior.

"Is has been a week, and still he has not come out of his rooms." Imladris's Lord said to the other occupant of the room, before he suddenly came to an halt, and raised his hand to the ridge of his nose.

Pinching with his thumb and forefinger, as if to rid himself of an headache, Elrond sighed softly, "This is not working, my friend"

Glorfindel placed the wine glass he had been sipping from down gently on the table next to him, and quickly stood, moving across the room to his Lord. "This can not be fixed overnight, Elrond. His hurt is to deep, to near the surface, and he will need time to heal." Glorfindel said, as his eyebrows creased in worry.

"However, even I thought the roses would at least get him to come out of his rooms." Glorfindel said, as he shook his head, his golden tresses flying wildly around his shoulders.

"Watch it Glorfindel, before you put my eye out." Elrond said, his downcast face brighten for a moment with his jest.

"It was an good idea, my friend. It...is just not helping." Elrond said, as his eyes teared with shame. "He will never forgive me." Elrond said, as he lowered his hand.

Glorfindel raised his hands to Elrond's head, and cupped the pale face between his large hands. "You must learn to forgive yourself, before he can. There has been too much pain, too much hurt, and too many secrets. But there is also love, and it is time to reach out for it with both hands Elrond. Don't let this slip you by." Glorfindel said passionately, slighting shaking his Lord to get the point across.

"Then what do you suggest?" Elrond asked, with little hope in his voice.

"We go to plan B" Glorfindel said, with a wicked smile dancing across his lips.

Elrond only groaned.

Erestor picked up the beautifully wrapped box that had come with his daily delivery of roses, and gazed at it in wonder. The box was roughly the size of small trunk, and weighted a ton. Erestor grunted as he placed the heavy back and silver wrapped box on the end of his bed, and stared down at it as if he expected his Lord to pop out of the very package itself.

Sighing softly, Erestor's gazed around his room looking at the virtual rose garden that was now his rooms, "If only this could have happened before......" Erestor sighed out again mournfully.

The "Gifts" had started out as simple little trinkets at first, a new set of simple wooden hair combs, a bottle of wine, parchment, a tray filled with his favorite foods, but then the gifts had become.....more.

A set of hair clips in the finniest mother of Pearl he had ever seen before, robes the color of the sea made out of the purest silk, a set of quills made out of gold and silver, and now this last gift witched sat on his bed.

Reaching out with shaking hands, his nerves still clearly taxed by what had occurred the week before, Erestor slowly slipped the wrappings open. The wooded box was simple in it's self, but the treasure inside of it was priceless.

Picking up one of the books in his suddenly steady hands, Erestor slowly slipped to his knees in stunned shock, when he read the title of the book.

"The birth of the Firstborn" Erestor said in reverence, as his hands gently caressed the cover of one of the first known books ever to be written by Elvin hands.

The set of books were truly priceless, they were the only known copy to have survive the fall of one of the greatest Elvin cities in history, and Erestor knew for a fact that these books were one of his Lord's most treasured artifacts.

Before he even thought about what he was doing, Erestor had jumped to his feet, and ran out of his rooms with the book cradled against his chest like a newborn.

It was not until he was standing in front of his Lord's desk, staring at a stunned Elrond, before he realized he had left the safety of his rooms. "What.....what...is the meaning of this?"Erestor whispered, as he still clutched the book against his heaving chest.

Elrond slowly stood from his desk, not wanting to spook the trembling elf before him, as he moved around his desk. When Elrond was right in front of his adviser, the mighty Lord of Imladris dropped to his knees, and bowed his head in subjugation.

"It is one of two things. First it is my humble attempt at an apology." Elrond said, as he leaned his forehead against Erestor's feet, while he wrapped his hands around his advisor's ankles. "Please, I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, but I hope one day you may be able. Please believe me when I say, I am so sorry." Elrond begged, as tears slipped down his cheeks.

Erestor stared down at his proud Lord, reduced to begging at his feet, and all the fear and shame he had been feeling suddenly slipped away like the wind.

Kneeling, Erestor gently put the book on the floor beside of them, and lifted his Lord's face to his own. Gently, Eresstor placed a feather-soft kiss against his beloveds lips, before he pulled back and gazed into Elrond's eyes. "Shhhhhh, I forgive you" Erestor said softly.

Elrond wiped the still falling tears from his eyes, and smiled softly at his adviser. "You do?" Elrond asked uncertainly, wanting to pull Erestor into his arms so badly, that he could taste it on the tip of his tongue.

Erestor could see the desire in Elrond's eyes to hold him, so he moved into his Lord's arms, and snuggled against the broad chest. "What was the second reason for the gift?" Erestor asked after a moment, sighing in contentment.

Elrond pulled back, and smiled gently down upon his adviser, as he brushed midnight dark hair behind one pointed ear, "Aye, there was a second reason. If you agree, I wish it to be a courting gift." Elrond said shyly.

Erestor stared in shook at his Lord, "A courting gift? You wish to court me?" Erestor squeaked out in an startled tone.

Elrond pulled Erestor against him by his shoulders, and placed the lightest of kisses on his advisor's nose. "Aye, will you allow me to court you?" Elrond asked, gazing lovingly at Erestor.

"Yes."

The End

Darkladyd

**This is the end of this story, but a sequel is being written as we speck. The title of the new fic is called "The Courting of the Nymph of Rivendell", and it is about how Elrond wins his Nymph's heart back. heheheh****

Review Please! Let me know if a sequel is wanted!!!