Winter Tears

Chapter 8

Erestor stormed through the tapestry of Elrond’s private council chambers barely pausing to consider the discussion of the councillors present that fell silent as he burst in. Elrond looked a little shocked to see his chief advisor looking so angry, having remembered clearly leaving Erestor in the best of moods in his library earlier in the morning. Determinedly Erestor walked up to the desk, pushing one of the councillors from his path before slamming a piece of parchment in front of Elrond on the desk. Elrond sat back a little as Erestor spun furiously around and began instantly pacing the length of the entire chamber his hands grasped tightly in front.

“It is an outrage, and I will not stand by and hold my tongue as I did with the twins my Lord.” Erestor continued to pace, his voice although heated raised no louder than it was usually. Frowning in confusion Elrond dismissed his councillors with a wave of his hand, who all obediently left knowing that Erestor’s anger was not to be trifled with. Erestor was mad, the anger from last night’s irritating cleaning job having not quite settled before this new source of anger had erupted right before his very eyes.

“Erestor please sit and tell me exactly what has happened? I am sure whatever it is can be solved with calm agreement.” Elrond watched as Erestor paced one more length of the chamber before sighing and sitting down stiffly into the chair opposite Elrond’s at the desk. Elrond had known Erestor most his life and knew all to well how to handle his advisors moods. “Now tell me what is going on.” Reaching to his cabinet Elrond poured both himself and Erestor a small glass of elvan fey wine before settling himself for the story that would ensue.

“He has entered my private library, without so much as acknowledgement of my position. I knew as soon as I saw him that he was just like Thranduil, arrogant and presumptuous, how you can possible teach an elf manners after being brought up by savages is beyond me, but I will not stand to have my privacy invaded even if he is a prince.” Erestor looked pointedly at Elrond who still confused lifted the parchment Erestor had slammed onto his desk up to his face and read it aloud.

“Lord Erestor, had I been able to last evening I would have thanked you earlier for aiding me in my pain. Please accept my apologies of not being the most compliant patient you have dealt with and that anything I can offer in return for your help will be gladly given as thank-you. I apologise also for not waking you upon my arrival and hope you forgive my intrusion, yours sincerely Prince Legolas Greenleaf.” Elrond ended the letter with a small show of surprise before placing the note back onto the table in front of him to look up blankly at his still livid advisor.

“He is as arrogant as Thranduil you say Erestor?” Elrond paused and watched as Erestor shifted uncomfortably in his seat, realising how foolish his words had been concerning the prince. “Thranduil would not have left you such a note as the prince has done, and on the whole I believe he was genuine in thanking you for last night.” Again Elrond paused and eyed Erestor suspiciously as the advisor rose from the seat and wandered silently over to the open balcony that over looked the archery field. Down below he could see Lord Glorfindel instructing his charges in the warm morning sun. “I doubt very much if the prince meant you any harm my friend. He is far too concerned with upholding his father’s wishes than to disgrace himself with such malicious actions towards his hosts.” Elrond continued to observe his advisor who now stood pensively staring out of the window, looking far sterner than he usually did.

“You are right my Lord, I am sure Thranduil put the fear of Arada into his youngest before allowing him beyond the border. Legolas will be scared to but a foot out of line here less his father finds out his misbehaviour.” Erestor turned back from the archery field the moment his eyes found the said prince sitting idly under a tree watching proceedings. The prince looked almost like Glorfindel from a far although unlike Glorfindel there was an almost feminie beauty about the young prince, a trait he would most likely lose like the balrog slayer had in his elder years.

“If you know as much Erestor, why do you bring this incident to my attention?” Elrond continued to watch his advisor closely as Erestor sat back down on the seat opposite his lord.

“You know very well why. He may have not meant to invade my privacy but I will not stand for it. Legolas will have to be told of his unintentional harm and the rules regarding my privacy must be made known to him. I will not have prince’s wandering in on me while I am asleep, far less walking in unannounced.” Elrond sighed inwardly as Erestor rose from seat and made his way to over to the tapestry to leave.

“I will talk to him this evening then.” With resignation Elrond gave in to Erestor’s wishes. He had planned to insist Erestor told Legolas himself but Elrond had sensed apprehension in his advisor, an emotion Erestor did not show unintentionally or otherwise and this had thrown Elrond off track.

“Thank-you my Lord, I apologise for interrupting your meeting, I shalle the the councillors sent back in immediately.”h a h a curt bow Erestor was gone from sight leaving Elrond staring at the vacant space only seconds before his councillors began filing back into the room, ready to continue their discussions.

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Erestor hurried back along the corridors to his library barely pausing as he entered and firmly shut the door behind him. Not quite realising his haste Erestor slumped breathlessly against his desk trying and failing to calm his racing heart beat and his fierce breathing’d m’d made a complete fool of himself, his fear upon waking and reading Legolas note causing him to act irrationally. Legolas had meant no harm but Erestor had not seen that in his haste. No one ever came near him while he slept, and the fact Erestor had not heard the prince come in was even more frightening. What had worried Erestor the most was what he had been dreaming about while lying out in the sun.

At first he’d had visions about the previous night, had heard Lego scr screams of the operation but awfulness had given way to a more pleasing image. Legolas’ body had relaxed beneath his own, and Erestor had found his mouth plundering the sweetness that was the prince’s young skin. The images had turned far more erotic to the point at which Erestor’s member had swollen pleadingly beneath his robes. Having woken from his dream to find himself erect had startled him. It had been years since he’d indulged in such impure thoughts, his memories closed to such intimacy between anyone. Yet with the appearance of prince Legolas, fantasies long since quelled had stirred in and and Erestor feared why he was acting such a way. On top of his erection to find Legolas’ note had almost humiliated Erestor to the point of passing out. If the prince had seen what Erestor had sported beneath his robes he would be devastated. That is where the anger had come from, at first it had been directed at himself for being so careless with his thoughts bs hes he’d walked to Elrond’s office that anger had shifted to Legolas.

As always however Elrond had calmed him somewhat, his irrationality clearing with calm words of wisdom. Now after enduring the humiliation of his own anger Erestor poured himself a large glass of fey wine and slumped down into the chair that looked out of the doors and down into the private, sunlit courtyard. The library had once been a store for linen in the old days but when Erestor had arrived in Imladris Elrond had turned it into a private study for his chief advisor. The courtyard itself, Erestor tended himself, having planted his favourite flowers and had taken to growing the few herbs he used in hin ban bath oils and soaps.

As he drank his wine Erestor’s mind again drifted to Legolas and a shudder ran through the advisor. Legolas was beautiful. Long blond hair, a toned body and a perfectly sculptured face all added to the prince’s pleasing physical appearance. Yet Legolas beauty was not uncommon to Erestor. During his time in Imladris he had seen bea beautiful men and women pass through the corridors and none had aroused such a reaction from Erestor. The feelings, emotions and desires he’d kept repressed for so long had suddenly fought from their hiding, and Erestor feared the memories that would come with them. He was strong now, compared to back then and his elder age provided a wisdom he’d not known then but he knew it was only a short step back in time, and if the nightmares came there would be no stopping his decline. He’d fought and barely won last time, he could not do it again.

With a heavy sigh Erestor drained his glass of wine and turned back to his desk, the pile of work he’d let go in favour of sleep earlier in the morning now lay waiting his attention. With luck he would just finish the work before dinner, another missed meal and Elrond was be livid. Pushing his thoughts of Legolas away Erestor turned his attention back to his work and within half an hour was lost in the depths of inter-racial relations and inventory taking.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/N) okay i never force my readers to review but it's nice to hear what you think, it makes writing easier knowing you have an audience who's enjoying it, that said I will update as soon as I get another free minute or to but until then, stew on the knowledge that Erestor isn\ll hll he seems.