Ebony, Gold and Mithril

Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.

Ebony, Gold and Mithril.

Chapter 9

The soft glow of candle light that invaded the garden from the open doorway of the dining hall gradually dissolved into shadow, and as Thranduil had surmised, the lovers had barely reached the privacy afforded by the dark of night before Erestor felt a pair of strong arms pull him into a crushing embrace.

“Alone at last!” declared Glorfindel happily.

“I do not know how much longer I can bear the constant state of arousal I am in due to your touch on these exquisite robes,” whispered Erestor as he felt fingers trailing across his robes, with the barest of pressure causing the silky fabric to rub against his bare chest and his hardened nipples. In response, his hands caressed the seneschal’s back, moving slowly downwards to the tempting curve of buttocks covered by nothing but the erotic cloth. Glorfindel moved his hips slightly backwards into Erestor’s hands, causing soft moans to escape both their lips.

“Then let us make the most of this time,” the seneschal suggested seductively, suiting his actions to his words by undoing the collar of the deep blue robe so that he could taste the soft flesh of the hidden neck. A smile of delight curved his lips when his nips and licks elicited small urgent sounds of want from his lover. An elegant finger then tenderly stroked the advisor’s pale cheek, laving a trail of fire in its wake. Erestor leaned into to the touch, tilting his face upwards to offer his lips to his beloved. The invitation was accepted with several brief, soft kisses that were at first merely affectionate but gradually deepened into a lingering touch of searing passion. Desires threatened to engulf them both in its flames and within a moment two pairs of hands were fumbling blindly, hastily attempting to unbutton robes when Glorfindel heard his name being called by Gildor. He decided to ignore the Elf, but was forced to listen to reason when Erestor spoke.

“Unfortunately, you are due to join the musicians in the Hall of Fire shortly,” thvisovisor reminded his favourite harp player with an obvious sigh of disappointment.

“Forgive the intrusion my lords but the dancing in which King Thranduil is most eager to participate can not begin without the music of our harpist,” said the minstrel with an apologetic smile.

“Very well, I will attend in a few moments,” Glorfindel acquiesced. It took a few moments for the lovers to regain their composure, and as they reluctantly separated from their embrace, two pairs of eyes darkened with lust exchanged silent words of love.

“We will *continue* later,” a husky voice said softly into the advisor’s ear.

“Nay, we will *finish* later,” came the sultry reply.

********.

“I imagine Thranduil finds our ways a little more formal than those to which he is accustomed,” commented Elrond as he and his advisor watched their friend tirelessly partner another of the maids who sought a turn around the dance floor with him. Erestor had never been one for dancing, always preferring to sit back and watch the beauty and grace of Elves moving almost sensuously in tine with the music as they followed the complicated yet elegant steps

“Ai, the merrymaking of our Woodland kin is certainly more carefree and far livelier, especially since the choice of partners is not restricted to Elves of the same gender,” added Erestor with a smile as he recalled many a pleasant evening at one of the King’s midnight feasts. In particular one night came to mind where he had been persuaded by a little too much Dorwinion, and an insistent King, to join in the dance. It had been an exhilarating experience, but one he had vowed never to repeat when he thought on his lack of decorum, although the notion of holding Glorfindel close as their bodies moved and swayed in harmony with the music was suddenly very appealing. And arousing, he realised as he felt his leggings become uncomfortably tight once more, reminding of his need for his lover and a repeat of the pleasure they had enjoyed before the banquet.

“Glorfindel is performing exceptionally well this evening,” he heard Elrond say, drawing his attention back to his surroundings. Erestor looked towards the small stage where his beloved was seated and he inhaled sharply as glittering blue eyes met and held his from across the room and the music changed to a slow moving tempo.

“Indeed he has…I mean… is….” replied Erestor wistfully, his mind obviously on the Harper and wishing that it was he rather than the harp who was held so lovingly on Glorfindel’s lap. Long, elegant fingers now moved sensuously, not so much plucking the harps strings as caressing them with a tenderness that Erestor could almost feel. Enotenote sent a tingle of pleasure racing through his body, filling him with an intense need to have those fingers on his bare skin and as the song continued, Erestor had no doubt that Glorfindel was making love to him with his music. It was the most erotic experience he had ever known, and he was drawn as a moth to a flame to stand before his lover. The last note had barely faded when he reached for one of those talented hands and brought it to his lips and ever so softly kissed the palm before leading Glorfindel away from the other musicians. Neither even noticed that the eyes of nearly every Elf in the Hall were following their encounter, nor that there was much silent rejoicing in witnessing a newfound love.

“You play so beautifully,” he said leading the way to a secluded corner where they could embrace in some privacy.

“How could I not when it is for you my heart plays?” replied Glorfindel as he bent to claim a kiss that was filled with love and burning need so intense that both felt weak at the knees when they finally parted for air.

“Do you think we could leave without being missed?” Erestor asked, so desperate to act on his desire that he did not hear Elrond and Thranduil approach, starting slightly when Glorfindel bowed his head in greeting to them.

“Elrond, Thranduil, we were just about to take our leave,” said Glorfindel in answer to his love’s question. He moved out of the embrace, bept ept one arm firmly wrapped about Erestor’s waist and allowed his hand to slip down to rest on his lover’s hip in the same position that Erestor’s hand was on his.

“Even if we will miss our Harper, I see that allowing you to retreat to your chamber is preferable to you making love where we stand, which I deem likely to happen if you twoain ain here much longer,” said Elrond with much compassion and a hint of amusement at how quickly and deeply his friends had fallen in love.

“Ai, such an act would definitely draw attention, not to mention ruin you reputation as a cold, aloof advisor,” teased Thranduil with a private wink for Erestor that had nothing to do with his words, but informed his friend that he had confided in Elrond and now there was only one who needed to learn Erestor’s secret.

“Then we will bid you good night and retire to my chambers. I have something to give to Glorfindel,” said the advisor with deliberate ambiguity.

The comment had intrigued his lover so much that as soon as they reached the privacy of Erestor’s chambers, he enquired what the gift might be.

“All in good time, my love,” replied Erestor as he pulled Glorfindel close and kissed him until he was breathless. They barely reached the comfort of the bed before all thought of anything but the need to become one flew from their minds. The sensuous robes were quickly discarded in favour of the feel of hands and lips on hot glistening skin and the coming together of the satiny hardness of their arousals. Both were so needy that there was little time for gentle foreplay before Glorfindel, writhing wantonly beneath him, begged his lover to take him.

“You are mine! I love you!” grunted Erestor as he thrust deeply into his lover’s welcoming warmth, and finally shuddered his release in the same instant that Glorfindel screamed his own climax.

“I am yours! I love you, Erestor!”

The intensity of their joining, made even more so by the joyous song that sang through their hearts was so powerful that the lovers fell into sated reverie even before their heartbeats returned to normal.

The first rays of dawn were filtering into the chamber when Erestor awoke, and after gently disentangling himself from the body draped over him, he kissed his still sleeping lover and moved over to his dresser to retrieve a velvet pouch from the top drawer.

“Come back to bed, Erestor,” begged a soft voice from behind him. He turto sto see Glorfindel now wide awake, propped up on one elbow with the other hand extended. Erestor moved quickly back to the bed and settled into his beloved’s waiting arms covering the delicious lips with his own. The kiss was a sweet welcome to the new day, as was the embrace that at first was merely a touching of bodies, but soon become gentle, languorous love making, that whilst slow and loving resulted in a release equally as intense as their fiery joining.

“We both have duties to perform this morning,” said Glorfindel reluctantly as they lay basking in the aftermath of their passion. He would much prefer to stay where he was than meet with Elrond as was expected.

“I know, but Thranduil and Elrond will understand if we are a little late. The gift I have yet to give you is far more important than anything else,” replied Erestor as he reached for the pouch that had fallen to the floor and opened it to reveal two identical rings made of mithril. Interwoven with the silver were strands of ebony and gold that, Glorfi was was amazed to see were in fact hairs from their own heads. It was an astounding piece of workmanship, and an obvious declaration of love from Erestor.

“How long have you had these?” he asked, realising the rings would have taken some time to make and feeling a warmth fill him as he also realised that Erestor’s feelings of love for him had gone unspoken for a long time.

“I had these made for us while you were on patrol and was so nervous about giving one to you that I asked for Thranduil’s opinion as soo he he arrived. I made good use of the hairs that I found caught in my wardrobe, did I not?” he asked with some amusement

“Very creative, and extremely romantic,” agreed Glorfindel as he pulled Erestor close and kissed the ebony hair that now rested on his shoulder. “So that is why you disappeared with him that day?” Erestor nodded lifting his head so that he could watch Glorfindel closely, trying to gauge his reaction. The beloved blue eyes shone with an extra brilliance caused by unshed tears, but Erestor was suddenly uncertain whether it was joy or pain he saw there.

“Do you like them?” he finally found the courage to ask, knowing his heart would break if Glorfindel rejected the desire for betrothal implied in the gift of a ring.

“They are exquisite, just as you are, my love, and I hope they mean what I suspect they do,” replied Glorfindel, smiling at the relief he sensed Erestor was now feeling.

“I love you, Glorfindel, now and forever. Will you bind with me?” he asked as he held his lover’s gaze with eyes filed with hope.

“You are my heart, my soul, my life Erestor. I love you. Ai, I will bind with you.” There was no other reply Glorfindel could make.

With infinite tenderness, and joyful tears, they each slipped a ring onto the other’s finger in an act symbolic of the loving union of their bodies.

(finis)