Isolation

Part 9…

Erestor snuggled deeper into his bed, luxuriating in the warmth that seemed to surround and engulf him. His nose twitched. Unwrapping his arms from around the warm body they encircled he lazily rubbed his face, brushing away the hair that was insistent on tickling him and disturbing his rest. One minute…hair…body? Memory swiftly reminded him of where he was and with whom. Oh Elbereth, not only was he draped all over his arch nemesis, probably having drooled on him as well, he was also hard and needy. Deciding he needed to extricate himself from the warrior and the entire situation before Glorfindel awoke and comprehended his condition Erestor slowly shifted his weight, carefully lifting himself up and off the larger elf, squawking with surprise and indignation as his bed partner muttered a soft sigh and dragged him back down, muttering some incomprehensible jabber. Erestor held himself perfectly still, frantically trying to think of a way to remove him self without rousing Glorfindel. His worries doubled as the warrior muttered some more and began to show serious signs of waking. Frozen in place Erestor chewed his lip in consternation, praying to the Valar that his state of arousal would go unnoticed, heavens knew he did not need Glorfindel bugging him with this for all eternity. The Valar obviously disliked him for some reason because at that moment Glorfindel chose to blink his eyes and tighten his already bruising grip around Erestors waist.

“Morning love, happy to see me are you?” Came the murmured greeting, which caused Erestors eyes to widen.

“I am not your ‘love’, Glorfindel, and I am most *definitely* not happy to see you!” So saying the dark haired elf wrenched him self forcibly out of Glorfindels grasp and scrambled inelegantly out of the bedroll, smoothing his messy black hair away from his rapidly reddening face, and glowering menacingly at the blond who looked up at him with a perplexed expression.

“No, you’re not are you?”

Not allowing himself time to ponder the slight disappointed quality to the elders voice Erestor hastily grabbed his pack and headed to the river, intent on restoring his appearance to some semblance of order and ridding him self of the inconvenient erection he still sported, muttering unkind opinions about pushy, brash and annoying Balrog slayers under his breath.

Glorfindel watched him go, for some reason disappointed that Erestor was less than willing to share more than a bedroll. He grinned. The dark haired advisor had been aroused, now wasn’t that interesting? Oh sure, he knew that Erestors body had most likely only reacted because he was asleep, which was natural while pressed against another warm body, and probably had nothing to do with him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease the stoic advisor. Dragging his tired body from the warmth of the bedroll he stretch and moved towards the trees to take care of his own, result of a warm body, erection, wonderingly bemusedly if Erestor had noticed his own state of arousal before he had flounced of in a huff.

Erestor quickly and efficiently rid himself of his embarrassing arousal before kneeling by the river to wash his hands and face. Taking his brush from his pack he combed his wayward locks, swiftly braiding it into a single plait. Dreading having to return to the campsite, and Glorfindel, he attempted to postpone the inevitable for a short while by pulling out his beloved journal, quill and bottle of ink. Settling himself comfortably upon a plush patch of grace, leaning against a convenient tree he proceeded to document the latest occurrences, starting with leaving from Imladris and ending with his awkward awakening. Finished with his writing, and feeling the tension seem to drain away, Erestor left the book open allowing the ink to fully dry while he cleaned and stored his writing tools. Closing the book he lovingly caressed the soft leather cover before once again returning it to the confines of his pack. Much restored and more composed he stood, returning to camp and to Glorfindel, more than prepared for the whatever teasing the blond could come up with.

Seeing Erestor return Glorfindel smiled winningly at him before, pack in hand, he headed in the direction the advisor had just come, intent on tending to his own appearance, and to definitely wash his hands, there was, after all, only so much grass could do to get rid of… certain sticky substances.

Glorfindel returned to find that Erestor had set out a small selection of bread and cheese from their rations with which to break their fast. Settling him self comfortably, legs folded beneath him; Glorfindel studied his companion as he selected a chunk of bread. Erestor, composed as always, sat demurely on the grass, nibbling osmalsmall piece of bread, alternately taking a bite of cheese. He had decided against teasing the counselor as he had remembered his new found aim of discovering more of Erestors secrets, and it would not be very inspiring for the other elf to speak if he thought that his words would be met with mockery or ridicule. Glorfindel swallowed his mouthful of bread and cleared his throat. No time like the present.

“Erestor?”

“Hmmm…”

“Why do you hide your… skills?” Glorfindel waited expectantly for a response and was slightly disappointed when all he got as answer was a careless shrug.

“Seriously Erestor, I’m interested. You must have had reason.” Continued silence. “Please..?”

“Honestly Glorfindel, there was no particular reason; I just did not feel the need to… tell anyone. I am a scholar; this is my life. What purpose would there be in revealing my skills? None! s nos not as though I have the time for such frivolous pass times as camping at any rate.”

“But don’t you... I mean, you seem to enjoy camping, why do you not venture out more?”

Erestor sighed. “I do not have the time. I have devoted myself to maintaining peace through political means and I cannot do that if I am off gallivanting about the country side, now can I?”

“You know Erestor…” Continuing to munch on his bread and cheese, inelegantly talking around the mouthful of food, Glorfindel persisted. “I am beginning to think I don’t know you at all.”

Erestor barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “That would be because you do not know me Glorfindel, not at all.”

“Exactly! That is exactly my point.”

Erestor arched his eyebrows.

“I don’t know you, and don’don’t know me. Why not take this opportunity torn arn about each other.” Glorfindel smiled, looking hopefully at Erestor.

Erestor blinked and stared disbelievingly at the golden haired being across from him. He couldn’t be serious… could he?

“You’re… not serious… are you?”

“Most assuredly, I think it’s a superb idea, who knows, maybe we’ll even become friends. What do you say Erestor?” Taking in the skeptical look in the black-brown eyes and watching the pale face twist, as if having ingested something vile tleavleaves a bitter taste behind, Glorfindel suspected that Erestor might not be as agreeable as he had hoped.

“We are here to learn to work together and put aside any grievances we may have with one another aren’t we?” Glorfindel paused to let his words register before continuing. “That is the whole reason Elrond sent us on this trip after all”.

Ah ha! Glorfindel knew he had won as he watched Erestor close his eyes in resignation, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly.

“What did you have in mind, Glorfindel?”

Taking exception to the dejected quality of Erestors voice, Glorfindel frowned.

“I just thought we could, you know, simply ask each other questions. Just talk about things, likes, dislikes, that sort of thing.” He stopped talking at the shrewd glint that entered Erestors eye.

“Alright Glorfindel, I will answer you questions, as well as ask my own, on one condition. I want you’re word of honor that anything that is spoken of during this week is kept between only the two of us. Not a word to anyone about anything that is said or d unl unless prior permission is granted. Are we agreed?”

Glorfindel, who had been expecting a stipulation along these lines, smiled and offered his hand to the other, completing their new understanding with a firm shaking of hands “We are agreed, dear counselor, we are agreed.”

TBC…