The Strong Heart

Chapter 9

Erestor and Glorfindel finally returned to their rooms. After checking on the cats, Erestor poured two glasses of wine and joined Glorfindel on the sofa. Handing a glass to Glorfindel, he said, “You go first, my love.”

Glorfindel took a sip of wine, and reached for one of Erestor’s hands, entwining their fingers. “I asked Taurfaeron to take his midday meal with me,” he said, and then gave Erestor the details of their conversation. “He was very open with me, Erestor. I trust him, and he thinks it may be Thalahir as well.”

“Could Thalahir be going after Gurvelon as a substitute for his intended?” Erestor mused. “Or does he want Caladir for himself? Caladir is a powerful warrior and might appeal to him after a failed relationship such as his. Or does he see Caladir and Gurvelon as substitutes for he and his intended and is saving Caladir? Assuming, of course, it is Thalahir.”

“There’s more, much worse,” Glorfindel said. “You know about Faerlan knocking down my door?” Erestor nodded. “He took me out to the top of the cliff, then stopped. I called for Saercaeron. He was down there, telling me he hurt and to come and get him.” Tears formed in Erestor’s eyes. “I climbed down the cliff, and he was about half way down on a ledge. When I asked him if he fell, he said someone threw something over him so he couldn’t see, and threw him over the cliff. I…I just put his head in my lap and stroked his sweet face. I had to bite on my lip to keep myself from breaking down and sobbing in front of him. I would have done anything to suffer that pain instead of him, Erestor. His poor little leg…the bone had pierced through his skin, and was sticking out.”

Erestor sat in shocked silence, tears beginning to fall from his eyes. Glorfindel took their wine glasses and set them on the floor, then drew Erestor into his arms, holding him tightly.

“Who would hurt an elfling like that, Glorfindel. Who would hurt our little Saercaeron?” Erestor’s very large heart had a special place reserved for elflings, as did Glorfindel’s.

“When the others arrived,” Glorfindel continued, “Elrond climbed down and checked him for injuries. He gave him some herbs for the pain and Saercaeron fell asleep. I told Elrond what Saercaeron said, and he looked over the edge. There’s a cloak down at the bottom. Elrond said it looks like it’s made in Lothlorien.” Glorfindel drew a deep breath. “I sent one of the escort back for it and told him to take it to Elrond.” Glorfindel continued his story, telling Erestor about assigning guards to Saercaeron, what he said to the elfling’s parents, and to Taurfaeron.

When he had finished, they sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, Erestor began speaking. He told Glorfindel about the poisoning attempt and how Saercaeron saved Gurvelon, Nestoron’s confirming it was the same poison, his climb to the roof and seeing the trees, and their plan to move Gurvelon to the library. “Caladir will be one of the guards, and I told him to pick whoever he wanted for the other.”

“It’s a good plan, sweetheart. My head is throbbing with trying to make sense of all this, but at least Gurvelon and Saercaeron will be safe.”

“Aye. Perhaps we should stop thinking on it for tonight, my love, and it will be clearer in the morning.”

Glorfindel nodded. “I am weary and saddened, beloved. And I’m filthy.”

“You stay here and I’ll go fix our bath.” Erestor gave Glorfindel a long, sweet kiss, then got up and went to the bathroom. Glorfindel wearily wondered what he had ever done to deserve such a wonderful gift as Erestor.

Erestor filled their large bath with steaming water, then selected the heady sandalwood oil he liked for bathing and poured it in the bath, letting the scent sooth him. Hmmm…perfect. Gathering soaps and towels, and a couple of pitchers filled with warm water to rinse Glorfindel’s hair with, he set them close, then went out to get his weary warrior.

Glorfindel was lying on the sofa, almost dozing. Erestor leaned down and kissed him gently. “Come, lover. Your bath awaits.”

Glorfindel allowed Erestor to pull him up and lead him to the bathroom. His little love made quick work of removing his filthy clothing and settling him in the bath. Glorfindel leaned back and sighed, relishing the warm water as Erestor quickly removed his own clothing.

“Scoot up, sweetheart. Let me get behind you and I’ll wash your hair.” Erestor settled behind Glorfindel, legs spread on either side of his warrior, pulled Glorfindel’s back against his chest, and wrapped his arms around him.

“Are you comfortable, my love?” Erestor asked.

Glorfindel almost purred. “Reminds me of our second bath together. Remember?”

“That bath is engraved forever in my memory, my sweet one,” Erestor chuckled.

“And mine, beloved. Will you take care of me again tonight, Erestor? I need…I need to feel you. I need you.”

“Glorfindel, my heart, did I not vow, the day we bound ourselves to each other, that I would love you and care for you forever?” Erestor whispered. “I always will.” He leaned down to Glorfindel’s neck and lapped at it gently. “Sweetheart, I think we’d better get this dirt off of you. That didn’t quite taste like you.”

Glorfindel laughed and sat up so Erestor could wash him. Erestor took a cup and began pouring water through the golden mane in front of him. He added soap and began to massage Glorfindel’s hair and scalp, gradually extending his fingers to gently wash ears and neck. He loved washing Glorfindel’s luxurious hair and slowly driving him crazy with his touch.

Glorfindel moaned. Those long fingers in his hair, caressing his ears. How he loved Erestor’s touch.

Erestor took a pitcher of fresh water and slowly poured it through Glorfindel’s hair and over his ears and neck, removing the soap. He moved Glorfindel’s mane to the front, then poured oil in his hand, rubbed his hands together to spread the oil and slowly moved his hands up his lover’s back, stopping at the shoulders to massage away any tense muscles. Erestor chuckled, hearing Glorfindel make a purring sound in his throat.

He moved Glorfindel’s hair to the back, and pulled him back against his chest. Adding more oil to his hands, he placed them below Glorfindel’s chest, and slowly moved them up, caressing the skin with his fingers. Coming to two pebbled nipples, he stopped and gently circled them, then took the two raised nubs and rubbed them between his fingers.

Glorfindel moaned. “Please, sweetheart…touch me.”

Erestor lowered one hand to Glorfindel’s groin, while the other continued to tease his nipples. He moved his fingers through the silky gold hair at the base of Glorfindel’s member, then cupped the soft sacs below in his hand, gently massaging them. Glorfindel wailed.

“Glorfindel, my Glorfindel,” Erestor whispered in his ear, “I love you so. Only you will I ever love, forever. Give me your mouth, my Glorfindel, I want to kiss you.”

Glorfindel tilted his head up, and Erestor captured his mouth with his own, thrusting his tongue deeply into the sweet depths below. His long fingers curled around Glorfindel’s hard cock, and he thrust his tongue in union with his firm strokes. He caressed the tip with his thumb and teased at the slit, then resumed the firm strokes. Finally lifting his head for breath, he panted out,” I love you, my darling husband, my love, my life, I love you. Come for me, my darling, come for me now.”

Glorfindel was undone. Screaming, “Erestor…I love you,” he came hard in Erestor’s hand.

Erestor held his love tightly, showering his head and neck with kisses as he waited for Glorfindel to regain his breath. His heart overflowed with love for this beautiful elf, his elf, his golden warrior. A warrior so strong, yet so gentle. A warrior so fierce in battle who cried over a hurt little elfling. This powerful reborn elf that loved him so much he would do anything for him. “I love you, my darling one. I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you, my Erestor. Forever. I love you.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Taurfaeron entered Elrond’s office. The cloak had been delivered, and Elrond had sent a messenger for the Lothlorien captain.

“I am afraid, my Lord, that I already know whose cloak it is. It is mine. I left it in the barracks with all the others, and mine is the only one missing.”

Elrond nodded. “I expected something like that. It would have been too simple otherwise, and the one we are dealing with is too clever.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Erestor sat behind Glorfindel, brushing out his glorious, long hair. They were seated on plush fur rugs in front of the blazing fire in their bedroom. The night was cool, and after their bath, Erestor had moved the cats’ basket into the bedroom so they would be comfortably warm. Tinnu and Glirien were curled together on the rugs in front of the fire, basking in the heat, while their kittens slept.

“All done, my love,” Erestor said. “Would you like to move to the bed, or stay here?”

Glorfindel lay down on the rug. “Stay here. Too comfortable to move.”

Erestor leaned over and captured Glorfindel’s lips for a loving kiss. He traced his tongue around Glorfindel’s lips and gently pushed inside, only to find his tongue captured and sucked. He moaned and moved on top of his lover, pressing their still naked bodies close and rubbing their instantly aroused members together. Both elves groaned at the sensation.

Glorfindel finally broke the kiss, and whispered, “Will you make love to me tonight, sweetheart?”

The first and only time that Erestor had taken Glorfindel, or anyone, had been the night of their binding. It had been wonderful, but normally Erestor preferred to be the one taken. He loved the feeling of security and of being loved it gave him. Knowing that tonight Glorfindel was the one that needed to feel secure and loved tonight, he quickly nodded.

Erestor smiled down at Glorfindel and stroked golden hair away from his face. “How do you want me, my love?”

“Just as we are, beloved. I want to see your face and feel your beautiful body cover me.”

Erestor got up quickly and fetched the bottle of their favorite oil from beside the bed as well as two pillows. He placed one pillow under Glorfindel’s head and set the other one aside. He was going to make love to Glorfindel so slowly that he would forget everything but him, and the happenings of the day would cease to exist, at least for this night.

Starting with one of Glorfindel’s legs, Erestor kissed his way to the underside of the knee and stopped to lap at the sensitive flesh there. He repeated the process on the other leg, then gently nipped the inside of the thigh up to the hip. The thigh’s mate received the same treatment. Stopping at the joining of thigh to hip, he slowly licked from one side to the other, ignoring the engorged member and soft sacs for the moment.

Erestor ignored Glorfindel’s groans and pleas for more. He kissed the firm stomach and thrust the tip of his tongue in the naval, then nipped up the chest to latch onto a rosy nipple and suckle.

Glorfindel was writhing under his ministrations, and he had never looked so beautiful. The second nipple was firmly suckled, and Glorfindel’s moans turned into wails.

“Please, Erestor…please.”

“Please what, my love?” Erestor’s voice was deep and sultry.

“Please..I want you now.”

“Not yet, my sweet one. I want to taste all of you.” Erestor resumed his adoration of Glorfindel’s body, nipping and suckling at his neck. When he drew an ear tip into his mouth, Glorfindel arched and wailed his pleasure.

“Please..my..love…have..mercy!”

“Soon, beloved,” the sultry voice responded.

Every lick and nip and suckle was repeated on the way back down to Glorfindel’s engorged cock. Erestor licked the drops of pre-ejaculate from the tip and ran his tongue along the underside. He worked the tip of his tongue into the slit, and Glorfindel writhed and screamed. Finally he placed the second pillow under his lover’s hips and opened the bottle of oil, covering his fingers with the heavy fluid. Lifting Glorfindel’s long legs to his shoulders, he gently massaged around the puckered opening, then gently pushed inside with one finger, as Glorfindel pushed down for more. Thrusting in and out he slowly added two and then three fingers.

Oh..please…love…please…now..I..ah..want..you…oooh..now,” Glorfindel moaned.

Erestor quickly prepared himself and positioned his throbbing member. Leaning forward, he placed one hand on either side of Glorfindel, captured his mouth for a deep kiss, and pushed.

Glorfindel wrapped his legs around Erestor’s waist and arched up, forcing Erestor into him in one thrust, and moaned into the mouth above him. He grasped Erestor’s hips and buttocks, silently telling him to move.

Finally breaking their kiss, Erestor began to thrust deeply, repeatedly hitting Glorfindel’s hidden gland. “Is this what you want, sweetheart? Do you want to feel me deep inside you? Can you feel me, baby? Can you feel how much I love you?”

Glorfindel had never been loved like this before. No one could ever possess him like Erestor could. That sultry voice, the love he felt pouring into him. He wanted more.

“More…Erestor..more.”

Erestor thrust harder. He could feel Glorfindel’s passion for him, just as he felt it when Glorfindel was thrusting into him. He thrust faster. “Is this what you want, baby? Do you feel me harder and faster with every thrust?” Erestor began drawing nearly all the way out and slamming back inside. Glorfindel was writhing and arching beneath him, and it was bliss. “Is this good, baby? Feel me, baby, feel me.”

Their souls merged, split, and became one again. Their hearts sang with love and passion.

Glorfindel screamed again and again. He felt Erestor’s fingers wrap around his cock and stroke it, once, twice, and he came harder than he ever remembered coming before, as he felt Erestor erupt into him.

Erestor collapsed onto Glorfindel, trying desperately to regain his breathe. They lay together for long moments, panting, before he could finally pull away and roll to his side, arms wrapping around his mate.

It was minutes later before Glorfindel finally spoke. “Erestor, sweet Elbereth, I think I finally understand why you love me to call you baby when we make love.”

Erestor giggled, and held onto his husband tighter.

Tbc…