Half the Distance

Title: Half the Distance
Series: Innocence Stripped Away
Chapter: Eight : Wounded Eyes
Author: Orchyd Constyne
Contact: soultornasunder@gmail.com
Website: http://www.hithanaur.net/
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nairn_orchyd/
Beta: Alex Cat

---

Imladris, Spring, Third Age 2086

The room was quiet, the three Elves simply enjoying the company of each other. Thranduil sat on the divan in his rooms, legs stretched out so that his feet rested on the perfectly straight back of his muvael, Civeneleb. Civeneleb kept his head bent as Thranduil had taught him when he first began to serve the King, but his ears were listening sharply to any conversation Thranduil had with his companion.

Glorfindel's long body was stretched along the length of the sofa, his head resting in the King's lap. He was speaking of nothing, really, simply allowing words to tumble from his lips as they came to his mind. "Elrond is determined to have some celebration or other before the delegations return to their realms. I am not certain it is a wise idea, but he will not be swayed." Suddenly, Glorfindel ran out of words.

"I have nightmares," he finally confided. He stared up into Thranduil's fathomless eyes, feeling vulnerable and childlike. "When I hear footsteps outside my rooms, I lie there hoping, praying the door will open and he will walk through it." Thranduil began to run his fingers through Glorfindel's long, loose tresses. His touch was meant to be soothing, comforting, and Glorfindel's eyes drooped.

"Has he not spoken to you at all?" Thranduil asked softly. Glorfindel shook his head, not trusting his voice. "How are you managing?"

Glorfindel took a deep breath. "One day at a time, I suppose. I feel as if a vital part of me has been ripped away. I know something is direly wrong, Thranduil, I just cannot seem to find what. He is so very different," he explained.

"I know of someone you should speak to. He may be able to shed light where others cannot. But I must keep his confidence and not send you to him. Will you have a free moment to spare for him if I send him to you?" Thranduil continued to stroke Glorfindel's hair, occasionally running his nails lightly over his scalp.

"Aye," Glorfindel purred, adoring the attention given to him. Erestor had never done such a thing as this!

No words were needed now, and Glorfindel relished Thranduil's affection. He felt his mind wander, restful sleep calling to him, but just as he drifted off, Thranduil spoke.

"You are so much more than you believe," the Sinda murmured as he ran a finger down Glorfindel's cheek. "Your beauty is outshined by your nobility, made all the more glorious by the selflessness you display."

Glorfindel felt his heart flutter in his breast, and he reached up, grasping Thranduil's shoulder. It seemed so natural, raising himself up to press his lips to Thranduil's. They remained in the embrace for a lingering moment, king and warrior sharing a timid kiss that made their bodies wake and beg for more.

*****

Thranduil had told him to wait in the main garden behind the large house. Glorfindel sat on one of the low benches, staring up into the dark sky glittering with stars. So many questions swam through his mind, conflicting thoughts about lovers and masters.

"He told me I might find you here," a soft voice said from his right.

Glorfindel turned and saw Legolas leaning against a tall, thick-trunked tree, his stoic gaze focused on him. "You are the one Thranduil said could offer some answers?"

Legolas' laugh was hollow. "Answers? I have no answers for you, but I do have some advice. Stay away from my father, and stay away from Erestor."

"I cannot do that, young Prince," Glorfindel replied calmly. "Erestor is my mate."

"And yet you cavort with Thranduil." Legolas uncrossed his arms as he shook his head. "Very well. What answers do you believe I have?"

"What was your relationship with Erestor?" Glorfindel began simply.

Legolas' smirk never faltered. "We were lovers. For over a century."

"Why did it end?"

"Because I could not abide his perversions."

Glorfindel tilted his head. "If you were his lover for over a century, you tolerated it that long. Why did that change?"

"I did not know of his perversion, Glorfindel," Legolas said flippantly. "He hid it from me the entire duration of our relationship." The Prince's sapphire eyes shone angrily in the moonlight. "It was a betrayal at the deepest level, and when I discovered it, I left."

"Was he cruel to you before your discovery?" Glorfindel found he was more interested in this conversation than he initially thought he would be.

Legolas scoffed. "That is unimportant."

"I believe it is very important."

The Wood-Elf glared at Glorfindel. "No, he was not cruel to me."

"Did you love him?" he asked quietly.

Legolas' eyes flashed in the darkness, and the silence was heavy before he finally broke it. "Yes. I loved him to a fault. Which was why it was such heartbreak when I had to leave."

"You did not have to leave," Glorfindel ventured.

"Yes, I did. Not only do I have my own beliefs, but he lied to me, hid that part of himself when he claimed to love me so completely, I feared what else he hid from me." Legolas sighed, showing a fleeting moment of wistful sadness. "One cannot spend a hundred and fifty years with someone, sharing their heart and body as thoroughly as we did, and walk away unscathed."

Distractedly, Glorfindel murmured, "When did you meet Erestor?"

"He came to my father's court in the early years of this Age. I think he must have spent thirty or forty years courting me before we left Mirkwood to come here." Legolas tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Aye, I remember now. We met on the eve of the Summer Solstice, when I turned sixty -- the thirtieth year of this Age," he said definitively.

"And you became lovers some time later?"

The smile that came to Legolas' lips was genuine. "It was the autumn of the hundredth year. We made love in the fallen leaves beside his waterfall."

"Elrond ceased sharing his bed with Erestor just before the final battles of the Last Alliance," Glorfindel said more to himself than Legolas. "And he became enamoured of you by the thirtieth year following Ereinion's death." He lifted his confused eyes and met Legolas' questioning gaze. "What was he doing in the meantime?"

Legolas shrugged. "I cannot give you an answer to that question. Erestor was very guarded about his past, and I soon learned to simply not ask. I do not know what occurred in those short years, but whatever happened made him lock his perversion behind a secret door for decades."

Glorfindel crossed his arms, weighing his thoughts before he spoke again. "He was kind to you?"

"He loved me," Legolas said, raising his chin defiantly. "Be glad I walked away from him, Glorfindel, for he asked me to be his bondmate a week before I found his room."

"Did you accept his proposal?"

Again the wistful sadness appeared on the Prince's smooth features. "Aye, I did. I wore his ring for one week, before I returned it."

"Then I thank you, Woodland Prince, for both your answers and time this evening, as well as giving up the mate of my heart." Glorfindel bowed deeply.

Legolas' cool smirk reappeared, his eyes hooded and hard. "If he were truly the mate of your heart, dear warrior, you would not have needed my answers," the Prince said acidly, "nor my father's company."

In the frigid quiet between them, Legolas walked away, leaving Glorfindel to sigh to the trees. He now knew that there was a distinct time during Erestor's life that was unaccounted.

Now all he had to do was uncover how to account for it.

TBC...